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HISTORY 


O  F 


FREEBOEN  COUNTY; 


INCLUDING 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  of  MINNESOTS, 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 

By  Rev.  Edward  D.  Neill; 


SIOUX  MASSACRE  OF  1862. 


State  Edu(3/\tion, 


BY    CHARLES    S.   BRYANT. 


MINNEAPOLIS: 

MINNESOTA  HISTORICAL  COMPANY, 
i88z. 


MINNEAPOLIS,  MINN.    . 


\ 


CONTENTS. 


Page.  . 

Page 

Preface         -          -         -         .         - 

Ill 

CHAPTER  LXI. 

CHAPTER  I-XXIII. 

Geneva  Township 

449-4.58 

Explorers  and   Pioneers  of  Minnesota 

1-128 

CHAPTER  LXII. 

CHAPTER  XXIV-XXVII. 

Hayward  Township     - 

-      458-464 

Outline  History  of  the  State  of  Minnesota 

1 '29 -160 

CHAPTER  LXIII. 

CHAPTER  XXVIII-XXIX. 

Hartland  Township     - 

-      464-470 

State  Education         .         .         -         - 

161-176 

CHAPTER   LXIV. 

CHAPTER  XXX-XLIII. 

London  Township       -         -         . 

-      470-474 

History  of  the  Sioux  Massacre 

177-256 

CHAPTER  LXV. 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 

Manchester  Township 

-       475-483 

Chronology         .         •         -         .         - 

257-262 

CHAPTER  LXVL 

CHAPTER  XLV-LI. 

Mansfield  Township 

-      484-489 

Freeborn  County         -         .         .         - 

263-357 

CHAPTER  LXVII. 

CHAPTER  LII-LIII. 

Moscow  Township 

-      489-498 

City  of  Albert  Lea      -         -         -         . 

358-402 

CHAPTER  LXVIII. 

CHAPTER  LIV. 

Nuuda  Townnhip 

498-508 

Albert  Lea  Township 

403-406 

CHAPTER  LXIX. 

CHAPTER  LV. 
Alden  Township          .         -         -         - 
CHAPTER  LVI. 

407-414 

Newry  Township 

CHAPTER  LXX. 

-      509-511 

Bancroft  Township     -          -         -         - 

415-423 

Oakland  Township      - 

-      512-516 

CHAPTER  LVII. 

CHAPTER  LXXI. 

Bath  Township            .         .         -         . 

423-428 

Pickerel  Lake  Township     - 

-      517-524 

CHAPTER  LVIII. 

CHAPTER  LXII. 

Carlston  Township      .         .         -         - 
CHAPTER  LIX. 

Freeborn  Township     -         -         -         - 
CHAPTER  LX. 

Freeman  Township     .         -         -         - 

429-434 
434-442 

443-449 

Riceland  Township     - 

CHAPTER  LXIII. 
Shell  Rock  Township 
Index         .         -         -         -         - 

-  525-528 

-  528-540 

-  541-548 

PREFACE. 


In  the  compilatioi'  of  the  History  of  Freeborn  County  it  has  been  the  aim  of  the  Publishers 
to  present  a  local  history,  comprising,  in  a  single  volume  of  convenient  form,  a  varied  fund  of  informa- 
tion, not  only  of  interest  to  the  present,  but  from  which  the  cjming  searcher  for  historic  data  may 
draw  without  the  tedium  incurred  in  its  preparation.  There  is  always  more  or  less  difficulty,  even  in  a 
historical  work,  in  selecting  those  things  which  will  interest  the  greatest  number  of  readers.  Individual 
tastes  differ  so  widely,  that  what  may  be  of  absorbing  interest  to  one,  has  no  attractions  for  another.  Some 
are  interested  in  that  which  concerns  themselves,  and  do  not  care  to  read  even  the  most  thrilling  adven- 
tures where  they  were  not  participants.  Such  persons  are  apt  to  conclude  that  what  they  are  not  in- 
terested in  is  of  no  value,  and  its  preservation  in  history  a  useless  expense.  In  the  settlement  of  a  new 
County  or  a  new  Township,  there  is  no  one  person  entitled  to  all  the  credit  for  what  has  been  accom- 
plished. Each  individual  is  a  part  of  the  great  whole,  and  this  work  is  prepared  for  the  purpose  of 
giving  a  general  resmne.  of  what  has  thus  far  been  done  to  plant  the  civilization  of  the  present  century 
in  Freeborn  County. 

That  our  work  is  wholly  errorless,  or  that  nothing  of  interest  has  been  omitted,  is  more  than  we  dare 
hope,  and  more  than  is  reasonable  to  expect.  In  closing  our  labors  we  have  the  gratifying  consciousness 
of  having  used  our  utmost  endeavors  in  securing  reliable  data,  and  feel  no  hesitancy  in  submitting  the 
result  to  an  intelligent  public.  The  impartial  critic,  to  whom  only  we  look  for  comment,  will,  in  pass- 
ing judgment  upon  its  merits,  be  governed  by  a  knowledge  of  the  manifold  duties  attending  the  pro- 
secution of  the  undertaking. 

We  have  been  especially  fortunate  in  enlisting  the  interest  of  Rev.  Edward  D.  Neill  and  Charles  S- 
Bryant,  whose  able  productions  are  herewith  presented.  We  also  desire  to  express  our  sincere  thanks 
to  the  County,  Town,  and  Village  officials  for  their  uniform  kindness  to  us  in  our  tedious  labors;  and 
in  general  terms  we  express  our  indebtedness  to  the  Press,  the  Pioneers,  and  the  Citizens,  who  have 
extended  universal  encouragement  and  endorsement. 

That  our  efforts  may  prove  satisfactory,  and  this  volume  receive  a  welcome  commensurate  with  the 
care  bestowed  in  its  preparation,  is  the  earnest  desire  of  the  publishers, 

MINNESOTA  HISTORICAL  COMPANY. 


EXPLOBERS 


AND 


PIOI^EERS    OF    MINNESOTA. 


CHAPTER  I. 


FOOTPRINTS  OF  CIVILIZATION  TOWAKD  THE  EXTREMITY  OF   LAKE   SUrEIlIOR. 


HitmefiotH's  Central  Position. — D'Avagour's  Prediction. — Nicolet's  Visit  to  Green 
Bay.— First  Wliite  Men  in  Minnesota.— Notices  of  Groselliers  and  Badisson.— 
Uurons  Flee  to  Minnesota. — Visited  by  Frenchraen. — Father  Menard  Disap- 
pears.—Groselliers  Visits  Hudson's  Bay.— Father  Allouez  Describes  the  Sioux 
Mission  at  La  Pointe, — Father  Marquette. — Sioux  at  Sault  St.  Marie. — Jesuit 
Missions  Fail. — Groselliers  Visits  England.— Captain  GiUam,  ot  Boston,  at  Hud- 
son's Bay.— Letter  of  Mother  Superior  of  Ursulines.,  at  Quebec— Death  of 
Groselliers. 

The  Dakotahs,  called  by  the  Ojibways,  Nado- 
'waysioux,  or  Sioux  (Soos),  as  abbreviated  by  the 
French,  used  to  claim  superiority  over  other  peo- 
ple, because,  their  sacred  men  asserted  that  the 
mouth  of  the  JNIinnesota  River  was  immediately 
over  the  centre  of  the  earth,  and  below  the  centre 
of  the  heavens. 

While  this  teaching  is  very  different  from  tliat 
of  the  modem  astronomer,  it  is  certainly  true, 
that  the  region  west  of  Lake  Superior,  extending 
through  the  valley  of  the  Miimesota,  to  the  Mis- 
souri River,  is  one  of  the  most  healthful  and  fer- 
tile regions  beneath  the  skies,  and  may  prove  to 
be  the  centre  of  the  republic  of  the  United  States 
of  America.  Baron  D'Avagour,  a  brave  officer, 
who  was  killed  in  fightuig  the  Turks,  while  he 
was  Governor  of  Canada,  in  a  dispatch  to  the 
French  Government,  dated  August  14th,  1663, 
after  referrmg  to  Lake  Huron,  wrote,  that  beyond 
"  is  met  another,  called  Lake  Superior,  the  waters 
of  which,  it  is  believed,  flow  into  New  Spain,  and 
this,  according  to  general  opinion,  ought  to  he  the 
centre  of  the  country.'''' 

As  early  as  1635,  one  of  Champlain's  interpre- 
ters, Jean  Kicolet  (Kicolay),  who  came  to  Cana- 
da in  1618,  reached  the  western  shores  of  Lake 
Michigan.     In  the  summer  of  1634  he  ascended 


the  St.  Lawrence,  with  a  party  of  llurons,  and 
probably  during  the  next  winter  was  trading  at 
Green  Bay,  in  Wisconsin.  On  the  ninth  of  De- 
cember, 1635,  he  had  returned  to  Canada,  and  on 
the  7th  of  October,  1637,  was  married  at  Quebec, 
and  the  next  month,  went  to  Three  Rivers,  where 
he  lived  until  1642,  when  he  died.  Of  him  it  "is 
said,  in  a  letter  written  in  1640,  that  he  had  pen- 
etrated farthest  into  those  distant  countries,  and 
that  if  he  had  proceeded  "  three  days  more  on  a 
great  river  which  flows  from  that  lake  [Green 
Bay]  he  would  have  found  the  sea." 

The  first  white  men  in  Minnesota,  of  whom  we 
have  any  record,  were,  according  to  Garneau,  two 
persons  of  Huguenot  aflinities,  Medard  Chouart, 
known  as  Sieur  Groselliers,  and  Pierre  d'Esprit, 
called  Sieur  Radisson. 

GroselUers  (pronounced  Gro-zay-yay)  was  born 
near  Ferte-sous-Jouarre,  eleven  miles  east  of 
Meairx,  in  France,  and  when  about  sixteen  years 
of  age,  in  the  year  1641,  came  to  Canada.  The  fur 
trade  was  the  great  avenue  to  prosperity,  and  in 
1646,  he  was  among  the  Huron  Indians,  who  then 
dwelt  upon  the  eastern  shore  of  Liike  Huron, 
bartering  for  peltries.  On  the  second  of  Septem- 
ber, 1647,  at  Quebec,  he  was  married  to  Helen, 
the  widow  of  Claude  Etienne,  who  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  pilot,  Abraham  Martin,  whose  baptismal 
name  is  still  attached  to  the  suburbs  of  that  city, 
the  "  Plains  of  Abraham,"  made  famous  by  the 
death  there,  of  General  Wolfe,  of  the  English 
army,  in  1759,  and  of  General  Montgomery,  of 
the  Continental  armv,  in  December,  1775,  at  the 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


commencement  of  tlie  "  War  for  Independence." 
His  son,  Medard,  was  liorn  in  1G57,  and  tlie  next 
year  his  mother  died.  The  second  wife  of  Gro- 
selliers  was  Marguerite  Hayet(IIayay)  Radisson, 
the  sister  of  his  associate,  in  the  exploration  of 
the  region  west  of  Lalce  Superior. 

Eadisson  was  born  at  St.  Malo,  and,  wliile  a 
boy,  went  to  Paris,  and  from  IheTice  to  Canada, 
and  in  165G,  at  Three  Eiver.s,  maixied  Elizabetli, 
the  daugliter  of  Madelehie  Ilainault,  and,  after 
her  death,  the  daughter  of  Sir  David  Kirli  or 
Kerkt,  a  zealous  Huguenot,  became  his  wife. 

The  Iroquois  of  New  York,  about  the  year  1650, 
drove  the  Ilurons  from  their  villages,  and  forced 
them  to  take  refuge  Mith  their  friends  the  Tinon- 
tates,  called  by  the  French,  Petuns,  because  they 
cultivated  tobacco.  In  time  the  Ilurons  and 
their  allies,  the  Ottawas  (Ottaw  -  waws),  were 
again  driven  by  the  Iroquois,  and  after  successive 
wanderings,  were  found  on  the  west  side  of  Lake 
Michigan.  In  time  they  reached  the  Mississippi, 
and  ascending  above  the  Wisconsin,  they  found 
the  Iowa  River,  on  the  west  side,  which  they  fol- 
lowed, and  dwelt  for  a  time  with  the  Ayces 
(loways)  who  were  very  friendly  ;  but  being  ac- 
customed to  a  country  of  lakes  and  forests,  they 
were  not  satisfied  with  the  vast  prairies.  Return- 
ing to  the  Mississippi,  they  ascended  this  river, 
in  .search  of  a  better  land,  and  were  met  by  some 
of  the  Sioux  or  Dakotalis,  and  conducted  to  their 
villages,  where  they  were  well  received.  The 
Sioux,  delighted  with  the  axes,  knives  and  awls 
of  European  manufacture,  whieh  had  been  pre- 
sented to  them,  allowed  the  refugees  to  settle 
upon  an  island  in  the  Mississippi,  below  the 
mouth  of  the  St.  Croix  River,  called  Bald  Island 
from  the  absence  of  trees,  about  nine  miles  from 
the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Hastings.  Possessed 
of  firearms,  the  Hurons  and  Ottawas  asserted 
their  superiority,  and  determined  to  conquer  the 
country  for  themselves,  and  having  incurred  the 
hostility  of  the  Sioux,  were  obliged  to  flee  from 
the  isle  in  the  Mississippi  Descending  below 
Lake  Pepin,  they  reached  the  Black  River,  and 
ascending  it,  found  an  imoccupied  country  around 
its  sources  and  that  of  the  Chippeway.  In  this 
region  the  Ilurons  established  themselves,  wiiile 
their  allies,  the  Ottawas,  moved  eastward,  till 
they  found  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior,  and  set- 
tled at  Chagouamikon  (Sha  -  gah  -  wah  -  mik  -  ong ) 


near  what  is  now  Bayfield.    In  the  year  1659, 

(iroselliers  and  Radisson  arrived  at  Chagouamik- 
on, and  deternuned  to  visit  the  Hurons  and  Pe- 
tuns, with  whom  the  former  had  traded  when 
they  resided  east  of  Lake  Huron.  After  a  six 
days"  journey,  in  a  .southwesterly  direction,  they 
reached  their  retreat  toward  the  sources  of  the 
Black,  Chippewa,  and  Wisconsin  Rivers.  From 
this  pomt  they  journeyed  north,  and  passed  the 
winter  of  l(>59-60  among  tlie  "  Xadoucchiouec," 
or  Siou.x  villages  in  the  JSIille  Lacs  (Mil  Lak)  re- 
gion. From  the  Hurons  they  learned  of  a  beau- 
tiful river,  wide,  large,  deep,  and  comparable  with 
the  Samt  Lawi'ence,  the  great  Mississippi,  which 
flows  through  the  city  of  Minneapolis,  and  whose 
sources  are  in  northern  Minnesota. 

Northeast  of  Mille  Lacs,  toward  the  extremity 
of  Lake  Superior,  they  met  the  "  Poualak,"  or 
Assiniboines  of  the  prairie,  a  separated  band  of 
the  Sioux,  who,  as  wood  was  scarce  and  small, 
made  fire  with  coal  (charlion  de  terre)  and  dwelt 
in  tents  of  skins ;  although  some  of  the  more  in- 
dustrious built  cabins  of  clay  (terre  grasse),  like 
the  swallows  build  their  nests. 

The  spring  and  summer  of  1660,  Groselliers  and 
Radisson  passed  in  trading  around  Lake  Superior. 
On  the  19th  of  August  they  returned  to  ilon- 
treal,  with  three  hundred  Indians  and  sixty  ca- 
noes loaded  with  "  a  wealth  of  skins." 

"  Furs  of  bison  and  of  beaver, 
Furs  of  sable  and  of  ermine." 

The  citizens  were  deeply  stirred  by  the  travelers' 
tales  of  the  vastness  and  richness  of  the  region 
they  had  visited,  and  their  many  romantic  adven- 
tures. In  a  few  days,  they  began  their  return  to 
the  far  West,  accompanied  by  six  Frenchmen  and 
two  priests,  one  of  whom  was  the  Jesuit,  Rene  ^le- 
nard.  His  hair  whitened  by  age,  and  liis  mind 
ripened  by  long  experience,  he  seemed  the  man 
for  the  mission.  Two  hours  after  micbiight,  of  tlie 
day  before  departure,  the  venerable  missionary 
penned  at  "  Three  Rivers,"  the  following  letter 
to  a  friend  : 

'  Reverend  Father  : 
"  The  peace  of  Christ  be  with  you  :  I  write  to 
you  probably  the  last,  which  I  hope  will  be  the 
seal  of  our  friendship  \nitil  eternity.  Love  wliom 
the  Lord  Jesus  did  not  disdain  to  love,  thougli 
the  greatest  of  sinners;  for  he  loves  whom  he 


FATHER  MENARD  LOST  IN  WISCONSIN. 


3 


loads  with  his  cross.  Let  your  friendship,  my 
good  Father,  be  useful  to  me  by  the  desirable 
fruits  of  your  daily  sacrifice. 

"  lu  three  or  four  months  you  may  remember 
me  at  the  memeuto  for  the  dead,  on  accoimt  of 
my  old  age,  my  weak  constitution  and  the  hard- 
ships I  lay  imder  amongst  these  tribes.  Never- 
theless, I  am  in  peace,  for  I  have  not  been  led  to 
this  mission  by  any  temporal  motive,  but  I  think 
it  was  by  the  voice  of  God.  I  was  to  resist  the 
grace  of  God  by  not  conihig.  Eternal  remorse 
would  have  tormented  me,  had  I  not  come  when 
I  had  the  opportimity. 

"  We  have  been  a  little  surprized,  not  being 
able  to  provide  ourselves  with  vestments  and  oth- 
er things,  but  he  who  feeds  the  little  birds,  and 
clothes  the  lilies  of  the  fields,  will  take  care  of 
his  servants ;  and  though  it  should  happen  we 
should  die  of  want,  we  would  esteem  ourselves 
happy.  I  am  burdened  with  business.  What  I 
can  do  is  to  recommend  our  journey  to  your  daily 
sacrifice,  and  to  embrace  you  with  the  same  sen- 
timents of  heart  as  I  hope  to  do  in  eternity. 
"  My  Reverend  Father, 

Your  most  humble  and  affectionate 
servant  in  Jesus  Christ. 

R.  MENARD. 
"From  the  Three  Rivers,  this  26th  August,  2 

o'clock  after  midnight,  1660." 

On  the  loth  of  October,  the  party  with  which 
he  journeyed  reached  a  bay  on  Lake  Superior, 
where  he  found  some  of  the  Ottawas,  who  had 
fled  from  the  Iroquois  of  New  York.  For  more 
than  eight  months,  surroimded  by  a  few  French 
voyageurs,  he  lived,  to  use  his  words,  "  in  a  kind 
of  small  hermitage,  a  cabm  built  of  flr  branches 
piled  one  on  another,  not  so  much  to  shield  us 
from  the  rigor  of  the  season  as  to  correct  my  im- 
agination, and  persuade  me  I  was  sheltered." 

During  the  summer  of  1661,  he  resolved  to  visit 
the  Hurons,  who  had  fled  eastward  from  the  Sioux 
of  Minnesota,  and  encamped  amid  the  marshes  of 
Northern  Wisconsin.  Some  Frenchmen,  who  had 
been  among  the  Ilurons,  in  vain  attempted  to  dis- 
suade him  fi'om  the  journey.  To  their  entreaties 
he  repUed,  "  I  must  go,  if  it  cost  me  my  life.  I 
can  not  suffer  souls  to  perish  on  the  ground  of 
saving  the  bodily  life  of  a  miserable  old  man  like 
myself.  What!  Are  we  to  serve  God  only  when 
there  is  nothing  to  suffer,  and  no  risk  of  Ufe?" 


Upon  De  ITsle's  map  of  Louisiana,  pubUshed 
nearly  two  centuries  ago,  there  appears  the  Lake 
of  the  Ottawas,  and  the  Lake  of  the  Old  or  De- 
serted Settlement,  west  of  Green  Bay,  and  south 
of  Lake  Superior.  The  Lake  of  the  Old  Planta- 
tion is  supposed  to  have  been  the  spot  occupied 
by  the  Hurons  at  the  time  when  Menard  attempt- 
ed to  visit  them.  One  way  of  access  to  this  seclu- 
ded spot  was  from  Lake  Superior  to  the  head- 
waters of  the  Ontanagon  River,  and  then  by  a  port- 
age, to  the  lake.  It  could  also  be  reached  from 
the  headwaters  of  the  Wisconsin,  Black  and  Chip- 
pewa Rivers,  and  some  have  said  that  Menard 
descended  the  AVisconsin  and  ascended  the  Black 
River. 

Perrot,  who  lived  at  the  same  time,  writes : 
"  Father  Menard,  who  was  sent  as  missionary 
among  the  Outaouas  [Iltaw-waws]  accompanied 
by  certain  Frenchmen  who  were  going  to  trade 
with  that  people,  was  left  by  all  who  were  with 
him,  except  one,  who  rendered  to  him  until  death, 
all  of  the  services  and  help  that  he  could  have 
hoped.  The  Father  followed  the  Outaouas  [Utaw- 
waws]to  the  Lake  of  the  Illinoets  [Illino-ay,  now 
Michigan]  and  in  their  flight  to  the  Louisianne, 
[Mississippi]  to  above  the  Black  River.  There 
this  missionary  had  but  one  Frenchman  for  a 
companion.  This  Frenchman  carefully  followed 
the  route,  and  made  a  portage  at  the  same  place 
as  the  Outaouas.  He  found  himself  in  a  rapid, 
one  day,  that  was  carrying  him  away  in  his  canoe. 
The  Father,  to  assist,  debarked  from  his  own,  but 
did  not  find  a  good  path  to  come  to  him.  He  en- 
tered one  that  had  been  made  by  beasts,  and  de- 
siring to  return,  became  confused  in  a  labjTinth 
of  trees,  and  was  lost.  The  Frenchman,  after 
having  ascended  the  rapids  with  great  labor, 
awaited  the  good  Father,  and,  as  he  did  not  come, 
resolved  to  search  for  him.  With  all  his  might, 
for  several  days,  he  called  his  name  in  the  woods, 
hoping  to  find  him,  but  it  was  useless.  He  met, 
however,  a  Sakis  [Sauk]  who  was  carrying  the 
camp-kettle  of  the  missionary,  and  who  gave  him 
some  intelligence.  He  assured  him  that  he  had 
foimd  his  foot -prints  at  some  distance,  but  that 
he  had  not  seen  the  Father.  He  told  him,  also, 
that  he  had  foimd  the  tracks  of  several,  who  were 
going  towards  the  Scioux.  He  declared  that  he 
supposed  that  the  Scioux  might  have  killed  or 
captm-ed  him.    Indeed,  several  years  afterwards, 


EXPLOREBS  AND  PIOKEEBS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


there  were  found  among  this  tribe,  his  breviary 
and  cassock,  which  they  exposed  at  their  festivals, 
making  offerings  to  them  of  food." 

In  a  journal  of  tlie  Jesuits,  Menard,  about  the 
seventh  or  eighth  of  August,  1661,  is  said  to  have 
been  lost. 

GroselUers  (Gro-zay-yay),  while  Menard  was 
endeavoring  to  reach  the  retreat  of  the  Hurons 
wliich  he  had  made  known  to  the  authorities  of 
Canada,  was  pushing  through  the  country  of  the 
Assineboines,  on  the  northwe.st  shore  of  Lake 
Superior,  and  at  length,  probably  by  Lake  Alem- 
pigon,  or  NepigOn,  reached  Hudson's  Bay,  and 
early  in  May,  1662,  returned  to  Montreal,  and 
sui-prised  its  citizens  witli  his  tale  of  new  iliscov- 
eries  toward  the  Sea  of  the  North. 

The  Hurons  ilid  not  remain  long  toward  the 
sources  of  the  Black  River,  after  Menard's  disap- 
pearance, and  deserting  iheir  plantations,  joined 
their  allies,  the  Ottawas,  at  La  Pointe,  now  Bay- 
field, on  Lake  Superior.  While  here,  they  deter- 
mined to  send  a  war  party  of  one  huuth-ed  agamst 
the  Sioux  of  MiUe  Lacs  (Mil  Lak)  region.  At 
length  they  met  their  foes,  who  drove  them  into 
one  of  the  thousand  marshes  of  the  water-shed 
between  Lake  Superior  and  the  Mississippi,  wlierc 
they  hid  themselves  among  tlie  tall  grasses.  Tlie 
Sioux,  suspecting  that  they  might  attempt  to  es- 
cape in  the  night,  cut  up  beaver  skins  into  strips, 
and  hung  thereon  little  bells,  which  they  had  ob- 
tained from  the  French  traders.  The  Hurons, 
emerging  from  their  watery  hiding  place,  stumbled 
over  the  unseen  cords,  ringing  the  bells,  and  the 
Sioux  inst<anlly  attacked,  killing  all  but  one. 

About  the  year  1665,  four  Frenchmen  visited 
the  Sioux  of  Minnesota,  from  the  west  end  of 
Lake  Superior,  accompanied  by  an  Ottawa  cliief , 
and  in  the  summer  of  the  same  year,  a  flotilla  of 
ciinoes  laden  ■with  peltries,  came  down  to  Mon- 
treal. Upon  their  return,  on  the  eighth  of  Au- 
gust, the  Jesuit  Father,  Allouez,  accompanied  the 
traders,  and,  by  the  first  of  October,  reached  Clie- 
goimegon  Bay,  on  or  near  the  site  of  the  modern 
town  of  Bayfield,  on  Lake  Superior,  where  he 
found  tlie  refugee  Hurons  and  Ottawas.  While 
on  an  excursion  to  Lake  Alempigon,  now  Ne- 
pigon,  tliis  missionary  saw,  near  the  mouth  of 
Saint  Louis  River,  in  Minnesota,  some  of  the 
Sioux.  lie  writes  :  "  Tliere  is  a  tribe  to  the  west 
of  this,  toward  the  great  river  called  Messipi. 


They  are  forty  or  fifty  leagues  from  here,  in  a 
country  of  prairies,  abounding  in  all  kinds  of 
game.  They  have  fields,  in  wliich  they  do  not 
sow  Indian  corn,  but  only  tobacco.  Providence 
has  provided  them  with  a  species  of  marsh  rice, 
which,  toward  the  end  of  summer,  they  go  to  col- 
lect in  certain  small  lakes,  that  are  covered  with 
it.  Tliey  presented  me  with  some  when  I  ^\as  at 
the  extremity  of  Lake  Tracy  [Superior],  where  I 
saw-  them.  They  do  not  use  the  gim,  but  only 
the  bow  and  arrow  with  great  dexterity.  Their 
cabins  are  not  covered  with  bark,  but  with  deer- 
skins well  dried,  and  stitched  together  so  that  the 
cold  does  not  enter.  These  people  are  above  all 
other  savage  and  warUke.  In  our  presence  they 
seem  abashed,  and  'were  motionless  as  statues. 
They  speak  a  language  eutkely  unknown  to  us, 
and  the  savages  about  here  do  not  understand 
them." 

The  mission  at  La  Pointe  was  not  encouraging, 
and  Allouez,  "  weary  of  their  obstinate  unbelief," 
departed,  but  Marquette  succeeded  him  for  a  brief 
period. 

The  ''Relations'"  of  the  Jesuits  for  1670-71, 
allude  to  the  Sioux  or  Dakotahs,  and  then-  attack 
upon  the  refugees  at  La  Pointe  : 

"  There  are  certain  people  called  Nadoussi, 
di'eaded  by  their  neighbors,  and  although  they 
only  use  the  bow  and  arrow,  they  use  it  with  so 
much  skill  and  dexterity,  that  in  a  moment  they 
lill  the  air.  After  the  Parthian  method,  they 
turn  their  heads  in  flight,  and  discharge  their  ar- 
rows so  rapidly  that  they  are  to  be  feared  i;o  less 
in  their  retreat  than  in  their  attack. 

"  They  dwell  on  the  shores  and  around  the 
great  river  Messipi,  of  which  we  shall  speak. 
They  number  no  less  than  fifteen  populous  towns, 
and  yet  they  know  not  how  to  cultivate  the  earth 
by  seeduig  it,  contenting  themselves  with  a  sort 
of  marsh  rye,  which  we  call  wild  oats. 

"  For  sixty  leagues  from  the  extremity  of  the 
upper  lakes,  towards  sunset,  and,  as  it  were,  in 
the  centre  of  the  western  nations,  they  have  all 
united  their  force  by  a  general  league,  which  has 
been  made  against  them,  as  agamst  a  common 
enemy. 

"  They  speak  a  peculiar  language,  entirely  dis- 
tinct from  that  of  the  Algonquuis  and  Hurons. 
whom  they  generally  surpass  in  generosity,  since 
they  often  content  themselves  with  the  glory  of 


GBOSELLIEBS  AND  RADISSON  IN  THE  ENGLISH  SER  VICE. 


I 


having  obtained  the  victory,  and  release  the  pris- 
oners they  liave  taken  in  battle. 

"  Our  Outouacs  of  the  Poiat  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
[La  Pointe,  now  Bayfield]  had  to  the  present  time 
kept  up  a  kind  of  peace  vrith  them,  but  affairs 
having  become  embroiled  during  last  winter,  and 
some  murders  having  been  committed  on  both 
sides,  our  savages  had  reason  to  apprehend  tliat 
the  storm  would  soon  burst  upon  them,  and  judged 
that  it  was  safer  for  them  to  leave  the  place,  which 
in  fact  they  did  in  the  sprmg." 

Marquette,  on  the  13th  of  September,  1669, 
writes  :  "  The  Nadouessi  are  the  Iroquois  of  this 
country.  *  *  *  they  lie  northwest  of  the  Mission 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  [La  Pointe,  the  modern  Bay- 
field] and  we  have  not  yet  visited  them,  having 
confined  ourselves  to  the  conversion  of  the  Otta- 
was." 

A  Soon  after  this,  hostilities  began  between  the 
Sioux  and  the  Hurons  and  Ottawas  of  La  Pointe, 
and  the  former  compelled  their  foes  to  seek  an- 
other resting  place,  toward  the  eastern  extremity 
of  Lake  Superior,  and  at  length  they  pitched 
their  tents  at  Mackinaw. 

In  1674,  some  Sioux  warriors  came  Actvni  to 
Sault  Saint  Marie,  to  make  a  treaty  of  peace  with 
adjacent  tribes.  A  friend  of  the  Abbe  de  Galli- 
nee  wrote  that  a  coimcil  was  had  at  the  fort  to 
which  "  the  Nadouessioux  sent  twelve  deputies, 
and  the  others  forty.  During  the  conference, 
one  of  the  latter,  knife  in  hand,  drew  near  the 
breast  of  one  of  the  Nadouessioux,  who  showed 
surprise  at  the  movement ;  when  the  Indian  with 
the  knife  reproached  him  for  cowardice.  The 
Nadouessioux  said  he  was  not  afraid,  when  the 
other  planted  the  knife  in  his  heart,  and  killed 
him.  All  the  savages  then  engaged  ui  conflict, 
and  the  Nadouessioux  bravely  defended  tliem- 
selves,  but,  overwhelmed  by  numbers,  nine  of 
them  were  killed.  The  two  who  survived  rushed 
into  the  chapel,  and  closed  the  door.  Here  they 
found  munitions  of  war,  and  fired  gims  at  their 
enemies,  who  became  anxious  to  burn  down  the 
chapel,  but  the  Jesuits  would  not  permit  it,  be- 
cause they  had  their  skins  stored  between  its  roof 
and  ceiling.  In  this  extremity,  a  Jesuit,  Louis 
Le  Boeme,  advised  that  a  cannon  should  be  point- 
ed at  the  door,  which  was  discharged,  and  the  two 
brave  Sioux  were  killed." 

Governor  Frontenac  of  Canada,  was  indignant 


at  the  occurrence,  and  in  a  letter  to  Colbert,  one 
of  the  Ministers  of  Louis  the  Fourteenth,  speaks 
in  condemnation  of  this  discharge  of  a  cannon  by 
a  Brother  attached  to  the  Jesuit  Mission. 

From  this  period,  the  missions  of  the  Church  of 
Kome,  near  Lake  Superior,  began  to  wane.  Shea, 
a  devout  historian  of  that  church,  writes:  "  In 
ICSO,  Father  Enjalran  was  apparently  alone  at 
Green  Bay,  and  Pierson  at  Mackinaw ;  the  latter 
mission  still  comprising  the  two  villages,  Huron 
and  Kiskakon.  Of  the  other  missions,  neither 
Le  Clerq  nor  Hennepin,  the  Recollect,  writers  of 
the  West  at  this  time,  makes  any  mention,  or  in 
any  way  alludes  to  their  existence,  and  La  Hon- 
tan  mentions  the  Jesuit  missions  only  to  ridicule 
them." 

The  Pigeon  River,  a  part  of  the  northern  boun- 
dary of  Minnesota,  was  called  on  the  French  maps 
Grosellier"s  River,  after  the  first  explorer  of  Min- 
nesota, whose  career,  with  his  associate  Radisson, 
became  quite  prominent  in  connection  with  the 
Hudson  Bay  region. 

A  disagreement  occurring  between  Groselliers 
and  his  partners  in  Quebec,  he  proceeded  to  Paris, 
and  from  thence  to  London,  where  he  was  intro- 
duced to  the  nephew  of  Charles  I.,  who  led  the 
cavalry  charge  against  Fairfax  and  Cromwell  at 
Naseby,  afterwards  commander  of  the  English 
fleet.  The  Prince  listened  with  pleasure  to  the 
narrative  of  travel,  and  endorsed  the  plans  for 
prosecuting  the  fur  trade  and  seeking  a  north- 
west passage  to  Asia.  The  scientific  men  of  Eng- 
land were  also  full  of  the  enterprise.  In  the  hope 
that  it  would  increase  a  knowledge  of  nature. 
The  Secretary  of  the  Royal  Society  wrote  to  Rob- 
ert Boyle,  the  distinguished  philosopher,  a  too 
sanguine  letter.  His  words  were :  "  Siu:ely  I  need 
not  tell  you  from  hence  what  is  said  here,  with 
great  joy,  of  the  discovery  of  a  northwest  passage; 
and  by  two  EngUshmen  and  one  Frenchman 
represented  to  his  Majesty  at  Oxford,  and  an- 
swered by  the  grant  of  a  vessel  to  sail  into  Hud- 
son's Bay  and  channel  into  the  South  Sea." 

The  ship  Nonsuch  was  fitted  out,  in  charge  of 
Captam  Zachary  Gillain,  a  son  of  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Boston ;  and  m  this  vessel  GroseUiers 
and  Radisson  left  the  Thames,  la  June,  1668,  and 
in  September  reached  a  tributary  of  Hudson's 
Bay.  The  next  year,  by  way  of  Boston,  they  re- 
turned to  England,  and  in  1670,  a  trading  com- 


6 


EXFLOREBS  Aim  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


pany  was  chartered,  still  known  among  venerable 
English  corporations  as  "  The  Hudson's  Bay 
Company." 

The  Keverend  Mother  of  the  Incarnation,  Su- 
perior of  the  Ursuliues  of  Quebec,  in  a  letter  of 
the  27th  of  August,  1670,  writes  thus  : 

"It  was  about  this  time  that  a  Frenchman  of 
our  Touraine,  named  des  Groselliers,  married  in 
this  coimtry,  and  as  lie  had  not  been  successful 
in  making  a  fortune,  was  seized  with  a  fancy  to 
go  to  New  England  to  better  his  condition.  He 
excited  a  hope  among  the  English  that  he  had 
found  a  passage  to  the  Sea  of  the  North.  With 
this  expectation,  he  was  sent  as  an  envoy  to  Eng- 
land, where  there  was  given  to  him,  a  vessel, 
with  crew  and  every  thing  necessary  lor  the  voy- 
age. With  these  advantages,  he  put  to  sea,  and 
in  place  of  the  usual  route,  which  others  had  ta- 
ken in  vain,  he  sailed  in  another  direction,  and 
searched  so  wide,  that  he  found  the  grand  Bay  of 
the  North.  He  found  large  popidation,  and  fiUed 
his  ship  or  ships  with  peltries  of  great  value.  *  *  * 


He  has  taken  possession  of  this  great  region  for 
the  King  of  England,  and  for  Ms  personal  benefit 
A  publication  for  the  benefit  of  this  French  ad- 
venturer, has  been  made  in  England.  He  was 
a  youth  when  he  arrived  here,  and  his  wife  and 
children  are  yet  here." 

Talon,  Intendent  of  Justice  in  Canada,  in  a  dis- 
patcli  to  C(>ll)ert,  Minister  of  the  ("olonial  Depart- 
ment of  France,  wrote  on  the  10th  of  November, 
167Q,  that  he  has  received  intelligence  that  two 
English  vessels  are  approaching  Hudson's  Bay, 
and  adds :  '•  After  reflecting  on  all  the  nations 
that  might  have  penetrated  as  far  north  as  that, 
I  can  ahght  on  only  the  EngUsh,  who,  under  the 
guidance  of  a  man  named  Des  Grozellers,  for- 
merly an  inhabitant  of  Canada,  might  possibly 
have  attempted  that  navigation." 

After  years  of  service  on  the  shores  of  Hudson's 
Bay,  either  with  Englisli  or  French  trading  com- 
panies, the  old  explorer  died  in  Canada,  and  it  has 
been  said  that  his  son  went  to  England,  where  he 
was  Uving  ui  1096,  ui  receipt  of  a  pension. 


eauly  mention  of  lake  sufehiob  copper. 


CHAPTER  II. 


EARLY  MENTION  OF   LAKE   SUPERIOR   COPPER. 


Sagard,  A.  D.  1636,  on  Copper  Minop.— Boucher,  A,  D.  1640.  Describes  Lake  Supo> 
rior  Copper.— Jesuit  Relatioas,  A.  D.  1666-67.— Copper  on  Isle  Royals.— Half- 
Breed  Voyaeeur  Goes  to  France  with  Talon.— Jolhet  and  Perrot  Search  for 
Copper.— St.  Lusson  Plants  the  French  Arms  at  Sault  St.  Marie.— Copper  at 
Ontanagon  and  Head  of  Lake  Superior, 

Before  white  men  had  explored  the  shores  of 
Lake  Superior,  Indians  had  brought  to  the  tra- 
ding posts  of  tlie  St.  Lawrence  River,  specimens  of 
copper  from  that  region.  Sagard,  in  his  History 
of  Canada,  published  in  1636,  at  Paris,  writes : 
"  There  are  mines  of  copper  which  might  be  made 
profitable,  if  there  were  inliabitants  and  work- 
men who  would  labor  faithfully.  That  would  be 
done  if  colonies  were  established.  About  eighty 
or  one  hundred  leagues  from  the  Ilurons,  there 
is  a  mine  of  copper,  from  which  Truchemont 
Brusle  showed  me  an  ingot,  on  his  return  from  a 
voyage  whicli  he  made  to  the  neighboring  nation." 

Pierre  Boucher,  grandfather  of  Sieur  de  la  Ye- 
rendrye,  the  explorer  of  the  lakes  of  the  northern 
boundary  of  Minnesota,  in  a  volume  published 
A.  D.  1640,  also  at  Paris,  writes  :  "  In  Lake  Su- 
perior there  is  a  great  island,  fifty  or  one  hundred 
leagues  in  circumference,  in  which  there  is  a  very 
beautiful  mine  of  copper.  There  are  other  places 
in  those  quarters,  where  there  are  similar  mines ; 
so  I  learned  from  four  or  five  Frenchmen,  who 
lately  retiu-ned.  They  were  gone  three  years, 
without  finding  an  opportunity  to  I'etum;  they 
told  me  that  they  had  seen  an  ingot  of  copper  all 
refined  which  was  on  the  coast,  and  weighed  more 
than  eight  hundred  pounds,  according  to  their  es- 
timate. They  said  that  the  savages,  on  passing 
it,  made  a  fire  on  it,  after  which  they  cut  off  pie- 
ces Willi  their  axes." 

In  the  Jesuit  Relations  of  1666-67,  there  is  this 
description  of  Isle  Royale  :  '•  Advancing  to  a 
place  called  the  Grand  Anse,  we  meet  with  an 
island,  three  leagues  from  land,  which  is  cele- 
brated for  the  metal  which  is  found  there,  and 
for  the  thunder  which  takes  place  there;  for  tliey 
say  it  always  thunders  there. 


"  But  farther  towards  the  west  on  the  same 
north  shore,  is  the  island  most  famous  for  copper, 
Minong  (Isle  Royale).  Tliis  island  is  twenty-five 
leagues  in  length ;  it  is  seven  from  the  mainland, 
and  sixty  from  the  head  of  the  lake.  Nearly  all 
around  the  island,  on  the  water's  edge,  pieces  of 
copper  are  found  mixed  with  pebbles,  but  espe- 
cially on  the  side  which  is  opposite  the  south, 
and  principally  in  a  certain  bay,  which  is  near 
the  northeast  exposure  to  the  great  lake.    *    *   * 

"  Advancing  to  the  head  of  the  lake  {Fon  du 
Lac)  and  returning  one  day's  journey  by  the  south 
coast,  there  is  seen  on  the  edge  of  the  water,  a 
rock  of  copper  weighing  seven  or  eight  hundred 
poimds,  and  is  so  hard  that  steel  can  hardly  cut  it, 
but  when  it  is  heated  it  cuts  as  easily  as  lead. 
Near  Point  Chagouamigong  [Sha  -  gah  -  wah  -  mik- 
ong,  near  Bayfield]  where  a  mission  was  establish- 
ed rocks  of  copper  and  plates  of  the  same  metal 
were  found.  *  *  *  Returning  still  toward  the 
mouth  of  tlie  lake,  following  the  coast  on  the  south 
as  twenty  leagues  from  the  place  last  mentioned, 
we  enter  the  river  called  Nantaouagan  [Ontona- 
gon] on  which  is  a  hill  where  stones  and  copper 
fall  into  the  water  or  upon  the  eartli.  They  are 
readily  found. 

"Three  years  since  we  received  a  piece  which 
was  brought  from  this  place,  which  weighed  a 
lumdred  pounds,  and  we  sent  it  to  Quebec  to  Mr. 
Talon.  It  is  not  certain  exactly  where  this  was 
broken  from.  We  thmk  it  was  from  the  forks  of 
the  river ;  others,  that  it  was  from  near  the  lake, 
and  dug  up." 

Talon,  Intendent  of  Justice  in  Canada,  visited 
France,  taking  a  half-breed  voyageur  with  him, 
and  while  in  Paris,  wrote  on  the  26th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1669,  to  Colbert,  the  Mmister  of  the  Marine 
Department,  "  that  this  voyageur  had  penetrated 
among  the  western  nations  farther  than  any  other 
Frenchman,  and  had  seen  the  copper  mine  on 
Lake  Huron.  LSuperiory]    The  man  offers  to  go 


8 


EXPLOBEBS  AND  PIONEEBS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


to  that  mine,  and  explore,  either  by  sea,  or  hy 
lake  and  river,  the  communication  supposed  to 
exist  between  Canada  and  the  South  Sea,  or  to 
the  regions  of  Hudson's  Bay." 

As  soon  as  Talon  returned  to  Canada  he  com- 
missioned Jolliet  and  Pere  [Perrot]  to  search  for 
the  mines  of  copper  on  the  upper  Lakes.  Jolliet 
received  an  outfit  of  four  hundred  livres,  and  four 
canoes,  and  Perrot  one  thousand  Uvres.  Mhiis- 
ister  Colbert  wrote  from  Paris  to  Talon,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1671,  approving  of  the  search  for  copper, 
in  these  words  ;  "  The  resolution  you  have  taken 
to  send  Sieur  de  La  Salle  toward  the  south,  and 
Sieur  de  St.  Lusson  to  the  north,  to  discover  the 
South  Sea  passage,  is  very  good,  but  the  principal 
thing  you  ought  to  apply  yourself  in  discoveries 
of  this  nature,  is  to  look  for  the  copper  mine. 

"  Were  this  mine  discovered,  and  its  utility 
evident,  it  would  be  an  assured  means  to  attract 
several  Frenchmen  from  old,  to  New  France." 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1671,  Saint  Lusson  at  Sault 
St.  Marie,  planted  the  arms  of  France,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  Nicholas  Perrot,  who  acted  as  interpreter 
on  the  occasion ;  the  Sieur  Jolliet ;  Pierre  Moreau 
or  Sieur  de  la  Taupine ;  a  soldier  of  the  garrison 
of  Quebec,  and  several  other  Frenchmen. 

Talon,  in  announcing  Saint  Lusson's  explora- 
tions to  Colbert,  on  the  2d  of  November,  1671, 
wrote  from  Quebec  :  "  The  copper  which  I  send 
from  Lake  Superior  and  the  river  Nantaouagan 
[Ontonagon]  proves  that  there  is  a  mine  on  the 
border  of  some  stream,  which  produces  this  ma- 
terial as  pure  as  one  could  wish.  More  than 
twenty  Frenchmen  have  seen  one  lump  at  the 
lake,  which  they  estimate  weighs  more  than  eight 
hundred  poimds.  The  Jesuit  Fathers  among  the 
Outaouas  [Ou-taw-waws]  use  an  anvil  of  this  ma- 
terial, which  weighs  about  one  hundred  pounds. 
There  will  be  no  rest  until  the  source  from  whence 
these  detached  lumps  come  is  discovered. 

"  The  river  Nantaouagan  FOutonagouJ  appears 


between  two  high  hills,  the  plain  above  which 
feeds  the  lakes,  and  receives  a  great  deal  of  snow, 
which,  m  melting,  forms  torrents  which  wash  the 
borders  of  this  river,  composed  of  soUd  gravel, 
which  is  rolled  down  by  it. 

"The  gravel  at  the  bottom  of  this,  hardens  it- 
self, and  assumes  different  shapes,  such  as  those 
pebbles  which  I  send  to  ^Mr.  Bellinzany.  My 
opuiion  is  that  these  pebbles,  rounded  and  carried 
off  by  the  rapid  waters,  then  have  a  tendency  to 
become  copper,  by  the  influence  of  the  sun's  rays 
which  they  absorb,  and  to  form  oilier  nuggets  of 
metal  similar  to  those  which  I  send  to  Sieur  de 
Bellinzany,  found  by  the  Sieur  de  Saint  Lusfon, 
about  four  hundred  leagues,  at  some  distance  from 
the  mouth  of  the  river. 

"  lie  hoped  by  the  frequent  journeys  of  the 
savages,  and  French  who  are  beginning  to  travel 
by  these  routes,  to  discern  the  source  of  nroduc- 
tion." 

Governor  Denonville,  of  Canada,  sixteen  years 
after  the  above  circumstances,  WTote  :  "  The  cop- 
per, a  sample  of  which  I  sent  M.  Anion,  is  found 
at  the  head  of  Lake  Superior.  The  body  of  the 
mine  has  not  yet  been  discovered.  I  have  seen 
one  of  our  voyageurs  who  assures  me  that,  some 
lifteen  months  ago  he  saw  a  lump  of  two  hundred 
weight,  as  yellow  as  gold,  in  a  river  which  falls 
into  Lake  Superior.  "When  heated,  it  could  be 
cut  with  an  axe  ;  but  the  superstitious  Indians, 
regarding  this  boulder  as  a  good  spirit,  would 
never  permit  him  to  take  any  of  it  away.  His 
opinion  is  that  the  frost  undermined  this  piece, 
and  that  the  mine  is  in  that  river.  He  has  prom- 
ised to  search  for  it  on  his  w'ay  back." 

In  the  year  17,30,  there  was  some  correspond- 
ence with  the  authorities  in  France  relative  to 
the  discovery  of  copper  at  La  Poiute,  but,  practi- 
cally, little  was  done  by  the  French,  in  developing 
the  mineral  wealth  of  Lake  Superior. 


DU  LUTH  PLANTS  THE  FRENCH  AEMS  IN  MINNESOTA. 


CHAPTER  in. 


DU  LUTH  PLANTS  THE  FRENCH  ARMS  TN  MINNESOTA 


Da  Luth's  Relatives. —  Randin  Visits  Extremity  of  Lake  Superior. —Do  Loth 
Plants  King's  Arms.— Post  at  Kaministigoj-a.— Pierre  MoreaF.  alias  La  Taupine. 
—La  Salle's  Visit.— A  Pilot  Deserts  to  the  Sioux  Country.— uaifart,  Du  Lutli's 
Interpreter. — Descent  of  the  River  St.  Croix.— Meets  Fatlier  Hennepm.- Crit. 
iciscd  tiy  La  Salle.— Tra.les  with  New  England.— Visits  France.— In  Command 
at  Mackinaw, — Frenchmen  Murdered  at  Keweenaw. — Du  Lulh  Arrests  and 
Shoots  Murderers.- Builds  Fort  above  Detroit.  —  With  Indian  Allies  in  the 
Seneca  War.— Du  Luth's  Brother.— Cadillac  Defends  the  Brandy  Trade.— Du 
Luth  Disapproves  of  Selling  Brandy  to  the  Indians. — In  Command  at  Fort 
Frontenac— Death. 

In  the  year  1678,  se-«eral  prominent  merchants 
of  Quebec  and  Montreal,  with  the  support  of 
Governor  Frontenac  of  Canada,  formed  a  com- 
pany to  open  trade  with  the  Sioux  of  Minnesota, 
and  a  neplie'w  of  Patron,  one  of  these  merchants, 
a  brother-in-law  of  Sieur  de  Lusigny,  an  oflBcer 
of  the  Governor's  Guards,  named  Daniel  Grey- 
solon  Du  Luth  [Doo-loo],  a  native  of  St.  Germain 
en  Laye,  a  few  miles  from  Paris,  althougli  Lalion- 
tan  speaks  of  him  as  from  Lyons,  was  made  the 
leader  of  the  expedition.  At  the  battle  of  Sene'ffe 
against  the  Pruice  of  Orange,  he  was  a  gendarme, 
and  one  of  tlie  King's  guards. 

Du  Luth  was  also  a  cousin  of  Henry  Tonty ,  who 
had  been  in  the  revolution  at  Naples,  to  throw  off 
the  Spanish  dependence.  Du  Luth's  name  is  va- 
riously spelled  in  the  documents  of  liis  day.  Hen- 
nepin writes,  "Du  Luth;"  others,  "Dulhut," 
"  Du  Lhu,"  "  Du  Lut,"  "  De  Luth,"  "  Du  Lud." 

The  temptation  to  procure  valuable  furs  ft-om 
the  Lake  Superior  region,  contrary  to  the  letter 
of  the  Canadian  law,  was  very  great ;  and  more 
than  one  Governor  winked  at  the  contraliand 
trade.  Eandin,  who  visited  tlie  extremity  of 
Lake  Superior,  distributed  presents  to  the  Sioux 
and  Ottawas  in  the  name  of  Governor  Frontenac, 
to  secure  the  trade,  and  after  his  death,  DuLutli 
was  sent  to  complete  what  he  liad  begun.  With 
a  party  of  twenty,  seventeen  Frenchmen  and 
three  Indians,  he  left  Quebec  on  the  first  of 
September,  1678,  and  on  the  fifth  of  April,  1679, 
Du  Luth  writes  to  Governor  Frontenac,  that  he 
is  in  the  -woods,  about  nine  miles  from  Sault  St. 
Marie,  at  the  entrance  of  Lake  Superior,  and 


adds  that :  he  "  -will  not  stir  from  the  Nadous- 
sioux,  until  further  orders,  and,  peace  being  con- 
cluded, he  -will  set  up  the  King's  Arms ;  lest  the 
English  and  other  Europeans  settled  towards 
California,  take  possession  of  the  country." 

On  the  second  of  July,  1679,  he  caused  his 
Majesty's  Arms  to  be  planted  in  the  great  village 
of  the  Nadoussioiix,  called  Kathio,  where  no 
Frenchman  had  ever  been,  and  at  Songaskicons 
and  Houetbatons,  one  hundred  and  twenty  leagues 
distant  from  the  former,  where  he  also  set  up  the 
King's  Arms.  In  a  letter  to  Seignaliiy,  published 
for  the  first  time  by  Ilarrisse,  he  writes  that  it 
was  in  the  village  of  Izatys  [Issati].  Upon  Fran- 
queUn's  map,  the  Mississippi  branches  into  the 
Tintonha  [Teeton  Sioux]  comitry ,  and  not  far  from 
here,  he  alleges,  was  seen  a  tree  upon  which  was 
this  legend:  "  Arms  of  the  King  cut  on  this  tree 
in  the  year  1679." 

He  established  a  post  at  Kamanistigoya,  which 
was  distant  fifteen  leagues  from  the  Grand  Port- 
age at  the  western  extremity  of  Lake  Superior ; 
and  here,  on  the  fifteenth  of  September,  he  held 
a  council  with  the  Assenipoulaks  [Assineboines] 
and  other  tribes,  and  urged  them  to  be  at  peace 
with  the  Sioux.  During  tliis  summer,  he  dis- 
patched Pierre  Moreau,  a  celebrated  voyageur, 
nicknamed  La  Taupine,  with  letters  to  Governor 
Frontenac,  and  valuable  furs  to  the  merchants. 
His  arrival  at  Quebec,  created  some  excitement. 
It  was  charged  that  the  Governor  corresponded 
with  Du  Luth,  and  that  he  passed  the  beaver, 
sent  by  him,  in  the  name  of  merchants  in  his  in- 
terest. The  Intendant  of  Justice,  Du  Chesneau, 
wrote  to  the  Minister  of  the  Colonial  Department 
of  France,  that  "  the  man  named  La  Taupine,  a 
famous  coureur  des  bois,  who  set  out  in  the  month 
of  September  of  last  year,  1678,  to  go  to  the  Ou- 
tawacs,  -with  goods,  and  who  has  always  been  in- 
terested with  the  Governor,  having  returned  this 
year,  and  I,  being  advised  that  he  had  traded  in 


10 


EXPLOREBS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


two  days,  one  Inmdred  and  fifty  beaver  robes  in 
one  \'illage  of  this  tribe,  amounting  to  nearly  nine 
hundred  beavers,  which  is  a  matter  of  public  no- 
toriety ;  and  that  he  left  with  Du  Lut  two  men 
whom  he  had  with  him.  considered  myself  bound 
to  have  him  arrested,  and  to  interrogate  him  ;  but 
having  presented  me  with  a  license  from  the  Gov- 
ernor, pennittiiig  him  and  his  comrades,  named 
Lamonde  and  Dupuy,  to  repair  to  the  Outawac, 
to  execute  his  secret  orders.  I  liad  him  set  at 
liberty  :  and  immediately  on  Ids  going  out.  Sieur 
Prevost,  To^ii  Mayor  of  Quebec,  came  at  the  head 
of  some  soldiers  to  force  the  prison,  in  case  he 
was  still  there,  pursuant  to  his  orders  from  the 
Governor,  in  these  terms  :  "  Sieur  Prevost,  ^layor 
of  (^»uebec,  is  ordered,  in  case  the  Intendant  arrest 
Pierre  ^loreau  alias  La  Taupiue,  whom  we  have 
sent  to  Quebec  as  bearer  of  our  dispatches,  upon 
pretext  of  his  having  been  in  the  bush,  to  set  him 
forthwith  at  libertVi  and  to  employ  every  means 
for  this  purpose,  at  his  peril.  Done  at  Montreal, 
the  5th  September,  1679." 

La  Taupine.  in  due  time  returned  to  Lake  Su- 
perior with  another  consignment  of  merchandise. 
The  interpreter  of  Du  LuUi,  and  trader  with  the 
Sioux,  was  Paffart,  who  had  been  a  soldier  under 
La  Salle  at  Fort  Frontenac.  and  had  deserted. 

La  Salle  was  commissioned  in  1678,  by  the 
King  of  France,  to  explore  the  "West,  and  trade  in 
Cibola,  or  buffalo  skins,  and  on  condition  that  he 
did  not  traffic  with  the  Ottauwaws,  who  carried 
their  beaver  to  Montreal. 

On  the  27th  of  August,  1679,  he  anived  at 
Mackinaw,  in  the  "  Griffin,''  the  first  saiUng  ves- 
sel on  the  gi-eat  Lakes  of  the  West,  and  from 
thence  went  to  Green  Bay,  where,  in  the  face  of 
his  commission,  he  traded  for  beaver.  Loading 
his  vessel  with  peltries,  he  sent  it  back  to  Niag- 
ara, while  he,  in  canoes,  proceeded  with  his  ex- 
pedition to  the  Illinois  River.  The  ship  was 
never  heard  of,  and  for  a  time  supposed  to  be  lost, 
but  La  Salle  afterward  leained  from  a  Pawnee 
boy  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  of  age,  who  was 
brought  prisoner  to  hisfort  on  the  Illinois  by  some 
Indians,  that  the  pilot  of  the  "  Griffin  "  had  been 
among  the  tribes  of  the  Upper  ISIissouri.  lie  had 
ascended  the  Mississippi  with  four  otliers  in  two 
birch  canoes  with  goods  and  some  hand  grenades, 
taken  from  the  ship,  witli  the  intention  of  join 
ing  Du  Lutli,  who  had  for  months  beeu  trading 


with  the  Sioux ;  and  if  their  efforts  were  unsuc- 
cessful, they  expected  to  push  on  to  the  English, 
at  Hudson's  Bay.  AVliile  ascendiilg  the  Missis- 
sippi they  were  attacked  by  Indians,  and  the  pilot 
and  one  other  only  sursived,  and  they  were  sold 
to  the  Indians  on  the  Jlissouri. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1680,  Du  Luth,  accom- 
panied by  Faffart,  an  interpreter,  with  four 
Frenchmen,  also  a  Chippeway  and  a  Sioux,  with 
two  canoes,  entered  a  river,  the  mouth  ot  which 
is  eight  leagues  from  the  head  of  Lake  Superior 
on  the  South  side,  named  Xemitsakouat.  Beach- 
ing its  head  waters,  by  a  short  portage,  of  half  a 
league,  he  reached  a  lake  ■\\hich  was  the  source 
of  the  Saint  Croix  River,  and  by  this,  he  and  his 
companions  were  the  first  Europeans  to  journey 
in  a  canoe  from  Lake  Superior  to  the  Mississippi. 

La  Salle  writes,  that  Du  Luth,  finding  that 
the  Sioux  were  on  a  hunt  in  the  Mississippi  val- 
ley, below  the  Saint  Croix,  and  that  Accault,  Au- 
gelle  and  Hennepin,  who  had  come  up  from  the 
Illinois  a  few  ^\eeks  before,  were  with  them,  de- 
scended until  he  found  them.  In  the  same  letter 
he  disregards  the  truth  in  order  to  disparage  his 
rival,  and  writes: 

'•  Thirty-eight  or  forty  leagues  above  the  Cliip- 
peway  they  found  the  river  by  which  the  Sieur 
Du  Luth  did  descend  to  the  ilississippi.  He  had 
been  three  years,  contrary  to  orders,  with  a  com- 
pany of  twenty  "  coureurs  du  hois  "  on  Lake  Su- 
perior; he  had  borne  himself  bravely,  proclaiming 
everywhere  that  at  the  head  of  his  brave  fellows 
he  did  not  fear  the  Grand  Prevost,  and  that  he 
would  compel  an  amnesty. 

'•  "Wliile  he  was  at  Lake  Superior,  the  Nadoiie- 
sioux,  enticed  by  the  presents  that  the  late  Sieur 
Randin  had  made  on  the  part  of  Coimt  Fronte- 
nac. and  the  Sauteurs  [Ojibways].  who  are  the  sav- 
ages who  carry  the  peltries  to  Montreal,  and  who 
dwell  on  Lake  Superior,  wislung  to  obey  the  re- 
peated orders  of  the  Count,  made  a  peace  to 
unite  the  Sauteurs  and  French,  and  to  trade  with 
the  Xadouesioux,  situated  about  sixty  leagues  to 
the  west  of  Lake  Superior.  Du  Luth,  to  disguise 
liis  desertion,  seized  the  opportunity  to  make 
some  reputation  for  himself,  sending  two  messen- 
gers to  the  Count  to  negotiate  a  truce,  during 
which  period  their  comrades  negotiated  still  bet- 
ter for  beaver. 

Several  conferences  were  held  with  the  Na- 


FAFFART,  BU  LUTH'S  INTEBPBETER. 


11 


douessionx,  and  as  he  needed  an  interpreter,  he  led 
off  one  of  mine,  named  Faffart,  formerly  a  sol- 
dier at  Fort  Frontenac.  During  tliis  period  there 
were  frequent  \'isits  between  the  Sauteurs  [Ojil)- 
ways]  and  Nadouesioux,  and  supposing  that  it 
might  increase  the  number  of  beaver  skins,  lie 
sent  Faffart  by  land,  with  the  Nadouesioux  and 
Sauteurs  [Ojibways].  The  yoiuig  man  on  liis  re- 
tnrn,  having  given  an  account  of  the  quantity  of 
beaver  in  that  region,  he  wished  to  proceed  thither 
himself,  and,  guided  by  a  Sauteur  and  a  Nadoue- 
«  sioux,  and  four  Frenchmen,  he  ascended  the  river' 
Nemitsakouat,  where,  by  a  short  portage,  he  de- 
scended that  stream,  whereon  he  passed  through 
forty  leagues  of  rapids  [Upper  St.  Croix  Kiver], 
and  finding  that  the  IN^adouesioux  were  below  with 
my  men  and  the  Father,  Avho  had  come  down 
again  from  the  village  of  the  Xadouesioux,  he 
discovered  them.  They  went  iip  again  to  the 
village,  and  from  thence  they  all  together  came 
down.  They  returned  by  the  river  Ouisconsing, 
and  came  back  to  Montreal,  where  Du  Luth  in- 
sults the  commissaries,  and  the  deputy  of  the 
'procurem-  general,'  named  d'Auteuil.  Count 
Frontenac  had  him  arrested  and  imprisoned  in 
the  castle  of  Quebec,  with  the  intention  of  return- 
mg  him  to  France  for  the  amnesty  accorded  to 
the  coureurs  des  bois^did  not  release  him." 

At  tills  very  period,   another  party  charges 
Frontenac  as  being  Du  Luth's  particular  friend. 

Du  Luth,  during  the  fall  of  1681,  was  engaged 
in  the  beaver  trade  at  Montreal  and  Quebec. 
Du  Chesneau,  the  Intendant  of  .Justice  for  Can- 
ada, on  the  13th  of  November,  1G81,  wrote  to  the 
Marquis  de  Siegnelay^  in  Paris  :  "  Not  content 
with  the  profits  to  be  derived  from  the  countries 
under  the  King's  dominion,  the  desire  of  making 
money  everywhere,  has  led  the  Governor  [Fron- 
tenac], Boisseau,  Du  Lut  and  Patron,  his  uncle, 
to  send  canoes  loaded  with  peltries,  to  the  En- 
glish. It  is  said  sixty  thousand  livres'  worth  has 
been  sent  thither;"  and  he  further  stated  that 
there  was  a  very  general  report  that  within  five 
or  six  days,  Frontenac  and  his  associates  had  di- 
vided the  money  received  from  the  beavers  ^ent 
to  New  England. 
"^  At  a  conference  in  Quebec  of  some  of  the  dis- 
tinguished men  in  that  city,  relative  to  difficulties 
with  the  Iroquois,  held  on  the  10th  of  October, 
1682,  Du  Luth  was  present.    From  thence  he  went 


to  France,  and,  early  in  1683,  consulted  with  the 
Minister  of  ^Marine  at  Versailles  relative  to  the 
interests  of  trade  in  the  Hudson's  Bay  and  Lake 
Superior  region.  Upon  his  return  to  Canada,  he 
departed  for  Mackinaw.  Governor  De  la  Barre, 
on  the  9th  of  November,  1683,  wrote  to  the  French 
Government  that  the  Indians  west  and  north  of 
Lake  Superior,  "  when  they  heard  by  expresses 
sent  them  by  Du  Lhut,  of  his  arrival  at  Missili- 
makinak,  that  he  was  coming,  sent  him  word  to 
come  quickly  and  they  would  unite  with  him  to 
prevent  others  going  tliither.  If  I  stop  that  pass 
as  I  hope,  and  as  it  is  necessary  to  do,  as  the  Eng- 
lish of  the  Bay  [Hudson's]  excite  against  us  the 
savages,  whom  Sieur  Du  Lhut  alone  can  quiet." 

AVliile  stationed  at  Mackinaw  he  was  a  partici- 
pant in  a  tragic  occurrence.  During  the  summer 
of  1683  Jacques  le  Maire  and  Colin  Berthot,  while 
on  their  way  to  trade  at  Keweenaw,  on  Lake  Su- 
perior, were  surprised  by  three  Indians,  robbed, 
and  murdered.  Du  Luth  was  prompt  to  arrest 
and  punish  the  assassins.  In  a  letter  from  Mack- 
inaw, dated  April  12,  1681,  to  the  Governor  of 
Canada,  he  writes:  "  Be  pleased  to  know.  Sir, 
that  on  the  24tli  of  October  last,  I  was  told  that 
Folle  Avome,  accomplice  in  the  murder  and  rob- 
bery of  the  two  Frenchmen,  had  arrived  at  Sault 
Ste.  Marie  with  fifteen  families  of  the  Sauteurs 
[Ojibways]  who  had  fled  from  Chagoamigon  [La 
Pointe]  on  accoimt  of  an  attack  wliicli  they,  to- 
gether with  the  people  of  the  land,  made  last 
Spring  upon  the  Nadouecioux  [Dakotahs.] 

"  He  believed  himself  safe  at  the  Sault,  on  ac- 
count of  the  number  of  allies  and  relatives  he  had 
there.  Kev.  Father  Albanel  informed  me  that 
the  French  at  the  Saut,  being  only  twelve  in  num- 
ber, had  not  arrested  him,  beUeving  themselves 
too  weak  to  contend  with  such  numbers,  espe- 
cially as  the  Sauteurs  had  declared  that  they 
would  not  allow  the  French  to  redden  the  land 
of  their  fathers  with  the  blood  of  their  brothers. 

"  On  receiving  this  information,  I  immediately 
resolved  to  take  with  me  six  Frenchmen,  and  em- 
bark at  the  da^vn  of  the  next  day  for  Sault  Ste. 
Marie,  and  if  possible  obtain  possession  of  the 
mirrderer.  I  made  known  my  design  to  the  Kev. 
Father  Engahran,  and,  at  my  request,  as  he  had 
some  business  to  arrange  with  Rev.  Father  Al- 
banel, he  placed  himself  in  my  canoe. 

"  Having  arrived  within  a  league  of  the  village 


12 


EXPLOIiERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


of  the  Saut,  the  Rev.  Father,  the  Chevalier  de 
Fourcille,  CanlonnieiTe,  and  I  disembarked.  I 
caused  the  canoe,  iu  wliicli  were  15aribaud,  Le 
Mere,  La  Fortune,  and  Macons,  to  proceed,  wliile 
we  went  across  the  wood  to  the  house  of  the  Kev. 
Fatlier,  fearing  that  the  savages,  seeing  me,  niiglit 
suspect  the  object  of  my  visit,  and  cause  Folle 
Avoine  to  escape.  Fmally,  to  cut  tlie  matter 
short,  I  arrested  him,  and  caused  him  to  be 
guarded  day  and  iiiglit  by  six  Frenclimen. 

"  I  then  called  a  council,  at  which  I  requested 
all  the  savages  of  the  place  to  be  present,  where 
I  repeated  what  I  had  often  said  to  the  Ilurons 
and  Ottawas  since  the  departure  of  M.  Pere[Per- 
rot],  giving  them  tlie  message  you  ordered  me. 
Sir,  that  in  case  there  should  be  among  them  any 
spirits  so  evil  disposed  as  to  follow  the  example 
of  those  who  have  murdered  the  French  on  Lake 
Superior  and  Lake  Michigan,  they  must  separate 
the  guilty  from  the  innocent,  as  I  did  not  wish 
the  whole  nation  to  suffer,  unless  they  protected 
the  guilty.  *  *  *  The  savages  held  several 
councils,  to  whirli  I  was  invited,  bi;t  their  only 
object  seemed  to  be  to  exculpate  the  prisoner,  in 
order  that  I  might  release  liim. 

"  All  united  in  accusmg  Achiganaga  and  his 
children,  assuring  themselves  with  the  belief  that 
M.  Pere,  [Perrot]  with  his  detachment  would  not 
be  able  to  arrest  them,  and  wishing  to  peisuade 
me  that  they  apprehended  that  all  the  Frenchmen 
might  be  killed. 

"I  answered  them,  *  *  *  'As  to  the  antici- 
pated death  of  yi.  Pere  [Perrot],  as  well  as  of  the 
other  Frenchmen,  that  would  not  embaiTass  me, 
since  I  believed  neither  the  allies  nor  the  nation 
of  Achiganaga  would  ■wish  to  have  a  war  witli  us 
to  sustain  an  action  so  dark  as  that  of  which  we 
were  speaking.  Having  only  to  attack  a  few 
murderers,  or,  at  most,  those  of  their  own  family. 
1  was  certain  that  the  French  would  have  them 
dead  or  alive.' 

"  This  was  the  answer  they  had  from  me  during 
the  tliree  days  that  the  councils  lasted  ;  after 
wliich  1  embarked,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  moniing, 
sustained  by  only  twelve  Frenchmen,  to  show  a 
few  unruly  persons  who  boasted  of  taking  the 
prisoner  away  from  me,  that  the  French  did  not 
fear  them. 

"  Daily  I  received  accounts  of  the  number  of 
savages  that  Achiganaga  drew  from  his  nation  to 


Kiaonan  [Keweenaw]  mider  pretext  of  going  to 
war  in  the  spring  against  the  Kadouecioux,  to 
avenge  the  death  of  one  of  his  relatives,  son  of  Ou- 
enaus,  but  really  to  protect  himself  against  us, 
in  case  we  should  become  convinced  that  his  chil- 
dren had  killed  the  Frenchmen.  This  precaution 
placed  me  between  hope  and  fear  respecting  the 
expedition  which  M.  Pere  [Perrot]  had  imder- 
taken. 

"  On  the  24th  of  November,  [1683],  he  came 
across  the  wood  at  ten  o'clock  at  night,  to  tell  me 
that  he  had  arrested  Achiganaga  and  four  of  his  * 
children.  He  said  they  were  not  all  guilty  of  the 
murder,  but  had  thought  proper,  in  this  affair,  to 
follow  the  custom  of  the  savages,  which  is  to  seize 
all  the  relatives.  Folle  Avoine,  whom  I  had  ar- 
rested, he  considered  the  most  guilty,  being  wth- 
out  doubt  the  originator  of  the  mischief. 

''  I  immediately  gave  orders  that  Folle  Avoine 
should  be  more  closely  confined,  and  not  allowed 
to  speak  to  any  one ;  for  I  had  also  learned  that 
he  had  a  brother,  sister,  and  uncle  in  the  village 
of  the  Kiskakons. 

'•  il.  Pere  informed  me  that  he  had  released  the 
youngest  son  of  Achiganaga,  aged  about  tliirteen 
or  fourteen  years,  that  he  might  make  known  to 
their  nation  and  the  Sauteurs  [Ojibways],  who  are 
at  Xocke  and  in  the  neighborhood,  the  reason 
why  the  French  had  arrested  his  father  and  bro- 
tliers.  M.  Pere  bade  him  assure  tlie  savages  tliat 
if  any  one  wished  to  complain  of  what  he  had 
done,  he  would  wait  for  them  with  a  firm  step ;  for 
he  considered  himself  in  a  condition  to  set  them 
at  defiance,  havingfound  at  Kiaonau  [Keweenaw] 
eighteen  Frenchmen  who  had  wintered  there. 

"On  the  2.')th,  at  daybreak,  M.  Pere  embarked 
at  the  Sault,  with  four  good  men  whom  I  gave 
him.  to  go  and  meet  the  prisoners.  He  left  them 
four  leagues  from  there,  luider  a  guard  of  twelve 
I'renchmen ;  and  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
they  arrived.  I  had  prepared  a  room  Ln  my  house 
for  the  prisoners,  in  which  they  were  placed  under 
a  strong  guard,  and  were  not  allowed  to  converse 
with  any  one. 

"On  the  26th,  I  commenced  proceedings;  and 
this,  sir,  is  tlie  course  I  pursued.  I  gave  notice 
to  all  the  chiefs  and  others,  to  appear  at  the 
council  which  I  had  appointed,  and  gave  to  Folle 
Avoine  the  privilege  of  selecting  two  of  his  rela 


INDIANS  CONDEMNED  TO  BE  SHOT. 


13 


tives  to  supiwrt  his  interests ;  and  to  tlie  other 
prisoners  I  made  the  same  offer. 

"  The  council  being  assembled,  I  sent  for  Folle 
Avorue  to  be  interrogated,  and  caused  his  answers 
to  be  written,  and  afterwards  they  were  read  to 
Mm,  and  inquiry  made  whether  they  were  not, 
word  for  word,  what  he  had  said.  He  was  tlien 
removed  under  a  safe  guard.  I  used  the  same 
form  with  the  two  eldest  sons  of  Achigauaga,  and, 
as  Folle  Avoine  had  iiuUrectly  charged  the  father 
with  being  accessory  to  the  murder,  I  sent  for 
him  and  also  for  Folle  Avoine,  and  bringing  them 
into  the  council,  confronted  the  four. 

"  FoUe  Avoine  and  the  two  sons  of  Achiganaga 
accused  each  other  of  committing  the  murder, 
without  denying  that  tliey  were  laarticipators  in 
the  crime.  Achiganaga  alone  strongly  mamtained 
that  he  knew  nothing  of  the  design  of  Folle 
Avoine,  nor  of  his  children,  and  called  on  them 
to  say  if  he  had  advised  them  to  kill  the  French- 
men.   They  answered,  '  iSTo.' 

"  This  confrontation,  which  the  savages  did  not 
expect,  sui"prised  them;  and,  seeing  the  prisoners 
had  convicted  themselves  of  the  murder,  the 
Chiefs  said:  '  It  is  enough;  you  accuse  your- 
selves; the  French  are  masters  of  yourl)odies.' 

"  The  next  day  I  held  another  council,  in  which 
I  said  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  the  French- 
men had  been  murdered,  that  the  murderers  were 
known,  and  that  they  knew  what  was  the  prac- 
tice among  themselves  upon  such  occasions.  To 
all  this  they  said  nothing,  which  obliged  us  on 
the  following  day  to  hold  another  council  in  the 
cabin  of  Brochet,  where,  after  having  spoken,  and 
seeing  that  tliey  would  make  no  decision,  and  that 
all  my  councils  ended  only  in  reducing  tobacco  to 
ashes,  I  told  them  that,  since  they  did  not  wish  to 
decide,  I  should  take  the  responsibihty,  and  tliat 
the  next  day  I  would  let  them  know  the  deter- 
mination of  the  French  and  myself. 

"  It  is  proper.  Sir,  you  should  know  that  I  ob- 
served all  these  forms  only  to  see  if  they  would 
feel  it  their  duty  to  render  to  us  the  same  justice 
that  they  do  to  each  other,  having  had  divers  ex- 
amples m  which  when  the  tribes  of  those  who 
had  committed  the  murder  did  not  wish  to  go  to 
war  with  the  tribe  aggrieved,  the  nearest  rela- 
tions of  the  murderers  killed  them  themselves; 
that  is  to  say,  man  for  man. 

"  On  the  29th  of  November.  I  gathered  together 


the  French  that  were  here,  and,  after  the  interro- 
■  gations  and  ans^\■ers  of  the  accused  had  been  read 
to  them,  the  guilt  of  the  three  appeared  so  evi- 
dent, from  their  own  confessions,  that  the  vote 
was  imanimous  that  all  should  die.  But  as  the 
French  who  remained  at  Kiaonan  to  pass  the  win- 
ter had  written  to  Father  Engalran  and  to  myself, 
to  beg  us  to  treat  the  affair  with  all  possible  len- 
iency, tlie  savages  declaring  that  if  they  made 
the  prisoners  die  they  would  avenge  themselves, 
I  told  the  gentlemen  who  were  with  me  in  coun- 
cil that,  this  bemg  a  case  witliout  a  precedent,  I 
believed  it  was  expedient  for  the  safety  of  the 
French  who  would  pass  the  winter  in  the  Lake 
Superior  country  to  put  to  death  only  two,  as  that 
of  the  third  might  bring  about  grievous  conse- 
quences, while  the  putting  to  death,  man  for 
man,  could  give  the  savages  no  complaint,  since 
this  is  then-  custom.  M.  de  la  Tour,  chief  of  tlie 
Fathers,  who  had  served  much,  sustained  my 
opinions  by  strong  reasoning,  and  all  decided  that 
two  should  be  shot,  namely,  Folle  Avoine  and 
the  older  of  the  two  brothers,  while  the  younger 
should  be  released,  and  hold  his  Life,  Sir,  as  a  gift 
from  you. 

"  I  thni  returned  to  the  cabin  of  Brochet  with 
Messrs.  Boisguillot,  Pere,  De  Repentigny,  De 
Manthet,  De  la  Ferte,  and  Macons,  where  were 
all  the  chiefs  of  the  Outawas  du  Sable,  Outawas 
Sinagos,  Easkakons,  Sauteurs,  D'Achiliny,  a  part 
of  the  Ilurons,  and  Oumamens,  the  chief  of  the 
Amikoys.    I  informed  them  of  our  decision    * 

*  *  that,  the  Frenclmien  having  been  killed  by 
the  different  nations,  one  of  each  must  (.lie,  and 
that  the  same  death  they  had  caused  the  French 
to  suffer  they  must  also  suffer.  *  *  *  This 
decision  to  put  the  murderers  to  death  was  a  hard 
stroke  to  them  all,  for  none  had  believed  that  I 
would  dare  to  undertake  it.  *  *  *  I  then  left 
the  council  and  asked  the  Kev.  Fathers  if  they 
wished  to  baptize  the  prisoners,  which  they  did. 

"An  hour  after,  I  put  myself  at  the  head  of 
forty-two  Frenchmen,  and,  in  sight  of  more  than 
four  hundred  savages,  and  within  two  himdred 
paces  of  their  fort,  I  caused  the  two  murderers 
to  be  shot.  The  impossibility  of  keeping  them 
until  sprmg  made  me  hasten  their  death.    *    * 

*  "Wlien  M.  Pere  made  the  arrest,  those  who  had 
committed  the  murder  confessed  it;  and  when  he 
asked  them  what  they  had  dlone  with  our  gnodn 


11 


EXPLOBETiS  AKD  FIOXEEES  OF  MINNESOTA. 


they  answered  that  they  were  ahnost  all  con- 
cealed. He  jiroceeded  to  the  place  of  conceal- 
ment, and  was  very  much  suiinised,  as  were  also 
the  French  with  him,  to  find  them,  in  fifteen  or 
twenty  different  places.  By  the  carelessness  of 
the  savages,  the  tobacco  and  powder  were  entire- 
ly destroyed,  having  been  placed  in  the  pinery, 
imder  the  roots  of  trees,  and  being  soaked  in  the 
water  caused  by  ten  or  twelve  days'  continuous 
rain,  which  inundated  all  the  lower  country. 
The  season  for  snow  and  ice  having  come,  they 
had  all  the  trouble  in  the  world  to  get  out  the 
bales  of  cloth. 

'They  then  went  to  see  the  bodies,  but  could 
not  remove  them,  these  miserable  wretches  hav- 
ing thro%\ni  them  into  a  marsh,  and  thrust  them 
down  into  holes  which  they  had  made.  Kot  sat- 
isfied with  this,  they  had  also  piled  branches  of 
trees  upon  tlie  bodies,  to  prevent  them  from  float- 
ing when  the  water  should  rise  in  the  spring, 
hopmg  by  this  precaution  the  French  would  find 
no  trace  of  those  who  were  killed,  but  would  tliink 
them  drowned;  as  they  reported  that  they  had 
foimd  in  the  lake  on  the  other  side  of  the  Portage, 
a  boat  with  the  sides  all  broken  in,  which  they 
believed  to  be  a  French  boat. 

"  Those  goods  which  the  French  were  able  to 
secure,  they  took  to  Kiaouau  [Keweenaw],  where 
were  a  number  of  Frenchmen  who  bad  gone  tliere 
to  pass  the  winter,  who  knew  nothing  of  the  deatli 
of  Colin  Berthot  and  Jacques  le  ilaire,  imtil  il. 
Pere  arrived. 

''  Tlie  ten  who  formed  M.  Pere's  detachment 
having  conferred  together  concerning  the  means 
they  should  take  to  prevent  a  total  loss,  decided 
to  sell  the  goods  to  the  highest  bidder.  The  sale 
was  made  for  1 100  livres,  which  was  to  be  paid  in 
beavers,  to  M.  de  la  Chesnaye,  to  whom  I  send 
the  names  of  the  purchsers. 

"  The  savages  who  were  present  when  Acliiga- 
naga  and  his  children  were  arrested  wished  to 
pass  the  calumet  to  M.  Pere,  and  give  him  cap- 
tives to  satisfy  him  for  the  miuder  committed  on 
the  two  Frenchmen ;  but  he  knew  their  inten- 
tion, and  would  not  accept  their  offer,  lie  told 
them  neither  a  hundred  captives  nor  a  hundred 
packs  of  beaver  would  give  back  the  blood  of  his 
brothers;  that  the  murderers  must  be  given  up 
to  me,  and  I  would  see  what  I  woidd  do. 

"  I  caused  M.  Pere  to  repeat  these  things  in  the 


council,  tliat  in  future  the  savages  need  not  think 
by  presents  to  save  those  who  commit  similar 
deeds.  Besides,  sii",  il.  Pere  showed  plainly  by 
his  conduct,  that  be  is  not  strongly  inclined  to 
favor  the  savages,  as  was  reported.  Indeed.  I  do 
not  know  any  one  whom  they  fear  more,  yet  who 
flatters  them  less  or  knows  them  better. 

'■  The  criminals  being  in  two  different  places, 
M.  Pere  being  obliged  to  keep  four  of  them,  sent 
Messrs.  de  Eepentigny,  Manthet,  and  six  other 
Frenchmen,  to  arrest  the  two  who  were  eight 
leagues  in  the  woods.  Among  others,  M.  de  Re- 
pentigny  and  M.  de  Mauthet  showed  that  they 
feared  nothing  when  their  honor  called  them. 

"  M.  de  la  Chevrotiere  has  also  served  well  in 
person,  and  by  his  advice,  havuig  pointed  out 
where  the  prisoners  were.  Achiganaga,  who  had 
adopted  him  as  a  son,  had  told  him  where  he 
should  hunt  during  the  winter.  ***** 
It  still  remained  for  me  to  give  to  Achiganaga  and 
his  three  children  the  means  to  return  to  his 
family.  Their  home  from  which  they  were  taken 
was  nearly  twenty-six  leagues  from  here.  Kjiow- 
ing  their  necessity,  I  told  them  you  would  not  be 
satisfied  in  giving  them  life;  you  wished  to  pre- 
serve it,  by  giving  them  all  that  was  necessary  to 
prevent  them  from  dying  with  himger  and  cold 
by  the  way,  and  that  your  gift  was  made  by  my 
hands.  I  gave  them  blankets,  tobacco,  meat, 
hatchets,  knives,  twine  to  make  nets  for  beavers, 
and  two  bags  of  corn,  to  supply  them  tiU  they 
could  kill  game. 

"  They  departed  two  days  after,  the  most  con- 
tented creatures  in  the  world,  but  (iod  was  not ; 
fur  when  only  two  days'  journey  from  here,  the 
old  Achiganaga  fell  sick  of  the  quinsy,  and  died, 
and  his  children  returned.  "When  the  news  of  his 
death  arrived,  the  greater  part  of  the  savages  of 
this  place  [Mackinaw]  attributed  it  to  the  French, 
sa>iiig  we  had  caused  him  to  die.  I  let  them 
talk,  and  laughed  at  them.  It  is  only  about  two 
months  shice  the  children  of  Achiganaga  retumel 
to  Kiaonan." 

Some  of  those  opposed  to  Du  Liitli  and  Fron- 
tenac,  prejudiced  the  King  of  France  relative  to 
the  transaction  we  have  described,  and  in  a  letter 
to  the  Governor  of  Canada,  the  King  vrates :  "  It 
appears  to  me  that  one  of  the  principal  causes  of 
tlie  war  arises  from  one  Du  Luth  having  caused 
two  to  be  killed  w  ho  had  assassinated  two  French- 


ENGLISH  TItADEBS  CAPTUBED. 


13 


men  on  Lake  Superior ;  and  you  sufficiently  see 
now  mueli  this  man's  voyage,  wliicli  can  not  pro- 
duce any  advantage  to  the  colony,  and  wliich  was 
permitted  only  in  the  interest  of  some  private 
persons,  has  contributed  to  distract  the  peace  of 
the  colony." 

Du  Luth  and  his  young  brother  appear  to  have 
traded  at  the  western  extremity  of  Lake  Superior, 
and  on  the  north  shore,  to  Lake  Nipegon. 

In  June,  1684,  Governor  De  la  Barre  sent  Guil- 
let  and  Ilebert  from  Montreal  to  request  Du  Luth 
and  I>urantaye  to  bring  down  voyageurs  and  In- 
dians to  assist  iu  an  expedition  against  the  Iro- 
quois of  New  York.  Early  in  September,  they 
reported  on  the  St.  Lawi-ence,  with  one  hundred 
and  fifty  coiu-eurs  des  bois  and  three  hundred  and 
fifty  Indians ;  but  as  a  treaty  had  just  been  made 
with  the  Senecas,  they  returned. 

De  la  Barrels  successor.  Governor  Denonvllle, 
in  a  dispatch  to  the  French  Government,  dated 
November  12th,  1685,  alludes  to  Du  Luth  being 
in  the  far  West,  in  these  words :  "  I  likewise  sent 
to  M.  De  la  Durantaye,  who  is  at  Lake  Superior 
imder  orders  from  M.  De  la  Barre,  and  to  Sieur 
Du  Luth,  who  is  also  at  a  great  distance  in  an- 
other direction,  and  all  so  far  beyond  reach  that 
neither  the  one  nor  the  other  can  hear  news  from 
me  this  year  ;  so  that,  not  being  able  to  see  them 
at  soonest,  before  next  July,  I  considered  it  best 
not  to  think  of  undertaking  any  thing  during  the 
whole  of  next  year,  especially  as  a  great  number 
of  our  best  men  are  among  the  Outaouacs,  and 
can  not  return  before  the  ensuing  summer.  *  *  * 
In  regard  to  Sieur  Du  Luth,  I  sent  him  orders  to 
repair  here,  so  that  I  may  learn  the  number  of 
savages  on  whom  I  may  depend.  He  is  accredit- 
ed among  them,  and  rendered  great  services  to 
M.  De  la  Barre  by  a  lai'ge  number,  of  savages  he 
brought  to  Niagara,  who  would  have  attacked 
the  Senecas,  was  it  not  for  an  express  order  from 
JSi.  De  la  Barre  to  the  contrary." 

In  1686,  while  at  Mackinaw,  he  was  ordereu  to 
establish  a  post  on  tlie  Detroit,  near  Lake  Erie. 
A  portion  of  the  order  reads  as  follows  :  "  i\iter 
having  given  all  the  orders  that  you  may  judge 
necessary  for  the  safety  of  this  post,  and  having 
well  secured  the  obedience  of  the  Indians,  you 
will  return  to  Michil i mackinac,  there  to  await 
Rev.  Father  Engelran,  by  whom  I  wiU  commu- 
nicate what  I  wish  of  you,  there." 


The  design  of  this  post  was  to  block  the  pas- 
sage of  the  English  to  the  upper  lakes.  Before 
it  was  established,  in  the  fall  of  1686,  Thomas 
Roseboom,  a  daring  trader  from  Albany,  on  the 
Hudson,  had  found  his  way  to  the  vicinity  of 
Jlackinaw,  and  by  the  proffer  of  ))randy,  weak- 
ened the  allegiance  of  the  tribes  to  the  French. 

A  canoe  coming  to  Mackinaw  with  dispatches 
for  the  French  and  their  alUes,  to  march  to  the 
Seneca  country,  in  New  York,  perceived  this  New 
York  trader  and  associates,  and,  giving  the  alarm, 
they  were  met  by  three  himdred  coureurs  du 
bois  and  captured. 

In  the  spring  of  1687  Du  Luth,  Durantaye, 
and  Tonty  all  left  the  vicuiity  of  Deti-oit  for  Ni- 
agara, and  as  they  were  coasting  along  Lake  Erie 
they  met  another  EngUsh  trader,  a  Scotchman 
by  birth,  and  by  name  Major  Patrick  McGregor, 
a  person  of  some  influence,  going  with  a  number 
of  traders  to  Mackinaw.  Having  taken  him  pris- 
oner, he  was  sent  with  Roseboom  to  ^Montreal. 

Du  Luth,  Tonty,  and  Durantaye  arrived  at  Ni- 
agara on  the  27th  of  June,  1687,  with  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  French  voyageurs,  besides  In- 
dians, and  on  the  10th  of  July  jouied  the  army  of 
Denonvllle  at  the  mouth  of  the  Genesee  River, 
and  on  the  13th  Du  Luth  and  his  associates  had 
a  skirmish  near  a  Seneca  village,  now  the  site  of 
the  town  of  Victor,  twenty  miles  southeast  of  the 
city  of  Rochester,  New  York.  Governor  Denon- 
vllle, in  a  report,  writes:  "  On  the  13th,  about  4 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  having  passed  through 
two  dangerous  defiles,  we  arrived  at  the  third, 
where  we  were  vigorously  attacked  by  eight  hun- 
dred Senecas,  two  hundred  of  whom  fired,  wish- 
ing to  attack  our  rear,  while  the  rest  would  attack 
om'  front,  but  the  resistance,  made  produced 
such  a  great  consternation  that  they  soon  resolved 
to  fly.  *  *  *  We  witnessed  the  p,iinful  sight 
of  the  usual  cruelties  of  the  savages,  who  cut  the 
dead  into  quarters,  as  is  done  in  slaughter  houses, 
in  order  to  put  them  into  the  kettle.  The  greater 
nimiber  were  opened  while  still  warm,  that  the 
blood  might  be  drunk.  Our  rascally  Otaoas  dis- 
tinguished themselves  particularly  by  these  bar- 
barities. *  *  *  We  had  five  or  six  men  killed 
on  the  spot,  French  and  Indians,  and  about 
twenty  wounded,  among  the  first  of  whom  was  the 
Rev.  Father  Angelran,  superior  of  all  the  Otaoan 
Missions,  by  a  very  severe  gun-shot.     It  is  a  great 


ir> 


EXPLOIiEBS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


misfortune  that  this  woimd  will  prevent  him  go- 
jng  back  again,  for  he  is  a  man  of  caiiacity." 

In  the  ord«r  to  Uu  Luth  assigning  him  to  duty 
at  the  post  on  the  site  of  tJie  modem  Fort  Gra- 
tiot, above  the  city  of  Detroit,  the  Governor  of 
Canada  said:  "  If  you  can  so  arrange  your  affairs 
that  your  brother  can  be  near  you  in  tlie  Spring. 
I  shall  be  very  glad.  He  is  an  mtelligent  lad. 
and  might  bo  a  great  assistance  to  you;  he  might 
also  be  very  servicealile  to  us." 

This  lad,  CJreysolon  de  la  Tourette,  dining  tliii 
wiuter  of  1686-7  was  trading  among  the  Assina- 
boines  and  other  tribes  at  tlie  west  eud  of  Lake 
Superior,  but,  upon  receiving  a  dispatch,  hastened 
to  his  brother,  journeying  in  a  canoe  without  any 
escort  from  ]Mackinaw.  lie  did  not  arrive  until 
after  the  battle  with  the  Senecas.  Governor  Den- 
onville,  on  the  2oth  of  August,  1687,  wrote: 

"  Du  Luth's  brother,  who  has  recently  arrived 
from  the  rivers  above  the  Lake  of  the  Allempi- 
gons  [Nipegon],  assures  me  that  he  saw  more  than 
fifteen  hundred  persons  come  to  trade  with  liim, 
and  they  were  very  sorry  he  had  not  goods  suffi- 
cient to  satisfy  them.  They  are  of  the  triltes  ac- 
customed to  resort  to  the  English  at  Port  Kelson 
and  River  IJourbon,  where,  they  say,  they  did  not 
go  this  year,  througli  Sieur  Du  Lhu's  iutluence." 

After  the  battle  in  the  vicinity  of  Rochester, 
New  York,  Du  Lutli,  with  his  celebrated  cousin. 
Henry  Tonty,  returned  together  as  far  as  the  post 
above  the  present  city  of  Detroit,  llichigan,  but 
this  point,  after  KiSS,  was  not  again  occupied. 

From  this  period  Du  Lutli  becomes  less  prom- 
inent. At  the  time  wlien  the  Jesuits  attempted 
to  exclude  brandy  from  the  Indian  country  a  bit- 
ter controversy  arose  between  them  a^id  the 
traders.  Cadillac,  a  Gascon  by  birth,  command- 
ing Fort  Buade,  at  Mackinaw,  on  Aiigust  3, 16'.)o, 
wrote  to  Count  Frontenae:  "Now,  what  reason 
can  we  assign  that  the  savages  should  not  drink 
brandy  bouglit  with  their  own  money  as  well  as 
we?  Is  it  prohibited  to  prevent  them  from  be- 
coming intoxicated?  Or  is  it  because  the  use  of 
brandy  reduces  them  to  extreme  .misery,  placing 
it  out  of  their  power  to  make  war  by  depriving 
them  of  clothing  and  arms?  If  such  representa- 
tions in  regard  to  the  Indians  have  been  made  to 
the  Count,  they  are  very  false,  as  every  one  knows 
who  is  acciuaintcd  with  the  ways  of  the  savages. 
*    *    *    It  is  bad  faith  to  represent  to  the  Count 


that  the  sale  of  brandy  reduces  the  savage  to  a 
state  of  nudity,  aifd  by  that  means  places  it  out 
of  his  power  to  make  war,  since  he  never  goes  to 
war  in  any  other  condition.  »  *  »  Perhaps  it 
will  be  said  th.at  the  sfile  of  brandy  makes  the 
labors  of  the  missionaries  unfruitful.  It  is  neces- 
sary to  examine  this  i)roposition.  If  the  mission- 
aries care  for  only  the  extension  of  commerce, 
pursuing  the  coiurse  they  have  hitherto,  I  agree 
to  it;  but  if  it  is  the  use  of  brandy  that  hinders 
tlie  advancement  of  the  cause  of  God,  I  deny  it, 
for  it  is  a  fact  which  no  one  can  deny  that  there 
are  a  great  number  of  savages  who  never  drink 
brandy,  yet  who  are  not,  for  that,  better  Chris- 
tians. 

"  All  the  Sioux,  the  most  numerous  of  all  the 
tribes,  who  inhabit  the  region  along  the  .shore  of 
Lake  Superior,  do  not  even  like  the  smell  of 
brandy.  Are  they  more  advanced  in  religion  for 
that?  They  do  not  wish  to  have  the  subject  men- 
tioned, and  when  the  missionaries  address  them 
tlicy  only  laugh  at  the  foolishness  of  preaching. 
Yet  these  priests  boldly  fling  before  the  eyes  of 
Europeans,  whole  volumes  filled  with  glowing 
descriptions  of  the  conversion  of  souls  by  thou- 
sands in  this  country,  causing  the  poor  missiona- 
ries from  Eiu'ope,  to  run  to  martyrdom  as  flies  to 
sugar  and  honey.'' 

Du  Lutli,  or  Du  Lliut,  as  he  wrote  his  name, 
during  this  discussion,  was  found  upon  the  .side 
of  order  and  good  morals.  His  attestation  is  as 
follows  :  "  I  certify  that  at  different  periods  I 
have  lived  about  ten  years  among  the  (Ottawa 
nation,  from  the  time  that  I  made  an  exploration 
to  the  Nadouecioux  people  until  Fort  Saint  Jo- 
seph was  established  by  order  of  the  Monsieur 
Marquis  Denonville,  (kivernor  (Jeneral,  at  the 
head  of  the  Detroit  of  Lake  Brie,  wliich  is  in  the 
Iroquois  country,  and  which  I  had  the  honor  to 
command.  During  this  period,  I  have  seen  that 
tlie  trade  in  eau-de-vie  (brandy)  produced  great 
disorder,  the  father  killing  the  son,  and  the  son 
throwing  his  mother  into  the  fire;  and  I  maintain 
that,  morally  speaking,  it  is  impossible  to  export 
liiandy  to  the  woods  and  distant  missions,  with- 
out danger  of  its  leading  to  misery." 

Governor  Frontenae,  in  an  expedition  against 
tlie  Oneidas  of  New  York,  arrived  at  Fort  Fron- 
tenae, on  the  l!)th  of  July,  169.5,  anil  Captain  Du 
Luth  was  left  in  command  with  forty  soldiers, 


DU  LUTE  AFFLICTED  WITH  GOVT. 


17 


and  masons  and  carpenters,  with  orders  to  erect 
new  builtlings.  In  about  four  weeks  he  erected 
a  building  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  in  length, 
contammg  officers'  quarters,  store-rooms,  a  bakery 
and  a  chapel.  Early  in  1697  he  was  still  in  com- 
mand of  the  post,  and  in  a  report  it  is  mentioned 
that  "  everybody  was  then  in  good  health,  except 
Captain  DuUiut  the  commander,  who  was  imwell 
of  the  gout." 

It  was  just  before  this  period,  that  as  a  member 
of  the  Eoman  Catholic  Church,  he  was  firmly 
impressed  that  he  had  been  helped  by  prayers 
which  he  addressed  to  a  deceased  Iroquois  girl, 
who  had  died  in  the  odor  of  sanctity,  and,  as  a 
thank  offering,  signed  the  following  certificate  : 
"  I,  the  subscriber,  certify  to  all  whom  it  may 
concern,  that  having  been  tormented  by  the  gout, 
for  the  space  of  twenty-three  years,  and  with  such 


severe  pains,  that  it  gave  me  no  rest  for  the*pac 
of  three  montlis  at  a  time,  I  addi-essed  myself  to 
Catherine  Tegahkouita,  an  Iroquois  virgin  de- 
ceased at  the  Sault  Saint  Louis,  in  the  reputation 
of  sanctity,  and  I  promised  her  to  visit  her  tomb, 
if  God  should  give  me  health,  tlu'ough  her  inter- 
cession. I  have  been  as  perfectly  cured  at  the 
end  of  one  novena,  which  I  made  in  her  honor, 
tliat  after  five  months,  I  have  not  perceived  the 
slightest  touch  of  my  gout.  Given  at  Fort  Fron- 
tenac,  this  18th  day  of  August,  1696." 

As  soon  as  cold  weather  returned,  his  old  mal- 
ady again  appeared.  He  died  early  in  A.  D.  1710. 
Marquis  de  Vaudreuil,"  Governor  of  Canada,  xm- 
der  date  of  first  of  May  of  that  year,  wrote  to 
Count  Pontchartrain,  Colomal  Mmister  at  Paris, 
"  Captain  Du  Lud  died  this  winter.  He  was  a 
very  honest  man." 


Ifi 


EXl'LOllEliti  AXD  PIONEERS  OF  MIXKESOTA. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


FIEST  WHITE  3IEN  AT  FALLS  OF  SAINT  ANTHONY  OF  PADUA. 


FalU  of  SI.  Anthony  Visitcl  liy  White  Men.— La  Salle  Gives  the  First  IVscription 
of  Upper  Mississippi  Valley.— Accault,  the  Leader,  Aecompanieil  by  Anfelle 
and  Hennepin,  at  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony.— Hennepin  Declared  Unreliable  by 
La  Salle.— His  E.»rly  Life.— His  First  Book  Criticised  by  Abbe  Bernou  and 
Tn>nson. —  Dceeptivo  Map. —  First  Meeting  with  Sioux.;— Astonishment  at 
Reading'  His  Breviary,- Sioux  Nitmc  for  Guns.- Accault  and  Hennepin  at 
Liike  Pepin.— Leave  the  River  Below  Saint  Paul.- At  Mille  Lacs.— A  Sweating 
Cabin.— Sioux  Wonder  at  Mariner's  CoUtp.iss.— Fears  of  an  Iron  Pot — Miikinf 
a  Dictionary.- Infant  Baptisfd. -Route  to  the  Pacific— Hennepin  Descends 
Rum  River.- FirstVisitto  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony.— On  a  Buffalo  Hunt.— Meets 
Du  Luth.— Returns  to  Mille  Ucs.— With  Du  Luth  at  Falls  of  St.  Anthony.— 
Returns  to  France. — Subscijuent  Life.- His  Books  Examined.— Peoies  in  First 
Book  His  Descent  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.— Dispute  with  Du  Luth  at  Falls  of  St, 
Anthony.- Patronage  of  Du  Luth.— Tribute  to  Du  Luth.— Hennepin's  Answer 
to  Cnticisms.— Denounced  by  D'lbcrviUo  and  Father  Gravier.— Kcsidcuce  in 
Rome. 

In  the  summer  of  1680,  Michael  Accault  (jVko), 
lleiuiepin,  the  Frauciscau  missionary,  Augelle, 
Du  Luth,  and  Faffart  all  visited  the  Falls  of 
Saint  Aiitliony. 

The  first  description  of  the  valley  of  the  upper 
Mississippi  ■was  written  by  La  Salle,  at  Fort 
Frontenac,  on  Lake  Ontario,  on  the  22d  of  Au- 
gust, 1()82,  a  month  before  Hennepin,  in  Paris, 
obtained  a  license  to  print,  and  some  time  before 
the  Franciscan's  first  work,  was  issued  from  the 
press. 

La  Salle's  knowledge  must  have  been  received 
from  Michael  Accault,  the  leader  of  the  expedi- 
tion, Augelle,  his  comrade,  or  the  clerical  attache, 
the  Franciscan,  Hennepin. 

It  differs  from  nennepin's  narrative  in  its  free- 
dom from  bombast,  and  if  its  statements  are  to 
be  credited,  the  Francisciin  must  be  looked  on  as 
one  given  to  exaggeration.  The  careful  student, 
however,  soon  learns  to  be  cautious  m  receiving 
the  statement  of  any  of  the  early  explorers  and 
ecclesiastics  of  the  Northwest.  The  Franciscan 
depreciated  the  Jesuit  missionary,  and  La  Salle 
did  not  hesitate  to  misrepresent  Du  Lutli  and 
others  tor  his  own  exaltation.  La  Salle  makes 
statements  which  we  deem  to  be  -nide  of  the 
trutli  when  his  prejudices  are  aroused. 

At  the  very  time  that  the  lutendant  of  Justice 
in  Canada  is  complauiing  that  Governor  Fronte- 
nac is  a  friend  and  correspondent  of  Du  Luth, 


La  Salle  WTites  to  Ids  friends  in  Paris,  tliat  Du 
Luth  is  looked  upon  as  an  outlaw  by  the  governor. 

"While  ollicial  documents  prove  that  Du  Luth 
was  in  IMinnesota  a  year  before  Accault  and  asso- 
ciates, yet  La  Salle  writes:  "  Moreover,  the  Xa- 
donesioux  is  not  a  region  which  he  has  discov- 
ered. It  is  known  that  it  was  discovered  a  long 
time  before,  and  that  the  Rev.  Father  Hennepin 
and  Michael  Accault  were  there  before  him." 

La  Salle  in  this  communication  describes  Ac- 
cault as  one  well  acquainted  with  the  language 
and  names  of  the  Indians  of  the  Illinois  region, 
and  also  "  cool,  brave,  and  prudent,"  and  the  head 
of  the  party  of  exploration. 

We  now  proceed  with  tlie  first  description  of 
the  country  above  the  Wisconsin,  to  which  is 
given,  for  the  first  and  only  time,  by  any  writer, 
the  Sioux  name,  Meschetz  Odeba,  perhaps  in- 
tended for  Mcshdeke  AVakpa,  River  of  the  Foxes. 

He  describes  the  Upper  Mississippi  in  these 
words  :  "  Followuig  the  windings  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, they  found  the  river  Ouisconsing,  AViscon- 
smg,  or  Meschetz  Odeba,  which  flows  between 
Bay  of  Puans  and  the  Grand  river.  *  *  *  About 
twenty-three  or  twenty-four  leagues  to  the  north 
or  northwest  of  the  mouth  of  the  Ouisconsing, 
*  *  *  they  fomid  the  Black  river,  called  by  tlie 
Nadouesioux,  Chabadeba  [Chapa  AVakpa,  Beaver 
river]  not  very  large,  the  mouth  of  which  is  bor- 
dered on  the  two  sliores  by  alders. 

"  Ascending  about  thirty  leagues,  almost  at  the 
s.ame  point  of  the  compass,  is  the  Buffalo  river 
[Chippewa],  as  large  at  its  mouth  as  tliat  of  the 
Ilhnois.  They  follow  it  ten  or  twelve  leagues, 
where  it  is  deep,  smaU  and  without  rapids,  bor- 
dered by  hills  which  widen  out  from  tiu\e  to  time 
to  form  prairies." 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  1  Uh 
of  April,  1680,  the  tl'avelers  were  met  by  a  war 
party  of  one  hundred  Sioux  ui  thu'ty-three  birch 
bark  canoes.    "Michael  Accault,  who  was  the 


BENNEPIN  CRITICISED  BY  LA  SALLE. 


19 


leader,"  says  La  Salle,  "presented  the  Calumet." 
The  Indians  were  presented  by  Accault  with 
twenty  knives  and  a  fathom  and  a  half  of  tobacco 
and  some  goods.  Proceeduig  with  the  Indians 
ten  days,  on  the  22d  of  April  the  isles  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi were  reached,  where  the  Sioux  had  killed 
some  ilaskoutens,  and  they  halted  to  weep  over 
the  death  of  two  of  their  own  number ;  and  to 
assuage  their  grief,  Accault  gave  them  in  trade  a 
box  of  goods  and  twenty-four  hatchets. 

When  they  were  eight  leagues  below  the  Falls 
of  Saint  Anthony,  they  resolved  to  go  by  land  to 
their  village,  sixty  leagues  distant.  They  were 
well  received ;  the  only  strife  among  the  villages 
was  that  which  resulted  from  the  desire  to  have 
a  Frenchman  in  their  midst.  La  Salle  also  states 
that  it  was  not  correct  to  give  the  impression  that 
Du  Luth  had  rescued  his  men  from  captivity,  for 
they  could  not  be  properly  called  prisoners. 

He  continues:  "  In  going  up  the  Mississippi 
again,  twenty  leagues  above  that  river  [Saint 
Croixj  is  found  the  falls,  which  those  I  sent,  and 
who  passing  there  first,  named  Saint  Anthony. 
It  is  thirty  or  forty  feet  high,  and  the  river  is  nar- 
rower here  than  elsewhere.  There  is  a  small 
islaild  in  the  midst  of  the  chute,  and  the  two 
banks  of  the  river  are  not  bordered  by  high  hills, 
which  gradually  diminish  at  this  point,  but  the 
country  on  each  side  is  covered  with  thin  woods, 
such  as  oaks  and  other  hard  woods,  scattered  wide 
apart. 

"  The  canoes  were  carried  three  or  four  hun- 
dred steps,  and  eight  leagues  above  was  found 
the  west  [east?]  bank  of  the  river  of  the  Nadoue- 
sioux,  ending  in  a  lake  named  Issati,  which  ex- 
pands into  a  great  marsh,  where  the  mid  rice 
grows  toward  the  mouth." 

In  the  latter  part  of  his  letter  La  Salle  uses  the 
foUowmg  language  relative  to  his  old  chaplain: 

"  I  believed  that  it  was  appropriate  to  make  for 
you  the  narrative  of  the  adventures  of  this  canoe, 
because  I  doubt  not  that  they  will  speak  of  it,  and 
if  you  wish  to  confer  with  the  Father  Louis  Hen- 
nepin, Recollect,  who  has  returned  to  France,  you 
must  know  him  a  little,  because  he  will  not  fail 
to  exaggerate  all  things;  it  is  his  character,  and 
to  me  he  has  written  as  if  he  were  about  to  be 
burned  when  he  was  not  even  in  danger,  but  he 
beUeves  that  it  is  honorable  to  act  in  this  manner, 


and  he  speaks  more  conformably  to  that  wliich 
he  wishes  than  to  that  which  he  knows." 

Hemiepin  was  born  in  Ath,  an  inland  town  of 
the  Netherlands.  From  boyliood  he  longed  to 
visit  foreign  lands,  and  it  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at  that  he  assumed  the  priest's  garb,  for  next  to 
the  soldier's  life,  it  suited  one  of  wandering  pro- 
pensities. 

At  one  time  he  is  on  a  begging  expedition  to 
some  of  the  towns  on  the  sea  coast.  In  a  few 
months  he  occupies  the  post  of  chaplain  at  an 
hospital,  where  he  shrives  the  dying  and  admin- 
isters extreme  unction.  From  the  quiet  of  the 
hospital  he  proceeds  to  the  camp,  and  is  present 
at  the  battle  of  Seneffe,  which  occurred  in  the 
year  1674. 

His  whole  mind,  from  the  time  that  he  became 
a  priest,  appears  to  have  been  on  "  things  seen 
and  temporal,"  rather  than  on  those  that  are  "  un- 
seen and  eternal."  While  on  duty  at  some  of  the 
ports  of  the  Straits  of  Dover,  he  exliibited  the 
characteristic  of  an  ancient  Athenian  more  than 
that  of  a  professed  successor  of  the  Apostles. 
He  sought  out  the  society  of  strangf.-rs  "  who 
spent  their  time  in  nothing  else  but  either  to  tell 
or  to  hear  some  new  thing."  With  perfect  non- 
chalance he  confesses  that  notwithstanding  the 
nauseating  fumes  of  tobacco,  he  used  to  slip  be- 
hind the  doors  of  sailors'  taverns,  and  spend  days, 
without  regard  to  the  loss  of  his  meals,  listening 
to  the  adventures  and  hair-breadth  escapes  of  the 
mariners  in  lands  beyond  the  sea. 

In  the  year  1676,  he  received  a  welcome  order 
from  his  Superior,  requiring  liim  to  embark  for 
Canada.  Unaccustomed  to  the  world,  and  arbi- 
trary in  his  disposition,  he  rendered  the  cabin  of 
the  ship  in  which  he  sailed  any  thing  but  heav- 
enly. As  in  modern  days,  the  passengers  in  a 
vessel  to  the  new  world  were  composed  of  hete- 
rogeneous materials.  There  were  young  women 
going  out  in  search  for  brothers  or  husbands,  ec- 
clesiastics, and  those  engaged  in  the  then  new, 
but  profitable,  commerce  in  furs.  One  of  his 
fellow  passengers  was  the  talented  and  enterpri- 
prising,  though  unfortunate.  La  Salle,  with  whom 
he  was  afterwards  associated.  If  he  is  to  be 
credited,  his  intercourse  with  La  SaUe  was  not 
very  pleasant  on  ship-board.  The  yoimg  women, 
tired  of  being  cooped  up  in  the  narrow  accommo- 
dations of  the  ship,  when  the  evening  was  fair 


20 


EXPLOBERS  AND  PIONEEBS  OF  MINNESOIA. 


sought  the  deck,  and  engaged  in  tlie  rude  dances 
of  the  French  peasantry  of  that  age.  Hennepin, 
feeling  that  it  was  improper,  began  to  assume 
the  air  of  the  priest,  and  forbade  the  sport.  La 
Salle,  feeling  that  his  interference  was  uncalled 
for,  called  liim  a  pedant,  and  took  the  side  of  the 
girls,  and  dumg  the  voyage  there  were  stormy 
discussions. 

Good  hiunor  appears  to  have  been  restored 
when  they  left  the  ship,  for  Hennepin  would  otli- 
er^vise  liave  not  been  the  companion  of  La  Salle 
in  his  great  western  journey. 

Sojourning  for  a  short  period  at  Quebec,  the 
adventure-loving  Franciscan  is  permitted  to  go 
to  a  mission  station  on  or  near  the  site  of  the 
present  town  of  Kingston,  Canada  West. 

Here  there  was  much  to  gratify  his  love  of 
novelty,  and  he  passed  considerable  time  in  ram- 
bling among  the  Iroquois  of  Kew  York.  In  1678 
he  returned  to  (Juebec,  and  was  ordered  to  join 
the  expedition  of  Robert  La  Salle. 

On  the  6th  of  December  Father  Hennepin  and 
a  portion  of  the  exploring  party  had  entered  the 
Niagara  river.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  Falls,  the 
winter  was  passed,  and  wliile  the  artisans  were 
preparing  a  ship  above  the  Falls,  to  navigate  the 
great  lakes,  the  Recollect  whiled  away  the  hours, 
in  studying  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  Sen- 
eca Indians,  and  in  admiring  the  subUmest  han- 
diwork of  God  on  the  globe. 

On  the  7th  of  August,  1679,  the  ship  being 
completely  rigged,  luifurled  its  sails  to  the  breezes 
of  Lake  Eiie.  The  vessel  was  named  the  "  Grif- 
fin," in  honor  of  the  arms  of  Frontenac,  Governor 
of  Canada,  the  first  ship  of  Em-opean  constric- 
tion that  had  ever  ploughed  the  waters  of  the 
great  inland  seas  of  North  America. 

After  encountering  a  violent  and  dangerous 
storm  on  one  of  the  lakes,  during  which  they  had 
given  up  all  hope  of  escaping  .shipwreck,  on  the 
27th  of  the  month,  they  were  safely  moored  in 
the  harbor  of  "  MissiUmackinack."'  From  thence 
the  party  proceeded  to  Green  Bay,  where  they 
left  the  ship,  procured  canoes,  and  continue<l 
along  the  coast  of  Lake  Jliehigan.  By  the  mid- 
dle of  January,  16.S0,  La  Salle  had  conducted  his 
expedition  to  tlie  Illinois  River,  and,  on  an  emi- 
nence near  Lake  Peoria,  he  commenced,  with 
much  heaviness  of  heart,  the  erection  of  a  fort, 


which  he  called  Crevecoeur,  on  account  of  the 
many  disappointments  he  had  experienced. 

On  the  last  of  February,  Accault,  Augelle,  and 
Hennepin  left  to  ascend  the  Mississippi. 

The  first  work  bearhig  the  name  of  the  Rev- 
erend Fatlier  Louis  Hennepin,  Franciscan  Mis- 
sionary of  tlie  Recollect  order,  was  entitled,  "  De- 
scription de  la  Louisiane,"  and  in  1683  published 
in  Paris. 

As  soon  as  the  book  appeared  it  was  criticised. 
Abbe  Bernou,  on  the  29th  of  February,  1684, 
writes  from  Rome  about  the  "  paltry  book"  (mes- 
hcant  livre)  of  Father  Hennepin.  About  a  year 
before  the  pious  Tronson,  imder  date  of  March 
13, 1683,  wrote  to  a  friend:  "  I  have  interviewed 
the  P.  Recollect,  who  pretends  to  have  descended 
the  Mississippi  river  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  I  do 
not  know  that  one  li'ill  believe  n-hat  he  speaks  any 
more  than  that  which  is  in  the  pirintcd  relation  of 
P.  Louis,  which  I  send  you  that  you  may  make 
your  own  reflections." 

On  the  map  accompanymg  his  first  booli,  he 
boldly  marks  a  Recollect  Mission  many  miles 
north  of  the  point  he  had  visited.  In  the  Utrecht 
edition  of  1697  this  deUberate  fraiul  is  erased. 

Tliroughout  the  work  he  assumes,  that  he  was 
the  leader  of  the  expedition,  and  magnifies  trifles 
into  tragedies.  For  mstance,  Mr.  La  Salle  writes 
that  Michael  Accault,  also  written  Ako,  who  was 
the  leader,  presented  the  Sioux  with  the  calu- 
met ;"  but  Hennepin  makes  the  occurrence  more 
formidable. 

He  writes :  "  Our  prayers  were  heard,  when  on 
the  nth  of  April,  1680,  about  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  we  suddenly  perceived  thirty -three 
bark  canoes  manned  by  a  hundred  and  twenty 
Indians  coming  down  mth  very  great  speed,  on  a, 
war  party,  against  the  Miamis,  Illinois  and  Jlaro- 
as.  These  Intlians  sin-rounded  us,  and  while  at 
a  distance,  discharged  some  arrows  at  us,  but  as 
they  approached  our  canoe,  the  old  men  seeing  us 
with  the  calumet  of  peace  in  our  hands,  prevent- 
ed the  young  men  from  kilhiig  us.  These  sava- 
ges leaping  from  their  canoes,  some  on  land, 
others  into  the  water,  with  frightful  cries  and 
yells  approached  us,  and  as  we  mad6  no  resist- 
ance, being  only  tliree  against  so  great  a  number, 
one  of  them  wrenched  our  caltunet  from  our 
hands,  while  our  canoe  and  theirs  were  tied  to 
the  shore.    We  first  presented  to  them  a  piece  of 


HENJ^EPIN'S  DIFFICULTY  WITH  PRAYER-BOOK. 


21 


French  tobacco,  better  for  smoking  than  theirs' 
and  the  eldest  among  them  uttered  the  words' 
"  Miamiha,  Miamiha." 

"  As  we  did  not  understand  their  language,  we 
took  a  little  stick,  and  by  signs  which  we  made 
on  the  sand,  showed  tliem  that  their  enemies,  the 
Miamis,  whom  they  sought,  had  fled  across  the 
river  Colbert  [Mississippi]  to  jom  the  Islinois ; 
when  they  saw  themselves  discovered  and  unable 
to  surprise  their  enemies,  three  or  four  old  men 
laying  their  hands  on  my  head,  wept  in  a  moiuTi- 
ful  tone. 

"  With  a  spare  handkerchief  I  had  left  I  vnped 
away  their  tears,  but  they  would  not  smoke  our 
Calumet.  They  made  us  cross  the  river  with 
great  cries,  while  all  shouted  with  tears  in  their 
eyes;  they  made  us  row  before  them,  and  we 
heard  yells  capable  of  striking  the  most  resolute 
with  terror.  After  landmg  our  canoe  and  goods, 
part  of  which  had  already  been  taken,  we  made  a 
fire  to  boil  our  kettle,  and  we  gave  them  two  large 
wild  tiu-keys  which  we  had  killed.  These  Indians 
having  called  an  assembly  to  deliberate  what  they 
were  to  do  with  us,  the  two  head  chiefs  of  the 
party  approaching,  showed  us  by  signs  that  the 
warriors  wished  to  tomahawk  us.  This  com- 
pelled me  to  go  to  the  war  chiefs  with  one  young 
man,  leaving  the  other  by  our  property,  and 
throw  into  their  midst  six  axes,  fifteen  knives 
and  six  fathom  of  onr  black  tobacco ;  and  then 
bringing  down  my  head,  I  showed  them  with  an 
axe  that  they  might  kill  me,  if  they  thought 
proper.  This  present  appeased  many  individual 
members,  who  gave  us  some  beaver  to  eat,  put- 
ting the  three  first  morsels  into  our  mouths,  accor- 
ding to  the  custom  of  the  country,  and  blowing  on 
the  meat,  which  was  too  hot,  before  putting  the 
bark  dish  before  us  to  let  us  eat  as  we  liked.  We 
spent  the  night  in  anxiety,  because,  before  reti- 
ring at  night,  they  had  returned  us  our  peace 
calumet. 

"  Our  two  boatmen  were  resolved  to  sell  their 
lives  dearly,  and  to  resist  if  attacked ;  their  arms 
and  swords  were  ready.  As  for  my  own  part,  I 
determined  to  allow  myself  to  be  killed  without 
any  resistance ;  as  I  was  going  to  amiounce  to 
them  a  God  who  had  been  foully  accused,  un- 
justly condemned,  and  cruelly  crucified,  without 
showing  the  least  aversion  to  those  who  put  him 
to  death.    We  watched  in  tm-u,  in  oui-  anxiety, 


so  as  not  to  be  surprised  asleep.  The  next  mom- 
mg,  a  chief  named  Narrhetoba  asked  for  the 
peace  calumet,  filled  it  with  wUlow  bark,  and  all 
smoked.  It  was  then  signified  that  the  white 
men  were  to  return  with  them  to  then-  villages." 

In  liis  narrative  the  Franciscan  remarks,  "  I 
found  it  diflicult  to  say  my  office  before  these 
Indians.  Many  seeing  me  move  my  lips,  said  in 
a  fierce  tone,  '  Ouakanche.'  Aliehael,  all  out  of 
countenance,  told  me,  that  if  I  continued  to  say 
my  breviary,  we  should  all  three  be  killed,  and 
the  Picard  begged  me  at  least  to  prAy  apart,  so  as 
not  to  provoke  them.  I  followed  the  latter's 
advice,  but  the  more  I  concealed  myself  the  more 
I  had  the  Indians  at  my  heels ;  for  when  I  en- 
tered the  wood,  they  thought  I  was  going  to  hide 
some  goods  imder  gromid,  so  that  I  knew  not  on 
what  side  to  turn  to  pray,  for  they  never  let  me 
out  of  sight.  This  obliged  me  to  beg  pardon  of 
my  canoe -men,  assming  them  I  could  not  dis- 
pense with  saying  my  oflice.  By  the  word,  '  Ou- 
akanche,' the  Indians  meant  that  the  book  I  was 
reading  was  a  spuit,  but  by  their  gesture  they 
nevertheless  showed  a  kind  of  aversion,  so  that 
to  accustom  them  to  it,  I  chanted  the  litany  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin  in  the  canoe,  vrtth  my  book 
opened.  They  thought  that  the  breviary  was  a 
spirit  which  taught  me  to  smgfor  their  diversion ; 
for  these  people  are  naturally  fond  of  singing." 

This  is  the  first  mention  of  a  Dahkotah  word 
in  a  Eiu-opean  book.  The  savages  were  annoyed 
rather  than  em-aged,  at  seeing  the  white  man 
reading  a  book,  and  exclaimed,  "  Wakan-de  I" 
this  is  wonderful  or  supernatiu'al.  The  war 
party  was  composed  of  several  bands  of  the  M'de- 
wahkantonwan  Dahkotahs,  and  there  was  a  di- 
versity of  opinion  m  relation  to  the  disposition 
that  should  be  made  of  the  white  men.  The 
relatives  of  those  who  had  been  killed  by  the 
Miamis,  were  in  favor  of  taking  theu*  scalps,  but 
others  were  anxious  to  retain  the  favor  of  the 
French,  and  open  a  trading  intercoiuse. 

Perceiving  one  of  the  canoe-men  shoot  a  wild 
turkey,  they  called  the  gun, ' '  Manza  Ouackange," 
iron  that  has  understanding;  more  correctly, 
"  Maza  Wakande,"  this  is  tlie  supernatural  metal. 

Aquipaguettn,  one  of  the  head  men,  resorted 
to  the  following  device  to  obtain  merchandise. 
Says  the  Father,  "  This  wily  savage  had  the 
bones  of  some  distinguished  relative,  which  he 


22 


EXPLOBEBS  AND  PIONEEBS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


preserved  with  great  care  in  some  skins  dressed 
and  .idonied  with  several  rows  of  black  and  red 
porcupine  quills.  From  time  to  time  he  assem- 
bled his  men  to  give  it  a  smoke,  and  made  us 
come  several  days  to  cover  the  bones  with  goods, 
and  by  a  present  wipe  away  tlie  tears  he  liad  shed 
for  him,  and  for  las  own  son  kiUed  by  tlie  Miamis. 
To  appease  this  captious  man,  we  threw  on  the 
bones  several  fathoms  of  tobacco,  axes,  knives, 
beads,  and  some  black  and  white  wampum  brace- 
lets. *  *  *  We  slept  at  the  pomt  of  the  Lake 
of  Tears  [Lake  Pepin],  which  we  so  called  from 
the  tears  which  this  chief  shed  all  night  long,  or 
by  one  of  liis  sons  whom  he  caused  to  weep  when 
he  grew  tired." 

The  next  day,  after  four  or  five  leagues'  sail,  a 
chief  came,  and  telling  them  to  leave  their  canoes, 
he  pulled  up  three  piles  of  grass  for  seats.  Then 
taking  a  piece  of  cedar  fidl  of  Uttle  holes,  he 
placed  a  stick  into  one,  which  he  revolved  between 
the  palms  of  liis  liands,  until  he  kuidled  a  lire, 
and  informed  the  Frenchmen  that  they  would  be 
at  Mille  Lac  in  six  days.  On  the  nmeteenth  day 
after  their  captivity,  they  arrived  in  the  vicinity 
of  Saint  I'aul,  not  far,  it  is  ]irt)baV)le,  from  the 
marshy  ground  on  which  the  Kaposia  baud  once 
lived,  and  now  called  Pig's  Eye. 

Tlie  journal  remarks,  "  Having  arrived  on  the 
nineteenth  day  of  our  navigation,  five  leagues 
below  St.  Anthony's  Falls,  these  Indians  landed 
us  in  a  bay,  broke  our  canoe  to  nieces,  and  se- 
creted their  own  in  tlie  reeds."' 

They  then  followed  the  trail  to  MUle  Lac,  sixty 
leagues  distant.  As  they  approached  their  villa- 
ges, the  various  bands  began  to  show  tlieir  spoils. 
The  tobacco  was  liiglily  prized,  and  led  to  some 
contention.  The  chalice  of  the  Father,  which 
gUstened  in  the  sun,  they  were  afraid  to  touch, 
supposing  it  was  ''wakan."  After  five  days' 
walk  they  reached  the  Issati  [Dahkotah]  settle- 
ments in  the  valley  of  the  Kum  or  Knife  river. 
The  different  bauds  eacli  conductcil  a  Frenchman 
to  their  village,  the  chief  Aqiiipaguetiu  taking 
charge  of  Hennepin.  After  marching  through 
the  marslies  towards  the  sources  of  Eum  river, 
five  wives  of  the  cliief,  in  tliree  bark  canoes,  met 
them  and  took  tliem  a  short  league  to  an  island 
where  their  cabins  were. 

An  aged  Indian  Mndly  nibbed  down  the  way- 
worn Franciscan ;   placing  him  on  a  bear-  skin 


near  the  fire,  he  anointed  his  legs  and  the  soles 
of  his  feet  with  wildcat  oil. 

The  son  of  the  chief  took  great  pleasure  in  car- 
rying upon  his  bare  back  the  priest's  robe  with 
dead  men's  bones  enveloped.  It  was  called  Pere 
Louis  Chinnen.  In  the  Dabkotali  language  Shm- 
na  or  Shinnan  signifies  a  buffalo  robe. 

Hennepin's  description  of  his  life  on  the  island 
is  in  tliese  words  : 

"  Tlie  day  after  our  arrival,  Aquipaguetln,  who 
was  the  head  of  a  large  family,  covered  me  with 
a  robe  made  of  ten  large  dressed  beaver  skins, 
trimmed  with  porcupine  quills.  Tliis  Indian 
showed  me  five  or  six  of  his  wives,  telling  them, 
as  I  afterwards  learned,  that  they  shoul-'  in  fu' 
ture  regard  me  as  one  of  their  children. 

"  He  set  before  me  a  bark  dish  full  of  fish,  and 
seeing  that  I  could  not  rise  from  the  ground,  he 
had  a  small  sweating-cabin  made,  in  which  he 
made  me  enter  with  four  Indians.  This  cabin  he 
covered  with  buffalo  skins,  and  inside  he  put 
stones  red-hot.  He  made  me  a  sign  to  do  as  the 
others  before  beginning  to  sweat,  but  I  merely 
concealed  my  nakedness  with  a  handkerchief. 
As  soon  as  these  Indians  had  several  times 
breathed  out  quite  violently,  he  began  to  sing  vo- 
ciferously, the  others  puttuig  their  liands  on  me 
and  rubbing  me  while  they  wejit  bitterly.  I  be- 
gan to  faint,  but  I  came  out  and  could  scarcely 
take  my  habit  to  put  on.  When  he  made  me 
sweat  thus  three  times  a  week.  I  felt  as  strong  as 
ever." 

The  mariner's  compass  was  a  constant  source 
of  wonder  and  amazement.  Aquipaguetln  hav- 
ing assembled  the  braves,  would  ask  lleiinepin 
to  show  his  compass.  Perceiving  that  the  needle 
turned,  the  chief  harangued  his  men,  and  told 
them  that  the  Europeans  were  spirits,  capable  of 
doing  any  thing. 

In  the  Franciscan's  possession  was  an  iron  pot 
with  feet  Uke  lions',  which  the  Indians  would  not 
touch  unless  their  hands  were  wrapped  in  buffalo 
skins.  The  women  looked  upon  it  as  "  wakan," 
and  would  not  enter  the  cabin  where  it  was. 

"  The  chiefs  of  these  savages,  seeing  that  I  was 
desirous  to  learn,  frequently  made  me  write, 
naming  aU  the  parts  of  the  human  body  ;  and  as 
I  would  not  put  on  paper  certain  indelicate  words, 
at  which  they  do  not  blush,  they  were  heaitiiy 
amused." 


nENNEPlN'S  VISIT  TO  FALLS  OF  SAINT  ANTHONY. 


23 


They  often  asked  the  Franciscan  questions,  to 
answer  which  it  was  necessary  to  refer  to  his  lex- 
icon. This  appeared  very  strange,  and,  as  they 
had  no  word  for  paper,  they  said,  "  That  white 
thuig  must  be  a  spirit  which  tells  Fere  Louis  all 
we  say." 

Ilennepm  remarks  :  "  These  Indians  often 
asked  me  how  many  wives  and  children  I  had, 
and  how  old  I  was,  that  is,  how  many  winters ; 
for  so  these  natives  always  coimt.  Never  illu- 
mined by  the  light  of  faith,  they  were  surprised 
at  my  answer.  Fointing  to  our  two  Frenchmen, 
wliom  I  was  then  visiting,  at  a  pomt  three  leagues 
from  our  village,  I  told  them  that  a  man  among 
us  could  only  have  one  wife ;  that  as  for  me,  I 
had  promised  the  Master  of  life  to  live  as  they 
saw  me,  and  to  come  and  live  with  them  to  teach 
them  to  be  like  the  French. 

"  But  that  gross  people,  till  then  lawless  and 
faithless,  turned  all  I  said  into  ridicule.  '  How,' 
said  they,  '  would  you  have  these  two  men  with 
thee  have  wives?  Ours  would  not  Uve  with  them, 
for  they  have  hair  all  over  their  face,  and  we  have 
none  there  or  elsewhere.'  In  fact,  they  were 
never  better  pleased  with  me  than  when  I  was 
sliaved,  and  from  a  complaisance,  certainly  not 
ciiminal,  I  shaved  every  week. 

"  As  often  as  I  went  to  visit  the  cabins,  I  found 
a  sick  child.  Whose  father's  name  was  ilamenisi. 
Michael  Ako  would  not  accompany  me ;  the 
Picard  du  Gay  alone  followed  me  to  act  as  spon- 
sor, or,  rather,  to  witness  the  baptism. 

"  I  christened  the  child  Antoinette,  in  honor  of 
St.  Anthony  of  Padua,  as  well  as  for  the  Pieard"s 
name,  which  was  Anthony  Anguelle.  He  was  a 
native  of  Amiens,  and  nephfew  of  the  Procurator- 
General  of  the  Premonstratensians  both  now  at 
Paris.  Having  poured  natural  water  on  tlie  head 
and  uttered  these  words  :  '  Creature  of  God,  I 
baptize  thee  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of 
tlie  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,'  I  took  half  an 
altar  cloth  wliich  I  had  wrested  from  the  hands 
of  an  Indian  who  had  stolen  it  from  me,  and  put 
it  on  the  body  of  the  baptized  child ;  for  as  I 
could  not  say  mass  for  want  of  wine  and  vest- 
ments, this  piece  of  linen  could  not  be  put  to  bet- 
ter use  than  to  enshroud  the  first  Christian  child 
among  these  tribes.  I  do  not  know  whether  the 
softness  of  the  linen  had  refreslied  her,  but  she 
was  the  next  day  smiling  m  her  mother's  arms. 


who  beUeved  that  I  had  cured  the  child  ;  but  she 
died  soon  after,  to  my  great  consolation. 

"  During  my  stay  among  them,  there  arrived 
four  savages,  who  said  they  were  come  alone  five 
hundred  leagues  from  the  west,  and  had  been  four 
months  upon  the  way.  They  assured  us  there 
was  no  such  place  as  the  Straits  of  Anian,  and 
that  they  had  traveled  without  restmg,  except  to 
sleep,  and  had  not  seen  or  passed  over  any  great 
lake,  by  which  phrase  they  always  mean  the  sea. 

"  They  further  informed  us  that  the  nation  of 
the  Assenipoulacs  [Assiniboiues]  who  lie  north- 
east of  Issati,  was  not  above  six  or  seven  days' 
joirmey ;  that  none  of  the  natiojis,  within  their 
knowledge,  who  lie  to  the  east  or  northwest,  had 
any  great  lake  about  their  comitries,  which  were 
very  large,  but  only  rivers,  which  came  from  the 
north.  They  further  assured  us  that  there  were 
very  few  forests  in  the  countries  through  which 
they  passed,  insomuch  that  now  and  then  they 
were  forced  to  make  flres  of  buffaloes'  dung  to 
boil  their  food.  All  these  circumstances  make  it 
appear  that  there  is  no  such  place  as  the  Straits 
of  Anian,  as  we  usually  see  them  set  do^\ii  on  the 
maps.  And  whatever  efforts  have  been  made  for 
many  year;*  past  by  the  English  and  Dutch,  to 
find  out  a  passage  to  the  Frozen  Sea,  tliey  have 
not  yet  been  able  to  effect  it.  But  by  the  help  of 
my  discovery  and  the  assistance  of  God,  I  doubt 
not  but  a  passage  may  still  be  found,  and  that  an 
easy  one  too. 

"  For  example,  we  may  be  transported  into  the 
Pacific  Sea  by  rivers  which  are  large  and  capable 
of  carrying  great  vessels,  and  from  thence  it  is 
very  easy  to  go  to  China  and  Japan,  without  cross- 
ing the  equinoctial  line ;  and,  in  all  probability, 
Japan  is  on  the  same  coniinent  as  America.'''' 

Hennepin  in  his  first  book,  thus  describes  his 
first  visit  to  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  :  "  In  the 
beginning  of  July,  1680,  we  descended  the  [Rum] 
River  in  a  canoe  southward,  with  the  great  chief 
Ouasicoude  [AVauzeekootay]  that  is  to  say  Pierced 
Pine,  with  about  eighty  cabins  composed  of  more 
than  a  hundred  and  thirty  families  and  about 
two  hundred  and  fifty  warriors.  Scarcely  would 
the  Indians  give  me  a  place  in  their  little  flotilla, 
for  they  had  only  old  canoes.  They  went  four 
leagiies  lower  downi,  to  get  birch  bark  to  make 
some  more.  Having  made  a  hole  in  the  groinid, 
to  hide  our  silver  chalice  and  our  papers,  till  our 


24 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


return  from  the  hunt,  and  keeping  onl)'  our  bre- 
viary, so  as  not  to  be  loaded,  I  stood  on  the  bank 
of  the  lake  formed  by  the  river  we  had  called  St. 
Francis  [now  Rum]  and  stretched  out  my  hand 
to  the  canoes  as  they  rapidly  passed  in  succession. 

"Our  Frenclimen  also  liad  one  for  themselves, 
whicli  the  Indians  had  given  them.  They  would 
not  take  me  in,  Michael  Ako  saying  that  he  had 
taken  me  long  enough  to  satisfy  him.  I  was  hurl 
at  this  answer,  seeing  myself  thus  abandoned  by 
Christians,  to  whom  I  had  always  done  good,  as 
they  both  often  acknowledged;  but  God  never 
having  abaniloned  me  on  that  painful  voyage,  in- 
spired t^vo  Indians  to  take  me  in  their  little 
canoe,  where  I  had  no  other  employment  than  to 
bale  out  witli  a  little  bark  tray,  the  water  which 
entered  by  little  holes.  This  1  did  not  do  with- 
out getting  all  wet.  Tliis  boat  might,  indeed,  be 
called  a  death  box,  for  its  lightness  and  fragility. 
These  canoes  do  not  generally  weigli  over  hfty 
pounds,  the  least  motion  of  the  body  upsets  them, 
unless  you  are  long  accustomed  to  that  kind  of 
navigation. 

"  On  disembarking  in  the  evening,  the  Picard, 
as  an  excuse,  told  me  that  their  canoe  was  half- 
rotten,  and  that  had  we  been  three  in  it,  we 
shoidd  have  run  a  gi'eat  risk  of  remaining  on  the 
way.  *  *  *  Four  days  after  our  departure  for 
the  buffalo  hunt,  we  halted  eight  leagues  above 
St.  Anthony  of  Padua's  Falls,  on  an  eminence 
opposite  the  mouth  of  the  River  St.  Francis  [Rum] 
*  *  *  The  Picard  and  myself  went  to  look  for 
haws,  gooseberries,  and  little  wild  fruit,  which 
often  did  us  more  harm  than  good.  This  obliged 
us  to  go  alone,  as  Itlichael  Ako  refused,  in  a 
wretched  canoe,  to  Ouisconsin  river,  which  was 
more  tlian  a  hundred  leagues  off,  to  see  whether 
the  Sieur  dc  la  Salle  liad  sent  to  that  place  a  re- 
inforcement of  men,  with  powder,  lead,  and 
other  mimitions,  as  he  had  promised  us. 

"The  Indians  would  not  have  suffered  this 
voyage  had  not  one  of  the  three  remained  willi 
them.  They  wished  me  to  stay,  but  Michael 
Ako  absolutely  refused.  As  we  were  making  tlic 
portage  of  our  canoe  at  St.  Anthony  of  Padua's 
Falls,  we  perceived  five  or  six  of  our  Indians  wlio 
had  taken  the  start ;  one  of  them  was  up  in  an 
oak  opposite  the  great  fall,  weeping  bitterly,  witli 
a  rich  dressed  beaver  robe,  whitened  inside,  and 
trimmed  with  porcupine  quills,  which  he  was 


offering  as  a  sacrifice  to  the  falls;  which  is,  in  it- 
self, admirable  and  fi-ightful.  I  heard  him  while 
shedding  copious  tears,  say  as  he  spoke  to  the 
great  cataract, '  Thou  who  art  a  spirit,  grant  tliat 
our  nation  may  pass  here  quietly,  without  acci- 
dent ;  may  kill  buffalo  in  abundance ;  conquer 
our  enemies,  and  bring  in  slaves,  some  of  whom 
we  will  put  to  death  before  thee.  The  Messenecqz 
(so  they  call  the  tribe  named  by  the  French  Outa- 
gamis)  have  killed  our  kindred ;  grant  that  we 
may  avenge  them.'  This  robe  offered  in  sacrifice, 
served  one  of  our  Frenchmen,  who  took  it  as  we 
returned." 

It  is  certainly  wonderful,  that  Hennepin,  who 
knew  nothing  of  the  Sioux  language  a  few  weeks 
before,  should  understand  the  prayer  offered  at 
the  Falls  without  the  aid  of  an  interpreter. 

The  narrator  continues :  "  A  league  beyond 
St.  Anthony  of  Padua's  Falls,  the  Picard  was 
obliged  to  land  and  get  his  powder  horn,  which  he 
had  left  at  the  Falls.  *  *  *  As  we  descended 
the  river  Colbert  [Mississippi]  we  fomwl  some  of 
our  Indians  on  the  islands  loaded  with  buffalo 
meat,  some  of  which  they  gave  us.  Two  hours 
after  landing,  fifteen  or  sixteen  warriors  whom  we 
had  left  above  St.  Anthony  of  Padua's  Falls,  en- 
tered, toniakawk  in  hand,  upset  the  cabin  of  those 
who  had  invited  us,  took  all  the  meat  and  bear 
oil  they  found,  and  greased  themselves  from  head 
to  foot," 

This  was  done  because  the  others  had  violated 
the  rules  for  the  buffalo  limit.  With  the  Indians 
Hennepin  went  down  the  river  sixty  leagues,  and 
then  went  up  the  river  again,  and  met  buffalo. 
He  continues : 

"  While  seeking  the  Ouisconsin  River,  that 
savage  father,  Aquipaguetin,  whom  I  had  left, 
anil  who  I  believed  more  than  tv*-o  hundred 
leagues  off,  on  the  11th  of  July,  1680,  appeared 
with  the  warriors."  After  this,  Hennepin  and 
I'icard  continued  to  go  up  the  river  almost  eighty 
leagues. 

There  is  great  confusion  here,  as  the  reader 
will  see.  When  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rum  River, 
he  speaks  of  the  "Wisconsin  as  more  than  a  liun- 
dred  leagues  off.  He  floats  down  the  river  sixty 
leagues ;  then  he  ascended,  but  does  not  stiite  the 
distance;  then  he  ascends  eighty  leagues. 

He  continues  :  "  The  Indians  whom  he  had  left 
with  Michael  Ako  at  Buffalo  [Chippuway]  River, 


EENNEFIN  MEETS  SIEUB  BU  LUTH. 


26 


with  the  flotilla  of  canoes  loaded  with  meat,  came 
down.  *  *  *  AH  the  Indian  women  had  their 
stock  of  meat  at  the  month  of  Buffalo  Kiver  and 
on  the  islands,  and  again  we  went  dowTi  the  Col- 
bert [Mississippi]  about  eighty  leagues.  *  *  * 
^ye  had  another  alarm  in  our  camp  :  the  old  men 
on  duty  on  the  top  of  the  mountauis  auuounced 
that  they  saw  two  warriors  in  the  distance ;  all 
the  bowmen  hastened  there  with  speed,  each  try- 
ing to  outstrip  the  others  ;  but  they  brought  back 
only  two  of  their  enemies,  who  came  to  tell  them 
that  a  party  of  their  people  were  himting  at  the 
extremity  of  Lake  Conde  [Superior]  and  had  found 
four  Spirits  (so  they  call  the  French)  who,  by 
means  of  a  slave,  had  expressed  a  wish  to  come 
on,  knowing  us  to  be  among  them.  *  *  *  On 
the  25th  of  July,  IbSO,  as  we  were  ascending  the 
river  Colbert,  after  the  buffalo  hunt,  to  the  In- 
dian villages,  we  met  Sieur  du  Luth,  who  came 
to  the  Nadouessious  with  five  French  soldiers. 
They  joined  us  about  two  hundred  and  twenty 
leagues  distant  from  the  country  of  the  Indians 
who  had  taken  us.  As  we  had  some  knowledge 
of  the  language,  they  begged  us  to  accompany 
tliem  to  the  villages  of  these  tribes,  to  which  I 
readily  agreed,  knowing  that  these  two  French- 
men had  not  approached  the  sacrament  for  two 
years." 

Here  again  the  nimiber  of  leagues  is  confusing, 
and  it  is  impossible  to  believe  that  Du  Luth  and 
liis  interpreter  Faffart,  who  had  been  trading 
with  the  Sionx  for  more  than  a  year,  needed  the 
help  of  Hennepin,  who  had  been  about  three 
months  with  these  people. 

We  are  not  told  by  what  route  Hennepin  and 
Du  Luth  reached  Lake  Issati  or  Mille  Lacs,  but 
Hennepin  says  they  arrived  there  on  the  11th  of 
August,  1680,  and  he  adds,  "  Toward  the  end  of 
September,  having  no  implements  to  begin  an 
establishment,  we  resolved  to  tell  these  people, 
that  for  their  benefit,  we  would  have  to  return  to 
the  French  settlements.  The  grand  Chief  of  the 
Issati  or  Nadouessiouz  consented,  and  traced  in 
pencil  on  paper  I  gave  him,  the  route  I  should 
take  for  four  hundred  leagues.  With  this  chart, 
we  set  out,  eight  Frenchmen,  in  two  canoes,  and 
descended  the  river  St.  Francis  and  Colbert  [Rum 
and  Mississippi].  Two  of  our  men  took  two  bea- 
ver robes  at  St.  Anthony  of  Padua's  Falls,  which 
the  Indians  had  himg  in  sacrifice  on  the  ti-ees." 


The  second  work  of  Hennepin,  an  enlargement 
of  the  first,  appeared  at  Lftrecht  in  the  year  1697, 
ten  years  after  La  Salle's  death.  During  the  in- 
terval between  the  publication  of  the  first  and 
second  book,  he  had  passed  three  years  as  Super- 
intendent of  the  Recollects  at  Reny  in  the  province 
of  Artois,  when  Father  Hyacinth  Lef  evre,  a  friend 
of  La  Salle,  and  Commissary  Provincial  of  Recol- 
lects at  Paris,  wished  him  to  return  to  Canada. 
He  refused,  and  was  ordered  to  go  to  Rome,  and 
upon  his  coming  back  was  sent  to  a  convent  at 
St.  Omer,  and  there  received  a  dispatch  from  the 
Minister  of  State  in  France  to  return  to  the  coun- 
tries of  the  King  of  Spain,  of  which  he  was  a 
subject.  This  order,  he  asserts,  he  afterwards 
learned  was  forged. 

In  the  preface  to  the  English  edition  of  the 
New  Discovery,  published  m  1698,  hi  London,  he 
writes : 

"  The  pretended  reason  of  that  violent  order 
was  because  I  refused  to  return  into  America, 
where  I  had  been  already  eleven  years ;  though 
the  particular  laws  of  our  Order  oblige  none  of  us 
to  go  beyond  sea  against  his  will.  I  would  have, 
however,  returned  very  willingly  had  I  not  kno\«i 
the  malice  of  M.  La  Salle,  who  would  have  ex- 
posed me  to  perish,  as  he  did  one  of  the  men  who 
accompanied  me  in  my  discovery.  God  knows 
that  I  am  sorry  for  his  unfortunate  death ;  but 
the  judgments  of  the  Almighty  are  always  just, 
for  the  gentleman  was  killed  by  one  of  his  own 
men,  who  were  at  last  sensible  that  he  exposed 
them  to  visible  dangers  without  any  necessity  and 
for  his  private  designs." 

After  this  he  was  forabout  five  years  at  Gosse- 
lies,  in  Brabant,  as  Confessor  in  a  convent,  and 
from  thence  removed  to  his  native  place,  Ath,  in 
Belgium,  where,  according  to  his  narrative  in  the 
preface  to  the  "  Nouveau  Decouverte,"  he  was 
again  persecuted.  Then  Father  Fayez,  Grand 
Commissary  of  Recollects  at  Louvain,  being  in- 
formed that  the  King  of  Spain  and  the  Elector  of 
Bavaria  recommended  the  step,  consented  that 
he  should  enter  the  service  of  William  the  Third 
of  Great  Britam,  who  had  been  very  kind  to  the 
Roman  Catholics  of  Netherlands.  By  order  of 
Payez  he  was  sent  to  Antwerp  to  take  the  lay 
habit  in  the  convent  there,  and  subsequently 
went  to  Utrecht,  where  he  finished  his  second 
book  known  as  the  New  Discovery. 


26 


EXPLOBEIiS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  ^flNKESOTA. 


His  first  volume,  printed  in  1683,  contains  312 
pages,  with  an  appendix  of  107  pages,  on  the 
Customs  of  tlie  Savages,  while  the  Utreclit  book 
of  1697  contains  5()9  pages  without  an  appendix. 

On  page  249  of  the  Xew  Discovery,  he  begins 
an  account  of  a  voyage  alleged  to  have  been  ma(k> 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  occupies 
over  sixty  pages  in  tlie  narrative.  Tlie  opening 
sentences  give  as  a  reason  for  concealing  to  this 
time  his  discovery,  that  La  Salle  would  have  re- 
ported him  to  his  Superiors  for  presuming  to  go 
down  instead  of  ascending  the  stream  toward  tlie 
north,  as  had  been  agreed  ;  and  that  the  two  with 
him  threatened  that  if  he  did  not  consent  to  de- 
scend the  river,  they  would  leave  him  on  shore 
during  the  night,  and  pursue  their  own  course. 

lie  asserts  that  he  left  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  to 
return,  on  the  1st  of  Apiil,  and  on  the  24th  left 
the  Arkansas  ;  but  a  week  after  tliis,  he  declares 
he  lauded  with  the  Sioux  at  the  marsh  about  two 
miles  below  the  city  of  Saint  Paul. 

The  account  has  been  and  is  still  a  puzzle  to 
the  historical  student.  In  our  review  of  his  first 
book  we  have  noticed  that  as  early  as  1683,  he 
claimed  to  have  descended  the  ilississippi.  In 
the  Utrecht  publication  he  declares  that  while  at 
Quebec,  upon  his  return  to  France,  he  gave  to 
Father  Valentine  Roux,  Commissary  of  Recol- 
lects, his  journal,  upon  the  promise  that  it  would 
be  kept  secret,  and  that  this  Father  made  a  copy 
of  his  whole  voyage,  including  the  visit  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico ;  but  in  his  Description  of  Louis- 
iana, Ilenneiiin  wrote,  "  We  had  some  design  of 
going  to  tlie  mouth  of  the  river  Colbert,  which 
more  probably  empties  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
than  into  tlie  Red  Sea,  but  the  tribes  that  seized 
us  gave  us  no  time  to  sail  up  and  down  the  river." 

The  additions  in  his  Utrecht  book  to  magnify 
his  importance  and  detract  from  others,  are 
many.  As  Sparks  and  Parkman  have  pointed 
oiit  the  plagiarisms  of  this  edition,  a  reference 
here  is  unnecessary. 

Du  Luth,  who  left  Quebec  in  1678,  and  had 
been  in  northern  Minnesota,  with  an  interpreter, 
for  a  year,  after  he  met  Ako  and  Hennepin,  be- 
comes of  secondary  importance,  in  the  eyes  of 
the  Franciscan. 

In  the  Description  of  Louisiana,  on  page  289, 
Uennepin  speaks  of  passing  the  Falls  of  Saint 
Anthony,  upon  his  return  to  Canada,  in  these 


few  words  :  "  Two  of  our  men  seized  two  beaver 
robes  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  of  Padua, 
which  the  Indians  had  in  sacrifice,  fastened  to 
trees."'  But  m  the  Utrecht  edition,  conuuencing 
on  page  416,  there  is  nuuJi  added  concerning  Du 
Luth.  After  using  the  language  of  the  edition 
of  1683,  already  quoted  it  adds:  "Hereupon 
there  arose  a  dispute  between  Sieiir  du  Ltitli  and 
my.self.  I  commended  wliat  they  liad  done,  say- 
uig,  'The  savages  might  judge  by  it  that  they 
disliked  the  superstition  of  these  people.'  Tlie 
Sieur  du  Luth,  on  tlie  contrary,  said  tliat  they 
ought  to  have  left  the  robes  where  the  savages 
placed  them,  for  they  would  not  fail  to  avenge 
the  insult  we  had  put  upon  tliem  by  this  action, 
and  that  it  was  feared  that  they  would  attack  iis 
on  this  journey.  I  confessed  he  had  some  foun- 
dation for  what  he  said,  and  that  he  spoke  accor- 
ding to  the  rules  of  jirudence.  But  one  of  the 
two  men  flatly  replied,  the  two  robes  suited  them, 
and  they  cared  nothing  for  the  savages  and  their 
superstitions.  The  Sieur  du  Luth  atthe.se  words 
was  so  greatly  enraged  that  he  nearly  struck  the 
one  who  uttered  them,  but  I  inlei-vened  and  set- 
tled the  dispute.  The  Picard  and  Michael  Ako 
ranged  themselves  on  the  side  of  those  who  had 
taken  the  robes  in  question,  which  might  have 
resulted  badly. 

"  I  argued  with  Sieur  du  Luth  that  the  savages 
would  not  attack  us,  because  I  was  persuaded 
that  their  great  chief  Ouasicoude  would  have  our 
interests  at  heart,  and  he  had  great  credit  with 
his  nation.    The  matter  terminated  pleasantly. 

"  When  we  arrived  near  tlie  river  Ouiscoiisin, 
we  halted  to  smoke  tlie  meat  of  the  buffalo  we 
had  killed  on  the  journey.  During  our  stay,  three 
savages  of  the  nation  we  had  left,  came  by  the 
side  of  our  canoe  to  tell  us  that  their  great  chief 
Ouasicoude,  liaving  learned  tliat  another  chief  of 
these  people  wished  to  pursue  and  kill  us,  and 
that  he  entered  the  cabin  wliere  he  was  consult- 
ing, and  had  struck  him  on  tlu^  liead  with  sucli 
violence  as  to  scatter  his  brains  upon  his  associ- 
iites ;  thus  preventing  the  executuig  of  this  inju- 
rious project. 

'■  We  regaled  the  three  savages,  having  a  great 
abundance  of  food  at  that  time.  The  Sieur  du 
Luth,  after  the  savages  had  left,  was  as  enraged 
as  before,  and  feared  that  they  would  pursue  and 
attack  us  on  om'  voyage.     He  w  ould  have  pushed 


TRIBUTE  TO  DANIEL  GBEYSOLON  DU  LUTH. 


27 


the  matter  f  iirtlier,  but  seeing  that  one  man  would 
resist,  and  was  not  in  the  humor  to  be  imposed 
upon,  he  moderated,  and  I  appeased  them  in  the 
end  with  tlie  assurance  that  God  would  not  aban- 
don us  in  distress,  and,  provided  we  confided  in 
Ilim,  he  would  deliver  us  from  our  foes,  because 
lie  is  the  protector  of  men  and  angels." 

After  describing  a  conference  with  the  Sioux, 
lie  adds,  "Thus  the  savages  were  very  kind, 
without  mentioning  the  beaver  robes.  Tlie  chief 
Ouasicoude  told  me  to  offer  a  fathom  of  ilarti- 
nico  tobacco  to  the  chief  Aquipaguetin,  who  had 
adopted  me  as  a  son.  This  had  an  admirable 
effect  upon  the  barbarians,  who  went  off  shouting 
several  times  the  word  '  Louis,'  [Ouis  or  We] 
which,  as  he  said,  means  the  sun.  Without  van- 
ity, I  must  say  that  my  name  will  be  for  a  long 
time  among  these  people. 

"The  savages  having  left  us,  to  go  to  war 
against  the  Messorites,  the  Maroha,  the  Illinois, 
and  other  nations  which  live  toward  the  lower 
part  of  the  Mississippi,  and  are  irreconcilalile  foes 
of  the  people  of  tlie  North,  tlie  Sieur  du  Lutb. 
who  upon  many  occasions  gave  me  marks  of  his 
friendship,  could  not  forbear  to  tell  our  men  that 
I  had  all  the  reason  in  the  world  to  believe  that 
the  Viceroy  of  Canada  would  give  me  a  favorable 
reception,  should  we  arrive  before  winter,  and 
that  he  wished  with  all  his  heart  that  he  had  been 
among  as  many  natives  as  myself." 

The  style  of  Louis  Hennepin  is  unmistakable 
in  this  extract,  and  it  is  amusing  to  read  his  pa- 
tronage of  one  of  the  fearless  explorers  of  the 
Northwest,  a  cousin  of  Tonty,  favored  by  Fron- 
tenac,  and  who  was  in  jyiinnesota  a  year  before 
his  arrival. 

In  1691,  six  years  before  the  Utrecht  edition  of 
Hennepin,  another  Recollect  Franciscan  had  pub- 
Ushed  a  book  at  Paris,  called  "  The  First  Estab- 
lishment of  the  Faith  in  New  France,"  in  which 
is  the  following  tribute  to  Du  Luth,  whom  Ilen- 
nepui  strives  to  make  a  subordinate  :  "  In  the  last 
years  of  M.  de  Frontenac's  administration,  Sieur 
DuLuth,a  man  of  talent  and  experience,  opened 
a  way  to  the  missionary  and  the  Gospel  in  many 
different  nations,  turning  toward  the  north  of 
that  lake  [Superior]  where  he  even  built  a  fort, 
he  advanced  as  far  as  the  Lake  of  the  Issati, 
caUed  Lake  Buade,  from  the  family  name  of  M. 


de  Frontenac,  planting  the  arms  of  his  Majesty 
in  several  nations  on  the  right  and  left." 

In  the  second  volume  of  his  last  book,  which  is 
called  "  A  Continuance  of  the  New  Discovery  of 
a  vast  Country  in  America,"  etc.,  Hennepin  no- 
ticed some  criticisms. 

To  the  objection  that  his  work  was  dedicated 
to  William  the  Third  of  Great  Britain,  he  replies : 
"  My  King,  his  most  Catholic  Majesty,  his  Elec- 
toral Highness  of  Bavaria,  the  consent  in  writing 
of  the  Superior  of  my  order,  the  integrity  of  my 
faith,  and  the  regular  observance  of  my  vows, 
which  his  Britannic  Majesty  allows  me,  are  the 
best  warrants  of  the  uprightness  of  my  inten- 
tions." 

To  the  query,  how  he  could  travel  so  far  upon 
the  Mississippi  in  so  little  time,  he  answers  with 
a  bold  face,  "  That  we  may,  with  a  canoe  and  a 
pair  of  oars,  go  twenty,  twenty-five,  or  thirty 
leagues  every  day,  and  more  too,  if  there  be  oc- 
casion. And  though  we  had  gone  but  ten  leagues 
a  day,  yet  in  thirty  days  we  might  easily  have 
gone  three  hundred  leagues.  If  during  the  time 
we  spent  from  the  river  of  the  Illinois  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Meschasipi,  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
we  had  used  a  little  more  haste,  we  might  have 
gone  the  same  twice  over." 

To  the  objection,  that  he  said,  he  nad  passed 
eleven  years  in  America,  when  he  had  been  there 
but  about  four,  he  evasively  replies,  that  "  reck- 
oning from  the  year  1674,  when  I  first  set  out,  to 
the  year  l(iS8,  when  I  printed  the  second  edition 
of  my  '  Louisiana,'  it  appears  that  I  have  spent 
fifteen  years  either  in  travels  or  prmting  my 
Discoveries." 

To  those  who  objected  to  the  statement  in  his 
first  book,  in  the  dedication  to  Louis  the  Four- 
teenth, that  the  Sioux  always  call  the  sun  Louis, 
he  writes :  "  I  repeat  what  I  have  said  before, 
that  being  among  the  Issati  and  Nadouessans,  by 
whom  I  was  made  a  slave  in  America,  I  never 
heard  them  call  the  sun  any  other  than  Louis. 
It  is  true  these  savages  call  also  the  moon  Louis, 
but  with  this  distinction,  that  they  give  the  moon 
the  name  of  Louis  Bastache,  which  in  their  lan- 
guage signifies,  the  sim  that  shines  in  the  night." 

The  Utrecht  edition  called  forth  much  censure, 
and  no  one  in  France  doubted  that  Hennepin 
was  the  author.  D'Iberville,  Governor  of  Lou- 
isiana, while  in  Paris,  wrote  on  July  3d  1699,  to 


EXPLOBEIiS  Am)  PIOXEERS  OF  ItlNNESOTA. 


the  Minister  of  Marine  and  Colonies  of  France, 
in  these  words  :  "  Very  much  vexed  at  the  Rec- 
ollect, whose  false  narratives  had  deceived  every 
one,  and  caused  our  suffering  and  total  failure  of 
our  enterprise,  by  the  time  consumed  in  the 
'  search  of  things  which  alone  existed  in  his  imag- 
ination." 

The  Eev.  Father  James  Gravier,  in  a  letter 
from  a  fort  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  near  the  Mis- 
sissippi, dated  February  16th,  1701,  expressed  the 
sentiment  of  his  times  when  he  speaks  of  Hen- 
nepin "  who  presented  to  King  William,  the  Rela- 
tion of  the  Mississippi,  wliere  he  never  was,  and 
after  a  thousand  falsehoods  and  ridiculous  boasts, 


*  *  *  he  makes  Mr.  de  la  Salle  appear  in  liis 
Relation,  wounded  with  two  balls  in  the  head, 
turn  toward  the  Recollect  Father  Anastase,  to 
ask  him  for  absolution,  having  been  killed  in- 
stantly, without  uttering  a  word  •  and  other  like 
false  stories." 

Hennepin  gradually  faded  out  of  sight.  Bru- 
net  mentions  a  letter  written  by  J.  B.  Dubos, 
from  Rome,  dated  March  1st,  1701,  which  men- 
tions that  Hennepin  was  li\ing  on  the  Capitoline 
Hill,  in  the  celebrated  convent  of  Ara  Coeli,  and 
was  a  favorite  of  Cardinal  Spada.  The  time  and 
place  of  his  death  has  not  been  ascertaiiied. 


NICHOLAS  PJSBBOT,  FOUNDEB  OF  FIBST  POST  ON  LAKE  PEPIN. 


29 


CHAPTER  V. 


NICHOLAS  PEKEOT,  FOUNDEK  OF  FIRST   POST  ON  LAKE  PEPIN. 


£arly  Life. — Searches  for  Topper. — Interpreter  at  Sault  St.  Marie,  Employed  Ijy 
La  Salle. — Bmlds  Stocl;ade  at  Lake  Pepin.  —  Hostile  Indians  Relinked. — A 
Silver  Ostensorium  Given  to  a  Jesuit  Chapel. — Perrot  in  the  Battle  against 
Seneeas,  in  New  York. — Second  Visit  to  Sioux  Country. — Taking  Possession  by 
"Proces  Verbal." — Discovery  of  Lead  Mines. — Attends  Council  at  Montreal. — 
Establishes  a  Pbst  near  Detroit,  in  Michigan. — Perrot's  Death,  and  his  Wife. 


Nicholas  Perrot,  sometimes  written  Pere,  was 
one  of  the  most  energetic  of  the  class  in  Canada 
known  as  "  coureurs  des  bois,"  or  forest  rangers. 
Born  in  1644,  at  an  early  age  he  was  identified 
with  the  fur  trade  of  the  great  inland  lakes.  As 
early  as  1665,  he  was  among  the  Outagamies 
[Foxes],  and  in  1667  was  at  Green  Bay.  In  1669, 
he  was  appointed  by  Talon  to  go  to  the  lake  re- 
gion in  search  of  copper  mines.  At  the  formal 
taking  possession  of  that  country  in  the  name  of 
the  King  of  France,  at  Sault  St.  Marie,  on  the 
14th  of  May,  1671,  he  acted  as  interpreter.  In 
1677,  he  seems  to  have  been  employed  at  Fort 
Froutenac.  La  Salle  was  made  very  sick  the 
next  year,  from  eating  a  salad,  and  one  Nicholas 
Perrot,  called  Joly  Coeur  (Jolly  Soul)  was  sus- 
pected of  having  mingled  poison  with  the  food. 
After  this  he  was  associated  with  Du  Luth  in 
the  execution  of  two  Indians,  as  we  have  seen. 
In  1684,  he  was  appointed  by  De  la  Barre,  the 
Governor  of  Canada,  as  Commandant  for  the 
West,  and  left  Montreal  with  twenty  men.  Ar- 
riving at  Green  Bay  in  Wisconsin,  some  Indians 
told  him  that  they  had  visited  countries  toward 
the  sotting  sun,  where  they  obtained  the  blue 
and  green  stones  suspended  from  their  ears  and 
nosts,  and  that  they  saw  horses  and  men  like 
Frenchmen,  probably  the  Spaniards  of  New  Mex- 
ico ;  and  otliers  said  that  they  had  obtamed  hatch- 
ets from  persons  who  lived  in  a  house  that  walked 
on  the  water,  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  of  the 
Assiniboines,  alluding  to  the  English  established 
at  Hudson's  Bay.  Proceeding  to  the  portage  be- 
tween the  Fox  and  Wisconsui,  thirteen  Ilurons 
were  met,  who  were  bitterly  opposed  to  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  post  near  the  Sioux.    After  the 


Mississippi  was  reached,  a  party  of  Winnebagoes 
was  employed  to  notify  the  tribes  of  Northern 
Iowa  that  the  French  had  ascended  the  river, 
and  wished  to  meet  them.  It  was  further  agreed 
that  prairie  fires  would  be  kindled  from  time  to 
time,  so  that  the  Indians  could  follow  the  French. 

After  entering  Lake  Pepin,  near  its  mouth,  on 
the  east  side,  Perrot  foimd  a  place  suitable  for  a 
post,  where  there  was  wood.  The  stockade  was 
built  at  the  foot  of  a  bluff  beyond  which  was  a 
large  prairie.  La  Potherie  makes  this  statement, 
which  is  repeated  by  Penicaut,  who  writes  of 
Lake  Pepin  :  "  To  the  right  and  left  of  its  shores 
there  are  also  prairies.  In  that  on  the  right  on 
the  bank  of  the  lake,  there  is  a  fort,  which  was 
built  by  Nicholas  Perrot,  whose  name  it  yet  [1700] 
bears." 

Soon  after  he  was  established,  it  was  announced 
that  a  band  of  Aiouez  [loways]  was  encamped 
above,  and  on  the  way  to  visit  the  post.  The 
French  ascended  in  canoes  to  meet  them,  but  as 
they  drew  nigh,  the  Indian  women  ran  up  the 
bluffs,  and  hid  in  the  woods ;  but  twenty  of  the 
braves  mustered  courage  to  advance  and  greet 
Perrot,  and  bore  him  to  the  chief's  lodge.  The 
chief,  bending  over  Perrot,  began  to  weep,  and 
allowed  the  moisture  to  fall  upon  his  visitor. 
After  he  had  exhausted  himself,  the  principal 
men  of  the  party  repeated  the  slabbering  process. 
Then  buffalo  tongues  were  boiled  in  an  earthen 
pot,  and  after  being  cut  into  small  pieces,  the 
chief  took  a  piece,  and,  as  a  mark  of  respect, 
placed  it  in  Perrot's  mouth. 

During  the  winter  of  1684-85,  the  French  tra- 
ded in  Minnesota. 

At  the  end  of  the  beaver  hunt,  the  Ayoes 
[loways]  came  to  the  post,  but  Perrot  was  absent 
visiting  the  Nadouaissioux.  and  they  sent  a  chief 
to  notify  him  of  their  arrival.  Four  Illinois  met 
him  on  the  way,  and  were  anxious  for  the  return 
of  four  children  held  by  the  French.    When  the 


30 


EXPLOREBS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


Sioux,  who  were  at  war  with  tlie  Illinois,  per- 
ceived them,  they  wislied  to  seize  their  canoes, 
but  the  Frendi  voyageurs  who  were  guarding 
them,  pushed  into  the  middle  of  the  river,  and 
the  French  at  the  post  coming  to  their  assistance, 
a  reconciliation  was  effected,  and  four  of  the 
Sioux  took  the  Illinois  upon  their  shoulders,  and 
bore  them  to  the  shore. 

An  order  having  been  received  from  Denon- 
ville.  Governor  of  Canada,  to  bring  the  JSIiamis, 
and  other  tribes,  to  the  rendezvous  at  Niagara, 
to  go  on  an  expedition  against  the  Senecas,  Per- 
rot  entrusting  the  post  at  Lake  Pei)in  to  a  few 
Frenchmen,  visited  the  Miamis,  who  were  dwel- 
ling below  on  the  Mississippi,  and  with  no  guide 
but  Indian  camp  fires,  went  sixty  miles  into  the 
country  beyond  the  river. 

Upon  his  return,  he  perceiveci  a  great  smoke, 
and  at  first  thought  that  it  was  a  war  party  pro- 
ceeding to  the  Sioux  country.  Fortunately  he 
met  a  Maskouten  chief,  who  had  been  at  the  post 
to  sec  him,  and  he  gave  the  intelligence,  that  the 
Outagamies  [Foxes],  Kikapous  [Kickapoos],  and 
Mascoutechs  [Maskoutens],  and  others,  from  the 
region  of  Green  Bay,  had  determined  to  pillage 
the  post,  kill  the  French,  and  then  go  to  war 
against  the  Sioux.  Hurrying  on,  he  reached  the 
fort,  and  learned  that  on  that  very  day  three 
spies  had  been  there  and  seen  that  there  were 
only  SIX  Frenchmen  in  charge.   ' 

The  next  day  two  more  spies  appeared,  but 
Perrot  had  taken  the  precaution  to  put  loaded 
guns  at  the  door  of  each  hut,  and  caused  his  men 
frequently  to  change  their  clothes.  To  the  query, 
"  How  m<any  French  were  there?"  the  reply  was 
given,  "  Forty,  and  that  more  w-ere  daily  expected, 
who  had  been  on  a  buffalo  hunt,  and  that  the 
gims  were  well  loaded  and  knives  well  shaqseued/' 
They  were  then  told  to  go  back  to  their  camp 
and  bring  a  chief  of  each  nation  represented,  and 
that  it  Indians,  in  large  numbers,  came  near,  they 
would  be  fired  at.  In  accordance  with  this  mes- 
sage six  chiefs  presented  themselves.  After  their 
bows  and  arrows  were  taken  away  they  were  in- 
vited to  Perrot's  cabin,  who  gave  something  to 
eat  and  tobacco  to  smoke.  Looking  at  Perrot's 
loaded  guns  they  asked,  '-If  he  was  afraid  of  his 
childrenV"  He  replied,  he  was  not.  They  con- 
tinued, "  You  are  disjileased."  lie  answered, 
"  I  have  good  reason  to  be.    The  Spirit  has  warned 


me  of  your  designs;  you  wiU  take  my  thmgs 
away  and  put  me  in  tlie  kettle,  and  proceed 
against  the  Nadouiiissioux,  The  Spirit  told  me 
to  be  on  ray  guard,  and  he  would  help  me."  At 
this  they  were  astonished,  and  confessed  that  an 
attack  was  meditated.  That  night  the  chiefs 
slei)t  in  the  stockade,  and  early  the  next  morn- 
ing a  part  of  the  liostile  force  was  encamped  in 
the  vicinity,  and  wished  to  trade.  Perrot  had 
now  only  a  force  of  fifteen  men,  and  seizing  the 
chiefs,  he  told  them  he  would  break  their  heads 
if  they  did  not  disperse  the  Indians.  One  of  the 
chiefs  then  stood  up  on  the  gate  of  the  fort  and 
said  to  the  warriors,  "  Do  not  advance,  young 
men,  or  you  are  dead.  The  Spirit  has  warned 
Metaminens  [PerrotJ  of  your  designs."  They  fol- 
lowed  the  advice,  and  afterwards  Perrot  present- 
ed them  with  two  guns,  two  kettles,  and  some 
tobacco,  to  close  the  door  of  war  against  the  Na- 
douaissioux,  and  the  chiefs  were  all  permitted  to 
make  a  brief  visit  to  the  i)Ost. 

Ileturning  to  Green  Hay  in  1686,  he  passed  much 
time  in  collecting  allies  for  the  expedition  against 
the  Iroquois  in  New  York.  During  this  year  he 
gave  to  the  Jesuit  cliai)el  at  Depere,  five  miles 
above  Green  Bay,  a  church  utensil  of  silver,  fif- 
teen inches  high,  still  in  existence.  The  stand- 
ard, nine  inches  in  height,  supports  a  radiated 
circlet  closed  with  glass  on  both  sides  and  sur- 
moinited  with  a  cross.  This  vessel,  weighing 
about  twenty  ounces,  was  hitended  to  show  the 
consecrated  wafer  of  tlie  mass,  and  is  called  a 
soleil,  monstrance,  or  ostensorium. 

Around  the  oval  base  of  the  rim  is  the  follow- 
ing inscription: 


^* 


.^ 


,^ 


ip' 


\ 


** 


"^■^ 


.^ 


&  ^%0 


.^ 


In  1S(I2  some  workmen  in  digging  at  (Jreen 
Bay,  Wisconsin,  ou  the  old  Langlade  estate  dis- 


A  cur  OF  BRANDY  AND  WATEIi  DETECTS  A  THIEF. 


31 


covered  this  relic,  wliicli  is  now  kept  iii  the  vault 
of  the  Koman  Catholic  bishop  of  that  diocese. 

During  the  spring  of  1687  Perrot,  with  De  Lii- 
th  and  Tonty,  was  with  the  Indian  allies  and  the 
French  in  the  expedition  against  the  Senecas  of 
the  Genessee  Valley  in  New  York. 

The  next  year  Denonville,  Governor  of  Canada, 
agaui  sent  Perrot  with  forty  Frenchmen  to  the 
Sioux  who,  says  Potherie,  "  were  very  distant, 
and  who  would  not  trade  with  us  as  easily  as 
the  other  tribes,  the  Outagamis  [Foxes]  having 
boasted  of  having  cut  off  the  passage  thereto." 

When  Perrot  arrived  at  Mackinaw,  the  tribes 
of  that  region  were  much  excited  at  the  hostility 
of  tlie  Outagamis  [Foxes]  toward  the  Sauteurs 
[Chippeways].  As  soon  as  Perrot  and  his  party 
reached  Green  Bay  a  deputation  of  the  Foxes 
sought  an  interview.  lie  told  them  that  he  had 
nothing  to  do  with  this  quarrel  with  the  Chippe- 
ways. In  justification,  they  said  that  a  party  of 
tlieir  young  men,  in  going  to  war  against  the 
Nadouaissioux,  had  found  a  young  man  and  three 
Chippeway  girls. 

Perrot  was  silent,  and  continued  his  journey 
towards  the  Nadouaissioux.  Soon  he  wns  met  by 
five  chiefs  of  the  Foxes  in  a  canoe,  who  begged 
him  to  go  to  their  village.  Perrot  consented,  and 
when  he  went  into  a  chief's  lodge  they  placed  be- 
fore him  broiled  venison,  and  raw  meat  for  the 
rest  of  the  French.  He  refused  to  eat  because, 
said  he,  "that  meat  did  not  give  him  any  spirit, 
but  he  would  take  some  when  the  Outagamis 
[Foxes]  were  more  reasonable."'  He  then  chided 
tliem  for  not  havmg  gone,  as  requested  by  the 
Governor  of  Canada,  to  the  Detroit  of  Lake 
Erie,  and  during  the  absence  of  the  French  fight- 
ing with  the  Chippeways.  Having  ordered  them 
to  go  on  their  beaver  hunt  and  only  fight  against 
the  Iroquois,  he  left  a  few  Frenchmen  to  trade 
and  proceeded  on  his  journey  to  the  Sioux  coun- 
try. Arriving  at  the  portage  between  the  Fox  and 
Wisconsin  Rivers  they  were  impeded  by  ice,  but 
with  the  aid  of  some  Pottawattomies  they  trans- 
ported their  goods  to  the  Wisconsin,  which  they 
found  no  longer  frozen.  Tlie  Chippeways  were 
informed  that  their  daughters  had  been  taken 
from  the  Foxes,  and  a  deputation  came  to  take 
them  back,  but  being  attacked  by  the  Foxes,  who 
did  not  know  their  errand,  they  fled  without  se- 
curing the  three  girls.    Perrot  then  ascended  the 


Mississippi  to  the  post  which  in  1684  he  had 
erected,  just  above  the  mouth,  and  on  the  east 
side  of  Lake  Pepin. 

As  soon  as  the  rivers  were  navigable,  the  Na- 
douaissioux  came  down  and  escorted  Perrot  to 
one  of  their  villages,  where  he  was  welcomed 
with  much  enthusiasm.  He  was  carried  upon  a 
beaver  robe,  followed  by  a  long  line  of  warriors, 
each  bearhig  a  pipe,  and  singing.  After  taking 
liim  around  the  village,  he  was  borne  to  the  chief's 
lodge,  when  several  came  in  to  weep  over  his  head, 
with  the  same  tenderness  that  the  Ayoes  (loways) 
did,  when  Perrot  several  years  before  arrived  at 
Lake  Pepin.  "  These  weepings,"  says  an  old 
chronicler  "  do  not  weaken  their  souls.  They  are 
very  good  warriors,  and  reported  the  bravest  in 
that  region.  They  are  at  war  with  all  tlie  tribes 
at  present  except  the  Saulteurs  [Chippeways]  and 
Ayoes  [loways],  and  even  with  these  they  have 
quarrels.  At  the  break  of  day  the  Nadouaissioux 
bathe,  even  to  the  youngest.  They  have  very  fine 
forms,  but  the  women  are  not  comely,  and  they 
look  upon  them  as  slaves.  They  are  jealous  and 
suspicious  about  them,  and  they  are  the  cause 
of  quarrels  and  blood-shedding. 

"  The  Sioux  are  very  dextrous  with  their  ca- 
noes, and  they  fight  unto  death  if  surrounded. 
Their  country  is  full  of  swamps,  which  shelter 
them  in  summer  from  being  molested.  One  must 
be  a  Nadouaissioux,  to  find  the  way  to  their  vil- 
lages." 

While  Perrot  was  absent  in  New  York,  fight- 
ing the  Senecas,  a  Sioux  chief  knowing  that  few 
Frenchmen  were  left  at  Lake  Pepin,  came  with 
one  hundred  warriors,  and  endeavored  to  pillage 
it.  Of  this  complaint  was  made,  and  the  guilty 
leader  was  near  being  put  to  death  by  his  associ- 
ates. Amicable  relations  having  been  formed, 
preparations  were  made  by  Perrot  to  return  to 
liis  post.  As  they  were  going  away,  one  of  the 
Frenchmen  complained  that  a  box  of  his  goods 
had  been  stolen.  Perrot  ordered  a  voyageur  to 
bring  a  cup  of  water,  and  into  it  he  poured  some 
brandy.  He  then  addressed  the  Indians  ajid  told 
them  he  would  dry  up  their  marshes  if  the  goods 
were  not  restored ;  and  then  he  set  on  fire  the 
brandy  in  tlie  cup.  The  savages  were  astonislied 
and  terrified,  and  supposed  that  he  possessed  su- 
pernatural powers ;  and  in  aUttle  "-'^'lethe  goods 


32 


EXPLOBEBS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


were  found  and  restored  to  the  owner,  and  the 
French  descended  to  llieir  stockade. 

The  Poxes,  while  rerrot  was  in  the  Sioux 
country,  clianged  their  village,  and  settled  on  the 
Mississippi.  Coming  up  to  visit  Perrot,  they 
asked  him  to  establish  friendly  relations  between 
tliem  and  the  Sioux.  At  the  time  some  Sioux 
were  at  the  post  trading  furs,  and  at  first  they 
supposed  the  French  were  plotting  w^th  the 
Foxes.  Perrot,  however,  eased  them  by  present- 
ing the  cahunet  and  saying  that  the  Preuch  con- 
sidered the  Outagamis  [Foxes]  as  brothers,  and 
then  adding:  "Smoke  in  my  pipe;  this  is  the 
maimer  with  which  Onontio  ((iovenior  of  Can- 
ada] feeds  his  children."  The  Sioux  replied  that 
they  wished  the  Foxes  to  smoke  first.  This  was 
reluctantly  done,  and  the  Sioux  smoked,  but 
would  not  conclude  a  definite  peace  until  they 
consulted  their  chiefs.  This  was  not  concluded, 
because  Perrot,  before  the  chiefs  came  down, 
received  orders  to  return  to  Canada. 

About  this  time,  in  the  presence  of  Father  Jo- 
seph James  Marest,  a  Jesuit  missionary,  Boisguil- 
lot,  a  trader  on  the  Wisconsin  and  Mississippi.  I>e 
Sueur,  who  afterward  built  a  post  below  tlie  Saint 
Croix  lliver,  about  nine  miles  from  Hastings,  the 
following  document  was  prepared: 

"  Nicholas  Perrot,  commanding  for  the  King  at 
the  post  of  the  Nadouessioux,  commissioned  by 
the  Marquis  Denonville,  Governor  and  Lieuten- 
ant Governor  of  all  New  France,  to  manage  the 
interests  of  commerce  among  all  the  Indian  tribes 
and  people  of  the  Bay  des  Puants  [Green  Bay], 
Nadouessioux,  Mascoutens,  and  other  western  na- 
tions of  the  Upper  Mississijipi,  and  to  take  pos- 
session in  the  King's  name  of  all  the  places  where 
he  has  heretofore  been  and  whither  he  will  go: 

"  We  this  day,  the  eighth  of  May,  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  eighty-nine,  do,  in  the  presence 
of  the  Reverend  Father  Marest,  of  the  Society  of 
Jesus,  Missionary  among  the  Nadouessioux,  of 
Monsieur  de  BoisguUlot,  commanding  the  French 
in  the  neighborliood  of  the  Ouiskonclie,  on  the 
Mississippi,  Augiistin  Legardeur,  Esquire,  Sieur 
de  Caumont,  and  of  Messieurs  Le  Sueur,  Hebert, 
Lemire  and  Blein. 

"  Declare  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that,  be- 
ing come  from  the  Bay  des  Puants,  and  to  the 
Lake  of  the  Ouiskonches,  we  did  transport  our- 
selves to  the  country  of  the  Nadouessioux,  on  the 


border  of  the  river  St.  Croix,  and  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river  St.  Pierre,  on  the  bank  of  which  were 
the  Mantantans,  and  furtlier  up  to  the  interior, 
as  far  as  the  Menchokatonx  [Med-ay-wah-kawn- 
twawn],  with  whom  dwell  the  majority  of  the 
Songeskitons  [Se-see-twawns]  and  otlier  Nadou- 
essioux who  are  to  the  northwest  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, to  tiike  possession,  for  and  in  the  name  of 
the  King,  of  tlie  countries  and  rivers  inliabited  by 
the  said  tribes,  and  of  which  they  are  prcijirietors. 
The  present  act  done  jn  our  presence,  signed  with 
our  hand,  and  subscribed." 

The  three  Cliipiieway  girls  of  whom  mention 
has  been  made  were  still  with  tlie  I'oxes,  and 
Perrot  took  them  with  him  to  ^Mackinaw,  upon 
his  return  to  Canada. 

AVhile  there,  the  Ottawas  held  some  prisoners 
upon  an  island  not  far  from  the  mainland.  Tlie 
Jesuit  Fathers  went  over  and  tried  to  save  the 
captives  from  harsh  treatment,  but  were  misuc- 
cessful.  The  canoes  appeared  at  length  near  each 
other,  one  man  paddling  in  each,  while  the  war- 
riors were  answering  the  shouts  of  the  prisoners, 
who  each  held  a  white  stick  in  his  hand.  As 
they  neared  the  shore  the  chief  of  the  party  made 
a  speech  to  the  Indians  wiio  lived  on  the  shore, 
and  giving  a  history  of  the  campaign,  told  them 
that  they  were  masters  of  the  jirisoners.  The 
warriors  then  came  on  land,  and,  according  to 
custom,  abandoned  the  spoils.  An  old  man  then 
ordered  nine  men  to  conduct  the  prisoners  to  a 
separate  place.  The  women  and  the  young  men 
formed  a  line  with  big  sticks.  The  young  pris- 
oners soon  found  their  feet,  but  the  old  men  were 
so  badly  used  they  spat  blood,  and  they  were  con- 
demned to  be  burned  at  the  ilamilion. 

The  Jesuit  Fathers  and  the  French  officers 
were  much  embarrassed,  and  feared  that  the  Iro- 
quois would  complain  of  the  little  care  which  had 
been  used  to  prevent  cruelty. 

Perrot,  in  this  emergency,  walked  to  the  place 
where  the  prisoners  were  singing  the  death  dirge, 
in  expectation  of  being  l)unied,  and  told  them  to 
sit  ilown  and  be  silent.  A  few  Ottauwaws  rudely 
told  them  to  sing  on,  but  Perrot  forbade.  He 
then  went  back  to  the  Council,  where  the  old  men 
had  rendered  judgment,  and  ordered  one  prisoner 
to  be  burned  at  Mackinaw,  one  at  Saiilt  St.  Marie 
and  another  at  Green  Bay.  Undaunted  he  spoke 
as  follows :    "  I  come  to  cut  the  strings  of  the 


PERROT  VISITS  THE  LEAD  M1N'£S. 


33 


(logs.  I  will  not  suffer  them  to  be  eaten  •  I  have 
pity  on  them,  since  my  Father,  Onontio,  has  com- 
manded me.  You  Outaouaks  [Ottavraws]  are 
like  tame  bears,  who  will  not  recognize  them  who 
lias  brouglit  them  up.  You  have  foi^otten  Onon- 
tio's  protection.  When  he  asks  your  obedience, 
you  want  to  rule  over  him,  and  eat  the  flesh  of 
those  children  he  does  not  wish  to  give  to  you. 
Take  care,  that,  if  oyu  swallow  them,  Onontio 
will  tear  them  with  violence  from  between  your 
teeth.  I  speak  as  a  brother,  and  I  think  I  am 
showing  pity  to  your  children,  by  cuttmg  the 
bonds  of  your  prisoners." 

His  boldness  had  the  desired  effect.  The  pris- 
oners were  released,  and  two  of  them  were  sent 
witli  him  to  Montreal,  to  be  retimied  to  the  Iro- 
quois. 

On  the  22nd  of  May,  1690,  with  one  hundred 
and  forty-three  voyageurs  and  six  Indians,  Fer- 
ret left  Montreal  as  an  escort  of  Sieur  de  Lou- 
vigny  La  Porte,  a  half-pay  captain,  appointed  to 
succeed  Durantaye  at  Mackinaw,  l)y  Frontenac, 
the  new  Governor  of  Canada,  who  in  October  of 
the  previous  year  had  arrived,  to  take  the  place 
of  Denonville. 

Perrot,  as  he  approached  Mackinaw,  went  in 
advance  to  notify  the  French  of  the  coming  of 
the  commander  of  the  post.  As  he  came  in  sight 
of  the  settlement,  he  hoisted  the  white  flag  with 
the  fleur  de  lis  and  the  voyageurs  shouted,  "  Long 
live  the  king!  "  Louvigny  soon  appeared  and  was 
received  by  one  hundred  "  coureur  des  bois " 
mider  arms. 

From  Mackinaw,  Perrot  proceeded  to  Green 
Bay,  and  a  party  of  Miamis  there  begged  him  to 
make  a  trading  establishment  on  the  Mississippi 
towards  the  Ouiskonsing  ( Wisconsin. )  The  chief 
made  him  a  present  of  a  piece  of  lead  from  a 
muie  which  he  had  found  in  a  small  stream  which 
flows  into  the  Mississippi.  Perrot  promised  to 
visit  him  within  twenty  days,  and  the  chief  then 
returned  to  his  village  below  the  d'Ouiskonche 
(iWsconsin)  Eiver. 

Having  at  length  reached  his  post  on  Lake 
Pepin,  he  was  informed  that  the  Sioux  were 
forming  a  large  war  party  against  the  Outaga- 
mis  (Foxes)  and  other  allies  of  the  French.  He 
gave  notice  of  his  arrival  to  a  party  of  a))out  four 
hundred  Sioux  who  were    on  the  Mississippi. 


They  arrested  the  massengers  and  came  to  the 
post  for  the  purpose  of  plunder.  Perrot  asked 
them  why  they  acted  in  this  manner,  and  said 
that  the  Foxes,  Miamis,  Kickapoos,  Illinois,  and 
Maskoutens  had  united  in  a  war  party  against 
them,  but  that  he  had  persuaded  them  to  give  it 
up,  and  now  he  wished  them  to  return  to  their 
families  and  to  their  beaver.  The  Sioux  declared 
that  they  had  started  on  the  war-path,  and  that 
they  were  ready  to  die.  After  they  had  traded 
their  furs,  they  sent  for  Perrot  to  come  to  their 
camp,  and  begged  that  he  would  not  hinder  them 
from  searching  for  their  foes.  Perrot  tried  to  dis- 
suade them,  but  they  insisted  that  the  Spirit  had 
given  them  men  to  eat,  at  three  days'  journey 
from  the  post  Then  more  powerful  influences 
were  used.  After  giving  them  two  kettles  and 
some  merchandise,  Poerrt  spoke  thus:  "  I  love 
your  life,  and  I  am  sure  you  will  be  defeated. 
Your  Evil  Spirit  has  deceived  you.  If  you  kill 
the  Outagamis,  or  their  allies,  you  must  strike  me 
first;  if  you  kill  them,  you  kill  me  just  tlie  same, 
for  I  hold  them  luider  one  wing  and  you  under 
the  other."  After  this  he  extended  the  calumet, 
which  they  at  first  refused;  but  at  length  a  chief 
said  he  was  right,  and,  making  invocations  to  the 
sun,  wished  Perrot  to  take  him  back  to  his  arms. 
This  was  granted,  on  condition  that  he  would 
give  up  his  weapons  of  war.  The  chief  then  tied 
them  to  a  pole  in  the  centre  of  the  fort,  turning 
them  toward  the  sun.  He  then  persuaded  the 
other  chiefs  to  give  up  the  expedition,  and,  send- 
ing for  Perrot,  he  placed  the  calumet  before  him, 
one  end  in  the  earth  aud  the  other  on  a  small 
forked  twig  to  hold  it  firm.  Then  he  took  from 
his  own  sack  a  pair  of  his  cleanest  moccasins,  and 
taking  off  Ferret's  shoes,  put  on  these.  After  he 
had  made  him  eat,  presenting  the  calumet,  he 
said:  "  We  listen  to  you  now.  Do  for  us  as  you 
do  for  our  enemies,  and  prevent  them  from  kill- 
ing us,  and  we  will  separate  for  the  beaver  hunt. 
The  sun  is  the  witness  of  our  obedience." 

After  this,  Perrot  descended  the  Mississippi 
and  revealed  to  the  Maskoutens,  who  had  come  to 
meet  him,  how  he  had  pacified  the  Sionx.  He, 
about  this  period,  in  accordance  with  his  prom- 
ise, visited  the  lead  mines.  He  found  the  ore 
abundant  "  but  the  lead  hard  to  work  because  it 
lay  between  rocks  which  required  Ijlowing  up. 
It  had  very  little  dross  and  was  easily  melted." 


34 


EXPLOBEBS  AND  PIOAEEBS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


Pemcaut,  who  ascended  the  Mississippi  in  1700, 
wrote  that  twenty  leagues  below  the  "Wisconsin, 
on  both  sides  of  the  Mississippi,  were  mines  of 
lead  called  '•  Nicolas  Perrofs."  Early  French 
maps  indicate  as  the  locality  of  lead  mines  the 
site  of  modem  towns.  Galena,  in  Illinois,  and  Du- 
buque, In  Iowa. 

In  August,  1693,  about  two  hundred  French- 
men from  Mackinaw,  with  delegates  from  the 
tribes  of  the  AVest,  arrived  at  Montreal  to  at- 
tend a  grand  council  called  by  Governor  Fronte- 
nac,  and  among  these  was  Perrot. 

On  the  first  Sunday  in  September  the  governor 


gave  the  Indians  a  great  feast,  after  which  thej 
and  the  traders  began  to  return  to  the  wilder- 
ness. Perrot  was  ordered  by  Frontenac  to  es- 
tablish a  new  post  for  tlie  !Miamis  in  ilichigan, 
in  the  neigliBbrhood  of  the  Kalamazoo  River. 

Two  years  later  he  is  present  again,  in  August, 
at  a  council  in  Montreal,  then  returned  to  the 
West,  and  in  1699  is  recalled  from  (Jreen  Hay. 
In  1701  he  was  at  Montreal  acting  as  interpreter, 
and  appears  to  have  died  before  1718:  his  wife 
was  Madeline  Raclos,  and  his  residence  was  in 
the  Seigneury  of  Becancourt,  not  far  from  Three 
Rivers,  on  the  St.  Lawrence. 


BAROii  LA  HONTAN'S  FABULOVS  rol'.l^'A'. 


35 


CHAPTER  VI. 


BAEON  LA  HONTAN'S  FABULOUS  VOYAGE. 


Ln  Hoiitan,  a  Gascon  by  Birth.— Early  Life-— Description  of  Fox  ami  Wisconsin 
Kivers  — Indian  Feast. — Alleged  Ascent  of  Long  River. — Bobe  Exposes  tlie 
Deception. — Route  to  the  Pacific. 

The  '•  Travels"  of  Baron  La  Hontan  appeared 
in  A.  D.  1703,  both  at  London  and  at  Hague,  and 
were  as  saleable  and  readable  as  those  of  Ilerinepin, 
which  were  on  the  comiters  of  booksellers  at  the 
same  time. 

La  Hontan,  a  Gascon  by  birth,  and  in  style  of 
writing,  when  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  ar- 
rived in  Canada,  m  1683,  as  a  private  soldier,  and 
was  with  Gov.  De  la  Barre  in  his  expedition  of 
1684,  toward  Niagara,  and  was  also  in  the  battle 
near  Rochester,  New  York,  in  1687,  at  which  Du 
Lnth  and  Perrot,  explorers  of  Minnesota,  were 
present. 

In  1688  he  appears  to  have  been  sent  to  Fort 
St.  Joseph,  which  was  built  by  Du  Luth.  on  the 
St.  Clare  River,  near  the  site  of  Fort  Gratiot, 
Michigan.  It  is  possible  that  he  may  have  accom- 
panied Perrot  to  Lake  Pepin,  who  came  about 
this  time  to  reoccupy  his  old  post. 

From  the  following  extracts  it  v^dll  be  seen  that 
his  style  is  graphic,  and  that  he  probably  had  been 
in  1688  in  the  valley  of  the  Wisconsin.  At  Mack- 
inaw, after  his  return  from  his  pretended  voyage 
of  the  Long  River,  he  writes: 

"  I  left  here  on  the  24th  September,  with  my 
men  and  five  Outaouas,  good  hunters,  whom  I 
have  before  mentioned  to  you  as  having  been  of 
good  service  to  me.  All  my  brave  men  being 
provided  with  good  canoes,  filled  with  provisions 
and  ammunition,  together  with  goods  for  the  In- 
dian trade,  I  took  advantage  of  a  north  wind,  and 
ill  three  days  entered  the  Bay  of  the  Pouteouata- 
mis,  distant  from  here  about  forty  leagues.  The 
entrance  to  the  bay  is  fidl  of  islands.  It  is  ten 
leagues  wide  and  twenty-five  in  length. 

"  On  the  29th  we  entered  a  river,  wliich  is  quite 
deep,  wliose  waters  are  so  affected  by  the  lake 
that  they  often  rise  and  fall  three  feet  iu  twelve 


Lours.  This  is  an  observation  that  I  made  dur- 
ing these  three  or  four  days  that  I  passed  here. 
The  Sakis,  the  Poutouatamis,  and  a  few  of  the 
Malominis  have  their  villages  on  the  border  of  this 
river,  and  the  Jesuits  have  a  house  there.  In  the 
place  there  is  carried  on  quite  a  commerce  in  furs 
and  Indian  corn,  which  the  Indians  traffic  with 
the  '  coureurs  des  bois'  that  go  and  come,  for  it  is 
their  nearest  and  most  convenient  passage  to  the 
Mississippi. 

"  The  lands  here  are  very  fertile,  and  produce, 
almost  without  culture,  the  wheat  of  our  Europe, 
peas,  beans,  and  any  quantity  of  fruit  unknown 
in  France. 

"  The  moment  I  landed,  the  warriors  of  tliree 
nations  came  by  turns  to  my  cabin  to  entertain 
me  with  the  pipe  and  chief  dance ;  the  first  in 
proof  of  peace  and  friendship,  the  second  to  indi- 
cate their  esteem  and  consideration  for  me.  In 
return,  I  gave  them  several  yards  of  tobacco,  and 
beads,  with  which  they  trimmed  their  capots.  The 
next  morning,  I  was  asked  as  a  guest,  to  one  of 
the  feasts  of  this  nation,  and  after  having  sent  my 
dishes,  which  is  the  custom,  I  went  towards  noon. 
They  began  to  compliment  me  of  ray  arrival,  and 
after  hearing  them,  they  all,  one  after  the  other, 
began  to  sing  and  dance,  in  a  manner  that  I  will 
detail  to  you  when  I  have  more  leisure.  These 
songs  and  dances  lasted  two  hours,  and  were  sea- 
soned with  whoops  of  joy,  and  quililili^s  that  they 
have  woven  into  their  ridiculous  miisifiue.  Then 
the  captives  waited  upon  us.  The  whole  troop 
were  seated  in  the  Oriental  custom.  Each  one 
had  his  portion  before  him,  like  our  monks  in 
their  refectories.  They  commenced  by  placing 
four  dishes  before  me.  The  first  consis^^^ed  of  two 
white  fish  simply  boiled  in  water.  The  second 
was  chopped  meats  with  the  boiled  tongue  of  a 
bear ;  the  third  a  beaver's  tail,  all  roasted.  They 
made  me  drink  also  of  a  syrup,  mixed  with  water, 
made  out  of  the  maple  tree.    The  feast  lasted  two 


36 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


hours,  after  which,  I  requested  a  chief  of  the 
nation  to  sing  for  me ;  for  it  is  the  custom,  when 
we  have  husmess  with  them,  to  employ  an  inferior 
for  self  in  all  the  ceremonies  they  perform.  I 
gave  him  several  pieces  of  tohacco,  to  oblige  him 
to  keep  the  party  till  dark.  The  next  day  and  the 
day  following,  I  attended  the  feasts  of  the  other 
nations,  where  I  observed  the  same  formahties.'" 

He  alleges  that,  on  the  23d  of  October,  he 
reached  the  Mississippi  Kiver,  and,  ascending,  on 
the  .Sd  of  November  he  entered  into  a  river,  a 
tributary  from  the  west,  that  was  almost  without 
a  current,  and  at  its  mouth  filled  with  rushes. 
He  then  describes  a  journey  of  five  hundred  miles 
up  this  stream.  He  declares  he  foimd  upon  its 
banks  three  great  nations,  the  Eokoros,  Essa- 
napes,  and  Gnacsitares,  and  because  he  ascended 
it  for  sixty  days,  he  named  it  Long  Eiver. 

For  years  his  wondrous  story  was  believed,  and 
geographers  hastened  to  trace  it  upon  their  maps. 
But  in  time  the  voyage  up  the  Long  Kiver  was 
discovered  to  be  a  fabrication.  There  is  extant 
a  letter  of  Bobe,  a  Priest  of  the  Congregation  of 
the  Mission,  dated  Versailles,  March  15, 1716,  and 
addressed  to  De  L'Isle,  the  geographer  of  the 
Academy  of  Sciences  at  Paris,  which  exposes  the 
deception. 

He  writes:  "It  seems  to  me  that  you  might 
give  the  name  of  Bourbonia  to  these  vast  coun- 
tries which  are  between  the  ^Missouri,  ilississippi. 
and  the  "Western  Ocean.  "Would  it  not  be  well  to 
efface  that  great  river  which  La  Hontan  says  he 
discovered? 

"  All  the  Canadians,  and  even  the  Governor 
General,  have  told  me  that  tliis  river  is  unknown. 
If  it  existed,  the  French,  who  are  on  the  Illinois, 
and  at  Ouabache,  woidd  know  of  it.  The  last 
volume  of  the  '  Lettres  Edifiantes'  of  the  Jesuits, 
in  wliich  there  is  a  very  fine  relation  of  the  Illinois 
Coimtry,  does  not  speak  of  it,  any  more  than  the 
letters  \\iiich  I  received  this  year,  which  tell  won- 
ders of  the  beauty  and  goodness  of  the  country. 
They  send  me  some  quite  pretty  work,  made  by 
the  wife  of  one  of  the  princip.il  chiefs. 

"  They  tell  me,  that  among  the  Scioux,  of  the 
Mississippi,  there  are  always  Frenchmen  trading; 
that  the  course  of  the  Mississippi  is  from  north 
to  west,  and  from  west  to  south;  that  it  is  knovsai 
that  toward  the  soiux-e  of  the  ^lississippi  there  is 
a  river  in  the  liighhmds  that  leads  to  the  western 


ocean;  that  the  Indians  say  that  they  have  seen 
bearded  men  with  caps,  who  gather  gold-dust  on 
the  seashore,  but  that  it  is  very  far  from  this 
comitry,  and  that  they  pass  through  many  nations 
unknown  to  the  French. 

"  I  have  a  memoir  of  La  :Motte  Cadillac,  form- 
erly Governor  of  Missilimacktnack,  who  says  that 
if  St.  Peters  [Minnesota]  Hiver  is  ascended  to  its 
soiu'ce  they  will,  according  to  all  appearance,  find 
in  the  higliland  another  river  leading  to  the  "West- 
ern Ocean. 

"For  the  last  two  years  I  have  tormented 
exceedmgly  the  Governor-General,  M.  Baudot, 
and  M.  Duche,  to  move  them  to  discover  this 
ocean.  If  I  succeed,  as  I  hope,  we  shall  hear 
tidings  before  three  years,  and  I  shall  have  the 
pleasure  and  the  consolation  of  having  rendered 
a  good  service  to  Geography,  to  Keligion  and  to 
the  State." 

Charlevoix,  m  liis  Ilistorj'  of  New  France,  al- 
luding to  La  Hontan's  voyage,  writes:  "  The 
voyage  up  the  Long  River  is  as  fabulous  as  the 
Island  of  Barrataria,  of  which  Sancho  Panza  was 
governor.  Nevertheless,  in  France  and  else- 
where, most  i)eople  have  received  these  memoirs 
as  the  fruits  of  the  travels  of  a  gentleman  wIkj 
wrote  badly,  althougli  (juite  lightly,  and  who  had 
no  religion,  but  who  described  pretty  sincerely 
what  he  had  seen.  The  consequence  is  that  the 
compilers  of  historical  and  geographical  diction- 
aries have  almost  always  followed  and  cited  them 
in  preference  to  more  faithful  records." 

Even  in  modern  times,  Nicollet,  employed  by 
the  United  States  to  explore  the  Upper  2ilississ- 
ippi,  has  the  following  in  his  report: 

"Having  procured  a  copy  of  La  Ilontan's 
book,  m  which  there  is  a  roughly  made  map  of 
his  Long  River,  I  was  struck  \\ith  the  resem- 
blance of  its  course  as  laid  down  with  that  of 
Cannon  River,  which  I  had  previously  sketched 
in  my  own  tield-book.  I  soon  convinced  myself 
that  the  principal  statements  of  the  Baron  in  ref- 
erence to  the  country  and  the  few  details  he  gives 
of  the  physical  character  of  the  the  river,  coui- 
cide  remarkably  with  what  I  had  laid  dowii  as 
belonging  to  Cannon  River.  Then  the  lakes  and 
swamps  corresponded;  traces  of  Indian  villages 
mentioned  by  him  might  be  found  by  a  growtli 
of  wild  grass  that  propagates  itself  around  aU  olii 
Indian  settlements." 


LE  SVEUIi,  EXPLORER  OF  THE  MINNESOTA  RIVER. 


37 


CHAPTER  Vn. 


LE  STJETJR,  EXPLORER  OF  THE  ^IINNESOTA  RIVER. 


Le  Sueur  Visits  Lake  Pepin. — Stationed  at  La  Poinie. — Establishes  a  Post  on  an 
Island  Above  Lake  Pepin. — Island  Described  by  Penicaut. — First  Sioux  Chief 
at  Montreal. — Ojibway  Chiefs'  Siteeches. — Speech  of  Sioux  Chief. — Teeoskah- 
tay's  Death. — Le  Sueur  Goes  to  France. — Posts  West  of  Mackinaw  Abandoned 
— Le  Sueur's  License  Revoked. — Second  Visit  to  France. — Arrives  in  Gulf  of 
Mexico  witli  D'Iberville. — Ascends  the  Mississippi. — Lead  Mines. — Canadians 
Fleeing  from  the  Sioux. — At  the  Mouth  of  the  Wisconsin. — Sioux  Robbers, — Elk 
Hunting.— Lake  Pepin  Described.— Rattlesnakes.— La  Place  Killad.- St.  Croix 
River  Named  After  a  Frenchman. — Le  Sueur  Reaches  St.  Pterre,  now  Minne' 
sola  River. — Enters  Mankahto,  or  Blue  Earth,  River.— Sioux  of  the  Plains. — 
Port  L'Huillier  Completed. — Conferences  with  Sioux  Bands — Assinaboines  a 
Separated  Sioux  Band. — An  Indian  Feast. — Names  of  the  Sioux  Bands. — Char- 
levoix's Account. — Le  Sueur  Goes  with  D'Iberville  to  France. — D'Iberville's 
Memorial.—  Early  Census  of  Indian  Tribes.— Penicaut's  Account  of  Fort  L'Huil 
lier. — Le  Sueur's  Departure  from  the  Fort. — D'Evaqe  Left  in  Charge. — Return' 
to  Mobile.— Juchereau  at  Mouth  of  Wisconsin.— Bonder  a  Montreal  Merchant. — 
Sioux  Attack  Miamis. — Boudor  Robbed  by  the  Sioux. 


Le  Sueur  -was  a  native  of  Canada,  and  a  rela- 
tive of  D'Iberville,  the  early  Governor  of  Louis- 
iana. He  came  to  Lake  Pepin  in  1683,  -n'ith 
Nicholas  Perrot,  and  his  name  also  appears  at- 
tached to  the  document  prepared  in  May,  1689, 
after  Perrot  had  re-occupied  his  post  just  above 
the  entrance  of  the  lake,  on  the  east  side. 

In  1692,  he  'was  sent  by  Governor  Frontenae  of 
Canada,  to  La  Pointe,  on  Leake  Superior,  and  m  a 
dispatch  of  1693,  to  the  French  Govermneut,  is 
the  following :  "  Le  Sueur,  another  voyageiu-,  is 
to  remain  at  Chagouamagon  [La  Pointe]  to  en- 
deavor to  maintain  the  peace  lately  concluded  be- 
tween the  Saulteurs  [Chippeways]  and  Sioux. 
This  is  of  the  greatest  consequence,  as  it  is  i\ov,' 
the  sole  pass  by  -which  access  can  be  had  to  the 
latter  nation,  whose  trade  is  very  profitable  ;  the 
comitry  to  the  south  being  occupied  by  the  Foxes 
and  Maskoutens,  who  several  times  plundered  the 
French,  on  the  ground  they  were  carrying  ammu- 
nition to  the  Sioux,  their  ancient  enemies." 

Entering  the  Sioux  country  in  1694,  he  estab- 
lished a  post  upon  a  prairie  island  in  the  Missis- 
sippi, about  nine  miles  below  the  present  to\A'n  of 
Hastings,  according  to  Bellin  and  others.  Peni- 
caut, who  accompanied  him  in  the  exploration  of 
the  Minnesota,  -writes,  "  At  the  extremity  of  the 
lake  [PepinJ  you  come  to  the  Isle  Pelee,  so  called 
because  there  are  no  trees  on  it.   It  is  on  this  island 


that  the  French  fi'om  Canada  established  their 
fort  and  storehouse,  and  they  also  -winter  here, 
because  game  is  very  abundant.  In  the  month  of 
September  they  bring  their  store  of  meat,  obtained 
by  hunting,  and  .after  having  skinned  and  cleaned 
it,  hang  it  upon  a  crib  of  raised  scaffolding,  in 
order  that  the  extreme  cold,  -which  lasts  from 
September  to  March,  may  preserve  it  from  spoil- 
ing. During  the  whole  winter  they  do  not  go  out 
except  for  water,  when  they  have  to  break  the  ice 
every  day,  and  the  cabin  is  generally  built  upon 
the  bank,  so  as  not  to  have  far  to  go.  When 
spring  arrives,  the  savages  come  to  the  island, 
bringing  their  merchandize." 

On  the  fifteenth  of  July,  1695,  Le  Sueur  arrived 
at  Montreal  with  a  party  of  Ojibways,  and  the 
first  Ikikotah  brave  that  had  ever  visited  Canada. 

The  Indians  -were  much  impressed  with  the 
power  of  France  by  the  marching  of  a  detach- 
ment of  seven  hundred  picked  men,  under  Chev- 
aUer  Cresafl,  who  were  on  their  way  to  La  Chine. 

On  the  eighteenth,  Frontenae,  in  the  presence 
of  Callieres  and  other  persons  of  distinction,  gave 
them  an  audience. 

The  first  speaker  was  the  chief  of  the  Ojibway 
band  at  La  Pointe,  Shingowahbay,  who  said: 

"  That  he  was  come  to  pay  his  respects  to  Onon- 
tio  [the  title  given  the  Governor  of  Canada]  in  the 
name  of  the  young  warriors  of  Pomt  Chagouami- 
gon,  and  to  thank  him  for  having  given  them 
some  Frenchmen  to  dwell  with  them;  to  testify 
their  sorrow  for  one  Jobin,  a  Frenchman,  who 
was  killed  at  a  feast,  accidentally,  and  not  ma- 
liciously. We  come  to  ask  a  favor  of  you,  which 
is  to  let  us  act.  We  are  allies  of  the  Sciou.  Some 
Outagamies,  or  Mascoutuis,  have  been  killed. 
The  Sciou  came  to  mom-n  with  us.  Let  us  act, 
Father;  let  us  take  revenge. 

"  Le  Sueiu-  alone,  who  is  acquainted  -with  the 
langufige  of  the  one  and  the  other,  can  serve  us. 
We  ask  that  he  return  with  us." 


38 


EXPLOREBS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


Another  speaker  of  the  Ojibways  was  Le  Bro- 
chet. 

Teeoskahtay,  the  Dahkotah  chief,  before  he 
spoke,  spread  out  a  beaver  robe,  and,  laying  an- 
otlier  with  a  tobacco  poudi  and  otter  skin,  liegan 
to  weep  bitterly.    After  drying  his  tears,  he  said: 

"  All  of  the  nations  had  a  father,  who  afforded 
them  protection;  all  of  them  have  iron.  B'lthe 
was  a  bastard  in  quest  of  a  father;  he  was  come 
to  see  him,  and  hopes  that  he  will  take  pity  on 
him." 

He  then  placed  upon  the  beaver  robe  twenty- 
two  arrows,  at  each  aiTow  naming  a  Dahkotah 
village  that  desired  Frontenac's  protection.  Ke- 
suming  his  speech,  he  remarked: 

"  It  is  not  on  account  of  what  I  bring  that  I 
hope  him  who  rules  the  earth  will  have  pity  on 
me.  I  learned  from  the  Sauteurs  that  he  wanted 
nothing;  that  he  was  the  Master  of  the  Iron;  that 
he  had  a  big  heart,  into  wliich  he  could  receive 
all  the  nations.  This  has  induced  me  to  abandon 
my  people  and  come  to  seek  his  protection,  and 
to  beseech  bim  to  receive  me  among  the  number 
of  his  children.  Take  courage.  Great  Captain, 
and  reject  me  not;  despise  me  not,  though  I  ap- 
pear poor  in  your  eyes.  jXJI  the  nations  here 
present  know  tliat  I  am  rich,  and  the  little  they 
oiler  here  is  taken  from  my  lands." 

Count  Frontenac  in  reply  told  the  chief  that  he 
would  receive  the  Bahkotahs  as  his  children,  on 
condition  that  they  would  be  obedient,  and  that 
he  would  send  back  Le  Sueur  with  him. 

Teeoskahtay,  taking  hold  of  the  governor's 
knees,  wept,  and  said:  "Take  pity  on  us;  we 
are  well  aware  that  we  are  not  able  to  speak,  be- 
ing children;  but  Le  Sueiu',  who  imderstands  our 
language,  and  has  seen  all  our  villages,  will  next 
year  inform  you  what  v\'ill  liave  been  achieved  by 
the  Sioux  nations  represented  by  those  arrows  be- 
fore you." 

Having  finished,  a  Dahkotah  woman,  the  vnfe 
of  a  great  chief  whom  Le  Sueur  liad  purcliased 
from  captivity  at  Mackinaw,  approached  those  in 
authority,  and,  with  downcast  eyes,  embraced 
their  knees,  weeping  and  saying: 

"  I  thank  thee.  Father;  it  is  by  thy  means  I 
have  been  liberated,  and  am  no  longer  captive.'" 

Then  Teeoskahtay  resumed: 

"  I  speak  like  a  man  penetrated  ■with  joy.  The 
Great  CaptaLu;  he  who  is  the  Master  of  Iron,  as-  i 


sures  me  of  his  protection,  and  I  promise  him  that 

if  he  condescends  to  restore  my  children,  now 
prisoners  among  the  Foxes,  Ottawas  and  llurous, 
I  will  return  hither,  and  bring  with  me  tlie  twen- 
ty-two villages  wlioin  he  lias  just  restored  to  life 
by  promising  to  send  tlieni  Iron." 

On  the  14th  of  August,  two  weeks  after  the 
Ojibway  chief  left  for  his  home  on  Lake  Superior, 
Nicholas  I'errot  arrived  witli  a  dciiulation  of 
Sauks,  Foxes,  Menomonees,  Sliamis  of  Maramek 
and  Pottowatomies. 

Two  dajs  after,  they  had  a  council  witli  the 
governor,  who  thus  spoke  to  a  Fox  brave: 

"  I  see  that  you  are  a  young  man;  your  nation 
has  quite  tmned  away  from  my  wishes;  it  has 
pillaged  some  of  my  young  men,  wliom  it  has 
treated  as  slaves.  I  know  tliat  your  father,  who 
loved  the  French,  had  no  hand  in  the  indignity. 
You  only  imitate  the  example  of  your  father 
who  had  sense,  when  you  do  not  co-operate 
with  those  of  your  tribe  who  are  wishing  to  go 
over  to  my  enemies,  after  they  grossly  insulted 
me  and  defeated  the  Sioux,  whom  I  now  consider 
my  son.  I  pity  the  Sioux;  I  pity  the  dead  whose 
loss  I  deplore.  Perrot  goes  up  there,  and  he  )jill 
speak  to  your  nation  from  me  for  the  release  of 
their  prisoners;  let  them  attend  to  him." 

Teeoshkalitay  never  returned  to  his  native  land. 
"Wliile  in  Montreal  he  was  taken  sick,  and  in 
thirty-three  days  he  ceased  to  breathe;  and,  fol- 
lowed by  white  men,  his  body  was  interred  in  the 
white  man's  grave. 

Le  Sueur  instead  of  going  back  to  ilumesota 
that  year,  as  was  expected,  went  to  France  and 
received  a  license,  in  l(i9",  to  open  certain  mines 
supposed  to  exist  in  ilinnesota.  The  ship  in 
which  he  was  returning  was  captured  by  the  Eng- 
lish, and  he  was  taken  to  England.  After  liis 
release  he  went  back  to  France,  and,  iu  1098,  ob- 
tained a  new  commission  for  minhig. 

AVhile  Le  Sueur  was  in  Europe,  the  Dahkotas 
waged  war  against  tlie  Foxes  and  Miamis.  In 
retaliation,  the  latter  raised  a  war  party  and  en- 
tered the  land  of  the  Dahkotahs.  Finding  their 
foes  intrenched,  and  assisted  by  "  coureurs  des 
bois,"  they  were  indignant;  and  on  their  return 
they  had  a  skirmish  with  some  Frenchmen,  who 
were  carrying  goods  to  the  Dahkotahs. 

Shortly  after,  they  met  Perrot,  and  were  about 
to  burn  him  to  diath,  when  prevented  by  some 


LE  SUEUB  ASCENDS  THE  MISSISIPPI  RIVEB. 


39 


friendly  Foxes.  The  Miamis,  after  this,  were 
disposed  to  be  friendly  to  the  Iroquois.  In  1696, 
the  year  previous,  the  authorities  at  Quebec  de- 
cided that  it  was  expedient  to  abandon  all  the 
posts  west  of  Mackinaw,  and  withdraw  the  French 
from  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota. 

The  voyageurs  were  not  disposed  to  leave  the 
country,  and  the  governor  wrote  to  Pontcbar- 
train  for  instructions,  in  October,  1698.  In  liis 
dispatch  he  remarks: 

"  In  this  conjuncture,  and  under  all  these  cir- 
cumstances, we  consider  it  our  duty  to  postpone, 
imtil  new  instructions  from  the  court,  the  execu- 
tion of  Sieur  Le  Sueur's  enterprise  for  the  mines, 
though  the  promise  had  already  been  given  him 
to  send  two  canoes  in  advance  to  Missilimackinac, 
for  the  puiijose  of  purchasing  there  some  pro- 
visions and  other  necessaries  for  his  voyage,  and 
that  he  would  be  permitted  to  go  and  join  them 
early  in  the  sprmg  with  the  rest  of  his  hands. 
What  led  us  to  adopt  this  resolution  has  been, 
that  the  French  who  remained  to  trade  off  with 
the  Five  Nations  the  remamder  of  their  merch- 
andise, might,  on  seeing  entirely  new  comers 
arriving  there,  consider  themselves  entitled  to 
dispense  with  coming  down,  and  perhaps  adopt 
the  resolution  to  settle  there;  whilst,  seeing  no 
arrival  there,  with  permission  to  do  what  is  for- 
bidden, the  reflection  they  will  be  able  to  make 
duruig  the  winter,  and  the  apprehension  of  being 
guilty  of  crime,  may  oblige  them  to  retm-n  in  the 
spring. 

"  This  would  be  very  desirable,  in  consequence 
of  the  great  difficulty  there  will  be  m  constraining 
them  to  it,  should  they  be  inclined  to  Uft  the  mask 
altogether  and  become  buccaneers ;  or  should 
Sieur  Le  Sueur,  as  he  easily  could  do,  furnish 
•  them  with  goods  for  their  beaver  and  smaller 
peltry,  which  he  might  send  down  by  the  retimi  of 
other  Frenchmen,  whose  sole  desire  is  to  obey,  and 
who  have  remained  only  because  of  the  impossi- 
bihty  of  getting  tlieu-  effects  down.  This  would 
rather  induce  those  who  would  continue  to  lead  a 
vagaVxind  life  to  remain  there,  as  the  goods  they 
would  receive  from  Le  Sueur's  people  would  afford 
them  the  means  of  doing  so." 

In  reply  to  this  communication,  Louis  XIA'. 
answered  that — 

"  His  majesty  has  approved  that  the  late  Sieur 
<ie  Fronteuac  and  De  Champigny  suspended  the 


execution  of  the  Ucense  granted  to  the  man  named 
Le  Sueur  to  proceed,  with  fifty  men,  to  explore 
some  mines  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi.  He 
has  revoked  said  license,  and  desu'es  that  the  said 
Le  Sueur,  or  any  other  person,  be  prevented  from 
leaving  the  colony  on  pretence  of  going  in  search 
of  mines,  without  his  majesty's  express  permis- 
sion." 

Le  Sueur,  undaimted  by  these  drawbacks  to  the 
prosecution  of  a  favorite  project,  again  visited 
France. 

Fortunately  for  Le  Sueur,  D 'Iberville,  who  was 
a  friend,  and  closely  connected  by  marriage,  was 
appointed  governor  of  the  new  territory  of  Louis- 
iana. In  the  month  of  December  he  arrived  from 
France,  with  thirty  workmen,  to  proceed  to  the 
supposed  mines  in  Minnesota. 

On  the  thirteenth  of  July,  1700,  with  a  felucca, 
two  canoes,  and  nineteen  men,  having  ascended 
the  Mississippi,  he  had  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
Missouri,  and  six  leagues  above  this  he  passed  the 
Illinois.  He  there  met  three  Canadians,  who 
came  to  join  him,  with  a  letter  from  Father  Mar- 
est,  who  had  once  attempted  a  mission  among  the 
Dahkotahs,  dated  July  13,  Mission  Immaculate 
Conception  of  the  Holy  Virgin,  in  Illinois. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  write,  in  order  to  inform 
you  that  the  Saugiestas  have  been  defeated  by  the 
Scioux  and  Ayavois  [lowas].  The  people  have 
formed  an  alliance  with  the  Quincapous  [Kicka-, 
poos],  some  of  the  Mecoutins,  Eenards  [Foxes], 
and  Metesigamias,  and  gone  to  revenge  them- 
selves, not  on  the  Scioux,  for  they  are  too  much 
afraid  of  them,  but  perhaps  on  the  Ayavois,  or 
very  likely  upon  the  Paoutees,  or  more  probably 
upon  the  Osages,  for  these  suspect  nothing,  and 
the  others  are  on  their  guard. 

"As  you  -will  probably  meet  these  allied  nar 
tions,  you  ought  to  take  precaution  against  their 
plans,  and  not  allow  them  to  board  your  vessel, 
since  they  are  traitors,  and  utterly  faithless.  I  pray 
God  to  accompany  you  in  all  your  designs." 

Twenty-two  leagues  above  the  Illinois,  he  passed 
a  small  stream  which  he  called  the  River  of  Oxen, 
and  nine  leagues  beyond  tliis  he  passed  a  smaU 
river  on  the  west  side,  where  he  met  four  Canar 
dians  descending  the  Mississippi,  on  their  way  to 
the  Illinois.  On  the  30th  of  July,  nine  leagues 
above  the  last-named  river,  he  met  seventeen 
Scioux,  in  seven  canoes,  who  were  going  to  re- 


40 


EXPLOBEBS  AND  PIONEEBS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


venge  the  death  of  three  Scioux,  one  of  whom  liad 
been  burned,  and  tlie  others  killed,  at  Tamarois, 
a  few  days  before  his  arrival  in  that  village.  As 
he  had  promised  the  chief  of  the  Illinois  to  ap- 
pease the  Scioux  who  should  go  to  war  against 
his  nation,  he  made  a  present  to  the  chief  of  the 
party  to  engage  liim  to  turn  back.  He  told  tliem 
the  King  of  France  did  not  wish  them  to  make 
this  river  more  bloody,  and  that  he  was  sent  to  teU 
them  that,  if  tliey  obeyed  the  king's  word,  they 
would  receive  in  futiu'e  all  things  necessary  for 
them.  The  chief  answered  that  he  accepted  the 
present,  tliat  is  to  say,  that  he  would  do  as  had 
been  tuld  liim. 

From  tlie  SOth  of  July  to  the  2oth  of  August,  Le 
Sueur  advanced  lifty-thiee  and  one-foiuth  leagues 
to  a  small  river  which  he  called  the  Elver  of  the 
Mine.  At  the  mouth  it  nms  from  the  north,  but 
it  tiuns  to  the  noitheast.  On  the  right  seven 
leagues,  there  is  a  lead  mine  in  a  prairie,  one  and 
a  half  leagues.  The  river  is  only  navigable  in 
high  water,  that  is  to  say,  fi-om  early  spring  till 
the  month  of  June. 

From  the  25th  to  the  27th  he  made  ten  leagues, 
passed  two  small  rivers,  and  made  himself  ac- 
quainted vAih  a  inhie  of  lead,  from  which  he  took 
a  supply.  From  the  27th  to  the  SOth  he  made 
eleven  and  a  half  leagues,  and  met  five  Canadians, 
one  of  whom  had  been  dangerously  wounded  in 
the  head.  They  were  naked,  and  had  no  ammu- 
nition except  a  miserable  gmi,  witli  five  or  six 
loads  of  powder  and  balls.  They  said  tliey  were 
descending  from  the  Scioux  to  go  to  Tamarois. 
and,  when  seventy  leagues  above,  they  perceived 
nine  canoes  in  the  Jlississippi,  in  which  were 
ninety  savages,  who  r<)bl)ed  and  cruelly  beat  them. 
Tliis  party  were  gfiing  lo  war  against  the  Scioux, 
and  were  composed  of  four  different  nations,  the 
Outagamies  [Foxes],  Poutouwatamis  [Pottowatta- 
mies],  and  Pnans  [Winiiebagoes],  \\\\o  dwell  in  a 
country  eiglil}'  leagues  east  of  the  iiississippi 
from  where  Le  Sueur  then  was. 

The  Canadians  determined  to  follow  the  detach- 
ment, wliidi  was  composed  of  twenty-eight  men. 
Tills  day  they  made  seven  and  a  half  leagues. 
On  the  1st  of  September  he  passed  the  Wisconsin 
river.  It  nms  into  the  Mississippi  from  the  north- 
east. It  is  nearly  one  and  a  half  miles  wide.  At 
about  seventy-five  le;igues  up  this  river,  on  the 
right,  ascending,  there  is  a  portage  of  more  than 


a  league.  The  half  of  tins  portage  is  shaking 
ground,  and  at  the  end  of  it  is  a  small  river  wliich 
descends  into  a  bay  called  "Winnebago  Bay.  It  is 
inhabited  by  a  great  number  of  nations  who  cari-y 
their  furs  to  Canada.  Monsieur  Le  Sueur  came 
by  the  Wisconsin  river  to  the  Mississippi,  for  tlie 
first  time,  in  1GS3,  on  his  way  to  the  Scioux  coun- 
try, where  he  had  aheady  passed  seven  years  at 
different  periods.  The  Mississippi,  opposite  the 
mouth  of  tlie  Wisconsin,  is  less  than  half  a  mile 
wide.  From  the  1st  of  September  to  tlie  otli,  our 
voyageur  advanced  fourteen  leagues.  He  passed 
the  river  "  Aux  Canots."  which  comes  from  the 
northeast,  and  then  the  Quincapous.  named  from 
a  nation  which  once  dwelt  upon  its  lianks. 

From  the  5th  to  the  9th  he  made  ten  and  a  lialf 
leagues,  and  passed  the  rivers  Cachee  and  Aux 
Ailes.  The  same  day  he  perceived  canoes,  filled 
witli  savages,  descending  the  river,  and  the  five 
Canadians  recognized  them  as  the  party  who  liad 
robbed  them.  They  placed  sentinels  in  the  wood, 
for  fear  of  bemg  surprised  by  land,  and  when 
they  had  approached  within  hearing,  tliey  cried  to 
them  that  if  they  approached  farther  they  would 
fire.  They  then  drew  up  by  an  island,  at  lialf  the 
distance  of  a  gun  shot.  Soon,  foiu'  of  the  princi- 
pal men  of  tlie  band  approached  in  a  canoe,  and 
asked  if  it  was  forgotten  that  they  were  our 
brethren,  and  with  what  design  we  had  taken 
arms  when  we  perceived  them.  Le  Sueur  replied 
that  he  had  cause  to  distrust  them,  since  they  liad 
lobbed  five  of  his  party.  Nevertheless,  for  the 
surety  of  his  trade,  being  forced  to  be  at  peace 
with  all  the  tribes,  he  demanded  no  redress  for 
the  robbery,  but  added  merely  that  the  king,  their 
master  and  his,  wished  that  his  subjects  sliould 
navigate  that  river  without  insult,  and  that  they 
had  better  beware  how  they  acted. 

The  Indian  who  had  spoken  was  sDent,  but  an- 
other said  they  had  been  attacked  liy  the  Scioux, 
and  that  if  tliey  did  not  have  pity  on  tliem,  and 
give  them  a  little  powder,  they  should  not  be  able 
to  reach  their  villages.  The  consideration  of  a 
missionary,  who  was  to  go  up  among  the  Scioux, 
and  whom  these  savages  might  meet,  induced 
them  to  give  two  pounds  of  powder. 

M.  Le  Sueur  made  the  same  day  three  leagues; 
passed  a  stream  on  the  west,  and  afterward  an- 
other river  on  the  east,  which  is  navigable  at  all 
times,  and  which  the  Indians  call  lied  liiver. 


RATTLESNAKES  ON  SHORES  OF  LAKE  PEPIN. 


41 


On  the  10th,  at  daybreak,  they  heard  an  elk 
whistle,  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  A  Cana- 
dian crossed  in  a  small  ScioiLX  canoe,  which  they 
had  found,  and  shortly  returned  with  the  body  of 
the  animal,  which  was  very  easily  killed,  "  quand 
11  est  en  rut,"'  that  is,  from  the  beginnmg  of  Sep- 
tember until  the  end  of  October.  The  hunters  at 
this  time  made  a  whistle  of  a  piece  of  wood,  or 
reed,  and  when  they  hear  an  elk  whistle  they  an- 
swer it.  The  animal,  believing  it  to  be  another 
elk,  approaches,  and  is  killed  with  ease. 

From  the  10th  to  the  14th,  JNI.  Le  Sueur  made 
seventeen  and  a  half  leagues,  passing  the  rivers 
Eaisin  and  Paquilenettes  (perhaps  the  Wazi  Ozu 
and  Buffalo.)  The  same  day  he  left,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Mississippi,  a  beautiful  and  large  river, 
which  descends  from  the  very  far  north,  and 
called  Bon  Secours  (Chippeway),  on  account  of  the 
great  quantity  of  buffalo,  elk,  bears  and  deers 
which  are  fomid  there.  Three  leagues  up  tliis 
river  there  is  a  mine  of  lead,  and  seven  leagues 
above,  on  the  same  side,  they  found  another  long 
river,  iu  the  \'lcinity  of  which  there  is  a  copper 
mine,  from  which  he  had  taken  a  lump  of  sixty 
pomids  in  a  former  voyage.  In  order  to  make 
these  mines  of  any  account,  peace  must  be  ob- 
tained between  the  Seioux  and  Ouatagamis  (Fox- 
es), because  the  latter,  who  dwell  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Mississippi,  pass  this  road  coutuiually  when 
going  to  war  against  the  Sioux. 

Penicaut,  in  his  journal,  gives  a  brief  descrip- 
tion of  the  Mississippi  between  the  Wisconsin 
and  Lake  Pepin.  He  writes:  "Above  the  Wis- 
consin, and  ten  leagues  higher  on  the  same  side, 
begins  a  great  jirairie  extending  for  sixty  leagues 
along  the  bank;  this  prairie  is  called  Aux  Ailes. 
Opposite  to  Aux  Ailes,  on  tlie  left,  there  is 
another  prairie  facing  it  called  Paquilanet  wliich 
is  not  so  long  by  a  great  deal.  Twenty  leagues 
above  these  prairies  is  found  Lake  Bon  Secours  " 
[Good  Help,  now  Pepin.] 

In  this  region,  at  one  and  a  half  leagues  on  the 
northwest  side,  commenced  a  lake,  which  is  six 
leagues  long  and  more  than  one  broad,  called 
Lake  Pepin.  It  is  bounded  on  the  "west  by  a 
chain  of  mountains;  on  the  east  is  seen  a  prairie; 
and  on  the  northwest  of  the  lake  there  is  another 
prairie  two  leagues  long  and  one  wide.  In  the 
neighborhood  is  a  chain  of  mountains  quite  two 
hundred  feet  high,  and  more  than  one  and  a  half 


miles  long.  In  these  are  found  several  caves,  to 
which  the  bears  retire  in  winter.  Most  of  the 
caverns  are  more  than  seventy  feet  in  extent,  and 
two  hundred  feet  high.  There  are  several  of 
which  the  entrance  is  very  narrow,  and  quite 
closed  up  with  saltpetre,  It  would  be  dangerous 
to  enter  them  in  summer,  for  they  are  filled  with 
rattlesnakes,  the  bite  of  which  is  very  dangerous. 
Le  Sueur  saw  some  of  these  snakes  which  were 
six  feet  in  length,  but  generally  they  are  about 
four  feet.  They  have  teeth  resembUng  those  of 
the  pike,  and  their  gums  are  f  uU  of  small  vessels, 
in  which  their  poison  is  placed.  The  Seioux  say 
they  take  it  every  mornin  :,  and  cast  it  away  at 
night.  They  have  at  the  tail  a  kind  of  scale  which 
makes  a  noise,  and  this  is  called  the  rattle. 

Le  Sueur  made  on  this  day  seven  and  a  half 
leagues,  and  passed  another  river,  called  Iliam- 
bouxecate  Ouataba,  or  the  Kiver  of  Flat  Eock. 
[The  Sioux  call  the  Cannon  river  Inyanbosndata.] 

On  the  loth  he  crossed  a  small  river,  and  saw 
in  the  neighborhood  several  canoes,  filled  with 
Indians,  descencUng  the  Mississippi.  He  sup- 
posed they  were  Seioux,  because  he  could  not  dis- 
tinguish whether  the  canoes  were  large  or  small. 
The  arms  were  placed  in  readiness,  and  soon  they 
heard  the  cry  of  the  savages,  which  they  are  ac- 
customed to  raise  when  they  rush  upon  their  en- 
emies. He  caused  them  to  be  answered  in  the 
same  manner;  and  after  having  placed  all  the 
men  behind  the  trees,  he  ordered  them  not  to  fire 
until  they  were  commanded.  He  remained  on 
shore  to  see  what  movement  the  savages  would 
make,  and  perceivmg  that  they  placed  two  on 
shore,  on  the  other  side,  where  from  an  eminence 
they  could  ascertain  the  strength  of  his  forces,  he 
caused  tlie  men  to  pass  and  repass  from  the  shore 
to  the  wood,  in  order  to  make  them  believe  that 
they  were  numerous.  This  ruse  succeeded,  for 
as  soon  as  the  two  descended  from  the  eminence 
the  chief  of  the  party  came,  bearing  the  calumet, 
which  is  a  signal  of  peace  among  the  Indians. 
They  said  that  having  never  seen  the  French  navi- 
gate the  river  with  boats  like  the  felucca,  they  had 
supposed  them  to  be  English,  and  for  that  reason 
they  had  raised  the  war  cry,  and  arranged  them- 
selves on  the  other  side  of  the  Mississippi;  but 
havuig  recognized  their  flag,  they  had  come  with- 
out fear  to  inform  them,  that  one  of  their  num- 
ber, who  was  crazy,  had  accidentallv  killed  a 


42 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


Frencliman,  and  tliat  tliey  would  go  and  bring  liis 
comrade,  \\lio  would  tell  how  the  mischief  had 
happened. 

The  Frenchman  they  brought  was  Deuis,  a  Ca- 
nadian, and  he  reported  that  his  companion  was 
accidentally  killeil.  Jlis  name  was  I.,aplace.  a  de- 
serting soldier  from  Canada,  who  had  ta^ieu  ref- 
uge in  this  country. 

Le  Sueur  replied,  that  Ononlio  (the  name  they 
give  to  all  the  governors  of  Canada),  being  their 
father  and  his,  they  ought  not  to  seek  justification 
elsewhere  than  before  him;  and  he  advised  them 
to  go  and  see  him  as  soon  as  possible,  and  beg 
him  to  wipe  ofi:  the  blood  of  this  Frenchman  from 
their  faces. 

The  party  was  composed  of  forty-seven  men  of 
different  nations,  who  dwell  far  to  the  east,  about 
the  forty-fourth  degree  of  latitude.  Le  Sueur, 
discovering  who  the  chiefs  were,  said  the  king 
whom  they  had  spoken  of  in  Canada,  had  sent 
liim  to  take  possession  of  the  north  of  the  river; 
and  that  he  wished  the  nations  wlio  dwell  on  it, 
as  well  as  those  under  his  protection,  to  live  in 
peace. 

He  made  this  day  tlii-ee  and  three-fourths 
leagues;  and  on  the  16th  of  September,  he  left  a 
large  river  on  the  east  side,  named  St.  Croix,  be- 
cause a  Frenchman  of  that  name  was  shlpu'rcch'd 
at  its  mouth.  It  comes  from  the  north-northwest. 
Four  leagues  higher,  in  gomg  up,  is  found  a  small 
lake,  at  the  mouth  of  which  is  a  very  large  mass 
of  copper.  It  is  on  the  edge  of  the  water,  in  a 
small  ridge  of  sandy  eailh,  on  the  west  of  this 
lake.  [One  of  La  Salle's  men  was  named  St. 
Croix.] 

From  the  16th  to  the  19th,  he  advanced  thir- 
teen and  three-fourths  leagues.  After  ha\'ing 
made  from  Tamarois  two  hundred  and  nine  and  a 
half  leagues,  he  left  the  navigation  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, to  enter  the  river  St.  Pierre,  on  the  west 
side.  By  the  1st  of  October,  he  had  made  in  this 
river  forty-four  and  one-fourth  leagues.  After  he 
entered  lilue  river,  thus  named  on  account  of  the 
mines  of  blue  earth  found  at  its  mouth,  he  fomid- 
ed  liis  post,  situated  in  forty-four  degrees,  thir- 
teen minutes  north  latitude.  He  met  at  this 
place  nine  Scioux,  who  told  him  that  the  river 
belonged  to  the  Scioux  of  the  west,  the  Ayavois 
(lowas)  and  Otoctatas  (Ottoes),  who  lived  a  little 
farther  off;  that  it  was  not  their  custom  to  hunt 


on  ground  belongmg  to  others,  unless  invited  to 
do  so  by  the  owners,  and  that  when  they  would 
come  to  the  fort  to  obtain  ijrovisions,  they  would 
be  in  danger  of  being  killed  in  ascending  or  de- 
scending the  rivers,  v/hich  were  narrow,  and  that 
if  they  would  show  their  pity,  he  must  establish 
himself  on  the  Jlississippi,  near  the  mouth  of  the  St. 
Pierre,  where  the  Ayavois,  the  Otoctatas,  and  the 
other  Scioux  coidd  go  as  well  as  they. 

Having  linished  their  speech,  they  leaned  over 
the  head  of  Le  Sueur,  according  to  their  custom, 
crying  out,  "Ouaechissou  ouaepanimanabo,"  that 
is  to  say,  "  Have  pity  upon  us."  Le  Sueur  had 
foreseen  that  the  establishment  of  Blue  Earth 
river  would  not  please  the  Scioux  of  the  East, 
who  were,  so  to  speak,  masters  of  the  other  Scioiix 
and  of  the  nations  which  will  be  hereafter  men- 
tioned, becaux  they  tcere  the  first  with  wham  trade 
loas  commenced,  and  in  consequence  of  which  they 
had  already  quite  a  number  of  guns. 

As  he  had  commenced  his  operations  not  only 
with  a  view  to  the  trade  of  beaver  but  also  to 
gain  a  knowledge  of  the  mines  which  he  had  pre- 
viously discovered,  he  told  them  that  he  was  sor- 
ry that  he  had  not  known  their  intentions  sooner, 
and  that  it  was  just,  since  he  came  expressly  for 
them,  that  he  should  establish  himself  on  their 
land,  but  that  the  season  was  too  far  advanced 
for  him  to  return.  He  then  made  them  a  present 
of  powder,  balls  and  knives,  and  an  armful  of  to- 
bacco, to  entice  them  to  assemble,  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, near  the  fort  he  was  about  to  construct, 
that  when  they  should  be  all  assembled  he  might 
tell  them  the  intention  of  the  king,  their  and  his 
sovereign. 

The  Scioux  of  the  West,  according  to  the  state- 
ment of  the  Eastern  Scioux,  have  more  than  a 
thousand  lodges.  They  do  not  use  canoes,  nor 
cultivate  the  earth,  nor  gather  wild  riee.  They 
remain  venerally  on  the  prairies  which  are  be- 
tween the  Upper  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers, 
and  live  entirely  by  the  chase.  The  Scioux  gen- 
erally say  they  have  three  souls,  and  that  after 
death,  that  which  has  done  well  goes  to  the  warm 
country,  that  which  has  done  evil  to  the  cold 
regions,  and  the  other  guards  the  body.  Poly- 
gamy is  common  among  them.  They  are  very 
jealous,  and  sometimes  fight  in  duel  for  their 
wives.  They  manage  the  bow  admirably,  and 
have  been  seen  several  times  to  kill  ducks  on  the 


BLUE  EARTH  ASSAYED  BY  L'HULLIER  IN  PARIS. 


43 


whig.  They  make  their  lodges  of  a  lumiljer  of 
buffalo  skins  interlaced  and  sewed,  and  carry 
them  wherever  they  go.  They  are  all  great  smo- 
kers, but  their  mamier  of  smoking  differs  from 
that  of  other  Indians.  There  are  some  Seioux 
who  swallow  all  the  smoke  of  the  tobacco,  and 
others  wlio,  after  having  kept  it  some  time  in 
their  mouth,  cause  it  to  issue  from  the  nose.  In 
each  lodge  there  are  usually  two  or  three  men 
with  their  families. 

On  the  third  of  October,  they  received  at  the 
fort  several  Seioux,  among  whom  was  Wahkan- 
tape,  chief  of  the  village.  Soon  two  Canadians 
arrived  who  had  been  hunting,  and  who  had  been 
robbed  by  the  Seioux  of  the  East,  who  had  raised 
their  gims  against  the  establishment  which  M. 
Le  Sueur  had  made  on  Blue  Earth  river. 

On  the  fourteenth  the  fort  was  finished  and 
named  Fort  LTIuilher,  and  on  the  twenty-second 
two  Canadians  were  sent  out  to  invite  the  Aya- 
vois  and  Otoctatas  to  come  and  establish  a  vil- 
lage near  the  fort,  because  these  Indians  are  in- 
dustrious and  accustomed  to  cultivate  the  earth, 
and  they  hoped  to  get  provisions  from  them,  and 
to  make  them  work  in  the  mines. 

On  the  twenty-fourth,  six  Seioux  Oujalespoi- 
tons  wished  to  go  into  the  fort,  but  were  told 
that  they  did  not  receive  men  who  had  lulled 
Frenchmen.  This  is  the  term  used  when  they 
have  insulted  them.  The  next  day  they  came  to 
the  lodge  of  Le  Sueur  to  beg  him  to  have  pity  on 
them.  They  wished,  according  to  custom,  to 
weep  over  his  head  and  make  him  a  present  of 
packs  of  beavers,  which  he  refused.  He  told 
them  he  was  surprised  that  people  who  had  rob- 
bed should  come  to  him ;  to  which  they  replied 
that  they  had  heard  it  said  that  two  Frenchmen 
had  been  robbed,  but  none  from  their  village  had 
been  present  at  that  wicked  action. 

Le  Sueur  answered,  that  he  knew  it  was  the 
Mendeoucantous  and  not  the  Oujalespoitons ; 
"  but,"  continued  he,  "you  are  Seioux;  it  is  the 
Seioux  who  have  robbed  me.  and  if  I  were  to  fol- 
low your  manner  of  acting  I  should  break  your 
heads;  for  is  it  not  true,  thft  when  a  stranger 
(it  is  thus  they  call  the  Indians  who  are  not 
Seioux)  has  insulted  a  Seioux,  Mendeoucanton, 
Oujalespoitons,  or  others — all  the  villages  revenge 
upon  the  first  one  they  meet':"' 

As  they  had  nothing  f  o  answer  to  what  he  said 


to  them,  they  wept  and  repeated,  according  to 
custom,  "  Ouaechissou  !  ouaepanimanabo  !''  Le 
Sueur  told  them  to  cease  crying,  and  added  that 
the  French  had  good  hearts,  and  tliat  they  had 
come  into  the  country  to  have  pity  on  them.  At 
the  same  time  he  made  them  a  present,  saying  to 
them,  "  Carry  back  your  beavers  and  say  to  all 
the  Seioux,  that  they  will  have  from  me  no  more 
powder  or  lead,  and  they  will  no  longer  smoke 
any  long  pipe  until  they  have  made  satisfaction 
for  robbing  the  Frenchman. 

The  same  day  the  Canadians,  who  had  been 
sent  off  on  the  22d,  arrived  without  having  found 
the  road  which  led  to  the  Ayavois  and  Otoctatas. 
On  the  25th,  Le  Sueur  went  to  the  river  with 
three  canoes,  which  he  filled  with  green  and  blue 
earth.  It  is  taken  from  the  hills  near  which  are 
very  abundant  mines  of  copper,  some  of  which 
was  worked  at  Paris  in  1696,  by  L"IIuillier,  one 
of  the  chief  collectors  of  the  king.  Stones  were 
also  found  there  which  would  be  curious,  if 
worked. 

On  tlie  ninth  of  November,  eight  Mantanton 
Seioux  arrived,  who  had  been  sent  by  their  chiefs 
to  say  that  the  Mendeoiicantons  were  still  at  their 
lake  on  the  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  they  could 
not  come  for  a  long  time  ;  and  that  for  a  single 
village  which  had  no  good  sense,  the  others  ought 
not  to  bear  the  punishment ;  and  that  they  were 
willing  to  make  reparation  if  they  knew  how. 
Le  Sueur  replied  that  he  was  glad  that  they  had 
a  disposition  to  do  so. 

On  the  loth  the  two  Mantanton  Seioux,  who 
had  been  sent  expiessly  to  say  that  all  of  the 
Seioux  of  the  east,  and  part  of  those  of  the  west, 
were  joined  together  to  come  to  the  French,  be- 
cause they  had  heard  that  the  Christianaux  and 
the  Assinipoils  were  making  war  on  them. 
These  two  nations  dwell  above  the  fort  on  the 
east  side,  more  than  eighty  leagues  on  the  Upper 
Mississippi. 

The  Assinipoils  speak  Seioux,  and  are  certainly 
of  that  nation.  It  is  only  a  few  years  since  that 
they  became  enemies,  The  enmity  thus  origi- 
nated: The  Christianaux,  having  the  use  of  arms 
before  the  Seioux,  through  the  English  at  Hud- 
son's Bay,  they  constantly  warred  upon  the  As- 
sinipoils, who  were  their  nearest  neighbors. 
The  latter,  being  weak,  sued  for  peace,  and  to 
render  it  more  lasting,  married  the  Christianaux 


44 


EXPLORERS  AXD  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


women.  The  other  Scioux,  who  had  not  made 
the  compact,  continued  the  war;  and,  seeing  some 
Christianaux  with  the  Assinipoils.  biolve  their 
heads.  The  Cliristianaiix  furnished  the  Assini- 
poils with  arms  and  merchandise. 

On  the  16th  the  Scioux  returned  to  their  vil- 
lage, and  it  was  reported  that  the  Ayavois  and 
Otoctatas  were  gone  to  establish  themselves  to- 
wards the  Missouri  River,  near  the  llaha,  who 
dwell  in  that  region.  On  the  26th  the  Mantan- 
tons  and  Oujalespoitons  arrived  at  the  fort;  and, 
after  they  had  encamped  in  the  woods,  Wah 
kantape  came  to  beg  Le  Sueur  to  go  to  his 
lodge.  He  there  found  sixteen  men  with  women 
and  children,  with  their  faces  daubed  with  black. 
In  the  middle  of  the  lodge  were  several  buffalo 
skins  which  were  sewed  for  a  carpet.  After  mo- 
tioning him  to  sit  down,  they  wept  for  the  fourth 
of  an  hour,  and  the  chief  gave  him  some  wild 
rice  to  eat  (as  was  their  custom),  putting  the 
first  three  spoonsful  to  his  mouth.  After  which, 
he  said  all  present  were  relatives  of  Tioscate, 
whom  Le  Sueur  took  to  Canada  in  1695,  and  who 
died  there  in  1696. 

At  the  mention  of  Tioscate  they  began  to  weep 
again,  and  wipe  their  tears  and  heads  upon  the 
shoulders  of  Le  Sueur.  Then  Wahkan tape  again 
spoke,  and  said  tliat  Tioscate  begged  him  to  for- 
get the  insult  done  to  the  Frenchmen  by  the 
Mendeoucantons,  and  take  pity  on  his  brethren 
by  giving  them  powder  and  balls  whereby  they 
could  defend  themselves,  and  gain  a  living  for 
their  wives  and  children,  wlio  languish  in  a  coun- 
■  try  full  of  game,  because  they  had  not  the  means 
of  killing  them.  "  Look,"  added  the  chief,  "  Be- 
hold thy  children,  thy  brethren,  and  thy  sisters; 
it  is  to  thee  to  see  whether  tlu)u  wishest  them  to 
die.  They  will  live  if  thou  givest  them  powder 
and  ball;  they  will  die  if  thou  refusest." 

Le  Sueur  granted  them  their  request,  but  as 
the  Scioux  never  answer  on  the  spot,  espeeially 
in  matters  of  importance,  and  as  he  had  to  speak 
to  them  about  his  establishment  he  went  out  of 
the  Iodide  witliout  saying  a  word.  The  chief  and 
all  those  witliin  followed  him  as  far  as  the  door 
of  the  fort;  and  when  he  had  gone  in,  they  went 
around  it  three  times,  crying  with  all  their 
strength, "  Atheouanan!  "  that  is  to  say,  "  Father. 
have  pity  on  us."  [Ate  un>anpi,  means  Our 
Father.] 


The  next  day,  he  assembled  in  the  fort  the 
principal  men  of  both  villages;  and  as  it  is  not 
possible  to  subdue  the  Scioux  or  to  hinder  them 
from  going  to  war,  unless  it  be  by  inducing  them 
to  cultivate  the  earth,  he  said  to  them  that  if 
they  wished  to  render  themselves  worthy  of  the 
protection  of  the  king,  tliey  must  abandon  their 
ening  life,  and  form  a  village  near  his  dwelling, 
where  they  would  be  shielded  from  the  insults  of 
of  their  enemies;  and  that  they  might  be  happy 
and  not  hungry,  he  would  give  them  all  the  corn 
necessary  to  plant  a  large  piece  of  ground;  that 
the  king,  their  and  liis  chief,  in  sending  him,  had 
forbidden  him  to  purchase  beaver  skins,  knowing 
that  this  kind  of  hunting  separates  them  and  ex- 
poses them  to  their  enemies;  and  that  in  conse- 
quence of  this  he  had  come  to  establish  himself 
on  Blue  River  and  vicinity,  where  they  had  many 
times  assured  him  were  many  kinds  of  beasts, 
for  the  skins  of  which  he  would  give  them  all 
things  necessary;  that  they  ought  to  reflect  that 
they  could  not  do  without  French  goods,  and  that 
the  only  way  not  to  want  tliem  was,  not  to  go  to 
war  with  our  alhed  nations. 

As  it  is  customary  with  the  Indians  to  accom- 
pany their  word  with  a  present  proportioned  to 
the  affair  treated  of,  he  gave  them  fifty  pounds  of 
powder,  as  many  balls,  six  guns,  ten  axes,  twelve 
armsful  of  tobacco,  and  a  hatchet  pipe. 

On  the  first  of  December,  the  Mantantons  in- 
vited Le  Sueur  to  a  great  feast.  Of  four  of  their 
lodges  they  had  made  one,  in  which  were  one 
hundred  men  seated  around,  and  every  one  his 
dish  before  him.  After  the  meal,  Wahkautape, 
the  cliief ,  made  them  all  smoke,  one  after  another, 
in  the  hatchet  pipe  which  had  been  given  them. 
He  then  made  a  present  to  Le  Sueur  of  a  slave 
and  a  sack  of  wild  rice,  and  said  to  him,  showing 
him  his  men:  "  Behold  the  remains  of  this  great 
village,  which  thou  hast  aforetimes  seen  so  nu- 
merous! All  the  others  have  been  killed  in  war; 
and  the  few  men  whom  thou  seest  in  this  lodge, 
accept  the  present  thou  hast  made  them,  and  are 
resolved  to  obey  the  great  chief  of  all  nations,  of 
whom  thou  hast  spoken  to  us.  Thou  onghtest 
not  to  regard  us  as  Scioux,  but  as  French,  and  in- 
stead of  saying  the  Scioux  are  miserable,  and  have 
no  mind,  and  are  fit  for  nothing  but  to  rob  and 
steal  from  the  French,  thou  shalt  say  my  breth- 
ren are  miserable  and  have  no  mind,  and  we  must 


V IBERVILLE'S  MEMOIB  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI  THIBES. 


45 


try  to  procure  some  for  them.  They  rob  us,  but 
I  will  take  care  that  they  do  not  lack  iron,  that  is 
to  say,  all  kinds  of  goods.  If  thou  dost  this,  I  as- 
sure thee  tliat  in  a  little  time  the  Mantantons  will 
become  Frenchmen,  and  they  will  have  none  of 
those  vices,  with  which  thou  reproachest  us." 

Having  finished  his  speech,  he  covered  his  face 
with  his  garment,  and  the  others  imitated  him. 
They  wept  over  their  companions  who  had  died 
in  war,  and  chanted  an  adieu  to  their  country  in 
a  tone  so  gloomy,  that  one  could  not  keep  from 
partaking  of  their  sorrow. 

Wahkantape  then  made  them  smoke  again,  and 
distributed  the  presents,  and  said  that  he  was  go- 
ing to  the  Mendeoucantons,  to  inform  them  of  the 
resolution,  and  invite  them  to  do  the  same. 

On  the  twelfth,  three  Mendeoucauton  chiefs, 
and  a  large  number  of  Inilians  of  the  same  vil- 
lage, arrived  at  the  fort,  and  the  next  day  gave 
satisfaction  for  robbing  the  Frenchmen.  They 
brought  four  hundred  pounds  of  beaver  skins,  and 
promised  that  the  summer  follo^^'ing,  after  their 
canoes  were  built  and  they  had  gathered  their 
wild  rice,  that  they  would  come  and  establish 
themselves  near  the  French.  The  same  day  they 
returned  to  their  village  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

KAMES    OF    THE    BANDS     OF     SCIOUX    OF    THE 
EAST,  WITH  THEIK  SIGNIFICATION. 

Mantantons— That  is  to  say,  Village  of  the 
Great  Lake  which  empties  into  a  small  one. 

Mendeotjacantons— Village  of  Spirit  Lake. 

QuioPETONS — Village  of  the  Lake  with  one 
River. 

PsiouMANiTONs — Village  of  Wild  Rice  Gath- 
erers. 

Otjadebatons— The  River  Village. 

OuAETEJiANETONS — Village  of  the  Tribe  who 
dwell  on  the  Point  of  the  Lake. 

SoNGASQUiTONS— The  Brave  Village, 

THE  SCIOUX   OF  THE   WEST. 

ToucHOUAESiNTONS— The  Village  of  the  Pole. 

PsiNCHATONS — A^illage  of  the  Red  Wild  Rice. 

OuJALESPOiTONS — Village  divided  into  many 
small  Bands. 

PsiNOUTANHiNiiiNTONS  —  The  Great  Wild 
Rice  Village. 

TiNTANGAOUGHiATONS  —  The  Grand  Lodge 
Village. 


OuAEPETONS — Village  of  the  Leaf. 

OuGHETGEODATONS— Dung  Village. 

OuAPEONTETONS — Village  of  those  who  shoot 
in  the  Large  Pine. 

HiNHANETONS  —  Village  of  the  Red  Stone 
Quarry. 

The  above  catalogue  of  villages  concludes  the 
extract  that  La  Harpe  has  made  from  Le  Sueur's 
journal. 

In  the  narrative  of  Major  Long's  second  expe- 
dition, there  are  just  as  many  villages  of  the  Gens 
du  Lac,  or  M'dewakantonwan  Scioux  mentioned, 
though  the  names  are  different.  After  leaving 
tlie  Mille  Lac  region,  the  divisions  evidently  were 
different,  and  the  villages  known  by  new  names. 

Charlevoix,  who  visited  the  valley  of  the  Lower 
iSIississippi  in  1722,  says  that  Le  Sueiu:  spent  a 
winter  in  his  fort  on  the  banks  of  the  Blue  Earth, 
and  that  m  the  foUowmg  April  he  went  up  to  the 
mine,  about  a  mile  above.  In  twenty-two  days 
they  obtained  more  than  thirty  thousand  pounds 
of  the  substance,  four  thousand  of  which  were  se- 
lected and  sent  to  France. 

On  the  tenth  of  February,  1702,  Le  Sueur  came 
back  to  the  post  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  found 
D'lberville  absent,  who,  however,  arrived  on  the 
eighteenth  of  the  next  month,  wth  a  ship  from 
France ,  loaded  with  suppUes.  After  a  few  weeks, 
the  Governor  of  Louisiana  sailed  again  for  the 
old  coimtry,  Le  Sueur  being  a  fellow  passenger. 

On  board  of  the  ship,  D'lberville  wrote  a  mem- 
orial upon  the  Mississippi  valley,  with  sugges- 
tions for  carrying  on  commerce  therein,  which 
contains  many  facts  furnished  by  Le  Sueur.  A 
copy  of  the  manuscript  was  in  possession  of  the 
Historical  Society  of  Mimiesota,  from  which  are 
the  foUovrang  extracts: 

"If  the  Sioux  remain  in  their  o-mi  coimtry, 
they  are  useless  to  us,  being  too  distant.  We 
could  have  no  commerce  vnth  them  exeept  that 
of  the  beaver.  M.  Le  Sueur,  who  goes  to  France 
to  give  an  account  of  this  country,  is  the  proper  per- 
son to  make  these  movements.  He  estimates  the 
Sioux  at  four  thousand  families,  who  could  settle 
upon  the  Missouri. 

"  He  has  spoken  to  me  of  another  which  he 
calls  the  Mahas,  composed  of  more  than  twelve 
hundi-ed  families.  The  Ayooues  (loways)  and  the 
Octoctatas,  their  neighbors,  are  about  three 
hundred  families.    They  occupy  the  lauds  be- 


46 


EXPLOREBS  AND  PIOXEERS  OF  MIXXESOTA. 


tween  tiie  ilississippi  and  the  Missouri,  about 
one  huncked  leagues  from  the  IllLuois.  These 
savages  do  not  know  tlie  iise  of  arms,  and  a  de- 
scent miglit  be  made  upon  tliem  in  a  river,  wUicli 
is  beyond  tlie  Wabash  on  the  west.    *    *    * 

"  The  Assinibouel.  Quenistinos,  and  people  of 
the  north,  who  are  upon  the  rivers  which  fall  into 
the  Mississippi,  and  trade  at  Fort  Xelson  (Hud- 
son Bay),  are  about  four  hundred.  We  could 
prevent  them  from  going  there  if  we  wish."' 

"  In  four  or  five  years  we  can  establish  a  com- 
merce witli  these  savages  of  sixty  or  eighty  thou- 
sand buffalo  skins;  more  than  one  hundred  deer 
slcins,  which  will  yiroduce.  delivered  in  France, 
more  tlian  two  million  four  hundred  thousand 
livres  yearly.  One  might  obtain  for  a  buffalo 
skin  four  or  five  pounds  of  wool,  wliich  sells  for 
twenty  sous,  two  pounds  of  coarse  hair  at  ten 
sous. 

"  Besides,  from  smaller  peltries,  two  hundred 
thousand  livres  can  be  made  yearly." 

In  the  tliird  volume  of  the  "  History  and  Sta- 
tistics of  the  Indian  Tribes,"  prepared  under  the 
direction  of  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  affairs, 
by  Mr.  Schoolcraft,  a  manuscript,  a  copy  of  which 
was  in  possession  of  General  Cass,  is  referred  to  as 
containing  the  first  enimieration  of  the  Indians  of 
the  Mississippi  A'alley.  The  following  was  made 
thirty-four  years  earlier  by  D"Iberville: 

"The  Sioux, Families,     4,000 

Mahas, 12,000 

Octata  and  Ayoues, 300 

Causes  [Kansas], 1,500 

Missouri, 1,500 

Akansas,  &c., 200 

jSIanton  [.MandanJ, 100 

Panis  [Pawnee], ti.oiiO 

Illinois,  of  the  great  village  and  Cania- 

roua  [Tamaroa], 800 

Meosigamea  [Metchigamias],   ....         200 
Kikapous  and  Mascoutens,      ....         4-50 

Aliamis,     .     , 500 

Chactas, 4,000 

Cliicachas, 2,000 

MobiUens  and  Chohomes, 3.50 

Concaques  [Conchas], 2,000 

Ouma  [Houmas], loO 

Colapissa, 250 

Bayogoula, 100 

People  of  the  Fork, 200 


Counica,  &c.  [TonicasJ, 300 

Xadeches, 1,500 

Belochy,  [Biloxi]  Pascoboula,  ....         100 

Total,    .    .  ■ 23,850 

'■  The  savage  tribes  located  in  tlie  places  I  have 
marked  out,  make  it  necessary  to  establish  three 
posts  on  tlie  Mississippi,  one  at  the  ^Vrkiinsas, 
another  at  tlie  Wabash  (Ohio),  and  the  third  at 
the  Missouri.  At  each  post  it  would  be  proper 
to  have  an  oflicer  with  a  detachment  of  ten  sol- 
diers with  a  sergeant  and  corporal.  All  French- 
men should  be  allowed  to  settle  there  with  their 
families,  and  trade  with  the  Indians,  and  they 
miglit  eslabli.sli  tanneries  for  properly  dressing 
the  buffalo  and  deer  skins  for  transportation. 

"  Xo  Frenchman  shall  be  allmced  to  follow  the 
Indians  on  their  hunts,  as  it  tends  to  keeji  them 
hiinters,  as  is  seen  in  Canada,  and  when  they  are 
La  the  woods,  they  do  not  desire  to  become  tillers 
of  the  soil.  ******* 

•■  I  have  said  nothing  in  this  memoir  of  wliich 
I  have  not  personal  knowledge  or  the  most  relia- 
ble sources.  The  most  of  what  I  propose  is 
founded  uimn  personal  reflection  in  relation  to 
what  might  Ije  done  for  the  defence  and  advance- 
ment of  the  colony.  ***** 
*  *  *  It  ^\'ill  be  absolutely  necessary 
that  tlie  king  should  define  tlie  limits  of  this 
country  in  relation  to  the  govTsmment  of  Canada. 
It  is  important  that  the  commandant  of  the 
^Mississippi  should  have  a  report  of  those  who 
inhabit  the  rivers  that  fall  into  the  ^Mississippi, 
and  principally  those  of  the  river  Illinois. 

'■  The  Canadians  intimate  to  the  savages  that 
tliey  ouglit  nf)t  to  listen  to  us  but  to  the  governor 
of  Canada,  who  always  speaks  to  tliem  with  large 
presents,  that  the  governor  of  Mississippi  is  mean 
and  never  sends  them  any  thing.  This  is  ti'ue, 
and  what  I  cannot  do.  It  is  imprudent  to  accus- 
tom the  savages  to  be  spoken  to  by  presents,  for, 
with  so  many,  it  would  cost  the  king  more  than 
the  revenue  derived  from  the  trade.  AVhen  they 
come  to  us,  it  will  be  necessary  to  bring  them  in 
subjection,  make  tliein  no  presents,  and  compel 
them  to  do  what  we  wish,  (i.s  if  they  were'French- 
men. 

"  The  Spaniards  have  divided  the  Indians  into 
parties  on  tliis  point,  and  we  can  do  the  same. 
A\'hen  one  nation  does  wrong,  we  can  cease  to 


PENICAUT  DESCRIBES  LIFE  AT  FORT  VHVILLIER. 


47 


trade  with  them,  and  threaten  to  draw  down  the 
hostility  of  other  Indians.  We  rectify  the  ditli- 
culty  by  having  missionaries,  who  will  bring 
them  into  obedience  secretly. 

"  The  Illinois  and  Mascoutens  have  detained 
the  French  canoes  they  find  upon  the  ]\Iississippi, 
saymg  that  the  governors  of  Canada  have  given 
them  permission.  I  do  not  know  whether  this  is 
so,  but  if  true,  it  follows  that  we  have  not  the 
liberty  to  send  any  one  on  the  Mississippi. 

"  M.  Le  Sueur  would  have  been  taken  if  he 
had  not  been  the  strongest.  Only  one  of  the 
canoes  lie  sent  to  the  Sioux  wasplmidered."  *  *  * 

Penicaut's  account  varies  in  some  particulars 
from  that  of  La  Ilarpe's.  He  calls  the  Mahkahto 
Green  River  instead  of  Blue  and  writes:  "  We 
took  our  route  by  its  mouth  and  ascended  it  forty 
leagues,  when  we  f ouud  another  river  falling  in- 
to the  Saint  Pierre,  which  we  entered.  We 
Dalled  this  the  Green  Eiver  because  it  is  of  that 
color  by  reason  of  a  green  earth  which  loosening 
itself  from  from  the  copper  mines,  becomes  dis- 
solved and  makes  it  green. 

"  A  league  up  this  river,  we  found  a  point 
of  land  a  quarter  of  a  league  distant  from  the 
woods,  and  it  was  upon  this  point  that  M.  Le 
Sueur  resolved  to  build  his  fort,  because  we  could 
not  go  any  higher  on  account  of  the  ice,  it  being 
the  last  day  of  Septemljer.  Half  of  our  people 
went  hunting  whilst  the  others  worked  on  the 
fort.  We  killed  foiu'  hundred  buffaloes,  which 
were  our  provisions  for  the  winter,  and  which  we 
placed  upon  scaffolds  in  our  fort,  after  havuig 
skinned  and  cleaned  and  quartered  them.  We 
also  made  cabins  in  the  fort,  and  a  magazine  to 
keep  our  goods.  After  havmg  drawn  up  our 
shallop  within  the  inelosirre  of  the  foi-t,  we  spent 
the  winter  in  our  cabins. 

"  "WHien  we  were  working  in  our  fort  in  the 
begmning  seven  French  traders  from  Canada 
took  refuge  there.  They  had  been  pillaged  and 
stripped  naked  by  the  Sioux,  a  wandering  nation 
hving  only  by  liuuting  and  plundering.  Among 
these  seven  persons  there  was  a  Canadian  gen- 
tleman of  Le  Sueur's  acquaintance,  whom  he  rec- 
ognized at  once,  and  gave  him  some  clothes,  as 
he  did  also  to  all  the  rest,  and  whatever  else  was 
necessary  for  them.  They  remained  with  us 
during  the  entire  winter  at  our  fort,  where  we 
had  not  food  enough  for  all,  except  buffalo  meat 


wlrich  we  had  not  even  salt  to  eat  with.  We  had 
a  good  deal  of  trouble  the  first  two  weeks  in  ac- 
customing ourselves  to  it,  havmg  fever  and  di- 
arrhoea and  becoming  so  tired  of  it  as  to  hate  the 
smell.  But  by  degrees  our  bodies  became  adapt- 
ed to  it  so  well  that  at  the  end  of  six  weeks  there 
was  not  one  of  us  who  could  not  eat  six  pounds 
of  nieat  a  day,  and  drink  four  bowls  of  broth. 
As  soon  as  we  were  accustomed  to  this  kind  of 
livuig  it  made  us  very  fat,  and  then  there  was  no 
more  sickness. 

"  When  spring  arrived  we  went  to  work  in  the 
copper  mine.  This  was  the  beginning  of  April  of 
this  year  [1701.]  We  took  with  us  twelve  labor- 
ers and  four  hunters.  This  mine  was  situated 
about  three-quarters  of  a  league  from  our  post. 
We  took  from  the  mine  in  twenty  days  more  than 
twenty  thousand  pounds  weight  of  ore,  of  which 
we  only  selected  four  thousand  pomids  of  the 
finest,  which  M.  Le  Sueur,  who  was  a  very  good 
judge  of  it,  had  carried  to  the  fort,  and  which  has 
since  been  sent  to  France,  though  I  have  not 
learned  the  result. 

'•This  mine  is  situated  at  the  beginning  of  a 
very  long  mountain,  which  is  upon  the  bank  of 
the  river,  so  that  boats  can  go  right  to  the  mouth 
of  the  mme  itself.  At  this  place  is  the  green 
earth,  which  is  a  foot  and  a  half  in  tliickness, 
and  above  it  is  a  layer  of  earth  as  firm  and 
hard  as  stone,  and  black  and  burnt  like  coal  by 
the  exlialation  from  the  mme.  The  copper  is 
Scratched  out  with  a  knife.  There  are  no  trees 
upon  this  mountain.  *  *  *  After  twenty-two. 
days'  work,  we  returned  to  our  fort.  When  the 
Sioux,  who  belong  to  the  nation  of  savages  who 
pDlaged  the  Canadians,  came  they  brought  us 
merchandize  of  furs. 

"They  had  more  than  four  hundred  beaver 
robes,  each  robe  made  of  nine  skins  sewed  to- 
gether. M.  Le  Sueur  purchased  these  and  many 
other  skins  which  he  bargained  for,  in  the  week 
he  traded  with  the  savages.  *  *  *  * 
We  sell  in  return  wares  which  come  very  dear  to 
the  buyers,  especially  tobacco  from  Brazil,  in  the 
proportion  of  a  hundred  cro'wis  the  pound;  two 
little  horn-handled  knives,  and  foiu-  leaden  bul- 
lets are  equal  to  ten  crowns  in  exchange  for 
skins ;  and  so  with  the  rest. 

"  In  the  beginning  of  May,  we  launched  our 
shallop  ui  the  water,  and  loaded  it  with  green 


48 


EXPLOREliS  AND  riOXEERti  UF  .UIXyESOTA. 


earth  that  hail  hvcu  taken  out  of  the  river,  and 
Willi  tlie  furs  we  liail  tiaih'd  for,  of  wliieli  we  hiul 
three  canoes  full.  M.  Le  Sueur  before  going 
held  council  with  M.  D'Evaque  [or  Eraque]  the 
Canadian  jieutlenian,  and  the  three  great  chiefs 
of  the  Sioux,  three  lirothers,  and  told  them  that 
as  he  had  to  return  to  the  sea,  he  desired  them 
to  live  in  peace  with  M.  D'Evaque,  whom  he  left 
ill  command  at  Fort  L'lluillicr.  with  twelve 
Frenchmen.  M.  Le  Sueur  made  a  considerable 
pre.sent  to  the  three  brothers,  chiefs  of  the  sava- 
ges, desiring  them  to  never  abanih>n  the  French. 
Afterward  we  the  twelve  men  whom  he  had  chosen 
to  go  down  to  the  sea  with  him  emliarked.  In  set- 
ting out,  ^I,  Le  Sueur  promised  to  M.  D'Evaque 
and  the  twelve  Frenchmen  who  remained  with 
him  to  guard  the  fort,  to  send  up  munitions  of 
war  from  the  Illinois  country  as  soon  as  he  should 
arrive  there  ;  which  he  did,  for  on  getting  there 
he  sent  off  to  him  a  canoe  loaded  with  two  thou- 
sand pounds  of  lead  and  powder,  with  three  of 
our  people  iu  charge.'' 

Le  Sueur  arrived  at  the  French  fort  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  in  safety,  and  in  a  few  weeks,  in 
the  spring  of  1701,  sailed  for  France,  with  his 
kinsman,  D'Iberville,  the  first  governor  of  Lou- 
isiana. 

In  the  spring  of  the  next  year  (17(i2)  D"Eva<ine 
came  to  ^Mobile  and  reported  to  D"lberville,  who 
had  come  back  from  France,  that  he  had  been 
attacked  by  the  Foxes  and  jMaskoutens,  who  killed 
three  Frenchmen  who  were  working  near  Fort 
L'Huillier,  and  that,  being  out  of  powder  and 
lead,  he  had  been  obliged  to  conceal  the  goods 
which  were  left  and  abandon  the  post.  At  the 
Wisconsin  River  he  had  met  Jucherean,  formerly 
criminal  judge  in  ilontreal,  with  thirty-fiv>' 
men,  on  his  way  to  establish  a  tannery  for  buffalo 
skins  at  the  Wabash,  and  that  at  the  Illinois  he 
met  the  canoe  of  supplies  sent  by  tjienville, 
D'lbervUle's  brother. 

La  ^lotte  Cadillac,  in  command  at  Detroit,  in 
a  letter  written  on  August  31st,  ITO.'i,  alludes  to 
Le  Sueur's  expedition  in  these  w  ords:  "  Last 
year  they  sent  Mr.  Boudor,  a  ^lontreal  merchant, 
into  the  country  of  the  Sioux  to  join  Le  Su- 
eur. He  succeeded  so  well  in  that  journey  he 
transported  thither  twenty-five  or  thirty  thous- 
and ])oimds  of  merchandize  with  which  to  trade 
in  all  the  coinitry  of  the  Outawas.     This  proved 


to  him  an  unfortunate  investment,  as  he  has 
befu  robbed  of  a  part  of  the  goods  by  the  Outa- 
gamies.  Tlie  occiusion  of  the  robbery  by  one  of 
onr  own  allies  was  as  follows.  1  speak  with  a 
full  knowledge  of  the  factsas  they  occurretl while 
I  was  at  Michillimackianc.  From  time  immemo- 
rial our  allies  have  been  at  war  with  the  Sioux, 
abd  on  my  arrival  there  in  conformity  to  the  or- 
der of  yi.  Frontenac,  the  most  able  man  who  has 
ever  come  into  Canada,  I  attempted  to  negotiate 
a  truce  between  the  Sioux  and  all  om-  allies. 
Succeeding  in  this  negotiation  I  took  the  occa- 
sion to  turn  their  arms  against  the  Iroquois  with 
whom  we  were  then  at  war,  and  soon  after  I  ef- 
fected a  treaty  of  peace  between  the  Sioux  and 
the  French  and  theirallieswiiich  lasted  two  years. 

"At  the  end  of  tha  time  the  SioiLX  came,  in 
great  numbers,  to  the  villages  of  the  iliamis,  un- 
der i)retense  of  ratifying  the  treaty.  They  were 
well  received  by  the  Miamis.  and.  after  spending 
several  days  in  their  villages, 'departed,  apparent- 
ly perfectly  satisfied  with  their  good  reception,  as 
they  certainly  had  every  reason  to  be. 

"  The  JSIiamis,  believing  them  already  far  dis- 
tant, slept  quietly;  but  the  Sioux,  who  had  pre- 
meditated the  attack,  retiu-ned  the  same  night  to 
the  principal  village  of  the  Miamis,  where  most 
of  the  tribe  were  congregated,  and,  taking  them 
by  surprise,  slaughtered  nearly  three  thousandC:') 
and  put  the  rest  to  fiight..     * 

"This  perfectly  infuriated  all  tne  nations. 
They  came  with  their  complaints,  liegging  me  to 
join  with  tliem  and  exterminate  the  Sioux.  But 
the  war  we  then  had  on  our  hands  did  not  permit 
it,  so  it  became  necessary  to  play  the  orator  in  a 
long  harangue.  In  conclusion  I  advised  them  to 
'  weep  their  dead,  and  wrap  them  up,  and  leave 
them  to  sleep  coldly  till  the  day  of  vengeance 
should  come;'  telling  them  we  must  sweep  the 
land  on  this  side  of  the  Iroquois,  as  it  was  neces- 
sary to  extinguish  even  their  memory,  after  which 
the  allied  tribes  could  more  easily  avenge  the 
atrocious  deed  that  the  Sioux  had  just  committed 
uiion  them.  In  short,  I  managed  them  so  well- 
that  the  affair  was  settled  in  the  manner  that  I 
proposed. 

"But  the  twenty-five  permits  still  existed,  and 
the  cupidity  of  the  French  induced  them  to  go 
among  the  Sioux  to  trade  for  beaver.  Our  allies 
complained  bitterly  of  this,  sa\ing  it  was  injust- 


TRADE  FOBBIDDEN  WITH  THE  SIOUX. 


49 


ice  to  them,  as  tbey  had  taken  up  arms  in  our 
quarrel  against  tlie  Iroquois,  while  the  French 
traders  were  carrying  munitions  of  war  to  tlie 
Sioux  to  enable  them  to  kiU  the  rest  of  our  allies 
as  they  had  the  Miamis. 

"  I  immediately  informed  M.  Frontenac,  and  M. 
Champigny  having  read  tlie  communication,  and 
commanded  that  an  ordinance  be  publ  ished  at  Mon- 
treal forbidding  the  traders  to  go  into  the  country 
of  the  Sioux  for  the  purpose  of  traffic  under  penalty 
of  a  thousand  francs  fine,  the  confiscation  of  the 
goods,  and  other  arbitrary  penalties.  The  ordi- 
nance was  sent  to  me  and  faithfully  executed. 
The  same  year  [1699]  I  descended  to  Quebec, 
having  asked  to  be  relieved.  Since  that  time,  in 
spite  of  this  prohibition,  the  French  have  con- 
tinued to  trade  with  the  Sioux,  but  not  without 
being  subject  to  affronts  and  indignities  from  our 
allies  themselves  which  bring  dishonor  on  the 
French  name.  *  *  *  I  do  notconsider  it  best 
any  longer  to  allow  the  traders  to  carry  on  com- 
merce with  the  Sioux,  under  any  pretext  what- 


ever, especially  as  M.  Boudor  has  just  been 
robbed  by  the  Fox  nation,  and  M.  Jucheraux  has 
given  a  thousand  crowns,  in  goods,  for  the  right 
of  passage  through  the  country  of  the  allies  to 
his  habitation. 

"  The  allies  say  that  Le  Sueur  has  gone  to  the 
Sioux  on  the  Mississippi;  that  they  are  resolved 
to  oppose  him,  and  if  he  offers  any  resistance  they 
will  not  be  answerable  for  the  consequences. 
It  would  be  well,  therefore,  to  give  Le  Sueur 
warning  by  the  Governor  of  Mississippi. 

"  The  Sauteurs  [Chippeways]  being  friendly 
with  the  Sioux  wished  to  give  passage  through 
their  country  to  M.  Boudor  and  others,  permit- 
ting them  to  carry  arms  and  other  munitions  of 
war  to  this  nation;  but  the  other  nations  being 
opposed  to  it,  differences  have  arisen  betvsreen 
them  which  have  resulted  in  the  roljbery  of  M. 
Boudor.  This  has  given  occasion  to  the  Sau- 
tem's  to  make  an  outbreak  upon  the  Sacs  and 
Foxes,  killing  thirty  or  forty  of  them.  So  there 
is  war  among  the  people." 


50 


EXPLOliEIiS  AXD  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


CHAPTER  yill. 


EVENTS   AVUICII   LED  TO  liUILDIXG  FORT  BEAUHAKNOIS  ON  LAKE   PEPIN. 


Be'EsUbhshineut  of  Mackinaw.— Sieur  do  Louvigny  at  Mackinaw.— De  Lignery 
at  Mackinaw.- Louvigny  Attacks  the  Foxes.— Du  Luth's  Post  Bcoccupied.— 
Saint  Pierre  at  1a  Poiuto  on  Lake  Superior.- Preparations  for  a  Jesuit  Mission 
amoni;  the  Sioux.— Ia  Perriere  Boucher's  Expedition  to  Lake  Pepin.— Dc 
Conor  and  Guiguos,  Jesuit  Missionaries.— Visit  to  Foxes  and  Winnebagoes. — 
Wisconsin  River  Described.— Fort  Beauharnuis  Built.- Fireworks  Displayed. — 
High  Water  at  Lake  Pepin.— De  Conor  Visits  Mackinaw.— Boucherville,  Mont- 
brun  and  Guiguas  Captured  by  Indians.— Montbrun's  Escape.— Boucherville's 
Presents  to  Indians.— Exaggerated  Account  of  Father  Guiguas' Capture.— liis- 
patches  (.'oncerning  Fort  Beauhamois.— Sicur  de  la  Jeineraye. — Saint  Pierre  at 
Fort  Beauharnois.— Trouble  between  Sioux  and  Foxes  —Sioux  Visit  Queliec.— 
De  Lusignan  Visits  tlie  Sioux  Country.— Saint  Pierre  Noticed  in  the  Travels 
of  Jonathan  Carver  and  Lieutenant  Pike. 

After  the  Fox  Indians  drove  away  Le  Sueur's 
men,  in  1702,  from  the  ^Slakalito,  or  Blue  Earth 
river,  t\w  mercliants  of  :si<)iitreal  and  Quebec  did 
not  encourage  trade  with  the  tribes  beyond  :Mac'li- 
inaw. 

D'Aigreult,  a  French  officer,  sent  to  inspect 
that  post,  in  the  summer  of  1708,  reported  tliat 
he  arrived  there,  on  the  19th  of  August,  and 
found  tliere  but  fourteen  or  fifteen  Frenchmen. 
He  also  wrote:  "  Since  tliere  are  now  onlj'  a  few 
wanderers  at  Micliilimaclcinack,  the  greater  part 
of  the  furs  of  tlie  savages  of  the  north  goes  to  the 
English  trading  posts  on  Hudson's  Bay.  The 
Outawas  are  unable  to  make  this  trade  by  them- 
selves, because  the  northern  savages  are  timid, 
and  will  not  come  near  them,  as  they  have  often 
been  plundered.  It  is,  therefore,  necessary  that 
the  French  be  allowed  to  seek  these  northern 
tribes  at  the  mouth  of  theii-  own  river,  which 
empties  into  Lake  Superior." 

Louis  de  la  Porte,  the  Sieur  De  Louvigny,  in 
1690,  accompanied  by  Nicholas  Perrot,  with  a  de- 
tachment of  one  hundred  and  seventy  Canadians 
and  Indians,  came  to  ISIackinaw,  jind  until  1094 
was  in  command,  when  lie  was  recalled. 

In  1712,  Father  Joseph  J.  ISIarest  the  Jesuit 
missionary  wrote,  "  If  this  country  ever  needs 
M.  Louvigny  it  is  now ;  the  savages  say  it  is  ab- 
solutely necessary  that  he  should  come  for  the 
safety  of  the  country,  to  unite  the  tribes  and  to 
defend  tliose  wliom  the  war  has  caused  to  return 
to  Michiliniaciiiac.     ****** 


I  do  not  know  wliat  course  the  Pottawatomies 
will  take,  nor  even  wliat  course  they  will  pursue 
who  are  here,  if  M.  Louvigny  does  not  come,  es- 
pecially if  the  Foxes  were  to  attack  them  or  us." 

The  next  July,  M.  Lignery  urged  upon  the  au- 
thorities the  establishment  of  a  garrison  of  trained 
soldiers  at  Mackinaw,  and  the  Intendant  of  Can- 
ada wrote  to  the  King  of  France : 

" Michilimackinac  might  be  re-established, 
without  expense  to  his  Jilajesty,  either  by  sur- 
rendering the  trade  of  the  post  to  such  individu- 
als as  will  obligate  themselves  to  pay  all  the  ex- 
penses of  tw^enty-two  soldiers  and  two  officers;  to 
furnish  munitions  of  war  for  the  defense  of  the 
fort,  and  to  make  presents  to  the  savages. 

'■  Or  the  expenses  of  the  post  might  be  paid  by 
the  sale  of  permits,  if  the  King  should  not  tlihik 
proper  to  grant  an  exclusive  commerce.  It  is  ab- 
solutely necessary  to  know  the  •wishes  of  tlie  King 
concerning  these  two  propositions ;  and  as  M. 
Lignery  is  at  Michilimackinac,  it  will  not  be  any 
greater  injury  to  the  colony  to  defer  the  re-estab- 
ment  of  this  post,  than  it  has  been  for  eight  or 
ten  years  past." 

The  war  with  England  ensued,  and  in  April. 
1713,  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  was  ratified.  Fniiice 
liad  now  more  leisure  to  attend  to  the  Inilian 
tribes  of  the  "West. 

Early  in  1714,  ^Mackinaw  was  re-occupied,  and 
on  the  fourteenth  of  March,  1716,  an  expedition 
under  Lieutenant  Lou-vigny,  left  Quebec.  His 
arrival  at  Mackinaw,  where  he  had  beeU  long  ex- 
pected, gave  confidence  to  the  voyageurs,  and 
friendly  Indians,  and  with  a  force  of  eight  hun- 
dred men,  he  proceeded  against  the  Foxes  in 
Wisconsin.  He  brought  with  him  two  pieces  of 
cannon  and  a  grenade  mortar,  and  besieged  the 
fort  of  the  Fo.xes,  wliich  he  stated  contained  five 
Inuidred  warriors,  and  three  thousand  men,  a 
declaration  which  can  scarcely  be  credited.  After 


DESIBE  FOR  A  NOBIUERN  ROUTE  JO  THE  PACIFIC. 


51 


three  days  of  skirmishing,  he  prepared  to  mine 
the  fort,  when  the  Foxes  capitvilated. 

The  paddles  of  the  bircli  bark  canoes  and  the 
gay  songs  of  the  voyageiirs  now  began  to  be  heard 
once  more  on  the  waters  of  Lake  Superior  and  its 
tributaries.  In  1717,  tlie  post  erected  by  Du 
Luth,  on  Lake  Superior  near  the  northern  boun- 
dary of  ilinnesota,  was  re-occnpied  by  Lt.  llo- 
bertel  de  la  None. 

In  view  of  the  troubles  among  the  tribes  of  the 
northwest,  in  the  month  of  September,  1718,  Cap- 
tain St.  Pierre,  who  had  great  mfluence  with  the 
Indians  of  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  was  sent 
with  Ensign  Linctot  and  some  soldiers  to  re-oc- 
cupy La  Pointe  on  Lake  Superior,  now  Bayfield, 
in  the  northwestern  part  of  Wisconsin.  The 
chiefs  of  the  baud  there,  and  at  Keweenaw, 
had  threatened,  war  against  the  Foxes,  who  had 
killed  some  of  their  nu  mber. 

When  the  Jesuit  Charlevoix  returned  to  France 
after  an  examination  of  the  resources  of  Canada 
and  Louisiana,  he  urged  that  an  attempt  should 
be  made  to  reacli  the  Pacific  Ocean  by  an  inland 
route,  and  suggested  that  an  expedition  should 
proceed  from  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri  and  fol- 
low that  stream,  or  that  a  post  should  be  estab- 
lished among  the  Sioux  which  should  be  the  point 
of  departure.  The  latter  was  accepted,  and  in 
1722  an  allowance  was  made  by  the  French  Gov- 
ernment, of  twelve  hundred  Uvres,  for  two  Jes- 
uit missionaries  to  accompany  those  who  should 
establish  the  new  post.  D'Avagour,  Superin- 
tendent of  Missions,  in  May,  1723,  requested  the 
authorities  to  grant  a  separate  canoe  for  the  con- 
veyance of  the  goods  of  the  proposed  mission, 
and  as  it  was  necessary  to  send  a  commandant 
to  persuade  the  Indians  to  receive  the  mission- 
aries, he  recommended  Sieur  Pachot,  an  officer  of 
experience. 

A  dispatch  from  Canada  to  the  French  govern- 
ment, dated  October  14,  1723,  amiounced  that 
Father  de  la  Chasse,  Superior  of  the  Jesuits,  ex- 
pected that,  the  next  spring,  Father  Guymoneau, 
and  another  missionary  from  Paris,  would  go  to 
the  Sioux,  but  that  they  had  been  hindered  by  the 
Sioux  a  few  months  before  kiUing  seven  French- 
men, on  their  way  to  Louisiana.  The  aged 
Jesuit,  Joseph  J.  Marest,  who  had  been  on  Lake 
Pepin  m  1089  with  Perrot,  and  was  now  in  Mon- 
treal, said  that  it  was  the  wandering  Sioux  who 


had  killed  the  French,  but  he  thought  the  sta- 
tionary Sioux  would  receive  Christian  instruction. 

The  hostility  of  the  Foxes  had  also  prevented 
the  establishment  of  a  fort  and  mission  among  the 
Sioux.  \ 

On  the  seventh  of  June,  1726,  peace  was  con- 
cluded by  De  Lignery  with  the  Sauks,  Foxes,  and 
AVinnebagoes  at  Green  Bay;  and  Linctot,  who 
had  succeeded  Saint  Pierre  m  command  at  La 
Pointe,  was  ordered,  by  presents  and  the  promise 
of  a  missionary,  to  endeavor  to  detach  the  Dah- 
kotahs  from  their  alliance  with  the  Foxes.  At 
this  time  Linctot  made  arrangements  for  peace 
between  the  Ojibways  and  Dahkotas,  and  sent 
tw^o  Frenchmen  to  dwell  in  the  villages  of  the 
latter,  with  a  promise  that,  if  they  ceased  to  figlit 
the  Ojibways,  they  should  have  regular  trade, 
and  a  "black  robe"  reside  in  their  country. 

Traders  and  missionaries  now  began  to  prepare 
for  visitmg  the  Sioux,  and  in  the  spring  of  1727 
the  Governor  of  Canada  wrote  that  the  fathers, 
appointed  for  the  Sioux  mission,  desired  a  case  of 
mathematical  instruments,  a  universal  astro 
nomic  dial,  a  spirit  level,  chain  and  stakes,  and  a 
telescope  of  six  or  seven  feet  tube. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  June,  1727,  the  expedition 
for  the  Sioux  country  left  Montreal  in  charge  of 
the  Sieur  de  la  Perriere  who  was  son  of  the  dis- 
tinguished and  respected  Canadian,  Pierre  Bou- 
cher, the  Governor  of  Three  Rivers. 

La  Perriere  had  .served  in  aSTewfoimdland  and 
been  associated  with  Hertel  de  Rouville  in  raids 
into  New  England,  and  gained  an  unenviable  no- 
toriety as  the  leader  of  the  savages,  while  Rou- 
ville led  the  French  in  attacks  upon  towns  like 
Haverhill,  Massachusetts,  where  tlie  Indians  ex- 
ultuigly  killed  the  Puritan  pastor,  scalped  his 
loving  wife,  and  dashed  out  his  infant's  brams 
against  a  rock.  He  was  accompanied  by  his 
brother  and  other  relatives.  Two  Jesuit  fathers, 
De  Gonor  and  Pierre  Michel  Guignas,  were  also 
of  the  party. 

In  Shea's  "  Early  French  Voyages"  there  was 
printed,  for  the  first  time,  a  letter  from  Father 
Guignas,  from  the  Brevoort  manuscripts,  written 
on  May  29,  1728,  at  Fort  Beauharnois,  on  Lake 
Pepin,  which  contains  facts  of  much  interest. 

He  writes:  "  The  Scioux  convoy  left  the  end 
of  Montreal  Island  on  the  16th  of  the  month  of 
Jime  last  year,  at  11  a.  m.,  and  reached  Michili- 


62 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIOXEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


mackinac  the  22d  of  the  month  of  July.  This 
post  is  two  hundred  and  fift)'-one  leagues  from 
Itlontreal,  almost  due  west,  at  45  degrees  46  min- 
utes north  latitude. 

"  We  spent  the  rest  of  the  month  at  this  post, 
in  the  hope  of  receiving  from  day  to  day  some 
news  from  Montreal,  and  in  the  design  of 
strengthening  ourselves  against  the  alleged  ex- 
treme difficulties  of  getting  a  free  passage  through 
the  Foxes.  At  last,  .seeing  nothing,  we  .set  out 
on  our  march,  the  first  of  the  month  of  August, 
and.  after  seventy-three  leagues  quite  pleasant 
sail  along  the  northerly  side  of  Lake  Michigan, 
running  to  the  southeast,  we  reached  the  Bay 
[Green]  on  the  8th  of  the  same  month,  at  5:30  p. 
51.  This  post  is  at  44  degrees  43  minutes  north 
latitude. 

""We  stopped  there  Iavo  days,  and  on  the  11th 
in  the  morning,  we  embarked,  in  a  very  great 
impatience  to  reach  the  Foxes.  On  the  third  day 
after  our  departure  from  the  bay,  (juite  late  in 
the  afternoon,  in  fact  somewhat  in  tlie  night,  the 
chiefs  of  the  Puans  [Winnebagoes]  came  out  three 
leagues  from  their  village  to  meet  the  French, 
with  their  peace  calumets  and  some  bear  meat  as 
a  refresliment,  and  the  next  day  we  were  received 
by  that  small  nation,  amid  several  discharges  of 
a  few  guns,  and  with  great  demonstrations. 

"  They  asked  us  with  so  good  a  grace  to  do 
them  the  honor  to  stay  some  time  with  them  tliat 
we  granted  them  the  rest  of  the  day  from  noon, 
and  the  following  day.  Tliere  may  be  in  all  the 
village,  sixty  to  eighty  men,  but  all  tlie  men  and 
women  of  very  tall  stature,  and  well  made.  They 
are  on  the  bank  of  a  very  pretty  little  lake,  in  a 
most  agreeable  spot  for  its  situation  and  the 
goodness  of  the  soil,  nineteen  leagues  from  the 
bay  and  eight  leagues  from  the  Foxes. 

"  Early  the  next  morning,  the  loth  of  the  montli 
of  August,  the  convoy  preferred  to  continue  its 
route,  with  quite  pleasant  weather,  but  a  storm 
coming  on  in  the  afternoon,  we  arrived  quite  wet, 
still  in  the  rain,  at  the  ••al)ins  of  tlie  Foxes,  a  nation 
so  much  dreaded,  and  really  so  little  to  be  dreaded. 
From  all  that  we  could  see,  it  is  composed  of 
two  hundred  men  at  most,  but  there  is  a  perfect 
hive  of  children,  especially  boys  from  ten  to 
fourteen  years  old,  well  formed. 

'•  They  are  cabined  on  a  little  eminence  on  the 
bank  of  a  small  river  that  bears  their  name,  ex- 


tremely tortuous  or  wmding,  so  that  you  are  con- 
stantly boxing  the  compass.  Yet  it  is  apparently 
quite  wide,  with  a  cliain  of  hills  on  both  sides, 
but  there  is  only  one  miserable  little  channel 
amid  this  extent  of  apparent  bed,  which  is  a  kind 
of  marsh  full  of  rushes  and  wild  rice  of  almost 
impenetrable  thickness.  They  have  nothing  but 
mere  bark  cabins,  without  any  kind  of  pahsade  or 
other  fortification.  As  soon  as  the  French  ca- 
noes touched  their  sliore  they  ran  do«ii  with 
their  peace  calumets,  liglited  in  spite  of  the  rain, 
and  all  smoked. 

"  "We  stayed  among  them  the  rest  of  this  day, 
and  all  the  next,  to  know  wliat  were  their  designs 
and  ideas  as  to  the  French  post  among  the  Sioux. 
The  Sieur  Reaume,  interpreter  of  Indian  lan- 
guages at  the  Bay,  acted  efficiently  there,  and 
with  devotion  to  tlie  King's  service.  Even  if  my 
testimony,  Sii',  should  be  deemed  not  impartial,  I 
must  have  the  honor  to  tell  you  that  Rev.  Father 
Chardon,  an  old  missionary,  was  of  very  great  as- 
sistance there,  and  the  presence  of  three  mission- 
aries reassured  these  cut-throats  and  assassins  of 
the  French  more  than  all  the  speeches  of  the  best 
orators  could  have  done. 

"  A  general  council  was  convened  in  one  of  the 
cabins,  they  were  addressed  in  decided  friendly 
terms,  and  they  replied  in  the  same  way.  A 
small  present  was  made  to  tliem.  On  tlieir  side 
they  gave  some  quite  handsome  dishes,  lined  with 
dry  meat. 

On  the  following  Simday,  17th  of  the  month 
of  August,  very  early  in  the  morning,  Fatlier 
Chardon  set  out,  with  Sieur  Reaume,  to  return 
to  the  Bay,  and  the  Sioux  expedition,  greatly  re- 
joiced to  have  so  easily  got  over  this  difficulty, 
which  had  everywhere  been  represented  as  so  in- 
surmountable, got  uiider  way  to  endeavor  to 
reach  its  journey's  end. 

"  Never  was  navigation  more  tedious  than 
what  we  subsequently  made  from  uncertainty  as 
to  our  course.  No  one  knew  it,  and  we  got 
astray  every  moment  on  water  and  on  land  for 
want  of  a  guide  and  pilots.  ^Ve  kept  on,  as  it 
were  feeling  our  way  for  eight  days,  for  it  was 
only  on  the  ninth,  about  three  o'clo'ck  p.  m.,  that 
we  arrived,  by  accident,  believing  ourselves  stiil 
far  off,  at  tlie  portage  of  the  Ouisconsin,  which  is 
forty-five  leagues  from  tlie  Foxes,  counthig  ail 
the  twists  and  turns  of  this  abominable  river. 


SITUATION  AND  DESCRIPTION  OF  FORT  BEAUHARNOIS. 


53 


This  portage  is  lialf  a  league  in  length,  and  half 
of  that  is  a  kind  of  marsh  full  of  mud, 

"  The  Ouisi'onsin  is  quite  a  handsome  river, 
but  far  below  what  we  had  been  told,  apparently, 
as  those  who  gave  the  description  of  it  in  Canada 
saw  it  only  in  the  high  waters  of  spring.  It  is  a 
shallow  river  on  a  bed  of  quicksand,  which  forms 
bars  almi;st  everywhere,  and  these  often  change 
place.  Its  shores  are  either  steep,  Ijare  mountains 
or  low  points  wi  th  sandy  base.  Its  course  is  from 
northeast  to  southwest.  From  the  portage  to  its 
mouth  in  the  Mississippi,  I  estimated  thirty-eight 
leagues.  The  portage  is  at  43  deg.  2-1  min.  north 
latitude. 

"  The  Mississippi  from  the  mouth  of  the  Ouis- 
conshi  ascending,  goes  northwest.  This  beauti- 
ful river  extends  between  two  chains  of  high, 
bare  and  very  sterile  mountains,  constantly  a 
league,  three-quarters  of  a  league,  or  where  it  is 
narrowest,  half  a  league  apart.  Its  centre  is  oc- 
cupied by  a  chain  of  well  wooded  islands,  so  that 
regarding  from  the  heights  above,  you  would 
thmk  you  saw  an  endless  valley  watered  on  the 
right  and  left  by  two  large  rivers ;  sometimes,  too, 
you  could  discern  no  river.  These  islands  are 
overflowed  every  year,  and  would  be  adapted  to 
raising  rice.  Fifty-eight  leagues  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Ouisconsin,  accordmg  to  my  calculation, 
ascending  the  Mississippi,  is  Lake  Pepin,  which 
is  nothmg  else  but  the  river  itself,  destitute  of 
islands  at  that  point,  where  it  may  be  half  a 
league  wide.  This  river,  in  what  I  traversed  of 
it,  is  shallow,  and  has  shoals  in  several  places,  be- 
cause its  bed  is  moving  sands,  like  that  of  the 
Ouisconsm. 

"On  the  17th  of  September,  1727,  at  noon,  we 
reached  this  lake,  which  had  been  chosen  as  the 
bourne  of  our  voyage.  We  planted  ourselves  on 
the  shore  about  the  middle  of  the  north  side,  on 
a  low  point,  where  the  soil  is  excellent.  The 
wood  is  very  dense  there,  but  is  already  thumed 
in  consequence  of  the  rigor  and  length  of  the 
winter,  which  has  been  severe  for  the  climate, 
for  we  are  here  on  the  parallel  of  43  deg.  41  min. 
It  is  true  that  the  difference  of  the  winter  is 
great  compared  to  that  of  Quebec  and  Montreal, 
for  all  that  some  poor  judges  say. 

"From  the  day  after  our  landing  we  put  our 
axes  to  the  wood:  on  the  fourth  day  following 
the  fort  v:as  entirely  finished.    It  is  a  square  plat 


of  one  hundred  feet,  surrounded  by  pickets  twelve 
feet  long,  with  two  good  bastions.  For  so  small 
a  space  there  are  large  buildings  quite  distinct  and 
not  huddled  togetlier,  each  thirty,  thirty-eight 
and  twenty-five  feet  long  by  sixteen  feet  wide. 

"  All  would  go  well  there  if  the  spot  were  not 
inundated,  but  this  year  [1728],  on  the  15th  of 
the  month  of  April,  we  were  obliged  to  camp  out, 
and  tlie  water  ascended  to  the  height  of  two  feet 
and  eight  inches  in  the  houses,  and  it  is  idle  to 
say  that  it  was  the  quantity  of  snow  that  fell 
tills  year.  The  snow  in  the  vicinity  had  melted 
long  before,  and  there  was  only  a  foot  and  a  half 
from  the  8th  of  February  to  the  IStli  of  March; 
you  could  not  use  snow-shoes. 

"  I  have  great  reason  to  think  that  this  spot  is 
inundated  more  or  less  every  year;  I  have  always 
thought  so,  but  they  were  not  obliged  to  believe 
me,  as  old  people  who  said  that  they  had  lived  in 
this  region  fifteen  or  twenty  years  declared  that 
it  was  never  overflowed.  AVe  could  not  enter 
our  much-devastated  houses  until  the  30th  of 
April,  and  the  disorder  is  even  now  scarcely  re- 
paired. 

"  Before  the  end  of  October  [1727]  all  the  houses 
were  finished  and  furnished,  and  each  one  found 
himself  tranquilly  lodged  at  home.  They  then 
thought  only  of  going  out  to  explore  the  hills  and 
rivers  and  to  see  those  herds  of  all  lands  of  deer 
of  which  they  tell  such  stories  in  Canada.  They 
must  have  retired,  or  diminished  greatly,  since 
the  time  the  old  voyageurs  left  the  comitry;  they 
are  no  longer  in  such  great  numbers,  and  are 
killed  with  difliculty. 

"After  beatmg  the  field,  for  some  time,  all  re- 
assembled at  the  fort,  and  thought  of  enjoying  a 
little  the  fruit  of  their  labors.  On  the  4th  of  No- 
vember we  did  not  forget  it  was  the  General's 
birthday.  Mass  was  said  for  him  [Beauharnois, 
Governor-General  of  Canada]  in  the  morning, 
and  they  were  well  disposed  to  celebrate  the  day 
in  tlie  evening,  but  the  tardmess  of  the  pyro- 
technists and  the  inconstancy  of  the  weather 
caused  them  to  postpone  the  celebration  to  the 
14th  of  the  same  month,  when  they  set  off  some 
very  fine  rockets  and  made  the  air  rmg  with  an 
hundred  shouts  of  Vive  k  Roy!  and  Vive  Charles 
de  Beauharnois!  It  was  on  this  occasion  that  the 
wine  of  the  Sioux  was  broached;  it  was  par  eoo- 


54 


EXPLOIiERS  AKB  PIOXEERS  OF  HflNXESOTA. 


celknce,  although  there  are  no  ynnes  here  finer 
than  in  Canada. 

•'  What  contributed  much  to  the  amusement, 
was  the  terror  of  some  cabins  of  Indians,  who 
were  at  the  time  around  the  fort.  AVhen  these 
poor  people  saw  the  fireworks  in  the  air,  and  the 
stars  fall  from  heaven,  the  women  and  children 
began  to  take  flight,  and  the  most  courageous  of 
the  men  to  cry  mercy,  and  implore  ns  very  earn- 
estly to  stop  the  surprising  pla\'  of  that  wonder- 
ful medicine. 

"  As  soon  as  we  arrived  among  them,  they  as- 
sembled, in  a  few  days,  around  the  French  fort  to 
the  number  of  ninety-five  cal)ins.  which  might 
make  in  all  one  hundred  and  fifty  men;  for  there 
axe  at  most  two  men  in  their  portable  cabins  of 
dressed  skins,  and  in  many  there  is  only  oue_ 
This  is  all  we  have  seen  except  a  band  of  about 
sixty  men,  who  came  on  the  26th  of  the  month  of 
February,  who  were  of  those  nations  called  Sioux 
of  the  Prairies. 

"  At  the  end  of  November,  the  Indians  set  out 
for  theii-  winter  quarters.  They  do  not,  indeed, 
go  far,  and  we  saw  some  of  them  all  through  the 
winter;  but  from  the  second  of  the  month  of 
April  last,  when  some  cabins  repassed  here  to  go 
in  search  of  them,  [lie]  sought  them  in  vain,  du- 
ring a  week,  for  more  than  sixty  leagues  of  the 
Mississippi.  He  [La  PerriereV]  arrived  yesterday 
without  any  tidings  of  them. 

"  Although  I  said  above,  that  the  Sioux  were 
alarmed  at  the  rockets,  which  they  took  for  new 
phenomena,  it  must  not  be  supposed  from  that 
they  were  less  intelligent  than  other  Indians  we 
know.  They  seem  to  me  more  so ;  at  least  they 
are  much  gayer  and  open,  apparently,  and  far 
more  dextrous  thieves,  great  dancers,  and  great 
medicine  men.  The  men  are  almost  all  large  and 
well  made,  Init  the  women  are  very  ugly  and  dis- 
gusting, which  does  not,  however,  check  debauch- 
ery among  them,  and  is  perhaps  an  effect  of  it." 

In  the  summer  of  172.S  the  Jesuit  De  Gonor 
left  the  fort  on  Lake  Pepin,  and,  by  way  of  Mack- 
inaw, returned  to  Canada.  The  Foxes  had  now 
become  very  troublesome,  and  De  Lignery  and 
Beaujeu  marched  against  their  stronghold,  to  find 
they  had  retreated  to  the  Mississippi  Biver. 

On  the  12th  of  October.  Boucherville,  his  bro- 
ther Montbnui,  a  young  ^adet  of  enterprising 
spirit,  the  Jesuit  Guiguas,  and  other  Frenchmen, 


eleven  in  all.  left  Fort  Pepui  to  go  to  Canada,  by 
way  of  the  Illinois  River.  They  were  captured 
by  the  Mascoutens  and  Kickapoos.  ami  detained 
at  the  river  "  Au  Ba-iif,""  which  st;;cam  was  prob- 
ably the  one  mentioned  by  Le  Sueur  as  twenty- 
two  leagues  above  the  Illinois  River,  although  the 
sjmie  name  was  g'ven  liy  Ilenneiuu  to  the  Chip- 
pewa River,  just  below  Lake  Pepin.  They  were 
held  as  prisoners,  with  the  view  of  delivering 
them  to  the  Foxes.  The  iiight  Viefore  the  deliv- 
ery the  .Sieur  ^lontbrun  and  liis  l)rother  and  an- 
other Frenchman  escaped.  !Montbnm,  leaving 
his  sick  brother  in  the  Illinois  country,  journeyed 
to  Canada  and  informed  the  authorities. 

Boucherville  and  Guignas  reinaiueil  prisoners 
for  several  months,  and  the  former  did  not  reach 
Detroit  until  .June.  1729,  The  account  of  expen- 
ditures made  during  his  captivity  is  interesting  as 
showing  the  value  of  merchandize  at  that  time. 
It  reads  as  follows: 

"  ;Memi>randuni  of  the  goods  that  Monsieur  de 
Boucherville  was  ol)liged  to  furnish  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  King,  from  the  time  of  his  detention 
among  the  Kickapoos,  on  the  12th  of  October, 
172s.  until  his  return  to  Detroit,  in  the  year  1729, 
in  the  month  of  June.  On  arriving  at  the  Kick- 
apoo  village,  he  made  a  present  to  tlie  young  men 
to  secure  their  opposition  to  some  evil  minded' 
old  warriors — 
Two  barrels  of  powder,  each  fifty  pounds 

at  Montreal  price,  valued  at  the  sum  of  1.50  Uv. 
One  hundred  pounds  of  lead  and  balls 

making  the  simi  of .50  liv. 

Fom-  pounds  of  vermillion,  at  12  francs 

the  poiuid 48    fr. 

Four  coats,  braided,  at  twenty  francs. . .  80  fr. 
Six  dozen  knives  at  foiu-  francs  the  dozen  24  fr. 
Four  hinidred  flints,  one  hundred  gim- 

worms,  two  hundred  ramnids  and  one 

hundred  and  fifty  files,  the  total  at  the 

maker's  prices 90  liv. 

After  the  Kickapoos  refused  to  deliver  them  to 
the  Renards  [Foxes]  they  wished  some  favors,  and 
I  was  obliged  to  give  them  the  following  which 
would  allow  them  to  weep  over  and  cover  their 
dead: 

Two  braided  coats  («  20  fr.  each. . .- 40fr. 

Two  woolen  blankets  (n  1.5  fr 30 

One  hundred  pounds  of  powder  @  30  sous    75 
One  hundred  pounds  of  lead  (^  10  sous. .     25 


liOUVHEBVILLE'S  PRESENTS  WHILE  IN  CAPTIVITY. 


65 


Two  pounds  of  vermillion  @  12  fr 24f r. 

Moreover,  given  to-  the  Eenards  to  cover 
their  dead  and  prepare  tliem  for  peace, 

fifty  pounds  of  powder,  making 7o 

One  hundred  pounds  of  lead  @  10  sous .     50 

Two  pounds  of  vermillion  (a)  12  fr 24 

During  the  winter  a  considerable  party  was 
sent  to  strike  hands  with  the  Illinois.  Given  at 
that  time : 

Two  blue  blankets  @  15  fr 30 

Four  men's  shirts  @  6  f  r 2-1 

Four  pairs  of  long-necked  bottles  @  6  f  r    24 

Four  dozen  of  knives  @  4  f r 16 

Gun-worms,  files,  ramrods,  and  flints,  es- 
timated       40 

Given  to  engage  the  Kickapoos  to  establish 
themselves  upon  a  neighboring  isle,  to  protect 
fj'om  the  treachery  of  the  Kenards — 

Four-  blankets,  @  15f 60f 

Two  pairs  of  bottles,  6f 24 

Two  pomids  of  vermillion,  12f 24 

Four  dozen  butcher  knives,  6f 24 

Two  woolen  blankets,  @  15f 30 

Four  pairs  of  bottles,  @  6f 24 

Four  shirts,  @  6f 24 

Four  dozen  of  knives,  @  4f 16 

The  Kenards  having  betrayed  and  killed  their 
brothers,  the  Kickapoos,  I  seized  the  favorable 
opportunity,  and  to  encourage  the  latter  to  avenge 
themselves,  I  gave — 
Twenty-five  poundsof  powder, @  30sous  37f.l()s. 

Twenty-five  pounds  of  lead,  @  10s I2f.l0s. 

Two  guns  at  30  livres  each 60f 

One  half  pound  of  vermillion 6f 

Flints,  gims,  worms  and  knives 20f 

The  Illinois  coming  to  the  Kikapoos  vil- 
lage, I  supported  them  at  my  expense, 
and  gave  them  powder,  balls  and  shirts 

valued  at oOf 

In  departing  from  tlie  Kikapoos  \illage,  I 
gave  them  the  rest  of  the  goods  for 
their  good  treatment,  estimated  at ... .    SOf 
In  a  letter,  written  by  a  priest,  at  Xew  Orleans, 
on  July  12,  1730,  is  the  followmg  exaggerated  ac- 
count of  the  capture  of  Father  Guignas:    "  We 
always  felt  a  distrust  of  the  Fox  Indians,  although 
they  did  not  longer  dare  to  undertake  anything, 
since  Father  Guignas  has  detached  from  their  al- 
liance the  tribes  of  the  Kikapous  and  Maskoutins. 
You  luiow,  my  Reverend  Father,  that,  being  in 


Canada,  he  had  the  courage  to  penetrate  even  to 
the  Sioux  near  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  at 
the  distance  of  eight  hundred  leagues  from  New 
Orleans  and  five  hundi'ed  from  Quebec.  Obliged 
to  abandon  this  important  mission  by  the  unfor- 
tunate result  of  the  enterprise  against  the  Foxes, 
he  descended  the  river  to  repair  to  the  Illinois. 
On  the  15th  of  October  in  the  year  1728  he  was 
arrested  when  half  way  by  the  Kickapous  and 
Maskoutins.  For  four  months  he  was  a  captive 
among  the  Indians,  where  he  had  much  to  suffer 
and  everything  to  fear.  The  time  at  last  came 
when  he  was  to  be  burned  alive,  when  he  was 
adopted  by  an  old  man  whose  family  saved  his 
life  and  procured  his  liberty. 

"  Our  missionaries  who  are  among  the  Illinois 
were  no  sooner  acquainted  with  the  situation 
than  they  procured  him  all  the  alleviation  they 
were  able.  Everything  which  he  received  he  em- 
ployed to  conciUate  the  Indians,  and  succeeded 
to  the  extent  of  engaging  them  to  conduct  him  to 
the  ininois  to  make  peace  with  the  French  and 
Indians  of  this  region.  Seven  or  eight  months 
after  this  peace  was  concluded,  the  Maskoutins 
and  Kikapous  returned  again  to  the  Illinois  coim- 
try,  and  took  back  Father  Guignas  to  spend  the 
winter,  from  whence,  in  all  probability,  he  will 
return  to  Canada." 

In  dispatches  sent  to  France,  in  October,  1729, 
by  the  Canadian  government,  the  following  refer- 
ence is  made  to  Fort  Beauharnois  :  "  They  agree 
that  the  fort  built  among  the  Scioux,  on  the  bor- 
der of  Lake  Pepin,  appears  to  be  badly  situated 
on  account  of  the  freshets,  but  the  Indians  assure 
that  the  waters  rose  higher  in  1728  than  it  ever 
did  before.  When  Sieur  de  Laperriere  located  it  ■ 
at  that  place  it  was  on  the  assurance  of  the  In- 
dians that  the  waters  did  not  rise  so  high."  In 
reference  to  the  absence  of  Indians,  is  the  fol- 
lowing : 

"  It  is  very  true  that  these  Indians  did  leave 
shortly  after  on  a  hunting  excursion,  as  they  are 
in  the  hal)it  of  doing,  for  their  own  support  and 
that  of  their  families,  who  have  only  that  means 
of  livelihood,  as  they  do  not  cultivate  the  soil  at 
all.  M.  de  Beauharnois  has  just  been  informed 
that  their  absence  was  occasioned  only  by  having 
fallen  in  while  hunting  with  a  number  of  prairie 
Scioux,  by  whom  they  were  invited  to  occompany 
them  on  a  war  expedition   against  the  MahaSj 


66 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


which  invitation  they  accepted,  and  returned 
only  in  the  month  of  July  following. 

"  The  interests  of  religion,  of  the  service,  and 
of  the  colony,  are  involved  in  the  maintenance  of 
this  establishment,  which  has  been  the  more  nec- 
essary as  there  is  no  doubt  but  the  Foxes,  when 
routed,  would  have  found  an  asylum  among  the 
Scicux  had  not  the  French  been  settled  there, 
and  the  docility  and  submission  manifested  by 
the  Foxes  can  not  be  attributed  to  any  cause  ex- 
cept the  attention  entertained  by  the  Scioux  for 
the  French,  and  the  offers  which  the  former 
made  the  latter,  of  which  the  Foxes  were  fully 
cognisant. 

"  It  is  necessary  to  retain  the  Scioux  in  these 
favoraVile  dispositions,  in  order  to  keep  the  Foxes 
in  check  and  counteract  the  measures  they  might 
adopt  to  gain  over  the  Scioux,  who  will  invaria- 
bly reject  their  propositions  so  long  as  the  French 
remain  in  the  country,  and  their  trading  post 
shall  continue  there.  But,  despite  all  these  ad- 
vantages and  the  importance  of  preserving  that 
establishment,  JI.  de  Beauharnois  cannot  take 
any  steps  imtil  he  has  news  of  the  French  who 
asked  his  permission  this  summer  to  go  up  there 
with  a  canoe  load  of  goods,  and  until  assm-ed  that 
those  who  wintered  there  lia\e  not  dismantled 
the  fort,  and  that  the  Scioux  continue  in  the  same 
sentiments.  Besides,  it  does  not  seem  very  easy, 
in  the  present  conjuncture,  to  maintain  that  post 
unless  there  is  a  solid  peace  with  the  Foxes;  on 
the  other  hand,  the  greatest  portion  of  the  tra- 
ders, who  applied  in  1727  for  the  establishment 
of  that  post,  have  wthdrawn,  and  will  not  send 
thither  any  more,  as  the  rupture  with  the  Foxes, 
through  whose  country  it  is  necessary  to  pass  in 
order  to  reach  tlie  Scioux  in  canoe,  has  led  them 
to  abandon  the  idea.  But  the  one  and  the  other 
case  might  be  remedied.  The  Foxes  will,  in  all 
probability,  come  or  send  next  year  to  sue  for 
peace;  therefore,  if  it  be  granted  to  them  on  ad- 
vantageous conditions,  there  need  be  no  appre- 
hension when  going  to  the  Sioux,  and  another 
company  could  be  formed,  less  numerous  than 
the  first,  through  whom,  or  some  responsilile  mer- 
chants able  to  afford  the  outfit,  a  new  treaty 
could  be  made,  whereby  these  difficulties  woidd 
be  .soon  obviated.  One  only  trouble  remains,  and 
that  is,  to  send  a  commanding  and  sul>officer, 
and  some  soldiers,  up  there,  which  are  absolutely 


necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  good  order  at 
that  post;  the  missionaries  would  not  go  there 
without  a  commandant.  This  article,  which  re- 
gards the  service,  and  the  expense  of  which  must 
be  on  his  majesty's  accoimt,  obliges  them  to  ap- 
ply for  orders.  They  will,  as  far  as  lies  in  their 
power,  induce  the  traders  to  meet  that  expense, 
which  will  possibly  amount  to  lOoo  livres  or 
1500  livres  a  year  for  the  commandant,  and  in 
proportion  for  the  officer  luider  him;  but,  as  in 
the  beginning  of  an  establishment  the  exi)enses 
exceed  the  profits,  it  is  improbable  that  any  com- 
pany of  merchants  will  assume  the  outlay,  and 
in  this  case  they  demand  orders  on  this  point,  as 
well  as  his  majesty's  opinion  as  to  the  necessity 
of  preserving  so  useful  a  post,  and  a  nation  which 
has  already  afEorded  proofs  of  its  fidelity  and  at- 
tachment. 

"  These  orders  could  be  sent  them  by  the  way 
of  lie  Royale,  or  by  the  first  merchantmen  that 
wiU  sail  for  Quebec.  The  time  required  to  re- 
ceive intelUgence  of  the  occurrences  in  the  Scioux 
country,  will  admit  of  their  waitmg  for  these 
orders  before  douig  anything."' 

Sieur  de  la  Jemeraye,  a  relative  of  Sieur  de  la 
Periiere  Boucher,  with  a  few  French,  during  the 
troubles  remained  in  the  Sioux  country.  After 
peace  was  established  with  the  Foxes,  Legardeur 
Saint  Pierre  was  in  comman<l  at  Fort  Beauhar- 
nois, and  Father  Guignas  again  attempted  to  es- 
tabUsh  a  Sioux  mission.  In  a  communication 
dated  12th  of  October,  1736,  by  the  Canadian  au- 
thorities is  the  followmg:  "In  regard  to  the 
Scioux,  Samt  Pierre,  who  commanded  at  that 
post,  and  Father  Guignas,  the  missionary,  have 
written  to  Sieur  de  Beauharnois  on  the  tenth  and 
eleventh  of  last  April,  that  these  Indians  a.\y- 
peared  well  intentioned  toward  the  French,  and 
had  no  other  fear  than  that  of  being  abandoned 
by  them.  Sieur  de  Beauharnois  annexes  an  ex- 
tract of  these  letters,  and  although  the  Scioux 
seem  very  friendly,  the  resultouly  can  tell  whether 
this  fideUty  is  to  be  absolutely  depended  upon, 
for  the  imrestrauied  and  mconsistent  spirit  which 
composes  the  Indian  character  may  easily  change 
it.  They  have  not  come  over  this  summer  as  yet, 
but  M.  de  la  St.  Pierre  is  to  get  them  to  do  so 
next  year,  and  to  have  an  eye  on  their  proceed- 
ings." 

Tlif  reply  to  this  couinnuiieation  from  Louis 


DE  LUSIGNAN  VISITS  THE  SIOUX  COUNTBY. 


67 


XV.  dated  Versailles,  May  10th,  1737,  was  in 
these  words :  "  As  respects  the  Seioux,  according 
to  what  tlie  commandant  and  missionary  at  that 
post  have  written  to  Sieur  de  Beauluirnois  rela- 
tive to  the  disposition  of  these  Indians,  nothing 
appears  to  be  wanting  on  that  point. 

"  But  their  delay  in  coming  down  to  Montreal 
since  the  time  they  have  promised  to  do  so,  must 
render  their  sentiments  somewhat  suspected,  and 
nothing  but  facts  can  determine  whether  their 
fidelity  can  be  absolutely  relied  on.  But  what 
must  still  further  increase  the  uneasiness  to  be 
entertained  in  their  regard  is  the  attack  on  the 
convoy  of  M.  de  Verandrie,  especially  if  this  officer 
has  adopted  the  course  he  had  informed  tlie 
Marquis  de  Beauharnois  he  should  take  to  have 
revenge  therefor." 

The  particulars  of  the  attack  alluded  to  will  be 
found  in  the  next  chapter.  Soon  after  this  the 
Foxes  again  became  troublesome,  and  the  post  on 
Lake  Pepui  was  for  a  time  abandoned  by  the 
French.  A  dispatch  in  1741  uses  this  language  : 
"  The  Marquis  de  ISeauharuois'  opinion  respect- 
ing the  war  agamst  the  Foxes,  has  been  the  more 
readily  approved  liy  the  Baron  de  Longeuil, 
Messieurs  De  la  Chassaigne,  La  Corne,  de  Lig- 
nery,  LaNoue,  and  Duplessis  -  Fabert,  whom  he 
had  assembled  at  his  house,  as  it  appears  from 
all  the  letters  that  the  C(-)unt  has  wril  n  for  sev- 
eral years,  that  he  has  nothing  so  much  at  heart  as 
the  destruction  of  that  Indian  nation,  which  can 
not  be  prevailed  on  by  the  presents  and  the  good 
treatment  of  the  French,  to  live  in  peace,  not- 
withstandmg  all  its  promises. 

"  Besides,  it  is  notorious  that  the  Foxes  have  a 
secret  understandmg  with  the  Iroquois,  to  secure 
a  retreat  among  the  latter,  in  case  they  be  obliged 
to  abandon  their  villages.  They  have  one  already 
secured  among  the  Sioux  of  the  prairies,  with 
whom  they  are  allied;  so  that,  shoidd  they  be 


advised  beforehand  of  the  design  of  the  French 
to  wage  war  against  them,  it  would  be  easy  for 
them  to  retire  to  the  one  or  the  other  before  their 
passage  could  be  intersected  or  themselves  at- 
tacked in  their  villages.'' 

In  the  summer  of  17-13,  a  deputation  of  the 
Sioux  came  down  to  Quebec,  to  ask  that  trade 
might  be  resumed.  Three  years  after  this,  four 
Sioux  chiefs  came  to  Quebec,  and  asked  that  a 
commandant  might  be  sent  to  Fort  Beauharnois ; 
which  was  not  granted. 

During  the  winter  of  1745-6,  De  Lusignan  vis- 
ited the  Sioux  country,  ordered  by  the  govern- 
ment to  hunt  up  the  "cuureurs  des  bois,"  and 
witlulraw  them  from  the  country.  They  started 
to  retiu'n  with  him,  but  learning  that  they  would 
be  arrested  at  Mackinaw,  for  violation  of  law, 
they  ran  away.  While  at  the  villages  of  the  Sioux 
of  the  lakes  and  plains,  the  chiefs  brought  to 
this  officer  nineteen  of  their  young  men,  bound 
with  cords,  who  had  killed  three  Frenchmen,  at 
the  Illinois.  AVliile  he  remained  with  them,  they 
made  peace  with  the  Ojibways  of  La  Pointe, 
with  whom  they  had  been  at  war  for  some  time. 
On  his  return,  four  chiefs  accompanied  him  to 
Montreal,  to  solicit  pardon  for  their  young  braves. 

The  lessees  of  the  trading-post  lost  many  of 
their  peltries  that  winter  in  consequence  of  a  Are. 

Reminiscences  of  St.  Pierre's  residence  at  Lake 
Pepin  were  long  presei-ved.  Carver,  in  1766,  "ob- 
served the  ruins  of  a  French  factory,  where,  it 
is  said,  Captain  St.  Pierre  resided,  and  carried  on 
a  great  trade  with  the  Nadouessies  before  the  re- 
duction of  Canada." 

Pike,  in  1805,  wrote  in  his  journal:  "  Just  be- 
low Pt.  Le  Sable,  the  French,  who  had  driven  the 
Uenards  [Foxes]  from  Wisconsin,  and  chased 
them  up  the  Mississippi,  built  a  stockade  on  this 
lake,  as  a  barrier  against  the  savages.  It  became 
a  noted  factory  for  the  Sioux." 


")8 


EXPLORERS  AXn  I'loyEERS  OF  iHXXESOTA. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

VERENDRYE,  THE    EXPLORER    OF    NORTHEItN    MINNESOTA,    ANT)    DISCOVERER    OF    THE    ROCKY 

JIOUNTAINS. 


Coiivcrsution  of  Vcrendrye  wilh  FatlitT  Do  Gonor— Parcntapc  and  Eurly  Life.— 
Olil  Indian  Map  Prcsprved. — Vtrendryc's  Son  and  Nej.lu-H-  Ex|dorc  Pigeon 
KiviT  and  Keacli  Rain>'  l^kc. — Father  Messayera  Companion.— Furt  St.  Pierre 
Established.— Lake  of  the  Wootis  Keachcd  and  Fort  St,  Charles  Built.— De  la 
Jeinorayo's  Map.— Fort  on  the  Assinnhoine  River.— Verendrye's  Son,  Father 
Ouneau  and  Associates  Killed  by  Sioux,  on  Ma.ss,-icre  Isle,  in  l><ke  of  the  Woods 
—Port  La  Reine.— Verpndrj'c's  Eldest  Son,  with  Others,  Reaches  the  Missouri 
River.— Discovers  the  Rocky  Mountains.— Returns  to  Lake  of  the  Woods.— 
Exploration  of  Saskatchewan  River.— Sieur  de  la  Verendrye  Jr. — Verendryo 
the  Father,  made  Captain  of  the  Order  of  St.  Louis.- His  Death.— The  Swedish 
Traveler,  Kaliu,  Notices  Verendrye,  — Bougainville  Describes  Verendrye's  Ex- 
plorations.— Lcgitrdeur  de  St.  Pierre  at  Fort  La  Reine. — Fort  Jonquiere  Estab- 
lished.—De  Ja  Corne  Succeeds  St.  Pierre. — St.  Pierre  Meets  Washington  at 
French  Creek,  in  Pennsylvania,— Killed  in  Battle,  near  Lake  George. 


Karly  in  the  year  1728.  two  travelers  met  at 
the  secluded  post  of  ilackinaw,  one  was  named 
De  Gonor,  a  Jesuit  Father,  who  with  Guignas, 
had  gone  with  the  expedition,  that  the  September 
before  had  built  Fort  Beauharnois  on  tlie  shores 
of  Lake  Pepui,  the  other  was  Pierre  Gualtier  V a- 
reniies.  the  Sieur  de  la  Verendrye  the  commander 
of  the  post  on  Lake  Nepigon  of  the  north  shore 
of  Lake  Superior,  and  a  relative  of  the  Sieur  de 
la  Perriere,  thie  commander  at  Lake  PepLn. 

Verendrye  was  the  sou  of  Eene  Gualtier  Va- 
rennes  who  for  twenty-two  years  was  the  chief 
magistrate  at  Three  Rivers,  whose  wife  was  Ma- 
lie  Boucher,  the  daughter  of  his  predecessor 
whom  he  had  married  when  she  was  twelve  years 
of  age.  He  became  a  cadet  in  1097,  and  in  1704 
accompanied  an  expedition  to  New  England. 
The  next  year  he  was  in  Newfoundland  and  the 
year  following  lie  went  to  France,  joined  a  regi- 
ment of  Brittany  and  was  in  the  conflict  at  Mal- 
plaquet  when  the  French  troops  were  defeated 
by  the  Duke  of  Marlborough.  When  he  returned 
to  Canada  he  was  obliged  to  accept  the  position 
of  ensign  notwithstanduig  the  gallant  manner  in 
which  he  had  behaved.  In  time  he  became  iden- 
tilied  with  the  Lake  Superior  region.  While  at 
Lake  Nepigon  the  Inilians  assured  him  that  there 
was  a  communication  largely  by  water  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  One,  named  Ocliagachs,  drew  a 
rude  map  of  the  country,  wliicli  is  still  preserved 
among  the    French  archives.     Pigeon  River  is 


marked  thereon  Mantohavagane,  and  the  River 
St.  Louis  is  marked  R.  fond  du  L.  Superior,  and 
the  Indians  appear  to  have  passed  from  its  head- 
waters to  Rainy  Lake.  Upon  the  western  ex- 
tremity is  marked  the  River  of  the  West. 

De  Gonor  conversed  much  upon  the  route  to 
the  Pacific  with  Verendrye,  and  promised  to  use 
his  influence  •nith  the  Canadian  authorities  to 
advance  the  project  of  exploration. 

Charles  De  Beauharnois,  the  Governor  of  Can- 
ada, gave  Verendrye  a  respectful  hearing,  and 
carefully  examined  the  map  of  the  region  west  of 
the  great  lakes,  which  had  been  drawn  by  Ocha/- 
gachs  (Otchaga).  the  Indian  guide.  Orders  were 
soon  given  to  tit  out  an  expedition  of  fifty  men. 
It  left  Montreal  in  1731,  under  the  conduct  of  his 
sons  and  nephew  De  la  Jemeraye,  he  not  joining 
the  party  till  1733,  iu  consequence  of  the  deieu- 
tions  of  business. 

In  the  autumn  of  1731,  the  party  reached  Rainy 
Lake,  by  the  Nantouagan,  or  Groselliers  river, 
now  called  Pigeon.  Father  ^lessayer,  who  had 
been  stationed  on  Lake  Superior,  at  the  Grosel- 
liers river,  was  taken  as  a  spiritual  guide.  At 
tlie  foot  of  Rainy  Lake  a  post  was  erected  and 
called  Fort  St.  Pierre,  and  the  next  year,  having 
crossed  Minittie,  or  Lake  of  the  Woods,  they  es- 
tablished Fort  St.  Charles  on  its  southwestern 
bank.  Five  leagues  from  Lake  AVinnipeg  they 
established  a  post  on  the  Assrnaboine.  An  un- 
published map  of  these  discoveries  by  De  la  Jem- 
eraye still  exists  at  Paris.  The  river  Winnipeg, 
calleil  by  them  ilaurepas.  in  honor  of  the  minis- 
ter of  France  in  173-t,  was  protected  by  a  fort  of 
the  same  name. 

About  this  time  their  advance  was  stopped  by 
the  oxliaustion  of  supijlies,  liut  ou  the  12th  of 
April,  1735,  an  arrangement  was  made  for  a  sec- 
ond equipment,  and  a  fourth  son  jouied  the  expe- 
dition. 

In  June,  1736,  while  twenty-one  of  the  expedi- 


DISCO  r En Y  OF  the  bocky  mountains. 


59 


tion  were  camped  upon  an  isle  in  the  Lake  of  the 
\Voods,  they  were  surprised  by  a  band  of  Sioux 
hostile  to  the  French  allies,  the  Cristinanx,  and 
all  killed.  The  island,  upon  this  account,  is 
called  Massacre  Island.  A  few  days  after,  a 
piirty  of  live  Canadian  voyageurs  discovered  their 
dead  bodies  and  scalped  heads.  Father  Ouneau, 
t'.ie  missionary,  was  found  upon  one  knee,  an  ar- 
row in  his  head,  his  breast  bare,  his  left, hand 
touching  the  ground,  and  the  riglit  hand  raised. 

Among  the  slaughtered  was  also  a  son  of  Ver- 
endrye,  who  had  a  tomahawk  in  his  back,  and  his 
body  adorned  with  garters  and  lii'acelets  of  porcu- 
pine. The  father  was  at  the  foot  of  the  Lake  of 
the  Woods  when  he  received  the  news  of  his  son's 
murder,  and  about  the  same  time  heard  of  the 
death  of  his  enterprising  nephew,  Dufrost  de  la 
-Jemeraye,  the  son  of  his  sister  Marie  Keine  de 
Varennes,  and  brother  of  Madame  Youville,  the 
foundress  of  the  Ilospitaliers  at  jNIontreal. 

It  was  under  the  guidance  of  the  latter  that 
the  party  had,  in  1731,  mastered  the  difficulties 
of  the  Kantaouagon,  or  GroseUiers  river. 

On  the  3d  of  October,  1738,  they  built  an  ad- 
vanced post.  Fort  La  Reine,  on  the  river  Assini- 
boels,  now  Assinaboine,  which  they  called  St 
Charles,  and  beyond  was  a  branch  called  St. 
Pierre.  These  two  rivers  received  the  baptismal 
name  of  Verendrye,  which  was  Pierre,  and  Gov- 
ernor Beauharnois,  which  was  Charles.  The  post 
became  the  centre  of  trade  and  point  of  departure 
for  explorations,  either  north  or  south. 

It  was  by  ascending  the  Assinaboine,  and  by 
the  present  trail  from  its  tributary.  Mouse  river, 
they  reached  the  coinitry  of  the  Mantanes,  and  in 
1741,  came  to  the  upper  Missouri,  passed  the  Yel- 
low Stone,  and  at  length  arrived  at  tlie  Rocky 
Mountains.  The  party  was  led  Ijy  the  eldest  son 
and  his  lirother,  the  chevalier.  They  left  the. 
Lake  of  the  Woods  on  the  29th  of  April,  1742, 
came  in  sight  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  on  the  1st 
of  .January,  1743,  and  on  the  12th  ascended  them. 
On  the  route  they  fell  in  with  the  Beaux  Hom- 
mes,  Pioya,  Petits  Renards,  and  Arc  tribes,  and 
stopped  among  the  Snake  tribe,  but  could  go  no 
farther  in  a  southerly  direction,  owing  to  a  war 
between  the  Arcs  and  Snakes. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  1744,  the\-  had  returned  to 
tlie  upper  Missouri,  and.  in  the  country  of  the 
Petite  Cerise  tribe,  they  planted  on  an  eminence 


a  leaden  plate  of  the  arms  of  France,  and  raised 
a  monument  of  stones,  which  they  called  Beau- 
harnois. They  returned  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods 
on  the  2d  of  July. 

Korth  of  the  Assiniboine  they  proceeded  to 
Lake  Dauphin,  Swan's  Lake,  explored  the  riv- 
er "Des  Biches,"  and  ascended  even  to  the 
fork  of  the  Saskatchewan,  which  they  called  Pos- 
koiac.  Two  forts  were  subsequently  established, 
one  near  Lake  Dauphin  and  the  other  on  the 
river  "  des  Biches,"  called  Fort  Bourbon.  The 
northern  route,  by  the  Saskatchewan,  was  thought 
to  have  some  advantage  over  tlie  Missouri,  be- 
cause there  was  no  danger  of  meeting  with  the 
Spaniards. 

Governor  Beauharnois  having  been  prejudiced 
against  Verendrye  by  envious  persons,  De  Noy- 
elles  was  appointed  to  take  command  of  the 
posts.  During  these  difficulties,  we  find  Sieur  de 
la  Verendrye,  .Jr.,  engaged  in  other  duties.  In 
August,  1747,  he  arrives  from  Mackinaw  at  Mon- 
treal, and  m  the  autumn  of  that  year  he  accom- 
panies St.  Pierre  to  Mackinaw,  and  brings  back 
the  convoy  to  Montreal.  In  February,  1748,  with 
five  Canadians,  five  Cristenaux,  two  Ottawas,  and 
one  Sauteur,  he  attacked  the  Mohawks  near 
Schenectady,  and  returned  to  :Montreal  with  two 
scalps,  one  that  of  a  cliief.  On  June  20tli,  1748, 
it  is  recorded  that  ChevaUer  de  la  Verendrye  de- 
pai-ted  from  jSIontreal  for  tlie  head  of  Lake  Supe- 
rior. Margry  states  that  he  perished  at  sea  in 
November,  1764,  by  the  wreck  of  the  "  Auguste." 

Fortunately,  Galissioniere  the  successor  of 
Beauharnois,  although  deformed  and  Insignifi- 
cant in  appearance,  was  fair  minded,  a  lover  of 
science,  especially  botany,  and  anxious  to  push 
discoveries  toward  the  Pacific.  Verendrye  the 
father  was  restored  to  favor,  and  made  Captain 
of  the  Order  of  St.  Louis,  and  ordered  to  resume 
explorations,  but  he  died  on  December  6th,  1749, 
while  planning  a  tour  up  the  Saskatchewan. 

The  Swedish  Professor,  Kalm,  met  him  in  Can- 
ada, not  long  before  his  decease,  and  had  inter- 
estmg  conversations  with  him  about  the  furrows 
on  tlie  plains  of  the  Missouri,  which  he  errone- 
ously conjectured  indicated  the  former  abode  of 
an  agricultural  people.  These  ruts  are  familiar 
to  modern  travelers,  and  may  be  only  buffalo 
trails. 

Father  Coquard,  wno  had  been  associated  with 


60 


EXPLOliEES  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


Verendrye,  says  that  tliey  tirst  met  the  ilantanes, 
and  next  the  Biochets.  After  these  were  tlie 
Uros  Ventres,  the  Oows,  the  Flat  Heads,  the 
Hhick  Feet,  and  Dog  Feet,  who  were  established 
on  the  Missouri,  even  uj)  to  the  falls,  and  that 
ahoiit  thirty  leagues  beyond  they  found  a  narrow- 
pass  in  the  mountains. 

Houj^ainville  gives  a  more  full  account:  he  says: 
■'  He  who  most  advanced  this  discovery  was 
the  Sieur  de  la  Veranderie.  He  went  from  Fort 
la  Reiiie  to  the  Missouri.  He  met  on  the  banks 
i)f  this  river  the  Mandans,  or  White  Beards,  who 
bad  seven  villages  with  pine  stockades,  strength- 
ened by  a  ditch.  Next  to  these  were  the  Kinon- 
gewiniris.  or  the  Brochets,  in  three  villages,  and 
toward  the  upper  part  of  the  river  were  three 
villages  of  the  Maliantas.  All  along  the  mouth 
of  the  "Wabeik,  or  Shell  Eiver,  were  situated 
twenty-three  villages  of  the  Panis.  To  the  south- 
west of  this  river,  on  the  banks  of  the  Ouanaradc- 
ba,  or  La  Graisse,  are  the  Hectanes  or  Snake 
tribe.  They  extend  to  the  base  of  a  chain  of 
mountains  which  rnns  north  northeast.  South 
of  tiiis  is  the  river  Karoskiou,  or  ("erise  Pelee, 
which  is  supposed  to  flow  to  California. 

"  He  found  in  the  inuiiense  region  watered  by 
the  Missouri,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  forty  leagues, 
the  Maliantas,  the  Owiliniock,  or  Beaux  Hom- 
mes,  four  villages;  opposite  the  Brochets  the  Black 
Feet,  three  villages  of  a  hundred  lodges  each;  op. 
posite  the  Mandansare  the  Ospekakaerenousques, 
or  l-'Ial  Heals,  four  \illages;  opposite  tlia  Panis 
are  the  Arcs  of  Cristinaux,  and  Utasibaoutchatas 
of  Assiniboel.  three  villages;  following  these  the 
Makescli,  or  Little  Foxes,  two  villages;  the  Pi- 
wassa,  or  great  talkers,  three  villages;  the  Ka- 
kokoscheiia,  or  Gens  de  la  Pie,  five  villages;  the 
Kiskipisounouini,,  or  the  Garter  tribe,  seven  vil- 
lages." 

Galassoniere  was  succeeded  by  Jonquiere  in 
the  governorship  of  Canada,  who  proved  to  be  a 
grasping,  jieevish,  and  very  miserly  person.  For 
the  sons  of  Verendrye  he  had  no  sympathy,  and 
forming  a  clique  to  profit  by  their  father "s  toils. 


he  determined  to  send  two  expeditions  t')"vard 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  one  by  the  Missouri  and  the 
other  by  the  Saskatchewan. 

Father  ("oquard,  one  of  the  companions  of  Ve- 
rendrye, was  consulted  as  to  tlie  probability  of 
linding  a  pass  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  through 
which  they  might,  in  canoes,  reach  the  great 
lake  of  salt  water,  perhaps  Pugefs  Sound. 

The  enterprise  was  at  length  conlided  to  two 
experienced  oflice'rs,  Lamarque  de  JIarin  and 
Jacques  Legardeur  de  Saint  Pierre.  The  former 
was  assigned  the  way,  by  the  Missouri,  and  to 
the  latter  was  given  the  more  northern  route; 
but  Saint  Pierre  in  some  way  excited  the  hostil- 
ity of  the  Cristinaux,  who  attempted  to  kill  him, 
and  burned  Fort  la  Reine.  His  lieutenant,  Bou- 
cher de  Niverville,  who  had  been  sent  to  establish 
a  post  toward  the  source  of  the  Saskatchewan, 
failed  on  account  of  sickness.  Some  of  his  men, 
however,  pushed  on  to  the  Rocky  Momitains, 
and  in  1753  established  Fort  Jonquiere.  Henry 
says  St.  Pierre  established  Fort  Bourbon. 

In  17o3,  Saint  Pierre  was  succeeded  in  the 
command  of  the  posts  of  the  West,  by  de  la 
Corne,  and  sent  to  French  Creek,  in  Pennsylva- 
nia. He  had  been  but  a  few  days  there  when  he 
received  a  visit  from  Washington,  just  entering 
upon  manhood,  bearing  a  letter  from  Governor 
Dinwiddie  of  Virginia,  complaining  of  the  en 
croaclunents  of  the  French. 

Soon  the  clash  of  arms  between  France  and 
England  began,  and  Saint  Pierre,  at  the  head  of 
the  Indian  allies,  fell  near  Lake  George,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1  Too,  in  a  battle  with  the  English.  After 
the  seven  years'  war  was  concluded,  by  the  treaty 
of  Paris,  the  French  relinquished  all  their  posts 
in  the  Northwest,  and  the  work  begun  by  Veren- 
drye, was,  in  1805,  completed  by  Lewis  and 
Clarke;  and  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  is  fast 
approaching  the  passes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
through  the  valley  of  the  Yellow  Stone,  and  from 
thence  to  the  great  land-locked  bay  of  the  ocean, 
Pugefs  Somid. 


EFFECT  OF  THE  ENGLISH  AND  FBENCH  WAR. 


61 


CHAPTEK  X. 


EFFECT   OF  THE  ENGLISH  AND   FRENCH  TVAR. 


English  Influence  Increasing.— Le  Due  Robbed  at  Lake  Superior.— St.  Pierre  at 
Mackinaw.— Kscape  ol  Indian  Prisoners.— La  Ronde  and  Verendrye.— Influence 
of  Sieur  Mann. — St.  Pierre  Recalled  from  Winnipeg  Region. — Interview  with 
Washington. — Langlade  Urges  Attack  Upon  Troops  of  Braddock.— Saint  Pierre 
Killed  in  Battle. — Marin's  Boldness. — Rogers,  a  Partisan  Ranger,  Commands  at 
Mackinaw.— At  Ticonderoga.— French  Deliver  up  the  Posts  in  Canada.  — Capt. 
Balfour  Takes  Possession  of  Mackinaw  and  Green  Bay. — Lieut.  Gorrell  in  Com. 
mand  at  Green  Bay.— Sioux  Visit  Green  Bay. — Pennensha  a  French  Trader 
Among  the  Sioux.— Treaty  of  Paris. 


Englisli  influence  produced  increasing  dissatis- 
faction among  the  Indians  that  were  beyond 
Mackinaw.  Not  only  were  the  voyageurs  robbed 
and  maltreated  at  Sault  St.  Marie  and  other  points 
on  Lake  Superior,  but  even  the  commandant  at 
Mackinaw  was  exposed  to  insolence,  a*id  there 
was  no  security  anywhere. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  August,  1747,  Philip  Le 
Due  arrived  at  Mackinaw  from  Lake  Superior, 
stating  that  he  had  been  robbed  of  his  goods  at 
Kamanistigoya,  and  that  the  Ojibways  of  the 
lake  were  favorably  disposed  toward  tlie  English. 
The  Dahkotahs  were  also  becoming  unruly  in  the 
absence  of  French  officers. 

In  a  few  weeks  after  Le  Due's  robbery,  St. 
Pierre  left  Montreal  to  become  commandant  at 
Mackinaw,  and  Vercheres  was  appointed  for  the 
post  at  Green  Bay.  In  the  language  of  a  docu- 
ment of  the  day,  St.  Pierre  was  "  a  very  good 
officer,  much  esteemed  among  all  the  nations  of 
those  parts  ;  none  more  loved  and  feared."  On 
his  aiTival,  the  savages  were  so  cross,  that  he  ad- 
vised that  no  Frenchman  should  come  to  trade. 

By  promptness  and  boldness,  he  secured  the 
Indians  who  had  murdered  some  Frenchmen, 
and  obtained  the  respect  of  the  tribes.  While 
the  three  murderers  were  being  conveyed  in  a 
canoe  down  the  St.  Lavsrence  to  Quebec,  in  charge 
of  a  sergeant  and  seven  soldiers,  the  savages,  with 
characteristic  cunning,  though  manacled,  suc- 
ceeded in  killing  or  drowiiing  the  guard.  Cutting 
their  irons  with  an  axe,  they  sought  the  woods, 
and  escaped  to  their  own  country.  "  Thus," 
writes  Galassoniere,  in  1748,  to  Count  Maurepas, 


was  lost  in  a  great  measiure  the  fruit  of  Sieur  St. 
Pierre's  good  management,  and  of  all  the  fatigue 
I  endured  to  get  the  nations  who  smTendered 
these  rascals  to  listen  to  reason." 

On  the  twenty-first  of  June  of  the  next  year. 
La  Ronde  started  to  La  Pointe,  and  Verendrye 
for  West  Sea,  or  Fon  du  Lac,  Minnesota. 

Under  the  mfluence  of  Sieur  Marin,  who  was 
in  command  at  Green  Bay  in  1753,  peaceful  re- 
lations were  in  a  measure  restored  between  the 
French  and  Indians. 

As  the  war  between  England  and  France  deep- 
ened, the  officers  of  the  distant  French  posts 
were  called  in  and  stationed  nearer  the  enemy. 
Legardeur  St.  Pierre,  was  brought  from  the  Lake 
Winnipeg  region,  and,  in  December,  1753,  was  in 
command  of  a  rude  post  near  Erie,  Pennsylvania. 
Langlade,  of  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin,  arrived  early 
in  July,  1755,  at  Fort  Duquesne.  With  Beauyeu 
and  De  Lignery,  who  had  been  engaged  in  fight- 
ing the  Fox  Indians,  he  left  that  fort,  at  nine 
o'clock  of  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  July,  and,  a 
little  after  noon,  came  near  the  English,  who  had 
halted  on  the  south  shore  of  the  Monongahela, 
and  were  at  dinner,  with  their  arms  stacked.  By 
the  urgent  entreaty  of  Langlade,  the  western 
half-breed,  Beauyeu,  the  officer  in  command  or- 
dered an  attack,  and  Braddock  was  overwliehned, 
and  Washington  was  obliged  to  say,  "  We  have 
been  beaten,  shamefully  beaten,  by  a  handful  of 
Frenchmen." 

Under  Baron  Dieskau,  St.  Pierre  commanded 
the  Indians,  in  September,  1755,  during  the  cam- 
paign near  Lake  George,  where  he  fell  gallantly 
fighting  the  English,  as  did  his  commander. 
The  Rev.  Claude  Coquard,  alluding  to  the  French 
defeat,  in  a  letter  to  his  brother,  remarks: 

"  We  lost,  on  that  occasion,  a  brave  officer,  M. 
de  St.  Pierre,  and  had  his  advice,  as  well  as  that 
of  several  other  Canadian  officers,  been  followed, 
Jonckson  [Johnson]  was  irretrievably  destroyed. 


02 


EXPLOREliti  AMJ  PIONEERS  OF  MIKXESOTA. 


and  we  should  have  been  spared  the  trouble  we 
have  had  this  year." 

Other  oflicers  who  had  been  stationed  on  the 
borders  of  Mhinesota  also  distinguished  them- 
selves during  the  French  war.  The  Marquis 
Montcalm,  in  camp  at  Ticonderoga,  on  the  twen- 
ty-seventh of  July,  1757,  writes  to  Vaudreuil, 
(iovenior  of  Canada: 

"  Lieutenant  Marin,  of  the  Colonial  troops,  who 
has  exhiliitcd  a  rare  audacity,  did  not  consider 
himself  bound  to  halt,  although  his  detachment 
of  about  four  hundred  men  was  reduced  to  about 
two  hundred,  the  balance  having  been  sent  back 
on  account  of  inability  to  follow.  He  carried  off 
a  patrol  of  ten  men,  aud  swept  away  an  ordinary 
guard  of  fifty  like  a  wafer;  went  up  to  the  en- 
emy's camp,  under  Fort  Lydias  (Edward),  where 
he  was  exposed  to  a  severe  fire,  and  retreated  like 
a  warrior.  He  was  miwilling  to  amuse  himself 
making  prisoners;  he  brought  in  only  one,  and 
thirty-t«'o  scalps,  and  must  have  killed  many  men 
of  the  enemy,  in  tlie  midst  of  whose  raidjs  it  was 
neither  wise  nor  prudent  to  go  in  sesu'ch  of  scalps. 
The  Indians  generally  all  behaved  well.  »  *  * 
The  Outaouais,  who  arrived  with  me,  and  whuui 
I  designed  to  go  on  a  scouting  party  towards  the 
lake,  had  conceived  a  project  of  administermg  a 
corrective  to  the  English  barges.  *  *  *  On 
the  (lay  before  xesterday.  your  brother  formed  a 
detachment  to  accompany  them.  1  arrived  at  his 
camp  on  the  eveningof  the  same  day.  Lieuten- 
ant de  Corbiere,  of  the  Colonial  troops,  was  re- 
turning, in  consequence  of  a  misunderstanding, 
and  as  I  knew  the  zeal  and  intelligence  of  that 
officer,  I  made  him  set  out  witli  a  new  instruc- 
tion to  join  Messrs  de  Langlade  and  Hertel  de 
Chantly.  They  remained  in  auiliusli  all  day  and 
niglit  yesterday;  at  break  of  day  the  Euglisli  ap- 
peared on  Lake  St.  Sacrament,  to  the  number  of 
twenty-two  barges,  luider  the  commanl  of  Sieur 
Parker.  The  whoops  of  our  Indians  impressed 
them  with  such  terror  that  they  made  but  feeble 
resistance,  and  only  two  barges  escaped." 

After  De  Corbiere's  victory  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  a  large  Frencli  army  was  collected  at  Ti- 
conderoga, with  which  there  were  many  Indians 
from  the  tribes  of  the  Northwest,  and  the  loways 
appeared  for  the  first  time  in  the  east. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  tliat  the  English  offi- 
cers who  were  in  freciueut  engagements  witli  St. 


Pierre,  Lusignan,  Marin,  Langlade,  and  others, 
became  the  pioneers  of  tlie  IJrifish,  a  few  years 
afterwards,  in  the  occupation  of  the  outposts  of 
the  lakes,  and  in  the  exploration  of  Mimiesota. 

Rogers,  tlie  celebrated  captain  of  rangers,  sub- 
sequently commander  of  Mackinaw,  and  Jona- 
than Carver,  the  first  British  explorer  of  Minne- 
sota, were  both  on  duty  near  Lake  Champlaiu.  the 
latter  narrowly  escaping  at  the  battle  of  Fort 
George. 

On  Christmas  eve,  ]7o7,  Eogers  approached 
Fort  Ticonderoga,  to  fire  the  outhouses,  but  was 
prevented  by  discharge  of  the  camions  of  the 
Fren  h. 

He  contented  himself  witli  killing  fifteen  beeves, 
on  the  horns  of  one  of  wliicli  he  left  this  laconic 
and  amusing  note,  addressed  to  the  commander 
of  the  post: 

'•  I  am  obliged  to  you.  Sir,  for  the  repose  you 
have  allowed  me  to  take;  I  thank  ymifor  tlie  fresh 
meal  you  Jiave  sent  me,  I  request  you  to  present 
my  compliments  to  the  ^larquis  du  Montcalm." 

On  the  thiiteenth  of  March,  1758,  Durantaye, 
formerly  at  Mackinaw,  had  a  skirmish  with  Ilog- 
ers.  Both  had  been  trained  on  tlie  frontier,  and 
tliey  met  "  as  Greek  met  Greek."  The  conflict 
was  fierce,  and  tlie  French  victorious.  Tlie  Li- 
dian  allies,  finding  a  scalp  of  a  chief  underneath 
an  officer's  jacket,  we>'e  furious,  and  took  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  scalps  in  return.  'When 
the  French  returned,  they  supposed  that  Captain 
Rogers  was  among  the  killed. 

At  Quebec,  when  Montcalm  and  AVolfe  fell, 
there  were  Ojibways  present  assisting  the  French 

The  Indians,  returning  from  the  expeditious 
against  the  English,  were  attacked  with  small- 
pox, and  many  died  at  Mackinaw. 

On  tlie  eightli  of  September,  1760,  the  French 
delivered  up  all  their  posts  in  Canada.  A  few 
days  after  the  capitulation  at  Montreal,  ^Major 
Rogers  was  sent  with  English  troops,  to  garrison 
the  posts  of  the  distant  Northwest. 

On  the  eighth  of  September.  1761,  a  year  after 
the  suiTender,  Captani  Balfour,  of  the  eightieth 
regiment  of  tlie  British  army,  left  Detroit,  with 
a  detachment  to  take  possession  of  tlie  French 
forts  at  Mackinaw  and  Green  Bay.  Twenty-five 
soldiers  were  left  at  Mackinaw,  in  command  of 
Lieutenant  Leslie,  and  tlie  rest  sailed  to  Grten 
Bay,    under    Lieutenant   Gorrell   of    the   Royal 


PENNENSHA  WRITES  A  LETTER  FOR  THE  SIOUX. 


63 


Americans,  where  they  arrived  on  the  twelfth  of 
October.  The  fort  had  been  abandoned  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  was  in  a  dilapidated  condition. 
In  charge  of  it  there  was  left  a  lieutenant,  a  cor- 
poral, and  fifteen  soldiers.  Two  EngUsli  traders 
arrived  at  the  same  time,  McKay  from  Albany, 
and  Goddard  from  Montreal. 

Gorrell  in  his  journal  alludes  to  the  Minnesota 
Sioux.    He  writes — 

"  On  March  1, 1763,  twelve  warriors  of  the  Sous 
came  here.    It  is  certainly  the  greatest  nation  of 
Indians  ever  yet  found.    Not  above  two  thousand 
of  them  were  ever  armed  with  firearms ;  the  rest 
depending  entirely  on  bows  and  arrows,  wliich 
they  use  with  more  skill  than  any  other  Indian 
nation  in  America.     They  can  shoot  the  wildest 
and  largest  beasts  in  the  woods  at  seventy  or  one 
hundred  yards  distant.    They  are  remarkable  for 
their  dancing,   and  tlie  other  nations  take  the 
fashions  from  them.    *****    Tliis  nation 
is  always  at  war  with  the  Chippewas,  those  who 
destroyed  Mishamakinak.     Tliey  told  me  with 
warmth  that  if  ever  the  Chippewas  or  any  other 
Indians  wished  to  obstruct  the  passage  of  the 
traders  coming  up,  to  send  them  word,  and  they 
would  come  and  cut  them  oft'  from  the  face  of 
the  earth ;  as  all  Indians  were  their  slaves  or  dogs. 
I  told  them  I  was  glad  to  see  them,  and  hoped  to 
have  a  lasting  peace  with  them.    Tliey  tlien  gave 
me  a  letter  wrote  in  French,  and  two  belts  of 
wampum  from  their  lung,  in  which  he  expressed 
great  joy  on  hearing  of  there  being  English  at 
his  post.    The  letter  was  written  by  a  French 
trader  whom  I  had  allowed  to  go  among  them 
last  fall,  witli  a  promise  of  his  behaving  well ; 
which  he  did,  better  than  any  Canadian  I  ever 
knew.    *****    With  regard  to  traders,  I 
would  not  allow  any  to  go  amongst  them,  as  I 


then  understood  they  lay  out  of  the  government 
of  Canada,  hut  made  no  doulit  they  would  have 
traders  from  the  ^lississippi  in  the  spring.  They 
went  away  extremely  well  pleased.  June  14th, 
1763,  the  traders  came  dowii  from  the  Sack  coim- 
try,  and  confirmed  the  news  of  Landsmg  and  his 
son  being  killed  by  the  French.  There  came  with 
the  traders  some  Puans,  and  four  young  men  with 
one  chief  of  the  Avoy  [loway]  nation,  to  demand 
traders.    ***** 

"  On  the  nineteenth,  a  deputation  of  Winneba- 
goes,  Sacs,  Foxes  and  Menominees  arrived  with 
a  Frenchman  named  Pennensha.  This  Pennen- 
sha  is  the  same  man  who  wrote  the  letter  the 
Sous  brouglit  with  them  in  French,  and  at  the 
same  time  held  council  with  that  great  nation  in 
favour  of  the  English,  by  which  he  much  promo- 
ted the  interest  of  the  latter,  as  appeared  by  the 
behaviour  of  the  Sous.  He  brought  with  him  a 
pipe  from  tlie  Sous,  desiring  that  as  the  road  is 
now  clear,  they  would  by  no  means  allow  the 
Chippewas  to  obstruct  it,  or 'give  the  English  any 
disturbance,  or  prevent  the  traders  from  coming 
up  to  them.  If  they  did  so  they  would  send  all 
their  warriors  and  cut  them  off." 

In  July,  1763,  there  arrived  at  Green  Bay, 
Bruce,  Fisher;  and  Eoseboom  of  Albany,  to  en- 
gage in  the  Indian  trade. 

By  the  treaty  of  Paris  of  1763,  France  ceded  to 
Great  Britain  all  of  the  country  east  of  tlie  ilis- 
sissippi,  and  to  Spain  the  whole  of  Louisiana,  so 
that  the  latter  power  for  a  time  held  the  whole 
region  between  the  Mississippi  River  and  the  Pa- 
cific Ocean,  and  that  portion  of  the  city  of  Jilin- 
neapolis  known  as  the  East  Division  was  then 
governed  by  the  British,  while  the  West  Division 
was  subject  to  the  Spanish  code. 


64 


EXPLOBEPS  AXD  PIOXEERS  OF  ^fIy^'ESO^  A. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

JONATHAN  CARVER,  THE  FIllST  BKITISU  TRAVELER  AT  FALLS  OF  SAINT  ANTHONY. 


Carver's  Early  Life.— In  the  Battle  near  Lake  George.— Arrives  at  Mackinaw.— 
01(1  Fort  at  Green  Bay.— WinneUgo  Village.— Description  of  Prairie  du  Cliicu. 
Earthworks  on  Banks  of  Lake  Peiiin.— Sioux  Bands  Described. — Cave  and 
Burial  Place  in  Suburbs  of  St.  Paul.— The  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony.— Burial 
Rites  of  tLe  Sioux. — Sjieech  of  a  Sioux  Chief.— Schiller's  Poem  ol  the  Death 
Soug. — Sir  John  Herschel's  Translation.— Sir  K.  Buhver  Lytton's  Version. •-• 
Correspondence  of  Sir  William  Johnson.— Carver's  Project  lor  Oiieuinga  Route 
to  the  Pacific.— Supposed  Origin  of  the  Sioux.— Carver's  Claim  to  I-inds  Ex- 
atniucd.— Alleged  Deed.—Testiniony  of  Rev.  Samuel  Peters.— Communication 
from  Gen.  Leavenworth. •••Report  of  U.  S.  Setiate  Committee. 

Jonatliaii  Carver  was  a  native  of  Connecticut 
His  grandfatlier,  "Williaia  Carverj  was  a  native  of 
AVigan,  Lancashire,  England,  and  a  captain  in 
King  William's  army  during  the  campaign  in 
Ireland,  and  for  meritorious  services  received  an 
appointment  as  an  oilicer  of  the  colony  of  Con- 
necticut. 

His  father  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  ■in  the 
new  world,  and  in  1732,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born.  At  the  early  age  of  fifteen  he  was 
called  to  mourn  the  death  of  his  father.  He  then 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  but  his  roving 
disposition  could  not  l)ear  the  confines  of  a  doc- 
tor's office,  and  feeling,  perhaps,  that  his  genius 
woidd  be  cramped  by  pestle  and  mortar,  at  the 
ago  of  eighteen  he  purchased  an  ensign's  commis- 
sion m  one  of  the  regiments  raised  during  the 
French  war.  He  was  of  medium  stature,  and  of 
strong  mind  and  quick  perceptions. 

In  llie  year  1757,  he  was  captain  mider  Colonel 
Williiuns  in  the  battle  near  Lake  George,  where 
Samt  Pierre  was  killed,  and  narrowly  escaped 
with  his  life. 

After  the  peace  of  1763,  between  France  and 
England  was  declared,  Carver  conceived  the  pro- 
ject of  exploring  the  Northwest.  Leaving  Boston 
in  the  month  of  June,  1766,  he  arrived  at  Macki- 
naw, then  the  most  distant  British  iiost,  in  the 
month  of  August.  Having  obtained  a  credit  on 
some  French  and  English  traders  from  Major 
Rogers,  the  ofllcer  in  command,  he  started  with 
them  on  the  third  day  of  Seiiteiiiher.  Pursuing 
the  iMoal  route  to  Cireen  Bay,  they  arrived  tliere 
on  the  eighteenth. 


Tlie  Frencli  fort  at  that  time  was  standing, 
though  much  decayed.  It  was,  some  years  pre- 
vious to  his  arrival,  garrisoned  for  a  short  time 
by  an  officer  and  thirty  English  soldiers,  but  they 
having  been  captured  by  the  Menominees,  it  ■was 
abandoned. 

In  company  with  the  trailers,  he  left  Green 
Bay  on  tlie  twentietli.  and  ascending  Fox  river, 
arrived  on  the  tweiity-fifth  at  an  island  at  the 
east  end  of  Lake  Winnebago,  containing  about 
fifty  acres. 

Here  he  found  a  'Winnebago  village  of  fifty 
houses.  He  asserts  tliat  a  woman  was  in  author- 
ity. In  the  month  of  October  the  party  was  at 
the  portage  of  the  "Wisconsin,  and  descending 
that  stream,  they  arrived,  on  tlie  ninth  at  a  town 
of  the  Sauks.  While  here  he  visited  some  lead 
mines  about  fifteen  miles  distant.  An  abundance 
of  lead  was  also  seen  in  the  village,  that  had  been 
brought  from  the  mines. 

On  the  tenth  they  arrived  at  the  first  village  of 
the  "  Ottigaumies"  [Foxes]  about  five  miles  be- 
fore the  AVisconsin  joins  the  ^lississippi,  he  per- 
ceived the  remnants  of  another  village,  and 
learned  that  it  had  lieen  deserted  about  thirty 
years  before,  and  tluit  the  inhabitants  soon  after 
their  removal,  built  a  town  on  the  Mississipjii. 
near  the  mouth  of  the  "  Ouisconsin,"  at  a  i>lace 
called  by  the  French  La  Prairie  les  Chiens,  which 
signified  the  Dog  Plains.  It  was  a  large  town, 
and  contained  about  three  hundred  families. 
The  houses  were  built  after  the  Indian  manner, 
and  pleasantly  situated  on  a  dry  rich  soil. 

He  saw  here  ni;iny  houses  of  a  good  size  and 
shape.  This  town  was  the  great  mart  where  all 
the  aiijacent  tribes,  and  where  those  who  inliabit 
the  most  remote  branches  of  the  Mississippi,  an- 
nually assemble  about  the  latter  end  of  May, 
bringing  with  them  their  furs  to  dispose  of  to  the 
traders.  But  it  is  not  always  that  they  conclude 
their  sale  here.    This  was  determined  by  a  gen 


SUPPOSED  FORTIFICATIONS  NEAR  LAKE  PEPIN. 


65 


eral  council  of  the  chiefs,  who  consulted  whether 
it  would  be  more  conducive  to  their  interest  to 
seU  their  goods  at  this  place,  or  to  carry  them 
on  to  Louisiana  or  Macliinaw. 

At  a  small  stream  called  Yellow  River,  oppo- 
site Prairie  du  Chien,  the  traders  who  had  thus 
far  accompanied  Carver  took  up  their  residence 
for  the  winter. 

From  this  point  he  proceeded  in  a  canoe,  with 
a  Canadian  voyageur  and  a  Mohawk  Indian  as 
companions.  Just  before  reaching  Lake  Pepin, 
while  his  attendants  were  one  day  preparing  din- 
ner, he  walked  out  and  was  struck  with  the  pecu- 
liar appearance  of  the  surface  of  the  country,  and 
thought  it  was  the  site  of  some  vast  artificial 
earth-work.  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  remembrance, 
that  lie  was  the  first  to  call  the  atteution  of  the 
civilized  world  to  the  existence  of  ancient  monu- 
ments m  the  Mississippi  valley.  We  give  his  own 
description : 

"  On  the  first  of  November  I  reached  Lake 
Pepin,  a  few  miles  below  which  I  landed,  and, 
whilst  the  servants  were  preparing  my  dinner,  I 
ascended  the  bank  to  view  the  country.  I  had 
not  proceeded  far  before  I  came  to  a  fine,  level, 
open  plain,  on  which  I  perceived,  at  a  little  dis- 
tance, a  partial  elevation  that  had  the  appearance 
of  entrenchment.  On  a  nearer  inspection  I  had 
greater  reason  to  suppose  that  it  had  really  been 
intended  for  this  many  centuries  ago.  Notwith- 
standing it  was  now  covered  with  grass,  I  could 
plainly  see  that  it  had  once  been  a  breastwork  of 
about  four  feet  in  height,  extending  the  best  part 
of  a  mile,  and  sutfieiently  capacious  to  cover  five 
thousand  men.  Its  form  was  somewhat  circular 
and  its  flanks  reached  to  the  river. 

"  Tliough  much  defaced  by  time,  every  angle 
was  distinguishable,  and  appeared  as  regular  and 
fashioned  with  as  much  miUtary  skill  as  if  planned 
by  Vauban  himself.  The  ditch  was  not  visible, 
but  I  thought,  on  examining  more  curiously,  that 
I  could  perceive  there  certainly  had  been  one. 
From  its  situation,  also,  I  am  convinced  that  it 
must  have  been  designed  for  that  purpose.  It 
fronted  the  country,  and  the  rear  was  covered  by 
the  river,  nor  was  there  any  rising  ground  for  a 
considerable  way  that  commanded  it;  a  few 
straggling  lakes  were  alone  to  be  seen  near  it. 
In  many  places  small  tracks  were  worn  across  it 
by  the  feet  of  the  elks  or  deer,  and  from  the  depth 


of  the  bed  of  earth  by  which  it  was  covered,  I  was 
able  to  draw  certain  conclusions  of  its  great  anti- 
quity. I  examined  all  the  angles,  and  every  part 
with  great  attention,  and  liave  often  blamed  my- 
self since,  for  not  encamping  on  the  spot,  and 
drawing  an  exact  plan  of  it.  To  show  that  this 
description  is  not  the  offspring  of  a  heated  imag- 
ination, or  the  chimerical  tale  of  a  mistaken  trav- 
eler, I  find,  on  inquiry  suice  my  return,  that 
Mons.  St.  Pierre,  and  several  traders  have  at  dif- 
ferent times,  taken  notice  of  similar  appearances, 
upon  which  they  liave  formed  the  same  conjec- 
tures, but  without  examining  them  so  minutely 
as  I  did.  How  a  work  of  this  kind  could  exist  in 
a  country  that  has  hitherto  (according  to  the  gen- 
erally received  opinion)  been  the  seat  of  war  to 
untutored  Indians  alone,  whose  whole  stock  of 
military  knowledge  has  only,  till  withm  two  cen- 
turies, amomited  to  drawing  the  bow,  and  whose 
only  breastwork  even  at  present  is  the  thicket,  I 
know  not.  I  have  given  as  exact  an  account  as 
possible  of  this  singular  appearance,  and  leave  to 
future  explorers  of  those  distant  regions,  to  dis- 
cover whether  it  is  a  production  of  nature  or  art. 
Perhaps  the  hints  I  liave  here  given  migtit  lead 
to  a  more  perfect  mvestigation  of  It,  and  give  us 
very  different  ideas  of  the  ancient  state  of  realms 
that  we  at  present  believe  to  have  been,  from  the 
earliest  period,  only  tlie  habitations  of  savages." 

Lake  Pepin  excited  his  admiration,  as  it  has 
that  of  every  traveler  since  his  day,  and  here  he 
remarks :  "  I  observed  the  ruins  of  a  French  fac- 
tory, where  it  is  said  Captain  St.  Pierre  resided, 
and  carried  on  a  very  great  trade  with  the  Nau- 
dowessies,  before  the  reduction  of  Canada." 

Carver's  first  acquaintance  with  the  Dahkotahs 
commenced  near  the  river  St.  Croix.  It  would 
seem  that  the  erection  of  trading  posts  on  Lake 
Pepin  had  enticed  them  from  their  old  residence 
on  Rum  river  and  MUle  Lacs. 

He  says :  "  Near  the  river  St.  Croix  reside 
bands  of  the  Naudowessie  Indians,  called  the 
River  Bands.  This  nation  is  composed  at  pres- 
ent of  eleven  bands.  They  were  originally 
twelve,  but  the  Assinipoils,  some  years  ago,  re- 
volting and  separating  themselves  from  the  oth- 
ers, there  remain  at  this  time  eleven.  Those  I 
met  here  are  termed  the  River  Bands,  because 
they  chiefly  dwell  near  the  banks  of  this  river; 
the  other  eight  are  generally  distinguished  by  the  . 


66 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


title  of  >"adowessies  of  the  Plains,  and  inhabit  a 
country  more  to  the  westward.  The  names  of 
the  former  are  Nehogatawonahs,  the  Mawtaw- 
bauntowahs,  and  Sliashweentowahs. 

Arriving  at  what  is  now  a  suburb  of  the  cap- 
ital of  Minnesota,  he  continues:  "About  thir- 
teen miles  below  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  at 
which  I  arrived  the  tenth  day  after  I  left  Lake 
Pepin,  is  a  rcmarl<able  cave,  of  an  amazinj.;  dei)tli. 
The  Indians  term  it  Wakon-teebe  [Wakan-tipil. 
The  entrance  into  it  is  about  ten  feet  wide,  the 
height  of  it  five  feet.  The  arcli  witliin  is  fifteen 
feet  high  and  about  thirty  feet  broad:  tlie  bottom 
consists  of  fine,  clear  sand.  Aliout  thirty  feet 
from  the  entrance  begins  a  lake,  the  water  of 
wliicli  is  transparent,  and  extends  to  an  unsearch- 
able distance,  for  the  darkness  of  the  cave  pre- 
ents  all  attempts  to  accpiire  a  knowledge  of  it.] 
I  threw  a  small  pebble  towards  the  nterior  part 
of  it  with  my  utmost  strength.  I  could  hear  that 
it  fell  into  the  water,  and,  notwithstanding  it  was 
of  a  small  size,  it  caused  an  astonishing  and  ter- 
rible noise,  that  reverberated  through  all  those 
gloomy  regions.  I  f(iund  in  this  cave  many  In- 
dian hieroglyphics,  which  appeared  very  ancient, 
for  time  had  nearly  covered  them  with  moss,  so 
that  it  was  with  difficulty  I  could  trace  them. 
They  were  cut  in  a  rude  manner  upon  the  inside 
of  the  wall,  which  was  composed  of  a  stone  so  ex- 
tremely soft  that  it  might  be  easily  penetrated 
with  a  knife;  a  stone  everywhere  to  be  found 
near  the  Mississippi. 

"  At  a  little  distance  from  this  dreary  cavern, 
is  the  burying-place  of  several  bands  of  the  Nau- 
dowessie  Indians.  Tho\igh  these  people  have  no 
fixed  residence,  being  in  tents,  and  seldom  but  a 
few  months  in  one  spot,  yet  they  always  bring 
the  bones  of  the  dead  to  this  place. 

"  Ten  miles  below  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony, 
the  river  St.  Pierre,  called  by  the  natives  Wada 
paw  Meuesotor,  falls  into  the  Mississippi  from  the 
west.  It  is  not  mentioned  by  Father  Hennepin, 
though  a  large,  fair  river.  This  omission,  I  con- 
sider, must  have  proceeded  from  a  small  island 
[Pike's]  that  is  situated  exactly  in  its  enti-ance." 

Wlien  he  reached  the  Mnnesota  river,  the  ice 

became  so  troublesome  that  he  left  his  ciinoe  in 

the  neighborhood  of  what  is  now  St.  Anthony, 

and  walked  to  St.  Anthony,  in  company  with  a 

'  young  Winnebago  chief,  who  had  never  seen  the 


curling  watere.  The  chief,  on  reaching  the  emi- 
nence some  distance  below  Cheever's,  began  to 
invoke  his  gods,  and  offer  oblatious  to  the  spirit 
in  the  waters. 

"  In  the  middle  of  the  Falls  stands  a  smjill 
island,  aljout  forty  }\(t  broad  and  somcwlial  lon- 
ger, on  wliich  grow  a  few  cragged  hemlock  and 
spruce  trees,  and  about  half  way  between  this 
island  and  the  eastern  shore  is  a  rock,  lying  ai 
the  very  edge  of  the  Falls,  in  an  oblique  position 
that  appeared  to  he  about  five  or  six  feet  broad, 
and  thirty  or  forty  long.  At  a  little  distance  be- 
low the  Falls  stands  a  small  island  of  about  an 
acre  and  a  lialt,  on  which  grow  a  great  number  of 
oak  trees." 

From  this  description,  it  would  appear  that  the 
little  island,  now  some  distance  below  the  Falls, 
was  once  in  the  very  midst,  and  shows  that  a  con- 
stant recession  has  been  going  on,  and  that  in 
ages  long  past  they  were  not  far  from  the  Minne- 
sota river. 

No  description  is  more  glowing  than  Carver's 
of  the  country  adjacent: 

"  The  country  around  them  is  extremely  beau- 
tiful. It  is  not  an  uninterrupted  plain,  where  the 
eye  finds  no  reUef ,  but  composed  of  many  gentle 
ascents,  which  in  the  summer  are  covered  with 
the  finest  verdure,  and  interspersed  witli  little 
groves  that  give  a  pleasing  variety  to  the  pros- 
pect. On  the  whole,  when  the  Falls  are  inclu- 
ded, which  may  be  seen  at  a  distance  of  four 
miles,  a  more  pleasing  and  picturesque  ^iew,  I 
believe,  caimot  be  foimd  throughout  the  uni- 
verse." 

"  He  arrived  at  the  Falls  on  the  seventeenth  of 
November,  176(5,  and  appears  to  have  asceniled  as 
far  as  Elk  river. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  November,  he  had  re- 
turned to  the  place  opposite  the  Minnesota,  where 
he  had  left  his  canoe, -and  this  stream  as  yet  not 
being  obstructed  with  ice,  he  commenced  its  as- 
cent, with  the  colors  of  Great  Britain  flying  at 
the  stem  of  his  canoe.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
he  entered  this  river,  but  how  far  he  exjilorcd  it 
camiot  be  ascertauied.  He  speaks  of  the  Kapids 
near  Sliakopay,  and  asserts  that  he  went  as  far  as 
two  hundred  miles  beyond  Jlendota.  He  re- 
marks: 

"  On  the  seventh  of  December,  I  arrived  at  the 
utmost  of  my  travels  towards  the  West,  where  I 


SIOUX  BURIAL  ORATION  VERSIFIED  BY  SCHILLER. 


67 


met  a  large  party  of  the  Jfaudowessie  Indians, 
among  whom  I  resided  some  months." 

After  speaking  of  the  upper  bands  of  the  Dah- 
kotahs  and  their  alUes,  he  adds  that  he  "  left  the 
habitations  of  the  hospitable  Indians  the  latter 
end  of  AprU,  1767,  but  did  not  part  from  them 
for  several  days,  as  I  was  accompanied  on  my 
journey  by  near  three  himdred  of  them  to  the 
mouth  of  the  river  St.  Pierre.  At  this  season 
these  bands  annually  go  to  the  great  cave  (Day- 
ton's Bluff)  before  mentioned. 

"Wlien  he  arrived  at  the  great  cave,  and  the  In- 
dians had  deposited  the  remains  of  their  deceased 
friends  in  the  burial-place  that  stands  adjacent 
to  it,  they  held  their  great  council  to  which  he 
was  admitted. 

"\Mien  the  Xaudowessies  brought  their  dead  for 
iaterment  to  the  great  cave  (St.  Paul),  I  attempted 
to  get  an  insight  into  the  remaming  burial  rites, 
but  whether  it  was  on  account  of  the  stench 
which  arose  from  so  many  dead  bodies,  or  whether 
they  chose  to  keep  this  part  of  their  custom  secret 
from  me,  I  could  not  discover.  I  foimd,  however, 
that  they  considered  my  curiosity  as  ill-timed, 
and  therefore  I  withdrew.    *    * 

One  formality  among  the  Ifaudowessies  in 
mourning  for  the  dead  is  very  different  from  any 
mode  I  observed  in  the  other  nations  through 
which  I  passed.  The  men,  to  show  how  great 
their  sorrow  is,  pierce  the  fiesh  of  their  arms 
above  the  elbows  with  arrows,  and  the  womt  n 
cut  and  gash  their  legs  with  broken  flints  till  the 
blood  flows  very  plentifully.    *    * 

After  the  breath  is  departed,  the  body  is 
dressed  in  the  same  attire  it  usually  wore,  his 
face  is  pamted,  and  he  Is  seated  in  an  erect  pos- 
tiu-e  on  a  mat  or  skin,  placed  in  the  middle  of  the 
hut,  with  his  weapons  by  his  side.  Ills  relatives 
seated  around,  each  in  turn  harangues  the  de- 
ceased; and  if  he  has  been  a  great  warrior,  re- 
counts liis  heroic  actions,  nearly  to  the  following 
purport,  which  in  the  Indian  language  is  extreme- 
ly poetical  aud  pleasing 

"  You  still  sit  among  us,  brother,  yoiu'  person 
retains  its  usual  resemlilance,  and  continues  sim- 
ilar to  oitts,  without  any  visible  deficiency,  ex- 
cept it  has  lost  the  power  of  action!  But  whither 
is  that  breath  flown,  which  a  few  hours  ago  sent 
up  smoke  to  the  Great  Spirit?  Why  are  those 
lips  silent,  that  lately  delivered  to  us  expressions 


and  pleasing  language?  Why  are  those  feet  mo- 
tionless, that  a  few  hours  ago  were  fleeter  than 
the  deer  on  yonder  mountains?  Why  useless 
hang  those  arms,  that  could  climb  the  tallest  tree 
or  draw  the  toughest  bow?  Alas,  every  part  of 
that  frame  which  we  lately  beheld  with  admira- 
t  ion  and  wonder  has  now  become  as  inanimate  as 
it  was  three  hundred  years  ago!  We  will  not, 
however,  bemoan  thee  as  if  thou  wast  forever 
lost  to  us,  or  that  thy  name  would  be  buried  in 
oblivion;  thy  soul  yet  lives  in  the  great  comitry 
of  spirits,  with  those  of  thy  nation  that  have  gone 
before  thee;  and  though  we  are  left  behhid  to 
perpetuate  thy  fame,  we  will  one  day  join  thee. 

"  Actuated  by  the  respect  we  bore  thee  whilst 
living,  we  now  come  to  tender  thee  the  last  act  of 
kindness  in  our  power;  that  thy  body  might  not 
lie  neglected  on  the  plain,  and  become  a  prey  to 
the  beasts  of  the  field  or  fowls  of  the  air,  and  we 
will  take  care  to  lay  it  with  those  of  thy  predeces- 
sors that  have  gone  before  thee;  hoping  at  the 
same  time  that  thy  spuit  wdll  feed  with  their 
spirits,  and  be  ready  to  receive  ours  when  we 
shall  also  arrive  at  the  great  coimtry  of  souls." 

For  this  speech  Carver  is  pruicipally  indebted 
to  his  imagination,  but  it  is  well  conceived,  and 
suggested  one  of  Schiller's  poems,  which  Gcethe 
considered  one  of  his  best,  and  wished  '■  he  had 
made  a  dozen  such." 

Sir  E.  Lytton  Bulwerthe  distinguished  novelist, 
and  Sir  John  Herschel  the  eminent  astronomer, 
have  each  given  a  translation  of  Schiller's  '■  Song 
of  the  Nadowessee  Chief." 

SIR  E.   L.  BULWER'S  translation. 

See  on  his  mat — as  if  of  yore, 

All  life-like  sits  he  here  ! 
With  that  same  aspect  which  he  wore 

^Vhen  light  to  him  was  dear 

But  where  the  right  hand's  strength  ?  and  where 
The  breath  that  loved  to  breathe 

To  the  Great  Spirit,  aloft  in  air. 
The  peace  pipe's  lusty  wreath  ? 

And  where  the  hawk-like  eye,  alas ! 

That  w^ont  the  deer  piu'sue. 
Along  the  waves  of  rippling  grass. 

Or  flelds  that  shone  with  dew  ? 


68 


EXPLOBEBS  AND  FIONEEBS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


Are  tliese  the  limber,  bouncluig  feet 
That  swept  tlie  winter's  snows  ? 

What  stateliest  stag  so  fast  and  lleet  ? 
Their  speed  outstripped  the  roe's ! 

These  arms,  that  then  the  steady  bow 

Could  siii)iilc  froni  ifs  pride, 
How  stark  and  helpless  hang  they  now 
Adown  the  stiffened  side ! 

Yet  weal  to  liim— at  peace  he  stays 

Wherever  fall  the  snows ; 
^Vliere  o'er  the  meadows  springs  the  maize 

Tliat  mortal  never  sows. 

Where  birds  are  blithe  on  every  brake — 
Where  orests  teem  with  deer— 

Where  glide  the  fish  through  every  lake — 
One  chase  from  )  ear  to  year ! 

With  spirits  now  he  feasts  above  ; 

All  left  us  to  revere 
The  deeds  we  honor  with  our  love. 

The  dust  we  bury  here. 

Here  bring  the  last  gift ;  loud  and  shrill 
Wail  death  dirge  for  the  brave  ; 

What  pleased  him  most  in  life,  may  still 
Give  pleasure  in  the  grave. 

We  1  ly  the  axe  beneath  liis  head 

He  swung  when  strength  was  strong— 

The  bear  on  which  his  lianqucts  fed, 
The  way  from  earth  is  long. 

And  here,  new  sharpened,  place  the  knife 

That  severed  from  the  clay. 
From  which  the  axe  had  spoiled  the  life, 

The  conquered  scalp  away. 

The  paints  that  deck  the  dead,  l)cstow  ; 

Yes,  place  them  in  his  hand, 
Tliat  red  the  kingly  shade  may  glow 

Amid  the  spirit  land. 

SIK   JOHN  HKUSCHEL'S  TRANSLATION. 

See,  where  upon  the  mat  he  sits 

I^rect,  before  his  door, 
With  just  the  same  majestic  air 

That  once  in  life  he  wore. 


But  where  is  lied  his  sti'engtli  of  limb. 

The  whirlwind  of  Ids  breath, 
To  the  Great  Spirit,  when  he  sent 

The  peace  jjipe's  mounting  wreath? 

AVliere  are  those  falcon  eyes,  which  late 

Along  the  plain  could  trace, 

Along  th(^  grass's  dewy  waves 

The  reindeer's  printed  pace? 

Tliose  legs,  which  once  with  matchless  speed, 

Flew  through  the  drifted  snow. 
Surpassed  the  stag's  unwearied  course, 

Outran  the  mountain  roe? 

Those  arms,  once  used  with  might  and  main, 

The  stubborn  l)ow  to  twang? 
See,  see,  their  ner\'es  are  slack  at  last, 

AU  motionless  they  hang. 

'Tis  well  with  him,  for  he  is  gone 

AMiere  snow  no  more  is  found, 
■\Miere  thi>  gay  thorn's  perpetual  bloom 

Decks  all  the  field  around. 

AVliere  wild  birds  sing  from  every  spray, 

AVhere  deer  come  sweeping  by, 
AVhere  fish  from  every  lake  afford 

A  plentiful  supply. 

AVith  spirits  now  he  feasts  above, 

And  leaves  us  here  alone. 
To  ce!el)rate  his  valiant  deeds. 

And  round  his  grave  to  moan. 

Sound  the  death  song,  bring  forth  the  gifts, 
.      The  last  gifts  of  the  dead,— 
Let  all  which  yet  may  yield  him  joy 
AVithhi  his  grave  be  laid. 

The  hatchet  place  beneath  his  bra  I 

Still  red  with  hostile  blood; 
And  add,  because  tlie  way  is  long. 

The  bear's  fat  limbs  for  food. 

The  scalping-knife  beside  him  lay, 

AVlth  paints  of  gorgeous  dye. 
That  in  the  land  of  souls  his  form 

May  shine  triumphantly. 

It  appears  from  other  sources  that  Carver's 
visit  to  the  Dahkotahs  was  of  some  effect  in  bruig- 
ing  about  fiieiidly  intercourse  between  them  and 
the  commander  of  the  English  force  at  Mackinaw. 


CARVEB'S  PROJECT  FOB  A  ROUTE  TO  THE  PACIFIC. 


The  earliest  mention  of  the  Dahkotahs,  in  any 
public  British  documents  that  we  know  of,  is  in 
the  correspondence  between  Sir  "William  Johnson, 
Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  for  the  Colony 
of  New  York,  and  General  Gage,  in  command  of 
11  le  forces. 

On  the  eleventh  of  September,  less  than  six 
months  after  Carver's  speech  at  Dayton's  Bluff, 
and  the  departure  of  a  number  of  chiefs  to  the 
English  fort  at  Mackinaw,  Johnson  writes  to 
General  Gage:  "Though  I  wrote  to  you  some 
days  ago,  yet  I  would  not  mind  saying  something 
again  on  the  score  of  the  vast  expenses  incurred, 
and,  as  I  understand,  still  incurring  at  Michili- 
mackinac,  chiefly  on  pretense  of  making  a  peace 
between  the  Sioux  and  Chippeweighs,  with  which 
I  think  we  have  very  little  to  do,  in  good  policy 
or  otherwise." 

Sir  William  Johnson,  in  a  letter  to  Lord  Hills- 
borough, one  of  his  Majesty's  ministers,  dated 
August  seventeenth,  1768,  again  refers  to  the 
subject : 

"]SIuch  greater  part  of  those  who  go  a  trading 
are  men  of  such  circumstances  and  disposition  as 
to  venture  their  persons  everywhere  for  extrava- 
gant gains,  yet  the  consequences  to  the  public 
aie  not  to  be  slighted,  as  we  may  be  led  into  a 
general  quarrel  through  their  means.  The  In- 
dians in  the  part  adjacent  to  Michillmackinac 
have  been  treated  with  at  a  very  great  expense 
for  some  time  previous. 

"Major  Kodgers  brings  a  considerable  charge 
against  the  former  for  mediating  a  peace  between 
some  tribes  of  the  Sioux  and  some  of  the  Chippe- 
weighs, which,  had  it  been  attended  with  success, 
would  only  have  been  interesting  to  a  very  few 
French,  and  others  that  had  goods  in  that  part 
of  the  Indian  country,  but  the  contrary  has  hap- 
pened, and  they  are  now  more  violent,  and  war 
against  one  another." 

Though  a  wilderness  of  over  one  thousand 
miles  intervened  between  the  Falls  of  St.  An- 
thony and  the  white  settlements  of  the  English, 
Carver  was  fully  impressed  with  the  idea  that  the 
State  now  organized  under  the  name  of  Minne- 
sota, on  account  of  its  beauty  and  fertility,  would 
attract  settlers. 

Speakmg  of  the  advantages  of  the  counti-y,  he 
says  that  the  future  population  will  be  "able  to 
convey  their  produce  to  the  seaports  vsdth  great 


facility,  the  current  of  the  river  from  its  source 
to  its  entrance  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  being  ex- 
tremely favorable  for  doing  this  in  small  craft. 
Ihis  might  also  in  time  be  facilitated  by  canal.--  or 
shorter  cuts,  and  a  communication  opened  by  water 
vnth  New  York  by  way  of  the  Lakes." 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  also  confident 
that  a  route  would  be  discovered  by  way  of  the 
Minnesota  river,  which  would  open  a  passage 
to  China  and  the  English  settlements  in  the  East 
Indies." 

Carver  having  returned  to  England,  interested 
Whitworth,  a  member  of  parUament,  in  the 
northern  route.  Had  not  the  American  Revolu- 
tion commenced,  they  proposed  to  have  built  a 
fort  at  Lake  Pepin,  to  have  proceeded  up  the 
Minnesota  imtil  they  found,  as  they  supposed 
they  could,  a  branch  of  the  Missouri,  and  from 
thence,  journeying  over  the  summit  of  lands  un- 
til they  came  to  a  river  which  they  called  Ore- 
gon, they  expected  to  descend  to  the  Pacific. 

Carver,  in  common  with  other  travelers,  had 
his  theory  in  relation  to  the  origin  of  the  Dahko- 
tahs. He  supposed  that  they  came  from  Asia. 
He  remarks:  "But  this  might  have  been  at  dif- 
ferent times  and  from  various  parts — from  Tar- 
tary,  China,  Japan,  for  the  inhabitants  of  these 
places  resemble  each  other.    *     *     * 

"It  is  very  evident  that  some  of  the  names  and 
customs  of  the  American  Indians  resemble  those 
of  the  Tartars,  and  I  make  no  doubt  but  that  in 
some  future  era,  and  this  not  far  distant,  it  will 
be  reduced  to  certainty  that  during  some  of  the 
wars  between  the  Tartars  and  Chinese  a  part  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  northern  provinces  were 
driven  from  their  native  country,  and  took  refuge 
in  some  of  the  isles  before  mentioned,  and  from 
thence  found  their  way  into  America.     *     »     * 

"Many  words  are  used  both  by  the  Chinese  and 
the  Indians  which  have  a  resemblance  to  each 
other,  not  only  in  their  sound,  but  in  their  signi- 
fication. The  Chinese  call  a  slave  Shungo;  and 
the  Noudowessie  Indians,  whose  language,  from 
their  little  intercom'se  with  the  Europeans,  is 
least  corrupted,  term  a  dog  Shimgush  [Shoan- 
kah.J  The  former  denominate  one  species  of  their 
tea  Shoushong;  the  latter  call  their  tobacco  Shou- 
sas-sau  fChanshasha.]  Many  other  of  the  words 
used  by  the  Indians  contain  the  syllables  che, 
chaw,  and  chu,  after  the  dialect  of  the  Chinese." 


70 


EXPLOBERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


The  comparison  of  languages  has  become  a  rich 
source  of  liistorical  Imovvledge,  yet  many  of  the 
analogies  traced  are  fanciftil.  The  remarlj  of 
Humbolt  in  "  Cosmos"  is  worthy  of  remembrance. 
"As  tlie  structure  of  American  idioms  appears 
remarkably  strange  to  nations  speaking  the  mod- 
ern languages  of  Western  Europe,  and  who  readily 
suffer  themselves  to  be  led  away  by  some  acci- 
dental analogies  of  sound,  theologians  have  gen- 
erally believed  that  they  could  trace  an  affinity 
with  the  Ileljrew,  Spanish  colonists  with  the 
Basque  and  the  English,  or  French  settlers  with 
Gaelic,  Erse,  or  the  Bas  Breton.  I  one  day  met 
on  the  coast  of  Peru,  a  Spanish  naval  officer  and 
an  English  whaling  captain,  the  fontjcr  of  whom 
declared  that  he  had  heard  Basque  spoken  at  Ta- 
hiti; the  other,  Gaelic  or  Erse  at  the  Sandmch 
Islands." 

Carver  became  very  poor  while  in  England, 
and  was  a  clerk  in  a  lottery-office.     He  died  in  . 
1780,  and  left  a  widow,  two  sons,  and  five  daught- 
ers, in  Xew  England,  and  also  a  child  by  another 
wife  that  he  had  married  in  (ireat  Britain 

After  his  death  a  claim  was  urged  for  the  land 
upon  which  the  capital  of  IMinnesota  now  stands' 
and  for  many  miles  adjacent.  As  there  are  still 
many  persons  who  believe  that  they  have  some 
right  through  certain  deeds  purporting  to  be  from 
tlie  lieirs  of  Carver,  it  is  a  matter  worthy  of  an 
investigation. 

Carver  says  nothing  in  his  book  of  travels  in  re- 
lation to  a  grant  from  the  Dahkotahs,  but  after 
he  was  buried,  it  was  asserted  that  there  was  a 
deed  belonging  to  him  m  existence,  conveying 
valuable  lands,  and  that  said  deed  was  executed 
at  the  cave  now  in  the  eastern  suburbs  of  Saint 
Paul. 

DEED  PURPORTING  TO  HAVE  BEEN  GIVEN  AT 
THE  CAVE  IN  THE  BLUFF  BELOW  ST.  PAUL. 

"  To  Jonathan  Carver,  c  chief  under  the  most 
mighty  and  potent  George  the  Third,  King  of  the 
English  and  other  nations,  the  fame  of  whose 
warriors  has  reached  our  ears,  and  has  now  been 
fully  told  us  by  our  g(Jod  brother  Jonathan,  afore- 
said, whom  we  rejoice  to  have  come  among  us, 
and  bring  us  good  news  from  his  country. 

"  We,  chiefs  of  the  Naudowessies,  who  have 
hereunto  set  our  seals,  do  by  these  presents,  for 
ourselves  and  heirs  forever,  in  return  for  the  aid 
and  other  good  services  done  by  the  said  Jona- 


tlian  to  ourselves  and  allies,  give  grant  and  con- 
vey to  him,  the  said  Jonathan,  and  to  his  heirs 
and  assigns  forever,  the  whole  of  a  certain  tract 
or  territory  of  land,  bounded  as  follows,  viz:  from 
the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  numing  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  Jlississippi,  nearly  southeast,  as  far 
as  Lake  Pepin,  wiiere  the  Chippewa  joins  the 
Mississippi,  and  from  thence  eastward  five  days 
travel,  accomiting  twenty  EngUsh  miles  per  day; 
and  from  thence  again  to  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony, 
on  a  direct  straight  line.  AVe  do  for  om-selves, 
heirs,  and  assigns,  forever  give  inito  the  said  Jo- 
nathan, his  heirs  and  assigns,  with  all  the  trees, 
rocks,  ami  rivers  therein,  reserving  the  sole  lib- 
erty of  hunting  and  fishing  on  land  not  jjlanted 
or  improved  by  the  said  Jonathan,  his  heirs  and 
assigns,  to  which  we  have  affixed  our  respective 
seals. 

"  At  the  Great  Cave,  May  1st.  1767. 

"Signed,        HAWXOPAWJATIX. 

OTOIITGNGOOMLISHEAW. " 

The  original  deed  was  never  exhibited  by  the 
assignees  of  the  heirs.  By  his  English  wife  Car- 
ver had  one  child,  a  daughter  Martha,  who  was 
cared  for  by  Sir  Richard  and  Lady  Pearson.  In 
time  she  eloped  and  married  a  sailor.  A  mercan- 
tile firm  in  London,  thinking  that  money  could 
be  made,  induced  the  newly  married  couple,  the 
day  after  the  wedding,  to  convey  the  grant  to 
them,  w'ith  the  miderstandiug  that  they  were  to 
have  a  tenth  of  the  profits. 

The  merchants  despatched  an  agent  by  the 
name  of  Clarke  to  go  to  the  I)ahkotahs.  and  ob- 
tain a  new  deed;  but  on  his  way  he  was  murdered 
in  the  state  of  New  York. 

In  the  year  1794,  the  heirs  of  Carver's  Ameri- 
can wife,  in  consideration  of  fifty  thousand  pounds 
sterling,  conveyed  their  interest  in  the  Carver 
grant  to  Edward  Houghton  of  Vermont.  In  the 
year  1806,  Samuel  Peters,  who  had  been  a  toiy 
and  an  Episcopal  minister  dui'ing  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  alleges,  in  a  petition  to  Congress, 
that  he  had  also  purchased  of  the  heirs  of  Carver 
their  rights  to  tlie  grant. 

Before  the  Senate  committee,  the  sanic  year, 
he  testified  as  follows: 

"In  the  year  1774,  I  arrived  there  (London), 
and  met  Captain  Carver.  In  1775,  Carver  had  a 
hearing  before  the  king,  prayhig  his  majesty's 
approval  of  a  deed  of  land  dated  May  first,  1767, 


UNITED  STATES  REJECT  CABVERS  CLAIM. 


71 


and  sold  and  granted  to  him  by  the  Naudowissies. 
The  result  was  his  majesty  approved  of  the  exer- 
tions and  bravery  of  Captain  Carver  among  the 
Indian  nations,  near  the  Falls  of  St.  ^Vnthony,  in 
the  Mississippi,  gave  to  said  Carver  1371L  13.s.  8(?. 
sterling,  and  ordered  a  frigate  to  be  prepared, 
and  a  transport  ship  to  carry  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  under  command  of  Captain  Carver,  with 
four  others  as  a  committee,  to  sail  the  next  June 
to  New  Orleans,  and  then  to  ascend  the  Missis- 
sippi, to  take  possession  of  said  territory  conveyed 
to  Captain  Carver ;  but  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill 
prevented." 

In  1821,  General  Leavenworth,  having  made 
inquiries  of  the  Dahkotahs,  m  relation  to  the 
alleged  claim,  addressed  the  following  to  the 
commissioner  of  the  land  office  : 

"  Sir: — Agreeably  to  your  request,  I  have  the 
honour  to  inform  you  what  I  have  understood 
from  the  Indians  of  the  Sioux  Nation,  as  well  Jis 
some  facts  within  my  own  knowledge,  as  to  what 
Is  commonly  termed  Carver's  Grant.  The  grant 
purports  to  be  made  by  the  chiefs  of  the  Sioux 
of  the  Flams,  and  one  of  the  chiefs  uses  the  sign 
of  a  serpent,  and  the  other  of  a  turtle,  purport- 
ing that  their  names  are  derived  from  those  ani- 
mals. 

"The  land  lies  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississ- 
ippi.   The  Indians  do  not  recognize  or  acknowl 
edge  the  grant  to  be  valid,  and  they  among  others 
assign  the  followuig  reasons: 

"1.  The  Sioux  of  the  Plains  never  owned  a 
foot  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi. 
The  Sioux  Nation  is  divided  into  two  grand  di- 
visions, viz:  The  Sioux  of  the  Lake;  or  perhaps 
more  literally  Sioux  of  the  River,  and  Sioux  of 
the  Plain.  The  former  subsists  by  hunting  and 
fishing,  and  usually  move  from  place  to  place  by 
water,  in  canoes,  during  the  summer  season,  and 
travel  on  the  ice  in  the  winter,  when  not  on 
their  huntmg  excursions.  The  latter  subsist  en- 
tirely by  huntmg,  and  have  no  canoes,  nor  do 
they  know  but  little  about  the  use  of  them.  They 
reside  in  the  large  prairies  west  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  follow  the  buffalo,  ui)on  which  they  entirely 
subsist;  these  are  called  Sioux  of  the  Plain,  and 
never  owned  land  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

"  2.  The  Indians  say  they  have  no  knowledge 
of  any  such  chiefs  as  those  who  have  signed  the 
grant  to  Carver,  either  amongst  the  Sioux  of  the 


River  or  the  Sioux  of  the  Plain.  They  say  that 
if  Captam  Carver  did  ever  obtain  a  deed  or 
grant,  it  was  signed  by  some  foolish  yomig  men 
who  were  not  chiefs  and  who  were  not  author- 
ized to  make  a  grant.  Among  the  Sioux  of  the 
River  there  are  no  such  names. 

"  3.  They  say  the  Indians  never  received  any- 
thing for  the  land,  and  they  have  no  intention  to 
part  with  it  witliout  a  consideration.  From  my 
knowledge  of  the  Indians,  I  am  induced  to  think 
they  would  not  make  so  considerable  a  grant,  and 
have  it  to  go  into  full  effect  without  receiving  a 
substantial  consideration. 

'•  4.  They  have,  and  ever  have  had,  the  pos- 
session of  the  land,  and  intend  to  keep  it.  I 
know  that  they  are  very  particular  in  making 
every  person  who  wishes  to  cut  timber  on  that 
tract  obtain  their  permission  to  do  so,  and  to  ob- 
tain payment  for  it.  In  the  month  of  May  last, 
some  Frenchmen  brought  a  large  raft  of  red  cedar 
timber  out  of  the  Chippewa  River,  which  timber 
was  cut  on  the  tract  before  mentioned.  The  In- 
dians at  one  of  the  villages  on  the  Mississippi, 
where  the  principal  chief  resided,  compelled  the 
Frenchmen  to  land  the  raft,  and  would  not  per- 
mit them  to  pass  until  they  had  received  pay  for 
the  timber,  and  the  Frenchmen  were  compelled 
to  leave  their  raft  with  the  Indians  until  they 
went  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  obtained  the  nec- 
essary articles,  and  made  the  payment  required." 

On  the  twenty-third  of  January,  1823,  the  Com- 
mittee of  Public  Lands  made  a  report  on  the 
claim  to  the  Senate,  which,  to  every  disintere.sted 
person,  is  entirely  satisfactory.  After  stating 
the  facts  of  the  petition,  the  report  continues: 

"  The  Rev.  Samuel  Peters,  in  his  petition,  fiu-- 
ther  states  that  Lefei,  the  present  Emperor  of 
the  Sioux  and  Naudowessies,  and  Red  Wing,  a 
sachem,  the  heirs  and  successors  of  the  two  grand 
chiefs  who  signed  the  said  deed  to  Captam  Car- 
ver, have  given  satisfactory  and  positive  proof 
that  they  allowed  their  ancestors'  deed  to  be  gen- 
uine, good,  and  valid,  and  that  Captain  Carver's 
heirs  and  assigns  are  the  owners  of  said  territory, 
and  may  occupy  it  free  of  all  molestation. 

The  committee  have  examined  and  considered 
the  claims  thus  exhibited  by  the  petitioners,  and 
remark  that  the  original  deed  is  not  produced,  nor 
any  competent  legal  evidence  offered  of  its  execu- 
tion ;  nor  is  there  any  proof  that  the  persons,  who 


72 


EXFLOBEBS  AND  PIONEEBS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


it  is  alleged  made  the  deed,  were  the  chiefs  of 
said  tribe,  nor  that  (if  chiefs)  they  had  authority 
to  grant  and  give  away  the  laud  belonging  to  their 
tribe.  The  paper  annexed  to  the  petition,  as  a 
copy  of  said  deed,  has  no  subscribing  witnesses  ; 
and  it  would  seem  impossil)le,  at  this  remote  pe- 
riod, to  ascertain  the  important  fact,  that  tlie  per- 
sons who  signed  the  deed  comprehended  and 
imderstooA  the  meaning  and  effect  of  their  act. 

"  The  want  of  proof  as  to  these  facts,  would 
interpose  in  the  way  of  the  claimants  insuperable 
difficulties.  But,  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee, 
the  claim  is  not  such  as  the  United  States  are 
under  any  obligation  to  allow,  even  if  the  deed 
were  proved  in  legal  form. 

"  The  British  government,  before  the  time  when 
the  alleged  deed  bears  date,  had  deemed  it  pru- 
dent and  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  peace 
with  the  Indian  tribes  under  their  sovereignty, 
protection  and  dominion,  to  prevent  British  sub- 
jects from  purchasing  lands  from  the  Indians, 
and  this  rule  of  policy  was  made  known  and  en- 
forced by  the  proclamation  of  the  king  of  Great 
Britam,  of  seventh  October,  1763,  which  contains 
an  express  prohibition. 

"  Captain  Carver,  aware  of  the  law,  and  know- 
uig  that  such  a  contract  could  not  vest  the  legal 
title  in  him,  applied  to  the  British  govenunent  to 
ratify  and  confirm  the  Indian  grant,  and,  though 
it  was  competent  for  that  government  then  to 
confirm  the  grant,  and  vest  the  title  of  said  laud 


in  him.  yet.  from  some  cause,  that  government 
did  not  think  proper  to  do  it. 

"  The  territory  has  since  become  the  property 
of  the  United  States,  and  an  Indian  grant  not 
good  against  the  British  goverumeut,  would  ap- 
pear to  be  not  binding  unon  the  United  States 
government. 

"  What  benefit  the  British  government  derived 
from  the  ser\ices  of  Captain  Carver,  by  his  trav- 
els and  residence  among  the  Indians,  that  gov- 
ernment alone  could  determine,  and  alone  could 
judge  what  remuneration  those  services  desened. 

"  One  fact  appears  from  the  declaration  of  Mr. 
Peters,  in  his  statement  in  writing,  among  the 
papers  exhibited,  namely,  that  the  British  gov- 
ernment did  give  Captain  Carver  the  sum  of  one 
thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy-five  pounds 
six  shillings  and  eight  pence  sterling.  To  the 
United  States,  liowever.  Captain  Carver  rendered 
no  services  wliich  could  be  assumed  as  any  equit- 
able ground  for  the  support  of  the  petitioners' 
claim.    . 

"  The  committee  being  of  opinion  that  the 
United  States  are  nfit  bound  in  law  and  equity  to 
confirm  the  said  alleged  Indian  grant,  recom- 
mend the  adoption  of  the  resolution: 

" '  Bcsolvcd,  That  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners 
ought  not  to  be  granted."  ' 

Lord  Palmerston  stated  in  1839,  that  no  trace 
could  be  foimd  in  the  records  of  the  British 
oflice  of  state  papers,  showing  any  ratification  of 
the  Carver  grant. 


EXPLOBATIOKS  JiV  LIEUTENANT  Z.  3£.  PIKE. 


73 


CHAPTEK  XII. 


EXPLORATION  BY  THE  FIRST  UNITED  STATES  ARMY  OFFICER,  LTETTTENANT  Z.  M.  PIKE. 


"raffjiB  Posts  at  the  beginuing  of  Nineteenth  Century.— Sandy  Lake  Fort.— 
Lteun  Lake  Fort.— Williftm  Morrison,  before  Schoolcraft  at  Ita.sca  Lake.— Divi- 
sion of  Northwest  Territory.- Organization  of  Indiana,  Michigan  and  Upper 
Louisiana.— Notices  of  Wooc!,  Frazer,  Fisher,  Cameron,  Faribault.— Early 
Trade.-*. —Pike's  Council  at  Mouth  of  Minnesota  River.— Grant  for  Mihtary 
Posts.— encampment  at  Falls  of  St.  Anthony.— Block  House  near  Swan  River. 
—Visit  to  Sandy  and  Leech  Lakes.— British  Flag  Shot  at  and  Lowered.— 
TbompBon,  Topographer  of  Northwest  Company.— Pike  at  Dickson's  Trading 
Post.— Returns  to  Mendota.— Fails  to  find  Carver's  Cave.— Conference  with 
Little  Crow.  —Cameron  sells  Liquor  to  Indians. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  the 
region  now  known  as  Minnesota,  contained  no 
white  men,  except  a  few  engaged  in  the  f  lu-  trade. 
In  the  treaty  effected  by  Hon.  Jolni  Jay,  Great 
Britain  agreed  to  witlidraw  her  troops  from  all 
posts  and  places  within  certain  boimdary  lines, 
on  or  before  the  first  of  June,  1796,  but  all  Brit- 
ish settlers  and  traders  might  remain  for  one 
year,  and  enjoy  all  their  former  privileges,  with- 
out being  obliged  to  be  citizens  of  the  United 
States  of  America. 

In  the  year  ISOO,  the  trading  posts  of  Mimiesota 
were  chiefly  held  by  the  2^orthwest  Company, 
and  their  chief  traders  resided  at  Sandy  Lake, 
Leech  Lake,  and  Fon  du  Lac,  on  St.  Louis  River. 
In  the  year  1794,  this  company  built  a  stockade 
one  hundred  feet  square,  on  the  southeast  end  of 
Sandy  Lake.  There  were  bastions  pierced  for 
small  arms,  in  the  southeast  and  in  the  northwest 
corner.  The  pickets  which  surroiuided  the  post 
were  thirteen  feet  high.  On  the  north  side  there 
was  a  gate  ten  by  nine  feet ;  on  the  west  side,  one 
six  by  five  feet,  and  on  the  east  side  a  third  gate 
six  by  five  feet.  Travelers  entering  the  main 
gate,  saw  on  the  left  a  one  story  building  twenty 
feet  square,  the  residence  of  the  superintendent, 
and  on  the  left  of  tlie  east  gate,  a  building  twenty- 
five  by  fifteen,  the  quarters  of  the  voyagenis. 
Entering  the  western  gate,  on  the  left  was  a  stone 
house,  twenty  by  thirty  feet,  and  a  house  twenty 
by  forty  feet,  used  as  a  store,  and  a  workshop, 
and  a  residence  for  clerks.  On  the  south  shore 
of  Leech  Lake  there  was  another  establishment, 
I  little  larger.    The  stockade  was  one  hundred 


and  fifty  feet  square.  The  main  building  was 
sixty  by  twenty-five  feet,  and  one  and  a  half  story 
in  height,  where  resided  the  Director  of  the  fur 
trade  of  the  Fond  du  Lac  department  of  the  North- 
west Company.  In  the  centre  was  a  small  store, 
twelve  and  a  half  feet  square,  and  near  the  main 
gate  was  flagstaff  fifty  feet  in  height,  from 
which  used  to  float  the  flag  of  Great  Britain. 

William  ilorrison  was,  in  1802,  the  trader  at 
Leech  Lake,  and  in  1804  he  was  at  Elk  Lake,  the 
source  of  the  Mississippi,  thirty-two  years  after- 
wards named  by  Schoolcraft,  Lake  Itasca. 

The  entire  force  of  the  Northwest  Company, 
west  of  Lake  Superior,  in  1805,  consisted  of  three 
accountants,  nineteen  clerks,  two  interpreters, 
eighty-five  canoe  men,  and  with  them  were 
twenty-nine  Indian  or  half-breed  women,  and 
about  fifty  cliildren. 

On  the  seventh  of  May,  1800,  the  Northwest 
Territory,  which  included  all  of  the  western 
country  east  of  the  Mississippi,  was  divided. 
The  portion  not  designated  as  Ohio,  was  organ- 
ized as  the  Territory  of  Indiana. 

On  the  twentieth  of  December,  1803,  the 
province  of  Louisiana,  of  which  that  portion  of 
Minnesota  west  of  the  Mississippi  was  a  part, 
was  officially  delivered  up  by  the  French,  who 
had  just  obtained  it  from  the  Spaniards,  accord- 
ing to  treaty  stipulations. 

To  the  transfer  of  Louisiana  by  France,  after 
twenty  days'  possession,  Spain  at  first  objected; 
but  in  1804  withdrew  all  opposition. 

President  Jefferson  now  deemed  it  an  object 
of  paramount  importance  for  the  United  States 
to  explore  the  country  so  recently  acquired,  and 
make  the  acquaintance  of  the  tribes  residing 
therein ;  and  steps  were  taken  for  an  expedition 
to  the  upper  Mississiiapi. 

Early  in  March,  1804,  Captain  Stoddard,  of  the 
United  States  army,  arrived  at  St.  Louis,  the 
agent  of  the  French  Eepublic,  to  receive  from 


74 


EXPLOltEliS  Al^D  I'lOJSEJiUS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


the  Spanish  authorities  tlie  possession  of  the 
countiy,  wliicli  he  immediately  trausferred  to  tlie 
United  States. 

As  tlie  old  settlers,  on  the  tenth  of  March,  saw 
the  ancient  flag  of  Spain  displaced  by  that  of  the 
United  States,  the  tears  coursed  down  their 
cheeks. 

On  the  twentieth  of  the  same  month,  the  terri- 
tory of  Upper  Louisiana  was  constituted,  com- 
prising the  present  states  of  Arkansas,  Missouri, 
Iowa,  and  a  large  portion  of  Minnesota. 

On  the  eleventh  of  January,  1805,  the  terri- 
tory of  Michigan  was  organized. 

The  first  American  officer  who  visited  ]SIinne- 
sota,  on  business  of  a  public  nature,  was  one  who 
was  an  ornament  to  his  profession,  and  in  energy 
and  endurance  a  true  representative  of  the  citi- 
zens of  the  United  States.  We  refer  to  the 
gallant  Zefculon  Montgomery  Pike,  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  wl)o  afterwards  fell  in  battle  at 
York,  Upper  Canada,  and  whose  loss  was  justly 
mourned  by  the  whole  nation. 

When  a  young  lieutenant,  he  was  ordered  l)y 
General  Wilkinson  to  visit  the  region  now  known 
as  Minnesota,  and  expel  the  British  traders  who 
were  found  violating  the  laws  of  the  United 
States,  and  form  alliances  with  the  Indians. 
With  only  a  few  common  soldiers,  he  was  obliged 
to  do  the  work  of  several  men.  At  times  he 
would  precede  his  party  for  miles  to  reconnoitre, 
and  then  he  would  do  the  duty  of  hunter. 

During  the  day  he  would  perform  the  part  of 
surveyor,  geologist,  and  astronomer,  and  at  night, 
though  hungry  and  fatigued,  his  lofty  enthu- 
siasm kept  him  awake  until  he  copied  the  notes, 
and  ])lotted  the  courses  of  the  day. 

On  the  4th  day  of  September,  180.5,  Pike  ar- 
rived at  Prairii^  <ln  Chien,  from  St.  Louis,  and 
was  politely  treal(Ml  by  three  traders,  all  born  un- 
derthe  llagof  the  United  States.  One  was  named 
Wood,  another  Prazer,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
who,  when  a  young  man  l)ecame  a  clerk  of  one 
]51akely,  of  Montreal,  and  thus  became  a  fur 
trader.  Tlie  third  was  Henry  Fisher,  a  captain 
of  the  Militia,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace,  whose 
wife  was  a  daughter  of  Goutier  de  Verville. 
I'^isher  was  said  to  have  been  a  nephew  of  Pres- 
dent  Monroe,  and  later  in  life  traded  at  the 
sources  of  the  Minnesota.  One  of  his  daughters 
was  the  mother  of  Joseph  Polette,  Jr.,  a  mem- 


ber of  the  early  Minnesota  Legislative  assem- 
blies. On  the  eighth  of  the  month  Lieutenant 
Pike  left  Trairie  du  Chien,  in  two  batteaux,  with 
Sergeant  Henry  Kennerman,  Corporals  William 
E.  Mack  and  Samuel  Bradley,  and  ten  privates. 

At  La  Crosse,  Frazer,  of  Prairie  du  Chien, 
overtook  him,  and  at  Sandy  point  of  Lake  Pepin 
he  found  a  trader,  a  Scotchman  by  the  name  of 
Murdoch  Cameron,  with  his  son,  and  a  young 
man  named  John  Rndsdell.  On  the  twonty- 
first  he  breakfasted  with  the  Kaposia  band  of 
Sioux,  who  then  dwelt  at  the  marsli  below  Day- 
ton's Bluff,  a  few  miles  below  St.  Paul.  The 
same  day  he  passed  three  miles  from  Jlendota 
the  encampment  of  J.  B.  Faribaidt,  a  tiader  and 
native  of  Lower  Canada,  then  about  thirty  years 
of  age,  in  which  vicinity  he  contiiuied  for  more 
than  fifty  years.  He  married  Pelagie  the  daugh- 
ter of  Francis  Kinnie  by  an  Indian  woman, 
and  his  eldest  son,  Alexander,  born  soon  after 
Pike's  visit,  was  the  founder  of  the  town  of 
Faribault. 

Arriving  at  the  confluence  of  the  Minnesota 
and  the  Mississippi  Rivers,  Pike  and  his  soldiers 
eneamjted  on  the  Northeast  point  of  the  island 
which  still  bears  his  name.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday,  and  he  visited  Cameron,  at  his  trading 
post  on  the  Minnesota  Iliver,  a  short  distance 
above  Mendota. 

On  Monday,  the  23d  of  September,  at  noon, 
lie  held  a  Council  with  th(!  Sioux,  under  a  cover- 
ing made  by  suspending  sails,  and  gave  an  ad- 
mirable talk,  a  portion  of  wliich  was  as  follows  : 

"  Brothers,  I  am  happy  to  meet  you  here,  at 
this  council  fire  which  your  father  has  sent  me  to 
kindle,  and  to  take  you  by  the  hands,  as  our  chil- 
dren. We  having  but  lately  aciiiiired  from  the 
Spjinish,  the  extensive  territory  of  Louisiana,  our 
general  has  thoiight  proper  to  send  out  a  number 
of  his  warriors  to  visitall  his  red  children  ;  to  tell 
them  his  will,  and  to  hear  what  request  they  may 
have  to  make  of  their  father.  I  am  happy  the 
choice  fell  on  me  to  come  this  road,  as  I  find 
my  brothers,  the  Sioux,  ready  to  listen  to  my 
words. 

"  IJrothers,  it  is  the  wish  of  our  government  to 
establish  military  jiosts  on  the  Upper  Mississippi, 
at  such  places  as  might  be  thought  expedient.  I 
have,  therefore,  examined  the  country,  and  have 
jiitched  on  the  mouth  of  the  river  St.  Croix,  this 


GliANT  OF  LAND  FUOM  THE  SIOUX. 


75 


place,  uiiil  the  i  alls  of  St.  Anthony ;  I  therefore 
wish  you  to  grant  to  the  United  States,  nine 
miles  square,  at  St.  Croix,  and  at  tliis  place,  from 
a  league  below  the  confluence  of  the  St.  Peter's 
and  lilississippi,  to  a  league  above  St.  Anthony, 
extending  thrte  leagues  on  each  side  of  the  river ; 
and  as  we  are  a  people  who  are  accustomed  to 
have  all  our  acts  written  down,  in  order  to  have 
tliem  handed  to  our  children,  I  have  drawn  up  a 
form  of  an  agreement,  which  we  will  I)oth  sign, 
in  the  presence  of  the  traders  now  present.  After 
we  know  the  terms,  we  will  fill  it  up,  and  have  it 
read  and  interpreted  to  you. 

"  Brothers,  those  posts  are  intended  as  a  bene- 
fit to  you.  The  old  chiefs  now  present  must  see 
that  their  situation  improves  by  a  communication 
with  the  whites.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  Umted 
States  to  establish  at  those  posts  factories,  in 
which  the  Indians  may  procure  all  their  things 
at  a  cheaper  and  better  rate  than  they  do  now,  or 
than  your  traders  can  afford  to  sell  them  to  you, 
r.s  they  aie  single  men,  who  come  from  far  in 
small  boats;  but  your  fathers  are  many  and 
strong,  and  will  come  with  a  strong  arm,  in  large 
boats.  There  will  also  be  i  iiiefs  here,  who  can 
attend  to  the  wants  of  then-  brothers,  without 
their  sending  or  going  all  the  way  to  St.  Louis, 
and  will  see  the  tiarlers  that  go  up  your  rivers, 
and  know  that  they  are  good  me-      *    *    *    * 

"Brothers,  I  now  present  you  .  ;i  some  of 
yo;ir  father's  tobacco,  and  some  other  trilling 
thmgs,  as  a  memorandum  of  my  good  will,  and 
before  my  departure  I  ■will  give  you  some  liquor 
to  clear  your  throats." 

The  traders,  Cameron  and  Frazer,  sat  with 
Pike.  Ilis  interpreter  was  Pierre  llosseau. 
Among  the  Chiefs  present  were  Le  Petit  Cor- 
beau  (Little  Crow),  and  Way-ago  Enagee,  and 
L"Orignal  Leve  or  Rising  Moose.  It  was  with 
difficulty  that  the  cliiefg  signed  the  following 
agi-eement;  not  that  they  objected  to  the  lan- 
guage, but  because  they  thought  their  word 
should  be  taken,  mthout  any  mark  ;  but  Pike 
overcame  their  objection ,  by  saying  that  he  wished 
them  to  sign  it  on  his  account. 

"Whereas,  at  a  conference  held  between  the 
United  States  of  America  and  the  Sioux  na- 
tion of  Indians,  Lieutenant  Z.  M.  Pike,  of  the 
army  of  the  United  States,  and  the  cliiefs  and 
warriors  of  said  trihe.  have  atrreed  to  the  follow- 


ing articles,  which,  when  ratified  and  approved  of 
by  the  proper  authority,  shall  be  binding  on  both 
parties : 

Akt.  1.  That  the  Sioux  nation  grant  xmto  the 
United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  establishment 
of  military  posts,  nine  miles  square,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  St.  Croix,  also  from  below  the  confluence 
of  the  Mississippi  and  St.  Peter's,  up  the  Missis- 
sippi to  include  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  extend- 
ing nine  miles  on  each  side  of  the  river ;  that  the 
Sioux  Nation  grants  to  the  United  States  the  full 
sovereignty  and  power  over  said  district  forever. 
Art.  2.  That  in  consideration  of  the  above 
grants,  the  United  States  shall  pay  [filled  up  by 
the  Senate  with  2,000  dollars]. 

Art.  3.  The  United  States  promise,  on  their 
part,  to  permit  the  Sioux  to  pass  and  repass,  hunt, 
or  make  other  use  of  the  said  districts,  as  they 
have  formerly  done,  without  any  other  exception 
than  those  specified  in  article  first. 

In  testimony  whereof,  we,  the  undersigned, 
have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  liver  St.  Peter's,  on  the  23d  day  of 
September,  1805. 

Z.M.PIKE,    [L  S.] 
1st  Lieutenant  and  agent  at  the  above  conference. 

his 
LE  PETIT  CORBEAU,  M   [L.  S.] 
mark 
.  his 
WAY-AGO  ENAGEE,  M   [L.  S.] 
mark  " 

The  following  entries  from  Pike's  Journal,  des- 
criptive of  the  region  around  the  city  of  Minne- 
apolis, seventy-five  years  a;;o,  are  worthy  of  pres- 
ervation: 

^'Skft.  26th,  Tliursday. — Embarked  at  the  usual 
hour,  and  after  much  labor  in  passing  through 
the  rapids,  arrived  at  the  foot  of  the  Falls  about 
three  or  four  o'clock ;  imloaded  my  boat,  and  had 
the  principal  part  of  her  cargo  carried  over  the 
portage.  With  the  other  boat,  however,  full 
loaded,  they  were  not  able  to  get  over  the  last 
shoot,  and  encamped  aboiit  six  yards  below.  I 
pitched  my  tent  and  encamped  above  the  shoot. 
The  rapids  mentioned  in  this  day's  march,  might 
properly  be  called  a  continuation  of  the  Falls  of 
St.  Anthony,  for  they  are  equally  entitled  to  this 
appellation,  with  the  Falls  of  the  Pelawaj'e  aad 


76 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERU  OF  MiyyE!SOTA. 


Sus(iuehanna.  Killed  one  deer.  Distance  nine 
miles 

Sept.  27th,  Friday.  Brought  over  the  residue 
of  my  loading  this  moniing.  Two  men  arrived 
from  Mr.  Frazer,  on  St.  Peters,  for  my  dispaU-hes. 
This  business,  closing  and  sealing,  appeared  like 
a  last  adieu  to  the  civilized  world.  Sent  a  large 
packet  to  the  General,  and  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Pike, 
with  a  short  note  to  Mr.  Frazer.  Two  young 
Indians  brought  my  flag  across  by  land,  who  ar- 
rived yesterday,  just  as  we  ciime  in  sight  of  the 
Fall.  I  made  them  a  present  for  their  punctual- 
ity and  expedition,  and  the  danger  they  were  ex- 
posed to  from  the  journey.  Carried  our  boats  out 
of  the  river,  as  far  as  the  bottom  of  the  hill. 

Sept.  2fHh,iiatui-da>/. — Brought  my  barge  over, 
and  put  her  Ln  the  river  above  the  Falls.  "Wliile 
■we  were  engaged  vrith  her  three -fourths  miles 
from  camp,  seven  Indians  painted  black,  appeared 
on  the  heights.  We  had  left  our  gims  at  the 
camp  and  were  entirely  defenceless.  It  occurred 
to  me  that  they  were  the  small  party  of  Sioux  who 
were  obstinate,  and  would  go  to  war,  when  the 
other  part  of  the  bands  came  in ;  these  they 
proved  to  be ;  they  were  better  armed  than  any  I 
had  ever  seen ;  having  guns,  liows,  arrows,  clubs, 
spears,  and  some  of  them  even  a  case  of  pistols. 
I  w^as  at  that  time  gi\  Ing  my  men  a  dram ;  and 
giving  the  cup  of  liquor  to  the  iirst,  he  di'ank  it 
off ;  but  I  was  more  cautious  with  the  remainder. 
I  sent  my  Interpreter  to  camp  with  them,  to  wait 
my  coming  ;  w^ishiug  to  purchase  one  ol  theu-  w-ar 
clubs,  it  being  made  of  elk  horn,  and  decorated 
with  inlaid  work.  Tliis  and  a  set  of  bows  and 
arrows  I  wished  to  get  as  a  curiosity.  But  the 
liquor  I  had  given  him  began  to  operate,  he  came 
back  for  me,  but  refusing  to  go  till  I  brought  my 
boat,  he  returned,  and  (I  suppose  being  offended) 
borrowed  a  canoe  and  crossed  the  river.  In  the 
afternoon  got  the  other  boat  near  the  top  of  the 
hill,  when  the  projis  gave  way,  and  she  slid  all  the 
way  down  to  the  bottom,  but  fortunately  without 
injuring  any  person.  It  raining  very  hard,  we 
left  her.    Killed  one  goose  and  a  racoon. 

Sept.  29th,  Sunda!/.-~l  killed  a  reniarka'jly 
large  racoon.  Got  our  large  boat  over  the  port- 
age, and  put  her  in  the  river,  at  the  upper  land- 
ing; this  night  the  men  gave  sufficient  proof  of 
their  fatigue.  l)y  all  tlirowing  themselves  down  to 
sleep,  preferring  rest  to  supper.     Tliis  day  1  had 


but  fifteen  men  out  of  twenty-two ;  the  others 
were  sick.  This  voyage  could  have  been  per- 
formed with  great  convenience,  if  we  had  taken 
our  departure  in  Jime.  But  the  proper  time 
would  be  to  leave  the  IlUnois  as  soon  as  the  ice 
would  permit,  when  the  river  would  be  of  a  good 
height. 

Sept.  30th,  Monday.— hoaded  my  boat,  moved 
over  aTid  encamped  on  the  Island.  The  large  Iwats 
loading  Likewise,  we  went  over  and  put  on  board. 
In  the  mean  time,  I  took  a  sm-vey  of  the  Falls, 
Portage,  etc.  If  it  be  possible  to  pass  the  Falls 
in  high  water,  of  which  I  am  doubtful,  it  must 
be  on  the  East  side,  about  thirty  yards  from 
shore ;  as  there  are  three  layers  of  rocks,  one  be- 
low the  other.  The  pitch  off  of  either,  is  not 
more  than  five  feet ;  but  of  this  I  can  say  more 
on  my  ret\mi. 

On  the  tenth  of  October,  the  expedition 
readied  some  'arge  island  below  Sauk  Rapids, 
where  ui  1797,  Porlier  and  Joseph  Renville  had 
wintered.  Six  days  after  this,  he  reached  the 
Rapids  m  Morrison  county,  which  still  bears  his 
name,  and  he  writes :  '  •  When  we  arose  in  the 
morning,  found  that  snow  had  fallen  during  the 
night,  the  ground  was  covered  and  it  continued 
to  snow.  This,  indeed,  was  but  poor  encourage- 
ment for  attacking  the  Rapids,  in  which  we  were 
certain  to  wade  to  our  necks.  I  was  determined, 
however,  if  possible  to  make  la  riviere  de  Cor- 
beau,  [Crow  Wing  River],  the  highest  point  was 
made  by  traders  in  their  bark  canoes.  We  em- 
l)arked,  and  after  four  hours  work,  became  so 
benumbed  with  cold  that  our  limbs  were  perfectly 
useless.  We  put  to  shore  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river,  about  two-thirds  of  the  way  up  the 
rapids.  Built  a  large  fire ;  and  then  discovered 
that  our  boats  were  nearly  half  full  of  water; 
both  having  sprung  large  leaks  so  as  to  oblige  me 
to  keep  three  hands  bailing.  My  sergeant  (Ken- 
nerman)  one  of  the  stoutest  men  I  ever  knew, 
broke  a  blood-vessel  and  vomited  nearly  two 
quarts  of  blood.  One  of  my  corporals  (Bradley) 
also  evacuated  nearly  a  pint  of  blood,  when  he 
attempted  to  void  his  urine.  These  unhappy 
circiunstances,  in  addition  to  the  inability  of 
four  other  men  whom  we  were  obliged  to  leave 
on  shore,  con^^n(■pd  me,  that  if  I  had  no  regard 
for  my  own  health  and  constitution,  I  should 
ha\e  some  for  those  poor  fellows,  who  were  kill- 


PIKE'S  BLOCK  MOUSE  NEAB  SWAN  BIYEB. 


77 


iug  themselves  to  obey  my  orders.    After  we  1  lad 
breakfast  and  refreshed  ourselves,  we  went  down 
to  our  boats  on  the  rocks,  where  I  was  obliged  to 
leave  them.    I  then  informed  my  men  that  we 
would  return  to  the  camp  and  there  leave  some 
of  the  party  and  oiu-  large  boats.    This  informa- 
tion was  pleasing,  and  the  attempt  to  reach  the 
camp  soon  accomplished.    My  reasons  for  this 
step  have  partly  been  already  stated.    The  nec- 
essity of  unloadmg  and  refitting  my  boats,  the 
beauty  and  convenience  of  the  spot  for  buildmg 
huts,  the  fine  pme  trees  for  peroques,  and  the 
quantity  of  game,  were  additional  inducements. 
We  immediately  imloaded  our  boats  and  secured 
their  cargoes.    In  the  evening  I  went  out  upon  a 
small,  but  beautiful  creek,  which  emptied  mto 
the  Falls,  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  puie  tiees 
to  make  canoes.    Saw  five  deer,  and  killed  one 
buck  weighing  one  himdi-ed    and  thirty-seven 
pounds.    By  my  leaving  men  at  this  place,  and 
from  the  great  quantities  of  game  in  its  vicinity, 
I  was  ensured  plenty  of  provision  for  my  return 
voyage.    In  the  party  left  behuid  was  one  hunter, 
to  be  continually  employed,  who  would  keep  our 
stock  of    salt    provisions  good.     Distance  two 
hundred  and  thirty-three  and  a  half  miles  above 
the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

Having  left  his  large  boats  and  some  sohliers 
at  this  point,  he  proceeded  to  the  vicinity  of 
Swan  River  where  he  erected  a  block  house,  and 
on  the  tliirty-flrst  of   October  he  writes:  "En- 
closed my  little  work  completely  with  pickets. 
Hauled  up  my  two  boats  and  turned  them  over 
on  each  side  of  the  gateways;  by  wliich  means 
a  defence  was  made  to  the  river,  and  had  it  not 
been  for  various  poUtical  reasons,  I  would  have 
laughed  at  the  attack  of  eight  hundred  or  a 
thousand  savages,  if  all  my  party  were  within. 
For.  except  accidents,  it  would  only  have  afford- 
ed amusement,  the  Indians  having  no  idea  of 
taking  a  place  by  storm.    Found  myself  power- 
fully attacked  with  the  fantastics  of  the  brain, 
called  ennui,  at  the  mention  of  which  I  had 
hitherto  scoffed ;  but  my  books  being  packed  up, 
I  was  like  a  person  entranced,  and  could  easily 
conceive    why  so  many  persons  who  have  been 
confined  to  remote  places,  acquire  the  habit  of 
drinking  to  excess,  and  many  other  vicious  prac- 
tices, which  have  been  adopted  merely  to  pass 
time. 


Dm-ing  the  next  month  he  hunted  the  buffalo 
which  were  then  in  that  vicinity.  On  the  third 
of  December  he  received  a  visit  from  Bobert 
Dickson,  afterwards  noted  m  the  history  of  the 
country,  who  was  then  trading  about  sixty  miles 
below,  on  the  Mississippi. 

On  the  tenth  of  December  with  some  sleds  he 
continued  his  journey  northward,  and  on  the  last 
day  of  the  year  passed  Pine  River.  On  the  thud 
of  .January,  1806,  he  reached  the  trading  post  at 
Red  Cedar,  now  Cass  Lake,  and  was  quite  indig- 
nant at  finding  the  British  flag  floatmg  from  the 
staff.  The  night  after  this  his  tent  caught  on 
fire,  and  he  lost  some  valuable  and  necessary 
ck  thing.  On  the  evening  of  the  eighth  he  reach- 
ed Sandy  Lake  and  was  hospitably  received  by 
Grant,  the  trader  hi  charge.    He  writes . 

"  Jan.  9th,  r/w«>da2/.— Marched  the  corporal 
early,  m  order  that  our  men    should   receive 
assurance  of  our  safety  and  success.    He  carried 
with  him  a  small  keg  of  spirits,  a  present  from 
Mr.  Grant.    The  establishment  of  this  place  was 
formed  twelve  years  since,  by  the  North-west 
Company,  and  was  fonnerly  imder  the  charge  of 
a  Mr.  Charles  Brusky.    It  has  attained  at  present 
such  regularity,  as  to  permit  the  superintendent 
to  Uve  tolerably  comfortable.    They  have  horses 
they  procured  from  Red  River,  of  the  Indians; 
raise  plenty  of  Irish  potatoes,  catch  pike,  suckers, 
pickerel,  and  white  fish  in  abundance.    They 
have  also  beaver,  deer,  and  moose;  but  the  pro- 
vision they  chiefly  depend  upon  is  wild  oats,  of 
which  they  purchase  great  quantities  from  the 
savages,  giving  at  the  rate  of  about  one  dollar 
and  a  half  per  bushel.    But  flour,  pork,  and  salt, 
are  almost  interdicted  to  persons  not  principals 
in  the  trade.    Flour  sells  at  half  a  dollar ;  salt  a 
dollar;  pork  eiglity  cents;   sugar  half  a  dollar ; 
and  tea  four  doUars  and  fifty  cents  per  pound. 
The  sugar  is  obtained  from  the  IncUans,  aud  is 
made  from  the  maple  tree." 

He  remained  at  Sandy  Lake  ten  days,  and  on 
the  last  day  two  men  of  the  Northwest  Company 
arrived  with  letters  from  Fon  du  Lac  Superior, 
one  of  which  was  from  Athapuscow,  and  had 
been  since  May  on  the  route. 

On  the  twentieth  of  January  began  his  journey 
to  Leech  Lake,  which  he  reached  on  the  first  of 
February,  and  was  hospitably  received  by  Hugh 


EXPLOliERS  AND  PIONEEBS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


McGillis,  the  head  of  the  Northwest  Company  at 
this  post. 

A  Mr.  Anderson,  in  the  employ  of  Robert 
Dick-son,  was  residing  at  the  west  end  of  the  lake. 
While  here  he  hoisted  the  American  flag  in  the 
fort.  The  English  yacht  still  flying  at  tlie  top  of 
the  flagstaff,  he  directed  the  Indians  and  his  sol- 
diers to  shoot  at  it.  They  soon  broke  the  iron 
pin  to  wliich  it  was  fastened,  and  it  fell  to  the 
ground.  lie  was  informed  by  a  venerable  old 
Ojibw'ay  chief,  called  Sweet,  that  the  Sioux  dwelt 
there  when  he  was  a  youth.  On  the  tenth  of 
February,  at  ten  o'clock,  he  left  Leecli  I>ake  with 
Corponil  ISradley,  the  trader  McGillis  and  two  of 
his  men,  and  at  sunset  arrived  at  Hed  Cedar,  now 
Cass  Lake.  At  this  place,  in  1798,  Tliompson, 
employed  by  the  Northwest  Company  for  three 
years,  in  topograjHucal  surveys,  made  some  ob- 
servations. He  believed  that  a  line  from  the 
Lake  of  the  Woods  would  touch  the  sources  of 
the  ^lississippi.  Pike,  at  this  point,  was  very 
kindly  treated  by  a  Canadian  named  IJoy,  and  liis 
Ojibway  squaw.  On  his  return  home,  he  reached 
Clear  Kiver  on  the  seventh  of  April,  where  he 
foimd  his  canoe  and  men,  and  at  night  \\as  at 
( Jrand  Uapids,  Dickson's  trading  post.  He  talked 
until  four  o'clock  the  next  morning  with  tliis 
person  and  another  trader  named  Porlier.  lie 
forbade  while  there,  the  traders  (Jreignor  [Grig- 
non]  and  La  Jemiesse,  to  sell  any  more  liquor  to 
Indians,  who  had  become  very  drunken  and  un- 
ruly. On  the  tenth  he  again  readied  the  Falls 
of  Saint  Anthony.  He  writes  in  his  journal  as 
follows : 

Aphtt.  nth,  Fridn;/. — Although  it  snowed  very 
hard  \\e  brought  over  both  V)oats,  and  descended 
the  river  to  the  island  at  the  entrance  of  the  St. 
Peter's.  I  sent  to  the  chiefs  and  informed  them 
I  had  something  to  communicate  to  them.  The 
Fils  de  Pincho  innnediately  waited  on  me,  and 
informed  me  that  he  would  i)rovide  a  place  for 
the  purpose.  About  sundown  I  was  sent  for  and 
introduced  into  the  council-house,  where  I  found 
a  great  many  chiefs  of  the  Sussitongs,  (iens  de 
Feuilles,  and  the  (iens  du  Lac.  The  Yanctongs 
had  not  yet  come  down.  They  were  all  awaiting 
for  my  arrival.  There  were  about  one  hundred 
lodges,  or  six  hundred  people;  we  were  saluted 
on  our  crossing  the  river  with  ball  as  usual.  The 
council-house  was  two  large  lodges,  capable  of 


containing  three  hundred  men.  In  the  upper 
were  forty  chiefs,  and  as  many  pipes  set  against 
the  poles,  alongside  of  wliich  I  had  the  Santeur's 
pipes  arranged.  I  then  infcjrmed  them  in  short 
detail,  of  my  transactions  with  tin;  Santeurs;  but 
my  interpreters  were  not  capable  of  making  them- 
selves tniderstood.  I  was  therefore  obliged  to 
omit  mentioning  every  particular  relative  to  the 
rascal  who  fired  on  my  sentinel,  and  of  the  scoun- 
drel who  broke  the  Fols  Avoins'  canoes,  and 
threatened  my  life;  the  interpreters,  however,  in- 
■  formed  them  that  I  wanted  some  of  their  princi- 
pal chiefs  to  go  to  St.  Louis;  and  that  those  who 
thought  proper  might  descend  to  the  prairie, 
wliere  we  would  give  them  more  explicit  in  •  <  r 
mation.  They  all  smoked  out  of  the  Santeur's 
pipe,  excepting  three,  who  were  painted  black, 
and  were  some  of  those  who  lost  their  relations 
last  winter.  I  invited  the  Fils  de  Pinchow,  and 
the  son  of  tlie  Killeur  Eouge,  to  come  over  and 
sup  with  me;  when  Mr.  Dickson  and  myself  en- 
deavored to  explain  what  I  intended  to  have  said 
to  them,  could  I  have  made  myself  understood; 
that  at  the  prairie  wc  would  have  all  things  ex- 
plained; that  I  was  desirous  of  making  a  better 
report  of  them  than  Captain  Lewis  could  do  from 
their  treatment  of  him.  The  former  of  those 
savages  was  the  jierson  who  remained  around  my 
post  all  last  winter,  and  treated  m.\'  men  so  well; 
they  endeavored  to  excuse  their  people. 

"Apuil  12th,  Saturday. — Embarked  early.  Al- 
though my  interiireter  liad  been  frecpiently  u))  the 
river,  he  could  not  tell  me  wliere  the  cave  (spoken 
of  by  Carver)  could  be  fomid ;  we  carefully 
sought  for  it,  but  in  vain.  At  the  Indian  village, 
a  few  miles  below  St.  Peter's,  we  were  about  to 
pass  a  few  lodges,  but  on  receiving  a  very  partic- 
ular invitation  to  come  on  shore,  we  landed,  and 
were  received  in  a  lodge  kindly;  they  presented 
us  sugar.  I  gave  the  proprietor  a  dram,  and  was 
about  to  depart  when  he  demanded  a  kettle  of 
liquor;  on  being  refused,  and  after  I  had  left  the 
shore,  he  told  me  he  did  not  like  the  arrange- 
ments, and  that  he  would  go  to  war  this  suiiiiiicr. 
I  directed  the  interpreter  to  tell  liiinthalif  1 
returned  to  St.  Peter's  with  the  troops,  1  would 
settle  that  affair  with  him.  On  our  arrival  at  tlie 
St.  Croix,  I  found  the  Pettit  Corbeau  w  ilh  his 
people,  and  Messrs.  Frazer  and  Wood,  ^\'e  had 
a  conference,  when  the  Pettit  Corbeau   made 


CAMERON  SELLS  LIQUOR  TO  INDIANS. 


many  apologies  for  the  misconduct  of  his  people; 
he  i-epreseiited  to  us  the  different  manners  in 
•which  tlie  young  warriors  liad  been  inducing  him 
to  go  to  war;  that  he  had  been  much  blamed  for 
dismissing  his  party  last  fall;  but  that  he  was  de- 
termined to  adhere  as  far  as  lay  in  his  power  to 
our  instructions;  that  he  thouglit  it  most  prudent 
to  remain  here  and  restrain  the  warriors.  lie 
then  presented  me  with  a  l)eaver  robe  and  pipe, 
and  his  message  to  the  general.  That  he  was 
determined  to  preserve  peace,  and  make  the  road 
clear;  also  a  remembrance  of  his  promised  medal. 
I  made  a  reply,  calculated  to  confirm  him  in  his 
good  intentions,  and  assured  him  that  he  should 
not  be  the  less  remembered  by  his  father,  although 
not  present.  I  was  informed  that,  notwithstand- 
ing the  instruction  of  his  license,  and  my  par- 
ticular request,  Murdoch  Cameron  had  taken 
liquor  and  sold  it  to  the  Indians  on  the  river  St. 
Peter's,  and  that  his  partner  below  had  been 


equally  imprudent.  I  pledged  myself  to  prose- 
cute them  according  to  law;  for  they  have  been 
the  occasion  of  great  confusion,  and  of  much 
injury  to  the  other  traders.  This  day  met  a 
canoe  of  Mr.  Dickson's  loaded  with  provisions, 
under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Anderson,  brother  of 
the  Mr.  Anderson  at  Leech  Lake.  He  politely 
offered  me  any  provision  he  had  on  board  (for 
which  Mr.  Dickson  had  given  me  an  order),  but 
not  now  being  in  want,  I  did  not  accept  of  any. 
This  day,  for  the  first  time,  I  observed  the  trees 
beginning  to  bud,  and  indeed  the  climate  seemed 
to  have  changed  very  materially  since  we  passed 
the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony." 

The  strife  of  political  parties  growmg  out  of 
the  French  Eevoliition,  and  the  declaration  of 
war  against  Great  Britain  in  the  year  1812,  post- 
poned the  military  occupation  of  the  Upper 
Mississippi  by  the  United  States  of  America,  for 
several  years. 


80 


EXPLOBEBS  AMJ  PlOJS'EEIiS  OF  MlXSEtiOTA. 


cnAPTEE  xni. 

THE  TAI^LKY  OF  TICK  XJFPER  MISSISSU*ri  DL'lilXU  SEC0:N'D  AVAK   -WITH   GRKAT  15KITAIX. 


Dickson  and  other  tra'lors  liostilf, — American  slockado  at  Prairie  tlu  Chi^n — Fort 
Shelby  siuTcnders  to  Lt.  Col.  William  McKay— I,>yal  tra«l«rs  l*rovencaUc  and 
Faribault— Rising  Moose  or  Ono-eyed  Sioux— Capt.  Bulger  evacuates  Port 
McKay — ^Intellii'aiifO  of  Peace. 


Notwithstanding  tlie  professions  of  f riendsliip 
made  to  Pike,  in  tlie  second  war  with  Great  Brit- 
ain, Dickson  and  others  were  found  bearmg  arms 
agahist  tlie  Republic. 

A  year  after  Pike  left  Praiiie  du  Wiien,  it  was 
evident,  that  under  some  secret  influence,  the 
Indian  tril  les  were  combining  agauist  tlie  United 
States.  In  the  year  1809,  Nicholas  Jarrot  declared 
that  the  British  traders  were  f  urnishmg  the  sav- 
ages with  guns  for  hostile  pui-poses.  On  the  first 
of  Ma)',  1H12,  two  Indians  were  apprehended  at 
Chicago,  who  were  on  theu-  way  to  meet  Dickson 
at  Green  Bay.  They  had  taken  the  precaution 
to  hide  letters  in  their  moccasms,  and  bury  them 
in  the  ground,  and  were  allowed  to  proceed  after 
a  brief  detention.  Frazer,  of  Prairie  du  Cliien, 
who  had  been  with  Pike  at  the  Council  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Minnesota  River,  was  at  the  port- 
age of  the  A\'isconsiu  when  the  Indians  deUvered 
these  letters,  which  stated  that  the  British  flag 
would  soon  be  flying  again  at  Mackinaw.  At 
Green  Bay,  the  celebrated  warrior.  Black  Hawk, 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Indians  \\\\o  were  to 
aid  the  British.  The  American  troops  at  ilacki- 
naw  were  obUged,  on  the  seventeenth  of  July, 
1812,  to  capitulate  without  firing  a  single  gun. 
One  who  was  made  prisoner,  writes  from  Detroit 
to  the  Secretary  of  War : 

"  The  persons  who  commanded  the  Indians  are 
Robert  Dickson,  Indian  trader,  and  John  Askin, 
Jr.,  Indian  agent,  and  his  son.  The  latter  two 
were  painted  and  dressed  after  the  manner 
of  the  Indians.  Those  who  commanded  tliu 
Canadians  are  John  Johnson,  Crawford,  Pothier, 
Annitinger,  La  Croix,  Rolette,  Franks,  Living- 
ston, and  Dther  traders,  some  of  whom  were  lately 
concerned  in  smuggUng  British  goods  into  the 


Indian  eoimtry,  and,  in  conjunction  with  others, 
have  been  using  their  utmost  efforts,  several 
months  before  the  declaration  of  war,  to  excite 
the  Indians  to  take  up  arms.  The  least  resist- 
ance from  the  fort  would  have  been  attended 
with  the  destruction  of  all  the  persons  who  fell 
hito  the  hands  of  the  British,  as  I  have  been  as- 
sured by  some  of  the  British  traders," 

On  the  first  of  May,  1814,  Governor  Clark, 
wiX\\  two  luuidred  men,  left  St.  Louis,  to  build  a 
fort  at  the  junction  of  the  'Wisconsin  and  ilissis- 
sippi.  Twenty  days  before  he  arrived  at  Prairie 
du  Chien,  Dickson  had  started  for  Mackinaw 
with  a  band  of  Dahkotalis  and  'Winnebagoes. 
The  place  was  left  in  command  of  Captain  Deace 
and  the  Mackinaw  Fencibles.  The  Dahkotahs 
refusing  to  co-operate,  when  the  Americans  made 
their  appearance  they  fled.  The  Americans  took 
possession  of  the  old  ilackinaw  house,  in  which 
they  foimd  nine  or  ten  trunks  of  papers  belong- 
ing to  Dickson.  From  one  they  took  the  follow- 
ing extract : 

" '  Arrived,  from  below,  a  few  AViimebagoes 
with  scalps.  Gave  them  tobacco,  six  pomids 
powder  and  six  pounds  ball.' " 

A  fort  was  immediately  commenced  on  the 
site  of  the  old  residence  of  the  late  H.  L.  Dous- 
man,  which  was  composed  of  two  block-houses 
in  the  angles,  and  another  on  the  bank  of  tlie 
river,  with  a  subterranean  communication.  In 
honor  of  the  governor  of  Kentucky  it  was  named 
"  Shelby." 

The  fort  was  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Perkuis, 
and  sixty  rank  and  file,  and  two  gunboats,  each 
of  which  carried  a  six-pounder;  and  several 
howitzers  were  cummaiided  by  Captains  Yeiser, 
Sullivan,  and  Aid-de-camp  Kennerly. 

The  traders  at  Mackinaw,  learning  that  the 
Americans  had  built  a  fort  at  the  Prairie,  and 
knowing  that  as  long  as  they  held  possession 
i\w\  would  be  cut  oil  from  the  trade  with  the 


LOYALTY  OF  FARIBAVLT  AND  THE  ONE-EYED  SIOUX. 


81 


Dahkotalis,  immediately  raised  an  expedition  to 
capture  the  garrison. 

Tlie  captain  was  an  old  trader  by  the  name  of 
McKay,  and  imder  him  was  a  sergeant  of  ar- 
tillery, with  a  brass  six-poimder,  and  tlu-ee  or 
four  volunteer  companies  of  Canadian  voyageurs, 
officered  by  Captains  Griguon,  Rolette  and  An- 
derson, ■with  Lieutenants  Brisbois  and  Duncan 
Graham,  all  dressed  in  red  coats,  with  a  niunber 
of  Indians. 

The  Americans  had  scarcely  completed  their 
rude  fortification,  before  the  British  force,  guid- 
ed by  Joseph  Kolette,  Sr.,  descended  m  canoes 
to  a  point  on  the  "Wisconsin,  several  miles  from 
the  Prairie,  to  which  they  marched  in  battle 
array.  McKay  sent  a  flag  to  the  Fort  demanding 
a  surrender.  Lieutenant  Perkins  replied  that  he 
would  defend  it  to  the  last. 

A  fierce  encounter  took  place,  in  which  the 
Americans  were  worsted.  The  officer  was 
wounded,  several  men  were  killed  and  one  of 
their  boats  captured,  so  that  it  became  necessary 
to  retreat  to  St.  Louis.  Port  Shelby  after  its 
eaptiu-e,  was  called  Fort  McKay. 

Among  the  traders  a  few  remained  loyal,  es- 
pecially Provencalle  and  J.  B.  Faribault,  traders 
among  the  Sioux.  Faribault  was  a  prisoner 
among  the  British  at  the  time  Lieut.  Col.  Wm. 
McKay  was  preparing  to  attack  For*"  Shelby,  and 
he  refused  to  perform  any  seiTice,  Faribault's 
wife,  who  was  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  not  Isnowing 
that  her  husband  was  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of 
the  advancing  foe,  fled  with  others  to  the  Sioirx 
village,  where  is  now  the  city  of  Winona.  Fari- 
bault was  at  length  released  on  parole  and  re- 
turned to  his  trading  post. 

Pike  writes  of  his  flag,  that  "being  in  doubt 

whether  it  had  been  stolen  by  the  Indians,  or  had 

fallen  overboai  d  and  floated  away,  I  sent  for  my 

friend  the  Orignal  Leve."     He  also  call«  the 

Chief,  Eising  JNIoose,  and  gives  his  Sioux  name 

Tahamie.    He  was  one  of  those,  who  in  1805, 

signed  the  agreement,  to  surrender  land  at  the 

jimction  of  the  Muuiesota  and  Mississippi  Eivers 

to   the    United   States.    He   had  but  one  eye, 

having  lost  the  other  when  a  boy,  belonged  to 

the  Wapasha  band  of  the  Sioux,  and  proved 

true  to  the  flag  wliich  had  waved  on  the  day  he 

sat  in  council  with  Pike. 

In  the  fall  of  1814,  vrtth  another  of  the  same 
6 


nation,  he  ascended  the  Missouri  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  distinguished  trader,  Manual  Lisa, 
as  far  as  the  An  Jacques  or  James  Eiver,  and 
from  thence  struck  across  the  country,  enlisting 
the  Sioux  in  favour  of  the  United  States,  and  at 
length  arrived  at  Prairie  du  Cliien.  On  his  arri- 
val, Dickson  accosted  him,  and  inquured  from 
whence  he  came,  and  what  was  his  business ;  at 
the  same  time  rudely  snatching  his  bundle  from 
his  shoulder,  and  searching  for  letters,  The 
"one-eyed  warrior"  told  him  that  he  was  from 
St.  Louis,  and  that  he  had  promised  the  white 
chiefs  there  that  he  would  go  to  Prairie  du  Ghien, 
and  that  he  had  kept  his  promise 

Dickson  then  placed  him  in  confinement  in 
Fort  McKay,  as  the  garrison  was  called  by  the 
British,  and  ordered  him  to  divulge  what  infor- 
mation he  possessed,  or  he  wo  aid  put  him  to 
death.  But  the  faithful  fellow  said  he  would 
impart  nothing,  and  that  he  was  ready  for  death 
if  he  wished  to  kill  him.  Findmg  that  confine- 
ment had  no  effect,  Dickson  at  last'liberatedhim. 
He  then  left,  and  visited  tlie  bands  of  Sioux  on 
the  Upper  ilississippi,  with  which  he  passed  the 
winter.  When  he  returned  in  the  sprmg,  Dick- 
son had  gone  to  Mackinaw,  and  Capt.  A.  Bulger, 
of  the  Eoyal  Xew  Fouudland  Eegiment,  was  in 
command  of  the  fort. 

On  the  twenty-third  ot  May,  1815,  Capt.  Bul- 
ger, wrote  from  Fort  JMcKay  to  Gov.  Clark  at  St. 
Louis :  "  Official  intelligence  of  peace  reached 
me  yesterday.  I  propose  evacuatmg  the  fort, 
taking  with  me  the  gims  captured  in  the  fort.  * 
*  *  *  I  have  not  the  smallest  hesitation  in 
declaring  my  decided  opinion,  that  the  presence 
of  a  detachment  of  British  and  United  States 
troops  at  the  same  time,  would  be  the  means  of 
embroiling  one  party  or  the  other  in  a  fresh  rup- 
ture with  the  Indians,  which  I  presiune  it  is  the 
wish  of  both  governments  to  avoid." 

The  next  month  the  "  One-Eyed  Sioux,"  with 
three  other  Indians  and  a  squaw,  visited  St.  Louis, 
and  he  informed  Gov.  Clark,  that  the  British 
commander  left  the  cannons  in  the  fort  when  he 
evacuated,  but  in  a  day  or  two  came  back,  took 
the  cannons,  and  fired  the  fort  with  the  American 
flag  flying,  but  that  he  rushed  in  and  saved  it 
fi-om  being  burned.  From  this  time,  the  British 
flag  ceased  to  float  in  the  Valley  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. 


62 


EXPLOBEBS  AND  PIONEEBS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


CHAPTEE   XIV. 


long's  expedition,  a.  D.  i817,  in  a  SIX-OAUED  skiff,  to  the  falls  of  saint  ANTHONY. 


Carver  a  Grandsons.— Roque,  Sioux  Intcrpretcr.—Waposhaw's  Village  and  Its 
Vicinity.— A  Sacred  Dance.— Indian  Villus"  Below  Da)-ton's  Bluff.— Carver's 
Cave-— Fountain  Cave.— Falls  of  St.  Anthony  Described,— Site  or  a  Fort. 

Major  Stephen  II.  Long,  of  the  Engineer  Corps 
of  tlie  United  States  Army,  learning  that  there 
was  little  or  no  danger  to  be  apprehended  from 
the  Indians,  determined  to  ascend  to  the  Falls  of 
Saint  Anthony,  in  a  six-oared  skiff  presented  to 
him  hy  Governor  Clark,  of  Saint  Louis.  His 
party  consisted  of  a  Mr.  Hempstead,  a  native  of 
New  London,  Connecticut,  whc  had  been  living 
at  Prairie  du  Chien,  seven  soldiers,  and  a  half- 
breed  interpreter,  named  Iloque.  A  bark  canoe 
accompanied  them,  containing  Messrs.  Gun  and 
King,  grandsons  of  the  celebrated  traveler,  Jona- 
than Carver. 

On  the  ninth  ot  July,  1817,  the  expedition  left 
Prairie  du  Chien,  and  on  the  twelfth  arrived  at 
"  Trempe  a  I'eau."    lie  writes : 

"  When  we  stopped  for  breakfast,  Mr.  Ilemp- 
stead  and  myself  ascended  a  high  peak  to  take  a 
view  of  the  country.  It  is  laio\\'n  by  the  name 
of  the  Kettle  Hill,  having  obtained  this  appella- 
tion from  the  circumstance  of  its  having  numer- 
ous piles  of  stone  on  its  top,  most  of  them 
fragments  of  the  rocky  stratifications  which 
constitute  the  principal  part  of  the  hill,  but  some 
of  them  small  piles  made  by  the  Indians.  These 
at  a  distance  have  some  similitude  of  kettle: 
arranged  along  upon  the  ridge  and  sides  of  the 
hill.  Prom  this,  or  almost  any  other  eminence  in 
its  neighborhood,  the  beauty  and  grandeur  of  the 
prospect  would  bailie  the  skill  of  the  most  inge- 
'nious  pencil  to  depict,  and  that  of  the  most  ac- 
complished pen  to  describe.  Hills  marshaled 
into  a  variety  of  agreeable  shapes,  some  of  them 
towering  into  lofty  peaks,  while  others  present 
broad  summits  embellished  with  contours  and 
slopes  in  the  most  pleasing  manner ;  champaigns 
and  waving  valleys;  forests,  lawns,  and  parks 
alternating  with  each  other;  the  humble  Missis- 


sippi meandering  far  below,  and  occasionally 
losing  itsel'  in  numberless  islands,  give  variety 
and  beauty  to  the  picture,  while  rugged  cliffs  and 
stupendous  precipices  here  and  there  present 
themselves  as  if  to  add  bolilness  and  majesty  to 
the  scene.  In  the  midst  of  this  beautiful  scenery 
is  situated  a  village  of  the  Sioux  Indians,  on  an 
extensive  lawn  called  the  Aux  Aisle  I'rairie  ;  at 
which  we  lay  by  for  a  short  time.  On  our  amval 
the  Indians  hoisted  two  American  flags,  and  we 
returned  the  comrliment  by  discharging  our 
blunderbuss  and  pistols.  They  then  fired  several 
guns  ahead  of  us  by  way  of  a  salute,  after  which 
we  landed  and  were  received  with  much  friend- 
ship. The  name  of  their  chief  is  Wauppaushaw, 
or  the  Leaf,  commonly  called  by  a  name  of  the 
same  import  in  French,  La  Feuille,  or  La  Fye, 
as  it  is  pronounced  in  English.  He  is  considered 
one  of  the  most  honest  and  honorable  of  any  of 
the  Indians,  and  endeavors  to  inculcate  into  the 
minds  of  his  people  the  sentiments  and  principles 
adopted  by  himself.  He  was  not  at  home  at  the 
time  I  called,  and  I  had  no  opportunity  of  seeuig 
him.  The  Indians,  as  I  suppose,  with  the  ex- 
pectation that  I  had  something  to  communicate 
to  them,  assembled  themselves  at  the  place 
where  I  lauded  and  seated  themselves  upon  the 
grass.  I  inquired  if  their  chief  was  at  home, 
and  was  answered  in  the  negative.  I  then  told 
them  I  should  be  very  glad  to  see  him,  but  as  he 
w".s  absent  I  would  call  on  him  again  in  a  few 
days  when  I  should  return.  I  further  told  them 
that  cur  father,  the  new  President,  wished  to  ob- 
tain some  more  information  relative  to  his  red 
children,  and  that  I  was  on  a  tour  to  acquire  any 
intelligence  he  might  stand  in  need  of.  With 
this  they  appeared  well  satisfied,  and  permitted 
Mr.  Hempstead  and  myself  to  go  through  their 
village.  While  I  was  in  the  wigwam,  one  of  the 
subordinate  chiefs,  whose  name  was  Wazzecoota, 
or  Shooter  from  the  I'ine  Tree,  vobniteered  to 


INITIATION  OF  A  WARRIOR  B7  A  SAO  RED  DANGE. 


83 


accompany  me  np  the  river.  I  accepted  of  his 
Bervioes,  and  he  was  ready  to  attend  me  on  the 
tour  in  a  very  short  time.  When  we  hove  in 
sight  the  Indians  were  engaged  in  a  ceremony 
called  the  Be^r  Dance;  a  ceremony  which  they 
are  in  the  habit  of  performing  when  any  young 
man  is  desirous  of  bringing  himself  into  partic- 
ular notice,  and  is  considered  a  kind  of  initiation 
into  the  state  of  manhood.  I  went  on  to  the 
ground  where  they  had  theii-  performances, 
which  were  ended  sooner  than  usual  on  account 
of  our  arrival.  There  was  a  kind  of  a  flag  made 
of  fawn  akin  dressed  with  the  hair  on,  suspended 
on  a  pole.  Upon  the  flesh  side  of  it  were  drawn 
certain  rude  figures  indicative  of  the  dream 
which  it  is  necessary  the  young  man  should  have 
dreamed,  before  he  can  be  considered  a  proper 
candidate  for  this  kind  of  initiation;  with  this  a 
pipe  was  suspended  by  way  of  sacrifice.  Two 
arrows  were  stuck  up  at  the  foot  of  the  pole, 
and  frrigments  of  painted  feathers,  etc.,  were 
strewed  about  the  ground  near  to  it.  The.se  per- 
tained to  the  religious  rites  attending  the  cere- 
mony, which  consists  in  bewailing  and  self-mor- 
tiflcation,  that  the  Good  Spirit  may  be  induced 
to  pity  them  and  succor  their  undertaking. 

"At  the  distance  of  two  or  three  hundred 
yards  from  the  flag,  is  an  excavation  which  they 
call  the  bear's  hole,  prepared  for  the  occasion. 
It  is  about  two  feet  deep,  and  has  two  ditches, 
about  one  foot  deep,  leading  across  it  at  right  an- 
gles. The  young  hero  of  the  farce  places  himself 
in  this  hole,  to  be  hunted  by  the  rest  of  the  young 
men,  all  of  whom  on  this  occasion  are  dressed  in 
their  best  attire  and  painted  in  their  neatest  style. 
The  hunters  approach  the  hole  in  the  direction  of 
one  of  the  ditches,  and  discharge  their  guns, 
which  were  previously  loaded  for  the  purpose 
with  blank  cartridges,  at  the  one  who  acts  the 
part  of  the  bear;  whereupon  he  leaps  from  his 
den,  having  a  hoop  in  each  hand,  and  a  wooden 
lance;  the  hoops  serving  as  forefeet  to  aid  him 
in  characterizing  his  part,  and  his  lance  to  defend 
him  from  his  assailants.  Thus  accoutred  he 
dances  round  the  place,  exhibiting  various  feats 
of  activity,  while  the  other  Indians  pursue  him 
and  endeavor  to  trap  him  as  he  attempts  to  re- 
turn to  his  den,  to  eflfect  which  he  is  privileged  to 
use  any  violence  he  pleases  with  impunity  against 


his  assailants,  even  to  taking  the  life  of  any  of 
them. 

"  This  part  of  the  ceremony  is  performed  three 
times,  that  the  bear  may  escape  from  his  den 
and  retiirn  to  it  again  through  three  of  the  ave- 
nues communicating  with  it.  On  being  hunted 
from  the  fourth  or  last  avenue,  the  bear  must 
make  his  escape  through  all  his  pursuers,  if  pos- 
sible, and  flee  to  the  woods,  where  he  is  to  remain 
through  the  day.  This,  however,  is  seldom  or 
never  accomplished,  as  all  the  young  men  exert 
themselves  to  the  utmost  in  order  to  trap  him. 
When  caught,  he  must  retire  to  a  lodge  erected  for 
his  reception  in  the  field,  where  he  is  to  be  se- 
cluded from  all  society  through  the  day,  except 
one  of  his  particular  friends  whom  he  is  allowed 
to  take  with  him  as  an  attendant.  Here  he 
smokes  and  performs  various  other  rites  which 
superstition  has  led  the  Indians  to  believe  are  sa- 
cred. After  this  ceremony  is  ended,  the  young 
Indian  is  considered  qualified  to  act  any  part  as 
an  efficient  member  of  their  community.  The 
Indian,  who  has  the  good  fortune  to  catch  the 
bear  and  overcome  him  when  endeavoring  to 
make  his  escape  to  the  wood,  is  considered  a 
candidate  for  preferment,  and  is,  on  the  first  suit- 
able occasion,  appointed  the  leader  of  a  small  war 
party,  in  order  that  he  may  further  have  an  op- 
portunity to  test  his  prowess  and  perform  more 
essential  service  in  behalf  of  his  nation.  It  is 
accordingly  expected  that  he  will  kill  some  of 
their  enemies  and  return  with  their  scalps.  I  re- 
gretted very  much  that  I  had  missed  the  oppor- 
tunity of  witnessing  this  ceremony,  which  is 
never  performed  except  when  prompted  by  the 
particular  dreams  of  one  or  other  of  the  young 
men,  who  is  never  complimented  twice  in  the 
same  manner  on  account  of  his  dreams." 

On  the  sixteenth  he  approached  the  vicinity  of 
where  is  now  the  capital  of  Minnesota,  and 
writes:  "Set  sail  at  half  past  four  tliis  morning 
with  a  favorable  breeze.  Pased  an  Indian  bury- 
ing ground  on  our  left,  the  first  that  I  have  seen 
surrounded  by  a  fence.  In  the  center  a  pole  is 
erected,  at  the  foot  of  whic'-  religious  rites  are 
performed  at  the  burial  of  an  Indian,  by  the 
particular  friends  and  relatives  of  the  deceased. 
Upon  the  pole  a  flag  is  suspended  when  any  per- 
son of  extraordinary  merit,  or  «ne  who  is  very 
much  beloved,  is  buried.     In  the  inclosure  were 


84 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOJA. 


two  scaffolds  erected  also,  about  six  feet  high 
and  six  feet  square.  Upon  one  of  them  were  two 
coflins  containing  dead  bodies.  Passed  a  Sioux 
village  on  our  right  conlaining  fourteen  cabins. 
The  name  of  the  chief  is  tlie  Petit  Corbeau,  or 
Little  Raven.  The  Indians  were  all  absent  on  a 
hunting  party  up  tlio  Hiver  St.  Croix,  whicli 
is  but  a  little  distance  across  tlie  country  from 
the  village.  Of  this  we  were  very  glad,  as  this 
band  are  said  to  be  the  most  notorious  beggars 
of  all  the  Sioux  on  tlie  Mississippi.  One  of  their 
cabms  is  furnished  with  loop  holes,  and  is  sit- 
uated so  near  tlie  water  that  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river  is  within  musket-shot  range  from 
the  building.  By  tliis  means  the  Petit  Corbeau 
is  enabled  to  exercise  a  command  over  the  pass- 
age of  the  river  and  has  in  some  instances  com- 
pelled traders  to  land  witli  their  goods,  and  in- 
duced them,  probably  tlirough  fear  of  offending 
him,  to  bestow  presents  to  a  considerable  amount, 
before  he  would  suffer  them  to  pass.  The  cabins 
are  a  kind  of  stockade  buildings,  and  of  a  better 
appearance  than  any  Indian  dwellings  I  have 
before  met  with. 

"  Two  miles  above  the  village,  on  the  same 
side  of  the  river,  is  Carver's  Cave,  at  which  we 
stopped  to  breakfast.  However  interesting  it 
may  have  been,  it  does  not  possess  that  character 
in  a  very  high  degree  at  present.  "\\'e  descend- 
ed it  witli  lighted  candles  to  its  lower  extremity. 
The  entrance  is  very  low  and  about  eight  feet 
broad,  so  that  a  man  in  order  to  enter  it  must  be 
completely  prostrate.  Tlie  angle  of  descent 
within  the  cave  is  about  25  deg.  The  flooring 
is  an  inclined  plane  of  quicksand,  formed  of  the 
rock  in  wliich  the  cavern  is  formed.  The  dist- 
ance from  its  entrance  to  its  inner  extremity  is 
twenty-four  paces,  and  the  width  in  the  broadest 
part  about  nine,  and  its  greatest  height  about 
seven  feet.  In  shape  it  resembles  a  bakers's  oven. 
Tiie  cavern  was  once  probably  much  more  ex- 
tensive. My  mterpreter  informed  me  that,  since 
his  remeniliiance,  tlie  entrance  was  not  less 
than  ten  feet  high  and  its  lengtli  far  greater  than 
at  present.  The  rock  in  which  it  is  formed  is 
a  very  white  sandstone,  so  friable  that  the  frag- 
ments of  it  will  almost  crumble  to  sand  when 
taken  into  the  hand.  A  few  yards  below  the 
mouth  of  the  ciwern  is  a  very  copious  spring  of 
flue  water  issuing  from  the  bottom  of  the  cliff. 


"  Five  miles  above  this  is  the  Fountain  Cave, 
on  the  same  side  of  the  river,  formed  in  the  same 
kind  of  sandstone  but  of  a  more  pure  and  line 
quality.  It  is  far  more  curious  and  interesting 
than  the  former.  The  entrance  of  the  cave  is  a 
large  winding  hall  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  in  length,  fifteen  feet  in  width,  and  from 
eight  to  sixteen  feet  in  height,  finely  arched 
overhead,  and  nearly  perpendicular.  Xext  suc- 
ceeds a  narrow  passage  and  dilliciilt  of  entrancCj 
which  opens  into  a  most  beautiful  circular  room, 
finely  arched  above,  and  about  forty  feet  in  di- 
ameter. The  cavern  then  contiiuies  a  meander- 
uig  course,  expanding  occasionally  into  small 
rooms  of  a  circular  form.  We  penetrated  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  till  our  candles 
began  to  fail  us,  when  we  retmiied.  To  beauti- 
fy and  emliellisli  the  scene,  a  fine  crystal  stre:ira 
Hows  through  the  cavern,  and  cheers  the  lone- 
some dark  retreat  with  its  enlivening  murmurs. 
The  temperature  of  the  water  in  the  cave  was 
40  deg.,  and  that  of  the  air  60  deg.  Entering 
this  cold  retreat  from  an  atmosphere  of  89  deg., 
I  thought  it  not  prudent  to  remain  in  it  long 
enough  to  take  its  several  dimensions  and  me- 
ander its  courses ;  particularly  as  we  had  to  w  ade 
in  water  to  our  knees  in  many  places  in  order  to 
penetrate  as  far  as  we  went.  The  fountam  sup- 
plies an  abundance  of  water  as  fine  as  I  ever 
drank.  This  cavern  I  was  informed  by  my 
interpreter,  has  been  discovered  but  a  few  years. 
That  the  Indians  formerly  liraig  in  its  neiglibor- 
hood  knew  nothing  of  it  till  witlun  six  years 
past.  That  it  is  not  the  same  as  that  described 
by  Carver  is  evident,  not  only  from  this  circum- 
stance, but  also  from  the  circumstance  that  in- 
stead of  a  stagnant  pool,  and  only  one  accessible 
room  of  a  very  different  form,  this  cavern  has 
a  brook  running  through  it,  and  at  least  four 
rooms  in  succession,  one  after  the  other.  Car- 
ver's Cave  is  fast  filling  up  with  sand,  so  that 
no  water  is  now  found  in  it,  whereas  this,  from 
the  very  nature  of  the  place,  must  be  enlarging 
as  the  fountain  will  carry  along  with  its  current 
all  the  sand  that  falls  into  it  from  the  roof  and 
sides  of  the  cavern." 

On  the  night  of  the  sixteenth,  he  arrived  at  tlie 
Falls  of  8aint  Anthony  and  encamped  on  the  east 
sliore  just  below  the  cataract.  He  writes  in  '.lis 
journal : 


DESCBIPTION  OF  FALLS  OF  SAINT  ANTHONY. 


85 


"Tiie  place  where  we  encamped  last  night  need- 
ed no  embellishment  to  render  it  romantic  in  the 
highest  degree.  The  banks  on  both  sides  of  the 
river  are  about  one  hundred  feet  high,  decorated 
with  trees  and  shrubbery  of  various  kinds.  The 
post  oak,  hickory,  walnut,  linden,  sugar  tree, 
white  birch,  and  the  American  box  ;  also  various 
evergreens,  such  as  the  pine,  cedar,  juniper, 
etc.,  added  their  embellishments  to  the  scene. 
Amongst  the  shrubery  were  the  prickly  ash, 
plum,  and  cherry  tree,  the  gooseberry,  the  black 
and  red  raspberry,  the  chokeberry,  grape  vine, 
etc.  There  were  also  various  kinds  of  herbage 
and  (lowers,  among  which  were  the  wild  parsley, 
rue,  spikenard,  etc.,  red  and  white  roses,  morning 
glory  and  various  other  handsome  flowers.  A 
few  yards  below  us  was  a  beautiful  cascade  of 
fine  spring  water,  pouring  down  from  a  project- 
ing precipice  about  one  hundred  feet  hight.  On 
our  left  was  the  Mississippi  hurrying  through  its 
channel  with  great  velocity,  and  about  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  above  us,  in  plain  view,  was 
the  majestic  cataract  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 
The  murmuring  of  the  cascade,  the  roaring  of  the 
river,  and  the  thunder  of  the  cataract,  all  contrib- 
uted to  render  the  scene  the  most  interesting  and 
magnificient  of  any  I  ever  before  witnessed." 

"Tlie  perpendicular  fall  of  the  water  at  the 
cataract,  was  stated  by  Pike  in  his  journal,  as  six- 
teen and  a  half  feet,  which  I  found  to  be  true  by 
actual  measurement.  To  this  height,  however, 
four  or  five  feet  may  be  added  for  the  rapid  des- 
cent which  immediately  succeeds  to  the  perpen- 
dicular fall  within  a  few  yards  below.  Immedi- 
ately at  the  cataract  the  river  is  divided  into  two 
parts  by  an  island  which  extends  considerably 
above  and  below  the  cataract,  and  is  about  five 
hundred  yards  long.  The  channel  on  the  right 
side  of  the  Island  is  about  three  times  the  width 
of  that  on  the  left.  The  quanity  of  water  pass- 
ins  through  them  is  not,  however,  in  the  same 
proportion,  as  about  oue-tliird  part  of  the  whole 
passes  through  the  left  channel.  In  the  broadest 
channel,  just  below  the  cataract,  is  a  small  island 
also,  about  fifty  yards  in  length  and  thirty  in 
breadth.  Both  of  these  islands  contain  the  same 
kind  of  rocky  formation  as  the  banks  of  the  river, 
and  are  nearly  as  high.  Besides  these,  there  are 
immediately  at  the  foot  of  the  cataract,  two 
islands  of  very  inconsiderable  size,  situated  in 


the  right  channel  also.  The  rapids  commence 
several  hundred  yards  above  the  cataract  and 
continue  about  eight  miles  below.  The  fall  of 
the  water,  beginning  at  the  head  of  the  rapids, 
and  extending  two  hundred  and  sixtj'  rods  down 
tlie  river  to  where  the  portage  road  commences, 
below  the  cataract  is,  according  to  Pike,  fifty- 
eight  feet.  If  this  estimate  be  correct  the  whole 
fall  from  the  head  to  the  foot  of  the  rapids,  is  not 
probably  much  less  than  one  hundred  feet.  But 
as  I  had  no  instrument  sutBciently  accurate  to 
level,  where  the  view  must  necessarily  be  pretty 
extensive,  I  took  no  pains  to  ascertain  the  extent 
of  the  fall.  The  mode  I  adopted  to  ascertain 
the  height  of  a  cataract,  was  to  suspend  a  line 
and  plummet  from  tlie  table  rock  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river,  which  at  the  same  time  had 
very  little  water  passing  over  it  as  tlie  river  was 
unusually  low.  The  rocky  formations  at  this 
place  were  arranged  in  the  following  order,  from 
the  surface  downward.  A  coarse  kind  of  lime- 
stone in  thin  strata  containing  considerable  silex; 
a  kind  of  soft  friable  stone  of  a  greenish  color 
and  slaty  fracture,  probably  containing  lime, 
aluminum  and  silex  ;  a  very  beautiful  satratifica- 
tton  of  shell  limestone,  in  thin  plates,  extremely 
regular  in  its  formation  and  containing  a  vast 
number  of  shells,  all  apparently  of  the  same 
kind.  This  formation  constitutes  the  Table  Rock 
of  the  cataract.  The  next  in  order  is  a  white  or 
yellowish  sandstone,  so  easily  crumbled  that  it 
deserves  the  name  of  a  sandbank  rather  than  that 
of  a  rock.  It  is  of  various  depths,  from  ten  to 
fifty  or  seventy-five  feet,  and  is  of  the  sa^ie  char- 
acter with  that  found  at  the  caves  before  des- 
cribed. The  next  in  order  is  a  soft  friable  sand- 
stone, of  a  greenish  color,  similar  to  that  resting 
upon  the  shell  limestone.  These  stratifications 
occupied  the  whole  space  from  the  lovv'  water 
mark  nearly  to  the  top  of  the  blulfs.  On  the  east, 
or  rather  north  side  of  the  river,  at  the  Falls,  are 
high  grounds,  at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile  from 
the  ri\'er,  considerably  more  elevated  than  the 
bluffs,  and  of  a  hilly  aspect. 

Speaking  of  the  bluff  at  the  confluence  Ox  Jie 
Mississippi  and  Minnesota,  he  writes:  "A  military 
work  of  considerable  magnitude  might  be  con- 
structed on  the  pomt,  and  might  be  rendered 
suflSciently  secure  by  occupying  the  commanding 
height  in  the  rear  in  a  siutable  manner,  as  the 


86 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


latter  would  control  not  only  the  point,  but  all 
the  neighboring  heights,  to  the  fuU  extent  of  a 
tw'elve  pounder's  range.  The  work  on  the  point 
would  be  necessary  to  control  the  navigation  of 
the  two  rivers.  But  without  the  commandmg 
work  in  the  rear,  would  be  liable  to  be  greatly 
annoyed  from  a  height  situated  directly  opposite 


on  the  other  side  of  the  Mississippi,  which  is 
here  no  more  than  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  wide.  This  latter  height,  however,  would 
not  be  eligible  for  a  permanent  past,  on  account 
of  the  niunerous  ridges  and  ravines  situated  im- 
mediately in  its  rear." 


EABLY  HISTOBY  OF  RED  BIYEB  VALLEY, 


87 


CHAPTER  XV. 


THOMAS  DOUGLAS,  EARL  OF   SKLKIRK,   AND  THE  RED   BIVER   VALLEY. 


Early  travelers  to  Lake  Winnipeg — Earliest  Map  by  tlie  Indian  Otchaga— Bcllin's 
allusion  to  it —  Verendrye's  Map— De  la  Jemeraye's  Map — Fort  La  Heine— Fort 
on  Red  River  abandoned — Origin  of  name  Red  Lake — Earl  of  Selkirk— Ossini- 
boia  described— Scotch  immifn-ants  at  Pembina- Strife  of  trading  companies- 
Earl  of  Selkirk  \-isits  America- Governor  Semple  Killed— Romantic  life  of  John 
Tanner,  and  his  son  James — Letter  relative  to  Selkirk's  tour  through  Minne- 
sota. 

The  valley  of  the  Red  Biver  of  the  North  is 
not  only  an  important  portion  of  Minnesota,  but 
has  a  most  interesting  history. 

While  there  is  no  evidence  that  Groselliers,  the 
iirst  white  man  who  explored  Minnesota,  ever 
visited  Lake  Winnipeg  and  the  Eed  River,  yet  he 
met  the  Assineboines  at  the  head  of  Lake  Supe- 
rior and  at  Lake  Nepigon,  while  on  his  way  by  a 
northeasterly  trail  to  Hudson's  Bay,  and  learned 
something  of  this  region  from  them. 

Tlie  first  person,  of  whom  we  have  an  account, 
who  visited  the  region,  was  an  Englishman,  who 
came  in  1692,  by  way  of  York  River,  to  Winni- 
peg. 

Ochagaclis,  or  Otchaga,  an  intelligent  Indian,  in 
1728,  assured  Pierre  C4ualtier  de  Varenne,  known 
in  history  as  the  Sieur  Verendrye,  wliile  he  was 
stationed  at  Lake  Nepigon,  that  there  was  a 
communication,  largely  by  water,  west  of  Lake 
Superior,  to  the  Great  Sea  or  Pacific  Ocean.  The 
rude  map,  drawn  by  this  Indian,  was  sent  to 
Prance,  and  is  still  preserved.  Upon  it  is  marked 
Kamanistigouia,  the  fort  first  established  by  Du 
Luth.  Pigeon  River  is  called  Mantohavagane. 
Lac  Sasakanaga  is  marked,  and  Rainy  Lake  is 
named  Tecamemiouen.  The  river  St.  Louis,  of 
Minnesota,  is  R.  fond  du  L.  Superior.  The 
French  geographer,  BelUn,  in  his  "  Remarks 
upon  the  map  of  North  America,"  published  in 
1755,  at  Paris,  alludes  to  this  sketch  of  Ochagachs, 
aftd  says  it  is  the  earliest  drawing  of  the  region 
west  of  Lake  Superior,  in  the  Depot  de  la  Marine. 

After  this  Verendrye,  in  1737,  drew  a  map, 
which  remains  unpublished,  which  shows  Red 
Lake  in  Northern  Minnesota,  and  the  point  of 
the  Big  AVoods  in  the  Red  River  Valley.     There 


is  another  sketch  in  the  archives  of  Prance, 
drawn  by  De  la  -Jemeraye.  He  was  a  nephew  of 
Verendrye,  and,  under  ins  uncle's  orders,  he  was 
in  1731,  the  first  to  advance  from  the  Grand 
Portage  of  Lake  Superior,  by  way  of  the  Nalao- 
uagan  or  Groselliers,  now  Pigeon  River,  to  Ramy 
Lake.  On  this  appears  Fort  Rouge,  on  the  south 
bank  of  the  Assineboine  at  its  junction  with  the 
Red  River,  and  on  the  Assineboine,  a  post  estab- 
lished on  October  3,  1738,  and  called  Fort  La 
Reine.  BelUn  describes  the  fort  on  Red  River, 
but  asserts  that  it  was  abandoned  because  of  its 
vicinity  to  Fort  La  Reme,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Assinneboine,  and  only  about  nuie  miles  by 
a  portage,  from  Swan  Lake.  Red  Lake  and  Red 
River  were  so  called  by  the  early  French  explo- 
rers, on  account  of  the  reddish  tint  of  the  waters 
after  a  storm. 

Thomas  Douglas,  Earl  of  Selkirk,  a  wealthy, 
kind-hearted  but  %isionary  Scotch  nobleman,  at 
the  commencement  of  the  present  century  formed 
the  design  of  planting  a  colony  of  agriculturists 
west  of  Lake  Superior.  In  the  year  1811  he 
obtained  a  grant  of  land  from  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  called  Ossiniboia,  which  it  seems 
strange  has  been  given  up  by  the  people  of  Man- 
itoba. In  the  autumn  of  1812  a  few  Scotchmen 
with  their  families  arrived  at  Pembina,  in  the 
Red  River  Valley,  by  way  of  Hudson  Bay,  where 
they  passed  the  winter.  In  the  winter  of  1813-14 
they  were  again  at  Fort  Daer  or  Pembina.  The 
colonists  of  Red  River  were  rendered  very  un- 
happy by  the  strife  of  rival  trading  companies. 
In  the  spring  of  1815,  McKenzie  and  Morrison, 
traders  of  the  Northwest  company,  at  Sandy 
Lake,  told  the  Ojibway  chief  there,  that  they 
would  give  him  and  his  band  all  the  goods  and 
rum  at  Leech  or  Sandy  Lakes,  if  they  would  an- 
noy the  Red  River  settlers. 

The  Earl  of  Selkirk  hearing  of  the  distressed 
condition  of  his  colony,  sailed  for  America,  and 


88 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


in  the  fall  of  1815,  arrived  at  New  York  City. 
Proceftling  to  Monti-eal  he  found  a  messenger 
who  had  traveled  on  foot  in  mid-wmter  from  the 
Bed  Hirer  by  M&y  of  Ked  Lake  and  Ton  du  Lac, 
of  Lake  Superior.  He  sent  back  by  this  man, 
kind  messages  to  the  dispirited  settlers,  but  one 
night  he  was  way-laid  near  Fou  du  Lac,  and 
robbed  of  his  canoe  and  dispatches.  \n  Ojib- 
way  chief  at  Sandy  Lake,  aftera-ards  testified 
that  a  trader  named  Grant  offered  him  nun  and 
tobacco,  to  send  persons  to  uitercept  a  bearer  of 
dispatches  to  Red  River,  and  soon  the  messenger 
was  brought  in  by  a  negro  and  some  Indians. 

Failing  to  obtain  military  aid  fmrn  the 
British  authorities  in  Canada,  Selkirk  made  an 
engagement  with  four  officers  and  eighty  privates, 
of  the  discharged  Meuron  regiment,  twenty  of 
the  De  WattevLUe,  and  a  few  of  the  Glengary 
Fencibles,  which  had  served  in  the  late  war  with 
the  United  States,  to  accompany  him  to  Bed 
Biver.  They  were  to  receive  monthly  wages  for 
navigating  the  boats  to  Red  River,  to  have  lands 
assigned  them,  and  a  fiee  passage  if  they  wished 
to  return. 

"\\1ien  he  reached  Sault  St.  ^Nlaiie.  he  received 
the  intelUgeuce  that  the  colony  had  again  been 
destroyed,  and  that  Semple,  a  mild,  amiable,  but 
not  altogether  judicious  man,  the  chief  governor 
of  the  factories  and  territories  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  company,  residing  at  Red  River,  had  been 
kiUed. 

Schoolcraft,  in  1832,  says  he  saw  at  Leech 
Lake,  Majegabowi,  the  man  who  had  killed  Gov. 
Semple,  after  he  fell  woimded  from  his  horse. 

Before  he  heard  of  the  death  of  Semple,  the 
Earl  of  Selkirk  had  made  arrangements  to  visit 
his  colony  by  way  of  Fon  du  Lac,  on  the  St.  Louis 
Biver,  and  Red  Lake  of  ilinnesota,  but  he  now 
changed  his  mind,  and  proceede<l  with  his  force 
to  Fort  William,  the  chief  trading  post  of  the 
Korthwest  Company  on  Lake  Superior ;  and  ap- 
prehending the  principal  partners,  warrants  of 
commitment  were  issued,  and  they  were  forward- 
ed to  the  Attorney-General  of  T'pper  Canada. 

^\hile  Selldrk  was  engaged  at  Fort  AVilliam, 
a  party  of  <  rnigrants  in  ch<u-ge  of  Jliles  McDon- 
nel,  Governor,  and  Captain  D'Orsomen,  W'ent 
forward  to  reinforce  the  colony.  At  Rainy 
Lake  they  obtained  the  guidance  of  a  man  «  ho 
had  all  the  characteristics  of  an  Indian,  and  yet 


had  a  bearing  which  suggested  a  different  origin. 
By  his  efficiency  and  temperate  habits,  he  had  se- 
cured the  respect  of  his  employers,  and  on  the  Earl 
of  Selkirk's  arrival  at  Red  River,  his  attention  was 
called  to  him,  and  in  his  welfare  he  became 
deeply  interested.  By  repeated  conversations 
with  him.  memories  of  a  different  kind  of  exist- 
ence were  aroused,  and  the  light  of  other  days 
began  to  l)righten.  Though  he  had  forgotten  his 
father's  name,  he  furnished  sufficient  data  for 
Selkirk  to  proceed  willi  a  search  for  his  relatives. 
Visiting  the  United  States  in  1817,  he  published 
a  circular  in  the  papers  of  the  Western  States, 
which  led  to  the  identification  of  the  man. 

It  appeared  from  his  own  statement,  and 
those  of  his  friends,  that  his  name  was  John 
Tamier,  the  son  of  a  miTiister  of  the  gospel,  who, 
about  the  year  1790,  lived  on  the  Ohio  river,  near 
the  Miami.  Sliortly  after  his  location  there,  a 
band  of  roving  Indians  jiassed  near  the  house, 
and  found  John  Tanner,  then  a  little  boy,  filling 
his  hat  with  wahints  from  under  a  tree.  They 
seized  him  and  fled.  The  party  was  led  by  an 
Ottawa  whose  wife  had  lost  a  son.  To  compen- 
sate for  his  death,  the  mother  begged  that  a  boy 
of  the  same  age  might  be  captured. 

Adopted  by  the  band,  Tanner  grew  up  an 
Indian  m  his  tastes  and  habits,  ami  was  noted 
for  bravery.  Selkirk  was  successful  in  finding 
his  relatives.  After  twenty-eight  years  of  sepa- 
ration, Jolni  Tanner  in  1818,  met  his  brother 
Edward  near  Detroit,  and  went  with  him  to  his 
home  in  Missouri.  lie  soon  left  his  brother,  and 
went  back  to  the  Indians.  For  a  time  he  was 
interpreter  for  Henry  R.  Schoolcraft,  but  became 
lazy  and  ill-natured,  and  in  1S36,  skulking  behind 
some  bushes,  he  shot  and  killed  Schoolcraft's 
brother,  and  fled  to  the  wilderness,  where,  in 
1847,  he  died.  His  son,  James,  was  kindly  treatr 
ed  by  the  missionaries  to  the  Ojibways  of  Minne- 
sota; but  he  walked  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father. 
In  the  year  1851,  he  attempted  to  impose  upon 
the  Presbyterian  mmister  in  Saint  Paul,  and, 
when  detected,  called  upon  the  Baptist  minister, 
who,  beUeving  him  a  penitent,  cut  a  hole  in  tlie 
ice,  and  received  him  into  the  church  by  immer- 
sion. In  time,  the  Baptistsfound  him  out,  when 
he  became  an  Unitarian  missionary,  and,  at  last, 
it  is  said,  met  a  death  by  violence. 

Lord  Selkirk  was  in  the  lied  River  "^^illey 


EAUL  OF  SELKIBK  VISITS  SAINT  LOUIS. 


8f' 


during  the  summer  of  1817,  and  on  the  eighteenth 
of  July  concluded  a  treaty  with  the  Crees  and 
Saulteaux,  for  a  tract  of  land  beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Red  River,  and  extending  along 
the  same  as  far  as  the  Great  Forks  (now  Grand 
Forks)  at  the  mouth  of  Red  Lake  River,  and 
along  the  Assimiiboine  River  as  far  as  Musk  Rat 
River,  and  extending  to  the  distance  of  six  miles 
from  Fort  Douglas  on  every  side,  and  likewise 
from  Fort  Daer  (Pembina)  and  also  from  the 
Great  Forks,  and  in  other  parts  extending  to  the 
distance  of  two  miles  from  the  banks  of  the  said 
rivers. 

Having  restored  order  and  confidence,  attend- 
ed by  three  or  four  persons  he  crossed  the  plains 
to  the  Miimesota  River,  and  from  thence  pro- 
ceeded to  St.  Louis.  The  Indian  agent  at 
Prairie  du  Chien  was  not  pleased  with  Selkirk's 
trip  through-  Minnesota ;  and  on  the  sixth  of 
February,  181S,  wrote  the  Governor  of  Illinois 
under  excitement,  some  groundless  suspicions : 

•'  "What  do  you  suppose,  sir,  has  been  the  re- 
sult of  the  passage  through  my  agency  of  this 
British  nobleman?  Two  entire  bands,  and  part 
of  a  third,  all  Sioux,  have  deserted  us  and  joined 
Dickson,  wlio  has  distributed  to  them  large  quan- 
tities of  Indian  presents,  together  with  flags, 
medals,  etc.  KJiowing  this,  what  must  have  been 
my  feelings  on  hearing  that  his  lordship  had  met 
with  a  favourable  reception  at  St.  Louis.  The 
newspapers  announcing  his  arrival,  and  general 
Scottish  appearance,  all  tend  to  discompose  me ; 
believing  as  I  do,  that  he  is  plottuig  with  his 
friend  Dickson  our  destruction — sharpening  the 
savage  scalping  knife,  and  colonizing  a  tract  of 
country,  so'remote  as  that  of  the  Red  River,  for 
the  purpose,  no  doubt,  of  monopolizing  tlie  fur 
and  peltry  trade  of  this  river,  the  JSIissouri  and 
their  waters;  a  trade  of  the  first  importance  to 
our  Western  States  and  Territories.  A  courier 
who  had  arrived  a  few  days  since,  confirms  the 
belief  that  Dickson  is  endeavouring  to  undo  what 
I  have  done,  and  secure  to  the  British  govern- 
ment the  affections  of  the  Sionx,  and  subject  the 
Northwest  Company  to  his  lordship.     *     *     * 


Dickson,  as  I  have  before  observed,  is  situated 
near  the  head  of  the  St.  Peter's,  to  which  place 
he  transports  his  goods  from  Selkirk's  Red  River 
establishment,  in  carts  made  for  the  purpose. 
The  trip  is  performed  in  live  days,  sometimes 
less.  He  is  directed  to  build  a  fort  on  the  high- 
est land  between  Lac  du  Traverse  and  Red  River, 
which  he  supposes  will  be  the  established  lines. 
This  fort  will  be  defended  by  twenty  men,  with 
two  small  pieces  of  artillery." 

In  the  year  1820,  at  Berne,  Switzerland,  a  cir- 
cular was  issued,  signed,  R.  May  D'Uzistorf, 
Captain,  in  his  Britannic  Majesty's  sei-vice,  and 
agent  Plenipotentiary  to  Lord  Selkirk.  Like 
msuiy  documents  to  induce  emigration,  it  was  so 
highly  colored  as  to  prove  a  delusion  and  a 
snare.  The  climate  was  represented  as  "  mild 
and  liealthy."  "  Wood  either  for  building  or 
fuel  in  the  greatest  plenty,"  and  the  country 
supplymg  "  in  profusion,  whatever  can  be  re- 
quired for  the  convenience,  pleasure  or  comfort 
of  life."  Remarkable  statements  considering 
that  every  green  thing  had  been  devoured  the 
year  before  by  grasshoppers. 

Under  the  influence  of  tiiese  statements,  a  num- 
ber were  induced  to  embark.  In  the  spring  of 
1821,  about  two  hundred  persons  assembled  on 
the  banks  of  the  Rhine  to  proceed  to  the  region 
west  of  Lake  Superior.  Having  descended  the 
Rhine  to  the  vicinity  of  Rotterdam,  they  went 
aboard  the  ship  "Lord  Wellington,"  and  after  a 
voyage  across  the  Atlantic,  and  amid  the  ice- 
floes of  Hudson's  Bay,  they  reached  York  Fort. 
Here  they  debarked,  and  entering  batteaux,  as- 
cended Nelson  River  for  twenty  days,  when  they 
came  to  Lake  AV'innipeg,  and  coasting  along  the 
west  shore  they  reached  the  Red  River  of  the 
North,  to  feel  that  they  had  been  deluded,  and 
to  long  for  a  milder  clime.  If  they  did  not  sing 
the  Switzer's  Song  of  Home,  they  appreciated  its 
sentiments,  and  gradually  these  immigrants  re- 
moved to  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  River. 
Some  settled  in  Minnesota,  and  were  the  first  to 
raise  cattle,  and  till  the  soil. 


90 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

rOET  SNELLDTG  DUTtlNG  ITS  OCCTTPANCY  BY  COSfPAXTES  OF  THE  FIFTH  EEGniENT  U.  S.  DTFAUTBT. 

A.  D.   1H19,  TO  A.  D.   1827. 


Orders  for  military  occupation  of  Upper  Mississippi— Leavenworth  and  Forsyth 
at  Prajrie  du  Chion— Birth  in  Camp — Troops  arrive  at  Mendota—Cantoninent 
Kstablished— Wheat  carried  to  Pembina— Notice  of  Devotion,  Prescott,  and 
Mjyor  Taliaferro— fanip  Cold  Water  Estahlished— Col.  Snelling  takes  command 
—  Impressive  Scene— Oififcrs  in  1820— Condition  of  the  Fort  in  1821— Saint 
Anthony  Mill— Alexis  Bailly  takes  cattle  to  Pembina— Notice  of  Beltrami- 
Arrival  of  first  Steamboat — Ma,ior  Long's  Expedition  to  Northern  Boundary — 
Beltrami  visits  the  northern  sources  of  the  Mississippi— First  flour  mill — First 
Sunday  School— Great  flt>od  in  1S26.  African  slaves  at  the  Fort — Steamboat 
Arrivals — Duels— Notice  of  William  Joseph  Snelling — Indian  fight  at  the  Fort- 
Attack  upon  keel  boats — (icneral  Gaines*  report — Removal  of  Fifth  Regiment — 
Death  of  Colonel  Snelling. 

The  nimor  that  Lord  Selkirk  was  founding  a 
colony  on  the  borders  of  the  United  States,  and 
that  the  British  trading  companies  within  the 
boundaries  of  what  became  the  territory  of  ^lin- 
nesota,  convinced  the  authorities  at  Washington 
of  the  importance  of  a  military  occupation  of  the 
valley  of  the  Upper  ^lississippi. 

By  direction  of  ilajor  General  Brown,  the  fol- 
lowing order,  on  the  tenth  of  February,  1819,  was 
issued : 

"  Major  General  Macomb,  commander  of  the 
Fifth  Military  department,  will  without  delay, 
concentrate  at  Detroit  the  Fifth  Regiment  of  In- 
fantry, excepting  the  recruits  otlierwisu  directed 
by  the  general  order  herewith  transmitted.  As 
soon  as  the  navigation  of  the  lakes  will  admit,  he 
will  cause  the  regiment  to  be  transported  to  Fort 
Howard ;  from  thence,  by  the  way  of  tlie  Fox 
and  Wisconsin  Rivers,  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  and, 
after  detaching  a  sufDcient  number  of  companies 
to  garrison  Forts  Crawford  and  ^Vnnstrong,  the 
remainder  will  proceed  to  the  mouth  of  the  River 
St.  Peter's,  where  they  will  establish  a  post,  at 
whicli  the  headquarters  of  the  regiment  will  be 
located.  The  regiment,  previous  to  its  depar- 
ture, will  receive  the  necessary  suppUes  of  cloth- 
ing, provisions,  arms,  and  ammunition.  Imme- 
diate application  will  be  made  to  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral Jesup,  Quartermaster  General,  for  funds 
necessary  to  execute  the  movements  required  by 
this  order." 

On  the  thiiteenth  of  April,  this  additional  order 
was  issued,  at  Detroit : 


"  The  season  having  now  an-ived  when  the 
lakes  may  be  navigated  with  safety,  a  detach- 
ment of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  to  consist  of  Major 
ilarston's  and  Captain  Fowle's  companies,  under 
the  command  of  Major  Muhlenburg,  will  proceed 
to  Green  Bay.  Surgeon's  ^Mate,  R.  ^I.  Byrne,  of 
the  Fifth  Regiment,  will  accompany  the  detach- 
ment. The  Assistant  Deputy  Quartermaster 
General  will  furnish  the  necessary  transport,  and 
will  send  by  the  same  opportunity  two  hundred 
barrels  of  provisions,  which  he  will  draw  from  the 
contractor  at  tliis  post.  The  provisions  must  be 
examined  ami  inspected,  and  properly  put  up  for 
transportation.  Colonel  Leavenworth  will,  with- 
out delay,  prepare  his  regiment  to  move  to  the 
post  on  the  Mississippi,  agreeable  to  the  Divi- 
sion order  of  tlie  tenth  of  Febniary.  The  Assist- 
ant Deputy  Quartermaster  General  will  furnish 
the  necessary  transportation,  to  be  ready  by  the 
first  of  jSIay  next.  The  Colonel  will  make  requi- 
sition for  such  stores,  ammunition,  tools  and 
implements  as  may  be  required,  and  he  be  able  to 
take  with  him  on  the  expedition.  Particular  in- 
stnietions  will  be  given  to  the  Colonel,  explaining 
the  objects  of  his  expedition." 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAK   1819. 

On  Wednesday,  the  last  day  of  June,  Col.  Leav- 
enworth and  troops  arrived  from  Green  Bay,  at 
Prairie  du  Chien.  Scarcely  had  they  reached 
this  point  when  Charlotte  Seymour,  the  wife  of 
Lt.  Nathan  Clark,  a  native  of  Hartford,  Ct., 
gave  buth  to  a  daugliter,  whose  first  baptismal 
name  was  Charlotte,  after  her  mother,  and  the 
second  Oiusconsin,  given  by  the  ofHcers  in  view 
of  tlie  fact  that  she  was  born  at  the  junction  of 
that  stream  with  the  Mississippi. 

In  time  Charlotte  Ouisconsin  married  a  young 
Lieutenant,  a  native  of  Princeton.  Xew  Jersey, 
and  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and  still  resides 
with  her  husband,  General  II.  P.  Van  Cleve,  in 


COL.  LEAVENWORTH  ABBIVES  AT  MENDOTA 


91 


the  city  of  Miui  ^sapolis,  living  to  do  good  as  slie 
has  opportunity. 

In  June,  luifler  instnictions  from  the  AVar 
Department,  Major  Tliomas  Forsyth,  connected 
with  the  office  of  Indian  affairs,  left  St.  Louis 
with  two  thousand  dollars  worth  of  goods  to  be 
distributed  among  the  Sioux  Indians,  m  accor- 
dance with  the  agreement  of  1805,  already  re- 
ferred to,  by  the  late  General  Pike. 

About  nine  o'clock  of  the  morning  of  the  fifth 
of  July,  he  joined  Leavenworth  and  his  conunand 
at  Prairie  du  Cliien.  Some  time  was  occupied  by 
Leavenworth  awaiting  the  arrival  of  ordnance, 
provisions  and  recruits,  but  on  Sunday  morning, 
the  eightli  of  August,  aljout  eight  o'clock,  the 
expedition  set  out  for  the  point  now  known  as 
Mendota.  The  flotilla  was  quite  imposing ;  there 
were  the  C'oloners  barge,  fourteen  batteaux  with 
ninety-eight  soldiers  and  officers,  two  large  canal 
or  ]SIackinaw  boats,  filled  with  various  stores,  and 
Forsyth'rj  keel  boat,  containing  goods  and  pres- 
ents fov  the  Indians.  On  the  twenty-third  of 
Angus*",  Forsyth  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Min- 
nesota with  his  boat,  and  the  next  monring  Col. 
Leave iworth  arrived,  and  selecting  a  place  at 
Mendota,  near  the  present  railroad  bridge,  he 
ordered  the  soldiers  to  cut  down  trees  and  make 
a  clearing.  On  the  next  Saturday  Col.  Leaven- 
worth, Iilajor  Vose,  Surgeon  Purcell,  Lieutenant 
Clark  and  the  wife  of  Captain  Gooding  ivited 
the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony  with  Forsyth,  in 
his  keel  boat. 

Early  in  September  two  more  boats  and  a  bat- 
teaux, with  officers  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
recruits,  arrived. 

During  the  winter  of  18:20,  Laidlow  and  others, 
in  behalf  of  Lord  Selkirk's  Scotch  settlers  at 
Pembina,  whose  crops  had  been  destroyed  by 
grasshoppers,  passed  the  Cantonment,  on  their 
way  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  to  purchase  wheat. 
Upon  the  fifteenth  of  April  they  began  their 
return  with  their  Mackinaw  boats,  each  loaded 
with  two  himdred  bushels  of  wheat,  one  himdred 
of  oats,  and  thirty  of  peas,  and  reached  the  mouth 
of  the  ^Minnesota  early  in  JIay.  Ascending  this 
stream  to  Big  Stone  Lake,  the  boats  were  drawn 
on  rollers  a  mile  and  a  half  to  Lake  Traverse, 
and  on  the  third  of  June  arrived  at  Pemliinaand 
cheered  the  desponding  and  needy  settlers  of  the 
Selkirk  colony. 


The  first  sutler  of  the  post  was  a  Mr.  Devotion. 
He  brought  with  him  a  young  man  named  Phi- 
lander Prescott,  who  was  born  in  1801 ,  at  Phelps- 
town,  Ontario  county,  New  York.  At  first  they 
stopped  at  Mud  Hen  Island,  in  the  Mississippi 
below  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Croix  Kiver.  Coming 
up  late  in  the  year  1819,  at  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent town  of  Hastings  they  found  a  keel-boat 
loaded  with  supplies  for  the  cantonment,  m  charge 
of  Lieut.  OUver,  detained  by  the  ice. 

Amid  all  the  changes  of  the  troops,  Mr.  Pres- 
cott remained  nearly  all  his  life  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  post,  to  which  he  came  when  a  mere  lad,  and 
was  at  length  killed  in  the  Sioux  Massacre. 

EVENTS   OF  THE  YEAR  1820 

In  the  spring  of  1820,  Jean  Baptiste  Faribault 
brought  up  Leavenworth's  horses  from  Prairie 
du  Cliien. 

The  first  Indian  Agent  at  the  post  was  a  former 
army  officer,  LawTence  Taliaferro,  pronounced 
Toliver.  As  he  had  the  confidence  of  the  Gov- 
ernment for  twenty-one  successive  years,  he  is 
deserving  of  notice. 

His  family  was  of  Italian  origin,  and  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Virgmia.  He  was  born  in 
1794,  in  King  WilUam  county  in  that  State,  and 
when,  in  1812,  war  was  declared  against  Great 
Britain,  with  four  brothers,  he  entered  the  army, 
and  was  commissioned  as  Lieutenant  of  the 
Thirty-fifth  Infantry.  He  behaved  gallantly  at 
Fort  Erie  and  Sackett's  Harbor,  and  after  peace 
was  declared,  he  was  retained  as  a  First  Lieuten- 
ant of  the  Third  Infantry.  In  1816  he  was  sta- 
tioned at  Fort  Dearborn,  now  the  site  of  Chicago. 
AVTiile  on  a  furlough,  he  called  one  day  upon 
President  Monroe,  who  told  him  that  a  fort  would 
be  built  near  the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony,  and  an 
Indian  Agency  estalilished,  to  which  he  offered 
to  appoint  him.  His  commission  was  dated 
March  27th,  1819,  and  he  proceeded  in  due  time 
to  his  post. 

On  the  fifth  day  of  May,  1820,  Leavenworth 
left  his  winter  quarters  at  Mendota,  crossed  the 
stream  and  made  a  summer  camp  near  the 
present  miUtary  grave  yard,  which  in  consequence 
of  a  fine  spring  has  been  called  "  Camp  Cold 
Water."  The  Indian  agency,  under  Taliaferro, 
remained  for  a  tune  at  the  old  cantonment. 

The    commanding   officer   estabUshed  a  fine 


92 


EXPLOREBS  AND  PIONEEBH  OF  JiUJ^NESOTA. 


guiilen  in  the  bottom  lands  of  the  iliniiesota, 
and  on  tlie  flfteenth  of  June  the  earliest  garden 
peas  were  eaten.  The  first  distinguished  visitors 
at  the  new  encampment  were  (iovcrnor  Lewis 
Cass,  of  Michigan,  and  Henry  Schoolcraft,  who 
arrived  in  July,  by  way  of  Lake  Superior  and 
Sandy  Lake. 

The  relations  between  Col.  Leavenworth  and 
Indian  Agent  Taliaferro  were  not  entirely  har- 
monious, growing  out  of  a  disagreement  of  views 
relative  to  the  treatment  of  the  Indians,  and  on 
the  day  of  the  arrival  of  Governor  Cass,  Tal- 
iaferro writes  to  Leavenworth : 

"  As  it  is  now  imderstood  that  I  am  agent  for 
Indian  affairs  in  this  country,  and  you  are  about 
to  leave  the  upper  Mississippi,  in  all  probability 
in  the  course  of  a  month  or  two,  I  beg  leave  to 
suggest,  for  the  sake  of  a  general  luiderstanding 
with  the  Indian  tribes  in  this  country,  that  any 
medals,  you  may  possess,  would  by  being  turned 
over  to  me,  cease  to  be  a  topic  of  remark  among 
the  different  Indian  tribes  under  my  direction. 
I  will  pass  to  you  any  voucher  that  may  be  re- 
quired, and  I  beg  leave  to  observe  that  any  pro- 
gress in  influence  is  much  impeded  in  conse- 
quence of  this  frequent  intercourse  with  the  gar- 
rison." 

In  a  few  days,  the  disastrous  effect  of  Indians 
mingling  with  the  soldiers  was  exhibited.  On 
the  third  of  August,  the  agent  wrote  to  Leaven- 
worth: 

"  His  Excellency  Governor  Cass  during  his 
visit  to  this  post  remarked  to  me  that  the  Indians 
jn  this  quarter  were  spoiled,  and  at  the  same 
time  said  they  should  not  be  permitted  to  enter 
the  camp.  An  unpleasant  affair  has  lately  taken 
place  ;  I  mean  the  stabbing  of  the  old  chief 
Mahgossau  l>y  his  comrade.  This  was  caused, 
doubtless,  by  an  anxiety  to  obtain  the  chief's 
whiskey.  I  beg,  therefore,  that  no  whiskey 
whatever  be  given  to  any  Indians,  unless  it  be 
through  their  proper  agent.  "While  an  overplus 
of  whiskey  thwarts  the  benificent  and  humane 
poUcy  of  the  government,  it  entails  misery  upon 
the  Indians,  and  endangers  their  lives." 

A  few  days  after  this  note  was  v.ritten  Josiah 
Snelling,  who  had  been  recently  promoted  to  the 
Colonelcy  of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  arrived  with 
his  family,  relieved  Leavenworth,  and  infused 
new  life  and  energy.    A  little  while  before  his 


arrival,  the  daughter  of  Captain  Gooding  was 
married  to  Lieutenant  Green,  the  Adjutant  of 
the  regiment,  the  first  maniage  of  white  persons 
in  ^ILunesota.  Mrs.  Snelling,  a  few  days  after 
her  an-ival,  gave  birth  to  a  daughter,  the  first 
white  child  born  in  Minnesota,  and  after  a  brief 
existence  of  thirteen  months,  she  died  and  was 
the  first  interred  in  the  military  grave  yard,  and 
for  years  the  stone  which  marked  its  resting 
place,  was  visible. 

The  earUest  manuscript  in  Minnesota,  written 
at  the  Cantonment,  is  dated  October  4,  1820,  and 
is  in  the  handwriting  of  Colonel  Snelling.  It 
reads  :  "  In  justice  to  Lawrence  Taliaferro,  Esq., 
Indian  Agent  at  this  post,  we,  tlie  midersigned, 
officers  of  the  Fiftli  Regiment  here  stationed, 
have  presented  him  this  paper,  as  a  token,  not 
only  of  our  individual  respect  and  esteem,  but  as 
an  entire  approval  of  his  conduct  and  deportment 
as  a  public  agent  in  this  quarter.  Given  at  St. 
Peter,  this  4th  day  of  October,  1820. 

J.  Snellixg,  N.  Clark, 

Col.  5th  Inf.  Lieutenant. 

S.  BuEBANK,  Jos.  Hare, 

Br.  Major.  Lieutenant. 

David  Perut,  Ed.  Purcell, 

Captain.  Surgeon, 

D.  Gooding,  P.  R.  Green, 
Brevet  Captain.  Lieut,  and  Adjt. 

J.  Plyjii'ton,  ^y.  G.  Cajip, 

Lieutenant.  Lt.  and  Q.  M. 

E.  A.  McCabe,  H.  Wilkins, 

Lieutenant.  Lieutenant." 

During  the  summer  of  1820,  a  party  of  the 
Sisseton  Sioux  killed  on  the  Missoiu:i,  Isadore 
Poupon,  a  half-breed,  and  Joseph  Andrews,  a 
Canadian  engaged  in  the  fur  trade.  The  Indian 
Agent,  through  Colin  Campbell,  as  interpreter, 
notified  the  Sissetons  that  trade  would  cease 
with  tliein,  until  the  murderers  were  delivered. 
At  a  council  held  at  Big  Stone  Lake,  one  of  the 
murderers,  and  the  aged  father  of  another,  agreed 
to  surrender  themselves  to  the  commanding 
oflicer. 

On  the  twelfth  of  November,  accompanied  by 
their  friends,  they  approached  the  encampment 
in  solemn  procession,  and  marched  to  the  centre 
of  the  parade.  First  appeared  a  Sisseton  bear- 
ing a  British  flag ;  then  the  murderer  and  the  de- 
voted father  of  another, their  arms  i)inioned,and 


ARRIVAL  OF  THE  FIRST  STEAMBOAT. 


93 


large  wooden  splinters  thrust  througb  the  flesh 
above  the  elbows  indicating  their  contempt  for 
pain  and  death  ;  in  the  rear  followed  friends  and 
relatives,  with  them  chanting  the  death  dirge. 
Having  arrived  in  front  of  the  guard,  fire  was 
kindled,  and  tlie  British  flag  burned ;  then  the 
murderer  delivered  up  his  medal,  and  both  prison- 
ers were  surrounded.  Col.  Snelling  detained  t'.;e 
old  cliief,  while  the  murderer  was  sent  to  St. 
Louis  for  trial. 

EVENTS  OF   THE   YEAR    1S21. 

Col.  Snelling  built  the  fort  in  the  shape  of  a 
lozenge,  in  view  of  the  projection  between  the 
two  rivers.  The  first  row  of  barracks  was  of 
liewu  logs,  obtained  from  the  pine  forests  of  Rum 
River,  but  the  other  buildings  were  of  stone. 
JNIrs.  Van  Cleve,  the  daughter  of  Lieutenant, 
afterwards  Captain  Clark,  writes  : 

"  In  1821  the  fort,  although  not  complete,  was 
fit  fur  occupancy.  JNIy  father  had  assigned  to 
him  the  quarters  next  beyond  the  steps  leading 
to  tlie  Commissary's  stores,  and  during  the  year 
my  little  sister  Juliet  was  bom  there.  At  a  later 
period  my  father  and  Major  Garland  obtained 
permission  to  build  more  commodious  quarters 
outside  the  walls,  and  the  result  was  the  two 
stone  houses  afterwards  occupied  by  the  Indian 
Agent  and  interpreter,  lately  destroyed." 

Early  in  August,  a  young  and  intelligent  mixed 
blood,  Alexis  Bailly,  in  after  years  a  member  of 
the  legislature  of  ^Minnesota,  left  the  cantonment 
with  the  first  drove  of  cattle  for  the  Selkirk  Set- 
tlement, and  the  next  winter  returned  with  Col. 
Robert  Dickson  and  Messrs.  Laidlow  and  Mac- 
kenzie. 

The  next  montli,  a  party  of  Sissetons  visited 
the  Indian  Agent,  and  told  him  that  they  had 
started  with  another  of  the  murderers,  to  which 
reference  has  been  made,  but  that  on  the  way  he 
had,  through  fear  of  being  hung,  killed  himself. 

This  fall,  a  mill  was  constructed  for  the  use  of 
the  garrison,  on  the  west  side  of  St.  Anthony 
Falls, under  the  supervision  of  LieutenantMeCabe. 
During  the  fall,  George  Gooding,  Captain  by 
brevet,  resigned,  and  became  Sutler  at  Prairie  du 
Chien.  He  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
entered  the  army  as  ensign  in  1808.  In  1810  he 
became  a  Second  Lieutenant,  and  the  next  year 
was  wounded  at  Tippecanoe. 


In  the  middle  of  October,  there  embarked  on 
the  keel-boat "  Saucy  Jack,"  for  Prairie  du  Chien, 
Col.  Snelling,  Lieut.  Baxley,  Major  Taliaferro, 
and  Mrs.  Gooding, 

EVENTS  OF   1822   AND   1823. 

Early  in  January,  1822,  there  came  to  the  Fort 
from  the  Red  River  of  the  North,  Col.  Robert 
Dickson,  Laidlow,  a  Scotch  farmer,  the  superin- 
tendent of  Lord  Selkirk's  experimental  farm,  and 
one  Mackenzie,  on  their  way  to  Prairie  du  Chien. 
Dickson  returned  with  a  drove  of  cattle,  but 
( iwing  to  the  hostility  of  the  Sioux  his  cattle  were 
scattered,  and  never  reached  Pembina. 

During  the  winter  of  1823,  Agent  Taliaferro 
was  in  Washington.  While  returning  in  March, 
lie  was  at  a  hotel  in  Pittsburg,  when  he  received 
a  note  signed  G.  C.  Beltrami,  who  was  an  Italian 
exile,  asking  permission  to  accompany  him  to  the 
Indian  territory.  He  was  tall  and  commanding 
in  appearance,  and  gentlemanly  in  bearing,  and 
Taliaferro  was  so  forcibly  impressed  as  to  acced.; 
to  the  request.  After  reaching  St.  Louis  tliey 
embarked  on  the  first  steamboat  for  the  Upper 
Mississippi. 

It  was  named  tlie  Virginia,  and  was  built  in 
Pittsburg,  twentj'-two  feet  in  width,  and  one 
hundred  and  eigliteen  feet  in  lengtli,  in  charge  of 
a  Captain  Crawford.  It  reached  the  Fort  on  the 
tenth  of  May,  and  was  saluted  by  the  discharge 
of  cannon.  Among  the  passengers,  besides  the 
Agent  and  the  Italian,  were  Jtlajor  Biddle,  Lieut. 
Russell,  and  others. 

The  arrival  of  the  "\''irginia  is  an  era  in  the 
history  of  the  Dahkotah  nation,  and  will  proba- 
bly be  transmitted  to  their  posterity  as  long  as 
they  exist  as  a  people.  They  say  their  sacred 
men,  the  night  before,  dreamed  of  seeing  some 
monster  of  the  waters,  which  frightened  them 
very  much. 

As  the  boat  neared  the  shore,  men,  women, 
and  children  beheld  with  silent  astonishment, 
supposing  that  it  was  some  enormous  water-spirit, 
coughing,  puffing  out  hot  breath,  and  splashing 
water  in  every  direction.  When  it  touched  the 
landing  their  fears  prevailed,  and  they  retreated 
some  distance ;  but  when  the  blowing  off  of 
steam  commenced  they  were  com}iletely  im- 
nerved  :  mothers  forgetting  tlieir  children,  wth 
streaming  hair,  sought  hidmg-places ;  chiefs,  re- 


94 


EXPLOREBS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


nouncliig  their  stoicism,  scampered  away  like 
affrighted  animals. 

Tlie  peace  agreement  beteen  tlie  Ojibways  and 
Dahkotahs,  made  througli  the  infhience  of  Gov- 
ernor Cass,  was  of  brief  duration,  tlie  latter  be- 
ing the  first  to  violate  the  provisions. 

On  the  foiutli  of  Jinie,  Taliaferro,  the  Indian 
agent  among  the  Dahkotahs,  took  advantage  of 
the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  Ojibways  to 
renew  the  agreement  for  the  cessation  of  hostili- 
ties. The  council  hall  of  the  agent  was  a  large 
room  of  logs,  in  which  waved  conspicuously  the 
flag  of  the  United  States,  surrounded  by  British 
colors  and  medals  that  had  been  delivered  up 
from  time  to  time  by  Indian  chiefs. 

Among  the  Dalikotah  chiefs  present  were 
Wapashaw,  Little  Crow,  and  Penueshaw ;  of  the 
Ojibways  there  were  Kendouswa.  iloshomene. 
and  Pasheskonoepe.  After  mutual  accusations 
and  excuses  concerning  the  infraction  of  the  pre- 
vious treaty,  the  Dahkotahs  lighted  the  calumet, 
they  having  been  the  first  to  infringe  upon  tlie 
agreement  of  1820.  After  smoking  and  passing 
the  pipe  of  peace  to  the  Ojibways,  who  passed 
through  the  same  formalities,  they  all  shook 
hands  as  a  pledge  of  renewed  amity. 

The  morning  after  the  council.  Flat  Mouth, 
the  distinguished  Ojibway  chief,  arrived,  who 
had  left  his  lodge  vowing  that  he  would  never  be 
at  peace  with  the  Dahkotahs.  As  he  stepped  from 
his  canoe,  Penneshaw  held  out  his  hand,  but  was 
repulsed  with  scorn.  The  Dahkotah  warrior 
immeiliately  gave  the  alarm,  and  in  a  moment 
runners  were  on  their  way  to  the  neighboring 
villages  to  raise  a  war  party. 

On  the  sixth  of  June,  the  Dahkotahs  had  assem- 
bled, stripped  for  a  fight,  and  surrounded  the 
Ojibways.  The  latter,  fearhig  the  worst,  con- 
cealed their  women  and  children  behind  the  old 
barracks  which  had  been  used  by  the  troops  while 
the  fort  was  being  erected.  At  the  solicitation  of 
the  agent  and  commander  of  the  fort,  the  Dahko- 
tahs desisted  trom  an  attack  and  retired. 

On  the  seventh,  the  Ojibways  left  for  their 
homes;  but,  in  a  few  hours,  while  they  were 
making  a  portage  at  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  they 
were  again  approached  by  the  Dahkotahs,  who 
would  have  attacked  them,  if  a  detachment  of 
troops  had  not  arrived  from  the  fort. 

A  rumor  reaching  Penneshaw's  village  that  he 


had  been  killed  at  the  falls,  liis  mother  seized  an 
Ojibway  maiden,  who  had  been  a  captive  from 
infancy,  and,  with  a  tomahawk,  cut  her  in  two. 
Upon  (lie  return  of  the  son  in  safety  he  was  much 
gratified  at  what  he  considered  the  prowess  of 
his  parent. 

On  the  third  of  -Ttily,  1S2.3.  Major  Long,  of  the 
engineers,  arrived  at  the  fort  in  command  of  an 
expedition  to  explore  the  Minnesota  Eiver,  and 
the  region  along  the  northern  lioundary  line  of 
the  United  States.  Beltrami,  at  the  request  of 
Col.  Snelling.  was  permitted  to  be  of  the  party, 
and  ilajor  Taliaferro  kindly  gave  him  a  horse 
and  equipments. 

The  relations  of  the  Italian  to  Major  Long  were 
not  pleasant,  and  at  Pembina  Beltrami  left  the 
expedition,  and  with  a  "  bois  brule  ",  and  two 
Ojibways  proceeded  and  discovered  the  northern 
sources  of  the  Mississippi,  and  suggested  where 
the  western  sources  would  be  found ;  wliich  was 
verified  by  Schoolcraft  nine  years  later.  About 
the  second  week  in  September  Beltrami  returned 
to  the  fort  by  way  of  the  Mississipjii,  escorted  by 
forty  or  fifty  Ojibways,  and  on  the  2oth  departed 
for  Kew  Orleans,  where  he  published  his  discov- 
eries in  the  French  language. 

The  mill  which  was  constructed  in  1821,  for 
sawing  lumber,  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  stood 
upon  the  site  of  the  Holmes  and  Sidle  ilill,  in 
MinneapoUs.  and  in  1S23  was  fitted  up  for  grind- 
ing flour.  The  following  extracts  ft'om  corres- 
pondence addressed  to  Lieut.  Clark,  Commissary 
at  Fort  Snelling,  will  be  read  with  interest. 

Under  the  date  of  August  5th,  1823,  General 
Gibson  writes :  "  From  a  letter  addressed  by 
Col.  Snelling  to  the  Quartermaster  General, 
dated  the  2d  of  April,  I  leani  that  a  large  quan- 
tity of  wheat  would  be  raised  this  summer.  The 
assistant  Commissary  of  Subsistence  at  St.  Louis 
has  been  instructed  to  forward  sickles  and  a  pair 
of  millstones  to  St.  Peters.  If  any  flour  is  manu- 
factured from  the  wheat  raised,  be  pleased  to  let 
me  know  as  early  as  practicable,  that  I  may  deduct 
the  quantity  manufactured  at  the  post  from  the 
quantity  advertised  to  be  contracted  for." 

In  another  letter,  General  Gibson  writes : 
'•  Below  you  will  find  the  amount  charged  on  the 
books  against  the  garrison  at  Ft.  St.  Anthony, 
feu-  certain  articles,  and  forwarded  for  the  use  of 
the  troops  at  that  post,  which  yoii  will  deduct 


FIEST  FLOUR  MILL  IN  MINNESOTA. 


9,5 


from  the  payments  to  be  made  for  flour  raised 
and  turned  over  to  you  for  issue  : 

One  pair  buhr  millstones $250  1 1 

337  pounds  plaster  of  Paris 20  22 

Two  dozen  sickles IS  00 

Total $288  33 

Upon  tbe  lOtli  of  January,  1824,  the  General 
writes:  "  The  mode  suggested  by  Col.  Snelling, 
of  fixing  the  price  to  be  paid  to  the  troops  for  the 
flour  furnished  l)y  them  is  deemed  equitable  and 
just.  You  wUl  accordingly  pay  for  the  flour 
$3.33  per  barrel." 

Charlotte  Ouisconsin  Van  Cleve.  now  the  oldest 
person  living  who  was  connected  with  the  cau- 
toimient  in  1819,  in  a  paper  read  before  the  De- 
partment of  American  History  of  the  Mimiesota 
Historical  Society  in  January,  1880,  wrote  : 

"  In  1823,  Mrs.  Snelling  and  my  mother  estab- 
lished the  first  Sunday  School  in  the  Northwest. 
It  was  held  in  the  basement  of  the  commanding 
officer's  quarters,  and  was  productive  of  much 
good.  Many  of  the  soldiers,  with  their  families, 
attended.  Joe.  Brown,  since  so  well  know  in 
this  countrj',  then  a  drummer  boy,  was  one  of 
the  pupils.  A  Bible  class,  for  the  officers  and 
their  wives,  was  formed,  and  all  became  so  inter- 
ested in  the  history  of  the  patriarchs,  that  it  fur- 
nished topics  of  conversation  for  the  week.  One 
day  after  the  Sunday  School  lesson  on  the  death  of 
Moses,  a  member  of  the  class  meeting  my  mother 
on  the  parade,  after  exchanging  the  usual  greet- 
ings, said,  in  saddened  tones,  '  But  don't  you  feel 
sorry  that  Moses  is  dead  ?  " 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1824,  tlie  Tully  boys 
were  rescued  from  the  Sioux  and  brought  to  the 
fort.  They  were  children  of  one  of  the  settlers 
of  Lord  Selkirk's  colony,  and  with  their  parents 
and  others,  were  on  their  way  from  Red  River 
Valley  to  settle  near  Fort  SneUing. 

The  party  was  attacked  by  Indians,  and  the 
parents  of  these  children  murdered,  and  the  boys 
captured.  Through  the  influence  of  Col.  Snell- 
ing the  children  were  ransomed  and  brought 
to  the  fort.  Col.  Snelling  took  John  and 
my  father  Andrew,  the  younger  of  the  two. 
Everyone  became  interested  in  the  orphans,  and 
we  loved  Andrew  as  if  he  had  been  our  o^\^l  lit- 
tle brother.  John  died  some  two  years  after  his 
arrival  at  the  fort,  and  ]Mrs.  Snelling  asked  me 


when  I  last  saw  her  if  a  tomb  stone  had  been 
placed  at  his  grave,  she  as  requested,  during  a 
visit  to  the  old  home  some  years  ago.  She  said 
she  received  a  promise  that  it  should  be  done, 
and  seemed  quite  disappointed  when  I  told  her  it 
had  not  been  attended  to." 

Andrew  Tully,  after  being  educated  at  an 
Orphan  Asylum  in  New  York  City,  became  a 
carriage  maker,  and  died  a  few  years  ago  in  that 
vicinity. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEAK  A.  D.  1824. 

In  the  year  1824  the  Fort  was  visited  by  Gen. 
Scott,  on  a  tour  of  inspection,  and  at  his  sug- 
gestion, its  name  was  changed  from  Fort  St. 
Anthony  to  Fort  Snelling.  The  following  is  an 
extract  from  his  report  to  the  War  Department : 

"  This  work,  of  which  the  AVar  Department  is 
in  possession  of  a  plan,  reflects  the  highest  credit 
on  Col.  Snelling,  his  otticers  and  men.  The  de- 
fenses, and  for  the  most  part,  the  public  store- 
houses, shops  and  quarters  being  constructed  of 
stone,  the  whole  is  Ukely  to  endure  as  long  as  the 
post  shall  remam  a  frontier  one.  The  cost  of 
erection  to  the  government  has  been  the  amount 
paid  for  tools  and  iron,  and  the  per  diem  paid 
to  sokliers  employed  as  mechanics.  I  wish  to 
suggest  to  the  General  in  Chief,  and  through  him 
to  the  War  Department,  the  propriety  of  calling 
this  work  Fort  Snelling,  as  a  just  compliment 
to  the  meritorious  officer  under  whom  it  has 
been  erected.  The  present  name,  (Fort  St.  jVn- 
thony),  is  foreign  to  all  our  associations,  and  is, 
besides,  geographically  incorrect,  as  the  work 
stands  at  the  junction  of  the  Mississippi  and 
St.  Peter's  [Minnesota]  Rivers,  eight  miles  be- 
low the  great  falls  of  the  Jilississippi,  called 
after  St.  Anthony." 

In  1824,  Major  Taliaferro  proceeded  to  Wash- 
ington with  a  delegation  of  Chippeways  and  Dah- 
kotahs,  headed  by  Little  Crow,  the  grand  father 
of  the  chief  of  the  same  name,  who  was  engaged 
in  tlie  late  horrible  massacre  of  defenceless 
women  and  children.  The  object  of  the  visit,  was 
to  secure  a  convocation  of  all  the  tribes  of  the 
Upper  Mississippi,  at  Prairie  du  Chein,  to  define 
theirboundary  Unes  and  establish  friendly  rela- 
tions. When  they  reached  Prairie  du  Chein, 
Wahnatah,  a  Yankton  chief,  and  also  Wapashaw, 
by  the  whisperuigs  of  mean  traders,  became  dis- 


96 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  ^HNNESOTA. 


afEected,  and  wished  to  turn  back.  Little  Crow, 
perceiving  tliis,  stopped  all  hesitancy  by  the  foL 
lowing  speech:  '-^ly  friends,  you  can  do  as  you 
please.  I  am  no  coward,  nor  can  my  ears  be 
pulled  about  by  evil  counsels.  We  are  here  and 
should  go  on,  and  do  sotne  good  for  our  nation. 
I  have  taken  our  Father  here  (Taliaferro)  by  tlie 
coat  tail,  and  will  follow  him  until  I  take  by  the 
hand,  our  great  American  Father." 

While  on  board  of  a  steamer  on  the  Ohio 
Kiver,  Marcpee  or  tlie  Cloud,  in  (•onse(iuence  of  a 
bad  dream,  jumped  from  the  stern  of  the  boat, 
and  was  shpposed  to  be  drowTied,  but  he  swam 
ashore  and  made  his  way  to  St.  Charles,  ilo.. 
there  to  be  murdered  by  some  Sacs.  The  re- 
mainder safely  arrived  in  Washington  and  ac- 
complished the  object  of  the  visit.  The  Dahko- 
tahs  returned  by  way  of  Xew  York,  and  while 
there  were  anxious  to  jiay  a  visit  to  certain  par- 
ties Willi  ^Vm.  Dickson,  a  half-breed  son  of  Col 
Robert  Dickson,  the  trader,  wlio  in  the  war  of 
1812-15  led  the  Indians  of  the  Xorthwest  iigainst 
the  United  States. 

After  this  visit  Little  Crow  carried  a  new 
double-barreled  gun,  and  said  that  a  medicine 
man  by  the  name  of  I'eters  gave  it  to  him  for 
signing  a  certain  paper,  and  that  he  also  prom- 
ised he  would  send  a  keel-boat  full  of  goods  to 
them.  The  medicine  man  referred  to  was  tlie 
Eev.  Samuel  Peters,  an  Episcopal  clerg>7uan, 
who  had  made  himself  olmoxious  during  the 
Revolution  by  his  tory  sentiments,  and  was  sub- 
sequently nominated  as  Bishop  of  Vermont. 

Peters  asserted  that  in  1806  he  had  pm-chased 
of  the  heirs  of  Jonathan  Carver  the  right  to  a 
tract  of  land  on  the  upper  Mississippi,  embracing 
St.  Paul,  alleged  to  have  been  given  to  Carver  by 
the  Dahkotahs,  in  1767. 

The  next  year  there  arrived,  in  one  of  tlie  keel- 
boats  from  Prairie  du  Chien,  at  Fort  Snelling  a 
box  marked  C<il.  Robert  Dickson.  On  opening,  it 
was  found  to  contain  a  few  presents  from  Peters 
to  Dickson's  Indian  Vvife,  a  long  letter,  and  a 
copy  of  Carvers  alleged  grant,  written  on  parch- 
ment. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  YEARS  1825  AND  1826. 

On  the  301h  of  October,  1825,  seven  Indian 
women  in  canoes,  Avere  drawn  into  the  rapids 
above  the- Falls  of  St.  Anthony.    ^Vll  \\  ere  saved 


but  a  lame  girl,  who  was  dashed  over  the  cata- 
ract, and  a  month  later  her  body  was  found  at 
Pike's  Island  in  front  of  the  fort. 

Forty  years  ago,  the  means  of  communication 
between  Fort  Snelling  and  the  civilized  world 
yere  very  limited.  The  mail  in  winter  was  usu- 
ally carried  by  soldiers  to  Prairie  du  Chien.  On 
the  26th  of  January,  1X26,  there  was  great  joy  in 
the  fort;,  caused  by  the  return  from  furlough  of 
Lieutenants  Baxley  and  Russell,  who  brought 
with  them  the  first  mail  received  for  live  months. 
About  this  period  there  was  also  another  excite- 
ment, cause  by  the  seizure  of  liquors  in  the  trad" 
ing  house  of  Ale.xis  IJailey,  at  Xew  Hope,  now 
Jlendota. 

During  the  mouths  of  Febinjary  and  ilarch,  in 
this  year,  snow  fell  to  the  depth  (,f  two  or  three 
feet,  and  there  was  great  suffering  among  the 
Indians.  On  one  occasion,  thirty  lodges  of  Sisse- 
ton  and  other  Sioux  were  overtaken  by  a  snow 
storm  on  a  large  prairie.  Tlfe  storm  continued 
for  three  days,  and  juovisions  gruw  scarce,  for 
the  party  were  seventy  in  number.  At  last,  the 
stronger  men,  with  the  few  pairs  of  snow-shoes 
in  their  possession,  .started  for  a  trading  post  one 
hundred  miles  distant.  They  reached  their  des- 
tination half  alive,  and  the  traders  sympathizing 
sent  foiu'  Canadians  with  supplies  for  those  left 
behind.  After  great  toil  they  reached  the  scene 
of  distress,  and  found  many  dead,  and,  what  was 
more  horrible,  the  living  feeding  on  the  corpses 
of  their  relatives.  A  mother  had  eaten  her  dead 
child  and  a  portion  of  her  own  father's  arms. 
The  shock  to  her  neiTous  system  was  so  great 
that  she  lost  her  reason.  Her  name  was  Pash- 
uno-ta,  and  she  was  both  young  and  good  look- 
ing. One  day  in  Septu'ralter,  while  at  Fort  Snell- 
ing, she  asked  Captain  Jouett  if  he  knew  which 
was  the  best  portion  of  a  man  to  eat,  at  the  same 
time  taking  him  by  the  collar  of  his  coat.  lie 
replied  with  great  astonishment.  --Xo  !"  and  she 
then  said,  "The  arms."  She  then  asked  for  a 
piece  of  his  servant  to  eat,  as  she  was  nice  and 
fat.  A  few  days  after  this  she  dashed  herself 
from  the  bluffs  near  Fort  Snelling,  into  the  river. 
Her  body  was  found  just  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Minnesota,  and  decently  interred  by  the  agent. 

The  spring  of  1826  was  very  backward.  On 
the  20th  of  March  snow  fell  to  the  depth  of  one 
or  one  and  a  half  feet  on  a  level,  and  drifted  in 


NEORO  SLAVES  AT  FOBT  SNELLING. 


97 


heaps  from  six  to  fifteen  feet  in  height.  On  the 
-  5tli  of  April,  early  in  the  day,  there  was  a  violent 
storm,  and  the  ice  was  still  thick  in  tlie  river. 
During  tlie  storm  flashes  of  lightnmg  were  seen 
and  thunder  heard.  On  the  10th,  the  thermome- 
ter was  four  degrees  above  zero.  On  the  14th 
there  was  rain,  and  on  the  next  day  the  St.  Peter 
river  broke  up,  hut  the  ice  on  the  Mississippi  I'e- 
mained  firm.  On  the  21st,  at  noon,  the  ice  began 
to  move,  and  carried  away  ilr.  Faribault's  houses 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  For  several  days 
the  river  was  twenty  feet  above  low  water  mark, 
and  all  the  houses  on  low  lands  were  swept  off. 
On  the  second  of  May,  the  steamboat  T,awrence, 
Captain  Eeeder,  arrived. 

Major  Taliaferro  had  inherited  several  slaves, 
which  he  used  to  hire  to  officers  of  the  garrison. 
On  the  31st  of  March,  his  negro  boy,  William, 
was  employed  by  Col.  Snelling,  the  latter  agree- 
ing to  clothe  him.  About  this  time,  William  at- 
tempted to  shoot  a  hawk,  but  Instead  shot  a  small 
boy,  named  Henry  CuUum,  and  nearly  killed  him. 
In  May,  Captain  Plympton,  of  the  Fifth  Infantry, 
wished  to  purchase  his  negro  woman,  Eliza,  but 
lie  refused,  as  it  was  his  intention,  ultimately,  to 
free  his  slaves.  Another  of  his  negro  girls,  Har- 
riet, was  married  at  the  fort,  the  Major  perform- 
ing the  ceremony,  to  the  now  historic  Dred  Scott, 
who  was  then  a  slave  of  Surgeon  Emerson.  The 
only  person  that  ever  purchased  a  slave,  to  retain 
in  slavery,  was  Alexis  Bailly,  who  lionght  a  man 
of  Major  Garland.  The  Sioux,  at  first,  had  no 
prejudices  against  negroes.  They  called  them 
"  Black  Frenchmen,"  and  placing  their  hands  on 
their  wooUy  heads  would  laugh  heartily. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  steamboats  that 
had  arrived  at  Fort  Snelling,  up  to  ilay  26, 1826  : 

1  Virginia,  May  10,  1823  ;  2  Neville  ;  3  Put- 
nam, April  2, 1825 ;  3  Mandan ;  5  Indiana ;  6  Law- 
rence, May  2,"  1826  ;  7  Sciota ;  8  Eclipse ;  9  Jo- 
sephine ;  10  Fulton;  11  Red  Rover;  12  Black 
Rover;  13  Warrior;  14  Enterprise;  lo  Volant. 

Life  within  the  walls  of  a  fort  is  sometimes  the 
exact  contrast  of  a  paradise.  In  the  year  1826  a 
Pandora  box  was  opened,  among  the  officers,  and 
dissensions  began  to  prevail.  One  young  officer, 
a  graduate  of  West  Point,  whose  father  had  been 
a  professor  in  Princeton  College,  fought  a  duel 
with,  and  slightly  wounded,  A^■illiam  Joseph,  the 
talented  son  of  Colonel  Snelling,  who  was  then 
7 


twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  had  been  three  years 
at  West  Point.  At  a  Court  Martial  convened  to 
try  the  officer  for  violating  the  Articles  of  War, 
the  accused  objected  to  the  testimony  of  Lieut. 
William  Alexander,  a  Temiesseean,  not  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Military  Academy,  on  the  ground  that 
he  was  an  infidel.  Alexander,  hurt  by  this  allu- 
sion, challenged  the  objector,  and  another  duel 
was  fought,  resultmg  only  in  slight  uijuries  to 
the  clothing  of  the  combatants.  Inspector  Gen- 
eral E.  P.  Gaines,  after  this,  visited  the  fort,  and 
in  his  report  of  the  inspection  he  wrote :  "  A 
defect  in  the  discinline  of  this  regiment  has  ap- 
neared  in  the  character  of  certain  personal  con- 
troversies, between  the  Colonel  and  several  of  his 
young  officers,  the  particulars  of  which  I  forbear 
to  enter  into,  assured  as  I  am  that  they  will  be 
developed  in  the  proceedings  of  a  general  court 
martial  ordered  for  the  trial  of  Lieutenant  Hun- 
ter and  other  officers  at  Jefferson  Barracks. 

"  From  a  conversation  with  the  Colonel  I  can 
have  no  doubt  that  he  has  erred  in  the  course 
pursued  by  him  in  reference  to  some  of  the  con- 
troversies, inasmuch  as  he  has  intimated  to  his 
officers  his  willingness  to  sanction  in  certain  cases, 
and  even  to  participate  in  personal  conflicts,  con- 
trary to  the  twenty-fifth.  Article  of  War." 

The  Colonel's  son,  William  Joseph,  after  this 
passed  several  years  among  traders  and  Indians, 
and  became  distinguished  as  a  poet  and  brilliant 
author. 

His  "Tales  of  the  Northwest,"  published  in 
Boston  in  1820,  by  Hilliard,  Gray,  Little  &  Wil- 
kins,  is  a  work  of  great  literary  ability,  and  Catlin 
thought  the  book  was  the  most  faithful  picture  of 
Indian  hf  e  he  had  read.  Some  of  his  poems  were 
also  of  a  high  order.  One  of  his  pieces,  deficient 
in  dignity,  was  a  caustic  satire  upon  modern 
American  poets,  and  was  published  under  the 
title  of  "  Truth,  g,  Gift  for  Scribblers." 

Natlianiel  P.  Willis,  wlio  had  winced  luider 
the  last,  wrote  the  following  lampoon  : 
"  Oh,  smelling  Joseph  !  Thou  art  like  a  cur. 

I'm  told  thou  once  did  live  by  hunting  fur : 

Of  bigger  dogs  thou  smellest,  and,  in  sooth. 

Of  one  extreme,  perhaps,  can  tell  the  truth. 

'Tis  a  wise  shift,  and  shows  thou  know'st  thy 
Ijowers, 

To  leave  the  '  North  West  tales,'  and  take  to 
smelling  ours." 


96 


EXPLO£iERS  ASD  I'102iEKTiS  OF  MlSyH^Ol^L 


In  ISJi  a  second  edition  of  ■■  Trtuh  "  appearevl  < 
vith   additions  and  ememlatious.      In  ihi*  ap- 
peared the  following  pasquinade  upon  Willis : 
"I  live  by  hunting  fui.  thou  sayst.  si>  let  it  be. 

But  tell  me,  Xatty  1    Had  I  hunteil  thee. 

Had  not  my  time  been  thiowu  away,  young  sir. 

And  eke  my  powder  ?  Puppies  have  no  ftir. 

Our  tails  ?  Thou  ownest  thee  to  a  taU, 
I've  scanned  thee  o"er  and  o'er 
But.  though  I  guessed  the  species  right. 
I  was  not  sure  before. 

Our  savages,  authentic  tr^veierj  say. 
To  natural  fools,  religious  homage  pay, 
Zadst  thou  been  bom  in  wig^vam's  smoke,  and 

died  in. 
2fat ;  thine  apotheosis  had  been  certain." 

Snelling  died  at  Chelsea.  Mass..  December  ax- 
teenth.  l!i*>.  a  victim  to  the  appetite  which  en- 
enslaved  Robert  Bums- 

In  the  year  1S26.  a  small  party  of  Ojibway<? 
(Chippe\*-ays  came  to  see  the  Indian  Agent, 
and  three  of  them  ventured  to  visit  the  Colum- 
bia Fur  Company's  trading  house,  two  miles 
from  the  Fort.  While  there,  they  became 
aware  of  their  danger,  and  desired  two  of  the 
white  men  attached  to  the  establishment  to 
aecempany  them  back,  thinking  that  their  pres- 
ence might  be  some  protection.  They  were  in 
error.  As  they  passed  a  little  copse,  three  Dah- 
kotahs  sprang  from  behind  a  log  with  the  speed  of 
light,  fired  their  pieces  into  the  face  of  the  fore- 
most, and  then  fled.  The  guns  must  have  been 
doable  loaded,  for  the  man's  head  was  literally 
blown  from  his  shoulders,  and  hfe  white  coot- 
panions  were  spattered  with  brains  and  blood. 
The  survivors  gained  the  Fort  without  further 
molestation.  Their  comrade  was  buried  on  the 
spot  where  he  feU.  A  staff  was  set  up  on  his 
grave,  which  became  a  landmark,  and  received 
the  name  of  The  Murder  Pole.  The  murderers 
boasted  of  their  achievement  aud  with  impunity. 
They  and  their  tribe  thought  that  they  had  struck 
a  fair  blow  on  their  ancient  enemies,  in  a  becom- 
ing manner.  It  was  only  said,  "hat  Tooponkah 
Zeze  of  the  village  of  the  Batttere  <rux  Fiems. 
and  two  others,  had  each  acquired  a  right  to 
wear  skunk  skins  on  their  heels  and  wur-eagles" 
feathers  on  their  heads. 


ISVKXTS  or   A.   D.    1827. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  May,  IS^,  the  Ojib- 
way  fhief  at  Sandy  Lake,  Kee-wee-zais-hish 
e.il'.ed  by  the  English,  Flat  Mouth  with  se>-¥n 
w.irriors  aud  s«.>me  womeji  and  children,  in  all 
amoimtiug  to  twenty-four,  arrived  about  sunrise 
at  Fort  Snelling.  Walking  to  the  gates  of  the 
garrL5<>u.  they  aske^l  the  pn.>tection  of  Colonel 
SneUing  and  Taiiafenv>,  the  Inilian  agent.  They 
wtre  told,  that  as  long  as  they  remaineil  under 
the  luiteil  States  flag,  they  were  secure,  and 
were  ordered  to  encamp  within  musket  shot  of 
the  high  stone  walls  of  the  fort. 

During  the  afternoon,  a  Dahkotah.  Toopiuikah 
Zeze.  from  a  viUage  near  the  first  rapids  of  the 
Minnesota,  visited  the  Ojib'^y  camp.  They 
were  cordially  receivevl,  and  a  feast  of  meat  and 
com  and  sugar,  was  soon  made  ready.  The 
wooden  plates  emptied  of  their  contents,  they 
'  engaged  iu  conversation,  sjnd  whiffed  the  peace 
pipe. 

i  That  night,  some  officers  and  their  f  rientls  were 
spending  a  pleasant  evening  at  the  head-quarters 
of  Captain  Clark,  which  was  in  one  of  the  stone 
houses  which  used  to  stand  outside  of  the  walls 
of  the  fort.  As  Captain  Cruger  was  walking  on 
the  porch,  a  ballet  whizzed  by.  and  rapid  firing 
was  heard. 

As  the  Dahkotahs.  or  Sioux,  left  the  Qjibway 
camp,  notwithsianding  their  friendly  talk,  they 
tuFned  and  discharged  their  guns  with  deadly  aim 
upon  their  entertainers,  and  ran  off  with  a  shout 
of  satisfaction.  The  report  was  heard  by  the 
,  sentinel  of  the  fort,  and  he  cried,  repeatedly. 
"  Corporal  of  the  guard '."  and  soon  at  the  gates, 
were  the  Ojibways.  vrith  their  women  and  the 
wounded,  telling  their  tale  of  woe  in  wild  and  in- 
coherent language.  Two  had  been  killed  and  six 
woonded.  Among  others,  was  a  little  girl  about 
seven  years  old.  who  was  pierced  through  Kuh 
thighs  with  .-.  buUet.  Surgeon  McMahon  made 
every  effort  to  save  her  life,  but  wittout  avail. 

Flat  Mouth,  the  chief,  reminded  Colonel  Snel- 
ling that  he  had  been  attacked  while  tmder  the 
protection  of  the  United  States  flag,  and  early  the 
next  morning.  Captain  Clark,  with  oae  hundred 

soldier-.  '    "  \rds  Land's  End.  a  tra- 

ding-pos:  La  Fur  Company,  on  the 

2tIiimesota.  a  mile  above  the  former  residemee  cf 


TRAGIC  SCENE  UNDER  THE  WALL.S  OF  THE  FORT. 


S9 


Franklin  Steele,  where  the  Dahkotahs  were  sup- 
posed to  be.  The  soldiers  had  just  left  the  large 
gale  of  the  fort,  when  a  i)arty  of  Dahkotahs,  in 
battle  array,  appeared  on  one  of  the  jnairie 
hills.  After  some  parleying  they  turned  their 
backs,  and  being  pursued,  thirty-two  were  cap- 
tured near  the  tradnii;-post. 

Colonel  Snelling  onlered  the  prisoners  to  be 
brouf^ht  before  the  Ojihways,  and  two  bemg 
pointed  out  as  participants  in  the  slaughter  of  the 
preceding  uight,  they  were  delivered  tt)  the 
aggrieved  party  to  deal  with  in  accordance  with 
their  customs.  They  were  led  out  to  the  plain 
in  front  of  the  gate  of  the  fort,  and  when  placed 
nearly  without  tlie  range  of  the  Ojibway  guns, 
they  were  told  to  run  for  their  lives.  AVith  the 
rajHdity  of  deer  they  boundeil  away,  but  the  Ojib- 
way Ijullet  lli'W  faster,  and  after  a  few  steps,  they 
fell  gasping  on  the  ground,  and  were  soon  lifeless. 
Then  the  savage  nature  tlisplayed  itself  in  all  its 
hideousness.  Women  and  children  danced  for 
joy,  and  placing  their  fingers  in  tlie  bullet  holes, 
from  wliich  -the  blood  oozed,  tliey  licked  them 
with  delight.  The  men  tore  the  scalps  from  the 
dead,  and  seemed  to  luxuriate  in  the  privilege  of 
plunging  their  knives  through  the  corjjses.  After 
the  execution,  the  Ojibways  returned  to  the  fort, 
and  were  met  by  the  Colonel.  He  had  prevented 
all  over  whom  his  authority  extended  from  wit- 
nessing the  scene,  and  had  done  his  best  to  con- 
fine the  excitement  to  the  Indians.  The  same 
day  a  deputation  of  Dalikotah  warriors  received 
audience,  regretting  the  violence  that  had  been 
done  by  their  young  men,  and  agreeing  to  deliver 
up  the  ringleaders. 

At  the  time  appointed,  a  son  of  Flat  Mouth, 
with  those  of  the  Ojibwa  party  that  were  not 
wounded,  escorted  by  United  States  troops, 
marched  forth  to  meet  the  Dahkirtah  deputation, 
on  the  prairie  just  beyond  the  old  residence  of 
the  Indian  agent.  With  much  solemnity  two 
more  of  the  guilty  were  handed  over  to  the 
assaulted.  One  was  fearless,  and  with  firmness 
stripped  himself  of  his  clothing  and  ornaments, 
and  distributed  them.  The  other  could  not  face 
death  with  composure.  He  was  noted  tor  a  hid- 
eous hare-lip,  and  had  a  bad  reinitation  among 
his  fellows.  In  the  spirit  of  a  coward  he  prayed 
for  life,  to  the  mortification  of  his  tribe.  The 
same  oppoiiunity  was  presented  to  them  as  to  the 


first,  of  running  for  their  lives.  At  the  first  fire 
the  coward  fell  a  corpse;  but  his  brave  compan- 
ion, though  wounded,  ran  on,  and  had  nearly 
reached  tlie  goal  of  safety,  when  a  seciHid  bullet 
killed  him.  The  body  of  the  coward  now  became 
a  common  object  of  loathing  for  both  Dahkotahs 
and  Ojibways. 

Colonel  Snelling  told  the  Ojibways  that  the 
bodies  must  be  removed,  and  then  they  took  the 
scalped  Dahkotahs,  and  dragging  them  by  the 
heels,  threw  them  off  the  blufE  into  the  river,  a 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  beneath.  The  dreadful 
scene  was  now  over ;  and  a  detachment  of  troops 
was  sent  with  the  old  chief  Flat  Mouth,  to  escort 
him  out  of  the  reach  of  Dahkotah  vengeance. 

An  eyewitness  wrote  :  "  After  this  catastrophe, 
all  the  Dahkotahs  quitted  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Snel- 
liug,  and  did  not  return  to  it  for  .some  months. 
It  was  said  that  they  formed  a  conspiracy  to  de- 
mand a  council,  and  kill  the  Indian  Agent  and 
the  commanding  officer.  If  this  was  a  fact,  they 
had  no  opportimity,  or  wanted  the  spirit,  to  exe- 
cute their  purpose. 

"  The  Flat  Mouth's  band  Ungered  in  the  fort 
till  their  wounded  comrade  died.  He  was  sensi- 
ble of  hLs  condition,  and  bore  his  pains  with  great 
fortitude.  When  he  felt  his  end  approach,  he 
desired  that  his  horse  might  be  gaily  caparisoned, 
and  brought  to  the  hospital  window,  so  that  he 
might  touch  the  animal.  He  then  took  from  his 
medicine  bag  a  large  cake  of  maple  sugar,  and  held 
it  forth.  It  may  seem  strange,  but  it  is  true,  that 
the  beast  ate  it  from  his  hand.  His  features 
were  radiant  with  deUght  as  he  fell  back  on  the 
pillow  exhausted.  His  horse  had  eaten  the  sugar, 
he  said,  and  he  was  sure  of  a  favorable  reception 
and  comfortable  quarters  in  the  other  world. 
Half  an  hour  after,  he  breathed  his  last.  We 
tried  to  discover  the  debiUs  of  his  superstition, 
but  could  not  succeed.  It  is  a  subject  on  which 
Indians  imwiUiugly  discourse." 

In  the  fall  of  1826,  all  the  troops  at  Prairie  du 
Chien  had  been  removed  to  Fort  Snelling,  the 
commander  taking  with  liim  two  Witmebagoes 
that  had  been  confined  in.  Fort  Crawford.  After 
the  soldiers  left  the  Prairie,  the  Indians  in  the 
Nicinity  were  quite  insolent. 

In  June,  1827,  two  keel-boats  passed  Prairie  du 
Chien  on  the  way  to  Fort  SneUing  with  provis- 
ions.   When  they  reached  Wapashaw  village,  on 


100 


EXPLOBEES  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA.. 


the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Winona,  the  crew 
were  ordered  to  come  ashore  by  the  Dalikotahs. 
Complying,  they  found  themselves  surrounded  by 
Indians  with  hostile  intentions.  The  boatmen 
had  no  fire-arms,  but  assuming  a  bold  mien  and  a 
defiant  voice,  the  captain  of  the  keel-boats  ordered 
the  savages  to  leave  the  decks ;  which  was  suc- 
cessful, The  boats  pushed  on,  and  at  Red  Whig 
and  Kaposia  the  Indians  showed  that  they  were 
not  friendly,  though  they  did  not  molest  the 
boats.  Before  they  started  on  their  return  from 
Fort  Snelling,  the  men  on  board,  amounting  to 
thirty-two,  were  all  provided  with  muskets  and  a 
barrel  of  ball  cartridges. 

When  the  descending  keel-boats  passed  Wapa- 
shaw,  the  Dahkotas  were  engaged  m  the  war 
dance,  and  menaced  them,  but  made  no  attack. 
Below  this  point  one  of  the  boats  moved  in  ad- 
vance of  the  other,  and  when  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Bad  Axe,  the  half-breeds  on  board  descried 
hostile  Indians  on  the  banks.  As  the  channel 
neared  the  shore,  the  sixteen  men  on  the  first 
boat  were  greeted  with  the  war  whoop  and  a  vol- 
ley of  rifle  balls  from  tlie  excited  Winnebagoes, 
killing  two  of  the  crew.  Rushing  into  their  ca- 
noes, the  Indians  made  the  attempt  to  board  the 
boat,  and  two  were  successful.  One  of  these 
stationed  himself  at  the  bow  of  the  boat,  and 
fired  with  killing  effect  on  the  men  below  deck. 
An  old  soldier  of  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain, 
called  Saucy  Jack,  at  last  despatched  him,  and 
began  to  rally  the  fainting  spirits  on  board.  Du- 
ring the  fight  the  boat  had  stuck  on  a  sand-bar. 
With  four  companions,  amid  a  shower  of  balls 
from  the  savages,  he  plunged  into  the  water  and 
pushed  off  the  boat,  and  tlius  moved  out  of  reacli 
of  the  galling  shots  of  the  Winnebagoes.  As 
they  floated  down  the  river  during  the  night, 
they  heard  a  wail  in  a  canoe  behind  them,  the 
voice  of  a  fatlier  mouniiug  the  death  of  the  son 
who  had  scaled  the  deck,  and  was  now  a  corpse 
in  possession  of  the  white  men.  The  rear  boat 
passed  the  Bad  Axe  river  late  in  the  night,  and 
escaped  an  attack. 

The  first  keel-boat  arrived  at  Prairie  du  Chein, 
■with  t«-o  of  their  crew  dead,  four  wounded,  and 
the  Indian  that  had  been  killed  on  the  boat.  The 
two  dead  men  had  been  residents  of  the  Prairie, 
and  now  the  panic  was  increased.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  twenty-eighth  of   June    the  second 


keel -boat  appeared,  and  among  her  passengers 
was  Joseph  Snelling,  the  talented  son  of  the 
colonel,  who  wrote  a  story  of  deep  interest,  based 
on  the  facts  narrated. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  it  was  resolved  to 
repair  old  Fort  Crawford,  and  Thomas  McXair 
was  aiipiiinted  captain.  Dirt  was  thrown  around 
the  bottem  logs  of  the  foitiflcation  to  prevent  its 
being  fired,  and  young  Snelling  was  put  in  com- 
mand of  one  of  the  block-houses.  On  the  next 
day  a  voyageur  named  Lover,  and  the  well-known 
trader  Duncan  Graham,  started  through  the  in- 
terior, west  of  the  Mississippi,  with  intelligence 
of  the  murders,  to  Fort  Snelling.  Intelligence 
of  this  attack  was  received  at  the  fort,  on  the 
evening  of  the  ninth  of  July,  and  Col.  Snelling 
started  in  keel  boats  with  four  companies  to  Fort 
Crawford,  and  on  the  seventeenth  four  more 
companies  left  under  Major  Fowle.  After  an 
absence  of  six  weeks,  the  soldiers,  without  firing 
a  gun  at  the  enemy,  returned. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  attack  upon  the  keel 
boats  General  Gaines  inspected  the  Fort,  and, 
subsequently  in  a  communication  to  the  War 
Department  wrote  as  follows ; 

"  The  main  points  of  defence  against  an  enemy 
appear  to  have  been  in  some  respects  sacrificed, 
in  the  effort  to  secure  the  comfort  and  conven- 
ience of  troops  in  peace.  These  are  important 
considerations,  but  on  an  exposed  frontier  the 
primary  object  ought  to  be  security  against  the 
attack  of  an  enemy. 

"  The  buildings  are  too  laige,  too  numerous, 
and  extending  over  a  space  entirely  too  great, 
enclosing  a  large  parade,  five  times  greater  than 
is  at  all  desireable  in  that  climate.  The  build- 
ings for  the  most  part  seem  well  constructed,  of 
good  stone  and  other  materials,  and  they  contain 
every  desirable  convenience,  comfort  and  securi- 
ty as  barracks  and  store  houses. 

"  The  work  may  be  rendered  very  strong  and 
adapted  to  a  garrison  of  two  himdred  men  by  re- 
moving one-lialf  the  buildings,  and  with  the  ma- 
terials of  which  they  are  constructed,  building  a 
tower  sufficiently  high  to  command  the  hill  be- 
tween the  Mississippi  and  St.  Peter's  [Minnesota], 
and  by  a  block  hou.se  on  the  extreme  point,  or 
brow  of  the  cliff,  near  the  commandanfs  quarters, 
to  secure  most  effectually  the  banks  of  the  river, 
and  the  boats  at  the  landing. 


BEATH  OF  COL.  JOSIAH  SNELLING. 


101 


"^Much  cret'.it  i;  due  to  Colonel  Snelliiig,  his 
officers  and  men,  for  their  immense  labors  and 
excellent  workmanship  exhiliited  in  the  construc- 
tion of  these  barracks  and  store  houses,  but  this 
has  been  effected  too  much  at  the  expense  of  the 
discipline  of  the  regiment." 

From  reports  made  from  1823  to  1826,  the  health 
of  the  troops  was  good.  In  the  year  ending  Sep- 
tember thirty,  1823,  there  were  but  two  deaths ; 
HI  1824  only  six,  and  in  1825  but  seven. 

In  182  J  tliere  were  three  desertions,  in  1824 
twenty-two,  and  in  1825  twenty-nine.  Most  of 
the  deserters  were  fresh  recruits  and  natives  of 
America,  Ten  of  the  deserters  were  foreigners, 
and  five  of  these  were  born  in  Ireland.  In  182(3 
there  were  eight  companies  numbering  two  hun- 


dred and  fourteen  soldiers  quartered  in  the  Fort- 
During  the  fall  of  1827  the  Fifth  Regiment  was 
relieved  by  a  part  of  the  First,  and  the  next  year 
Colonel  Snelling  proceeded  to  Washington  on  bus- 
iness, where  he  died  with  inflammation  of  the 
brain.  JNIajor  General  Macomb  announcing  his 
death  in  an  order,  wrote  : 

"  Colonel  Snelling  joined  the  army  in  early 
youth.  In  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  he  was 
distinguished  for  gallantry  and  good  conduct. 
Subsequently  and  during  the  whole  late  war  with 
Great  Britain,  from  the  battle  of  Brownstown  to 
the  termination  of  the  contest,  he  was  actively 
employed  in  ttie  field,  with  credit  to  himself,  and 
honor  to  his  country." 


102 


EXFLOIiERS  AXl)  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


CHAPTER  XYII. 


OCCTTEREXCES  IlSr  THE  TICrNlTT  OF  FORT  SNELLrNG,   CONTINTJED. 


Arrival  of  J.  N.  NicoUei— Marriage  of  James  Wells— Nicollet's  letter  from  Falls- 
of  St.  Anthouy— Perils  of  Martin  MfU-od— Chippeivay  trcacherj-— Sioux  Re 
vcnge — Rum  River  and  Stillwater  batllrs— tlrog  shops  lu-iir  the  Fort. 

Oil  the  second  of  July  1836,  the  steamboat 
Sauit  Peter  landed  siippUes,  and  among  its 
passengers  was  the  distinguished  French  as- 
tronomer, Jeau  X.  Xicollet  (Xicokiy).  ^Major 
Taliaferro  on  the  twelfth  of  July,  wrote; 
"  Mr.  Nicollet,  on  a  visit  to  the  post  for  scientilic 
research,  and  at  present  in  my  family,  has  shown 
me  the  late  work  of  Henry  R.  Schoolcraft  on  the 
discovery  of  the  source  of  the  Mississippi ;  which 
claim  is  ridiculous  in  the  extreme."  On  the 
twenty-seventh,  Nicollet  ascended  the  Mississippi 
on  a  tour  of  observation. 

James  Wells,  a  trader,  who  afterwards  was  a 
member  of  the  legislature,  at  the  house  of  Oliver 
Cratte,  near  the  fort,  was  married  on  the  twelfth 
of  September,  by  Agent  Taliaferro,  to  Jane,  a 
daughter  of  Duncan  (Jraham.  Wells  was  killed 
in  1862,  by  the  Sioux,  at  the  time  of  the  massacre 
in  the  IMinnesota  Valley. 

Nicollet  in  September  returned  from  his  trip 
to  Leech  Lake,  and  on  the  twenty-seventh  wrote 
the  following  to  Major  TaUaferro  the  Indian 
Agent  at  the  fort,  which  is  supposed  to  be  the 
earliest  letter  extant  written  from  the  site  of  the 
city  of  Minneapolis.  As  the  principal  hotel  and 
one  of  the  finest  avenues  of  that  city  bears  his 
name  it  is  worthy  of  preservation.  He  spelled 
his  name  sometimes  Nicoley.  and  the  pronuncia- 
tion in  English,  would  be  Nicolay,  the  same  as 
if  written  Nicollet  in  French.  The  letter  shows 
that  he  had  not  mastered  the  English  language": 
"  St.  Anthony's  Falls,  27th  September,  183(i. 

Dear  Frieni)  :— I  anived  last  evening  about 
dark;  all  well,  nothing  lost,  nothing  broken, 
happy  and  a  veiy  successful  journey.  But  I 
done  exhausted,  and  nothing  can  relieve  me,  but 
the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  again  under  your 
hospitable  roof,  and  to  see  all  the  friends  of  th" 
garrisou  who  have  been  so  kind  to  me. 


"  This  letter  is  more  particularly  to  give  you 
a  very  extraordinary  tide.  Flat  ilouth,  the  chief 
of  Leech  Lake  and  suite,  ten  in  number  are  with 
me.  The  day  before  yesterday  I  met  them  again 
at  Swan  river  where  they  detained  me  one  day. 
I  had  to  bear  a  new  harangue  and  gave  answer. 
All  termhiated  by  tlieu"  own  resolution  that  they 
ought  to  give  you  the  hand,  as  well  as  to  the 
Guinas  of  the  Fort  (Colonel  Da.enport.)  I 
thought  it  my  duty  to  acquaint  you  with  it  be- 
forehand. Peace  or  war  are  at  stake  of  the  visit 
they  p;iy  you.  Please  give  them  a  good  welcome 
until  I  liave  reported  to  you  and  Colonel  Daven- 
port all  that  has  taken  place  dui'iug  my  stay 
among  the  Pillagers.  But  be  assured  I  have  not 
trespassed  and  that  I  have  behaved  as  would 
have  done  a  good  citizen  of  tlie  U.  S.  As  to 
Schoolcraft's  statement  alluding  to  you,  you  will 
have  full  and  complete  satisfaction  from  Flat 
Mouth  himself.  In  haste,  your  friend,  J.  N. 
Nicoley.'" 

events  of  a.  d.  1837. 

On  the  seventeenth  of  March,  1837,  there  ar- 
rived ilartin  !McLcod,  who  became  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Minnesota,  and  the  legislature  has 
given  his  name  to  a  county. 

He  left  the  Red  River  country  on  snow  shoes, 
with  two  companions,  one  a  Polander  and  the 
other  an  Irishman  named  Ilays,  and  Pierre  Bot~ 
tiueau  as  interpreter.  Being  lost  in  a  violent 
snow  storm  the  Pole  and  Irishman  perished.  He 
and  his  guide,  Bottineau,  lived  for  a  time  on  the 
llesh  of  one  of  their  dogs.  After  being  twenty- 
six  days  without  seeing  any  one,  the  sm'vivors 
reached  the  trading  post  of  Joseph  R.  Brown,  at 
Lake  Tra\erse,  and  from  thence  they  came  to 
the  fort. 

events  of  a.  d.  1838. 

In  the  month  of  April,  eleven  Sioux  were  slain 
in  a  dastanlly  manner,  by  a  party  of  Ojibways, 


INDIAN  BATTLES  AT  RUM  PdVER  AND  STILLWATER. 


103 


under  the  noted  and  elder  Hole-in-the-Day.  The 
Chippeways  feigned  the  warmest  friendship,  and 
at  dark  lay  down  in  the  teuts  by  the  side  of  the 
Sioux,  and  in  the  night  sUeutly  arose  and  killed 
them.  The  oceirrrence  took  place  at  the  Chippe- 
way  River,  about  thirty  miles  from  Lac  qui  Parle, 
and  the  next  day  tlie  Eev.  G.  H.  Pond,  the  Indian 
missionary,  accompanied  by  a  Sioux,  \.ent  out 
and  buried  the  mutilated  and  scalpless  bodies. 

Ou  the  second  of  August  old  IIole-in-the-Day, 
and  some  Ojil)ways,  came  to  the  fort.  They 
stopped  first  at  the  cabin  of  Peter  Quinn,  whose 
wife  was  a  half-breed  Chippeway,  about  a  mile 
from  the  fort. 

The  missiouary,  Samuel  W.  Pond,  told  tlie 
agent  that  tlie  Sioux,  of  Lake  Callioun  were 
aroused,  and  on  their  way  to  attack  the  Chippe- 
ways. The  agent  quieted  them  for  a  time,  but 
two  of  the  relatives  of  those  slain  at  Lac  qui  Parle 
m  April,  hid  tliemselves  nearQuimi's  house,  and 
as  Hole-iu-the-Day  and  his  associates  were  pass- 
ing, they  fired  and  killed  one  Chippeway  and 
wounded  another.  Obequette,  a  Cliippeway  from 
Bed  Lake,  succeded,  however,  in  shooting  a 
Sioux  while  he  was  in  the  act  of  scalping  his 
comrade.  The  Chippeways  were  brought  within 
the  fort  as  soon  as  possible,  and  at  nine  o'clock 
a  Sioux  was  confined  in  the  guard-house  as  a 
hostage. 

Notwithstanding  the  murdered  Chippeway  had 
been  buried  m  the  graveyard  of  the  fort  for  safety, 
an  attempt  was  made  on  the  part  of  some  of  the 
Sioux,  to  dig  it  up.  On  the  evening  of  the  sbctli. 
Major  Plympton  sent  the  Chippeways  across  the 
river  to  the  east  side,  and  ordered  them  to  go 
home  as  soon  as  possible. 

EVENTS  OF  A.  r>.  1839. 

On  the  twentieth  day  of  June  the  elder  IIole- 
in-the-Day  arrived  from  tlie  Upper  Mississippi 
with  several  hundred  Chippeways.  Upon  their 
return  homeward  tlie  ^Mississippi  and  Mille  Lacs 
band  encamped  the  first  night  at  the  F.alls  of  Sauit 
Anthony,  and  some  of  the  Sioux  visited  them  and 
smoked  the  pipe  of  peace. 

On  the  second  of  July,  aljout  simrise,  a  son-in- 
law  of  the  chief  of  the  Sioux  band,  at  Lake  Cal- 
houn, named  Meekaw  or  Badger,  was  killed  and 
scalped  by  two  Chippeways  of  the  Pillager  band, 
relatives  of  him  who  lost  liis  lifp  near  Patrick 


QiuHn's  the  year  before.  The  excitement  was 
intense  among  the  Sioux,  and  immediately  war 
parties  started  in  pursuit.  IIole-in-the-Day's 
band  was  not  sought,  but  the  Mille  Lacs  and 
Saint  Croix  Chippeways.  The  Lake  Callioun 
Sioux,  with  those  from  the  villages  on  the 
^Minnesota,  assembled  at  the  i'alls  of  Saint 
Anthony,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  fourth 
of  July,  came  up  with  the  Mille  Lacs 
Chippeways  on  Rum  Kiver,  before  sunrise.  Not 
long  after  the  war  whoop  was  raised  and  the 
Sioux  attacked,  killing  and  woimding  ninety. 

The  Kaposia  band  of  Sioux  piu'sued  the  Saint 
Croix  Chippeways,  and  on  the  third  of  July  found 
them  in  tlie  Penitentiary  ravine  at  Stillwater, 
under  the  influence  of  whisky.  Aitkin,  the  old 
trader,  was  with  them.  The  sight  of  the 
Sioux  tended  to  make  them  sober,  but  in  the  fight 
twenty-one  were  killed  and  twenty-nine  were 
wounded. 

Whisky,  during  the  year  1839,  was  freely  in- 
troduced, m  the  face  of  tlie  law  prohibiting  it. 
The  first  boat  of  the  season,  the  Ariel,  came  to 
the  fort  on  the  fourteenth  of  April,  and  brought 
twenty  barrels  of  whisky  for  Joseph  R.  Brown, 
and  on  the  twenty-first  of  May,  the  Glaucus 
brought  six  barrels  of  liquor  for  David  Faribault. 
On  the  thirtieth  of  June,  some  soldiers  went  to 
Joseph  R.  Brov^i's  groggery  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  that  night  forty  -  seven 
were  in  the  guard-house  for  drunkenness.  The 
demoralization  then  existing,  led  to  a  letter  by 
Smgeon  Emerson  on  duty  at  the  fort,  to  the  Sur- 
geon General  of  the  United  States  army,  in  which 
he  writes : 

"  Tlie  whisky  is  brought  here  by  citizens  who 
are  pourmg  m  upon  us  and  settling  themselves 
on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  Mississippi  river, 
in  defiance  of  our  worthy  commanding  officer. 
Major  J.  Plympton,  whose  authority  they  set 
at  nauglit.  At  this  moment  there  is  a 
citizen  named  Brown,  once  a  soldier  in 
the  Fifth  Infantry,  who  was  discharged  at 
this  post,  while  Colonel  Siielling  commanded, 
and  wiio  has  been  since  employed  by  the  Ameri- 
can Fur  Company,  actually  buUdmg  on  the  land 
marked  out  by  the  land  officers  as  the  reserve, 
and  mthm  gunshot  distance  of  the  fort,  a  very 
expensive  whisky  shop." 


104 


EXPLORBBS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


IKDIAN   TKIBES  IX  MINNESOTA   AT  THE  TIME   OF   ITS  OUQANIZATION. 


Sioux  or  Dahkot;ih  pcoplo— Meaning'  of  words  Sioux  and  Daliki't;ili— IvJirly  villages 
— Residcuce  of  Sioux  in  Z84&-Tiie  Winnelmgoes— The  Ojibways  or  Chippeways. 

The  three  Indian  nations  who  dwelt  in  tliis 
region  after  the  organization  of  ilinnesota,  were 
the  Sioux  or  Dalil-cotalis;  the  Ojibways  or  Chip- 
peways ;  and  the  Ho-tchun-graws  or  Winneba- 
gees. 

SIOUX  on  DAHKOTAHS. 

Tliey  are  an  entirely  different  gronp  from  tlie 
Algonquin  and  Iroquois,  who  were  found  by  the 
early  settlers  of  the  Atlantic  States,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Connecticut,  Mohawk,  and  Susquehanna 
Rivers. 

A\'hen  the  Dahkotahs  were  first  noticed  by  the 
European  adventurers,  large  numbers  were  occu- 
pying the  Mille  Lacs  region  of  country,  and  appro- 
priately called  by  the  voyageur,  "People  of  the 
Lake,"  "Gens  du  Lac."  And  tradition  asserts  that 
here  was  the  ancient  centre  of  this  tribe.  Though 
we  have  traces  of  their  warring  and  hunting  on  the 
shores  of  Lake  Superior,  there  is  no  satisfactory 
evidence  of  their  residence,  east  of  the  Mille  Lacs 
region,  as  they  have  no  name  for  Lake  Superior. 

The  word  Dahkotah,  by  which  they  love  to  be 
designated,  signifies  allied  or  joined  together  in 
friendly  compact,  and  is  equivalent  to  "  E  pluri- 
bus  unum,"  the  motto  on  the  seal  of  the  United 
States. 

In  the  liistory  of  the  mission  at  La  Pointe, 
Wisconsin,  published  nearly  two  centuries  ago,  a 
a  writer;  referring  to  the  Dahkotahs,  remarks : 

"For  sixty  leagues  from  the  extremity  of  the 
Upper  Lake,  toward  sunset ;  and,  as  it  were  in 
the  centre  of  the  western  nations,  they  have  all 
unilcd  their  force  by  a  general  league.'' 

The  Dahkotahs  in  the  earliest  documents,  and 
even  until  the  present  day,  are  called  Sioux,  Scioux, 
or  Soos.  The  name  originated  with  the  early  voy- 
ageurs.  For  centuries  the  Ojibways  of  Lake 
Superior  waged  war  against  the  Dahkotahs;  and, 


whenever  they  spoke  of  them,  ciiUed  them  Xado- 
waysioux,  which  signifies  enemies. 

The  French  traders,  to  avoid  exciting  the  atten- 
tion of  Indians,  while  conversing  in  their  pres- 
ence, were  accustomed  to  designate  them  by 
names,  which  would  not  be  recognized. 

The  Dahkotahs  were  nicknamed  Sioux,  a  word 
composed  of  the  two  last  syllables  of  the  O  jib  way 
word  for  foes 

Under  the  influence  of  the  French  traders,  the 
eastern  Sioux  began  to  wander  from  the  Mille 
Lacs  region.  A  trading  post  at  0-ton-we-kpa- 
dan,  or  Rice  Creek,  above  the  Falls  of  Saint 
Anthony,  induced  some  to  erect  their  summer 
dwellings  and  plant  corn  there,  which  took  the 
place  of  wild  rice.  Those  who  dwelt  here  were 
called  Wa-kpa-a-ton-we-dan  Those  v/ho  dwell  on 
the  creek.  Another  division  was  known  as  the 
lila-tan-ton-wan. 

Less  than  a  hundred  years  ago,  it  is  said  that 
the  eastern  Sioux,  pressed  by  the  Chippeways, 
and  influenced  by  traders,  moved  seven  miles 
above  Fort  SnelUng  on  the  Minnesota  River. 

JIED-DAY-WAII-KAWX-TWAWXS. 

In  IS-tO  there  were  seven  villages  of  Med-day- 
wah-kawn-twawn  Sioux.  (1)  Below  Lake  Pepin, 
where  the  city  of  Winona  is,  was  the  village  of 
Wapashaw.  This  band  was  called  Kee-yu-ksa, 
because  with  them  blood. relations  intermariied. 
Bounding  or  Whipping  Wind  was  the  chief.  (2) 
At  the  head  of  Lake  Pepin,  under  a  lofty  bluff, 
was  the  Red  \Ving  village,  called  Ghay-mui-chan 
Hill,  wood  and  water.  Shooter  was  the  name 
of  the  chief.  (3)  Opposite,  and  a  little  below  the 
Pig's  Eye  Marsh,  was  the  Kaposia  band.  The 
word,  Kapoja  means  light,  given  Vieeause  these 
people  are  quick  travelers.  His  Scarlet  People, 
better  known  as  Little  Crow,  was  the  chief,  and 
isnotoi'ious  as  the  leader  in  the  massacre  of  1862. 

On  the  Minnesota  River,  on  the  south  side 


NOTICE  OF  THE  HOTCHUNGIiA  IFS,  OR  WINNEBAGOES. 


105 


a  few  miles  above  Fort  Snelling,  was  Black  Dog 
village.  The  inhabitants  were  called,  Ma-ga-yu- 
tay-shnee.  People  who  do  not  a  geese,  be- 
cause they  touud  it  profitable  to  sell  game  at  Fort 
Snelling.  Grey  Iron  was  the  chief,  also  known 
as  Pa-ma-ya-yaw,  My  head  aches. 

At  Oak  Grove,  on  the  north  side  of  the  river, 
eight  miles  above  the  fort,  was  (5)  Hay-ya-ta-o- 
ton-wan,  or  Inland  Village,  so  called  because 
they  formerly  lived  at  Lake  Calkoun.  Contigu- 
ous was  (6)  0-ya-tay-shee-ka,  or  Bad  People, 
Known  as  Good  Roads  Band  and  (7)  the  largest 
village  was  Tin-ta-ton-wan,  Prairie  Village ; 
Shokpay,  or  Six,  was  tlie  chief,  and  is  now  the 
&ite  of  the  to^\'n  of  Shakopee. 
West  of  this  division  of  the  Sioux  were— 

WAR-PAY-KU-TAY. 

The  War-pay-ku-tay,  or  leaf  shooters,  who 
occupied  the  country  south  of  the  ^linnesota 
around  the  sources  of  the  Cannon  and  Blue  Earth 
Kivers. 

WAH-PAY-TWAWNS. 

North  and  west  of  the  last  were  the  War-pay- 
tw'awns,  or  People  of  the  Leaf,  and  their  princi- 
pal village  was  Lac  qui  Parle.  They  numbered 
about  fifteen  hundred. 

SB-SEE-TWAWNS. 

To  the  west  and  southwest  of  these  bands  of 
Sioux  were  the  Se-see-twawns  (Sissetoans),  or 
Swamp  Dwellers.  This  band  claimed  the  land 
west  of  the  Blue  Earth  to  the  James  River,  and 
the  guardianship  of  the  Sacred  Red  Pipestone 
Quarry.  Their  principal  village  was  at  Traverse, 
and  the  number  of  the  band  was  estimated  at 
thirty-eight  hundred. 

HO-TCHXIN-GRAWS,  OR  WINNEBAGOES. 

The  Ho-tchun-graws,  or  Wiunebagoes,  belong 
to  the  Dahkotah  family  of  aljorigines.  Cham- 
plain,  although  he  never  visited  them,  mentions 
them.  Nicollet,  who  had  been  in  his  employ, 
visited  Green  Bay  about  the  year  1635,  and  an 
early  Relation  mentifins  that  he  saw  the  Ouiiii- 
pegous,  a  people  called  so,  because  they  came 
from  a  distant  sea,  which  some  French  erron- 
eously   called    Puants.     Another  writer  speak- 


ing of  these  people  says:  "This  people  are 
called  '  Les  Puants  '  not  because  of  any  bad  odor 
peculiar  to  them,  but  because  they  claim  to  have 
come  from  the  shores  of  a  far  distant  lake, 
towards  the  north,  whose  waters  are  salt.  They 
call  themselves  the  people  '  de  Teau  puants,'  of 
the  putrid  or  bad  water." 

By  the  treaty  of  1«37  they  were  removed  to 
Iowa,  and  by  another  treaty  in  October,  1846, 
they  came  to  Minnesota  in  the  spring  of  1848, 
to  the  country  between  the  Long  Prairie, 
and  Crow  Wing  Rivers.  The  agency  was  located 
on  Long  Prairie  River,  forty  miles  from  the 
Mississippi,  and  in  1849  the  tribe  numbered 
about  twenty-five  hundred  souls. 

In  February  1855,  another  treaty  was  made 
with  them,  and  that  spring  they  removed  to  lands 
on  the  Blue  Earth  River.  Owing  to  the  panic 
caused  by  the  outbreak  of  the  Sioux  in  1862,  Con 
gress,  by  a  special  act,  without  consulting  them, 
in  1863,  removed  them  from  their  fields  in  Min- 
nesota to  the  Missouri  River,  and  in  the  words 
of  a  missionary,  "they  were,  like  the  Sioux, 
diunped  in  the  desert,  one  hundred  miles  above 
Fort  Randall" 

OJIBWAY  OR  CHIPPEWAY  NATION. 

The  Ojibways  or  Leapers,  when  the  French 
came  to  Lake  Superior,  had  their  chief  settlement 
at  Sault  St.  Marie,  and  were  called  by  the  French 
Saulteurs,  and  by  the  Sioux,  Hah-ha-tonwan, 
Dwellers  at  the  Falls  or  Leaping  Waters. 

When  Du  Luth  erected  his  trading  post  at  the 
western  extremity  of  Lake  Superior,  they  had  not 
obtained  any  foothold  in  Minnesota,  and  were 
constantly  at  war  with  their  hereditary  enemes, 
the  Nadouaysioux.  By  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  they  had  pushed  in  and  occu- 
pied Sandy,  Leech,  Mille  Lacs  and  other  points 
between  Lake  Superior  and  the  Mississippi,  which 
had  been  dwelling  places  of  the  Sioux.  In  1S20 
the  principal  villages  of  Ojibways  in  Minnesota 
were  at  Fond  du  Lac,  Leech  Lake  and  Sandy 
Lake.  In  1837  they  ceded  most  of  their  lands. 
Since  then,  other  treaties  have  been  made,  until 
in  the  year  1881,  they  are  confined  to  a  few  res- 
ervations, in  northern  Minnesota  and  vicinity. 


lOti 


EXrLOUERS  AKD  PIOKEEBS  OF  MINXESOTA. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


EAKLY  BIISSIONS  AMONG  THE  OJIBWAYS  AND  DARKOTAHS  OF  JtlNlfESOTA. 


jMuit  Minions  not  jwrmantnt— Presbjrterian  Minion  at  Mackinaw— Visit  of  Rev 
A.  Coc  an<!  J  D.  Stevens  to  Fort  Suelliug— Notice  of  Ayrpi.  Hall,  and  Boutwell 
—Formation  of  the  won!  Itasca— The  Brothers  Pond— Arrival  of  Dr.  William- 
son-Pre8b>*teri;mChiircl>  at  Fort  Sneliing- Mission  at  Lake  Harriet— Mourn. 
ing  for  the  Dead— Church  at  Lac-qui  parte— Father  lUvoux— Mission  at  Uke 
PokeRunia — Attack  by  the  Sioux — Chippewoy  att.ick  at  Pig's  Eye— Death  of 
Rev.  Sherman  Hall — Methodist  Missions  Rev.  S.  W.  Pond  prepares  a  Sioux 
Grammar  and  Dictionary    Swiss  Presbyterian  Ui&sion. 


Bancroft  the  distinguished  historian,  catching 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  narratives  of  the  early 
Jesuits,  depicts,  in  language  which  glows,  tiieir 
missions  to  the  Xortlnvest;  yet  it  is  erroneous 
to  suppose  that  the  Jesuits  exercised  any  perma- 
nent influence  on  the  Aborigines. 

Shea,  a  devoted  memlter  of  the  Koman  Catho- 
lic Clnirch.  in  his  History  of  American  CatlioUc 
Missions  writes  :  "  In  1680  Father  Engalrau  was 
apparently  alone  at  Green  Bay,  and  Pierson  at 
Mackinaw.  Of  the  other  missions  neither  Le- 
Clerq  nor  Ilenuepin,  the  Recollect  writers  of  the 
West  at  this  time,  make  any  mention,  or  in  any 
way  allude  to  their  existence."  lie  also  says 
that  "Father  .Menard  had  projected  a  Sioux 
mission ;  Marqiiette,  Allouez,  Druilletes,  all  en- 
tertained hopes  of  lealizing  it,  and  had  some 
intercourse  with  that  nation,  but  none  of  them 
ever  succeeded  in  establishing  a  mission." 

Father  Hemiejiin  wrote:  "  Can  it  be  possible, 
that,  that  pretended  prodigious  amount  of  savage 
converts  could  escape  the  sight  of  a  multitude 
of  French  Canadians  who  travel  every  year? 
*  *  *  *  How  comes  it  to  pass  that  these 
churches  so  devout  and  so  mimerous,  should  be 
invisible,  when  I  passed  through  so  many 
countries  and  nations  V  " 

After  the  American  Fur  Company  was  formed, 
the  island  of  Mackinaw  became  the  residence  of 
the  princijial  agent  for  the  Northwest,  Robert 
Stuart  a  Scotchman,  and  devoted  Presbyterian. 
In  the  month  of  June,  1820,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Morse,  father  of  the  distinguished  inventor  of 
the  telegraph,  visited  and  pi-eached  at  Mackinaw, 
and  in  consequence  of  statements  published  by  j 


him,  upon  his  return,  a  Presbyterian  ^Missionary 
Society  in  the  state  of  Xew  York  sent  a  graduate 
of  Union  College,  the  Rev.  W.  M.  Ferry,  father 
of  the  present  United  States  Senator  from  Michi- 
gan, to  explore  the  field.  In  1823  he  had  estab- 
lished a  large  boarding  school  composed  of 
children  of  various  tribes,  and  here  some  were 
educated  who  became  wives  of  men  of  intelli- 
gence and  influence  at  the  capital  of  Minnesota. 
After  a  few  years,  it  was  determined  by  the 
Mission  Board  to  modify  its  plans,  and  in  the 
place  of  a  great  central  station,  to  send  mission- 
aries among  the  several  tribes  to  teach  and  to 
preach. 

In  pursuance  of  this  ])olicy,  the  Rev.  Alvan 
Coe,  and  J.  D.  Stevens,  then  a  licentiate  who 
had  been  engaged  in  the  Mackinaw-  ilission, 
made  a  tour  of  exploration,  and  arrived  on 
September  1,  1829,  at  Fort  Snelling.  In  the 
journal  of  Major  Lawrence  Taliafeno,  wliich 
is  in  possession  of  the  Jliiniesota  Historical 
Society,  is  the  following  entry :  "  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Coe  and  Steveus  reported  to  he  on  their  way 
to  this  post,  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
looking  out  for  suitable  places  to  make  mission- 
ary establishment  for  the  Sioux  and  Chippeways, 
found  scliools,  and  instruct  in  the  arts  and  agri- 
cultTU'e.'' 

The  agent,  although  not  at  that  time  a  commu- 
nicant of  the  Church,  welcomed  these  visitors, 
and  afforded  them  every  facility  in  visiting  the  " 
Indians.  Oii  Sunday,  the  Gth  of  Septemlier,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Coe  preached  twice  in  the  fort,  and  the 
next  night  hcUl  a  prayer  meeting  at  the  quartere 
of  the  commimiling  oilicer.  On  the  next  Sunday 
he  preached  again,  and  on  the  14th,  with  Mr. 
Stevens  and  a  hired  guide,  returned  to  Mackinaw 
by  way  of  the  St.  Croix  river.  Duruig  this  visit 
the  agent  offered  for  a  Presbyterian  mission  the 
mill  which  then  stood  on  the  site  of  Minneapolis, 
and  had  been  erected  by  the  government,  as  well  as 


FORMATION  OF  THE  WORD  ITA8KA. 


107 


the  farm  at  Lake  Callioiin,  which  was  begun  to 
teach  the  Sioiix  agriculture. 

CHIPPEWAT  MISSIONS. 

In  1830,  r.  Ayer,  one  of  the  teachers  at  ilack- 
iiiaw,  made  an  exploration  as  far  as  La  Pointe, 
and  returned. 

Upon  the  30th  day  of  August,  1831,  a  Macki- 
naw boat  about  forty  feet  long  arrived  at  La 
Pointe,  bringing  from  INIackinaw  the  principal 
trader,  Mr.  Warren,  Rev.  Sherman  Hall  and  wife, 
and  !Mr.  Frederick  Ayer,  a  catechist  and  teacher. 

Mrs.  Hall  attracted  great  attention,  as  she  was 
the  first  white  woman  who  had  visited  that 
region.  Sherman  Hall  was  born  on  April  30, 
1801,  at  "Wethersfield,  Vermont,  and  in  1828 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  College,  and  completed 
his  theological  studies  at  Andover,  Massachu- 
setts, a  few  weeks  before  he  journeyed  to  the 
Indian  country. 

His  classmate  at  Dartmouth  and  Andover,  the 
Eev  W.  T.  Boutwell  still  living  near  Stillwater, 
became  his  yoke-fellow-,  but  remained  for  a  time 
at  Mackinaw,  which  they  reached  about  the  mid- 
dle of  July.  In  June,  1832,  Henry  E.  School- 
craft, the  head  of  an  explorhig  expedition.  Invited 
ilr.  Boutwell  to  accompany  him  to  the  sources  of 
the  Mississippi. 

Wlien  the  expedition  reached  Lac  la  Biche  or 
Elk  Lake,  on  5\\\y  13, 1832,  ilr.  Schoolcraft,  who 
was  not  a  Latin  scholar,  asked  the  Latin  word  for 
<riith,  and  was  told  "Veritas."  He  then  wanted 
.iK  ^vord  wliich  signified  head,  and  was  told 
"caput."  To  the  astonishment  of  many,  School- 
craft struck  off  tlie  fh-st  sylable,  of  the  word 
ver-i-tas  and  tlie  last  sylable  of  ca-put,  and  thus 
coined  the  word  Itasca,  which  he  gave  to  the 
lake,  and  which  some  modem  writers,  with  all 
gravity,  tell  us  was  the  name  of  a  maiden  who 
once  dwelt  on  its  banks.  ITpon  Mr.  BoutweU's 
return  from  tins  expedition  he  was  at  first  asso- 
ciated with  Mr.  Hall  in  the  mission  at  La  Pointe. 

In  1833  the  mission  band  which  had  centered 
at  La  Pointe  diffused  their  influence.  In  Octo- 
ber Rev.  Mr.  Boutwell  went  to  Leech  Lake,  Mr. 
Ayer  opened  a  school  at  Yellow  Lake,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  ilr.  E.  F.  Ely,  now  in  California,  became 
a  teacher  at  Aitkin's  trading  post  at  Sandy  Lake. 

SIOUX  MISSIONAIUES. 

Mr.  Boutwell,  of  Leech  Lake  Station,  on  lli>> 


sixtli  of  May,  1834,  happened  to  be  on  a  visit  to 
Fort  SnelUng.  While  there  a  steamboat  arrived, 
and  among  the  passengers  were  two  young  men, 
brothers,  natives  of  Waslungtoii,  Connecticut, 
Samuel  W.  and  Gideon  H.  Pond,  who  had  come, 
constrained  by  the  love  of  Christ,  and  without  con- 
ferring with  flesh  and  blood,  to  try  to  improve 
the  Sioux. 

Samuel,  the  older  brother,  the  year  before,  had 
talked  with  a  liquor  seller  in  Galena,  Illinois,  who 
had  come  from  the  Red  River  country,  and  the 
desire  was  awakened  to  help  the  Sioux  ;  and  he 
wrote  to  his  brother  to  go  with  him. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  AV.  Pond  still  lives  at  Shako- 
pee,  in  the  old  mission  house,  the  first  building  of 
sawed  lumber  erected  in  the  vaUey  of  the  Minne- 
sota, above  Fort  Suelling. 

MISSIONS  AMONG  THE  SIOUX  A.  D.  1835. 

About  this  period,  a  native  of  South  Carolina, 
a  graduate  of  .Jeilerson  CoUege,  Pennsylvania, 
the  Rev.  T.  S.  Williamson,  M.  D.,  who  previous 
to  his  ordination  had  been  a  respectaljle  physi- 
cian in  Ohio,  was  appointed  by  the  American 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions  to  \dsit  the  Dahkotahs 
with  the  view  of  ascertaining  what  could  be  done 
to  introduce  Christian  instruction.  Having  made 
inquiries  at  Prairie  du  Chien  and  Fort  Snelling, 
he  reported  tlie  field  was  favorable. 

The  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  Churches, 
through  their  joint  Missionary  Society,  appointed 
the  following  persons  to  labor  in  Minnesota : 
Rev.  Thomas  S.  Williamson,  M.  D.,  missionary 
and  physician ;  Rev.  J.  D.  Stevens,  missionary ; 
^Vlexander  Huggins,  farmer ;  and  their  wives ; 
Miss  Sarah  Poage,  and  Lucy  Stevens,  teacliers; 
who  were  prevented  during  the  year  1834,  by  the 
state  of  navigation,  from  entering  upon  their 
W'Ork. 

During  the  winter  of  1834-3.5,  a  pious  oflicer 
of  the  army  exercised  a  good  influence  on  his 
fellow  oflicers  and  soldiers  under  his  command. 
In  the  absence  of  a  chaplain  of  ordained  minis- 
ter, he,  like  General  Ilavelock,  of  the  British 
army  in  India,  was  accustomed  not  only  to  drill 
the  soldiers,  but  to  meet  them  in  bis  own  quar- 
ters, and  reason  with  them  "  of  righteousness, 
temperance,  and  judgment  to  come." 

In  the  month  of  May,  1835,  Dr.  AVilliamson 
and  mission  band  arrived  at  Fort  Snelling,  and 


108 


EXPLORERS  AND  PIONEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


were  hospitably  received  by  tlie  ollicers  of  tlie 
garrison,  tlie  Indian  Agent,  and  Mr.  Sibley,  Agent 
of  the  Company  at  Mendota,  who  had  been  in 
the  country  a  few  mnnlbs. 

On  tlie  twenty-seventh  of  this  month  the  T?ev. 
Dr.  AN'illiamson  united  in  marriage  at  the  Fort 
Lieutenant  Edward  A.  Ogden  to  Eliza  Edna,  the 
daughter  of  Captain  G.  A.  Looniis,  the  tirst 
marriage  service  in  which  a  clergyman  officiated 
in  the  present  State  of  Minnesota. 

On  the  eleventh  of  June  a  meeting  was  held 
at  the  Fort  to  organize  a  Presbj'terian  Church, 
sixteen  persons  who  had  been  communicants, 
and  six  who  made  a  i)rofcssion  of  faith,  one  of 
whom  was  Lieutenant  Ogden,  were  enrolled  as 
members. 

Four  elders  were  elected,  among  whom  were 
Capt.  Gustavus  Loomis  and  Samuel  W.  Pond. 
The  next  day  a  lecture  preparatory  to  administer- 
ing the  communion,  was  delivered,  and  on  Sun- 
day, the  14th,  the  first  organized  church  in  the 
Valley  of  the  Upper  Mississippi  assembled  for 
the  first  time  in  one  of  the  Comi>any  rooms  of  the 
Fort.  Theservicesin  the  morning  were  conducted 
by  Dr.  AVilliamson.  The  afternoon  service  com- 
menced at  2  o'clock.  The  sermon  of  Mr.  Stevens 
was  upon  a  most  appropriate  text,  1st  Peter,  ii:2o ; 
"For  ye  were  as  slveep  going  astray,  but  are  now 
returned  unto  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  your 
souls."  Afterthediscourse,  the  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  supper  was  administered. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Session  on  the  thirty-first 
of  July,  Rev.  J.  D.  Stevens,  missionary,  was  in- 
vited to  preach  to  the  church,  "  so  long  as  the 
duties  of  his  mission  will  permit,  and  also  to  pre- 
side at  all  the  meetings  of  the  Session."  Captain 
Gustavus  Loomis  was  elected  Stated  Clerk  of  the 
Session,  and  they  resolved  to  observe  the  monthly 
concert  of  prayer  on  the  first  Monday  of  each 
month,  for  the  conversion  of  the  world. 

Two  points  were  selected  by  the  missionaries 
as  proper  spheres  of  labor.  Mr.  Stevens  and 
family  proceeded  to  Lake  Harriet,  and  Dr.  \\'i\- 
liamson  and  family,  in  June,  proceeded  to  Lac 
qui  Parle. 

As  there  had  never  been  a  chaplain  at  Fort 
Snelhng,  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Stevens,  the  missionary 
at  Lake  Harriet,  preaclied  on  Sundays  to  tlie 
Presbyterian  chiirch,  there,  recently  organized. 


Writing  on    Jainiary  twenty-seventh,  1836,  he 
says,  in  relation  to  his  field  of  labor: 

"  Yesterday  a  portion  of  this  band  of  Indians, 
who  had  been  some  time  absent  from  this  village, 
returneil.  One  of  the  niiinber  (a  woman)  was 
informed  that  a  brollier  nl'  liers  had  died  during 
her  absence.  lie  was  not  at  this  village,  but 
with  another  band,  and  the  information  had  just 
reached  here.  In  the  evening  they  set  up  a  most 
piteous  crying,  or  rather  wailing,  which  con- 
tinued, with  some  little  cessations,  during  the 
night.  The  sister  of  the  deceased  brotlierwould 
repeat,  times  Vi'ithout  number,  words  which  may 
be  thus  translated  into  English :  '  Come,  my 
brother,  I  shall  see  you  no  more  for  ever.'  The 
night  was  extremely  cold,  the  thermometer 
standing  from  ten  to  twenty  below  zero.  About 
sunrise,  next  morning,  preparation  was  made  for 
lierfonniiig  the  ceremony  of  cutting  their  llesh, 
in  (uder  to  give  relief  to  their  grief  of  mind. 
The  snow  was  removed  from  the  frozen  ground 
over  about  as  large  a  space  as  would  lie  recjuired 
to  place  a  small  Indian  lodge  or  wigwam.  In  the 
centre  a  very  small  fire  was  kindled  up,  not  to 
give  warmth,  apparently,  but  to  cause  a  smoke. 
The  sister  of  the  deceased,  who  was  the  chief 
mourner,  came  out  of  her  lodge  followed  by 
three  other  women,  \\ho  repaired  to  the  place 
jirepared.  They  were  all  b.irefooted,  and  nearly 
naked.  Here  they  set  up  a  most  bitter  lamentii- 
tion  and  crying,  mingling  their  waitings  with  the 
words  before  mentioned.  The  principal  mourner 
commenced  gashing  or  cutting  her  ankles  and 
legs  up  to  the  knees  with  a  sharp  stone,  until  her 
legs  were  covered  with  gore  and  tlowuig  blood ; 
then  in  like  manner  her  arms,  shoulders,  and 
breast.  The  others  cut  themselves  in  the  same 
way,  but  not  so  severely.  On  this  poor  infatuated 
A\-oman  I  presume  there  were  more  than  a  hun- 
dred long  deep  gashes  in  the  flesh.  I  saw  the 
operation,  and  the  blood  instantly  followed  the 
instrument,  and  flowed  down  upon  the  fiesh.  She 
ajijieared  frantic  with  grief.  Through  the  pain 
of  her  wounds,  the  loss  of  blood,  exhaustion  of 
strength  by  fasting,  loud  and  long-continued  and 
bitter  groans,  or  the  extreme  cold  upon  her  al- 
most naked  and  lacerated  body,  she  soon  sunk 
ujion  the  frozen  ground,  shaking  as  with  a  violent 
fit  of  the  ague,  and  writhing  in  apparent  agony. 
'Surely,'  I  exclaimed,  as  I  beheld  the  bloody 


A  ROMAN  CATHOLIC  .UIS.-^IONARY. 


109 


scene,  'the  tender  mercies  of  the  heathen  are 
cruelty!' 

'■  The  Uttle  church  at  the  fort  hegms  to  mani- 
fest sometliing  of  a  missionary  spirit  Their  con- 
tributions are  considerable  for  so  small  a  number. 
I  hope  they  wiW  not  only  be  willmg  to  contribute 
liberally  of  their  substance,  but  will  give  them- 
selves, at  least  some  of  them,  to  the  missionary 
work. 

"  The  surgeon  of  the  military  post,  Dr.  Jarvis, 
has  been  very  assiiluous  in  his  attentions  to  )is  in 
our  sickness,  and  has  very  generously  made  a  do- 
nation to  our  board  of  twenty-five  dollars,  being 
the  amount  of  his  medical  services  in  our  family. 

"On  the  nineteenth  instant  we  commenced  a 
school  with  six  full  Indian  children,  at  least  so  m 
all  their  habits,  dress,  etc.;  not  one  could  speak  a 
word  of  any  language  but  Sioux.  The  school  has 
since  increased  to  the  number  of  twenty-tive.  I 
am  now  collecting  and  arranging  words  for  a  dic- 
tionary. Mr.  Pond  is  assiduously  employed  in 
preparing  a  small  spelling-book,  which  we  may 
forward  next  mail  for  printing. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  September,  1836,  a  Presby- 
terian church  was  organized  at  Lac-qui-Parle,  a 
branch  of  that  in  and  near  Fort  Snelling,  and 
Joseph  Renville,  a  mixed  blood  of  great  influ- 
ence, became  a  communicant.  He  had  been 
trained  in  Canada  by  a  Roman  Catholic  priest, 
liut  claimed  the  right  of  private  judgment.  Mr. 
Renville's  wife  was  the  lirst  pure  Dahkotiih  of 
whom  we  have  any  record  that  ever  joined  the 
Church  of  Christ.  This  church  has  never  become 
extinct,  although  its  menibei's  have  been  neces- 
sarily nomadic.  After  the  treaty  of  Traverse  des 
Sioux,  it  was  removed  to  Ilazlewood.  Driven 
from  thence  by  the  outln'eak  of  ISiii;,  it  has  be- 
came the  parent  of  other  churches,  in  the  valley 
of  the  upper  Missouri,  over  one  of  which  John 
Renville,  a  descendant  of  the  elder  at  Lac-qui- 
Parle,  is  the  T)astor. 

EOMAN  CATHOLIC  HIPSION  ATTE3IPTED. 

Father  Ravoux,  recently  from  France,  a  sin- 
cere and  earnest  priest  of  the  Church  of  Rome, 
came  to  Mendota  in  the  autumn  of  1841,  and 
after  a  brief  sojourn  with  the  Rev.  L.  Galtier, 
who  iiad  erected  Saint  Paul's  chapel,  which  has 
given  the  name  of  Saint  Paul  to  the  capital  of 
Mimiesota,  he  ascended  the  Minnesota  River 
and  visited  Lac-qui-Parle. 


Bishop  Loras,  of  Dubuque,  wrote  the  next  year 
of  his  visit  as  follows  :  "  Our  yomig  missionary, 
M.  Ravoux,  passed  the  winter  on  the  banks  of 
Lac-qui-Parle,  vslthout  any  other  support  than 
Providence,  without  any  other  means  of  conver- 
sion than  a  burning  zeal,  he  has  wrought  in  the 
space  of  six  months,  a  happy  revolution  among 
the  Sioux.  From  the  time  of  his  arrival  he  has 
been  occupied  night  and  day  in  tlie  study  of  tlieir 
language.  *****  "When  he  instructs 
the  savages,  he  speaks  to  them  with  so  much  fire 
whilst  showing  them  a  large  copper  crucifix  which 
he  carries  on  his  breast,  that  he  makes  the  strong- 
est impression  upon  them." 

The  impression,  however  was  evanescent,  and 
he  soon  retired  from  the  field,  and  no  more  efforts 
were  made  in  this  direction  by  the  Churcli  of 
Rome.  This  young  Mr.  Ravoux  is  now  the  highly 
respected  vicar  of  the  Roman  Catholic  diocese  of 
JMinnesota,  and  justly  esteemed  for  his  simpUcity 
and  unobtrusiveness. 

CHIPPEWAY  MISSIONS  AT  POKEGTTMA. 

Pokegnma  is  one  of  the  "  ISIille  Lacs,"  or  thou- 
sand beautiful  lakes  for  which  Minnesota  is  re- 
markable. It  is  about  four  or  five  miles  In  extent , 
and  a  mile  or  more  in  width. 

This  lake  is  situated  on  Snake  River,  about 
twenty  miles  above  the  junction  of  that  stream 
vrith  the  St.  Croix. 

In  the  year  1836,  missionaries  came  to  reside 
among  the  Ojibways  and  Pokeguma,  to  promote 
their  temporal  and  spiritual  welfare.  Their  mis- 
sion house  was  biult  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake  ; 
but  the  Indian  village  was  on  an  island  not  far 
from  the  shore. 

In  a  letter  written  in  1837,  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing: "The  young  women  and  girls  now 
make,  mend,  wash,  and  iron  after  our  man- 
ner. The  men  have  learned  to  build  log  houses, 
drive  team,  plough,  hoe,  and  handle  an  American 
axe  with  some  skill  ui  cutting  large  trees,  the 
size  of  which,  two  years  ago,  W(jnld  have  afforded 
them  a  sufficient  reason  why  they  should  not  med- 
dle with  them." 

In  May,  1841,  Jeremiah  Russell,  who  was  In- 
dian farmer,  sent  two  Chippeways,  accompanied 
by  Elam  Greeley,  of  Stillwater,  to  the  Falls  of 
Saint  Croix  for  supplies.  On  Saturday,  the 
fifteenth  of  the  month  they  arrived  there,  and 


no 


£!X-J'LUliEliS  A  XI)  PIOKEEIiS  OF  MIXXESOTA. 


the  next  day  a  steamboat  came  up  with  the 
goods.  The  captain  said  a  war  party  of  Sioux, 
headed  by  Little  Crow,  was  advancinj;,  and  the 
two  Chippeways  prepared  to  go  back  and  were 
their  friends. 

They  had  hardly  left  the  Falls,  on  their  re- 
turn, before  they  saw  a  party  of  Dalikotahs.  The 
sentinel  of  the  enemy  liad  not  noticed  the  ai> 
proach  of  tlie  young  men.  lu  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye,  these  two  young  Ojibways  raised  their 
guns,  fired,  and  killed  two  of  Little  t'row"s  sons. 
The  discharge  of  the  guns  revealed  to  a  sentinel, 
that  an  enemy  was  near,  and  as  the  Ojibways 
were  retreating,  he  fired,  and  mortally  wounded 
one  of  the  two. 

According  to  custom,  the  corpses  of  the  chiefs 
sons  were  dressed,  and  then  set  up  with  their 
faces  towards  the  coimtry  of  their  ancient  ene- 
mies. Tlie  woiuided  Ojibway  was  horribly 
mangled  by  the  infuriated  party,  and  his  limbs 
strewn  about  in  every  direction.  His  scalped 
head  was  placed  in  a  kettle,  and  suspended  in 
front  of  the  two  Dahkotah  corpses. 

Little  Crow,  disheartened  by  the  loss  of  his  two 
boys,  returned  with  liis  party  to  Kaposia.  But 
other  parties  were  in  the  field. 

It  was  not  till  Friday,  the  twenty-first  of  May, 
that  the  death  of  one  of  the  young  Ojiliways 
sent  by  Mr.  Russell,  to  the  Falls  oi  Saint  Croix. 
was  knowni  at  Pokeguma. 

Mr.  Russell  on  the  next  Sunday,  accompanied 
by  Captain  AVilliam  Ilolcoml)  and  a  half-breed, 
went  to  the  mission  station  to  attend  a  religious 
service,  and  while  crossing  the  lake  in  returning, 
the  half-breed  said  that  it  was  rumored  that  tlie 
Sioux  were  approaching.  On  jSIonday,  the  twen- 
ty-fourth, three  young  men  left  in  a  canoe  to  go 
to  the  west  shore  of  the  lake,  and  from  tlience  to 
Mille  l^acs,  to  give  intelligence  to  the  Ojibways 
there,  of  the  .skirmish  that  had  already  occm-red. 
They  took  with  them  two  Indian  girls,  about 
twelve  years  of  age,  who  were  pupils  of  the  mis- 
sion school,  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  the  canoe 
back  to  the  island.  Just  as  the  three  were  land- 
ing, twenty  or  thirty  Dahkotah  warriors,  with  a 
war  whoop  emerged  from  their  concealment  be- 
liiud  the  trees,  and  fired  into  the  canoe.  The 
young  men  instantly  siirang  into  the  water,  which 


was  shallow,  returned  the  fire,  and  ran  into  the 
woods,  escaping  without  material  injury. 

The  little  girls,  in  their  fright,  waded  into  the 
lake ;  but-  were  pursued.  Tlieir  i)arents  upon 
the  i.sland,  heard  the  death  cries  of  their  children. 
Some  of  tlie  Indians  around  the  mission-house 
jumped  into  their  canoes  and  gained  the  islaml. 
Others  went  into  some  fortified  log  huts.  The 
attack  upon  the  canoe,  it  was  afterwards  learned, 
was  premature.  The  party  upon  that  side  of  the 
lake  were  ordered  not  to  fire,  until  the  party 
stationed  in  the  woods  near  the  mission  began. 

There  were  in  all  one  hundred  and  eleven 
Dahkotah  warriors,  and  all  the  fight  was  in  the 
vicinity  of  tlie  mission-house,  and  the  Ojibways 
mostly  engaged  in  it  were  those  who  had  been 
under  religious  uistniction.  The  rest  were  upon 
the  island. 

Tlie  fiUhers  of  the  nuuxlered  girls,  burning  for 
revenge,  left  the  island  in  a  canoe,  and  drawing 
it  up  on  the  shore,  hid  behind  it,  and  fired  upon 
the  Dalikotahs  and  killed  one.  The  Dalikotahs 
advancing  upon  them,  they  were  obliged  to 
escape.  The  canoe  was  now  launched.  One  lay 
on  his  back  in  the  bottom;  the  other  plunged 
into  the  water,  and,  holding  the  canoe  with  one 
hand,  and  swimming  with  the  other,  he  towed 
his  friend  out  of  danger.  The  Dalikotahs,  in- 
furiated at  their  escajie,  fired  volley  after  volley 
at  the  swimmer,  but  he  escaped  tlie  balls  by 
putting  his  head  under  water  whenever  he  Siiw 
them  take  aim,  and  waiting  till  he  heard  the 
discharge,   he  would  then  look  up  and  breathe. 

After  a  fight  of  two  hours,  the  Dalikotahs  re- 
treated, with  a  loss  of  two  men.  At  the  request 
of  the  parents,  ^Ir.  E.  F.  Ely,  from  whose 
notes  the  writer  ha?  obtained  these  facts,  be- 
ing at  that  time  a  teaclier  at  the  mission, 
went  across  the  lake,  with  two  of  his  friends,  to 
gather  the  remains  of  his  murdered  pupils.  lie 
found  the  corpses  on  the  shore.  The  heads  cut 
off  and  scalped,  with  a  tomahawk  buried  in  the 
brains  of  each,  were  set  up  in  the  sand  near  the 
bodies.  The  bodies  were  pierced  in  the  breast, 
and  tUe  right  arm  of  one  was  taken  away.  Re- 
moving  the  tomahawks,  the  bodies  were  brought 
back  to  the  i.sland,  and  in  the  afternoon  were 
buried  in  accordance  with  the  simple  but  solemn 
riles  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  by  members  of  the 


SIOUX  MISSIONABIES  BEFOBE  THE  TBEATIES. 


Ill 


The  sequel  to  this  stoiy  is  soon  told.  The  In- 
dians of  Pokeguma,  after  the  fight,  deserted  their 
vilhige,  and  went  to  reside  with  their  coimtrymen 
near  Lake  Superior. 

In  July  of  tlie  following  year,  1842,  a  war  party 
was  formed  at  Fond  du  Lac,  about  forty  in  num- 
ber, and  proceeded  towards  the  Dahkotah  country. 
Sneaking,  as  none  but  Indians  can,  they  arrived 
luuioticed  at  the  httle  settlement  below  Saint 
Paul,  commonly  called  "Pig's  Eye,"  which  is 
opposite  to  what  was  Kaposia,  or  Little  Crow's 
village.  Finding  an  Indian  woman  at  work  in 
the  garden  of  her  husband,  a  Canadian,  by  the 
name  of  Gamelle,  they  killed  her ;  also  another 
woman,  with  her  infant,  whose  head  was  cut  off. 
The  Dahkotalis,  on  the  opposite  side,  were  mostly 
intoxicated ;  and,  flying  across  in  their  canoes  but 
half  prepared,  they  were  worsted  in  the  en- 
coimter.  They  lost  thirteen  warriors,  and  one  of 
their  number,  known  as  the  Dancer,  the  O jib- 
ways  are  said  to  have  skinned. 

Soon  after  this  the  Chippeway  missions  of  the 
St.  Croix  Valley  were  abandoned. 

In  a  little  while  Rev.  Mr.  Boutwell  removed  to 
the  vicinity  of  Stillwater,  and  the  missionaries, 
Ayer  and  Spencer,  went  to  Bed  Lake  and  other 
points  in  ^linnesota. 

In  1853  the  Rev.  Sherman  Hall  left  the  Indians 
and  became  pastor  of  a  Congregational  church  at 
Sauk  Rapids,  where  he  recently  died. 

METHODIST  MISSIONS. 

la  1837  the  Rev.  A.  Bnmson  commenced  a 
Methodist  mission  at  Kaposia,  about  four  miles 
below,  and  opposite  Saint  Paul.  It  was  afterwards 
removed  across  the  river  to  Red  Rock.  He  was 
assisted  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Pope,  and  the 
latter  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  J.  Ilolton. 

The  Rev.  ]\Ir.  Spates  and  others  also  labored 
for  a  brief  period  among  the  Ojibways. 

fRESBYTEKIAN   inSSIONS    CONTINTJBD. 

At  ihe  stations  the  Dahkotah  language  was  dil- 
igently studied.  Rev.  S.  W.  Pond  had  prepared 
a  dictionary  of  three  thousand  words,  and  also  a 
small  grammar.  The  Rev.  S.  R.  Riggs,  who 
joined  the  mission  in  1837,  in  a  letter  dated 
February  24,  1841,  wiites :  "  Last  summer 
after  returnuig  from  Fort  SneUtng,  1  spent  five 
weeks  in  copying  again  the  Sioux  vocabulary 
which  \vc  had  collected  and  arranged  at  this  sta- 


tion. It  contained  then  about  5500  words,  not 
includmg  the  various  forms  of  the  verbs.  Since 
that  time,  the  words  collected  by  Dr.  Williamson 
and  myself,  have,  I  presume,  increased  the  num- 
ber to  sis  thousand.  *****  In  this  con- 
nection, I  may  mention  that  during  the  winter  of 
1839-40,  Mrs.  Riggs,  with  some  assistance,  wrote 
an  English  and  Sioux  vocabulary  containing 
about  three  thousand  words.  One  of  Mr.  Ren- 
ville's sons  and  three  of  his  daughters  are  en- 
gaged in  copying.  In  committing  the  grammati- 
cal principles  of  the  language  to  ■WTiting,  we  have 
done  something  at  this  station,  but  more  has  been 
done  by  Mr.  S.  W.  Pond." 

Steadily  the  numlier  of  Indian  missionaries 
increased,  and  in  1851,  before  the  lands  of  the 
Dahkotahs  west  of  the  Mississippi  were  ceded  to 
the  whites,  they  were  disposed  as  follows  by  the 
Dahkotah  Presbytery. 

Lac-qid-parle,  Rev.  S.  R.  Riggs,  Rev.  M.  N. 
Adams,  Missionaries,  Jonas  Pettijohn,  Mrs. 
Fanny  Pettijohn,  Mrs.  ilary  Ann  Riggs,  Mrs. 
Mary  A.  M.  Adams,  Miss  Sarah  Rankin,  .!.•?- 
sistants. 

Traverse  cks  Sioux,  Rev.  Robert  Hopkins,  J/(.s- 
sionary;  Mrs.  Agnes  Hopkins,  Alexander  G. 
Huggins,  Mrs.  Lydia  P.  Huggins,  Assistants. 

Shttl-paij,  or  Shokjxty,  Rev.  Samuel  W.  Pond, 
Missionary ;  Mrs.  Sarah  P.  Pond,  Assistant. 

Oak  Grove,  Rev.  Gideon  H.  Pond  and  wife. 

Kaposia,  Rev.  Thomas  "Williamson,  M.  D., 
Missionary  and  Physician;  Mrs.  Margaret  P. 
Williamson,  Miss  Jane  S.  Williamson,  Assistants. 

Bed  Wing,  Rev.  John  F.  Alton,  Rev.  Joseph 
W.  Hancock,  Missionaries;  Mrs.  Nancy  H.  Alton, 
Mrs.  Hancock,  Assistants. 

The  Rev.  Daniel  Gavin,  the  Swiss  Presbyte- 
rian Missionary,  spent  the  winter  of  1839  in  Lac- 
qui-Parle  and  was  afterwards  married  to  a  niece 
of  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Stevens,  of  the  Lake  Harriet 
Mission.  Mr.  Stevens  became  the  farmer  and 
teacher  of  the  Wapashaw  band,  and  the  tirtt 
white  man  who  lived  where  the  city  of  Winona 
has  been  built.  Another  missionary  from  Switz- 
erland, the  Rev.  Mr.  Denton,  manied  a  iliss 
Skiinier,  formerly  of  the  Mackinaw  mission. 
During  a  portion  of  the  year  1839  these  Swiss 
missionaries  lived  wth  the  American  mission- 
aries at  camp  Cold  Water  near  Fort  Snelling, 
but  their  chief  field  of  labor  was  at  Red  Wing. 


UJ 


EXl'LOliEIta  ASD  riUNEEUa  OF  MINNESOTA. 


CnAPTER  XX. 


TKEAD  OF   PIONEERS  IN  THE  SAINT  CIIOIX  VALLEY  AND  ELSEWnSllE. 


Oriifiu  of  the  name  Saint  Croix— Dii  Luth,  (Iret  Explorer— Frendi  Post  on  the  Si. 
Croix— Pitt,  un  cm-iy  pioneer— Early  Kettlent  at  Saint  Croix  Falli— First  women 
there— Marine  Settlement — Joseph  R.  Brown's  town  site— Saint  Croix  County 
orKanized— Proprietors  of  Stillwater— A  dead  Negro  woman— Pig's  Eye.  orintn 
of  name  -Kise  of  Saint  Paul -Dr.  Williamson  seeures  llr^t  school  leather  for 
Saint  Paul— Detcription  of  first  sehool  r>K>m— Saint  Croix  County  re.organized 
— Rev.  W.  T.  Boutwell,  pioneer  clergyman. 

The  Saint  Croix  river,  according  to  Le  Sueur, 
named  after  a  Frencliman  who  was  drowned  at 
its  mouth,  was  one  of  tlie  earliest  throughfares 
from  Lake  Superior  to  tlie  ^Mississippi.  The  first 
wliite  man  who  directed  canoes  upon  its  waters 
was  Du  Lutli,  who  had  in  1679  explored  Minne- 
sota. He  thus  describes  liis  tour  in  a  letter,  first 
published  by  Harrisse :  "  In  June,  1680,  not  be- 
ing satisfied,  with  having  made  my  discovery  by 
land,  I  took  two  canoes,  with  an  Indian  who  was 
my  inteiiJieter,  and  four  Frenelimen,  to  seek 
means  to  make  it  by  water.  With  this  view  I 
entered  a  river  which  empties  eight  leagues  from 
the  extremity  of  Lake  Superior,  on  the  south 
side,  where,  after  having  cut  some  trees  and 
broken  about  a  hundred  beaver  dams,  I  reached 
the  upper  waters  of  the  said  river,  r.nd  then  I 
made  a  portage  of  half  a  league  to  reach  a  lake, 
the  outlet  which  fell  into  a  very  fine  river, 
which  took  l  e  down  into  the  Mississippi.  Tliere 
I  learned  from  eight  cabins  of  Xadouecioux  that 
the  Kev.  Father  Louis  lleiine))iu,  Uecollect,  now 
at  the  convent  of  Saint  (Jermain,  with  two  other 
Frenchmen  had  been  robbed,  and  carried  off  as 
slaves  for' more  than  three  hundred  leagues  by 
the  I>radouecioux  themselves." 

He  then  relates  how  he  left  two  Frenchmen 
with  his  goods,  and  went  with  his  interpreter  and 
two  Frenchmen  in  a  canoe  down  the  Mississippi, 
and  after  two  days  and  two  nights,  found  Henne- 
pin, Accault  and  Augelle.  He  told  Hennepin 
that  he  must  return  with  him  through  the  country 
of  the  Fox  tribe,  and  writes  :  "I  preferred  to  re- 
trace my  steps,  manifesting  to  them  [the  Sioux] 
the  just  indignation  I  felt  against  them,  rather 
than  to  remain  after  the  violence  they  had  done 


to  the  Rev.  Father  and  the  other  two  Frenchmen 
with  him,  whom  I  put  in  my  canoes  and  brought 
them  to  Michiliraackinack." 

After  this,  the  Saint  Croix  river  became  a  chan 
nel  for  commerce,  and  ]5ellin  writes,  that  lieforo 
17.5-5,  the  French  had  erected  a  fort  forty  leagues 
from  its  mouth  and  twenty  from  Lake  Superior. 

The  pine  forests  between  the  Saint  Croix  and 
Minnesota  had  been  for  several  years  a  tempta- 
tion to  energetic  men.  As  early  as  November, 
1836,  a  >Ir.  Pitt  went  with  a  boat  and  a  party  of 
men  to  the  Falls  of  Saint  Croix  to  cut  pine  tim- 
ber, with  the  consent  of  the  Chippeways  but  the 
dissent  of  the  United  States  authorities. 

In  1837  while  the  treaty  was  being  made  by  Com- 
missioners Dodge  and  Smith  at  Fort  Snelling,  on 
one  Sunday  Franklin  Steele,  Dr.  Fitch,  Jeremiah 
Russell,  and.a  Mr.  Maginnis  left  Fort  Snelling 
f(U'  the  Falls  of  Saint  Croix  in  a  birch  bark  canoe 
paddled  by  eight  men,  and  reached  that  point 
about  noon  on  Monday  aud  comincuced  a  log 
cabin.  Steele  and  Jlajfiunis  remained  here, 
while  the  others,  dividing  into  two  parties,  one 
under  Fitch,  and  the  other  under  Russell,  search- 
ed for  pine  land.  The  first  stopped  at  Sun  Rise, 
while  Russel  went  on  to  the  Snake  Iliver.  About 
the  same  time  Rol)binet  and  Jesse  B.  Taylor 
came  to  the  Falls  in  the  interest  of  B.  F.  Baker 
who  had  a  stone  trading  house  near  Fort  Snelling, 
since  destro)  ed  by  fire.  On  the  fifteenth  of  July, 
1838,  the  Palmyra,  Capt.  Holland,  arrived  at 
the  Fort,  with  the  official  notice  of  the  ratifica- 
tion of  the  treaties  ceding  the  lands  between  the 
Saint  Croix  and  Mississippi. 

She  had  on  board  C.  A.  Tuttle,  L.  AV.  Stratton 
and  others,  with  the  machinery  for  the  projected 
mills  of  the  Northwest  Lumlier  Company  at  the 
Falls  of  Saint  Croix,  and  reached  that  point  on 
the  seventeenth,  the  first  steamboat  to  disturb  the 
waters  above  Lake  Saint  Croix.  The  steamer 
Gypsy   came  to  the  fort  on  the  twenty-first  of 


WOuM£N  I]}i  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SAINT  CROIX. 


113 


October,  with  goods  for  the  Chippeways,  and  was 
chartered  for  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  to 
carry  them  up  to  the  Falls  of  Saint  Croix.  In 
passuig  througli  the  lake,  the  boat  grounded  near 
a  projected  town  called  Stambaughville,  after  S. 
C.  Stambaugh,  the  sutler  at  the  fort.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  26th,  the  goods  were  landed,  as 
stipulated. 

Tlie  agent  of  the  Improvement  Company  at  the 
falls  was  Washington  Libbey,  who  left  in  the  fall 
of  1838,  and  was  succeeded  by  Jeremiah  Russell, 
Stiatton  acting  as  millwright  in  place  of  Calvin 
Tuttle.  On  the  twelfth  of  December,  Eussell  and 
Strattoii  walked  down  the  river,  cut  the  first  tree 
and  built  a  cabin  at  ilariue,  and  sold  their  claim. 

The  first  women  at  the  Falls  of  Saint  Croix  were 
a  Mrs.  Orr,  Mrs.  Sackett,  and  the  daughter  of  a 
Mr.  Yoimg.  During  the  winter  of  ls:'>.S-9,  Jere- 
miah Russell  married  a  daughter  of  a  respectable 
and  gentlemanly  trader,  Charles  II.  Oakes. 

Among  the  first  preachers  were  the  Rev.  W.  T. 
Boutwell  and  ilr.  Seymour,  of  the  Chippeway 
Mission  at  Pokeguma.  The  Rev.  A.  Brunson,  of 
Prairie  du  Chieu,  who  visited  this  region  in  1838, 
wrote  that  at  the  mouth  of  Snake  River  he  four.d 
Franklin  Steele,  with  twenty-five  or  thirty  men, 
cutting  timber  for  a  mill,  and  when  he  offered  to 
preach  Mr.  Steele  gave  a  cordial  assent. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  August,  ^Ir.  Steele,  Living- 
ston, and  others,  left  the  Falls  of  Saint  Croix  m  a 
barge,  and  went  around  to  Fort  Snelling. 

The  steamboat  Fayette  about  the  middle  of 
May,  1839,  lauded  sutlers'  stores  at  i^ort  Snell- 
'ng  and  then  proceeded  with  several  persons  of 
intelligence  to  the  Saint  Croix  river,  who  S-4tled 
at  Marine. 

The  place  was  called  after  Marine  in  Madison 
county,  Illinois,  where  the  company,  consisting 
of  Judd,  Hone  and  others,  was  formed  to  build 
a  saw  mill  m  the  Saint  Croix  Valley.  The  mUl 
at  Marine  commenced  to  saw  lumber,  on  August 
24, 1839,  the  first  in  Minnesota. 

Joseph  R.  Brown,  who  since  1838,  had  lived  at 

Chan  Wakan,  on  the  west  side  of  Grey  Cloud 

Island,  this  year  made  a  claim  near  the  upper 

end  of  the  city  of  Stillwater,  which  he  called 

Dahkotah,  and  was  the  first  to  raft  lumber  down 

the  Saint  Croix,  as  well  as  the  first  to  represent 

the  citizens  of  the  valley  in  the  legislature  of 

Wisconsin. 
8 


Until  the  year  1841,  the  jurisdiction  of  Craw- 
ford county,  Wiscousm,  extended  over  the  delta 
of  country  between  the  Saint  Croix  and  JMissis- 
sippi.  Joseph  R.  Brown  having  been  elected  as 
representative  of  the  comity,  in  the  territorial 
legislature  of  Wisconsin,  succeeded  in  obtaining 
the  passage  of  an  act  on  Novemljer  twentieth, 
1841,  organizing  the  county  of  Saint  Croix,  with 
Dahkotah  designated  as  the  comity  seat. 

At  the  time  prescribed  for  holding  a  court  in 
the  new  county,  it  is  said  that  the  judge  of  the 
district  arrived,  and  to  his  surprise,  found  a 
claim  cabin  occupied  by  a  Frenchman.  Speedily 
retreating,  he  never  came  again,  and  judicial 
proceedings  for  Saint  Croix  county  ended  for 
several  years.  Phineas  Lawrence  was  the  first 
sheriff  of  tliis  county. 

On  the  tenth  of  October,  1843,  was  commenced 
a  settlement  which  has  become  the  town  of  Still- 
water. The  names  of  the  proprietors  were  John 
McKusick  from  Maine,  Calvin  Leach  from  Ver- 
mont, Elam  Greeley  from  Maine,  and  Elias 
McKean  from  Pennsylvania.  They  immediately 
commenced  the  erection  of  a  sawmill. 

John  IT.  Fonda,  elected  on  the  twenty-second 
of  September,  as  coroner  of  Crawford  county, 
Wisconsin,  asserts  that  he  was  once  notified  that 
a  dead  body  was  lying  in  the  water  opposite  Pig's 
Eye  slough,  and  immediately  jjroceeded  to  the 
spot,  and  on  taking  it  out,  recognized  it  as  the 
body  of  a  negro  woman  belonging  to  a  certain 
captain  of  the  United  States  army  then  at  Fort 
Crawford.  The  body  was  cruelly  cut  and  bruised, 
but  no  one  appearing  to  recognise  it,  a  verdict  of 
"  Found  dead,"  was  rendered,  and  the  corpse  was 
buried.  Soon  after,  it  came  to  light  that  the 
woman  was  whipped  to  death,  and  thrown  into 
the  river  during  the  night. 

The  year  that  the  Dahkotahs  ceded  their  lands 
east  of  the  Mississippi,  a  Canadian  Frenchman 
by  the  name  of  Parrant,  the  ideal  of  an  Indian 
whisky  seller,  erected  a  shanty  in  what  is  now 
the  city  of  Saint  Paul.  Ignorant  and  overbear- 
ing he  loved  money  more  than  his  own  soul. 
Destitute  of  one  eye,  and  the  other  resembling 
that  of  a  pig,  he  was  a  good  representative  of 
Caliban.  Some  one  writing  from  his  groggery 
designated  it  as  "  Pig's  Eye."  The  reply  to  the 
letter  was  directed  in  good  faith  to"  Pig's  Eye" 


114 


EXPLOREBS  AND  PIOHEERS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


Some  years  ago  the  editor  of  the  Samt  Paul 
Press  described  the  occasion  in  these  words: 

"  Edmiuid  Brisette,  a  clerkly  Frenchman  for 
those  days,  who  lives,  or  did  live  a  Uttle  while 
ago,  on  Lake  Harriet,  was  one  day  seated  at  a 
table  in  Parranfs  cabin,  V!\i\\  pen  and  paper 
about  to  write  a  letter  for  Parrant  (for  Parrant, 
like  Charlemagre,  could  not  write)  to  a  friend' 
of  the  latter  in  Canada.  The  question  of  geog- 
raphy puzzled  Brissette  at  the  outset  of  the 
epistle ;  where  should  he  date  a  letter  from  a 
place  without  a  name  ?  He  looked  up  inquir- 
ingly to  PaiTant,  and  met  the  dead,  cold  glare  of 
the  Pig's  Eye  lixed  upon  him,  with  an  irresist- 
ible suggestiveuess  that  was  inspiration  to 
Brisette." 

In  1842,  the  late  Henry  Jackson,  of  Mahkahto, 
settled  at  the  same  spot,  and  erected  the  first 
store  on  the  height  just  above  the  lower  landing, 
Eoberts  and  Simpson  followed,  and  opened 
small  Indian  trading  shops.  In  1846.  the  site  of 
Saint  I'aul  was  chielly  occupied  liy  a  few  shanties 
owned  by  ''  certain  lewd  fellows  of  the  baser 
sort,"  who  sold  rum  to  the  soldier  and  Indian. 
It  was  despised  by  all  decent  white  men,  and 
known  to  the  Dahkotahs  by  an  expression  in 
their  tongue  which  means,  the  place  where  they 
sell  mimie-wakan  [superna;;ural  water]. 

The  chief  of  the  Kaposiabaud  in  1846,  was  shot 
by  his  own  brother  in  a  drunken  revel,  but  sur- 
viving the  wound,  and  apparently  alarmed  at  the 
deterioration  under  the  influence  of  the  modern 
harpies  at  Saint  Paul,  went  to  Mr.  Bmce,  Indian 
Agent,  at  Port  Snelling,  and  requested  a  mis- 
sionary. The  Indian  Agent  in  his  report  to  gov- 
ernment, says : 

"  The  chief  of  the  Little  ("row's  band,  who  re- 
sides below  this  place  (Fort  Snelling)  about  nine 
miles,  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  the 
wluskey  dealers,  has  requested  to  have  a  school 
established  at  his  village.  He  says  they  are  de- 
termined to  reform,  and  for  the  future,  will  try 
to  do  better.  I  wrote  to  Doctor  WilUamson  soon 
after  the  request  was  made,  desiring  him  to  take 
charge  of  the  school.  He  has  had  charge  of  the 
mission  school  at  Lac  qui  Parle  for  some  years ; 
is  well  qualified,  and  is  an  excellent  physician." 

In  November,  1846,  Dr.  "Williamson  came  from 
Lac  qui  Parle,  as  requested,  and  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Kaposia.    "While  disapproving  of  their 


practices,  he  felt  a  kindly  interest  in  the  wliites 
of  Pig's  Eye,  which  place  was  now  beginning  to 
be  called,  after  a  little  log  chapel  which  had  been 
erected  at  the  suggestion  of  Rev.  L.  Galtier,  and 
called  Sauit  Paul's.  Though  a  missionary  among 
the  Dahkotahs,  he  was  the  first  to  take  steps  to 
promote  the  education  of  the  whites  and  half- 
breeds  of  Minnesota.  In  the  year  1847,  he  wrote 
to  ex-Governor  Slade,  President  of  the  Xational 
Popular  Education  Society,  in  relation  to  the 
condition  of  what  has  subseipiently  becc)me  the 
capital  of  the  state. 

In  accordance  with  liis  request,  Miss  II.  E. 
Bishop  came  to  his  mission-house  at  Kaposia, 
and,  after  a  short  time,  was  introduced  by  him 
to  the  citizens  of  Saint  Paul.  The  first  school- 
house  in  Minnesota  besides  those  connected  with 
the  Indian  missions,  stood  near  the  site  of  the 
old  Briik  Presbyterian  church,  corner  of  Saint 
Peter  and  Third  street,  and  is  thus  described  by 
the  teacher  : 

•'The  school  was  commenced  in  a  little  log 
hovel,  covered  with  bark,  and  chinked  with  mud, 
previously  used  as  a  blacksmith  shop.  On  three 
sides  of  the  interior  of  this  humble  log  cabin, 
pegs  were  driven  into  the  logs,  upon  which  boards 
were  laid  for  seats.  Another  seat  was  made  by 
placing  one  end  of  a  plank  between  the  cracks 
of  the  logs,  and  the  other  upon  a  chair.  Tliis 
was  for  visitors.  A  rickety  cross-legged  table  in 
the  centre,  and  a  hen's  nest  in  one  corner,  com- 
pleted the  furniture." 

Saint  Croix  county,  in  the  year  1847,  was  de- 
tached from  Crawford  county,  Wisconsin,  and 
reorganized  for  judicial  purposes,  and  Stillwater 
made  the  county  seat.  In  the  month  of  Jime 
the  United  States  District  Court  held  its  session 
in  the  store-room  of  Mr.  John  McKusick  ;  Judge 
Charles'  Dunn  presiding.  A  large  nuuilier  of 
lumbermen  had  been  attracted  by  the  pineries 
in  the  up|)er  portion  of  the  valley  of  Saint  Croix, 
and  Stillwater  was  looked  upon  as  the  center  of 
the  lumbering  interest. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Boutwell,  feeling  that  he  could 
be  more  useful,  left  the  Ojibways.  and  took  up 
his  residence  near  Stillwater,  preaching  to  the 
lumbermen  at  the  Falls  of  Saint  Croix.  Marine 
Mills,  Stillwater,  and  Cottage  Grove.  In  a  letter 
speaking  of  Stillwater,  he  says,  "  Here  is  a  little 
village  sprung  up  like  a  gourd,  but  whether  it  is 
to  perish  as  soon,  God  only  knows." 


NA3IES  PROPOSED  FOR  MINNESOTA  TERRITORY. 


115 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

EVENTS  PEELIMINARY  TO  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MINNESOTA  TEKKITOEY. 


ffUconsin  State  Boundaries — First  Bill  for  the  Organization  of  Minnesota  Terri' 
tory,  A,  D,  1846 — Change  of  Wisconsin  Boundary — Memorial  of  Saint  Croix 
Valley  citizens — Various  names  proposed  for  the  New  Territory — Convention  at 
Stillwater— H.  H.  Sibley  elected  Delegate  to  Congress.— Derivation  of  word 
Minnesota. 


Three  years  elapsed  from  the  time  that  the 
territory  of  iliiiuesota  was  proposed  in  Congress, 
to  the  final  passage  of  the  organic  act.  On  the 
sixth  of  August,  1846,  an  act  was  passed  by  Con- 
gress authorizing  the  citizens  of  Wisconsin  Ter- 
ritory to  frame  a  constitution  and  form  a  state 
government.  Tlie  act  fixed  tlie  Saint  Louis  river 
to  the  rapids,  from  thence  south  to  the  Saint 
Croix,  and  thence  down  that  river  to  its  junction 
with  the  Mississippi,  as  the  western  boundary. 

On  the  twenty -third  of  December,  1846,  the 
delegate  from  Wisconsin,  Morgan  L.  Martin,  in- 
troduced a  bill  in  Congress  for  the  organization 
of  a  territory  of  Minnesota.  This  bill  made  its 
western  boundary  the  Sioux  and  Red  River  of 
the  North.  On  the  third  of  ^March,  1847,  per- 
mission was  granted  to  Wisconsin  to  change  her 
boundary,  so  that  the  western  limit  would  pro- 
ceed due  south  from  the  first  rapids  of  the  Saint 
Louis  river,  and  fifteen  miles  east  of  the  most 
easterly  point  of  Lake  Saint  Croix,  thence  to  the 
Mississippi. 

A  number  in  the  constitutional  convention  of 
Wisconsin,  were  anxious  that  Rum  river  should 
be  a  part  of  her  western  boundary,  while  citizens 
of  the  valley  of  the  Saint  Croix  were  desirous 
that  the  Chippeway  river  should  be  the  limit  of 
Wisconsin.  The  citizens  of  Wisconsin  Territory, 
in  the  valley  of  the  Saint  Croix,  and  about  Fort 
Snelliug,  wished  to  be  included  in  the  projected 
new  territory,  and  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  March, 
1848,  a  memorial  signed  by  II.  H.  Sibley,  Henry 
M.  Rice,  Franklin  Steele,  William  R.  Marshall, 
and  others,  was  presented  to  Congress,  remon- 
strating against  the  proposition  before  the  con- 
vention to  make  Rum  river  a  part  of  the  bound- 
ary line  of  the  contemplated  state  of  Wisconsin. 


On  the  twenty-ninth  of  May,  1848,  the  act  to 
admit  Wisconsin  changed  the  boundary  line  to 
the  present,  and  as  first  defined  in  the  enabling 
act  of  1846.  After  the  bill  of  Mr.  Martin  was 
introduced  into  the  House  of  Representatives  in 
1846  it  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Terri- 
tories, of  which  Mr.  Douglas  was  chairman.  On 
the  twentieth  of  January,  1847,  he  reported  in 
favor  of  the  proposed  territory  with  the  name 
of  Itasca.  On  the  seventeenth  of  February,  be- 
fore the  bill  passed  the  House,  a  discussion  arose 
in  relation  to  the  proposed  name.  Mr.  Win- 
throp  of  Massachusetts  proposed  Chippewa  as  a 
substitute,  alleging  that  this  tribe  was  the  prin- 
cipal in  the  proposed  territory,  which  was  not 
correct.  Mr.  J.  Thompson  of  Mississippi  disliked 
all  Indian  names,  and  hoped  the  territory  would 
be  called  Jackson.  Mr.  Houston  of  Delaware 
thought  that  there  ought  to  be  one  territory 
named  after  the  "  Father  of  his  country,"  and 
proposed  Washington.  All  of  the  names  pro- 
posed were  rejected,  and  the  name  in  the  original 
bill  inserted.  On  the  last  day  of  the  session, 
ilarch  third,  the  bill  was  called  up  in  the  Senate 
and  laid  on  the  table. 

When  Wisconsin  became  a  state  the  query 
arose  whether  tlie  old  territorial  government  did 
not  continue  in  force  w^est  of  the  Saint  Croix 
river.  The  first  meeting  on  the  subject  of  claim- 
ing teiTitoricil  privileges  was  held  In  the  building 
at  Saint  Paul,  known  as  Jackson's  store,  near  the 
corner  of  Bench  and  Jackson  streets,  on  the 
bluff.  Tills  meeting  was  held  in  July,  and  a 
convention  was  proposed  to  consider  their  posi- 
tion. The  first  public  meeting  was  held  at  Still- 
water on  August  fourth,  and  Messrs.  Steele  and 
Sibley  were  the  only  persons  present  from  the 
west  side  of  the  Mississii.pi.  This  meeting  is- 
sued a  call  foi  a  general  convention  to  take  steps 
to  secure  an  early  territorial  organization,  to 
assemble  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  the  month  at 


116 


EXPLOBEBS  AND  PIONEEBS  OF  MINJ^ESOTA. 


the  same  place.  Sixty-two  delegates  answered 
tlie  call,  and  among  those  ]ires(nt,  were  W.  D. 
Pliillips,  J.  V,'.  Bass,  A.  Lar[ientenr,  J.  M.  Boal, 
and  othere  from  Saint  Paul.  To  the  convention 
a  letter  was  presented  from  Jlr.  f'atlin,  who 
claimed  to  be  acting  governor,  giving  his  opinion 
that  the  Wisconsin  territorial  organization  was 
still  in  force.  The  meeting  also  appointed  Mr. 
Sibley  to  visit  Washington  and  rei>resent  their 
vaews;  but  the  Hon.  .lolm  11.  Tweedy  having 
resigned  his  ollice  of  delegate  to  Congress  on 
September  eighteenth,  1848,  Mr.  Catlin,  who  had 
made  Stillwater  a  temi)or;iry  residence,  on  the 
ninth  of  October  issued  a  proclamation  ordering 
a  special  election  at  Stillwater  on  the  tliirtieth, 
to  fill  a  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  resignation. 
At  this  election  Henry  II.  Sibley  was  elected  as 
delegate  of  the  citizens  of  the  remaming  portion 
of  Wisconsui  Territory.  His  credentials  were 
presented  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  and 
the  committee  to  whom  the  matter  was  referred 
presented  a  majority  and  minority  report ;  but 
the  resolution  introduced  by  the  majority  passed 
and  Mr.  Sibley  took  his  seat  as  a  delegate  from 
Wisconsin  Territory  on  the  lifteenth  of  January, 
1849. 

Mr.  H.  M.  Kice,  and  other  gentlemen,  visited 
Washington  during  the  winter,  and,  uniting  with 
Mr.  Sibley,  used  all  their  energies  to  obtain  the 
organization  of  a  new  territory. 

Mr.  Sibley,  in  an  interesting  commimication  to 
the  Minnesota  Historical  Society,  writes :  "  When 
my  credentials  as  Delegate,  were  presented  by 
Hon.  James  Wilson,  of  Xew  Hampshire,  to  the 


House  of  Representatives,  there  was  some  curi- 
osity manifested  among  the  memljers,  to  see  what 
kind  of  a  person  liad  been  elected  to  represent  the 
distant  and  wild  territory  claiming  representation 
in  Congress.  I  was  told  by  a  New  England  mem- 
ber with  whom  I  became  suljsequently  quite  inti- 
mate, tliat  there  was  some  disappointment  when 
I  made  my  appearance,  for  it  was  expected  that 
the  delegate  from  this  remote  region  would  make 
his  debut,  if  not  in  full  Indian  costume,  at  least, 
with  some  peculiarities  of  dress  an<l  manners, 
cliaracteristic  of  the  rude  and  semi-civilized  peo- 
ple who  had  sent  him  to  tlie  Capitol.'' 

The  territory  of  ilinnesota  was  named  after 
the  largest  tributary  of  the  Mississijipi  within  its 
limits.  The  Sioux  call  the  ^Missouri  Minneslio- 
shay.  muddy  water,  but  the  stream  after  which 
tiiis  region  is  named,  Minne-sota.  Some  say  that 
Sota  means  clear;  others,  tui-bid;  Schoolcraft, 
bluish  green.  Nicollet  wrote.  "  The  adjective 
Sotah  is  of  dillicult  translation.  The  Canadians 
translated  it  by  a  pretty  eqiiivalent  word,  brouille, 
perhaps  more  properly  rendered  into  English  by 
.blear.  I  lune  entered  upon  this  explanation  l)e 
cause  the  word  really  means  neither  clear  nor 
turbid,  as  some  authors  have  asserted,  its  true 
meaning  being  found  in  the  Sioux  ej.pression 
Ishtali-sotah,  blear-eyed."  From  the  fact  that  the 
word  signilies  neither  blue  nor  white,  but  the 
peculiar  appearance  of  the  sky  at  certain  times, 
by  some,  ^linnesota  has  been  defined  to  mean  the 
sky  tinted  water,  which  is  certaiidy  poetic,  and  the 
late  Rev.  Gideon  H.  Pond  thought  quite  correct. 


MINNESOTA  IN  THE  BEGINNING. 


117 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

MINNESOTA  FR03I  ITS  OKGANIZATI  ON  AS  A  TERRITORY,  A.  D.   1849,  TO  A.  D.   1854. 


Appearance  of  the  Country,  A.  I>.  1S49  —  Arrival  of  first  Editor  —  Governor 
Ramsey  an'ives  —  Guest  of  H.  H.  Sihley  —  Froclnination  issued  —  Governor 
Ramsey  and  H.  M.  Rice  move  to  Saint  Paul— ^Fourtli  of  July  Celebration — 
First  election — Early  newspape'rs — First  Courts— Kirst  Legislature — Pioneer 
News  Carrier's  Address — Wedding  at  Fort  Snelling — Territorial  Seal — Scalp 
Dance  at  Stillwater — First  Steamboat  at  Falls  of  Saint  Antliony — Presbyterian 
Chapel  burned — Indian  council  at  Fort  Snelling — First  Steamboat  above  Saint 
Anthony — First  boat  at  the  Blue  Earth  River — Congressional  election — Visit.of 
Frcdrika  Bremer — Indian  newspaper — Otlier  newspapers— Second  Legislature 
— University  of  Minnesota — Teamster  killed  by  Indians — Sioux  Treaties — Third 
Legislature— Land  slide  at  Stillwater — Death  of  first  Editor — Fourth  Legislature 
Baldwin  School,  now  Macalester  College — Indian  fight  in  Saint  Paul. 

On  the  third  of  March,  1849,  tlie  bill  was  passed 
by  Congress  for  organizing  the  territory  of 
Minnesota,  wbose  boimdary  ou  the  west,  extended 
to  the  ilissonri  River.  At  this  time,  the  region  was 
little  more  than  a  wilderness.  The  west  bank  of 
the  Slississippi,  from  the  Iowa  line  to  Lake 
Itasca,  was  unceded  by  the  Indians. 

At  "Wapashaw,  was  a  trading  post  in  charge  of 
Alexis  Biiilly,  and  here  also  resided  the  ancient 
voyageur,  of  fourscore  years,  A.  Rocque. 

At  the  foot  of  Lake  Pepin  was  a  store  house 
kept  by  ilr.  F.  S.  Richards.  On  the  west  shore  of 
the  lake  lived  the  eccentric  Wells,  whose  wife 
was  a  bois  brule,  a  daughter  of  the  deceased 
trader,  Duncan  Graham. 

The  two  unfinished  buildings  of  stone,  on 
the  beautiful  bank  opposite  the  renowned 
Maiden's  Rock,  and  the  surrounding  skin  lodges 
of  his  wife's  relatives  and  friends,  presented  a 
rude  but  pictiuesque  scene.  Above  the  lake  was 
a  cluster  of  bark  wigwams,  the  Dahkotah  village 
of  Raymneecha,  now  Red  AVing,  at  which  was  a 
Presbyterian  mission  house. 

The  next  settlement  was  Kaposia,  also  au  In- 
dian village,  and  the  residence  of  a  Presbyterian 
missionary,  the  Rev.  T.  S.  Williamson,  M.  D. 
On  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  the  first  set- 
tlement, at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Croix,  was  Point 
Douglas,  then  as  now,  a  small  hamlet. 

At  Red  Rock,  thesite  of  a  former  Methodist 
mission  station,  there  were  a  few  ftirmers.  Saint 
Paul  was  just  emerging  from  a  collection  of  In- 
dian whisky  shops  and  birch  roofed  cabins  of 


half-breed  voyageurs.  Here  and  there  a  frame 
tenement  was  erected,  and,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Hon.  H.  il.  Rice,  who  had  obtained  an  inter- 
est in  the  town,  some  warehouses  were  con- 
structed, and  the  foundations  of  the  American 
House,  a  frame  hotel,  which  stood  at  Third  and 
Exchange  street,  were  laid.  In  1849,  the  popu- 
lation had  increased  to  two  hundred  and  fifty 
or  three  hundred  inhabitants,  for  rumors  had 
gone  abroad  that  it  might  be  mentioned  in  the 
act,  creating  the  territory,  as  the  capital 
of  ilinnesota.  More  than  a  month  after 
the  adjournment  of  Congress,  just  at  eve, 
on  the  ninth  of  April,  amid  terrific  peals  of 
thunder  and  torrents  of  rain,  the  weekly  steam 
packet,  the  first  to  force  its  way  through  the  icy 
barrier  of  Lake  Pepin,  rounded  tlie  rocky  point 
whistling  loud  and  long,  as  if  the  bearer  of  glad 
tidings.  Before  she  was  safely  moored  to  the 
landing,  the  shouts  of  the  excited  villagers  were 
he;ird  announcing  that  there  was  a  territory  of 
Minnesota,  and  that  Saint  Paul  was  the  seat  of 
government. 

Every  successive  steamboat  anival  poured  out 
on  the  landing  men  big  with  hope,  and  anxious 
to  do  something  to  mould  the  future  of  the  new 
state. 

Nine  days  after  the  news  of  the  existence  of  the 
territory  of  Minnesota  was  received,  there  arrived 
James  M.  Goodhue  with  press,  type,  and  printing 
apparatus.  A  graduate  of  Amherst  college,  and 
a  lawyer  by  profession,  he  wielded  a  sharp  pen, 
and  wrote  editorials,  which,  more  than  anj-thing 
else,  perhaps,  induced  immigration.  Though  a 
man  of  some  faults,  one  of  the  counties  properly 
bears  his  name.  On  the  twenty-eighth  of  April, 
he  issued  from  his  press  the  first  number  of  the 
Pioneer. 

On  the  twenty  -  seventh  of  May,  Alexander 
Ramsey,  the  Governor,  and  family,  arrived  at 
Saint  Paul,  butowiug  to  the  crowded  state  of  pub- 


118 


HXPLGJiERS  AAB  PlONEMMii  OF  3f/iViV£,«01'vl. 


lie  houses,  immediately  proceeded  in  the  steamer 
to  the  establishmetit  of  the  Far  Company,  kuowii 
as  Meudota,  at  the  junction  of  the  Minnesota  and 
Mississippi,  and  became  the  guest  of  the  lion.  H. 
U.  Sibley. 

On  the  first  of  June,  Gtovemor  Ramsey,  by  pro- 
clamation, declared  the  territory  duly  organized, 
with  the  followiiif;  oflicers :  Alexander  Kamsey, 
of  Pennsylvania,  Governor ;  C.  K.  Smith,  of  Ohio, 
Secretary ;  A.  Goodrich,  of  Tennessee,  Chief 
Justice  ;  D.  Cooper,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  B.  B. 
Meeker,  of  Kentucky,  Associate  Judges ;  Josliua 
L.  Taylor,  Marshal ;  II.  L.  Moss,  attorney  of  the 
United  States. 

On  the  eleventh  of  June,  a  second  proclama- 
tion was  issued,  dividing  tlie  territory  into  three 
temporary  judicial  disti'icts.  The  first  comprised 
the  county  of  St.  Croix  ;  the  county  of  La  Pouite 
and  the  region  north  and  west  of  the  ilississippi. 
and  north  of  the  ]Minnesota  and  of  a  Une  rumiing 
due  west  from  the  headwaters  of  the  Minnesota 
to  the  ilissouri  river,  constituted  the  second  : 
and  the  country  w^stof  the  Mississippi  and  south 
of  the  Minnesota,  formed  the  third  district. 
Judge  Goodrich  was  assigned  to  the  first,  Meeker 
to  the  second,  and  Cooper  to  the  tliird.  A  court 
was  ordered  to  be  held  at  Stillwater  on  the  second 
Monday,  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  on  the  thii-d, 
and  at  Mendota  on  the  fourth  Monday  of  August. 

Until  the  twenty -sixth  of  June,  Governor 
Ramsey  and  family  had  been  guests  of  Hon.  H. 
If.  Sibley,  at  Mendota.  On  the  afternoon  of 
that  day  they  arrived  at  St.  Paul,  in  a  birch-bark 
canoe,  and  became  permanent  residents  at  the 
capital.  The  house  first  occupied  as  a  guber- 
natorial mansion,  was  a  small  frame  building  that 
stood  on  Third,  between  Robert  and  Jackson 
streets,  formerly  known  as  the  Xew  England 
House. 

A  few  days  after,  the  Hon.  II.  M.  Rice  and 
family  moved  from  Mendota  to  St.  Paul,  and  oc- 
cupied the  house  he  had  erected  on  St.  Anthony 
street,  near  the  corner  of  Market. 

On  the  first  of  July,  a  land  office  was  estab- 
lished at  Stillwater,  and  A.  "Van  Vorhes,  after  a 
few  weeks,  became  the  register. 

The  anniversary  of  our  J^  ational  Indepenaence 
was  celebrated  in  a  becoming  manner  at  the  cap- 
ital. The  place  selected  for  the  address,  was  a 
grove  that  stood  on  the  sites  of  the  City  HaU  and 


the  Baldwin  School  buikUng,  and  the  late  Frank- 
lin Steele  was  the  marshal  of  the  day. 

On  the  seventh  of  July,  a  proclamation  was  is- 
sued, dividing  the  territory  into  seven  council 
districts,  and  ordering  an  election  to  be  held  on 
the  first  day  of  August,  for  one  delegate  to  rep- 
resent tlie  people  in  tlie  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  United  Stales,  for  nine  councillors  and 
eighteen  representatives,  to  constitute  the  Legis- 
lative Assembly  of  Miimesota. 

Ill  this  month,  the  Hon.  H.  M.  Rice  despatch- 
ed a  boat  laded  with  Indian  goods  from  the 
the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  to  Crow  Wing,  wliich 
was  towed  by  horses  after  the  maimer  of  a  canal 
boat. 

Tlie  election  on  the  first  of  August,  passed  off 
with  little  excitement,  lion.  11,  II.  Sibley  being 
elected  delegate  to  Congress  without  opposition. 
David  Lambert,  on  what  might,  perhaps,  be 
termed  the  old  settlers"  ticket,  was  defeated  in 
St.  Paul,  by  James  M.  Boal.  The  latter,  on  the 
night  of  the  election,  was  honored  wth  a  ride 
through  town  on  the  axle  and  fore-wheels  fif  an 
old  wagon,  which  w^as  drawn  by  his  admiring 
but  somewhat  undisciplined  friends. 

J.  L.  Taylor  having  declined  the  office  of 
United  States  Marshal;  A.  M.  Mitchell,  of  Ohio, 
a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and  colonel  of  a  regi- 
ment of  Ohio  volunteers  in  the  Mexican  war,  was 
appointed  and  arrived  at  the  capital  early  in 
August. 

There  were  three  papers  published  in  the  ter- 
ritory soon  after  its  organization.  The  first  was 
the  Pioneer,  issued  on  April  twenty-eighth,  1849, 
imder  most  discom'aging  circumstances.  It  w^as 
at  first  the  intention  of  the  witty  and  reckless 
editor  to  have  called  his  paper  "  The  Epistle  of 
St.  Paul."  About  the  same  time  there  was  issued 
in  Cincinnati,  mider  the  auspices  of  the  late  Dr. 
A.  RandaU,  of  California,  the  first  number  of 
the  Register.  The  second  number  of  the  paper 
was  printed  at  St.  Paul,  in  July,  and  the  office 
was  on  St.  Anthony,  between  Washington  and 
Market  Streets,  About  the  first  of  June,  James 
Hughes,  afterward  of  Hudson,  Wisconsin,  arrived 
with  a  press  and  materials,  and  established  the 
Minnesota  Chronicle.  After  an  existence  of  a 
few  weeks  two  papers  were  cUscontinued ;  and, 
in  theii'  place,  was  issued  the  "  Cluonicle  and 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  TEMPORARY  CAPITOL. 


lUi 


Register,"  edited  by  Nathaiel  McLean  and  John 
P.  Owens. 

The  first  courts,  pursuant  to  proclamation  of 
the  governor,  w  ere  lield  in  tlie  month  of  August. 
At  Stillwater,  the  court  was  organized  on  the 
thirteenth  of  the  month.  Judge  Goodrich  pre- 
siding, and  Judge  Cooper  by  courtesy,  sitting  on 
the  bencli.  On  the  twentieth,  the  second  iudi- 
cial  district  held  a  court.  The  room  used  was 
the  old  government  mill  at  Minneapolis.  The 
presiding  judge  was  B.  13.  Sleeker;  the  foreman 
of  the  grand  jury,  Franklin  Steele.  On  the  last 
Monday  of  the  month,  the  court  for  the  third 
judicial  district  was  organized  in  the  large  stone 
warehouse  of  the  fur  company  at  Mendota.  Tlie 
presiding  judge  was  David  Cooper.  Governor 
Eamsey  sat  on  the  right,  and  Judge  Goodrich  on 
the  left.  Hon.  H.  II.  Sibley  was  the  foreman  of 
the  grand  jury.  As  some  of  the  jurors  could  not 
speak  the  English  language,  W.  II.  Forbes  acted 
as  interpreter.  The  charge  of  Judge  Cooper  was 
lucid,  scholarly,  and  dignified.  At  tlie  request 
of  the  grand  jury  it  was  afterwards  published. 

On  Monday,  the  third  of  September,  the  first 
Legislative  Assembly  convened  in  the  "  Central 
House,'" in  Saint  Paul,  a  building  at  the  corner 
of  Mimiesota  and  Bench  streets,  facing  the 
Mississippi  river  which  answered  the  double 
purpose  of  capitol  and  hotel.  On  the  first 
floor  of  the  main  biulding  was  the  Secreta- 
ry's oflBce  and  Representative  chamber,  and  in 
the  second  stoiy  was  the  library  and  Council 
chandler.  As  the  flag  was  run  up  the  stafl;  ui 
front  of  the  house,  a  number  of  Indians  sat  on  a 
rocky  bluff  in  the  vicinity,  and  gazed  at  what  to 
them  was  a  novel  and  perhaps  saddenuig  scene ; 
for  if  the  tide  of  immigration  sweeps  in  from  the 
Pacific  as  it  has  from  the  Atlantic  coast,  they 
must  soon  dwindle. 

The  legislatiue  having  organized,  elected  the 
following  permanent  officers:  David  Olmsted, 
President  of  Council ;  Joseph  R.  Brown,  Secre- 
ary ;  H.  A'.  Lambert,  Assistant.  In  the  House 
of  Representatives.  Joseph  ^V.  Furber  was  elect- 
ed Speaker ;  W.  D.  Phillips,  Clerk ;  L.  B.  Wait, 
Assistant. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon,  both  houses  assembled 
m  the  dining  hall  of  the  hotel,  and  after  prayer 
was  offered  by  Rev.  E.  D.  NeUl,  Governor  Ram- 
sey delivered  his  message.    The  message  was  alily 


written,  and  its  perusal  afforded  satisfaction  at 
home  and  abroad. 

The  first  session  of  the  legislature  adjourned  on 
the  first  of  November.  Among  other  proceed- 
ings of  interest,  was  the  creation  of  the  following 
counties:  Itasca,  Wapashaw,  Dalikotah,  "\Vah- 
nahtah,  Mahkahto,  Pembina  Washington,  Ram- 
sev  and  Benton.  Tlie  three  latter  counties  com- 
prised the  country  tliat  up  to  that  time  had  been 
ceded  by  the  Indians  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, Stil.'water  was  decla'.'cd  the  county  seat 
of  Washington,  Sahit  Paul,  of  Ramsey,  and  '•  the 
seat  of  justice  of  the  county  of  Benton  was  to  be 
within  one-quarter  of  a  mile  of  a  poinLoii  the  east 
side  of  the  Mississippi,  directly  opposite  the  moutb 
of  Sauk  river." 

EVENTS  OF  A.   D     1850. 

By  the  active  exertions  of  the  secretary  of  th» 
territory,  C.  K.  Smith,  Esq.,  the  Historical 
Society  of  Minnesota  was  incorporated  at  the 
first  session  of  the  legislature.  Tlie  opening  an- 
nual addi-ess  was  deUvered  in  the  then  Metliodist 
(now  Swedenborgian)  church  at  Saint  Paul,  on 
the  first  of  January,  1850. 

The  follo\\ing  account  of  the  proceedings  is 
fi-om  the  Chronicle  and  Register.  "The  first 
public  exercises  of  the  Minnesota  Historical 
Society,  took  place  at  the  Methodist  church.  Saint 
Paul,  on  the  first  inst.,  and  passed  off  higlily 
creditable  to  all  concerned.  The  day  was  pleasant 
and  the  attendance  large.  At  the  appointed 
hour,  the  President  and  both  Vice-Presidents  of 
the  society  being  absent ;  on  motion  of  Hon.  C. 
K.  Smith,  Hon.  Chief  Justice  Goodrich  was 
.called  to  the  chair.  The  same  gentleman  then 
moved  that  a  committee,  consistmg  of  Messrs. 
Parsons  K.  Jolmson,  John  A.  Wakefield,  and  B. 
W.  Brunson,  be  appointed  to  wait  upon  the 
Orator  of  the  day.  Rev.  Mr.  Neill,  and  inform 
him  that  the  audience  was  waiting  to  hear  his 
address. 

"Mr.  Neill  was  shortly  conducted  to  the  pulpit; 
and  after  an  eloquent  and  approriate  prayer  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons,  and  music  by  the  band,  he 
proceeded  to  deliver  his  discourse  upon  the  early 
French  missionaries  and  Voyageurs  into  ilinne- 
sota.  We  hope  the  society  wUl  provide  for  its 
liublication  at  an  early  day. 

■'After    some    brief    remarks    by    Rev.    Mr, 


120 


Exi'Luumta  AM)  riosjujaus  OJf  mixnehota. 


Hobart,  upon  the  objects  and  ends  of  histoi  y.  the 
ceremonies  were  concluded  witli  a  prayer  by 
that  gentleman.  The  audience  dispersed  highly 
delighted  with  all  that  occurred.' 

At  this  early  period  the  Minnesota  Pioneer 
issued  a  Carrier's  New  Year's  .Vddress,  which 
was  amusing  doggerel.  The  reference  to  the 
future  greatness  and  ignoble  origin  of  the  capital 
of  Minnesota  was  as  follows : — 

The  cities  on  this  river  must  be  three, 
Two  that  are  bu:  t  and  one  that  is  to  be. 
One,  is  the  mart  of  all  the  tropics  yield, 
The  cane,  the  orange,  and  the  cotton-fleld, 
And  sends  her  ships  abroad  and  boasts 
Her  trade  extended  to  a  thousand  coasts; 
Thb  other,  central  for  the  temperate  zone, 
Garners  the  stores  that  on  the  plains  are  grown, 
A  place  where   steamboats   from  all  quarters, 

range, 
To  meet  and  speculate,  as  'twere  on  'change. 
Tlie  third  will  ht,  where  rivers  confluent  How 
From  the  wide  spreading  north  through  plains 

of  snow ; 
The  mart  of  all  that  boundless  forests  give 
To  make  mankiiul  more  comfortably  live, 
The  land  of  manufacturing  industry, 
The  workshop  of  the  nation  it  shall  be. 
Propelled  by  this  wide  .stream,  you'll  see 
A  thousand  factories  at  Saint  Anthony  : 
And  the  Saint  Croix  a  hundred  mills  shall  drive, 
And  all  its  smiling  villages  shall  thrive ; 
IJut  theii  mij  town— remember  that  high  bench 
With  cabins  scattered  over  it,  of  French  ? 
A  man  named  Henry  Jackson's  living  there. 
Also  a  man— why  eveiy  one  knows  L.  Kobair, 
Below  Fort  Snelling,  seven  mi'.es  or  so, 
And  three  above  the  village  of  Old  Crow  'i* 
Pig's  Eye  'i*    Yes ;  Pig's  Eye  I    That's  the  spot  I 
A  very  funny  name ;  is't  not  y 
I'ig's  I<;ye's  the  spot,  to  plant  my  city  on. 
To  be  remembered  by,  when  1  am  gone. 
I'ig's  Eye  converted  thou  shalt  be,  like  Saul : 
Thy  name  henceforth  shall  be  Saint  Paul. 

On  the  evening  of  New  Year's  day,  at  Fort 
Snelling,  there  was  an  assemblage  which  is  only 
seen  on  the  outposts  of  civilization.  In  one  of 
the  stone  edifices,  outside  of  the  wall,  belonging 
to  the  United  Slates,  there  resided  a  gentleman 
who  had  dwelt  in  Minnesota  suice  the  year  1819, 


and  for  maii>  years  had  been  in  the  employ  of 
the  govenmient, as  Indian  interpreter.  In  youth 
he  had  been  a  member  of  the  Columbia  Fur  Com- 
pany, and  conforming  to  the  habits  of  traders, 
liad  purchased  a  Dahk<»tah  wife  who  was  wholly 
ignorant  of  the  English  language.  As  a  family 
of  children  gathered  around  him  he  recognised 
the  relation  of  husband  and  father,  and  consci- 
entiously discharged  his  duties  as  a  parent.  His 
daughter  at  a  proper  age  was  sent  to  a  boarding 
school  of  some  celebrity,  and  on  the  night  re- 
ferred to  was  married  to  an  intelligent  young 
American  farmer.  Among  the  guests  luesent 
were  the  ofllcers  of  the  garrison  in  full  uniform, 
with  their  wives,  the  United  States  Agent  for 
the  Dahkotahs,  and  family,  the  bois  bndes  of 
the  neighborhood,  and  the  Indian  relatives  of  the 
mother.  The  mother  did  not  make  her  appear- 
ance, but,  as  the  minister  proceeded  with  the 
ceremony,  the  Dahkotah  relatives,  wia|)ped  in 
their  blankets,  gathered  in  the  hall  and  looked 
in  through  the  door. 

The  marriage  feast  was  wortliy  of  the  occa- 
sion. In  consequence  of  the  numbers,  tiie 
ofTicers  and  those  of  Eui^pean  extraction  partook 
first ;  then  the  bois  brules  of  Ojibway  <and  Dah- 
kotah descent;  and,  finally,  the  native  Ameri- 
cans, who  did  ample  justice  to  the  plentiful  sup- 
ply spread  before  them. 

Governor  Kamsey,  Hon.  H.  H.  Sibley,  and  the 
delegate  to  Ctmgress  devised  at  Washington,  this 
winter,  the  ten-itorial  seal.  Thedcsign  was  Falls 
of  St.  Anthony  in  the  distance.  An  immigrant 
ploughing  the  land  on  the  borders  of  the  Indian 
coinitry,  full  of  hope,  and  looking  fonvard  to  the 
possession  of  the  luniting  grounds  l)eyond.  An 
Ind'an,'amazed  at  the  sight  of  the  plough,  and 
fleeing  on  horseback  towards  the  setting  sini. 

The  motto  of  the  Earl  of  Dunraven,  "(iuse 
sursum  volo  videre"  (I  wish  to  see  what  is  above) 
was  most  appropriately  selected  by  Mr.  Sibley, 
but  by  the  blunder  of  an  engraver  it  appeared  on 
the  tenitorial  seal,  "Quo  sursum  velo  videre," 
which  no  scholar  could  translate.  At  length  was 
substituted,  "L'  Etoile  du  Nord,"  "Star  of  the 
North,"  while  the  device  of  the  setting  sim 
remained,  and  this  is  objectionable,  as  the  State 
of  Maine  had  already  placed  the  North  Star  on 
her  escutcheon,  with  the  motto  "  IJirigo,"  "I 
.!?uide.''     Perhai)s  some  future  legislature  may 


tiCAZP  DANCE  IN  STILLWATER. 


121 


direct  the  first  motto  to  be  restored  and  correctly 
engriived. 

In  the  montii  of  April,  tliere  was  a  renewal  of 
hosUHties  lietween  the  Dalikotalis  and  Ojibways, 
on  lands  tliatliad  been  ceded  to  the  Tiiited  States. 
A  war  prophet  at  Red  Wing,  dreamed  that  he 
ought  to  raise  a  war  party.  Announcing  the  fact, 
a  number  expressed  theirwilliugnesstogoon  such 
an  expedition.  Seveial  from  the  Kaposia  village 
also  joined  tlie  jiarty,  under  the  leadership  of  a 
wortliless  Indian,  who  bad  been  confined  in  the 
guartl-bouse  at  Fort.  Snelling,  the  year  previous, 
for  scalping  his  wife. 

Passhig  up  the  valley  of  the  St.  Croix,  a  rew 
miles  above  Stillwater  the  party  discovered  on  the 
snow  the  marks  of  a  keg  and  footprints.*  These 
told  them  that  a  man  and  woman  of  the  Ojibways 
had  been  to  some  whisky  dealer's,  and  were  re- 
turning. Following  their  trail,  tliey  found  on 
Apple  river,  about  twenty  nnles  from  Stillwater, 
a  Ijand  of  Ojibways  encamped  in  one  lodge.  Wait- 
uig  till  daybreak  of  Wednesday,  April  second,  the 
Dahkotahs  commenced  firing  on  the  unsuspecting 
inmates,  some  of  whom  were  drinlung  from  the 
contents  of  the  whisky  keg.  The  camp  was  com- 
posed of  fifteen,  and  all  were  murdered  and  scalp- 
ed, with  the  exception  of  a  lad,  who  was  made -a 
captive. 

On  Thursday,  the  victors  came  to  Stillwater, 
and  danced  the  seal])  dance  around  tlie  cai)tiv(^ 
boy,  in  tlie  heat  of  excitement,  striking  liini  in  the 
face  with  the  scarcely  cold  and  bloody  scalps  of 
his  relatives.  The  child  was  then  taken  to  Ka- 
posia, and  adopted  l)y  the  cliief.  Governor  Ram- 
sey immediately  took  measures  to  send  the  boy  to 
his  friends.  At  a  conference  held  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  the  boy  was  delivered  up,  and, 
on  being  led  out  to  the  kitchen  Iiy  a  little  son  of 
the  Governor,  since  deceased,  to  receive  refresh- 
ments, he  cried  bitterly,  seemingly  more  alarmed 
at  being  left  with  tlie  whites  than  he  had  been 
while  a  captive  at  Kaposia. 

From  the  iirst  of  April  the  waters  of  the  Mis- 
sissii>pi  began  to  rise,  and  on  the  thirteenth,  the 
lower  floor  of  tlie  wai'elioiise,  tlien  occupied  by 
William  Constans,  at  the  foot  of  Jackson  street, 
St.  Paul,  was  submerged.  Taking  advantage  of 
the  freshet,  the  steamboat  Antliouy  Wayne,  for  a 
purse  of  two  hundred  dollars,  ventured  through 
the  swift  current  above  i^'ort  Snelling,  and  reached 


the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony.  The  boat  loft  the  fort 
after  dinner,  with  Governor  Ramsey  and  other 
guests,  also  the  band  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  on 
board,  and  reached  the  falls  between  three  and 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  wliole  town, 
men,  women  and  chihlren,  lined  the  shore  as  the 
boat  approached,  and  welcomed  this  first  arrival, 
wnth  shouts  and  waving  handkerchiefs. 

On  the  afternoon  of  May  fifteenth,  there  might 
have  been  seen,  huiTying  through  the  streets  of 
Sahit  Paul,  a  number  of  naked  and  painted  braves 
of  the  Kaposia  band  of  Uahkfitahs,  ornamented 
with  all  the  attire  of  war,  and  panting  for  the 
scalps  of  their  enemies.  A  few  hours  before,  the 
warlike  head  chief  of  the  Ojibways,  young  Ilole- 
in-the-Day,  having  secreted  his  canoe  in  tlie  retired 
gorge  which  leads  to  the  cave  in  the  upper  sulj- 
urbs,  with  two  or  three  associates  had  crossed  the 
river,  and,  almost  in  sight  of  the  citizens  of  tho 
town,  had  attacked  a  small  iiaity  of  Dahkotahs, 
and  murdered  and  scalped  one  man.  On  receipt 
of  the  news,  (iovernor  Ramsey  granted  a  parole 
to  the  thirteen  Dahkotahs  confined  in  Fort  Snell- 
ing, for  participating  in  tlie  Apple  river  massacre. 

On  the  morning  of  the  sixteenth  of  May,  tlu^ 
first  Protestant  church  edifice  completed  in  tlie 
white  settlements,  a  snii'll  frame  building,  built 
for  the  Presbyterian  church,  at  Saint  Paul,  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  it  being  the  first  conflagi-ation 
that  had  occurred  since  the  organization  of  the 
teiritory. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  events  of  the  year 
1850,  was  the  Indian  council,  at  Fort  Snelling. 
Governor  Ramsey  had  sent  runners  to  the  diifer- 
ent  bands  of  the  Ojibways  and  Dahkotahs,  to 
meet  him  at  the  fort,  for  the  purpose  of  en- 
deavouring to  adjust  their  diniculti(^s. 

On  Wednesday,  the  twelfth  of  June,  after 
much  talking,  as  is  customary  at  Indian  councils, 
the  two  tribes  agreed  as  they  had  frequently  done 
before,  to  be  friendly,  and  Governor  Ramsey 
presenting  to  each  party  an  ox.  the  council  was 
dissolved. 

On  Thursday,  the  Ojibways  visited  St.  Paul 
for  the  first  time,  young  lIole-m-the-Day  being 
dressed  in  a  coat  of  a  captain  of  United  States 
infantry,  which  had  been  iiresented  to  him  at  the 
fort.  On  Friday,  they  left  hi  the  steamer  (gov- 
ernor Ramsey,  which  had  been  built  at  St.  An- 
thony, and  just  commenced  running  between 


}22 


EXPLOIiERU  AND  I'lUMlEliii  OF  MINNESOTA. 


that  point  and  Sauk  Rapids,  for  their  homes  in 
the  wilderness  of  the  Upper  ^Mississippi. 

Tlie  summer  of  ISoO  was  the  commencement 
of  the  navigation  of  the  Minnesota  River  by 
steamboats.  With  the  exception  of  a  steamer 
tliat  made  a  pleasure  e.xciirsion  as  far  as  Shokpay, 
in  1841,  no  large  vessels  had  ever  disturbed  the 
waters  of  this  stream.  In  June,  the  '-Anthony 
Wayne,"  which  a  few  weeks  before  had  ascended 
to  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  made  a  trip.  On 
the  eighteenth  of  Juiy  she  made  a  second  trip, 
going  almost  to  Mahkahto.  The  "  Nominee " 
also  navigated  the  stieam  for  some  distance. 

On  the  twenty-second  of  July  the  o(lici?rs  of 
the  "  Yankee,"  taking  advantage  of  the  high 
water,  determined  to  navigate  the  stream  as  far 
as  possible.  The  boat  ascended  to  near  the  (liit- 
touwood  river. 

As  the  time  for  the  general  election  in  Septem- 
ber approached,  considi-ialile  e,\citement  was 
manifested.  As  there  were  no  political  Issues 
before  the  people,  parties  were  formed  based  on 
personal  preferences.  Among  tlio.se  nominated 
for  delegate  to  Congress,  by  various  meetings, 
were  11,  II.  Sibley,  the  former  delegate  to- Con- 
gress, David  Olmsted,  at  that  time  engaged  in 
the  Indian  trade,  and  A.  M.  Mitchell,  the  United 
States  marshal.  Mr.  Olmsted  williilrew  his 
name  before  election  day,  and  the  contest  was 
between  those  interested  in  Sibley  and  jMitchell. 
The  friends  of  each  betrayed  the  greatest  zeal, 
and  neither  pains  nor  money  were  spared  to  in- 
sure success.  Mr.  Sibley  was  elected  by  a  small 
majority.  For  the  first  time  in  the  territory, 
soldiers  at  the  garrisons  voted  at  tliis  election, 
and  there  was  considerable  discussion  as  to  the 
propriety  of  such  a  course. 

Miss  Fredrika  Bremer,  the  well  known  Swedish 
novelist,  visited  Minnesota  in  the  month  of 
October,  and  was  the  guest  of  Governor  Ramsey. 

During  November,  the  Dahkotah  Tawaxitku 
Kin,  or  the  Dahkotah  Friend,  a  monthly  paper, 
was  commenced,  one-half  in  the  Dalikotah  and 
one-half  in  the  English  language.  Its  editor  was 
the  Rev.  Gideon  II.  Pond,  a  Presbyterian  mis- 
sionary, and  its  place  of  publication  at  Saint  Paul. 
It  was  published  for  nearly  two  years,  and,  though 
it  failed  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  Indian 
mind,  it  conveyed  to  the  English  reader   nmcli 


correct  information  in  relation  to  the  habits,  the 
belief,  and  superstitions,  of  the  Dahkotahs. 

On  the  tenth  of  December,  a  new  paper,  owned 
and  edited  by  Daniel  A.  Roliertson,  late  United 
I  States  marshal,  of  Ohio,  and  called  the  Minne- 
sota Democrat,  made  its  appearance. 

During  the  summer  there  had  been  changes  in 
the  editorial  suiicrvision  of  the  "Chronicle  and 
Register."  For  a  brief  period  it  was  edited  by 
L.  A.  Babcock,  Esq.,  who  was  succeeded  by  \Y. 
a.  Le  Dr.c. 

About  the  time  of  the  issuing  of  the  Demo- 
crat, C.  J.  Ilenniss,  formerly  reporter  for  the 
Ignited  States  (ia/.ette,  Philadelphia,  became  the 
editor  of  t!ie  Chronicle. 

The  lirst  proclamation  for  a  thauksKiving  day 
was  issued  in  IS.jO  by  the  governor,  and  the 
tweuty-sixtli  of  December  was  the  time  appointed 
and  it  was  generally  observed. 

EVENTS  OF  A.  D.   1851. 

On  AVednesday,  January  first,  1851,  the  second 
Legislative  Assembly  assembled  in  a  three-story 
brick  building,  since  desti'oyed  by  fire,  tliat  stood 
on  St.  Anthony  street,  between  Washington  and 
Franklin.  D.  15.  Loonus  was  chosen  Speaker  of 
the  Council,  and  M.  E.  Ames  Speaker  of  the 
House.  This  assembly  was  characterized  by 
more  bitterness  of  feeling  than  any  that  has 
since  convened.  The  preceding  delegate  election 
had  been  based  on  personal  preferences,  and 
cliques  and  factions  manifested  themselves  at  an 
early  i)eriod  of  tlie  session. 

The  locating  of  the  iienitentiary  at  Still\\ater, 
and  the  capitol  building  at  St.  Paul  gave  some 
dissatisfaction.  By  the  efforts  of  J.  W.  North, 
Esq.,  a  bill  creating  the  University  of  ^Minnesota 
at  or  near  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  was  passed, 
and  signed  by  the  Governor.  This  institution, 
by  the  State  Constitution,  is  now  the  State  Uni- 
versity. 

During  the  session  of  this  Legislature,  the  pub- 
lication of  the  "  Chronicle  and  Register"  ceased. 

,\bout  the  middle  erf  May,  a  war  party  of  Dah- 
kotahs discovered  near  Swan  River,  an  Ojibway 
with  a  keg  of  whisky.  The  latter  escaped,  with 
the  loss  of  his  keg.  The  war  party,  drinking  the 
contents,  became  intoxicated,  and,  firing  upon 
some  tcamrters  they  met  driving  their  wagons 
\\  ith  goods  to  tlie  Indian  Agency,  killed  one  of 


LANDS  WEST  OF  TUB  MrSSISSIPPI  CEDED. 


323 


them,  Andrew  Swartz,  a  resident  of  St.  Paul. 
The  news  was  conveyed  to  Fort  Kipley,  and  a 
party  of  soldiers,  with  Hole-ia-the-day  as  a  guide, 
started  in  pursuit  of  the  murderers,  but  did  not 
succeed  in  capturing  them.  Through  tlie  influ- 
ence of  Little  Six,  the  Dahkotah  chief,  whose  vil- 
lage was  at  (and  named  after  him)  Shok- 
pay,  five  of  the  oflfenders  were  arrested  and 
placed  in  the  guard  house  at  Port  Suelliug.  On 
Monday,  June  ninth,  they  left  the  fort  in  a  wagon, 
guarded  by  twenty-five  dragoons,  destined  for 
Sauk  Rapid.s  for  trial.  As  they  departed  they  all 
sang  their  death  eong,  and  the  coarse  soldiers 
amused  themselves  by  making  signs  that  they 
were  going  to  be  hung.  On  the  first  evening  of 
the  journey  the  five  culprits  encamped  with  the 
twenty-five  dragoons.  Handcuffed,  they  were 
placed  in  the  tent,  and  yet  at  midnight  they  all 
escaped,  only  one  being  wounded  by  the  guard- 
What  was  more  remarkable,  the  wounded  man 
was  the  first  to  bring  the  news  to  St.  Paul.  Pro- 
ceeding to  Koposia,  his  wound  was  examined  by 
the  missionary  and  physician.  Dr.  Williamson; 
and  then,  fearing  an  arrest,  he  took  a  oanoe  and 
paddled  up  the  Minnesota.  The  excuses  offered 
by  the  dragoons  was,  that  all  the  guard  but  one 
fell  asleep. 

The  first  paper  published  in  Minnesota,  beyond 
the  capital,  was  the  St.  Anthony  Express,  which 
made  its  appearance  during  the  last  week  of 
April  or  May. 

The  most  important  event  of  the  year  1851 
was  the  treaty  with  the  Dahkotahs,  by  which  the 
west  side  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  valley  of  the 
Minunesota  River  were  opened  to  the  hardy  immi- 
grant. The  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the 
United  States  were  Luke  Lea,  Commissioner  of 
Indian  Affairs,  and  Governor  Eamsey.  The 
.  place  of  meeting  for  the  upper  bands  was  Trav- 
erse des  Sioux.  The  commission  arrived  there 
on  the  last  of  June,  but  were  obliged  to  wait 
many  days  for  the  assembling  of  the  various 
bands  of  Dahkotahs. 

Oa  the  eighteenth  of  July,  all  those  expected 
having  arrived,  the  Sissetons  and  Wahpayton 
Dahkotahs  assembled  in  grand  council  with  the 
United  States  commissioners.  After  the  usual 
feastings  and  speeches,  a  treaty  was  concluded 
on  Wednesday,  July  twenty-third.  The  pipe 
having  been  smoked  by  the  commissioners,  Lea 


and  Eamsey,  it  was  passed  to  the  chiefs.  The 
paper  containing  the  treaty  was  then  read  in 
English  and  translated  into  the  Dahkotah  by  tlie 
Kev.  S.  E.  Kiggs,  Presbyterian  Missioaary  among 
this  people.  This  finished,  the  chiefs  came  up 
to  the  secretary's  table  and  touched  the  pen;  the 
white  men  present  then  witnessed  the  document^ 
and  nothing  remained  but  the  ratification  of  the 
United  States  Senate  to  open  that  vast  country 
for  the  residence  of  the  hardy  immigrant. 

During  the  first  week  in  August,  a  treaty  was 
also  concluded  beneath  an  oak  bower,  on  Pilot 
Knob,  Mendota,  with  the  M'dewakantonwan  and 
WaUpaykootay  bands  of  Dahkotahs.  About  sixty 
of  the  chiefs  and  principal  men  touched  the  pen, 
and  Little  Crow,  who  had  beeen  in  the  rnisssion- 
school  at  Lac  qui  Parle,  signed  his  own  name. 
Before  they  separated  Colonel  Ijea  and  Governor 
Eamsey  gave  them  a  few  words  of  advice  on 
various  subjects  connected  with  their  future  well- 
being,  but  particularly  on  the  subject  of  educa- 
tion and  temperance.  The  treaty  was  interpret- 
ed to  them  by  the  Eev.  G.  H.  Pond,  a  gentleman 
who  was  conceded  to  be  a  most  correct  speaker 
of  the  Dahkotah  tongue. 

The-  day  after  the  treaty  these  lower  bands 
received  thirty  thousand  dollars,  which,  by  the 
treaty  of  1837,  was  set  apart  for  education;  but, 
by  the  misrepresentations  of  interested  half- 
breeds,  the  Indians  were  made  to  believe  that 
it  ought  to  be  given  to  them  to  be  employed  as 
they  pleased. 

The  next  week,  with  their  sacks  filled  with 
money,  they  thronged  the  streets  of  St.  Paul, 
purchasing  whatever  pleased  their  fancy. 

On  the  seventeenth  of  September,  a  new  paper 
was  commenced  iu  St.  Paul,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  "Whigs,"  and  John  P.  Owens  became 
editor,  which  relation  he  sustained  until  the  fall 
of  1857. 

The  election  for  members  of  the  Legislature 
and  county  officers  occurred  on  the  fourteenth  of 
October;  and,  for  the  first  time,  a  regular  Demo- 
cratic ticket  was  placed  before  the  people.  The 
parties  called  themselves  Democratic  and  Anti- 
organization,  or  Coalition, 

In  the  month  of  November  Jerome  Fuller  ar- 
rived, and  took  the  place  of  Judge  Goodricli  as 
Chief  Justice  of  Minnesota,  who  was  removed; 
and,  about  the  same  time,  Alexander  Wilkin   was 


121 


BXPLOBKliS  AJUD  l'10JSJ<lEliii  OF  MiySKHOTA. 


appouitetl  secretary  of  tbe  territory  in  place  of 
C.  K.  Smith. 

The  eigliteenth  of  December,  piirsiiant  to 
protlamation,  was  obser\'e<i  as  a  day  of  Thaiiks- 
giviiig. 

EVENTS  OF  A.  D.   1852. 

The  third  Legislative  Assembly  commenced  its 
sessions  ia  one  of  the  <;4i{>cp,<i  on  Tl'.ird  below 
Jackson  street,  which  became  a  portion  of  tlie 
Merchants'  Hotel,  ou  the  seventh  of  January, 
1852. 

This  session,  compared  with  the  previous, 
formed  a  contrast  as  great  as  that  between  a 
boisterous  day  in  ilanh  and  a  calm  June  morn- 
ing. The  minds  of  the  population  were  more 
deeply  interested  in  the  ratiDcatiou  of  thetre.ities 
made  A\-ith  the  Dahkoluhs,  tluni  in  poUtical  di.-> 
cussions.  Among  otl>pr  le^isljition  of  interest 
was  the  creation  of  Ileiir.epin  county. 

On  Saturday,  the  .fc-irtoenth  of  February,  a 
dog-traui  arrived  at  S'  Vaid  from  the  north, 
with  the  distinguished  Arctic  explorer,  Dr.  Rae. 
He  had  been  in  search  of  the  long-missing  Sir 
John  Franklin,  by  ^\■ay  of  the  Mackenzie  river, 
and  was  now  on  liis  way  to  Europe. 

Ou  the  fourteentli  of  ilay,  an  interesting  lusus 
natura3  occurred  at  Stillwater.  On  the  prairies, 
beyond  the  elevated  blulTs  wliicli  encircle  the 
business  portion  of  the  town ,  tliere  is  a  lake  which 
discharges  its  waters  through  a  ravine,  and  sup- 
pUcd  McKusick's  mill.  Owing  to  heavy  rairis, 
the  hills  became  saturated  with  water,  and  the 
lake  very  fuU.  Before  daylight  tlie  citizens  heard 
the  "  voice  of  many  waters,"  and  looking  out,  saw 
rushing  down  through  the  ravine,  trees,  gi^avel 
and  dUnvium.  Xothing  impeded  its  course,  and 
as  it  issued  from  the  ravine  it  spread  over  th.e 
town  site,  covering  up  barns  and  small  tenements, 
and,  continuing  to  the  lake  shore,  it  materially 
improved  the  landing,  by  a  deposit  of  many  tons 
of  earth.  One  of  the  editors  of  the  day,  alluding 
to  the  fact,  quauitly  remarked,  that  "it  was  a 
very  extraordinary  movement  of  real  estate." 

During  the  summer,  EUjah  Terry,  a  young 
man  Mho  had  left  St.  Paul  the  premuis  March, 
and  went  to  Pembina,  to  act  as  teacher  to  the 
mixed  bloods  in  that  vicinity,  was  murdered  m\- 
der  distressing  circumstances.  "With  a  bois  bnile 
he  had  started  to  the  woods  on  the  morning  of 


his  death,  to  hew  timber.  A^^lile  there  he  was 
fired  upon  by  a  small  party  of  Dahkotahs ;  a  ball 
broke  liis  arm,  and  he  was  ]>ierced  witli  anows. 
His  scalp  was  wrenched  from  his  head,  and  was 
afterwards  seen  among  Sissetoii  Dalikotahs,  near 
Big  Stone  Lake. 

About  tlie  last  of  August,  the  pioneer  editor 
of  Mimiesota,  James  M.  Goodhue,  died. 

At  the  November  Term  of  the  United  States 
District  Court,  of  Ramsey  county,  a  Dalikotah, 
named  Yu-ha-zee,  was  tried  for  the  murder  of  a 
German  woman.  "\\'ith  others  she  was  travel- 
ing al>ove  Shokpay,  when  a  party  of  Indians,  of 
whom  the  prisoner  was  one,  met  them ;  and, 
gathering  about  the  wagon,  were  much  excited. 
The  prisoner  punched  the  woman  firet  with  ids 
gun,  and.  being  tlueatened  by  one  of  the  party, 
loaded  and  fired,  killing  the  woman  and  wound- 
ing one  of  the  men. 

On  the  day  of  his  trial  he  was  escorted  from 
Fort  Suelling  by  a  company  of  mounted  dragoons 
in  full  dress.  It  was  an  impressive  scene  to 
witness  the  poor  Indian  half  hid  in  his  blanket, 
in  a  buggy  with  the  civil  oflicer,  surrounded  with 
all  the  pomi>  and  circumsUmee  of  war.  Tlie  jury 
found  him  guilty.  Ou  being  asked  if  he  had 
anything  to  say  why  sentence  of  death  should 
not  be  passed,  he  replied,  through  the  uiterpreter, 
that  the  band  to  which  he  belonged  would  remit 
their  amuiities  if  he  could  be  released.  To  tlus 
Judge  Hayner,  the  successor  of  Judge  Fuller, 
replied,  that  he  had  no  authority  to  release 
Lini :  and,  ordering  him  to  rise,  after  some 
appropriate  and  impressive  remarks,  he  pro- 
nounced the  first  sentence  of  death  ever  pro- 
nounced by  a  judicial  officer  in  ilinnesota.  The 
prisoner  treml)led  while  the  judge  spoke,  and 
was  a  piteous  spectacle.  By  the  statute  of  Min- 
nesota, then,  one  con%icted  of  murder  could  not 
be  exicutcd  until  twelve  months  had  elapsed, and 
he  was  confined  until  the  governor  of  the  ter- 
orrity  should  by  waiTant  order  his  execution. 

K VENTS  OF  A.   D.   1S53. 

The  fourtli  Legislative  Assembly  convened  on 
the  fifth  of  January.  1853,  in  the  two  story  brick 
edifice  at  the  corner  of  Tliird  and  Minnesota 
streets.  The  Council  chose  Martin  McLeod  as 
presiding  officer,  and  the  House  Dr.  David  Day, 


INDIAN  FIGHT  IN  STREEIS  OF  ST.  PAUL. 


125 


Speaker.  Governor  Ramsey's  message  was  an 
interesting  document. 

The  Baldwin  school,  now  known  asMacalester 
College,  was  incorporated  at  this  session  of  the 
legislature,  and  was  opened  the  following  Jime. 

On  the  ninth  of  April,  a  party  of  Ojibways 
killed  a  Dalikotah.  at  the  village  of  Shokpay.  A 
war  party,  from  Kaposia,  then  proceeded  up  the 
valley  of  the  St.  Croix,  and  killed  an  Ojibway. 
On  the  morning  of  the  twenty-seventh,  a  band 
of  Ojibway  warriors,  naked,  decked,  and  fiercely 
gesticulatmg,  might  have  been  seen  in  the  busiest 
street  of  the  capital,  in  search  of  their  enemies. 
Just  at  that  time  a  small  party  of  women,  and 
one  man,  who  had  lost  a  leg  in  the  battle  of  Still- 
water, arrived  in  a  canoe  from  Kaposia,  at  the 
Jackson  street  landing.  Perceiving  the  Ojib- 
ways, they  retreated  to  the  building  then  known 
as  the  "  Pioneer "  office,  and  the  Ojibways  dis- 
charging a  volley  through  the  windows,  wounded 
a  Dahkotaji  woman  who  soon  died.  For  a  short 
time,  the  infant  capital  presented  a  sight 
■  similar  to  that  witnessed  in  ancient  days  in 
Hadley  or  Deerfleld,  the  then  frontier  towns  of 
Massachusetts.  jSiessengers  were  despatched  to 
Fort  Snelling  for  the  dragoons,  and  a  party  of 
citizens  mounted  on  horseback,  were  quickly  in 
pursuit  of  those  who  with  so  much  boldness  had 
sought  the  streets  of  St.  Paul,  as  a  place  to 
avenge  their  wrongs.  The  dragoons  soon  fol- 
lowed, with  Indian  guides  scenting  the  track  of 
the  Ojibways,  like  bloodliounds.  The  next  day 
they  discovered  the  transgressors,  near  the  Falls 
of  St.  Croix.  The  Ojibways  manifesting  what 
was  supposed  to  be  an  insolent  spirit,  the  order 
was  given  by  the  lieutenant  in  command,  to  lire, 
and  he  whose  scalp  was  afterwards  dagueireo 


typed,  and  which  was  engraved  for  Graham's 
Magazine,  wallowed  in  gore. 

During  the  summer,  the  passenger,  as  he  stood 
on  the  hurricane  deck  of  any  of  the  steamboats, 
might  have  seen,  on  a  scaffold  on  the  bluffs  in 
the  rear  of  Kaposia,  a  square  box  covered  with  a 
coarsely  fringed  red  cloth.  Above  it  was  sus- 
pended a  piece  of  the  Ojibway's  scalp,  whose 
death  had  caused  the  affray  in  the  streets  of  St. 
Paul.  Within,  was  the  body  of  the  woman  who 
had  been  shot  in  the  "  Pioneer  "  buildmg,  while 
seeking  refuge.  A  scalp  suspended  over  the 
corpse  is  supposed  to  be  a  consolation  to  the  soul, 
and  a  great  protection  in  the  journey  to  the  spirit 
land. 

On  the  accession  of  Pierce  to  the  presidency  of 
the  United  States,  the  ofHcers  appointed  under 
the  Taylor  and  Fillmore  administrations  were 
removed,  and  the  foUowmg  gentlemen  substitu- 
ted :  Governor,  W.  A.  Gorman,  of  Indiana ;  Sec- 
retary, J.  T.  Kosser,  of  Yirguiia ;  Chief  Justice, 
W.  11.  Welch,  of  Minnesota ;  Associates,  Moses 
Sherburne,  of  Maine,  and  A.  G.  Chatfield,  of 
Wisconsin.  One  of  the  first  official  acts  of  the 
second  Governor,  was  the  making  of  a  treaty 
with  the  Winnebago  Indians  at  AVatab.  Benton 
county,  for  an  exchange  of  country. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  June,  D.  A.  Robei-tson, 
who  by  his  enthusiasm  and  earnest  advocacy  of 
its  principles  had  done  much  to  organize  the 
Democratic  party  of  Alinnesota,  retired  from  the 
editorial  chair  and  was  succeeded  by  David  Olm- 
sted. 

At  the  election  held  in  October,  Henry  M. 
Rice  and  Alexander  Wilkin  were  candidates 
for  deligate  to  Congress.  Tlie  former  was  elect- 
ed by  a  decisive  majority. 


126 


EXPLOREIiS  AND  PIONEEBS  OF  MINNESOTA. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

EVENTS  FROM  A.  D.   1854  TO  THE  ADMISSION  OF  MINNESOTA  TO  THE  I'NtON. 


Fifth  LesiBlnture— Execution  of  Yuhnzee— Sixth  Lceialaturc- First  i»ridge  over  the 
Mississippi— Arctic  Explorcir— Seventh  I^Bislature — Indian  girl  killed  near 
BIn*>iiiiiiptun  Ferry—  Eintitli  l^trislatiire — Attrmpt  to  Remove  the  Capital- 
Special  Session  of  the  Letn^lature — Convention  to  frame  a  State  Constitution- 
Admission  of  Minnesota  to  the  Union. 

The  fifth  session  of  the  legislature  was  com- 
menced in  the  buikling  just  completed  as  the 
Capitol,  on  January  fourth,  1854.  The  President 
of  the  Council  was  S.  13.  Olmstead,  and  the  Speak- 
er of  the  Uouse  of  Kepresent^itives  was  N.  C.  D. 
Taylor. 

Governor  Gorman  delivered  his  first  annual 
message  on  the  tenth,  and  as  his  predecessor, 
urged  the  importance  of  railway  communications, 
and  dwelt  upon  the  necessity  of  fostering  the  in- 
terests of  education,  and  of  the  lumbermen. 

The  exciting  bill  of  the  session  was  the  act  in- 
corporating the  Alimiesota  and  Northwestern 
Railroad  Company,  introduced  by  Joseph  K. 
Brown.  It  was  passed  after  the  hour  of  midnight 
on  the  last  day  of  the  session.  Contrary  to  the 
expectation  of  his  friends,  the  Governor  signed 
the  bill. 

On  the  afternoon  of  December  twenty-seventh, 
the  first  public  execution  in  Minnesota,  in  accord- 
ance with  tlie  forms  of  law,  took  place.  Yu-ha- 
zee,  the  Dahkotah  who  had  been  convicted  in 
November,  1852,  for  the  murder  of  a  German 
woman,  above  Shokpay,  was  the  mdividual. 
Tlie  scaffold  was  erected  on  t)ie  open  space  be- 
tween an  inn  called  the  Franklin  House  and  the 
rear  of  the  late  Mr.  J.  W.  Selby's  enclosru'e 
in  St.  Paul.  About  two  o'clock,  the  prisoner, 
dressed  in  a  white  shroud,  left  the  old  log  pris- 
on, near  the  court  house,  and  entered  a  carriage 
with  the  officers  of  the  law.  Being  assisted  up 
the  steps  that  led  to  the  scaffold,  he  made  a  few- 
remarks  in  his  own  language,  and  was  then  exe- 
cuted. Numerous  ladies  sent  in  a  petition  to 
tlie  governor,  asking  tlie  pardon  of  the  Indian, 
to  which  tliat  officer  in  decUnuig  made  an  appro- 
priate reply. 


EVENTS  OF  A.  D.  1855. 

The  sixth  session  of  the  legislature  convened 
on  the  tliird  of  January,  1855.  \V.  P.  ^lurray 
was  elected  President  of  the  Council,  and  James 
S.  Norris  Speaker  of  the  House. 

About  the  last  of  January,  the  two  houses  ad- 
journed one  day,  to  attend  the  exercises  occa- 
sioned by  the  opening  of  tlie  first  bridge  of 
any  kind,  over  tlie  mighty  Mississippi,  from 
Lake  Itasca  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  was  at 
Falls  of  Saint  Anthony,  and  made  of  wire,  and 
at  the  time  of  its  opening,  tlie  patent  for  the 
land  on  which  the  west  piers  were  built,  had  not 
been  issued  from  the  Land  Office,  a  striking  evi- 
dence of  the  rapidity  with  whicli  tlie  city  of 
JIinne;ipolis,  which  now  surrounds  the  Falls,  has 
developed. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  March,  a  convention 
was  held  at  Saint  Anthony,  which  led  to  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party  of  ^Minnesota. 
This  body  took  measures  for  the  holding  of  a 
territorial  convention  at  St.  Paul,  wliich  con- 
vened on  the  twenty-fifth  of  July,  and  William 
R.  Marshall  was  nominated  as  delegate  to  Con- 
gress. Shortly  after  tlie  friends  of  Mr.  Sibley 
nominated  David  Olmsted  and  Henry  M.  Rice, 
tlie  former  delegate  was  also  a  candidate.  The 
contest  was  animated,  aud  resulted  in  the  elec- 
tion of  Mr.  Rice. 

About  noon  of  December  twelfth,  1855,  a  fonr- 
horse  vehicle  was  seen  driving  rapidly  through 
St.  Paul,  and  deep  was  the  mterest  when  it  was 
announced  that  one  of  the  Arctic  exploring  party, 
Mr.  James  Stewart,  was  on  his  way  to  Canada 
with  relics  of  the  world  -  renowiied  and  woiid- 
mounied  Sir  John  Frankhn.  Gathering  together 
the  precious  fragments  found  on  ^Montreal  Island 
and  vicinity,  the  party  had  left  the  region  of  ice- 
bergs on  the  ninth  of  August,  and  after  a  con- 
tinued land  journey  from  that  time,  had  reached 


PBOrOSEU  liEMOVAL  OF  TJIE  fiKAT  OF  UOVFUyMFJ^T. 


127 


Saint  Paul  on  that  clay,  en  route  to  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company's  quarters  in  Canada. 

EVENTS  OF  A.  D.   1856. 

The  seventh  session  of  the  Legislative  Assem- 
bly was  begun  on  the  second  of  January,  1856, 
and  again  the  exciting  question  was  tlie  ]Sliime- 
sota  and  Xorthwestern  Railroad  Company. 

Jolm  B.  Brisbm  was  elected  President  of  the 
Council,  and  Charles  Gardner,  Speaker  of  the 
House. 

This  year  was  comparatively  devoid  of  interest. 
The  citizens  of  the  tenitory  were  busily  engaged 
in  making  claims  in  newly  organized  coimties, 
and  in  enlarging  the  area  of  civilization. 

On  the  twelfth  of  June,  several  Ojibways 
entered  the  farm  house  of  Mr.  WhaUon,  who  re- 
sided in  Hennepin  county,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Minnesota,  a  mile  below  the  Bloomington  ferr>-. 
The  wife  of  the  farmer,  a  friend,  and  three  cliild- 
ren,  besides  a  little  Dahkotah  girl,  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  tlie  mission-house  at  Kaposia,  and 
so  changed  in  manners  that  her  origin  was 
scarcely  perceptible,  were  sitting  in  the  room 
when  the  Indians  came  in.  Instantly  seizing 
the  little  Indian  maiden,  they  threw  her  out  of 
the  door,  killed  and  scalped  her,  and  fled  before 
the  men  who  were  near  by,  in  the  field,  could 
reach  the  house. 

EVENTS  OF  A.  D.  1857. 

The  procurement  of  a  state  organization,  and 
a  grant  of  lauds  for  railroad  purposes,  were  the 
topics  of  political  interest  during  the  year  1857. 

The  eighth  Legislative  Assembly  convened  at 
the  rapitol  on  the  seventh  of  January,  and  J.  B. 
Brisbin  was  elected  President  of  the  Council,  and 
J.  W.  Furber,  Speaker  of  the  House. 

A  bill  changing  the  seat  of  government  to 
Saint  Peter,  on  the  Minnesota  River,  caused 
much  discussion. 

On  Saturday,  February  twenty -eighth,  Mr. 
Balcombe  offered  a  resolution  to  report  the  bUl 
for  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  government,  and 
shoiUd  Mr.  Rolette,  chairman  of  the  committee, 
fail,  that  W.  W.  Wales,  of  said  committee,  report 
a  copy  of  said  bill. 

Mr.  Setzer,  after  the  reading  of  the  resolution, 
moved  a  call  of  the  Council,  and  Mr.  Rolette  was 
foimd  to  be  absent.  The  chair  ordered  the  ser- 
geant at  arms  to  report  Mr  Eolette  in  his  seat. 


>Ir.  Balcombe  moved  that  further  proceedings 
imder  tlie  call  be  dispensed  with;  which  did  not 
prevail.  From  that  time  untU  the  next  Thursday 
afternoon,  March  the  fiftli,  a  period  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-three  liours,  the  Council  re- 
mained in  their  chamber  without  recess.  At  that 
time  a  motion  to  adjourn  prevailed.  On  Friday 
another  motion  was  made  to  dispense  with  the 
call  of  the  Coimcil,  which  did  not  prevail.  On 
Saturday,  the  Council  met,  the  president  declared 
the  call  still  pending.  At  seven  and  a  half  p.  m., 
a  committee  of  the  House  was  announced.  The 
chair  ruled,  that  no  commimication  from  tlie 
House  could  be  received  wliile  a  call  of  the  Coun- 
cil was  pending,  and  the  committee  withdi'ew. 
A  motion  was  agam  made  during  the  last  night 
of  the  session,  to  dispense  with  all  fiurther  pro- 
ceedings under  the  call,  which  prevailed,  with 
one  vote  only  in  tlie  negative. 

Mr.  Ludden  then  moved  that  a  committee  be 
appointed  to  wait  on  the  Governor,  and  inquire  if 
he  had  any  further  communication  to  make  to 
the  Council. 

Mr.  Lowry  moved  a  call  of  the  Council,  which 
was  ordered,  and  the  roll  being  called,  Messrs. 
Rolette,  Thompson  and  Tillotson  were  absent. 

At  twelve  o'clock  at  night  the  president  re- 
sumed the  chair,  and  announced  that  the  time 
limited  by  law  for  the  continuation  of  the  session 
of  the  territorial  legislature  had  expired,  and  he 
therefore  declared  the  Council  adjomned  and  the 
seat  of  government  remained  at  Saint  Paul. 

The  excitement  on  the  capital  question  was  in- 
tense, and  it  was  a  strange  scene  to  see  members 
of  the  Comicil,  eating  and  sleeping  in  the  hall  of 
legislation  for  days,  waiting  for  the  sergeant-at- 
arms  to  report  an  absent  member  in  his  seiit. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  February,  1857,  an  act 
passed  the  United  States  Senate,  to  authorize 
the  people  of  Minnesota  to  foiTa  a  constitution, 
preparatory  to  their  admission  into  the  Union 
on  an  equal  footing  with  the  original  states. 

Governor  Gorman  called  a  special  session 
of  the  legislattu'e,  to  take  iuto  consideration  • 
measures  that  would  give  efficiency  to  the  act. 
The  extra  session  convened  on  April  twenty- 
seventh,  and  a  m-essage  was  transmitted  by  Sam- 
uel Aledary,  who  had  been  appointed  governor 
in  place  of  W.  A.  Gorman,  whose  term  of  office 


1:28 


.EXPLORERS  ANl)  riUSEERU  OF  21INJSES0TA. 


had  exi)iied.  The  extra  session  adjourned  on 
the  twenty-third  of  May ;  and  in  accordance 
with  tne  provisions  of  the  enal ill ng  act  of  Con- 
gress, an  election  was  lield  on  the  lirst  Monday 
in  June,  for  delegates  to  a  convention  wliicli  was 
to  assemble  at  the  capitol  on  the  second  ^Monday 
in  July.  The  election  resulted,  as  was  tlioii!,'ht. 
in  giving  a  majority  of  delegates  to  tlie  Itepiihli- 
cau  party. 

At  nii(hiight  previous  to  the  day  fixed  for  the 
meeting  of  the  convention,  tlie  Kcpublicans  pro- 
ceeded to  the  capitol,  because  the  enabling  act 
had  not  fixed  at  what  hour  on  tlie  second  -Mon- 
day the  convention  should  asscnil)le,  and  fear- 
ing that  the  Democratic  delegates  might  antici- 
pate them,  and  elect  the  oflicers  of  the  liody. 
A  little  before  twelve,  A.  Jl.,  on  Monday,  the 
.  secretary  of  the  territory  entered  the  si)eaker"s 
rostrum,  and  began  to  call  t!ie  body  to  order ; 
and  at  the  same  time  a  delegate,  J.  "\V.  Xorth. 
who  had  in  his  ]iossession  a  written  request  from 
the  majority  of  the  delegates  pi;.;(:nt,  proceeded 
to  do  tlie  same  tiling.  The  secretary  of  the  ter- 
ritory put  a  motion  to  adjourn,  aiul  the  Demo- 
cratic members  present  voting  in  the  alih-mative, 
they  left  the  hall.  The  Republicans,  feeling  that 
they  were  in  the  majority,  remained,  and  in  due 
time  organized,  and  proceeded  with  the  busiues;; 
specified  in  the  enabling  act,  to  form  a  constitu- 
tion, and-take  all  necessary  steps  for  the  est^ib- 
iishment  of  a  state  goverimient,  in  conformity 
with  the  Federal  Constitution,  subject  to  the 
approval  and  ratification  of  the  people  of  the 
proposed  state. 

After  several  days  the  Democratic  wing  also 
organized  in  tlie  Senate  chamber  at  the  capitol, 
and,  claiming  to  be  the  true  body,  also  proceeded 
to  form  a  constitution.  Botli  parties  were  re- 
markably orderly  and  intelligent,  and  everything 
w'as  marked  by  perfect  decorum.  After  they  had 
been  in  session  some  weeks,  moderate  counsels 


prevailed,  and  a  committee  of  conference  was 
appointed  from  each  body,  which  resulted  in 
both  adopting  the  constitution  framed  by  the 
Democratic  wing,  on  tlie  twenty-ninth  of  Ang- 
gust.  According  to  the  provision  of  the  consti- 
tution, an  election  was  lield  for  state  ofBcere 
and  the  adoption  of  the  constitution,  on  tlie 
second  Tuesday,  the  thirteenth  of  October.  The 
constitution  was  adopted  by  almost  a  unanimous 
vote.  It  provided  that  the  territorial  officers 
should  retain  their  ollices  until  the  stale  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union,  not  anticipating  the 
long  delay  which  was  experienced. 

The  first  session  of  the  stale  legislature  com- 
menced on  the  first  'Wednesday  of  December,  at 
the  capitol,  in  the  city  of  Saint  Paul ;  and  during 
the  month  elected  Henry  M.  Kice  and  .James 
Shields  as  their  Representatives  in  the  United 
States  Senate. 

EVENTS  OK    A.  I>.  18.5S. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  .January,  I808,  Mr. 
Douglas  submitted  a  bill  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  for  the  admission  of  ^liimesota  into  the 
Uiiiim.  On  the  first  of  February,  a  discussion 
arose  on  the  bill,  in  wliich  Senators  Douglas, 
Wilson,  Gwiu,  Hale,  ]\Iasoii,  (Jreen,  Brown,  and 
Crittenden  participated.  Brown,  of  Mississijipi, 
was  opposed  to  the  admission  of  Minnesota,  un- 
til the  Kansas  question  was  settled.  Mr.  Crit- 
tenden, as  a  Southern  man,  could  not  endorse  i'.ll 
that  was  said  liy  the  Senator  from  Mississipji; 
and  his  words  of  wisdom  and  moderation  during 
this  day's  discussion,  were  worthy  of  remeji- 
brance.  Oil  April  the  scveiilli,  the  bill  passed 
the  Senate  with  only  three  dissenting  votes  ;  and 
in  a  short  time  tlie  House  of  Representatives 
concurred,  and  on  !May  the  eleventh,  the  Presi- 
dent approved,  and  .Minnesota  was  fully  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  I'nited  States  of  America. 


FIRST  STATE  LEGISLATURE. 


129 


OUTLINE    HISTORY 


OF   THE 


STATE   OF  MINNESOTA. 


CHAPTEB  XXIV. 

PIItST  STATE  LEGISDATUKE STATE   BAHWAT    BONDS 

MINNESOTA  DURING  THE  CIVIL  WAB-BEGIMENTS 

- — THE  SIOUX  ODTBEEAK. 

The  transition  of  Minnesota  from  a  territorial 
to  a  state  organization  occurred  at  the  period  when 
the  whole  republic  was  suffering  from  financial  em- 
barrassments. 

By  an  act  of  congress  approved  by  the  president 
on  the  5th  of  March,  1857,  lands  had  been  granted 
to  Minnesota  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  railways. 
During  an  extra  session  of  the  legislature  of  Min- 
nesota, an  act  was  passed  in  May,  1857,  giving 
the  congressional  grant  to  certain  corporations  to 
build  railroads. 

A  few  months  after,  it  was  discovered  that  the 
corporators  had  neither  the  money  nor  the  credit 
to  begin  and  complete  these  internal  improve- 
ments. In  the  winter  of  1858  the  legislature  again 
listened  to  the  siren  voices  of  the  railway  corpora- 
tions, until  their  words  to  some  members  seemed 
like  "apples  of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver,"  and  an 
additional  act  was  passed  submitting  to  the  people 
an  amendment  to  the  constitution  which  provided 
for  the  loan  of  the  public  credit  to  the  land  grant 
railroad  companies  to  the  amount  of  $5,000,000, 
upon  condition  that  a  certain  amount  of  labor  on 
the  roads  was  performed. 

Some  of  the  citizens  saw  in  the  proposed  meas- 
ure "a  cloud  no  larger  than  a  man's  hand,"  which 
would  lead  to  a  terrific  storm,  and  a  large  public 
meeting  was  convened  at  the  capitol  in  St.  Paul, 
and  addressed  by  ex-Governor  Gorman,  D.  A. 
Robertson,  William  E.  Marshall  and  others  depre- 

9 


elating  the  engrafting  of  such  a  peculiar  amend- 
ment into  the  constitution;  but  tlie  people  were 
poor  and  needy  and  deluded  and  would  not  lis- 
ten; their  hopes  and  happiness  seemed  to  depend 
upon  the  pHghted  faith  of  railway  corporators,  and 
on  April  the  15th,  the  appointed  election  day, 
25,023  votes  were  deposited  for,  while  only  6,733 
votes  were  cast  against  the  amendment. 

FIRST    STATE    LEGISLATURE. 

The  election  of  October,  1857,  was  carried  on 
with  much  partisan  feeling  by  democrats  and  re- 
publicans. The  returns  from  wilderness  precincts 
were  unusually  large,  and  in  the  counting  of  votes 
for  governor,  Alexander  Kamsey  appeared  to  have 
received  17,550,  and  Henry  H.  Sibley  17,796  bal- 
lots. Governor  Sibley  was  declared  elected  by  a 
majority  of  246,  and  duly  recognized.  The  first 
legislature  assembled  on  the  2d  of  December, 
1857,  before  the  formal  admission  of  Minnesota 
into  the  Union,  and  on  the  25th  of  March,  1858, 
adjourned  until  June  the  2d,  when  it  again  met. 
The  next  day  Governor  Sibley  delivered  his  mes- 
sage. His  term  of  office  was  arduous.  On  the 
4th  of  August,  1858,  he  expressed  his  determina- 
tion not  to  deliver  any  state  bonds  to  the  railway 
companies  unless  they  would  give  first  mortgages, 
with  priority  of  lien,  upon  their  lands,  roads  and 
franchises,  in  favor  of  the  state.  One  of  the  com- 
panies applied  for  a  mandamus  from  the  supreme 
court  of  the  state,  to  compel  the  issue  of  the 
bonds  without  the  restrictions  demanded  by  the 
governor. 

In  November  the  court.  Judge  Flandrau  dis- 
senting, directed  the  governor  to  issue  state  bonds 
as  soon  as  a  railway  company  delivered  their  fh-st 


130 


OUTLINE  UISTOUr  QF  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 


mortgage  bonds,  as  provided  by  the  amendment 
to  the  constitution.  But,  as  was  to  be  expected, 
bonds  sent  out  under  such  peculiar  circumstances 
were  not  sought  after  by  capitalists.  Moreover, 
after  over  two  million  dollars  in  bonds  had  been 
issued,  not  an  iron  rail  had  been  laid,  and  only 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of  grading  had 
been  completed. 

In  his  last  message  Governor  Sibley  in  refer- 
ence to  the  law  in  regard  to  state  credit  to  railways, 
says:  "I  regret  to  be  obliged  to  state  that  the 
measure  has  proved  a  failure,  and  has  by  no  means 
accomplished  what  was  hoped  from  it,  either  in 
providing  means  for  the  issue  of  a  safe  currency 
or  of  aiding  the  companies  in  the  completion  of 
the  work  upon  the  roads." 

ACT   FOB    NOnMAIi    SCHOOLSi 

Notwithstanding  the  pecuniary  complications  of 
the  state,  during  Governor  Sibley's  administra- 
tion, the  legislature  did  not  entirely  forget  that 
there  were  some  interests  of  more  importance  than 
railway  construction,  and  on  the  2d  of  August, 
1858,  largely  through  the  influence  of  the  late 
John  D.  Ford,  M.  D.,  a  public  spirited  citizen  of 
Winona,  an  act  was  passed  for  the  estabhshment 
of  three  training  schools  for  teachers. 

FIRST     STEAMBOAT  "ON     TUE      KED     BIVER     OP     THE 
NORTH. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1859  an  important  route 
was  opened  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Eed 
Elver  of  the  North.  The  then  enterprising  firm 
of  J.  C.  Burbank  &  Co.,  of  St.  Paul,  having  se- 
cured from  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  the  trans- 
portation of  their  supjjlies  by  way  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, in  place  of  the  tedious  and  treacherous  routes 
through  Hudson's  Bay  or  Lake  Superior,  they 
purchased  a  bttle  steamboat  on  the  Red  River  of 
the  North  which  had  been  built  by  Anson  North- 
rup,  and  commenced  the  carrying  of  freight  and 
passengers  by  land  to  Breckenridge  and  by  water 
to  Pembina. 

This  boat  had  been  the  first  steamboat  which 
moved  on  the  Mississippi  above  the  falls  of  St. 
Anthony,  to  which  there  is  a  reference  made  upon 
the  121st  page. 

Mr.  Nortbrup,  after  he  purchased  the  boat,  with 
a  large  number  of  wagons  carried  the  boat  and 
machinery  from  Crow  Wing  on  the  Mississippi 
and  on  the  8th  of  April,  1859,  reached  the  Red 
River  not  far  from  the  site  of  Fargo. 

SECOND    STATE   LEGISLATUBB. 

At  an  election  held  in  October,  21,335  votes  were 


deposited  for  Alexander  Ramsey  as  governor,  and 
17,532  for  George  L.  Becker.  Gkivernor  Ramsey, 
in  an  inaugural  delivered  on  the  second  ot  Jan- 
•uary,  1860,  devoted  a  large  space  to  the  discus- 
sion of  the  difficulties  arising  from  the  issue  of 
the  railroad  bonds.  He  said:  "It  is  extremely 
desuable  to  remove  as  speedily  as  possible  so  vex- 
ing a  question  from  our  state  politics,  and  not  al- 
low it  to  remain  for  years  to  disturb  our  elections, 
possibly  to  divide  our  people  into  bond  and  anti- 
bond  parties,  and  introduce,  annually,  into  our 
legislative  halls  an  element  of  discord  and  possi- 
bly of  corruption,  all  to  end  justas  similar  compli- 
cations in  other  states  have  ended.  The  men  who 
wiU  have  gradually  engrossed  the  poscssion  of  all 
the  bonds,  at  the  cost  of  a  few  cents  on  the  dollar, 
wOl  knock  year  after  year  at  the  door  of  the  legisla- 
turo  for  their  payment  in  full,  the  press  will  be 
subsidized;  the  cry  of  repudiation  will  be  raised; 
all  the  ordinary  and  extraordinary  means  of  pro- 
curing legislation  in  doubtful  cases  will  be  freely 
resorted  to,  until  finally  the  bondholders  will  pile 
up  almost  fabulous  fortunes.  *  *  *  *  It  is 
assuredly  true  that  the  present  time  is,  of  all 
others,  aUke  for  the  present  bondholder  and  the 
people  of  the  state,  the  very  time  to  arrange,  ad- 
just and  settle  these  uufortimate  and  deplorable 
raih'oad  and  loan  comjjhcations." 

The  legislature  of  this  year  passed  a  law  sub- 
mitting an  amendment  to  the  constitution  which 
would  prevent  the  issue  of  any  more  railroad  bonds. 
At  an  election  in  November,  18G0,  it  was  voted  on, 
and  reads  as  follows:  "The  credit  of  the  state 
shall  never  be  given  on  bonds  in  aid  of  any  in- 
dividual, association  or  corporation;  nor  shall  there 
be  any  further  issue  of  bonds  denominated  Min- 
nesota state  railroad  bonds,  under  what  purports 
to  be  an  amendment  to  section  ten,  of  article  nine, 
of  the  constitution,  adopted  April  14,  1858,  which 
is  liereby  expunged  from  the  constitution,  saving, 
excepting,  and  reserving  to  the  state,  nevertheless, 
all  rights,  remedies  and  forfeitures  accruing  under 
said  amendment." 

FIRST   WHITE   PERSON   EXECUTED. 

On  p'.ige  126  there  is  a  notice  of  the  first  In- 
dian hung  under  the  laws  of  Minnesota.  On 
March  23,  1860  the  first  white  person  was  executed 
and  attracted  considerable  attention  from  the  fact, 
the  one  who  suffered  the  penalty  of  the  law  was  a 
woman. 

Michael  Bilansky  died  on  the  11th  of  March, 
1859,  and  upon  examination,  he  was  found  to  have 


TUE  FIRST  REGIMENT  INFANTRY. 


131 


been  poisoned.  Anna,  his  fourth  wife,  was  tried 
for  the  offence,  found  guilty,  and  on  the  3d  of  De- 
cember, 1859,  sentenced  to  be  hung.  The  oppo- 
nents to  capital  punishment  secured  the  passage  of 
an  act,  by  the  legislature,  to  meet  her  case,  but  it 
was  vetoed  by  the  governor,  as  unconstitutional. 
Two  days  before  the  execution,  the  unhappy  wo- 
man asked  her  spiritual  adviser  to  write  to  her 
parents  in  North  Carolina,  but  not  to  state  the 
cause  of  her  death.  Her  scafifold  was  erected 
within  the  square  of  the  Bamsey  county  jaU. 

THIKD  STATE  LEGISLATnEE. 

The  third  state  legislature  assembled  on  the  8th  of 
January,  1861,  and  adjourned  on  the  8th  of  March. 
As  Minnesota  was  the  first  state  which  received 
1,280  acres  of  land  in  each  township,  for  school 
purposes.  Governor  Ramsey  in  his  annual  message 
occupied  several  pages,  in  an  able  and  elaborate 
argument  as  to  the  best  methods  of  guarding  and 
sfelUng  the  school  lands,  and  of  protecting  the 
school  fund. 

His  predecessor  in  ofiice,  while  a  member  of  the 
convention  to  frame  the  constitution,  had  spoken 
in  favor  of  dividing  the  school  funds  among  the 
townships  of  the  state,  subject  to  the  control  of 
the  local  officers. 

MINNESOTA    DUEING    THE    CIVtL    WAR. 

The  people  of  Minnesota  had  not  been  as  excited 
as  the  citizens  of  the  Atlantic  states  on  the  ques- 
tion which  was  discussed  before  the  presidential 
election  of  November,  1860,  and  a  majoiity  had 
calmly  declared  their  preference  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, as  president  of  the  republic. 

But  the  blood  of  her  quiet  and  intelligent  popu- 
lation was  stirred  on  the  morning  of  April  14, 
1861,  by  the  intelligence  in  the  daily  newspapers 
that  the  day  before,  the  insurgents  of  South  Caro- 
lina had  bombarded  Fort  Sumter,  and  that  after  a 
gallant  resistance  of  thirty-four  hours  General 
Eobert  Anderson  and  the  few  soldiers  of  his  com- 
mand had  evacuated  the  fort. 

Governor  Bamsey  was  in  Washington  at  this 
period,  and  called  upon  the  president  of  the  repub- 
lic with  two  other  citizens  from  Minnesota,  and 
was  the  first  of  the  state  governors  to  tender  the 
services  of  his  fellow  citizens.  The  offer  of  a  regi- 
ment was  accepted.  The  first  company  raised  un- 
der the  call  of  Minnesota  was  composed  of  ener- 
getic young  men  of  St.  Paul,  and  its  captain  was 
the  esteemed  William  H.  Acker,  who  afterwards 
fell  in  battle. 

On  the  last  Monday    of  April   a  camp  for   the 


First  regiment  was  opened  at  Fort  Snelling. 
More  companies  having  offered  than  were  necessary 
on  the  30th  of  May  Governor  Bamsey  sent  a  tele- 
gram to  the  secretary  of  war,  offering  another 
regiment. 

THE    FIRST    EEGIMENT. 

On  the  14th  of  June  the  First  regiment  was  or- 
dered to  Washington,  and  on  the  21st  it  embarked 
at  St.  Paul  on  the  steamboats  War  Eagle  and 
Northern  Belle,  with  the  foUowiug  officers: 

Will's  A.  Gorman,  Colonel — Promoted  to  be 
brigadier  general  October  7,  1861,  by  the  advice 
of  Major  General  Winfield  Scott. 

Stephen  MiUer,  Lt.  Colonel — Made  colonel  of  7th 
regiment  August,  1862. 

WUliam  H.  Dike,  Major — Besigned  October  22, 
1861. 

WiUiam  B.  Leach,  Adjutant — Made  captain  and 
A.  A.  G.  February  23,  1862. 

Mark  W.  Downie,  Quartermaster — Captain 
Company  B,  July  16,  1861. 

Jacob  H.  Stewart,  Surgeon — Prisoner  at  Bull 
Bun,  July  21, 1861.  Paroled  at  Richmond,  Vir- 
ginia. 

Charles  W.  Le  BoutUlier,  Assistant  Surgeon — 
Prisoner  at  Bull  Run.  Surgeon  9th  regiment. 
Died  April,  1863. 

Edward  D.  Neill,  Chaplain — Commissioned  July 
13, 1862,  hospital  chaplain  U.  S.  A.,  resigned  in 
1864,  and  ajjpointed  by  President  Lincoln,  one 
of  his  secretaries. 

After  a  few  days  in  Washington,  the  regi- 
iment  was  sent  to  Alexandria,  Virginia,  where 
until  the  16th  of  July  it  remained.  On  the 
morning  of  that  day  it  began  with  other 
troops  of  Franklin's  brigade  to  movetoward 
the  enemy,  and  that  night  encamped  in  the  val- 
ley of  Pohick  creek,  and  the  next  day  marched 
to  Sangster's  station  on  the  Orange  &  Alexandria 
railroad.  The  third  day  Centreville  was  reached. 
Before  daylight  on  Sunday,  the  21st  of  July,  the 
soldiers  of  the  First  regiment  rose  for  a  march  to 
battle.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  they 
left  camp,  and  after  passing  through  the  hamlet  of 
Centreville,  halted  for  General  Hunter's  column  to 
pass.  At  daylight  the  regiment  again  began  to 
move,  and  after  crossing  a  bridge  on  the  Warren- 
ton  turnpike,  turned  into  the  woods,  from  which  at 
about  ten  o'clock  it  emerged  into  an  open  coun- 
try, from  which  could  be  seen  an  artiUery  engage- 
ment on  the  left  between  the  Union  troops  under 
Hunter,  and  the  insurgents  commanded  by  Evans. 


132 


OUTLINE  niSTORT  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 


An  hour  after  this  the  regiment  reached  a  branch 
of  Bull  Bun,  and,  as  the  men  were  thirsty,  began 
to  fill  their  empty  canteens.  While  thus  occu- 
pied, and  as  the  St.  Paul  company  under  Captain 
Wilkins  was  crossing  the  creek,  an  order  came 
for  Colonel  Gorman  to  hurry  up  the  regiment. 

The  men  now  moved  rapidly  through  the  wood- 
laud  of  a  hillside,  stopping  over  some  of  the  dead 
of  Burnside's  command,  and  hearing  the  cheers 
of  victory  caused  by  the  pressing  back  of  the  in- 
surgent troops.  At  length  the  regiment,  passing 
Sudley  church,  reached  a  clearing  in  the  woods, 
and  halted,  while  other  troops  of  Franklin's  brig- 
ado  passed  up  the  Sudley  church  road.  Next 
they  passed  through  a  narrow  strip  of  woods  and 
occupied  the  cultivated  field  from  which  Evans  and 
Bee  of  the  rebel  army  had  been  driven  by  the 
troops  of  Bumside,  Sykes  and  others  of  Himter's 
division. 

Crossing  the  Sudley  road,  Eiekett's  battery  un- 
limbered  and  began  to  fire  at  the  enemy,  whose 
batteries  were  between  the  Kobinson  and  Henry 
house  on  the  south  side  of  the  Warrenton  turn- 
pike, while  the  First  Minnesota  passed  to  the  right. 
After  firing  about  twenty  minutes  the  battery  was 
ordered  to  go  down  the  Sudley  road  nearer  the 
enemy,  where  it  was  soon  disabled.  The  First 
Minnesota  was  soon  met  by  rebel  troops  advancing 
under  cover  of  the  woods,  who  supposed  the  reg- 
iment was  a  part  of  the  confederate  army. 

Javan  B.  Irvine,  then  a  private  citizen  af  St. 
Paul,  on  a  visit  to  the  regiment,  now  a  captain  in 
the  United  States  army,  wrote  to  his  wife :  "We 
had  just  formed  when  we  were  ordered  to  kneel 
and  fire  upon  the  rebels  who  were  advancing  under 
the  cover  of  the  woods.  We  fired  two  volleys 
through  the  woods,  when  we  were  ordered  to  rally 
in  the  woods  in  our  rear,  which  all  did  except  the 
first  platoon  of  our  own  company,  which  did  not 
hear  the  order  and  stood  their  ground.  The 
rebels  soon  came  out  from  their  shelter  between 
us  and  their  battery.  Colonel  Gorman  mistook 
them  for  friends  and  told  the  men  to  cease  firing 
upon  them,  although  they  had  three  secession 
tiags  directly  in  front  of  their  advancing  columns. 
This  threw  our  men  into  confusion,  some  declaring 
they  are  friends;  others  that  they  are  enemies.  I 
called  to  our  boys  to  give  it  to  them,  and  fired 
away  myself  as  rapidly  as  possible.  The  rebels 
themselves  mistook  us  for  Georgia  troops,  and 
waved  their  hands  at  us  to  cease  firing.  I  had 
just  loaded  to  give  them  another  charge,  when  a 


lieutenant-colonel  of  a  Mississippi  regiment  rode 
out  between  us,  waving  his  hand  for  us  to  stop 
firing.  I  rushed  up  to  him  and  asked  'If  he  was  a 
secessionist?'  He  said  'He  was  a  Mississippian.' 
I  presented  my  bayonet  to  his  breast  and  com- 
manded him  to  surrender,  which  he  did  after  some 
hesitation.  I  ordered  him  to  dismount,  and  led 
him  and  his  horse  from  the  field,  in  the  meantime 
disarming  him  of  his  sword  and  pistols.  I  led  him 
oflf  about  two  miles  and  placed  him  in  charge  of 
a  lieutenant  with  an  escort  of  cavalry,  to  be  taken 
to  General  McDowell.  He  requested  the  officer  to 
allow  me  to  accompany  him,  as  he  desired  my  pro- 
tection. The  officer  assured  him  that  ho  would 
be  safe  in  their  hands,  and  he  rode  off.  I  retained 
his  pistol,  but  sent  his  sword  with  him."  In  an- 
other letter,  dated  the  25th  of  July,  Mr.  Irvine 
writes  from  Washington :  "I  have  just  returned 
from  a  visit  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Boone,  who  is 
confined  in  the  old  Capitol.  I  found  him  in  a 
pleasant  room  on  the  third  story,  surrounded  by 
several  southern  gentlemen,  among  whom  was 
Senator  Breckenridge.  He  was  glad  to  see  me, 
and  appeared  quite  well  after  the  fatigue  of  the 
battle  of  Sunday.  There  were  with  mo  Chaplain 
Neill,  Captains  Wilkin  and  Colville,  and  Lieuten- 
ant Coates,  who  were  introduced." 

The  mistake  of  several  regiments  of  the  Union 
troops  in  supposing  that  the  rebels  were  friendly 
regiments  led  to  confusion  and  disaster,  which  was 
followed  by  panic. 

SECOND  REGIMENT. 

The  Second  Minnesota  Regiment  which  had 
been  organized  in  July,  1861,  left  Fort  Snelling 
on  the  eleventh  of  October,  and  proceeding  to 
Louisville,  was  incorporated  with  the  Army  of  the 
Ohio.  Its  officers  were:  Horatio  P.  Van  Cleve, 
Colonel.  Promoted  Brigader  General  March  21, 
1862.  James  George,  Lt.  Colonel.  Promoted 
Colonel;  resigned  June  29,  1864.  Simeon  Smith, 
Major.  Appointed  Paymaster  U.  S.  A.,  Septem- 
ber, 1861.  Alexander  Wilkin,  Major.  Colonel 
9th  Minnesota,  August,  1862.  Reginald  Bingham, 
Surgeon.  Dismissed  May  27,  1862.  M.  C.  Toll- 
man, AssH  Surgeon.  Promoted  Surgeon.  Timothy 
Cressey,  CJuiplain.  Resigned  October,  10,  1863. 
Daniel  D.  Heaney,  Adjutant.  Promoted  Captain 
Company  C.  William  S.  Grow,  Q  uarler  Master. 
Resigned,  January,  1863. 

SHARP    SHOOTERS. 

A  company  of  Sharp  Shooters  under  Captain 
F.  Peteler,  proceeding  to  Washington,  on  the  11th, 


MINNESOTA  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


133 


of  October  was  assigned  as  Co.,  A,  2d    Kegiment 
U.  S.  Sharp  Sbootera. 

THIRD    REGIMENT. 

On  the  16th  of  November,  1861,  the  Third  Keg- 
iment left  the  State  and  went  to  Tennessee.  Its 
officers  were:  Henry  C.  Lester,  Cofoft^?.  Dismissed 
Decmber  1, 1862.  Benjamin  F.  Smith,  Lt.  Colond. 
Resigned  May  9,  1862.  John  A.  Hadley,  Major. 
Resigned  May  1,  1862.  R.  C.  Olin,  Adjutant.— 
Resigned.  O.  H,  Blakely,  Adjutant.  Levi  Butler. 
ISuffjeon. — Resigned  September  30, 1863.  Francis 
Millipan,  AssH  Surgeon. — Resigned  April  8,  1862. 
Chaunoey  Hobart,  Chaplain,.  —  Resigned  June  2, 
1863. 

AETIIjLEBY. 

In  December,  the  First  Battery  of  Light  Artil- 
lery left  the  State,  and  reported  for  duty  at  St. 
Louis,  Missouri 

CAVAI-RY. 

During  the  fall,  three  companies  of  cavalry 
were  organized,  and  proceeded  to  Benton  Barracks, 
Missouri.  Ultimately  they  were  incorporated 
with  the  Fifth  Iowa  Cavalry. 

MOVEMENTS    OP    MINNESOTA    TROOPS   IN    1862. 

On  Sunday  the  19th  of  January,  1862,  not  far 
from  Somerset  and  about  forty  miles  from  Danville, 
Kentucky,  about  7  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Col. 
Van  Cleve  was  ordered  to  meet  the  enemy.  In 
ten  minutes  the  Second  Minnesota  regiment  was 
in  line  of  battle.  After  supporting  a  battery  for 
some  time  it  continued  the  march,  and  pro- 
ceeding half  a  mile  found  the  enemy  behind  the 
fences,  and  a  hand  to  hand  fight  of  thirty  minutes 
ensued,  resulting  in  the  flight  of  the  rebels.  Gen. 
ZollicofFer  and  Lieut.  Peyton,  of  the  insurgents 
were  of  the  killed. 

BATTLE    OF   PITTSBUEQ    LANDINO. 

On  Sunday,  the  6th  of  April  occurred  the  battle 
of  Pittsburg  Landing,  in  Tennessee.  Minnesota 
was  there  represented  by  the  First  Minnesota  bat- 
tery, Captain  Emil  Munch,  which  was  attached  to 
the  division  of  General  Prentiss.  Captain  Munch 
was  severely  wounded.  One  of  the  soldiers  of  his 
command  wrote  as  follows:  "Sunday  morning, 
just  after  breakfast,  an  officer  rode  up  to  our  Cap- 
tain's tent  and  told  him  to  prepare  for  action.  * 
*  *  *  *  We  wheeled  into  battery  and  opened 
upon  them.  *  *  *  The  first  time  we  wheeled 
one  of  our  drivers  was  killed;  his  name  was  Colby 
Stinson.  Haywood's  horse  was  shot  at  almost  the 
same  time.  The  second  time  we  came  into  bat- 
tery, the  captain  was  wounded  in  the  leg,  and  his 


horse  shot  under  him.  They  charged  on  our  gims 
and  on  the  sixth  platoon  howitzer,  but  they  got 
hold  of  the  wrong  end  of  the  gun.  We  then  lim- 
bered up  and  retreated  within  the  line  of  battle. 
While  we  were  retreating  they  shot  one  of  our 
horses,  when  we  had  to  stop  and  take  him  out, 
which  let  the  rebels  come  vqy  rather  close.  When 
within  about  sis  rods  they  fired  and  woimded 
Corporal  Davis,  breaking  his  leg  above  the  ankle." 
As  the  artillery  driver  was  picked  up,  after  be- 
ing fatally  wounded,  at  the  beginning  of  the  fight 
he  said,  'Don't  stop  with  me.  Stand  to  your  guns 
like  men,'  and  expired. 

FIRST  REGIMENT  AT  YORKTOWN  SIEGE. 

Early  in  April  the  First  regiment  as  a 
part  of  Sedgwick's  division  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  arrived  near  Yorktown, 
Virginia,  and  was  stationed  between  the 
Warwick  and  York  rivers,  near  Wynnes'  mill.  Dur- 
ing the  night  of  the  30th  of  May,  there  was  a  con- 
tinual discharge  of  cannon  by  the  enemy,  but  just 
before  daylight  the  next  day,  which  was  Sunday, 
it  ceased  and  the  pickets  cautiously  approaching 
discovered  that  the  rebels  had  abandoned  their 
works.  The  next  day  the  regiment  was  encamped 
on  the  field  where  Cornwallis  surrendered  to  Wash- 
ington. 

BATTLE  OF  FAIR  OAKS. 

While  Gorman's  brigade  was  encamped  at 
Goodly  Hole  oreek,  Hanover  county,  Virginia,  an 
order  came  about  three  o'clock  of  the  afternoon  of 
Saturday,  the  tliirty-first  day  of  May  to 
to  cross  the  Chicahominy  and  engage  in 
the  battle  which  had  been  going  on  for  a  few 
hours.  In  a  few  minutes  the  First  Minnesota  was 
on  the  march,  by  a  road  which  had  been  cut 
through  the  swamp,  and  crossed  the  Chicahominy 
by  a  rude  bridge  of  logs,  with  both  ends  com- 
pletely submerged  by  the  stream  swollen  by  re- 
cent rains,  and  rising  every  hour. 

About  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  First  Min- 
nesota as  the  advance  of  Gorman's  brigade  reached 
the  scene  of  action,  and  soon  the  whole  brigade 
with  Kii'by's  battery  held  the  enemy  in  check  at 
that  point. 

The  next  day  ^ley  were  in  line  of  battle  but  not 
attacked.  Upon  the  field  around  a  country  farm 
house  they  encamped. 

BATTLE  OF  SAVAGE  STATION. 

Just  before  daylight  on  Sunday,  Jime  the  29th, 
Sedgwick's,  to  which  the  First  Minnesota  belonged, 
left  the  position  that  had  been  held  since  the  bat- 


134 


OUTLINE  n I  STORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 


tie  of  Fair  Oaks,  and  had  not  proceeded  more  than 
two  miles  before  they  met  the  enemy  in  a  peach 
orchard,  and  after  a  sharp  conflict  compelled 
them  to  retire.  At  about  5  c' clock  the  afternoon 
of  the  same  day  they  again  met  the  enemy  at 
Savage  Station,  and  a  battle  lasted  till  dark.  Bur- 
gess, the  color  sergeant  who  brought  ofl'  the  flag 
from  the  Bull  Kuu  battle,  a  man  much  respected, 
^?as  killed  instantly. 

On  Monday,  between  Wliite  Oak  swamp  and 
Willis'  church,  the  regiment  had  a  skirmish,  and 
Captain  Colville  was  sliglitly  wounded.  Tuesday 
ivas  the  1st  of  July,  and  the  regiment  was  drawn 
up  at  the  dividing  line  of  Henrico  and  Charles 
City  county ,  in  sight  of  James  river,  and  although 
much  exposed  to  the  enemy's  batteries,  was  not 
actually  engaged.  At  midnight  the  order  was 
given  to  move,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  of 
July  they  tramped  upon  the  wheat  fields  at  Har- 
rison's Landing,  and  in  a  violent  rain   encamped. 

MOVEMENTS  OP  OTHEB  TROOPS. 

The  Fourth  regiment  left  Fort  Snelling  for  Ben- 
ton barracks,  Missouri,  on  the  2l8t  of  April,  1862, 
with  the  following  officers: 

John  B.  Sanborn,  Colonel — Promoted  brigadier 
general. 

Minor  T.  Thomas,  Lt.  Colond — Made  colonel  of 
8th  regiment  August  24,  1862. 

A.  Edward  Welch,  Major — Died  at  Nashville 
February  1,  1864. 

John  M.  Thompson,  Adjtitant — Captain  Com- 
pany E,  November  20,  1862. 

Thomas  B.  Hunt,  Qaaricrmasier — Made  captain 
and  A.  Q.  M.  April  9,  1863. 

John  H.  Murphy,  Surf/eon — Eesigned  July  9, 
1863. 

Elisha  W.  Cross,  Assistant  Surgeon — Promoted 
July  9,  1863. 

Asa  S.  Fiske,  Chaplain — Eesigned  Oct.  3,  1864. 

FIFTH    BEQIMENT. 

The  Second  Minnesota  Battery,  Captain  W.  A. 
Hotchkiss,  left  the  same  day  as  the  Fourth  regi- 
ment. On  the  13th  of  May  the  Fifth  regiment 
departed  from  Fort  Snelling  with  the  following 
officers:  Eudolph  Borgesrode,  colonel,  resigned 
August  31,  1862;  Lucius  F.  Hubbard,  heutenant- 
colonel,  promoted  colonel  August  31, 1862,  elected 
governor  of  Minnesota  1881;  William  B.  Gere, 
major,  promoted  lieutenant-colonel;  Alpheus  R. 
French,  adjutant,  resigned  March  19,  1863;  W. 
B.  McGrorty,  quartermaster,  resigned  September 
15,  1864;  F.  B.  Etheridge,  surgeon,  resigned  Sep- 


tember 3, 1862 ;  V.  B.  Kennedy,  assistant  surgeon, 
promoted  surgeon;  J.  F.  Chaffee,  chaplain,  re- 
signed June  23,  1862;  John  Ireland,  chaplain,  re- 
signed April,  1863. 

Before  the  close  of  May  the  Second,  Fourth  and 
Fifth  regiments  were  in  conflict  with  the  insur- 
gents, near  Corinth,  Mississippi. 

BATTLE    OF    ItTKA. 

On  the  18th  of  September,  Colonel  Sanborn, 
acting  as  brigade  commander  in  the  Third  divis- 
ion of  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi,  moved  his 
troops,  including  the  Fourth  Minnesota  regiment, 
to  a  position  on  the  Tuscumbia  road,  and  formed 
a  line  of  battle. 

BATTLE   OF    COBINTH. 

In  a  few  days  the  contest  Viegan  at  luka,  culmi- 
nated at  Corinth,  and  the  Fourth  and  Fifth  regi- 
ments and  First  INIiunesota  battery  were  engaged. 

On  the  3d  of  October,  about  five  o'clock.  Colo- 
nel Sanborn  advanced  his  troops  and  received  a 
severe  fire  from  the  enemy.  Captain  Mowers 
beckoned  with  his  sword  during  the  firing,  as  if 
he  wished  to  make  an  important  communication, 
but  before  Colonel  Sanborn  reached  his  side  he 
fell,  having  been  shot  through  the  head.  Before 
(hiylight  on  the  4th  of  October  the  Fifth  regiment, 
under  command  of  Colonel  L.  F.  Hubbard,  was 
aroused  by  the  discharge  of  artillery.  Later  in 
the  day  it  became  engaged  with  the  enemy,  and 
drove  the  rebels  out  of  the  streets  of  Corinth.  A 
private  writes:  "When  we  charged  on  the  enemy 
General  Rosecrans  asked  what  little  regiment  that 
was,  and  on  being  told  said  'The  Fifth  Minnesota 
had  saved  the  town.'  Major  Coleman,  General 
Stanley's  assistant  adjutant-general,  was  with  us 
when  he  received  his  bullet-wound,  and  his  last 
words  were,  "Tell  the  general  that  the  Fifth  Min- 
nesota fought  nobly.     God  bless  the  Fifth.' " 

OTHEB     MOVEMENTS. 

A  few  days  after  the  fight  at  Corinth  the  Sec- 
ond Minnesota  battery.  Captain  Hotchkiss,  did 
good  service  with  Buell's  army  at  PerryviUe,  Ky. 

In  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  on  the 
13th  of  December,  the  First  Minnesota  regiment 
supported  Kirbey's  battery  as  it  had  done  at  Fair 
Oaks. 

THntD    EEGIMBNT    HUMILIATED. 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  July,  nearMur- 
f  reesboro,  Ky.;  the  Third  regiment  was  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  enemy.  The  colonel  called  a  council 
of  officers  to  decide  whether  they  should  fight, 
and  the  first  vote  was  in  the  affirmative,  but  an- 


THE  SIOUX  OUTBREAK. 


135 


other  vote  being  taken  it  was  decided  to  surrender. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  O.  W.  Griggs,  Captains  An- 
drews and  Hoyt  voted  each  time  to  fight.  In 
September  the  regiment  returned  to  Minnesota, 
humiliated  by  the  want  of  good  judgment  upon 
the  part  of  their  colonel,  and  was  assigned  to  duty 
in  the  Indian  country. 

THE   SIODX    OUTBREAK. 

The  year  1862  will  always  be  remembered  as  the 
period  of  the  uprising  of  the  Sioux,  and  the 
slaughter  of  the  unsuspecting  inhabitants  of  the 
scattered  settlements  in  the  Minnesota  valley. 
Elsewhere  in  this  work  will  be  found  a  detailed  ac- 
count of  the  savage  cruelties.  In  this  place  we 
only  give  the  narrativfe  of  the  events  as  related  by 
Alexander  Kamsey,  then  the  governor  of  Min- 
nesota. 

"My  surprise  may  therefore  be  judged,  when,  on 
August  19th,  while  busy  in  my  office,  Mr.  Wm.  H. 
Shelley,  one  of  our  citizens  who  had  been  at  the 
agency  just  before  the  outbreak,  came  in,  dusty 
and  exhausted  with  a  fifteen  hours'  ride  on  horse- 
back, bearing  dispatches  to  me  of  the  most  start- 
ling character  from  Agent  Galbraith,  dated  Au- 
gust 18th,  stating  that  the  same  day  the  Sioux  at 
the  lower  agency  had  risen,  murdered  the  settlers, 
and  were  plundering  and  burning  all  the  build- 
ings in  that  vicinity.  As  I  beUeve  no  particulars 
regarding  the  manner  in  which  the  news  were  first 
conveyed  to  me  has  been  published,  it  might  be 
mentioned  here.  Mr.  Shelley  had  been  at  Eed- 
Vood  agency,  and  other  places  in  that  vicinity, 
with  the  concurrence  of  the  agent,  recruiting  men 
for  a  company,  which  was  afterwards  mustered  into 
the  Tenth  regiment  under  Captain  James  O'Gor- 
nran,  formerly  a  clerk  of  Nathan  Myriok,  Esq.,  a 
trader  at  Eedwood,  and  known  as  the  Renville 
Eangers.  He  (Shelley)  left  Eedwood,  he  states, 
on  Saturday,  August  16th,  with  forty-five  men, 
bound  for  Fort  Snelling.  Everything  was  quiet 
there  theu.  It  may  be  well  to  note  here  that  one 
of  the  supposed  causes  of  the  outbreak  was  the 
fact  that  the  Indians  had  been  told  that  the  gov- 
ernment needed  soldiers  very  badly,  that  many 
white  men  had  been  killed,  and  that  all  those  in 
that  locality  were  to  be  marched  south,  leaving 
the  state  unprotected.  Seeing  the  men  leave  on 
Saturday  may  have  strengthened  this  behef.  Stop- 
ping at  Fort  Ridgely  that  night,  the  Eenville 
Eangers  the  next  day  continued  their  march,  and 
on  Monday  afternoon  arrived  at  St.  Peter.  Gal- 
braith was  with  them.     Here,  he  was  overtaken  by 


a  messenger  who  had  ridden  down  from  Eed- 
wood that  day,  hearing  the  news  of  the  terrible 
occurrences  of  that  morhing.  This  messenger  was 
Mr.  —  Dickinson,  who  formerly  kept  a  hotel  at 
Henderson,  but  was  living  on  the  reservation  at 
that  time.  He  was  in  great  distress  aboiit  the 
safety  of  his  family,  and  returning  at  once  was 
killed  by  the  Indians. 

"When  Agent  Galbraith  received  the  news,  Mr. 
Shelley  states,  no  one  would  at  first  believe  it, 
as  such  rumors  are  frequent  in  the  Indian  country. 
Mr.  Dickinson  assured  him  of  the  truth  with  such 
earnestness,  however,  that  his  account  was  finally 
credited  and  the  Eenville  Rangers  were  at  once 
armed  and  sent  back  to  Fort  Ridgely,  where  they 
did  good  semce  in  protecting  the  post. 

"Agent  Galbraith  at  once  prepared  the  dispatches 
to  me,  giving  the  terrible  news  and  calHng  for  aid. 
No  one  could  be  found  who  would  volunteer  to 
carry  the  message,  and  Mr.  Shelley  offered  to 
come  himself.  He  had  great  difficulty  in  getting 
a  horse;  but  finally  secured  one,  and  started  for 
St.  Paul,  a  distance  of  about  ninety  miles,  about 
dark.  He  had  not  ridden  a  horse  for  some  years, 
and  as  may  be  well  supposed  by  those  who  have 
had  expei'ience  in  amateur  horseback-riding,  suf- 
fered very  much  from  soreness;  but  rode  all  night 
at  as  fast  a  gate  as  his  horse  could  carry  him, . 
Spreading  the  startling  news  as  he  went  down  the 
Minnesota  valley.  Reaching  St.  Paul  about  9  A. 
M.,  much  exhausted  he  made  his  way  to  the  oapitol, 
and  laid  before  me  his  message.  The  news  soon 
spread  through  the  city  and  created  intense  ex- 
citement. 

"At  that  time,  of  course,  the  full  extent  and 
threatening  nature  of  the  outbreak  could  not  be 
determined.  It  seemed  serious,  it  is  true,  but  in 
view  of  the  riotous  conduct  of  the  Indians  at 
Yellow  Medicine  a  few  days  before,  was  deemed  a 
repetition  of  the  emeuie,  which  would  be  simply 
local  in  its  character,  and  easily  quelled  by  a  small 
force  and  good  management  on  the  part  of  the 
authorities  at  the  agency. 

"But  these  hopes,  (that  the  outbreak  was  a  local 
one)  were  soon  rudely  dispelled  by  the  arrival,  an 
hour  or  two  later,  of  another  courier,  George  C. 
Whitcomb,  of  Forest  City,  bearing  the  news  of 
the  murders  at  Acton.  Mr.  Whitcomb  had  ridden 
to  Chaska  or  Carver  on  Monday,  and  came  down 
from  there  on  the  small  steamer  Antelope,  reaching 
the  city  an  hour  or  two  after  Mr.  Shelley. 

"It  now  became  evident  that  the  outbreak  was 


136 


OUTLINE  niSTORT  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 


more  general  than  had  at  first  been  credited,  and 
that  prompt  and  vigorous  measures  would  be  re- 
quired for  its  suppression  and  the  protection  of 
the  inhabitants  on  the  frontier.  I  at  once  pro- 
ceeded to  Fort  Snelling  and  consulted  with  the 
authorities  there  (who  had  already  received  dis- 
patches from  Fort  Ridgely)  regarding  the  out- 
break and  the  best  means  to  be  used  to  meet  the 
danger. 

"A  serious  difficulty  met  us  at  the  outstart.  The 
only  troops  at  Fort  Snelling  were  the  raw  recruits 
who  had  been  hastQy  gathered  for  the  five  regi- 
ments. Most  of  them  were  without  arms  or  suit- 
able clothing  as  yet;  some  not  mustered  in  or 
properly  oflBcered,  and  those  who  had  arms  had 
no  fixed  ammunition  of  the  proper  calibre.  We 
were  without  transportation,  quartermaster's  or 
commissary  stores,  and,  in  fact,  devoid  of  anything 
with  which  to  commence  a  campaign  against  two 
or  three  thousand  Indians,  well  mounted  and 
armed,  with  an  abundance  of  ammunition  and 
provisions  captured  at  the  agency,  and  flushed 
with  the  easy  victories  they  had  just  won  over  the 
unarmed  settlers.  Finally  four  companies  were 
fully  organized,  armed  and  uniformed,  and  late  at 
night  were  got  off  on  two  small  steamers,  the  An- 
telope and  Pomeroy,  for  Shakopee,  from  which 
point  they  would  proceed  overland.  It  was  ar- 
ranged that  others  should  follow  as  fast  as  they 
could  be  got  ready. 

"This  expedition  was  placed  under  the  manage- 
ment of  H.  H.  Sibley,  whose  long  residence  in  the 
country  of  the  Sioux  had  given  him  great  influ" 
ence  with  that  people,  and  it  was  hoped  that  the 
chiefs  and  older  men  were  stiU  sensible  to  reason, 
and  that  with  his  diplomatic  ability  he  could  bring 
the  powers  of  these  to  check  the  mad  and  reck- 
less disposition  of  the  "young  men,"  and  that  if 
an  opportunity  for  this  failed  that  his  knowledge 
of  Indian  war  and  tactics  would  enable  him  to 
overcome  them  in  battle.  And  I  think  the  result 
indicated  the  wisdom  of  my  choice. 

•'I  at  once  telegraphed  all  the  facts  to  President 
Lincoln,  and  also  telegraphed  to  Governor  Solo- 
mon, of  Wisconsin,  for  one  hundred  thousand  cart- 
ridges, of  a  calibre  to  fit  our  rifles,  and  the  requi- 
sition was  kindly  honored  by  that  patriotic  officer, 
and  the  ammunition  was  on  its  way  next  day. 
The  governors  of  Iowa,  Illinois  and  Michigan  were 
also  asked  for  arms  and  ammimition. 

During  the  day  other  messengers  arrived  from 
Fort    Kidgely,    St.    Peter    and   other   points  on 


the  upper  Minnesota,  with  intelhgence  of  the 
most  painfid  character,  regarding  the  extent  and 
ferocity  of  the  massacre.  The  messages  all  pleaded 
earnestly  for  aid,  and  intimated  that  without 
speedy  reinforcements  or  a  supjjly  of  arms.  Fort 
Kidgely,  New  Ulm,  St.  Peter  and  other  points 
would  undoubtedly  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
savages,  and  thousands  of  persons  be  butchered 
The  principal  danger  seemed  to  be  to  the  settle- 
ments in  that  region,  as  they  were  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  main  body  of  Indians  congregated  to  await 
the  payments.  Comers  arrived  from  various 
points  every  few  hours,  and  I  spent  the  whole 
night  answering  their  calls  as  I  could. 

"Late  that  night,  probably  after  midnight,  Mr. 
J.  Y.  Branham,  Sr.,  arrived  from  Forest  City,  after 
a  forced  ride  on  horseback  of  100  miles,  bearing 
the  following  message: 

*****  *»♦ 

"Forest  City,  Aug.  20,  1862,  6  o'clock  a.  m. 

His  Excellency,  Alexander  Kamsey,  Governor, 
etc. — Sir:  In  advance  of  the  news  from  the  Min- 
nesota river,  the  Indians  have  opened  on  us  in 
Meeker.  It  is  warl  A  few  propose  to  make  a 
stand  here.  Send  us,  forthwith,  some  good  guns 
and  ammunition  to  match.     Yours  truly, 

A.  C.  Smith. 

Seventy-five  stands  of  Springfield  rifles  and  sev- 
eral thousand  roimds  of  ball  cartridges  were  at 
once  issued  to  George  C.  Whitcomb,  to  be  used  in 
arming  a  company  which  I  directed  to  be  raised 
and  enrolled  to  use  these  arms;  and  Gen.  Sibley 
gave  Mr.  Whitcomb  a  captain's  commission  for 
the  company.  Transportation  was  furnished  him, 
and  the  rifles  were  in  Forest  City  by  the  morning 
of  the  23d,  a  portion  having  been  issued  to  a 
company  at  Hutchinson  on  the  way  up.  A  com- 
pany was  organized  and  the  arms  placed  in  their 
hands,  and  I  am  glad  to  say  they  did  good  service 
in  defending  the  towns  of  Forest  City  and  Hutch- 
inson on  more  than  one  occasion,  and  many  of  the 
Indians  are  known  to  have  been  killed  with  them. 
The  conduct  and  bravery  of  the  courageous  men 
who  guarded  those  towns,  and  resisted  the  assaults 
of  the  red  savages,  are  worthy  of  being  commemo- 
rated on  the  pages  of  our  state  history." 

MOVEMENT    OF    MINNESOTA    BEGIMENTS    1863. 

On  the  3d  of  April,  1863,  the  Fourth  regiment 
was  opposite  Grand  Gulf,  Mississippi,  and  in  a 
few  days  they  entered  Port  Gibson,  and  here  Col. 
Sanborn  resumed  the  command  of  a  brigade.  On 
the  14th  of  May  the  regiment  was  at  the  batUe 


BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG. 


137 


of  Kayraond,  and  on  the  14th  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Jackson.  A  newspaper  correspondent 
writes:  "Captain  L.  B.  Martin,  of  the  Fourth 
Minnesota,  A.  A.  G.  to  Colonel  Sanborn,  seized  the 
flag  of  the  59th  Indiana  infantry,  rode  rapidly  be- 
yond the  skirmishers,  (Co.  H,  Fourth  Minnesota, 
Lt.  Geo.  A.  Clark)  and  raised  it  over  the  dome  of 
the  Capitol"  of  Mississippi.  On  the  16th  the  regi- 
ment was  in  the  battle  of  Champion  Hill,  and  four 
days  later  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 

FIFTH    KBQIUENT. 

The  Fifth  regiment  reached  Grand  Gulf  on  the 
7th  of  May  and  was  in  the  battles  of  Kaymond 
and  Jackson,  and  at  the  rear  of  Vicksburg. 

BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG. 

The  First  regiment  reached  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
on  the  1st  of  July,  and  the  nest  morning  Han- 
cock's corps,  to  which  it  was  attached,  moved  to  a 
ridge,  the  right  resting  on  Cemetery  HiU,  the  left 
near  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain.  The  line  of  battle 
was  a  semi-ellipse,  and  Gibbon's  division,  to 
which  the  regiment  belonged  occupied  the 
center  of  the  curve  nearest  the  enemy.  On  the 
2d  of  July,  about  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  Gen- 
eral Hancock  rode  up  to  Colonel  Colville,  and 
ordered  him  to  charge  upon  the  advancing  foe. 
The  muzzles  of  the  opposing  muskets  were  not  far 
distant  and  the  conflict  was  terrific.  When  the 
sun  set  Captain  Muller  and  Lieutenant  Farrer  were 
kiUed;  Captain  Periam  mortally  wounded;  Colonel 
ColviUe,  Lieut-Colonel  Adams,  Major  Downie, 
Adjutant  Peller,  Lieutenants  Sinclair,  Demerest, 
DeGray  and  Boyd,  severely  -wounded. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  about  10  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, the  rebels  opened  a  terrible  artUlery  fire, 
which  lasted  until  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and 
then  the  infantry  was  suddenly  advanced,  and 
there  was  a  fearful  cotflict,  resulting  in  the  defeat 
of  the  enemy.  The  loss  on  this  day  was  also  very 
severe.  Captain  Messick,  in  command  of  the 
First  regiment,  after  the  wounding  of  Colville, 
and  Adams  and  Downie, was  killed.  Captain  FarreU 
was  mortally  wounded,  and  Lieutenants  Harmon, 
Heffelfinger,  and  May  were  wounded.  Color-Ser- 
geant E.  P.  Perkins  was  wounded  on  the  2d  of 
July.  On  the  3d  of  July  Corporal  Dehn,  of  the 
color  guard  was  shot  through  the  hand  and  the 
flag  staff  cut  in  two.  Corporal  H.  D.  O'Brien 
seized  the  flag  with  the  broken  staff  and  waving 
it  over  his  head  rushed  up  to  the  muzzles  of  the 
enemy's  muskets  and  was  wounded  in  the  hand, 
but  Corporal  W.  N.  Irvine  instantly  grasped  the 


flag  and  held  it  up.  Marshall  Sherman  of  com- 
pany E,  captured  the  flag  of  the  28th  Virginia 
regiment. 

THE   SECOND   EEGIMBNT. 

The  Second  regiment,  under  Colonel  George, 
on  the  19th  of  September  fought  at  Chicamauga, 
and  in  the  first  day's  fight,  eight  were  killed  and 
forty-one  wounded.  On  the  25th  of  November, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Bishop  in  command,  it  moved 
against  the  enemy  at  Mission  Bidge,  and  of  the 
seven  non-commissioned  officers  in  the  color  guard, 
six  were  killed  or  wounded. 

The  Fourth  regiment  was  also  in  the  vicinity  of 
Chattanooga,  but  did  not  suffer  any  loss. 

EVENTS  OF  1864. 
The  Third  regiment,  which  after  the  Indian  ex- 
pedition had  been  ordered  to  Little  Bock,  Arkan- 
sas, on  the  30th  of  March,  1864,  had  an  engage- 
ment near  Augusta,  at  Fitzhugh's  Woods.  Seven 
men  were  killed  and  sixteen  wounded.  General 
C.  C.  Andrews,  in  command  of  the  force,  had  his 
horse  killed  by  a  bullet. 

FIRST    REGIMENT. 

The  First  regiment  after  three  year's  service 
was  mustered  out  at  Fort  SneUing,  and  on  the 
28th  of  April,  1864,  held  its  last  dress  parade,  in 
the  presence  of  Governor  Miller,  who  had  once 
been  their  lieutenant-colonel  and  commander.  In 
May  some  of  its  members  re-enlisted  as  a  battal- 
ion, and  again  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

SIXTH,  SEVENTH,  NINTH  AND  TENTH  REGIMENTS. 

The  Sixth  regir-'^nt,  which  had  been  in  the  ex- 
pedition against  the  Sioux,  in  Jrme,  1864,  was  as- 
signed to  the  16th  army  corps,  as  was  the  Seventh, 
Ninth  and  Tenth,  and  on  the  13th  of  July,  near 
Tupelo,  Mississippi,  the  Seventh,  Ninth  and  Tenth, 
with  portions  of  the  Fifth,  were  in  battle.  Dur- 
ing the  first  day's  fight  Surgeon  Smith,  of  the 
Seventh,  was  fatally  wounded  through  the  neck. 
On  the  morning  of  the  14th  the  battle  began  in 
earnest,  and  the  Seventh,  under  Colonel  W.  E. 
Marshall,  made  a  successful  charge.  Colonel  Al- 
exander Wilkin,  of  the  Ninth,  was  shot,  and  fell 
dead  from  his  horse. 

THE    FOITRTH    REGIMENT. 

On  the  15th  of  October  the  Fourth  regiment 
were  engaged  near  Altoona,  Georgia. 

THE    EIGHTH    REGIMENT. 

On  the  7th  of  December  the  Eighth  was  in  bat- 
tle near  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  and  fourteen 
were  killed  and  seventy -six  wounded. 


138 


OUTLINE  HISTOBT  OF  TEE  STATE  OF  SIINNESOTA. 


BATTLE   Of    NASHVILLE. 

During  the  month  o[  Decemljer  the  Fifth, 
Seventh,  Ninth  and  Tenth  regiments  did  good  ser- 
vice before  Nashville.  Colonel  L.  F.  Hubbard,  of 
the  Fifth,  commanding  a  brigade,  after  he  had 
been  knocked  off  his  horse  by  a  ball,  rose,  and  on 
foot  'led  his  command  over  the  enemy's  works. 
Colonel  W.  R.  Marshall,  of  the  Seventh,  in  com- 
mand of  a  brigade,  made  a  gallant  charge,  and 
Lieutenant-colonel  S.  P.  Jennison,  of  the  Tenth, 
one  of  the  first  on  the  enemy's  parapet,  received  a 
severe  wound. 

MINNESOTA  TKOOrS  IN  1865. 

In  the  spring  of  1865  the  Fifth,  Sixth,  Seventh, 
Ninth  and  Tenth  regiments  were  engaged  in  the 
siege  of  Mobile.  The  Second  and  Fourth  regi- 
ments and  First  battery  were  with  General  Sher- 
man in  his  wonderful  campaign,  and  the  Eighth 
in  the  month  of  March  was  ordered  to  North  Car- 
olina. The  battalion,  the  remnant  of  the  First, 
was  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  until  Lee's  sur- 
render. 

Arrangements  were  soon  perfected  for  disband- 
ing the  Union  army,  and  before  the  close  of  the 
summer  all  the  Minnesota  regiments  that  had  been 
on  duty  were  discharged. 

LIST  OP  MINNESOTA  REGIMENTS  AND  TROOPS. 


First,     Organized  April 

18IU, 

Discharged 

May     .5, 136J 

Second           '* 

July 

" 

" 

July  n,  1865 

Third 

Oct. 

" 

" 

Sept.         " 

Fourth 

Deo. 

" 

" 

Aug.           '* 

Fifth 

May, 

1862, 

" 

Sept. 

Sixth 

Aug. 

*' 

" 

Aug. 

Seventh         " 

■* 

" 

,1 

" 

Eighth 

" 

" 

" 

" 

Ninth 

" 

" 

" 

•  1              ,. 

Tenth 

" 

" 

*' 

"              " 

Eleventh      ** 

" 

18G1 

" 

•'              " 

ARTILLERY. 

First  Regiment,  Heavy,  May,  1861.     Discharged  Sept.  1865. 

BATTERIES. 

First,  October,  1831.    Discharged  June,  1885. 
Second,  Dec.       "  "  July      " 

Third,  Feb.       1863  "  Feb.    1886. 

CAVALRY. 

Rangers,     March,  1883.    Discharged  Dec.    1863. 
Brackctt's,  Oct.      1861.  "  June   1868. 

2dReg't,      July,     1883. 

SHARPSHOOTERS. 

Company  A,  organized  ia  1861, 
B,  "  "  1682. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

STATE  APFAntS  FROM  A.  D.  1862  to  A.  D.  1882. 

In  consequence  of  the  Sioux  outbreak,  Grov- 
emor  Ramsey  called  an  extra  ses.sion  of  the  legis- 
lature, -which  on  the  9th  of  September,  1862,  as- 
sembled. 

As  long  as  Indian  hostilities  continued,  the  flow 
of  immigration  was  checked,  and  the  agricultural 
interests  suffered;  but  notwithstanding  the  dis- 
turbed condition  of  affairs,  the  St.  Paul  &  Pacific 
Railroad  Company  laid  ten  miles  of  rail,  to  the 
FaUs  of  St.  Anthony. 

FIFTH   STATE   LEGISLATURE. 

During  the  fall  of  1862  Alexander  Ramsey  had 
again  been  elected  governor,  and  on  the  7th  of 
January,  1863,  delivered  the  annu.al  message  before 
the  Fifth  state  legislature.  During  this  session  he 
was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  that  would  take 
place  in  the  United  States  senate  by  the  expira- 
tion of  the  term  of  Henry  M.  Kice,  who  had  been 
a  senator  from  the  time  that  Minnesota  was  organ- 
ized as  a  state.  After  Alexander  Ramsey  became  a 
senator,  the  lieutenant-governor,  Henry  A.  Swift, 
became  governor  by  constitutional  provision. 

GOVERNOR  STEPHEN  A.  MILLER 

At  the  election  during  the  fall  of  1863,  Stephen 
A.  Miller,  colonel  of  the  Seventh  regiment,  was 
elected  governor  by  a  majority  of-  about  seven 
thousand  votes,  Henry  T.  Welles  being  his  com- 
petitor, and  representative  of  the  democratic  party. 
During  Governor  Miller's  administration,  on  the 
10th  of  November,  1865,  two  Sioux  chiefs,  Little 
Six  and  Medicine  Bottle,  were  hung  at  Fort  Snel- 
ling,  for  participation  in  the  1862  massacre. 

GOVERNOR    W.    R.    MARSHALL. 

In  the  fall  of  1865  William  R.  Marshall,  who 
had  succeeded  his  predecessor  as  colonel  of  the 
Seventh  regiment,  was  nominated  by  the  republi- 
can party  for  governor,  and  Henry  M.  Rice  by  the 
democratic  party.  The  former  was  elected  by 
about  five  thousand  majority.  In  1867  Governor 
Marshall  was  again  nominated  for  the  oiBce,  and 
Charles  E.  Flandrau  -was  the  democratic  candidate, 
and  he  was  again  elected  by  about  the  same  major- 
ity as  before. 

GOVERNOR   HORACE   AUSTIN. 

Horace  Austin,  the  judge  of  the  Sixth  judicial 
district,  was  in  1869  the  republican  candidate  for 
governor,  and  received  27,238  votes,  and  George 
L.  Otis,  the  democratic  candidate,  25,401  votes. 
In  1871  Governor  Austin   was   again   nominated, 


ROCET  MOUNTAIN  LOCUST. 


139 


and  received  45,883  votes,  while  30,092  ballots 
were  cast  for  Winthrop  Young,  the  democratic 
candidate.  The  important  event  of  his  adminis- 
tration was  the  veto  of  an  act  of  the  legislature 
giving  the  internal  improvement  lands  to  certain 
railway  corporations. 

Toward  the  close  of  Governor  Austin's  adminis- 
tration, William  Seeger,  the  state  treasurer,  was  im- 
peached for  a  wrong  use  of  public  funds.  He 
plead  guilty  and  was  disqualified  from  holding 
any  ofiBce  of  honor,  trust  or  profit  in  the  state. 

GOVERNOR   OUSHMAN    K.    DAVIS. 

The  republicans  in  the  fall  of  1873  nominated 
Oushman  K.  Davis  for  governor,  who  received 
40,741  votes,  while  35,245  ballots  were  thrown  for 
the  democratic  candidate,  Ara  Barton. 

The  summer  that  he  was  elected  the  locust 
made  its  appearance  in  the  land,  and  in  certain 
regions  devoured  every  green  thing.  One  of  the 
first  acts  of  Governor  Davis  was  to  relieve  the 
farmers  who  had  sufifered  from  the  visitation  of 
locusts.  The  legislature  of  1874  voted  relief,  and 
the  people  of  the  state  voluntarily  contributed 
clothing  and  provisions. 

During  the  administration  of  Governor  Davis  the 
principle  was  settled  that  there  was  nothing  in  the 
charter  of  a  railroad  company  limiting  the  power 
of  Minnesota  to  regulate  the  charges  for  freight 
and  travel. 

WOMEN   ALLOWED   TO  VOTE   FOB    SCHOOL     OFFICERS. 

At  the  election  in  November,  1875,  the  people 
sanctioned  the  following  amendment  to  the  con- 
stitution: "The  legislature  may,  notwithstanding 
anything  in  this  article,  [Article  7,  section  8]  pro- 
vide by  law  that  any  woman  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  and  upwards,  may  vote  at  any 
election  held  for  the  jiurpose  of  chosing  any  officer 
of  schools,  or  upon  any  measure  relating  to  schools, 
and  may  also  provide  that  any  such  woman  shall 
be  eligible  to  hold  any  office  solely  pertaining  to 
the  management  of  schools." 

GOVERNOR    J.    S.    PILLSBURT. 

John  S.  Pillsbury,  the  republican  nominee,  at 
the  election  of  November,  1875,  received  47,073 
for  governor  while  his  democratic  competitor,  D. 
L.  Buell  obtained  35,275  votes.  Governor  PiUsbury 
in  his  inaugural  message,  delivered  on  the  7th  of 
January,  1876,  urged  upon  the  legislature,  as  his 
predecessors  had  done,  the  importance  of  provid- 
ing for  the  payment  of  the  state  railroad  bonds. 

RAID    ON   NORTHFIELD    BANK. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1876,  the  quiet  citi- 


zens of  Minnesota  were  excited  by  a  telegraphic 
announcement  that  a  band  of  outlaws  from  Mis- 
souri had,  at  mid-day,  ridden  into  the  town  of 
Northfield,  recklessly  discharging  firearms,  and 
proceeding  to  the  bank,  killed  the  acting  cashier 
in  an  attempt  to  secure  its  funds.  Two  of  the 
desperadoes  were  shot  in  the  streets,  by  firm  resi- 
dents, 'and  in  a  brief  period,  parties  from  the 
neighboring  towns  were  in  pursuit  of  the  assassins. 
After  a  long  and  weary  search  four  were  sur- 
rounded in  a  swamp  in  Watonwan  county,  and  one 
was  killed,  and  the  others  captured. 

At  the  November  term  of  the  fifth  district  court 
held  at  Faribault,  the  criminals  were  arraigned, 
and  imder  an  objebtionable  statute,  by  pleading 
guilty,  received  an  imjjrisonment  for  lite,  instead 
of  the  merrited  death  of  the  gallows. 

THE   BOOKT   MOUNTAIN   LOCUST. 

As  early  as  1874  in  some  of  the  counties  of 
Minnesota,  the  Kocky  Mountain  locust,  of  the 
same  genus,  but  a  different  species  from  the  Eu- 
rope and  Arctic  locust,  driven  eastward  by  the 
failure  of  the  succulent  grasses  of  the  upper  Mis- 
souri valley  appeared  as  a  short,  stout-legged,  dj- 
vouring  army,  and  in  1875  the  myriad  of  eggs 
deposited  were  hatched  out,  and  the  insects  bom 
within  the  state,  flew  to  new  camping  grounds,  to 
begin  their  devastations. 

In  the  spriug  the  locust  appeared  in  some  coun- 
ties, but  by  an  ingenious  contrivance  of  sheet 
iron,  covered  with  tar,  their  numbers  were  speedily 
reduced.  It  was  soon  discovered  that  usually 
but  one  hatching  of  eggs  took  place  in  the  same 
district,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  crop  of  1877 
would  be  remunerative.  When  the  national 
Thanksgiving  was  observed  on  the  26th  of  No- 
vember nearly  40,000,000  bushels  of  wheat  had 
been  garnered,  and  many  who  had  sown  in  tears, 
devoutly  thanked  Him  who  had  given  plenty,  and 
meditated  upon  the  words  of  the  Hebrew  Psalm- 
ist, "He  maketh  peace  within  thy  borders  and 
fiUeth  thee  with  the  finest  of  the  wheat." 

GOVEBNOE    PILLSBDBT'S    SECOND    TERM. 

At  the  election  in  November,  1877,  Governor 
Pillsbury  was  elected  a  second  time,  receiving 
59,701,  while  39,247  votes  were  cast  for  William  L. 
Banning,  the  nominee  of  the  democratic  party. 
At  this  election  the  people  voted  to  adopt  two  im- 
portant amendments  to  the  constitution. 

BIENNIAL     SESSION   OP    THE   LEGISLATURE, 

One  provided  for  a  biennial,  in  place  of  the  an- 
nual   session    of  the   legislature,  in  these  words: 


uo 


OUTLINE  niSTORr  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 


"The  legisluture  of  the  state  shall  consist  of  a 
senate  and  house  of  representatives,  ■who  shall 
meet  biennially,  at  the  seat  of  goyemment  of  the 
state,  at  such  time  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law, 
but  no  session  shall  exceed  the  term  of  sixty 
days." 

CHRISTIAN    INSTRCCTIOK    EXCLUDED   FEOM  SCHOOLS. 

The  other  amendment  excludes  Christian  and 
other  religious  instructions  from  all  of  the  edu- 
cational institutions  of  Minnesota  in  these  words: 
"But  in  no  case,  shall  the  moneys  derived  as  afore- 
said, or  any  portion  thereof,  or  any  public  moneys, 
or  property  be  appropriated  or  used  for  the  sup- 
port of  schools  wherein  the  distinctive  doctrines, 
or  creeds  or  tenets  of  any  particular  Christian  or 
other  religious  sect,  are  promulgated  or  taught." 

IMPEACHSTENT    OP    JUDGE   PAGE. 

The  personal  unpopularity  of  Sherman  Page, 
judge  of  the  Tenth  judicial  district,  culminated  by 
the  house  of  rej^resentatives  of  the  legislature  of 
1878,  presenting  articles,  impeaching  him,  for  con- 
duet  unbecoming  a  judge:  the  senate  sitting  as  a 
court,  examined  the  charges,  and  on  the  22d  of 
June,  he  was  ac  quitted. 

aOVERNOK  PILLSBUEX'S  THIBD  TERM. 

The  republican  party  nominated  John  S.  Pills- 
bury  for  a  third  term  as  governor,  and  at  the  elec- 
tion in  November,  1879,  he  received  57,-171  votes, 
wliile  42,444  were  given  for  Edmund  Kice,  the  rep- 
resentative of  the  democrats. 

With  a  persistence  which  won  the  respect  of  the 
opponents  of  the  measure.  Governor  Pillsbury  con- 
tin  ued  to  advocate  the  payment  of  the  state  rail- 
road bonds.  The  legislature  of  1870  submitted  an 
amendment  to  the  constitution,  by  which  the  "in- 
ternal improvement  lands"  were  to  be  sold  and  the 
proceeds  to  be  used  in  cancelling  the  bonds,  by  the 
bondholders  agreeing  to  purchase  the  lands  at  a 
certain  sum  per  acre.  The  amendment  was 
adopted  by  a  vote  of  the  people,  but  few  of  the 
bondholders  accepted  the  provisions,  and  it  failed 
to  effect  the  proposed  end.  The  legislature  of 
1871  passed  an  act  for  a  commis.sion  to  make  an 
equitable  adjustment  of  the  bonds,  but  at  a  sjiecial 
election  in  May  it  was  rejected. 

The  legislature  of  1877  passed  an  act  for  calling 
m  the  railroad  bonds,  and  issueing  new  bonds, 
which  was  submitted  to  the  people  at  a  special 
election  on  the  12th  of  June,  and  not  accepted. 

The  legislature  of  1878  proposed  a  constitu- 
tional amendment  offering  the  internal  imj)rove- 
meut  lands  in  exchange  for  railroad  bonds,  and  the 


people  at  the  November  election  disapproved  of  the 
proposition.  Against  the  proposed  amendment 
45,669  votes  were  given,  and  only '26,311  in  favor. 

FIRST  BIENNLAL  SESSION. 

The  first  biennial  session  of  the  legislature  con- 
vened in  January,  1881,  and  Governor  Pillsbury 
again,  in  his  message  of  the  6th  of  January,  held 
up  to  the  view  of  the  legislators  the  dishonored 
railroad  bonds,  and  the  duty  of  providing  for  their 
settlement.     In  his  argument  he  said:* 

"Tlje  liability  having  been  voluntarily  incurred, 
whetlier  it  was  wisely  created  or  not  is  foreign  to 
the  present  question.  It  is  certain  that  the  obli- 
gations were  fairly  given  for  which  consideration 
was  fairly  received;  and  the  state  having  chosen 
foreclosure  as  her  remedy,  and  disposed  of  the 
property  thus  acquired  unconditionally  as  her  own, 
the  conclusion  seems  to  me  irresistible  that  she 
assumed  the  payment  of  the  debt  resting  upon 
such  property  by  every  principle  of  law  and 
equity.  And,  moreover,  as  the  state  promptly 
siezed  the  railroad  property  and  franchises,  ex- 
pressly to  indemnify  her  for  payment  of  the  bonds, 
it  is  difficult  to  see  what  possible  justification  there 
can  be  for  her  refusal  to  make  that  payment." 

The  legislature  in  March  passed  an  act  for  the 
adjustment  of  these  bonds,  which  being  brought 
before  the  supreme  court  of  the  state  was  declared 
void.  The  court  at  the  same  time  declared  the 
amendment  to  the  state  constitution,  which  pro- 
hibited the  settlement  of  these  bonds,  without  the 
assent  of  a  popular  vote,  to  be  a  violation  of  the 
clause  in  the  constitution  of  the  United  States  of 
America  prohibiting  the  impairment  of  the  obliga- 
tion of  contracts.  This  decision  cleared  the  way 
for  final  action.  Governor  Pillsbury  called  an 
extra  session  of  the  legislature  in  October,  1881, 
which  accepted  the  offer  of  the  bondholders,  to  be 
satisfied  with  a  partial  payment,  and  made  pro\-is- 
ions  for  cancelling  bonds,  the  existence  of  which 
for  more  than  twenty  years  had  been  a  humiliation 
to  a  large  majority  of  the  thoughtful  and  intelli- 
gent citizens  of  Minnesota,  and  a  blot  upon  the 
otherwise  fair  name  of  the  commonwealth. 

GOVERNOR    HUBBARD. 

Lucius  F.  Hubbard,  who  had  been  colonel  of 
the  Fifth  Eegiment,  was  nominated  by  the  repub- 
lican party,  and  elected  in  November,  1881,  by  a 
large  majority  over  the  democratic  nominee,  E. 
W.  Johnson.  He  entered  upon  his  duties  in  Jan- 
uary, 1882,  about  the  time  of  the  present  chapter 
going  to  press. 


HISTORY  OF  STATE  IlfSTITU'TIOA^. 


lil 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

OAPITOIi PENITENTIARY — UNIVERSITY — DEAF     AND 

DUMB     INSTITUTION SCHOOL      FOR      BLIND     AND 

IMBEOILES INSANE     ASYLUMS STATE      REFORM 

SCHOOL NORMAL  SCHOOLS. 

Among  the  public  buildings  of  Minnesota,  the 
capitol  is  entitled  to  priority  of  notice. 

TEMPORARY  CAPITOLS. 

In  the  absence  of  a  capitol  the  first  legislature 
of  the  territory  of  Minnesota  convened  on  Mon- 
day, the  3d  of  September,  184.9,  at  St.  Paul,  in 
a  log  building  covered  with  pine  boards  painted 
white,  two  stories  high,  which  was  at  the  time  a 
public  inn,  afterward  known  as  the  Central  Hous3, 
and  kept  by  Robert  Kennedy.  It  was  situated  on 
the  high  bank  of  the  river.  The  main  portion  of 
the  building  was  used  for  the  library,  secretary's 
office,  council  chamber  and  house  of  representa- 
tiyes'  h.ill,  while  the  annex  was  occupied  as  the 
dining-room  of  the  hotel,  with  rooms  for  travelers 
in  the  story  above.  Both  houses  of  the  legisla- 
ture met  in  the  dining-hall  to  listen  to  the  first 
message  of  Governor  Ramsey. 

The  permanent  location  of  the  capital  was  not 
settled  by  the  first  legislature,  and  nothing  could 
be  done  toward  the  erection  of  a  capitol  with  the 
$20,000  appropriated  by  congress,  as  Jhe  perma- 
nent seat  of  government  had  not  been  designated. 

William  R.  Marshall,  since  governor,  at  that 
time  a  member  of  the  house  of  rejjresentatives 
from  St.  Anthony,  with  others,  -svished  that  point 
to  be  designated  as  the  capital. 

Twenty  years  after,  in  some  remarks  before  tho 
Old  Settlers'  Association  of  Hennepin  county,  Ex- 
Governor  Marshall  alluded  to  this  desire.  He 
said:  "The  original  act  [of  congress]  made 
St.  Paul  the  temporary  capital,  but  provided  that 
the  legislature  might  determine  the  permanent 
capital.  A  bill  was  introduced  by  the  St.  Paul 
delegation  to  fix  the  permanent  capital  there.  I 
opposed  it,  endeavoring  to  have  St.  Anthony  made 
the  seat  of  government.  We  succeeded  in  defeat- 
ing the  bill  which  sought  to  make  St.  Paul  the 
permanent  capital,  but  we  could  not  get  through 
the  bill  fixing  it  at  St.  Anthony.  So  the  question 
remained  open  in  regard  to  the  permanent  capital 
until  the  next  session  in  1851,  when  a  compromise 
was  effected  by  which  the  capitol  was  to  be  at  St. 
Paul,  the  State  University   at  St.  Anthony,  and 


the  Penitentiary  at  Stillwater.  At  an  early  day, 
as  well  as  now,  caricatures  and  burlesques  were 
in  vogue.  Young  William  Randall,  of  St.  Paul, 
now  deceased,  who  had  some  talent  in  the  graphic 
line,  drew  a  picture  of  the  efforts  at  capitol  re- 
moval. It  was  a  building  on  wheels,  with  ropes 
attached,  at  which  I  was  pictured  tugging,  while 
Brunson,  Jackson,  and  the  other  St.  Paul  mem- 
bers, were  holding  and  checking  the  wheels,  to 
prevent  my  moving  it,  with  humorous  speeches 
proceeding  from  the  mouths  of  the  parties  to  the 
contest." 

The  second  territorial  legislature  assembled  on 
the  2d  of  January,  1871,  in  a  brick  building  three 
stories  in  height,  which  stood  on  Third  street  in 
St.  Paul,  on  a  portion  of  the  site  now  occupied  by 
the  Metropolitan  Hotel,  and  before  the  session 
closed  it  was  enacted  that  St.  Paul  should  be  the 
permanent  capital,  and  commissioners  were  ap- 
pointed to  expend  the  congressional  appropriation 
for  a  capitol. 

When  the  Third  legislature  assembled,  in  Jan- 
uary, 18.52,  it  was  still  necessary  to  occupy  a 
hired  building  known  as  Goodrich's  block,  which 
stood  on  Third  street  just  below  the  entrance  of 
the  Merchants'  Hotel.  In  1853,  the  capitol  not 
being  finished,  the  fourth  legislature  was  obliged 
to  meet  in  a  two-story  brick  building  at  the  corner 
of  Third  and  Minnesota  streets,  and  directly  in  the 
rear  of  the  wooden  edifice  where  the  first  legisla- 
ture  in  1849  had  met. 

THE  CAPITOL. 

After  it  was  decided,  in  1851,  that  St.  Paul  was 
to  be  the  capital  of  the  territory,  Charles  Bazille 
gave  the  square  bounded  by  Tenth,  Eleventh, 
Wabasha,  and  Cedar  streets  for  the  capitol. 
A  plan  was  adopted  by  the  building  commission- 
ers, and  the  contract  was  taken  by  Joseph  Daniels, 
a  builder,  who  now  resides  in  Washington  as  a 
lawyer  and  claim  agent.  The  building  was  of 
brick,  and  at  first  had  a  front  jjortico,  supported 
by  four  Ionic  columns.  It  was  two  stories  above 
the  basement,  139  feet  long  and  nearly  54  feet  in 
width,  with  an  extension  in  the  rear  44x52  feet. 
In  July,  1858,  it  was  so  far  completed  as  to  allow 
the  governor  to  occupy  the  executive  ofBce. 

SPEECHES  OF  EX-PBESIDENT  FILLMORE  AND  GEORGE 
BANCROFT. 

Before  the  war  it  was  used  not  only  by  the  legis- 
lature, and  for  the  offices  of  state,  but  was  granted 


142 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MINyESOT^l. 


for  important  meetings.  On  the  8th  of  June  a 
large  excursion  party,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
builders  of  the  Ciiicago  &  Kock  Island  railway, 
arrived  at  St.  Paul  from  the  latter  point,  in  five 
large  steamboats,  and  among  the  passengers  were 
some  of  the  most  distinguished  scholars,  statesmen 
and  divines  of  the  republic.  At  night  the  popu- 
lation of  St.  Paul  filled  the  capitol,  and  the  more 
sedate  listened  in  the  senate  chamber  to  the  stir- 
ring speeches  of  Ex-President  Fillmore,  and  the 
historian,  George  Bancroft,  who  had  been  secre- 
tary of  the  navy,  and  minister  plenipotentiary  to 
Great  Britain,  while  at  a  later  period  of  the  night 
the  youthful  portion  of  the  throng  danced  in  the 
reom  then  used  by  the  supreme  court. 

The  "Pioneer"  of  the  next  day  thus  alludes  to 
the  occasion:  "The  ball  in  honor  of  the  guests 
of  the  excursion  came  off,  in  fine  style.  At  an 
early  hour,  the  assembly  having  been  called  to  or- 
der, by  the  Hon.  H.  H.  Sibley,  a  welcoming  speech 
was  delivered  by  Governor  Gorman,  and  replies 
were  made  by  Ex-President  Fillmore  and  the 
learned  historian  Bancroft.  ****** 
The  dancing  then  commenced  and  was  kept  up  till 
a  late  hour,  when  the  party  broke  up,  the  guests 
returning  to  the  steamers,  and  our  town's  people 
to  their  homes,  all  delighted  with  the  rare  enter- 
tainment." 

HON.    W.    H.   SEWABD'S    SrEEOH. 

On  the  8th  of  S^itember,  18G0,  the  capitol  was 
visited  by  Hon.  William  H.  Seward.  At  mid-Jay 
he  met  by  invitation  the  memljers  of  the  Histori- 
cal Society  in  their  rooms  at  the  Capitol,  and  an 
address  of  welcome  was  made  by  the  Kt.  Rev. 
Bishop  Anderson,  of  Rupert's  Land,  to  which  he 
made  a  brief  response. 

In  the  afternoon,  crowds  assembled  in  the 
grounds  to  listen  to  an  expected  speech,  and  every 
window  of  the  capitol  was  occupied  with  eager 
faces.  Standing  upon  the  front  steps,  he  ad- 
dressed the  audience  in  the  language  of  a  patriot 
and  a  statesman,  and  among  bis  eloquent  utter- 
ances, was  the  following  prediction. 

"  Every  step  of  my  progress  since  I  reached  the 
northern  Misissippi  has  been  attended  by  a  great 
and  agreeable  surprise.  I  had,  early,  read  the 
works  in  which  tlie  geographers  had  described  the 
scenes  upon  which  I  was  entering,  and  I  had 
studied  them  in  the  finest  productions  of  art,  but 
still  the  grandeur  and  luxuriance  of  this  region 


had  not  been  conceived.  Those  sentinel  walls  that 
look  down  upon  the  Mississippi,  seen  as  I  beheld 
them,  in  their  abundant  verdure,  just  wlien  the 
earhest  tinge  of  the  fall  gave  luxuriance  to  the 
forests,  made  me  think  how  much  of  taste  and 
genius  had  been  wasted  in  celebrating  the  high- 
lands of  Scotland,  before  the  civilized  man  had 
reached  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi;  and  the 
beautiful  Lake  Pepin,  seen  at  sunset,  when  the 
autumnal  green  of  the  hills  was  lost  in  the  deep 
blue,  and  the  genial  atmosphere  reflected  the  rays 
of  the  sun,  and  the  skies  above  seemed  to  move 
down  and  spread  their  gorgeous  drapery  on  the 
scene,  was  a  piece  of  upholstery,  such  as  none 
but  the  hand  of  nature  could  have  made,  and  it 
was  liut  the  vestibule  of  the  capitol  of  the  state 
of  Minnesota.  *****  ***** 
*  *  *  Here  is  the  place,  the  central  place 
where  the  agriculture  of  the  richest  region  of 
North  America  must  pour  its  tribute.  On  the 
east,  all  along  the  shore  of  Lake  Sujierior,  and 
west,  stretching  in  one  broad  plain,  in  a  belt  quite 
across  the  continent,  is  a  country  where  State  after 
State  is  to  arise,  and  where  the  productions  for  the 
support  of  humanity,  in  old  and  crowded  States, 
must  be  brought  forth. 

"This  is  then  a  commanding  field,  but  it  is  as 
coraiiiaudiug  in  regard  to  the  destiny  of  this  coim- 
try  and  of  this  continent,  as  it  is,  in  regard  to  the 
commercial  future,  for  power  is  not  permanently 
to  reside  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Alleghany 
Mountains,  nor  in  the  sea-ports.  Sea-ports  have 
always  been  overrun  and  controlled  by  the  people 
of  the  interior,  and  the  power  that  shall  communi- 
cate and  express  the  will  of  men  on  this  continent 
is  to  be  located  in  the  Mississippi  valley  and  at  the 
sources  of  the  Mississippi  and  Saint  Lawrence. 

"In  our  day,  studying,  perhaps  what  might 
seem  to  others  trilling  or  visionary,  I  had  cast 
about  for  the  future  and  ultimate  central  seat  of 
power  of  North  American  people.  I  had  looked 
at  Quebec,  New  Orleans,  Washington,'  Cincinnati, 
St.  LouLs,  and  San  Francisco,  and  it  had  been  tlje 
result  of  my  last  conjecture,  that  the  seat  of  power 
in  North  America  could  be  found  in  the  valley  of 
Mexico,  and  that  the  glories  of  the  Aztec  capital 
would  be  surrendered,  at  its  becoming  at  last  the 
capital  of  the  United  States  of  America,  but  I 
have  corrected  that  view.  I  now  believe  that  the 
ultimate  seat  of  government  in  this  great  Conti- 
nent, will  be  found  somewhere  within  the  circle  or 


HISTORY  OF  STATE  INSTITUTIONS. 


143 


radius  not  very  far  from  the  spot  where  I  now 
stand." 

BTiAG   PRESENTATION. 

In  a  few  months  after  this  speech,  Mr.  Seward 
was  chosen  by  President  Lincoln,  inaugurated 
March  4,  1861,  as  secretary  of  slate,  and  the  next 
great  crowd  in  front  of  the  capitol  was  collected 
by  the  presentation  of  a  flag  by  the  ladies  of  St. 
Paul  to  tlie  First  Minnesota  regiment  which  had 
been  raised  for  the  suppression  of  the  slave-holders 
rebeUion.  On  May  the  25th,  1861,  the  regiment 
came  down  from  their  rendezvous  at  Port  Snelling, 
and  marched  to  the  capital  grounds.  The  wife  of 
Governor  Ramsey,  -with  the  flag  in  hand,  aj)peared 
on  .the  front  steps,  surrounded  by  a  committee  of 
ladies,  and  presenting  it  to  Colonel  Gorman,  made 
a  brief  address  in  which  she  said:  "Prom  this 
capitol,  to  the  most  remote  frontier  cottage,  no 
heart  but  shall  send  up  a  prayer  for  your  safety; 
no  eye  but  shall  follow  with  affection  the  flutter- 
ings  of  your  banner,  and  no  one  but  shall  feel 
pride,  when  you  crown  the  banner  as  you  will 
crown  it,  with  glory." 

As  the  State  increased  in  population  it  was  nec- 
essary to  alter  and  enlarge  the  building,  and  in 
1873,  a  wing  was  added  fronting  on  Exchange 
street,  and  the  cupola  was  improved.  The  legis- 
lature of  1878  provided  for  the  erection  of  another 
wing,  at  an  expense  of  $14,000,  fronting  on  Waba- 
sha street.  The  building,  by  successive  additions, 
was  in  length  204  feet,  and  in  width  150  feet,  and 
the  top  of  the  dome  was  more  than  100  feet  from 
the  ground. 

THE  OAPITOIj  in  FLAMES. 

On  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  March,  1881,  it 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  About  9  o'clock  in  the 
the  evening  two  gentlemen,  who  lived  opposite, 
discovered  the  capitol  was  on  fire,  and  immedia- 
tely, by  the  telegraph,  an  alarm  notified  the  firemen 
of  the  city,  and  the  occupants  of  the  capitol. 

The  flames  rapidly  covered  the  cupola  and  licked 
the  flag  flying  from  the  staff  on  top.  One  of  the 
reporters  of  the  Pioneer  Press,  who  was  in  the 
senate  chamber  at  the  time,  graphically  describes 
the  scene  within. 

He  writes:  "The  senate  was  at  work  on  third 
reading  of  house  bills ;  Lieutenant  Governor  GU- 
man  in  his  seat,  and  Secretary  Jennison  reading 
something  about  restraining  cattle  in  Rice  county ; 
the  senators  were  lying  back  listening  carelessly, 


when  the  door  opened  and  Hon.  Michael  Doran 
announced  that  the  building  was  on  fire.  All  eyes 
were  at  once  turned  in  that  direction,  and  the 
flash  of  the  flames  was  visible  from  the  top  of  the 
gallery,  as  well  as  from  the  hall,  which 
is  on  a  level  with  the  floor  of  the  senate.  The  panic 
that  ensued  had  a  different  effect  upon  the  differ- 
ent persons,  and  those  occupying  places  nearest  the 
entrance,  pushing  open  the  door,  and  rushing  pell 
mell  through  the  blinding  smoke.  Two  or  three 
ladies  happened  to  be  in  the  vicinity  of  the  doors, 
and  happily  escaped  uninjured.  But  the  opening 
of  the  door  produced  a  draft  which  drew  into  the 
senate  chamber  clouds  of  smoke,  the  fire  in  the 
meantime  having  made  its  appearance  over  the 
center  and  rear  of  the  gallery.  All  this  occurred 
so  suddenly  that  senators  standing  near  the  re- 
porter's table  and  the  secretary's  desk,  which  were 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  chamber  from  the  en- 
trance, stood  as  if  paralyzed,  gazing  in  mute  as- 
tonishment at  the  smoke  that  passed  in  through 
the  open  doors,  at  the  flames  over  the  gallery,  and 
the  rushing  crowd  that  blocked  the  door-ways. 
The  senate  suddenly  and  foi-maUy  adjourned. 
President  GkUman,  however  stood  in  his  place, 
gavel  in  hand,  and  as  he  rapped  his  desk,  loud  and 
often  he  yelled:  "Shut  that  door!  Shut  that 
doorl" 

"The  cry  was  taken  up  by  Colonel  Crooks  and 
other  senators,  and  the  order  was  fiually  obeyed, 
after  which,  the  smoke  clearing  away,  the  senators 
were  enabled  to  collect  their  senses  and  decide 
what  was  best  to  be  done.  President  Gilman, 
still  standing  up  in  his  place,  calm  and  collected 
as  if  nothing  unusual  had  happened,  was  encour- 
aging the  senators  to  keep  cool.  Colonel  Crooks 
was  giving  orders  as  if  a  battle  was  raging  around 
him. 

"Other  senators  were  giving  such  advice  as  oc- 
curred to  them,  but  unfortunately  no  advice  was 
pertinent  except  to  keep  cool  and  that  was  aU. 
Some  were  importuning  the  secretary  and  his  as- 
sistants to  save  the  records,  and  General  Jennison, 
his  hands  full  of  papers,  was  waiting  a  chance  to 
walk  out  with  them.  But  that  chance  looked  re- 
mote, indeed,  for  there,  locked  in  the  senate  cham- 
ber, were  at  least  fifty  men  walking  around,  some 
looking  at  each  other  in  a  dazed  sort  of  a  way; 
others  at  the  windows  looking  out  at  the  snow-cov- 
ered yard,  now  Ulumiaated  from  the  flames,  that 
were    heard    roaring    and    crackUng     overhead. 


144 


OUTLINE  BISTORT  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 


From  some  windows  men  were  yelling  to  the  lim- 
ited crowd  below:  "Get  some  ladders!  Send  for 
ladders!"  Other  windows  were  occupied.  About 
this  time  terror  actually  siezed  the  members,  when 
Senator  Buck  remarked  that  the  fire  was  raging 
overhead,  and  at  the  same  moment  bummg  brands 
began  to  drop  through  the  large  ventilators  upon 
the  desks  and  floor  beneath. 

"Then,  for  a  moment,  it  seemed  as  it  all  hopes  of 
escape  were  out  off.  *  *  *  *  * 
But  happily  the  flames  having  made  their  way 
through  the  dome,  a  draught  was  created  strong 
enough  to  clear  the  halls  of  smoke.  The  dome 
was  almost  directly  over  the  entrance  of  the  senate 
chamber,  and  burning  brands  and  timbers  had 
fallen  down  through  the  glass  ceiling  in  front  of 
the  door,  rendering  escape  in  that  director  im- 
possible. 

"But  a  small  window  leading  from  the  cloak  room 
of  the  senate  chamber  to  the  first  landing  of  the 
main  stairway  furnished  an  avenue  of  escape,  and 
through  this  little  opening  every  man  in  the  sen- 
ate chamber  managed  to  get  out. 

"The  windows  were  about  ten  feet  high,  but  Mr. 
Michael  Doran  and  several  other  gentlemen  stood 
at  the  bottom,  and  uobly  rendered  assistance  to 
those  who  came  tumbling  out,  some  headlong, 
some  sidewaj'-s  and  some  feet  foremost. 

"  As  the  reporter  of  the  Pioneer-Press  came  out 
and  landed  on  his  feet,  he  paused  for  a  moment  to 
survey  the  scene  overhead,  where  the  flames  were 
lashing  themselves  into  fury  as  they  played  under- 
neath the  dome,  and  saw  the  flag-staff  burning, 
and  coals  dropping  down  like  fiery  hail. 

"It  took  but  a  few  minutes  for  the  senators  to  get 
out,  after  which  they  assembled  on  the  outside, 
and  they  had  no  sooner  gaiued  the  street  than  the 
ceiling  of  the  seaate  chamber  fell  in,  and  in  ten 
minutes  that  whole  wing  was  a  mass  of  flames." 

Similar  scenes  took  place  in  the  hall  of  the 
house  of  representatives.  A  young  lawyer,  with 
a  friend,  as  soon  as  the  fire  was  noticed,  riin  into 
the  law  library  and  began  to  throw  books  out  of 
the  wmdows,  but  in  a  few  minutes  the  density  of 
the  smoke  and  the  approach  of  the  flames  com- 
pelled them  to  desist,  and  a  large  portion  of  the 
library  was  burned.  The  portraits  of  Generals 
Sherman  and  Ihomas  which  were  hung  over  the 
stairway  were  saved.  The  books  of  the  Histori- 
cal Society,  in  the  basement,  were  removed,  but 
were  considerably   damaged.     In  three  hours  the 


bare  walls  alone  remained  of  the  capitol  which 
for  nearly  thirty  years  had  been  familiar  to  the 
law-makers  and  public  men  of  Minnesota. 

Steps  were  immediately  taken  to  remove  the 
debris  and  build  a  new  capitol,  upon  the  old  site. 
The  foundation  walls  have  been  laid,  and  in  the 
course  of  a  year  the  superstructure  will  be  com- 
pleted. 

THE   PENrrENTIABT.   • 

Before  the  penitentiary  was  built,  those  charged 
or  convicted  of  crime  were  placed  in  charge  of  the 
commandants  of  Fort  Snelling  or  Eipley,  and  kept 
at  useful  employment  under  military  supervision. 
At  the  same  time  it  was  decided  to  erect  a  capitol 
at  St.  Paul,it  was  also  determined  that  the  territorial 
prison  should  be  buUt  at  or  within  half  a  mile  of 
Stillwater.  A  small  lot  was  secured  in  1851  in 
what  was  called  the  Battle  ravine,  in  consequence  of 
the  conflict  between  the  Sioux  and  Chippeways  de- 
scribed on  the  103d  page.  Within  a  stone  wall  was 
erected  ofBces  of  the  prison,  with  an  annex  con- 
taining six  ceUs.  A  warden's  house  was  built 
on  the  outside  of  the  wall.  In  1853,  an  addition 
of  six  cells  was  made  and  on  the  5th  of  March, 
1853,  F.  R.  Delano  entered  upon  his  duties  as 
warden.  His  reports  to  the  legislature  show  that 
for  several  years  there  was  little  use  for  the  cells. 
The  prison  was  opened  for  criminals  on  the  1st  of 
.Septcmber,1853,auduntilJanuary,  1858  there  had 
been  received  onlj'  five  convicts,  and  forty-one 
county  and  thirty  city  prisoners  awaiting  trial. 
The  use  of  the  prison  by  the  counties  and  city  as 
a  temporary  place  of  confinement  led  to  some 
misunderstanding  between  the  warden  and  Wash- 
ington county,  and  the  grand  jury  of  that  county 
in  November,  1857,  complained  that  the  wai'den 
was  careless  in  discharge  of  his  duties.  The  jury, 
among  other  complaints  sent  the  following  ironi- 
cal statement:  "It  was  also  found  in  such  exami- 
uution  that  one  Maria  Roffin,  committed  on  charge 
of  selling  spirituous  hquors  to  the  Indians  within 
the  territory  of  the  United  States  escaped  in  the 
words  of  the  record,  'by  leaving  the  prison'  and  it 
is  a  matter  of  astonishment  to  this  grand  jury 
that  she  so  magnanimously  consented  to  leave  the 
penitentiary  behind  her." 

Francis  O.  J.  Smith  acted  as  warden  for  a  brief 
l)eriod  after  Delano,  and  then  H.  N.  Setzer.  In 
1859,  the  number  of  cells  had  increased  to  sixteen, 
iiul  among  the  inmates  was  a  hitherto  respectable 


HISrORY  OF  STATE  INSTITUTIONS. 


145 


citizen  sentenced  for  fifteen  years  for  robbing  a 
post-office. 

In  1860  John  S.  Proctor  became  warden,  and 
after  eight  years  of  efBoieut  service,  was  succeeded 
by  Joshua  L.  Taylor.  By  successive  additions 
in  1869  nearly  ten  acres  were  enclosed  by  prison 
walls,  and  during  this  year  extensive  shops  were 
built.  The  State  in  1870  erected  a  costly  prison 
at  an  expense  of  about  $80,000,  which,  besides  a 
chapel  and  necessary  offices,  contained  two  hun- 
dred and  ninety-nine  cells. 

A.  0.  Webber  succeeded  Taylor  as  Warden  in 
March,  1870,  and  the  following  October,  Henry 
A.  Jackman  took  his  place,  and  continued  in  office 
until  August,  1874,  when  the  present  incumbent, 
J.  A.  Keed,  was  appointed. 

It  has  been  the  policy  of  the  State  to  hire  the 
convicts  to  labor  for  contractors,  in  workshops 
within  the  walls.  At  present  the  inmates  are 
largely  engaged  in  the  making  of  agricultural 
machines  for  the  firm  of  Seymour,  Sabin  &  Co. 

THE    UNIVBKSITY  OP  MINNESOTA. 

The  Territorial  Legislature  of  18.51,  passed  an 
act  establishing  the  University  of  Minnesota  at  or 
near  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  and  memorialized 
Congress  for  a  grant  of  lands  for  the  Institution. 
Soon  after,  Congress  ordered  seventy-two  sections 
of  land  to  be  selected  and  reserved  for  the  use  of 
said  University. 

As  the  Kegents  had  no  funds,  Franklin  Steele 
gave  the  site  now  the  public  square,  on  Second 
Street  in  the  East  Division,  oj^posite  the  Minnesota 
Medical  College.  Mr.  Steele  and  others  at  their 
own  expense  erected  a  wooden  building  thereon, 
for  a  Preparatory  Department,  and  the  Eev.  E.  W. 
Merrill  was  engiiged  as  Principal.  At  the  close 
of  the  year  1853,  the  Eegents  reported  that  there 
was  ninety- four  students  in  attendance,  but  that 
the  site  selected  being  too  near  the  Falls,  they  had 
purchased  of  Joshtia  L.  Taylor  and  Paul  B.  George 
about  twenty-five  acres,  a  mile  eastward,  on 
the  heigth  overlooking   the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

Governor  Gorman,  in  his  message  in  1854  to 
the  Legislature  said :  "The  University  of  IMinne- 
sota  exists  as  yet  only  in  name,  but  the  time  has 
comewjien  a  substantial  reality  may  and  should 
be  created."  But  the  Eegents  could  not  find  any 
patent  which  would  compress  a  myth  into  reality, 
for  not  an  acre  of  the  land  grant  of  Congress  was 
available.  The  Governor  in  his  message  therefore 
■'idded:  "It  would  not  embarrass  our  resources, 
10 


in  my  judgment,  if  a  small  loan  was  effected  to 
erect  a  building,  and  establish  one  or  two  profes- 
sorships, and  a  preparatory  department,  such  loau 
to  be  based  upon  the  townships  of  land  appropri- 
ated for  the  sole  use  of  the  University." 

While  it  was  pleasing  to  loc;  1  pride  to  have  e 
building  in  prospect  which  could  be  seen  from 
afar,  the  friends  of  education  shook  their  heads, 
and  declared  the  prospect  of  borrowing  money  to 
build  a  University  building  before  the  common 
school  system  was  organized  was  visionary,  and 
would  be  unsuccessful.  The  idea,  however,  con- 
tinued to  be  agitated,  and  the  Begents  at  length 
were  authorized  by  the  Legislature  of  1856,  to 
issue  lionds  in  the  name  of  the  University,  under 
its  corporate  seal,  for  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  to 
be  secured  by  the  mortgage  of  the  University 
building  which  had  been  erected  on  the  new  site, 
and  forty  thousand  dollars  more  were  authorized 
to  be  issued  by  the  Legislature  of  1858,  to  be 
secured  by  a  lien  on  the  lands  devoted  for  a  Ter- 
ritorial University.  With  the  aid  of  these  loans  a 
costly  and  inconvenient  stone  edifice  was  con- 
structed, but  when  finished  there  was  no  demand 
for  it,  and  no  means  for  the  payment  of  interest  or 
professors. 

In  the  fall  of  1858,  in  the  hope  that  the  Uni- 
versity might  be  saved  from  its  desperate  condi- 
tion, the  Regents  elected  the  Rev.  Edward  D. 
Neill  as  Chancellor.  He  accepted  the  position 
without  any  salary  being  pledged,  and  insisted 
that  a  University  must  necessarily  be  of  slow  de- 
velopment, and  must  succeed,  not  precede,  the 
common  schools,  and  contended  that  five  years 
might  elapse  before  anything  could  be  done  for  a 
University  which  would  be  tangible  and  visible. 
He  also  expressed  the  belief  that  in  time,  with 
strict  watchfulness,  the  heavy  load  of  debt  could 
be  hf  ted. 

The  Legislature  of  1860  abolished  the  old  board 
of  Regents  of  the  Territorial  University  by  pass- 
ing an  act  for  a  State  University,  which  had  been 
prepared  by  the  Chancellor,  and  met  the,  approval 
of  Chancellor  Tappan,  of  Michigan  University. 
Its  first  section  declared  "that  the  object  of  the 
State  University  established  by  the  Constitution  of 
the  State,  at  or  near  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony, 
shall  be  to  provide  the  best  and  most  efficient 
means  of  imparting  to  the  youth  of  the  State  an 
education  more  advanced  than  that  given  in  the 
public  schools,  and  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 


146 


OUTLINE  BISTORT  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 


branches  of  literature,  the  arts  and  Boiences,  with 
their  various  applications." 

This  charter  also  provided  for  the  appointment 
of  five  Regents,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Governor, 
and  confirmed  by  the  Senate,  iu  place  of  the 
twelve  who  had  before  been  elected  by  the  Legis- 
lature. The  Legislature  of  1860  also  enacted  that 
the  Chancellor  shoiild  be  ex-officio  State  Superin- 
tendent of  Public  Instruction. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Regents  of  the  State 
University  was  held  on  the  fifth  of  April,  1860, 
and  steps  were  taken  to  secure  the  then  useless  edi- 
fice from  further  dilapidation.  The  Chancellor 
urged  at  this  meeting  that  a  large  portion  of  the 
territorial  land  grant  would  be  absorbed  in  pay- 
ment of  the  moneys  used  in  the  erection  of 
a  building  in  advance  of  the  times,  and  that 
the  only  way  to  secure  the  existence  of  a  State 
University  was  by  asking  Congress  for  an  addi- 
tional two  townshi^js,  or  seventy-two  sections  of 
land,  which  he  contended  could  be  done  under  the 
phraseology  of  the  enabUug  act,  which  said:  "That 
seventy-two  sections  of  land  shall  be  set  apart  and 
reserved  for  the  use  and  support  of  a  State  Univer- 
sity to  be  selected  by  the  Governor  of  said  State,'" 
etc. 

The  Regents  requested  the  Governor  to  suggest 
to  the  authorities  that  it  was  not  the  intention  of 
Congress  to  turn  over  the  debts  and  prospectively 
encumbered  lands  of  an  old  and  badly  managed 
Territorial  institution,  but  to  give  the  State  that 
was  to  be,  a  grant  for  a  State  University,  free 
from  all  connection  with  tlie  Territorial  organiza- 
tion. The  Governor  communicated  these  views 
to  the  authorities  at  Washington,  but  it  was  not 
tUl  after  years  of  patient  waiting  that  the  land  was 
obtained  by  an  act  of  Congress. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war  in  1861, 
the  Chancellor  became  Chaplain  of  the  First  Regi- 
ment of  Minnesota  Volunteers,  and  went  to  the 
seat  of  war,  and  the  University  affairs  continued  to 
grow  worse,  and  the  University  building  was  a 
by-word  and  hissing  among  the  passers  by.  Dur- 
ing the  year  1863,  some  of  the  citizens  of  St.  An- 
thony determined  to  make  another  effort  to  extri- 
cate the  institution  from  its  difficulties,  and  the 
legislature  of  1864  passed  an  act  abolishing  the 
board  of  Regents,  and  creating  three  persons  sole 
regents,  with  power  to  liquidate  the  debts  of  the 
institution.  The  Regeuts  under  this  law  were 
John  S.  Pillsbury  and  O.  C.  Merriman,  of  St.  An- 
thony, and  John  Nicols,  of  St.  Paul. 


The  increased  demand  for  pine  lands,  of  which 
the  University  owned  many  acres,  and  the  sound 
discretion  of  these  gentlemen  co-operated  in  pro- 
curing happy  results.  In  two  years  Governor 
Marshall,  in  his  message  to  the  legislature,  was 
able  to  say:  "The  very  able  and  successful  man- 
agement of  the  affairs  of  the  institution,  imder  the 
piesent  board  of  Regents,  relieving  it  of  over  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  of  debt,  and  saving  over 
thirty  thousand  acres  of  land  that  was  at  one  time 
supposed  to  be  lost,  entitles  Messrs.  Pillsbury, 
Merriman,  and  Nicols  to  the  lasting  gratitude  of 
the  State." 

The  legislature  of  1867  appropriated  $5,000  for 
a  preparatory  and  Normal  department,  and  the 
Regents  this  year  chose  as  principal  of  the  school, 
the  Rev.  W.  W.  Washburn,  a  graduate  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan,  and  Gabriel  Campbell,  of  the 
same  institution,  and  Ira  Moore  as  assistants.  The 
legislature  of  1868  passed  an  act  to  reorganize  the 
University,  and  to  establish  an  Agricultural  Col- 
lege therein. 

Departing  from  the  policy  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  it  established  what  the  Regents  wished,a 
department  of  Elementary  instruction.  It  also  pro- 
vided for  a  OoUege  of  Science,  Literature  and  the 
Arts;  a  College  of  Agriculture  and  MecUaniiis  with 
Military  Tactics;  a  college  of  Law,  and  a  College 
of  Medicine. 

The  provision  of  the  act  of  1860,  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  Regents  was  retained,  and  the  number  to 
be  confirmed  by  the  Senate,  was  increased  from 
five  to  seven. 

The  new  board  of  Regents  was  organized  in 
March,  1868.  John  S.  Pillsbury,  of  St.  Anthony, 
President;  O.  C.  Merriman,  of  St.  Anthony,  Sec- 
retary, and  John  Nicils,  of  St.  Paul,  Treasurer. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Regents  in  August,  1869, 
arrangements  were  made  for  collegiate  work  by 
electing  as  President  and  Professor  of  mathematics 
^^■illiam  W.  FolweU. 

President  FohveU  was  bom  in  1835,  in  Seneca 
county.  New  York,  and  graduated  with  distinction 
in  1827,  at  Hobart  College  in  Geneva,  New  York. 
For  two  years  lie  was  a  tutor  at  Hobart,  and  then 
went  to  Europe.  Upon  his  return  the  civil  war  was 
raging,  and  he  entered  the  50th  New  Y'ork  Volun- 
teers. After  the  army  was  disbanded  he  engaged 
in  business  in  Ohio,  but  at  the  time  of  his  election 
to  the  presidency  of  the  University,  was  Professor 
oE  mathematics,  astronomy,  and  German  at  Ken- 
yon  College. 


HISTORY  OF  STATE  INSTITUTIONS. 


147 


THE    FACULir. 

The  present  faculty  of  the  institution  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

William  W.  Folwell,  instructor,  political  science. 

Jabez  Brooks,  D.  D.,  professor,  Greek,  and  in 
charge  o£   Latin. 

Newton  H.  WincheU,  professor,  State  geologist, 
C:  N.  Hewitt,  M.  D.,  professor,  Public  Health. 

JohnG.  Moore,  professor,  German. 

Moses  Marston,  Ph.  D.,  professor,  English  lit- 
erature. 

C.  W.  Hall,  professor,  geology  and  biology. 

John  0.  Hutchinson,  assistant  professor,  Greek 
and  mathematics. 

Johu  S.  Clark,  assistant  professor,  Latin. 

Matilda  J.  Campbell,  instructor,  German  and 
English. 

Maria  L.  Sanford,  professor,  rhetoric,  and  elocu- 
tion. 

William  A.  Pike,  0.  E.,  professor,  engineering 
and  physics. 

John  F.  Downey,  professor,  mathematics  and 
astronomy. 

James  A.  Dodge,  Ph.  D.,  professor,   chemistry. 

Alexander  T.  Ormond,  professor,  mental  and 
moral  philosophy  and  history. 

Charles  W.  Benton,  professor,  French.- 

Edward  D.  Porter,  professor,  agriculture. 

William  H.  Leib,  instructor,  vocal  music. 

William  F.  Decker,  instructor,  shop  work  and 
drawing. 

Edgar  C.  Brown,  U.  S.  A.,  professor,  military 
science. 

James  Bowen,  instructor,  practical  horticulture. 

THE  CAMPUS  AND  BUILDINGS. 

The  campus  of  the  university  since  it  was  orig- 
inally acquired,  has  been  somewhat  enlarged,  and 
now  consists  of  about  fifty  acres  in  extent,  undu- 
lating in  surface,  and  well  wooded  with  native 
trees.  The  buildings  are  thus  far  but  two  in 
number,  the  plan  of  the  original  building,  which 
in  outline  was  not  unlike  the  insane  asylum  build- 
ing at  St.  Peter,  having  been  changed  by  the 
erection  in  1876,  of  a  large  four-story  structure 
built  of  stone  and  surmounted  by  a  tower.  This 
building  is  186  feet  in  length  and  ninety  in 
breadth,  exclusive  of  porches,  having  three  stories 
above  the  basement  in  the  old  part-  The  walls 
are  of  blue  limestone  and  the  roof  of  tin.  The 
rooms,  fifty -three  in  number,  as  well  as  all  the 
corridors  are  heated  by  an  efficient  steam  appara- 


tus, and  are  thoroughly  ventilated.  Water  is  sup- 
plied from  the  city  mains,  and  there  is  a  stand- 
pipe  running  from  the  basement  through  the  roof 
with  hose  attached  on  all  the  floors  for  protection 
against  fire.  The  assembly  hall,  in  the  third 
story,  is  87x55  feet,  24  feet  high,  and  wiU  seat 
with  comfort  700  people,  and  1,200  can  be  accom- 
modated. 

THE  AGRICULTUKAL  BUILDING 

is  the  first  of  the  special  buildings  for  the  separ- 
ate colleges,  and  was  built  in  1876.  It  is  of 
brick,  on  a  basement  of  blue  stone,  146x54  feet. 
The  central  portion  is  two  stories  in  height.  The 
south  wing,  46x25  feet,  is  a  plant  house  of  double 
sash  and  glass.  The  north  wing  contains  the 
chemical  laboratory.  There  are  class  rooms  for 
chemistry,  physics  and  agriculture,  and  private 
laboratories  for  the  professors.  A  large  room  in 
the  second  story  is  occupied  by  the  museum  of 
technology  and  agriculture,  and  the  basement  is 
filled  up  with  a  carpenter  shop,  a  room  with  vises 
and  tools  at  which  eight  can  work,  and  another 
room  fitted  with  eight  forges  and  a  blower — the 
commencement  of  the  faciUties  for  practical  in- 
struction. 

DEAF    AND    DUMB    INSTITUTION. 

Of  all  the  public  institutions  of  Minnesota,  no 
one  has  had  a  more  joleasing  history,  and  more 
symmetrical  development  than  the  Institution  for 
the  education  of  the  deaf  and  dumb  and  the  blind 
at  Faribault. 

The  legislature  of  1858,  passed  an  act  for  the 
establishment  of  "The  Minnesota  State  Institute 
for  the  Education  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,"  within 
two  miles  of  Faribault,  in  Rice  county,  upon  con- 
dition that  the  town  or  county,  should  within  one 
year  from  the  passage  of  the  law  give  forty  acres 
of  land  for  its  use.  The  condition  was  comj^lied 
with,  but  the  financial  condition  of  the  country 
and  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war,  with  other 
causes  retarded  the  progress  of  the  Institution  for 
five  years. 

The  legislature  of  1863  made  the  first  appro- 
priation of  fifteen  himdred  dollars  for  the  opening 
of  the  Institution.  Mr.  E.  A.  Mott,  of  Faribault, 
who  has  to  this  time  been  an  efiicient  director,  at 
the  request  of  the  other  two  directors,  visited  the 
East  for  teachers,  and  secured  Prof.  Kinney  and 
wife  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  A  store  on  Front  Street 
was  tfien  rented,  and  adapted  for  the  temporary 


148 


OUTLINE  niSTORT  OF  THE  STATE  OP  MINNESOTA. 


use  of  the  Institution,  which  opened  on  the  9th  of 
September,  1863,  with  live  pupils,  which  soon  in- 
creased to  ten. 

On  February  13th,  1864,  the  State  appropriated 
about  four  thousand  dollars  for  the  supiiert  of  the 
Institution,  and  the  directors  expended  about  one 
thousand  dollars  in  the  erection  of  small  additional 
building,  eighteen  by  twenty  feet  in  dimensions, 
as  s  boys'  dormitory. 

After  laboring  faithfully  for  three  years  and  se- 
curing the  respect  of  his  associates,  on  July  1st, 
1866,  Prof.  Kinney  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health. 

The  directors  the  nest  month  elected  as  Super- 
intendent Jonathan  L.  Noyes,  A.  M.  On  the  7th 
of  SejJtember  Professor  Noyes  an-ived  at  Faribault 
with  Miss  A.  L.  Steele  as  an  assistant  teacher  and 
Henrietta  Watson  as  matron. 

NOBTH   WINO   OF   EDIFICE   COMPLETED. 

Upon  the  17th  of  March,  1863,  the  Institution 
was  removed  to  a  wing  of  the  new  building  upon 
a  site  of  fifty-two  acres  beautifully  situated  upon 
the  brow  of  the  hills  east  of  Faribault.  The  edi- 
fice of  the  French  louvre  style,  and  was  designed 
by  Monroe  Sheire,  a  St.  Paul  architect,  and  cost 
about  fifty-three  thousand  dollars,  and  water  was 
introduced  from  si^rings  in  the  vicinity. 

WOEK    SHOPS. 

In  1869,  the  Superintendent  was  cheered  by  the 
completion  of  the  first  work  shop,  and  soon  eight 
mutes  imder  the  direction  of  a  mute  foreman  be- 
gan to  make  flour  barrels,  and  in  less  than  a  year 
had  sent  out  more  than  one  thousand,  and  in  1873 
4,054  barrels  were  made. 

SOUTH    WDfG    BEGAN. 

The  completed  wing  was  not  intended  to  accom- 
modate more  than  sixty  pupils  and  soon  there  was 
a  demand  for  more  room.  During  the  year  1869 
the  foundation  of  the  south  wing  was  completed, 
and  on  the  10th  of  September  1873  the  building 
was  occupied  by  boys,  the  other  wing  being  used 
for  the  girls.  By  the  time  the  building  was  ready 
■■itudents  were  waiting  to  occupy. 

MAUI    BniLDlNQ    COMPLETED. 

In  1879  the  design  was  completed  by  the  finith- 
ing  of  the  centre  building.  The  whole  edifice  is 
thus  described  by  the  architect,  Monroe  Sheire: 
"The  plan  of  the  building  is  rectangular,  and  con- 
sists of  a  central  portion  one   hundred  feet   north 


and  south,  and  one  hundred  and  eight  feet  east 
and  west,  exclusive  of  piazzas,  and  two  wings,  one 
on  the  north,  and  the  other  on  the  south  side, 
each  of  those  being  eighty  by  forty-five.  This 
makes  the  extreme  length  two  hundred  and  sixty 
feet,  and  the  width  one  hundred  and  eight  feet. 
The  entire  building  is  four  stories  above  the  base- 
ment." 

The  exterior  walls  are  built  of  blue  Ume  stone 
from  this  vicinity,  and  the  style  Franco  Roman- 
esque. Over  the  center  is  a  graceful  cupola,  and 
the  top  of  the  same  is  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
above  the  ground. 

The  entire  cost  to  the  State  of  all  the  improve- 
ments was  about  $175,000,  and  the  building  wdl 
accommodate  about  two  hundred  pupils.  The 
rooms  are  lighted  by  gas  from  the  Faribault  Gas 
Works. 

INDTTSTBIAL  SCHOOLS. 

Tlie  first  shop  opened  was  for  making  barrels. 
To  this  cooper  shop  has  been  added  a  shoe  shop,  a 
tailor  shop  and  a  printing  office. 

MAGAZINE. 

The  pupils  established  in  March,  1876,  a  little 
paper  called  the  Gopher.  It  was  printed  on  a 
small  press,  and  second-hand*  type  was  used. 

In  June,  1877,  it  was  more  than  doubled  in 
size,  and  changed  its  name  to  "The  Mutes'  Com- 
piiuion."  Printed  with  good  type,  and  filled  with 
pleasant  articles  it  still  exists,  and  adds  to  the  in- 
terest in  the  institution. 

EDUCATION    OF    THE   BLIND. 

In  1863  a  law  was  passed  by  the  legislature  re- 
quiring blind  chOdren  to  be  educated  under  the  sir- 
pervision  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institutior.. 
Early  in  July,  1866,  a  school  for  the  blind  was 
opened  in  a  separate  building,  rented  for  the  pur- 
\,ox,  under  the  care  of  Miss  H.  N.  Tucker.  Dur- 
ing the  first  term  there  were  three  pupils.  In  May, 
1863,  the  blind  pupils  were  brought  into  the  deal 
and  dumb  institution,  but  the  experiment  of  in 
strufting  these  two  classes  together  was  not  satis- 
factory, and  in  1874  the  blind  were  removed  to 
the  old  Faribault  House,  half  a  mile  south  of 
the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution,  which  had  been 
fitted  up  for  their  accommodation,  and  where 
a  large  new  brick  building,  for  the  use  of  the 
blind,  has  since  been  erected.  In  1875,  Profes- 
sor James  J.  Dow  was  made  prineiiml  of  the 
schooL 


UliiTOliT  OF  STATE  INSTITUTIONS. 


149 


SOHOOI;    3?0K   THE    FEEBLE    MINDED. 

From  time  to  time,  iu  his  report  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, Siiperiutendent  Noyes  alhided  to  the  fact  that 
Bome  children  appeared  deaf  aud  dumb  because  of 
their  feeble  mental  development,  and  in  1879,  the 
state  appropriated  S5,000  for  a  school  for  imbecile 
children. 

The  institution  was  started  in  July  of  that  year 
by  Dr.  Henry  M.  Knight,  now  deceased,  then 
Superintendent  and  founder  of  the  Connecticut 
school  of  the  same  description,  who  was  on  a  visit 
to  Faribault.  He  superintended  the  school  until 
the  arrival,  in  September,  of  his  son,  Dr.  George 
H.  Knight,  who  had  been  trained  imder  his  father. 

For  the  use  of  the  school  the  Fairview  House  was 
rented,  and  fourteen  feeble  children  were  sent 
from  the  Insane  Asylum  at  St.  Peter.  In  eigh- 
teen months  the  number  had  increased  to  twenty - 
five. 

The  site  of  the  new  building  for  the  school  is 
about  forty  rods  south  of  the  Blind  School.  The 
dimensions  are  44x80  feet,  with  a  tower  projection 
20x18  feet.  It  is  of  limestone,  and  three  stories 
above  the  basement,  covered  with  an  iron  hip-roof, 
and  cost  about  $25,000. 

SUPEEINTENDENT  J.  L.  NOTES. 

The  growth  of  the  Minnesota  institution  for  the 
education  of  the  deaf  and  dumb  and  the  blind, 
has  been  so  symmetrical,  and  indicative  of  one ' 
moulding  mind,  that  c  sketch  of  the  institution 
would  be  incomplete  without  some  notice  of  the 
Superintendent,  who  has  guided  it  for  the  last 
sixteen  years. 

On  the  13th  of  June,  1827,  Jonathan  Lovejoy 
Noyes  was  born  in  Windham,  Kockingham  county. 
New  Hampshire.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he 
was  sent  to  Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  Massachu- 
setts, not  only  one  of  the  oldest,  but  among 
the  best  schools  in  the  United  States.  At  Andover 
he  had  the  advantage  of  the  instruction  of  the 
thorough  Greek  scholar.  Dr.  Samuel  H.  Taylor, 
the  eminent  author,  Lyman  H.  Coleman,  D.  D., 
afterwards  Professor  of  Latin  in  Lafayette  Col- 
lege, Pennsylvania,  and  William  H.  Wells,  whose 
English  grammar  has  been  used  in  many  insti- 
tutions. 

After  completing  his  preparatory  studies,  in 
1848,  he  entered  Yale  College,  and  in  four  years 
received  the  diploma  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  After 
graduation   he  received    an   appointment  in    the 


Pennsylvania  Institution  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  on 
Broad  Street,  Philadelphia,  and  found  instructing 
deaf  mutes  was  a  pleasant  occupation.  After  six 
years  of  important  work  in  Philadelphia,  he  was 
employed  two  years  in  a  similar  institution  at 
Baton  Bouge,  Louisiana,  and  then  received  an  ap- 
pointment in  the  well  known  American  Asylum  so 
long  presided  over  by  Thomas  H.  Gallandet,  at 
Hartford,  Connecticut.  While  laboring  here  he 
was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the  "Minnesota  In- 
stitution for  the  Education  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb 
and  the  Blind,"  and  in  September,  1866,  he  ar- 
rived at  Faribault.  With  wisdom  and  patience, 
gentleness  and  energy,  and  an  unfaltering  trust  in 
a  superintending  Providence,  he  has  there  contin- 
ued his  work  with  the  approbation  of  his  fellow 
citizens,  and  the  affection  of  the  pupils  of  the 
institution. 

At  the  time  that  he  was  relieved  of  the  care  of 
the  blind  and  imbecile,  the  directors  entered  upon 
their  minutes  the  following  testimonial: 

"■Resolved,  That  upon  the  retirement  of  Prof.  J. 
L.  Noyes  from  the  superintendency  of  the  dej)art- 
ments  of  the  blind  and  imbecile,  the   board  of 

Directors,  of  the  Minnesota  Institution  for  the 
Deaf  and  Dumb,  and  Blind  and  Idiots,  and  Imbe- 
ciles, desire  to  testify  to  his  deejD  interest  in  these 
several  departments;  his  efficient  and  timely  ser- 
vices in  their  establishment;  and  his  wise  direction 
of  their  early  progress,  until  they  have  become 
full-fledged  and  independent  departments  of  our 
noble  State  charitable  institutions.  ' 

"For  his  cordial  and  courteous  co-operation  with 
the  directors  in  their  work,  and  for  his  timely 
counsel  and  advice,  never  withheld  when  needed, 
the  board  by  this  testimonial,  render  to  him  their 
hearty  recognition  and  warm    acknowledgement." 

On  the  2l8tof  July,  1862,  Professor  Noyes  mar- 
ried Eliza  H.  Wadsworth,  of  Hartford,  Connecti- 
cut, a  descendent  of  the  Colonel  Wadsworth,  who 
in  the  old  colony  time,  hid  the  charter  of  Connecti- 
cut in  an  oak,  which  for  generations  has  been 
known  in  history  as  the  "Charter  Oak."  They 
have  but  one  child,  a  daughter. 

INSANE  HOSPITAL  AT  ST.  PETER. 

Until  the  year  1866,  the  insane  of  Minnesota 
were  sent  to  the  Iowa  Asylum  for  treatment,  but 
in  January  of  that  year  the  Legislature  passed  an 
act  appointing  Wm.  K.  Marshall,  John  M.  Berry, 
Thomas  Wilson,  Charles  Mclhath,  and  S.  J.  K. 
McMillan  to  select  a  proper  place   for  the  Minne- 


160 


OUTLINE   HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 


sota  Hospital  for  the  Insane.  The  vicinity  of  St. 
Peter  was  chosen,  the  citizens  presenting  to  the 
State  two  hundred  and  ten  acres  one  mile  south  of 
the  city,  and  on  the  Minnesota  River,  directly  op- 
posite to  Kasota. 

In  October,  1866,  temporary  buildings  were 
erected,  and  the  Trustees  elected  Samuel  E. 
Shantz.  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  as  the  Superintendent. 
A  plan  submitted  by  Samuel  Sloan,  a  Philadelphia 
architect,  consisting  of  a  central  building,  with 
sections  and  wings  for  the  accommodation  of  at 
least  five  hundred  patients,  in  1867,  was  adopted, 
and  in  1876  the  great  structure  was  completed. 
•  It  is  built  of  Kasota  limestone,  the  walls  lined 
with  brick,  and  the  roof  covered  with  slates.  The 
central  building  is  four  stories  in  height,  sur- 
mounted ■with  a  fine  cupola,  and  therein  are  the 
chapel  and  offices.  Each  wing  is  three  stories 
high,  with  nine  separate  lialls. 

The  expenses  of  construction  of  the  Asylum, 
with  the  outbuildings,  has  been  more  than  half  a 
million  of  dollars.  Dr.  Shantz  having  died,  Cyrus 
K.  Bartlett,  M.  D.,  of  Northampton,  Massachu- 
setts, was  appointed  Superintedent. 

In  January,  1880,  in  the  old  temporary  build- 
ings and  in  the  Asylum  proper  there  were  six  hun- 
dred and  sixty  patients.  On  the  15th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1880,  about  half  past  eight  in  the  evening, 
the  Superintendent  and  assistants  were  shocked  by 
the  announcement  that  the  north  wing  was  on 
fire.  It  began  in  the  northwest  comer  of  the 
basement,  and  is  supposed  to  liave  been  kindled  by 
a  patient  employed  about  the  kitchen  who  was  not 
violent.  The  flames  rapidly  ascended  to  the  dif- 
ferent stories,  through  the  holes  for  the  hot  air 
pipes,  and  the  openings  for  the  dumb  waiters. 

The  wing  at  the  time  contained  two  himdred 
and  seventy  patients,  and  as  they  were  Uberated 
by  their  nurses  and  told  to  make  their  escape,  ex- 
hibited various  emotions.  Some  clapped  their 
hands  with  glee,  others  trembled  with  fear. 
Many,  barefooted  and  with  bare  heads,  rushed  for 
the  neighboring  hills  and  sat  on  the  cold  snow. 
A  few  remained  inside.  One  patient  was  noticed 
in  a  window  of  the  third  story,  with  his  knees 
drawn  up  to  his  chin,  and  his  face  in  his  hands,  a 
cool  and  interested  looker  on,  and  with  an  expres- 
sion of  cynical  contempt  for  the  flames  as  they  ap- 
proached his  seat.  When  a  tongue  of  fire  would 
shoot  toward  him,  he  would  lower  his  head,  and 
after  it  passed  would  resume  his  position  with  more 
than  the  indifierence  of  a  stoic.     At  last  the  brick 


work  beneath  him  gave  way  with  a  loud  crash, 
and  as  he  was  precijiitated  into  the  cauldron  of  fire 
soon  to  be  burned  to  ashes,  his  maniacal  laugh  was 
heard  above  the  roar  of  the  flames. 

The  remains  of  eighteen  patients  were  found  in 
the  ruins,  and  seven  died  in  a  few  days  after  the 
fire,  in  consequence  of  injuries  and  exposure. 

Immediate  steps  were  taken  by  the  Governor  to 
repair  the  damages  by  the  fire. 

INSANE  HOSPITAL  AT  ROCHESTER. 

In  1878,  the  Legislature  enacted  a  law  by 
which  an  inebriate  asylum  commenced  at  Koches- 
ter  could  be  used  for  an  Insane  Asylum.  With  the 
ai^propriation,  alterations  and  additions  were 
made,  Dr.  J.  E.  Bowers  elected  Superintendent, 
and  on  the  Ist  of  January,  1879,  it  was  opened  for 
patients. 

Twenty  thonsatld  dollars  have  since  been  appro- 
priated for  a  wing  for  female  patients. 

STATE  REFORM    SCHOOIi. 

During  the  year  1865,  I.  V.  D.  Heard,  Esq.,  a 
lawyer  of  Saint  Paul,  and  at  that  time  City  At- 
torney sent  a  communication  to  one  of  the  daily 
papers  urging  the  importance  of  separating  child 
ren  arrested  for  petty  crimes,  from  the  depraved 
adults  found  in  the  station  house  or  county  jail, 
and  also  called  the  attention  of  the  City  Council 
to  the  need  for  a  Reform  School. 

The  next  Legislature,  in  1866,  under  the  influ- 
ence created  by  the  discussion  passed  a  law  creat- 
ing a  House  of  Eefuge,  and  appropriated  $5,000  for 
its  xise  on  condition  that  the  city  of  Saint  Paul 
would  give  the  same  amount. 

In  November,  1867;  the  managers  purchased 
thirty  acres  with  a  stone  farm  house  and  Ijam 
thereon,  for  S10,000,  situated  in  Rose  township,  in 
Saint  Anthony  near  Snelling  Avenue,  in  the  west- 
em  suburbs  of  Saint  Paul. 

In  1868  the  House  of  Refuge  was  ready  to  re- 
ceive wayward  youths,  and  this  year  the  Legis- 
lature changed  the  name  to  the  Minnesota  State 
Reform  School,  and  accepted  it  as  a  state  institu- 
tion. The  Rev.  J.  G.  Riheldaflbr  D.  D.,  who  had 
for  years  been  pastor  of  one  of  the  Saint  Paul 
Presbyterian  churclies  was  elected  superintendent 

In  1869  the  main  budding  of  light  colored 
brick,  40x60  feet  was  erected,  and  occupied  in 
December. 

In  February,  1879,  the  laundry,  a  separate 
building  was  burned,  and-^n  appropriation  of  the 


SKETCHES  OF  PUBLIC  MEN. 


151 


Legislature  was  made  soon  after  of  $15,000  for 
the  rebuilding  of  the  laundry  and  the  ei'ection  of 
a  work  shop.  This  shop  is  50x100  and  three 
stories  high.  The  boys  besides  receiving  a  good 
English  education,  are  taught  to  be  tailors,  tinners, 
carjsenters  and  gardeners.  The  sale  of  bouquets 
from  the  green  house,  of  sleds  and  toys,  and  of 
tin  ware  has  been  one  of  the  sources  of  revenue. 

Doctor  Riheldaffer  continues  as  superintendent 
and  by  his  judicious  management  has  prepared 
many  of  the  inmates  to  lead  useful  and  honorable 
lives,  after  their  discharge  from  the  Institution. 

STATE  NORMAL  SCHOOL. 

By  the  influence  of  Lieut.  Gov.  Holcomb  and 
others  the  first  State  Legislature  in  1858  passed 
an  Act  by  -which  three  Normal  schools  might  be 
erected,  but  made  no  proper  provision  for  their 
support. 

WINONA  NOKMAL  SCHOOL. 

Dr.  Ford,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  college, 
and  a  respectable  physician  in  Winona,  \vith  sev- 
eral residents  of  the  same  place  secured  to  the 
amount  of  $5,512  subscriptions  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Normal  School  at  that  point,  and  a 
small  appropriation  was  secured  in  1880  from  the 
Legislature. 

John  Ogden,  af  Ohio,  was  elected  Principal,  and 
in  September,  1860,  the  school  was  opened  in  a 
temporary  building.  Soon  after  the  civil  war  be- 
gan the  school  was  suspended,  and  Mr.  Ogden 
entered  the  army. 

In  1864  the  Legislature  made  an  appropriation 
of  $3,000,  and  and  WiUiam  F.  Phelps,  who  had 
been  in  charge  of  the  New  Jersey  Normal  School 
at  Trenton,  was  chosen  principal.  In  1865  the 
State  appropriated  S5,000  annually  for  the  school 
and  the  citizens  of  Winona  gave  over  |20,000  to- 
ward the  securing  of  a  site  and  the  erection  of  a 
permanent  edifice. 

One  of  the  best  and  most  ornamental  education- 
al buildings  in  the  Northwest  was  commenced  and 
in  September,  1869,  was  so  far  finished  as  to  ac- 
commodate pupils.  To  complete  it  nearly  $150,- 
000  was  given  by  the  State. 

In  1876  Prof.  W.  F.  Phelps  resigned  and  was 
succeeded  by  Charles  A.  Morey  who  in  May, 
1879  retired.  The  present  principal  is  Irwin 
Shepard. 

MANKATO  NOBMAL  SCHOOL. 

In  1866,  Mankato  having  offered  a  site  for  a 


second  Normal  School,  the  Legislature  give  $5,000 
for  its  support.  George  M.  Gage  was  elected 
Principal  and  on  the  1st  of  September,  1868  the 
school  was  opened,  It  occupied  the  basement  of, 
the  Methodist  church  for  a  few  weeks,  and  then 
moved  into  a  room  over  a  store  at  the  corner  of 
Front  and  Main  streets.  In  April  1870,  the  State 
building  was  first  occupied. 

Prof.  Gage  resgned  in  June,  1872,  and  his  suc- 
cessor was  Miss  J.  A.  Sears  who  remained  one  year. 
In  July  1873,  the  Eev.  D.  0.  John  was  elected 
principal,  and  in  the  spring  of  1880,  he  retired. 

The  present  Principal  is  Professor  Edward  Sear- 
ing, formerly  State  Superintendent  of  Public  In- 
struction in  Wisconsin,  a  fine  Latin  scholar,  and 
editor  of  an  edition  of  Virgil. 

ST.  CLOUD  NORMAL  SCHOOL. 

In  1809,  the  citizens  of  St.  Cloud  gave  $5,000 
for  the  establishment  in  that  city  of  the  third 
Normal  School,  and  a  buildiug  was  fitted  up  for 
its  use.  The  legislature  in  1869,  appropriated 
$3,000  for  current  expenses.  In  1870,  a  new  build- 
ing was  begun,  the  legislature  having  appropriated 
.1;10,000,  and  in  1873,  $30,000;  this  building  in 
1875  was  first  occupied.  In  1875,  the  Rev.  D.  L. 
Kiehle  was  elected  Principal,  Prof.  Ira  Moore,  the 
first  Principal  having  resigned.  In  1881,  Prof. 
Kiehle  was  appointed  State  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction,  and  Jerome  Allen,  late  of  New 
York,  was  elected  his  successor. 


CHAPTER  XXVIL 

MINNESOTA    GOVBRNOBS UNITED    STATES    SENATOHS 

■ — MEMBERS  OP  UNITED   STATES  HOUSE  OP  KEPEE- 

SENTATIVES. 

GOVERNOR  BAMSEI A.  D.  1849  TO  A.  D.   1853. 

Alexander  Ramsey,  the  first  Governor  of  the 
Territory  of  Minnesota,  was  born  on  the  8th  of 
September,  1815,  near  Harrisburg,  in  Dauphin 
county,  Pennsylvania.  His  grandfather  was  a 
descendent  of  one  of  the  many  colonists  who  came 
from  the  north  of  Ireland  before  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  his  father  about  the  time  of  the 
first  treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain,  was  boru  in 
York  county,  Pennsylvania.  His  mother  Elizabeth 
Kelker,  was  of  German  descent,  a  woman  of  en- 
ergy, industry  and  religious  principle. 

His  father  dying,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch 


152 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OP  MINNESOTA. 


was  ten  years  of  age,  he  went  into  the  store  of  his 
maternal  uncle  in  Harrisburg,  and  remained  two 
years.  Then  he  was  emplojed  as  a  copyist  in  the 
ofiBee  of  Register  of  Deeds.  For  several  years  he 
was  engaged  in  such  business  as  would  give  sup- 
port. Thoughtful,  persevering  and  studious,  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  was  able  to  enter  Lafayette 
College,  at  Easton,  Pennsylvania.  After  he  left 
College  he  entered  a  lawyer's  ofBce  in  Harrisburg, 
and  subsequently  attended  lecture  j  at  the  Law 
Sohool  at  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-four,  in  1839,  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  Dauphin  county.  His  execu- 
tive ability  was  immediately  noticed,  and  the  nest 
year  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  political  cam- 
paign, advocating  the  claims  of  William  H.  Harri- 
son, and  he  was  complimented  by  being  made 
Secretary  of  the  Pennsylvania  Presidential  Elec- 
tors. After  the  electoral  vote  was  delivered  in 
Washington,  in  a  few  weeks,  in  January  18il,  he 
was  elected  chief  clerk  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives of  Pennsylvania.  Here  his  ability  in  dis- 
patching business,  and  his  great  discretion  made 
a  most  favorable  impression,  and  in  ISiS,  the 
Whigs  of  Dauphin,  Lebanon  and  Schuylkill 
counties  nominated  him,  as  their  candidate  for 
Congress.  Popular  among  the  young  men  of 
Harrisburg,  that  city  wliich  had  hitherto  given  a 
democratic  majority,  voted  for  the  Whig  ticket 
which  he  represented,  and  the  whole  district  gave 
him  a  majority  of  votes.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
term,  in  18-15  he  was  again  elected  to  Congress. 

Strong  in  his  political  preferences,  without  man- 
ifesting political  rancor,  and  of  large  perceptive 
power,  he  was  in  1818  chosen  by  the  Whig  party 
Pensylvania,  as  the  secretary  of  the  Central  Com- 
mittee, and  he  directed  the  movements  in  his  na- 
tive State,  which  led  to  the  electoral  votes  being 
thrown  for  General  Zachary  Taylor  for  President. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1849,  President  Taylor 
took  the  oath  of  office,  and  in  less  than  a  month  he 
signed  the  commission  of  Alexander  Ramsey  as 
Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Minnesota,  which 
had  been  created  by  a  law  approved  the  day  before 
his  inauguration. 

By  the  way  of  Buffalo,  and  from  thence  by 
lake  to  Chicago,  and  from  thence  to  Galena,  where 
he  took  a  steamboat,  he  traveled  to  Minnesota  and 
arrived  at  St.  Paul  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
27th  of  May,  with  his  wife,  children  and  nurse, 
but  went  with  the  boat  up  to  Mendota,  where  he 
was   cordially  mot   by    the    Territorial   delegate, 


Hon.  H.  H.  Sibley,  and  with  his  family  was  his 
guest  for  several  weeks.  He  then  came  to  St, 
Paul,  occupied  a  small  housa  on  Ttiird  street  near 
the  comer  of  Robert. 

On  the  Ist  of  Jane  he  issued  his  first  proclama- 
mation  declaring  the  organization  of  the  Territorial 
government,  and  on  the  11th,  he  issued  another 
creating  judicial  districts  and  providing  for  the 
election  of  members  of  a  legislature  to  assemble 
in  September.  To  his  duties  as  Governor  was 
added  the  superintendency  of  Indian  affairs  and 
during  the  first  summer  he  held  frequent  confer- 
ences with  the  Indians,  and  his  first  report  to  the 
Conmaissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  is  still  valuable 
for  its  information  relative  to  the  Indian  tribes  at 
that  time  hunting  in  the  valleys  of  the  Minnesota 
and  the  Mississippi. 

During  the  Governor's  term  of  office  he  visited 
the  Indians  at  their  villages,  and  made  himself 
familiar  with  their  needs,  and  in  the  summer  of 
1851,  made  treaties  with  the  Sioux  by  which  the 
country  between  the  Mississippi  Rivers,  north  of  the 
State  of  Iowa,  w.is  ojjened  for  occupation  by  the 
whites.  His  term  of  office  as  Governor  expired  in 
April,  1853,  and  in  1855  his  fellow  townsmen 
elected  him  Mayor  of  St.  Paul.  In  1857,  after 
Minnesota  had  adopted  a  State  Constitution,  the 
Republican  party  nominated  Alexander  Ramsey 
for  Governor,  and  the  Democrats  nominated  Henry 
H.  Sibley.  The  election  in  October  was  close 
and  exciting,  and  Mr.  Sibley  was  at  length  de- 
clared Governor  by  a  majority  of  about  two  hun- 
dred votes.  The  Rejjublicans  were  dissatisfied 
with  the  result,  and  contended  that  more  Demo- 
cratic votes  were  thrown  in  the  Otter  Tail  Lake 
region  than  there  were  citizens  residing  in  the 
northern  district. 

In  1859,  Mr.  Ramsey  was  again  nominated  by 
the  Republicans  for  Governor,  and  elected  by  four 
thousand  majority.  Before  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  office,  the  Republic  was  darkened  by  civil 
war.  Governor  Ramsey  happened  to  be  in  Wash- 
ington when  the  news  of  the  firing  upon  Fort 
Sumter  was  received,  and  was  among  the  fii-st  of 
the  State  Governors  to  call  upon  the  President 
and  tender  a  regiment  of  volunteers  in  defense  of 
the  EepubUc.  Returning  to  the  State,  he  dis- 
played energy  and  wisdom  in  the  organization  of 
regiments. 

In  the  fall  of  1861,  he  was  again  nominated  and 
elected  as  Governor,  but  before  the  expiration  of 
this  term,  on  July  10th,  1863,  he  was  elected  by 


SKETallES  OF  PUBLIC  MEN. 


163 


the  Legislature,  United  States  Senator.  Upon  en- 
tering the  Senate,  he  was  placed  on  the  Commit- 
tees on  Naval  Affairs,  Post-offices,  Patents,  Pacific 
Railroad,  and  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Rev- 
olutionary Pensions  and  Revolutionary  Claims. 
He  was  also  one  of  the  Committee  appointed  by 
Congress  to  accompany  the  remains  of  President 
Lincoln  to  Springfield  Cemetery,  Illinois. 

The  Legislature  of  1869  re-elected  him  for  the 
term  ending  in  March,  1875.  In  1880,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  War  by  President  Hayes,  and 
for  a  time  also  acted  as  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

He  was  married  in  1845  to  Anna  Earl,  daughter 
of  Michael  H.  Jenks,  a  member  of  Congress  from 
Bucks  county.  He  has  had  three  children;  his 
two  sons  died  in  early  youth;  his  daughter 
Marion,  the  wife  of  Charles  Eliot  Furness,  resides 
with  her  family,  with  her  parents  in  St.  Paul. 

GOVEENOB  GOBM.\N  A.  D.  1853  TO  A.  D.  1857. 

At  the  expiration  of  Governor  Ramsey's  tenn 
of  office,  President  Pierce  appointed  Willis  Arnold 
Gorman  as  his  successor.  Gevernor  Gorman  was 
the  only  son  of  David  L.  Gorman  and  born  in 
January,  1866  near  Flemingsburgh,  Kentucky- 
After  receiving  a  good  academic  education  he  went 
to  Bloomington,  Indiana,  and  in  1836  graduated 
in  the  law  department  of  the  State  University. 
He  imediately  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law 
with  few  friends  and  no  money,  in  Bloomington, 
and  in  a  year  was  called  upon  to  defend  a  man 
charged  with  murder,  and  obtained  his  acquittal. 

That  one  so  young  should  have  engaged  in 
such  a  case  excited  the  attention  of  thepubHo,  and 
two  years  afterwards  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Indiana  legislature.  His  popularity  was  so  great 
that  he  was  re-elected  a  number  of  times.  When 
war  was  declared  against  Mexico  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  a  company  of  volunteers,  which  with 
others  at  New  Albany  was  mustered  into  the  ser- 
vice for  one  year,  as  the  Third  Regiment  of 
Indiana  Volunteers,  with  James  H.  Lane,  after- 
wards U.  S.  Senator  for  Kansas,  as  Colonel,  while 
he  was  commissioned  as  Major.  It  is  said  that 
under  the  orders  of  General  Taylor  with  a  de- 
tachment of  riflemen  he  oi^ened  the  battle  of 
Buena  Vista.  In  this  engagement  his  horse  was 
shot  and  fell  into  a  deep  ravine  carrying  the 
Major  with,  him  and  severely  bruising  him. 

In  August,  1847,  he  returned  to  Indiana  and  by 
his  enthusiasm  helped  to  raise  the  Fourth  Regi- 
ment and  was  elected  its  Colonel,  and  went  back 


to  the  seat  of  war,  and  was  present  in  several  bat- 
tles, and  when  peace  was  declared  returned  with 
the  reputation  of  being  a  dashing  officer. 

Resuming  the  practice  of  law,  in  the  fall  of  1848 
he  was  elected  to  Congress  and  served  two  terms, 
his  last  expiring  on  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  the 
day  when  his  fellow  officer  in  the  Mexican  War, 
Gen.  Franlvlin  Pierce  took  the  oath  of  office  as 
President  of  the  United  States.  With  a  commis- 
sion bearing  the  signature  of  President  Pierce  he 
arrived  in  Saint  Paul,  in  May,  1853,  as  the  second 
Territorial  Governor  of  Minnesota. 

His  term  of  Governor  expired  in  the  spring  of 
1857,  and  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee to  frame  a  State  Constitution,  which  on  the 
second  Monday  in  July  of  that  year,  convened  at 
the  Capitol.  After  the  committee  adjourned  he 
again  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law  but  when 
the  news  of  the  firing  of  Fort  Sumter  reached 
Saint  Paul  he  realized  that  the  nation's  life 
was  endangered,  and  that  there  would  be  a  civil 
war.  He  offered  his  services  to  Governor  Ram- 
sey and  when  the  First  Regiment  of  Minnesota 
volunteers  was  organized  he  was  commissioned  as 
Colonel.  He  entered  with  ardor  upon  his  work  of 
drilling  the  raw  troops  in  camp  at  Fort  Snelling, 
and  the  privates  soon  caught  his  enthusiasm. 

No  officer  ever  had  more  pride  in  his  regiment 
and  his  soldiers  were  faithful  to  his  orders.  His 
regiment  was  the  advance  regiment  of  FrankUn's 
Brigade,  in  Heintzelman's  Division  at  the  first  Bat- 
tle of  Bull  Run,  and  there  made  a  reputation 
which  it  increased  at  every  battle,  especially  at 
Gettysburg.  Upon  the  recommendation  of  Gen- 
eral Winfield  Scott  who  had  known  him  in  Mex- 
ico after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  he  was  aj)pointed 
Brigadier  General  by  President  Lincoln, 

After  three  years  of  service  as  Brigadier  General 
he  was  mustered  out  and  returning  to  St.  Paul 
resumed  his  profession.  From  that  time  he  held 
several  positions  under  the  city  government.  He 
died  on  the  afternoon  of  the  25th  of  May,  1876. 

GOVEBNOB  SIBLET,  A.  D.   1858  to  A.  D.   1860. 

No  one  is  more  intimately  asssociated  with  the 
development  of  the  Northwest  than  Henry  Hast- 
ings Sibley,  the  first  Governor  of  Minnesota  under 
the  State  constitution. 

By  the  treaty  of  Peace  of  1783,  Great  Britain 
recognized  the  independence  of  the  United  States 
of  America,    and  the  land  east  of  the  Mississippi, 


154 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OP  TUB  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 


and  northwest  of  the  Ohio  river  was  open   to   set- 
tlement by  American  citizens. 

la  1786,  while  Congress  was  in  session  in  New 
York  City,  Dr.  Manasseh  Cutler,  a  graduate  of 
Yale,  a  Puritan  divine  of  a  considerable  scientific 
attainments,  visited  that  place,  and  had  frequent 
conferences  with  Dane  of  Massachusetts,  and  Jef- 
ferson, of  Virginia,  relative  to  the  colonization  of 
the  Oliio  valley,  and  he  secured  certain  provisions 
in  the  celebrated  "ordinance  of  1787,"  among 
others,  the  grant  of  land  in  each  to\vnship  for  the 
supi^ort  of  common  schools,  and  also  two 
townships  for  the  use  of  a  University. 

Under  the  auspices  of  Dr.  Cutler,  and  a  few 
others,  the  first  colony,  in  December,  1787,  left 
Massachusetts,  and  after  a  wearisome  Journey,  on 
April  7,  1788,  reached  Marietta,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Muskingum  River. 

Among  the  families  of  this  settlement  was  the 
maternal  grandfather  of  Governor  Sibley,  Colonel 
Ebenezer  Sproat,  a  gallant  officer  of  Ehode  Island, 
in  the  war  of  the  Eebellion,  and  a  friend  of  Kos- 
ciusko. 

Governor  Sibley's  mother,  Sarah  Sproat,  was 
sent  to  school  to  the  then  celebrated  Moravian 
Seminary  at  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania,  and  subse- 
quently finished  her  education  at  Philadelphia. 
In  1797  she  returned  to  her  wilderness  home  and 
her  father  purchased  for  her  pleasure  a  piano,  said 
to  have  been  the  first  transported  over  the  Alle- 
ghany Mountains.  Soon  after  this  Solomon  Sibley, 
a  young  lawyer,  a  native  of  Sutton,  Massachusetts, 
visited  Marietta,  and  become  acquainted  and  at- 
tached to  Sarah  Sproat,  and  in  1802,  they  were 
married.  The  next  year  Mrs.  Siljley  went  to  De- 
troit where  her  husband  had  settled,  and  she  com- 
menced housekeeping  opposite  where  the  Biddle 
House  is  situated  in  that  city.  In  1799,  Gover- 
nor Sibley's  father  was  a  representative  from  the 
region  now  known  as  Michigan,  in  the  first  Ter- 
ritorial Legislature  of  Northwest,  which  met  at 
Cincinnati.  From  1820  to  1823  he  was  delegate 
to  Congress  from  Michigan,  and  in  1824  he  became 
judge  of  the  supreme  court,  and  in  1836  resigned. 
Respected  by  all,  on  the  4th  of  April  he  died. 

His  son,  Henry  Hastings  Sibley,  was  born  in 
February,  1811,  in  the  city  of  Detroit.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen,  relinquishing  the  study  of  law,  he 
became  a  clerk  at  Sault  St.  Marie  and  then  was 
employed  by  Eobeit  Stuart,  of  the  American  Fur 
Company  at  Mackinaw.  In  1834  he  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  Indian  trade  above  Lake  Pepin  with 


his  new  quarters  at  the   mouth  of  the   Minnesota 
River. 

In  1836,  he  built  the  first  stone  residence  in 
Minnesota,  without  the  military  reservation,  at 
Mendota,  and  here  he  was  given  to  hospitality. 
The  missionary  of  the  cross,  and  the  man  of  sci- 
ence, the  officer  of  the  army,  and  the  tourist  from 
a  foreign  land,  were  received  with  a  friendliness 
that  caused  them  to  forget  while  under  his  roof 
that  they  were  strangers  in  a  strange  land. 

In  1843,  he  was  married  to  Sarah  J.  Steele,  the 
sister  of  Franklin  Steele,  at  Fort  Snelling. 

On  August  Gth,  1846,  Congress  authorized  the 
people  of  Wisconsin  to  organize  a  State  govern- 
ment with  the  St.  Croi.\  River  as  a  part  of  its  west- 
em  boundary,  thus  leaving  that  portion  of  Wis- 
consin territory  between  the  St.  Croix  and  Missis- 
sijipi  Rivers  s(  11  under  the  direct  supervison  of 
Congress,  and  the  Hon.  M.  L.  Martin,  the  dele- 
gate of  Wisconsin  territory  in  Congress,  intro- 
duced a  bill  to  organize  the  territory  of  Minnesota 
including  portions  of  Wisconsin  and  Iowa. 

It  was  not  until  the  29th  of  May,  1848,  how- 
ever, that  Wisconsin  territory  east  of  the  Saint 
Croix,  was  reorganized  as  a  State.  On  the  30th 
of  October,  Mr.  Sibley,  who  was  a  resident  of  Iowa 
territory,  was  elected  delegate  to  Congress,  and 
after  encountering  many  difficulties,  was  at  length 
admitted  to  a  seat. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  a  law  was  approved 
by  the  President  for  the  organization  of  Minne- 
sota teritory,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  he  was 
elected  the  first  delegate  of  the  new  Territory,  as 
his  father  had  been  at  an  early  period  elected  a 
delegate  from  the  then  new  Michigan  territory.  In 
1851,  he  was  elected  for  another  term  of  two 
years. 

In  1857,  he  was  a  member  of  the  convention  to 
frame  a  State  constitution  for  Minnesota,  and  was 
elected  presiding  officer  by  the  democrats.  By 
the  same  party  he  was  nominated  for  Governor  and 
elected  by  a  smiU  majority  over  the  republican 
candidate,  Alexander  Rm  sey. 

Minnesota  was  admitted  as  a  State  on  the  11th 
of  May,  1858,  and  on  the  28th  Governor  Sibley 
delivered  his  inaugural  message. 

After  a  residence  of  twenty -eight  yeara  at  Men- 
dota, in  1862,  he  became  a  resident  of  Saint  Paul. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  Sioux  outbreak.  Governor 
Ramsey  appointed  him  Colonel,  and  placed  him 
at  the  head  of  the  forces  employed  against  the  In- 
dians.   On  the  23d  of  September,  1862,  he  fought 


SKETCHES  OF  PUBLIC  MEN. 


155 


the  severe  and  decisive  battle  of  Wood  Lake.  In 
March,  1863,  he  was  confirmed  by  the  senate  as 
Brigadier  General,  and  on  the  29th  o£  November, 
1865,  he  was  appointed  Brevet  Major  General  for 
efficient  and  meritorious  services. 

Since  the  war  he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in 
every  enterprise  formed  for  the  advancement  of 
Minnesota,  and  for  the  benefit  of  St.  Paul,  the  city 
of  his  residence.  His  sympathetic  nature  leads 
him  to  open  Lis  ear,  and  also  his  purse  to  those  in 
distress,  and  among  his  chief  mourners  when  he 
leaves  this  world  will  be  the  many  poor  he  has  be- 
friended, and  the  faint-hearted  who  took  courage 
from  his  words  of  kindness.  His  beloved  wife,  in 
May,  1869,  departed  this  life,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren, two  daughters  and  two  sons. 

GOVERNOR  RAMSET,  JANUARY  1860  TO  APRtL  1863. 

Alexander  Ramsey,  the  first  Territorial  Gov- 
ernor, was  elected  the  second  State  Governor,  as 
has  already  been  mentioned  on  another  page.  Be- 
fore his  last  term  of  oifice  expired  he  was  elected 
United  States  Senator  by  the  Legislature,  and 
Lieutenant  Governor  Swift  became  Governor,  for 
the  unexpired  term. 

GOVERNOR  SWIFT,  APRHi,  1863  TO  JANUARY,  1864. 

Henry  A.  Swift  was  the  son  of  a  physician.  Dr. 
-John  Swift,  and  on  the  23d  of  March,  1823,  was 
born  at  Ravenna,  Ohio.  In  1842,  he  graduated  at 
Western  Reserve  College,  at  Hudson,  in  the  same 
State,  and  in  1845  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of 
the  law.  During  the  winter  of  1846-7,  he  was  an 
assistant  clerk  of  the  lower  house  of  the  Ohio 
Legislature,  and  his  quiet  manner  and  methodic 
method  of  business  made  a  favorable  impression. 
The  ijext  year  he  was  elected  the  Chief  Clerk,  and 
continued  in  oifice  for  two  years.  For  two  or 
three  years  he  was  Secretary  of  the  Portage  Farm- 
ers' Insurance  Company.  In  April,  1853,  he 
came  to  St.  Paul,  and  engaged  in  merchandise  and 
other  occupations,  and  in  1856,  became  one  of  ttie 
founders  of  St.  Peter.  At  the  election  of  1861,  he 
was  elected  a  State  Senator  for  two  years.  In 
March,  1863,  by  the  resignation  of  Lieutenant 
Governor  Donnelly,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
United  States  House  of  Representatives,  he  was 
chosen  temporary  President  of  the  Senate,  and 
when  Governor  Ramsey,  in  April,  1863,  left  the 
gubernatorial  chair,  for  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate  he  became  the  acting  Governor.  When  he 
ceased  to  act  as  Governor,  he  was  again  elected  to 


the  State  Senate,  and  served  during  the  years 
1864  and  1865,  and  was  then  appointed  by  the 
President,  Register  of  the  Land  Office  at  St.  Pe1;pr. 
On  the  25th  of  February,  1869  he  died. 

GOVEBNOR    MILLER A.    D.    1864    TO   A.    D.    1866. 

Stephen  A.  Miller  was  the  grandson  of  a  Ger- 
man immigrant  who  about  the  year  1785  settled 
in  Pennsylvania.  His  parents  were  David  and 
Rosanna  Miller,  and  on  the  7th  of  January,  1816, 
he  was  born  in  what  is  now  Perry  county  in  that 
State. 

He  was  like  many  of  our  best  citizens,  obliged 
to  bear  the  yoke  in  his  youth.  At  one  time  he 
was  a  canal  boy  and  when  quite  a  youth  was  in 
charge  of  a  canal  boat.  Fond  of  reading  he  ac- 
quired much  information,  and  of  pleasing  address 
he  made  friends,  so  that  in  1837  he  became  a  for- 
warding and  commission  merchant  in  Harrisburg. 

He  always  felt  an  interest  in  public  affairs,  and 
was  an  efficient  speaker  at  political  meetings.  In 
1849  he  was  elected  Prothonatary  of  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  and  from  1853  to  1855  was  editor  of 
the  Harrisburg  Telegraph;  then  Governor  Pol- 
lock, of  Pennsylvania,  appointed  him  Flour  In- 
spector for  Philadelphia,  which  office  he  held  until 
1858,  when  he  removed  to  Minnesota  on  account  of 
his  health,  and  opened  a  store  at  Saint  Cloud. 

In  1861,  Governor  Ramsey  who  had  known  him 
in  Pennsylvania,  appointed  him  Lieutenant  Colo 
nel  of  the  First  Regiment  of  Minnesota  Volunteers, 
and  was  present  with  his  regiment  on  July  2l8t  of 
that  year  in  the  eventful  battle  of  Bull  Run. 
Gorman  in  his  report  of  the  return  of  the  First 
Minnesota  Regiment  on  that  occasion  wrote:  "Be- 
fore leaving  the  field,  a  portion  of  the  right  wing, 
owing  to  the  configuration  of  the  ground  and  in- 
tervening woods,  became  detached,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lt.  Col.  Miller  whose  gallantry  was  con- 
spicuous throughout  the  entire  battle,  and  who 
contended  every  inch  of  the  ground  with  his  for- 
ces thrown  out  as  skirmishers  in  the  woods,  and 
succeeded  in  occupying  the  original  ground  on 
the  right,  after  the  repulse  of  a  body  of   cavalry." 

After  this  engagement,  his  friend  Simon  Cam- 
eron, the  Secretary  of  War,  tendered  him  a  posi- 
tion in  the  regular  army  which  he  declined. 

Although  in  ill  health  he  continued  with  the 
regiment,  and  was  present  at  Fair  Oaks  and  Mal- 
vern Hill. 

In  September,  1862,  he  was  made  Colonel  of  the 
Seventh  Regiment,   and    proceeded    against    the 


156 


OUTLINE  UISrOllY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 


Sioux  Indians  who  had  massacred  so  many  set- 
tlers in  the  Upper  Minnesota  Valley,  and  in  De- 
cember he  was  the  Colonel  commanding  at  Man- 
kato,  and  imder  bis  supervision,  thirty -eight 
Siox,  condemned  for  participation  in  the  killing 
of  white  persons,  on  the  26th  of  February,  18G3, 
were  executed  by  hanging  from  gallows,  upon  one 
scaffold,  at  the  same  time.  This  year  he  was  made 
Brigadier  General,  and  also  nominated  by  the  re- 
pubhcans  for  Governor,  to  which  office  he  was 
elected  for  two  years,  and  in  January,  1864,  en- 
entered  upon  its  duties. 

In  1873,  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  for 
a  district  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  State, 
and  in  1876,  was  a  Presidential  elector,  and  bore 
the  electoral  vote  to  Wasliuigton. 

During  the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  land  agent  by  the  St.  Paul  &  Sioiix 
City  Railroad  Company.  In  1881  he  died.  He 
was  married  in  1839  to  Margaret  Funk,  and  they 
had  three  sons,  and  a  daughter  who  died  in  early 
childhood.  His  son  Wesley,  a  Lieutenant  in  the 
United  States  Army,  fell  in  battle  at  Gettysburg; 
his  second  son  was  a  Commissary  of  Subsistence, 
but  is  now  a  private;  and  his  youngest  son  is  in 
the  service  of  a  Pennsylvania  railroad. 

GOVEKNOB  MAKSHAlj,  A.  D.  1866  to  A.  D.  1870. 

William  Rainey  Marshall  is  the  son  of  Joseph 
Marshall,  a  farmer  and  native  of  Bourbon  county, 
Kentucky,  whose  wife  was  Abigail  Shaw,  of  Penn- 
sylvania. He  was  born  on  the  17th  of  October, 
1825,  in  Boone  county,  Missouri.  His  boyhood 
was  passed  in  Quincy,  Illinois,  and  before  he  at- 
tained to  manhood  he  went  to  the  lead  mine  dis- 
trict of  Wisconsin,  and  engaged  in  mining  and 
surveying. 

In  September,  1847,  when  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  he  came  to  the  Falls  of  St.  Croix,  and  iu  a 
few  mouths  visited  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  staked 
out  a  claim  and  returned.  In  the  spring  of  1848, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Wisconsin  legislature,  but 
his  seat  was  contested  on  the  ground  that  he 
lived  beyond  the  boundaries  of  the  state  of  Wis- 
consin. In  1849,  he  again  visited  the  Falls  of  St. 
Anthony,  perfected  his  claim,  opened  a  store,  and 
represented  that  district  in  the  lower  house  of  the 
first  Territorial  legislature.  In  1851,  he  came  to 
St.  Paul  and  established  an  iron  and  heavy  hard- 
ware business. 

In  1852,  he  held  the  office  of  County  Surveyor, 
and  the  next  year,   with   his   brother   Joseph  and 


N.  P.  Langford,  he  went  into  the  banking  busi- 
ness. In  January,  1861,  he  became  the  editor  of 
the  Daily  Press,  which  succeeded  the  Daily  Times. 

In  August,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  Lieut. 
Colonel  of  the  Seventh  Minnesota  Regiment  of  In- 
fantry and  proceeded  to  meet  the  Sioux  wlio  had 
been  eugaged  in  the  massacre  of  the  settlers  of 
the  Minnesota  valley.  In  a  few  weeks,  on  the  23d 
of  September,  1862,  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Wood 
Lake,  and  led  a  charge  of  five  companies  of  his 
own  regiment,  and  two  of  the  Sixth,  which  routed 
the  Sioux,  sheltered  in  a  ravine. 

In  November,  1863,  he  became  Colonel  of  the 
Seventh  Regiment.  After  the  campaign  in  the 
Indian  country  the  regiment  was  ordered  south, 
and  he  gallantly  led  his  command,  on  the  14th  of 
July,  1864,  at  the  battle  near  Tupelo,  Mississippi. 
In  the  conflict  before  Nashville,  in  December,  he 
acted  as  a  Brigade  commander,  and  in  April,  1865, 
he  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Mobile. 

In  1865,  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican 
party,  and  elected  Governor  of  Minnesota,  and  in 
1867,  he  was  again  nominated  and  elected.  He 
entered  ujion  his  duties  as  Governor,  in  January, 
1866,  and  retired  in  1870,  after  four  years  of 
service. 

In  1870,  he  became  vice-president  of  the  bank 
which  was  known  as  the  Marine  National,  which 
has  ceased  to  exist,  and  was  engaged  in  other  en- 
terprises. 

In  1874,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  board  of 
Railroad  Commissioners,  and  in  1875,  by  a  change 
of  the  law,  he  was  elected  Railroad  Commissioner, 
and  until  January,  1882,  discharged  its  duties. 

He  has  always  been  ready  to  help  in  any  move- 
ment which  would  tend  to  promote  the  hapjjiness 
and  intelligence  of  humanity. 

On  the  22d  of  March,  1854,  he  was  married  to 
Abby  Langford,  of  Utioa,  and  has  had  one  child, 
a  son. 

GOVEBNOB  AUSTIN A.  D.  1870  TO  A.  D.  1874. 

Horace  Austin,  about  the  year  1831,  was  bom 
in  Connecticut.  His  father  was  a  blacksmith,  and 
for  a  time  he  was  engaged  in  the  same  occupation. 
Determined  to  be  something  in  the  world,  for  sev- 
eral years,  during  the  winter,  he  taught  school. 
He  then  entered  the  office  of  a  well  known  law 
firm  at  Augusta,  Maine,  and  in  1854  came  west. 
For  a  brief  period  he  had  charge  of  a  school  at 
the  Falls  of  Saint  Anthony. 

In  1856,  he  became  a  resident  of  St.  Peter,  on 


SKUTOHES  OF  PUBLIC  MEN. 


157 


the  Minnesota  Biver.  In  1863,  in  the  expedition 
against  the  Sioux  Indians,  he  served  as  captain  in 
the  volunteer  cavalry.  In  1869,  he  was  elected 
Governor,  and  in  1871  he  was  re-elected.  Soon 
after  the  termination  of  his  second  gubernatorial 
term,  he  was  appointed  Auditor  of  the  United 
States  Treasury  at  Washington.  He  has  since 
been  a  United  States  Laud  Officer  in  Dakota  ter- 
ritory, but  at  present  is  residing  at  Fergus  Falls, 
Minnesota. 

GOVEBNOB  DAVIS  A.  D.  1874  TO  A.  D.  1876. 

Cuahman  Kellog  Davis,  the  son  of  Horatio  JJ. 
and  Clarissa  F.  Davis,  on  the  16th  of  June,  1838, 
was  born  at  Henderson,  Jefferson  county.  New 
York.  "When  he  was  a  babe  but  a  few  months  old, 
his  father  moved  to  Waukesha,  Wisconsin,  and 
opened  a  farm.  At  Waukesha,  Carroll  College 
had  been  commenced,  and  in  this  institution  Gov- 
ernor Davis  was  partly  educated,  but  in  1857  grad- 
uated at  the  University  of  Michigan. 

He  read  law  at  Waukesha  with  Alexander  Kan- 
dall,  who  was  Governor  of  Wisconsin,  and  at  a 
later  period  Postmaster  General  of  the  United 
States,  and  in  1859  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

In  1862,  he  was  commissioned  as  first  lieuten- 
ant of  the  28th  Wisconsin  Infantry,  and  in  time 
became  the  adjutant  general  of  Brigadier  General 
Willis  A.  Gorman,  ex-Governor  of  Minnesota,  but 
in  1864,  owing  to  ill  health  he  left  the  army. 

Coming  to  Saint  Paul  in  August,  1864,  he  en- 
tered ujjon  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  ex-Governor  Gorman. 
Gifted  with  a  vigorous  mind,  a  fine  voice,  and  an 
impressive  speaker,  he  soon  took  high  rank  in  his 
profession. 

In  1867,  he  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of 
the  legislature,  and  the  next  year  was  commisioned 
Unit-ed  States  District  Attorney,  which  position 
he  occupied  for  five  years. 

In  1863,  he  was  nominated  by  the  republicans, 
and  elected  Governor.  Entering  upon  the  duties 
of  the  office  in  1874,  he  served  two  years. 

Since  his  retirement  he  has  had  a  large  legal 
practice,  and  is  frequently  asked  to  lecture  upon 
literary  subjects,  always  interesting  the  audience. 

GOVERNOK  PILLSBURY — A.  D.  1876  TO  1882. 

John  Sargent  Pillsbury  is  of  Puritan  ancestry. 
He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Susan  Pillsbury,  and 
on  the  29th  of  July,  1828,  was  bom  at  Sutton, 


New  Hampshire,  where  his  father  and  grandfather 
Uved. 

Like  the  sons  of  many  New  Hampshire  farmers, 
he  was  obliged,  at  an  early  age,  to  work  for  a  sup- 
port. He  commenced  to  learn  house  painting,  but 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  was  a  boy  in  a  country  store. 
When  he  was  twenty-one  yea'rs  of  age,  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Walter  Harriman,  subsequently 
Governor  of  New  Hampshire.  After  two  years  he 
removed  to  Concord,  and  for  four  years  was  a  tailor 
and  dealer  in  cloths.  In  1853,  he  came  to  Michigan, 
and  in  1855,  visited  Minnesota,  and  was  so  pleased 
that  he  settled  at  St.  Anthony,  now  the  East  Divi- 
sion of  the  city  of  Minneapolis,  and  opened  a 
hardware  store.  Soon  a  fire  destroyed  his  store 
and  stock  upon  which  there  was  no  insurance,  but 
by  perseverance  and  hopefulness,  he  in  time  re- 
covered from  the  loss,  with  the  increased  confldenct 
of  his  fellow  men.  For  six  years  he  was  an  efficient 
member  of  the  St.  Anthony  council. 

In  1863,  he  was  one  of  three  appointed  sole  Ee- 
gents  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  with  powel 
to  liquidate  a  large  indebtedness  which  had  been 
unwisely  created  in  Territorial  days.  By  his 
carefiilness,  after  two  or  three  years  the  debt  was 
canceled,  and  a  large  partion  of  the  land  granted 
to  the  University  saved. 

In  1863,  he  was  elected  a  State  Senator,  and 
served  for  seven  terms.  In  1875,  lie  was  nomi- 
nated by  the  republicans  and  elected  Governor; 
in  1877,  he  was  again  elected,  and  in  1879  for  the 
third  time  he  was  chosen,  the  only  person  who  has 
served  three  successive  terms  as  the  Governor  of 
Minnesota. 

By  his  courage  and  persistence  he  succeeded  in 
obtaining  the  settlement  of  the  railroad  bonds 
which  had  been  issued  under  the  seal  of  the  State, 
and  had  for  years  been  ignored,  and  thus  injured 
the  credit  of  the  State. 

In  1872,  with  his  nephew  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  flour,  and  the  firm  owns  several 
mills.  Lately  they  have  erected  a  mill  in  the 
East  Division,  one  of  the  best  and  largest  in  the 
world. 

GOVEBNOB  HUBBARD,  A.  D.  1882. 

LiiL^ius  Frederick  Hubbard  was  born  on  the  26th 
of  January,  1836,  at  Troy,  New  York.  His  father, 
Charles  Frederick,  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
Sheriff  of  Rensselaer  county.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen, Governor  Hubbard  left  the  North  Granville 
Academy,  New  York,  and  went  to  Poultney,  Ver- 


158 


OUTLINE  BISTORT  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 


mont,  to  learn  the  tinner's  trade,  and  after  a  short 
period  hs  moved  to  Chicago,  where  he  worked  for 
four  years. 

In  1857,  he  came  to  Minnesota,  and  established 
a  paper  called  tlie  "Republican,"  which  he  con- 
ducted until  1861,  when  in  December  of  that  year 
he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Fifth  Minnesota 
Regiment,  and  by  his  efficiency  so  commended 
himself  that  in  less  than  one  year  he  became  its 
Colonel.  At  the  battle  of  Nashville,  after  he  had 
been  knocked  ofiF  his  horse  by  a  ball,  he  rose,  and 
on  foot  led  his  command  over  the  enemy's  works. 
"For  gallant  and  meritorious  service  in  the  battle 
of  NashwUe,  Tennessee,  on  the  15th  and  16th  of 
December,  1864,"  he  received  the  brevet  rank  of 
Brigadier  General. 

After  the  war  he  returned  to  Red  Wing,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  the  grain  and  flour  business.  He 
was  State  Senator  from  1871  to  1875,  and  iu  1881 
was  elected  Governor.  He  married  in  May,  1868, 
Amelia  Thomas,  of  Red  Wing,  and  has  three 
children. 

mirsesota's  kepbesextatives  ts  conghess  of  the 
united  states  of  ameeica. 

From  Maroli,  1849,  to  May,  1858,  Minnesota 
was  a  Territory,  and  entitled  to  send  to  the  con- 
gress of  the  United  States,  one  delegate,  with  the 
privilege  of  representing  the  interests  of  his  con- 
stituents, but  not  allowed  to  vote. 

TEBBITOBIAL    DELEGATES. 

Before  the  recognition  of  Minnesota  as  a  sepa- 
rate Territory,  Henry  H.  Sibley  sat  in  Congress, 
from  January,  1849,  as  a  delegate  of  the  portion 
Wisconsin  territory  which  was  beyond  the  boun- 
daries of  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  in  1848  admit- 
ted to  the  Union.  In  September,  1850  he  was 
elected  delegate  by  the  citizens  of  Minnesota  ter- 
ritory, to  Congress. 

Henry  M.  Rice  succeeded  Mr.  Sibley  as  delegate, 
and  took  his  seat  in  the  thirty-third  congress,  which 
convened  on  December  5th  1853,  at  Washington.  He 
was  re-elected  to  the  thirty-fourth  Congress,  which 
as<iembled  on  the  3d  of  March,  1857.  During  his 
term  of  office  Congress  passed  an  act  extending 
the  pre-emption  laws  over  the  unsurveyed  lands  of 
Minnesota,  and  Mr.  Rice  obtained  valuable  land 
grants  for  the  construction  of  railroads. 

William  W.  Kingsbury  was  the  last  Territorial 
delegate.  He  took  his  seat  in  the  thirty-fifth  con- 
gress, which  convened  on  the   7th  of  1  )ecember. 


1857,  and  the  next  May  his  seat  was  vacated  by 
Minnesota  becoming  a  State. 

UNITED   STATES   SENATOBS. 

Henry  M.  Rice,  who  had  been  for  fonr  years 
delegate  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  was  on 
the  19th  of  December,  1857,  elected  one  of  two 
United  States  Senators.  During  his  term  the  civil 
war  began,  and  he  rendered  efficient  service  to  the 
Union  and  the  State  he  represented.  He  is  still 
living,  an  honored  citizen  in  St.  Paul. 

James  Shields,  elected  at  the  same  time  as  Mr. 
Rice,  to  the  United  States  Senate,  drew  the  short 
term  of  two  years. 

Morton  S.  Wilkinson  was  chosen  by  a  joint  con- 
vention of  the  Legislatiire,  on  December  15th, 
1359,  to  succed  General  Shields.  During  the  re- 
bellion of  the  Slave  States  he  was  a  firm  supporter 
of  the  Union. 

Alexander  Ramsey  was  elected  by  the  Legisla- 
ture, on  the  14th  of  January,  1863,  as  the  suc- 
cessor of  Henry  M.  Rice.  The  Legislature  of 
1869  re  elected  Mr.  Ramsey  for  a  second  term  of 
six  years,  ending  March  1875.  For  a  full  notice 
see  the  138th  page. 

Daniel  S.  Norton  was,  on  January  10th,  1865, 
elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  as  the  suc- 
cessor of  Mr.  Wilkinson.  Mr.  Norton,  who  had 
been  in  feeble  lieaUh  for  years,  died  in  June,  1870. 

O.  P.  Stearns  was  elected  on  Jauuary  17th,  1871, 
for  the  few  weeks  of  the  unexpired  term  of  Mr. 
Norton. 

WiUiam  Windom,  so  long  a  member  of  the 
United  States  House  of  Representatives,  was 
elected  United  States  Senator  for  a  term  of  six 
years,  ending  March  4th,  1877,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  ending  March  4th,  1883,  but  re- 
signed, having  been  aj^pointed  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  by  President  Garfield. 

A.  J.  Edgerton,  of  Kasson,  was  appointed  by 
the  Governor  to  fill  the  vacancy.  President  Gar- 
field having  been  assassinated,  and  Mr.  Edgerton 
having  been  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  Dakota 
territory,  Mr.  Windom,  at  a  special  session  of  the 
Legislature  in  October,  1881,  was  re-elected 
United  States  Senator. 

S.  J.  R.  McTMiUan,  of  St.  Paul,  on  the  19th  of 
February,  1875,  was  elected  United  States  Sen- 
ator for  the  term  expiring  March  4th,  1881,  and 
has  since  been  re-elected  for  a  second  term,  which, 
in  March.  1887,  will  expire. 


SEETOUES  OF  PUBLIC  MEN. 


159 


BEPKESENTATIVES    IN    THE   V.    S.    HOUSE   OP    KEPBE- 
SENTATIVES. 

William  W.  Phelps  was  one  of  the  first  mem- 
bers of  the  United  States  House  of  Representatives 
from  Minnesota.  Born  in  Michigan  in  1826,  he 
graduated  in  1846,  at  its  Slate  University.  In 
1854,  he  came  to  Minnesota  as  Register  of  the 
Land  OiBce  at  Red  Wing,  and  in  1857,  was  elected 
a  representative  to  Congress. 

James  M.  Cavanaugh  was  of  Irish  parentage, 
and  came  from  Massachusetts.  He  was  elected  to 
the  same  Congress  as  Mr.  Phelps,  and  subsequently 
removed  to  Colorado,  where  he  died. 

William  Windom  was  born  on  May  10th,  1827,in 
Belmont,county,Ohio.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1850,  and  was,  in  1853,  elected  Prosecuting  At- 
torney for  Knox  county,  Ohio.  The  next  year  he 
came  to  Minnesota,  and  has  represented  the  State 
in  Congress  ever  since. 

Cyrus  Aldrioh,of  Minneapolis,  Hennepin  county, 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Con- 
gress, which  convened  December  5th,  1859,  and 
was  re-elected  to  the  Thirty-seventh  Congress. 

Ignatius  Donnelly  was  born  in  Philadelphia  in 
1831.  Graduated  at  the  High  School  of  that  city, 
and  in  1853  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  1857, 
he  came  to  Minnesota,  and  in  1859  was  elected 
Lt.  Governor,  and  re-elected  in  1861.  He  be- 
came a  rejjresentative  of  Minnesota  in  the  United 
States  Congress  which  convened  on  December  7th, 
1863,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  Thirty-ninth  Con- 
gress which  convened  on  December  ith,  1865.  He 
was  also  elected  to  the  Fortieth  congress,  which 
convened  in  December,  1867.  Since  1873  he  has 
been  an  active  State  Senator  from  Dakota  county, 
in  which  he  has  been  a  resident,  and  Harper 
Brothers  have  recently  published  a  book  from  his 
pen  of  wide  research  called  "Atlantis." 

Eugene  M.  Wilson,  of  BEnneapolis,  was  elected 
to  the  the  Forty-first  Congress,  which  assembled 
in  December,  1869.  He  was  bom  December  25th, 
1833,  at  Morgantown,  Virginia,  and  graduated  at 
Jeiferson  College,  Pennsylvania.  From  1857  to 
1861,  he  was  United  States  District  Attorney 
for  Minnesota.  During  the  civil  war  he  was  cap- 
tain in  the  First  IMinnesota  Cavalry. 

Mr.  Wilson's  father,  grandfather,  and  maternal 
grandfather  were  members  of  Congress. 

M.  S.  Wilkinson,  of  whom  mention  has  been 
made  as  U.  S.  Senator,  was  elected  in  1868  a  rep- 


resentative to  the  congress  which  convened  in  De- 
cember, 1869,  and  served  one  term. 

Mark  H.  DunneU  of  Owatonna,  in  the  fall  of 
1870,  was  elected  from  the  First  District  to  fill 
the  seat  in  the  House  of  Representatives  so  long 
occupied  by  Wm.  Windom. 

Mr.  Dunnell,  in  July,  1823,  was  born  at  Bus- 
ton,  Maine.  He  graduated  at  the  college  estab- 
lished at  Waterville,  in  that  State,  in  1849.  From 
1855  to  1859  he  was  State  Superiatendent  of 
schools,  and  in  1860  commenced  the  practice  of 
law.  For  a  short  period  he  was  Colonel  of  the 
5th  Maine  regiment  but  resigned  in  1862,  and 
was  appointed  U.  S.  Consul  at  Vera  Cruz,  Mexi- 
co. In  1865,  he  came  to  Minnesota,  and  was 
State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  from 
April,  1867  to  August,  1870.  Mr.  DonneU  still 
rejsresents  his  district. 

John  T.  AveriU  was  elected  ia  November,  1870, 
from  the  Second  District,  to  succeed  Eugene  M. 
Wilson. 

Mr.  AveriU  was  born  at  Alma,  Maine,  and  com- 
l^leted  his  studies  at  the  Maine  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity. He  was  a  member  of  the  Minnesota  Senate 
in  1858  and  1859,  and  during  the  rebellion  was 
Lieut.  Colonel  of  the  6th  Minnesota  regiment. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  enterprising  firm  of  paper 
manufacturers,  AverUl,  Russell  and  Carpenter. 
In  the  fall  of  1872  he  was  re-elected  as  a  member 
of  the  Forty-second  Congress,  which  convened  in 
December.  1873. 

Horace  B.  Strait  was  elected  to  Forty -third  and 
Forty-fourth  Congress,  and  is  still  a  representative. 

William  S.  King,  of  Minneapolis,  was  born  De- 
cember 16,  1828,  at  Malone,  New  York.  He  has 
been  one  of  the  most  active  citizens  of  Minnesota 
in  developing  its  commercial  and  agriculutral  in- 
terests. For  several  years  he  was  Postmaster  of 
the  United  States  House  of  Representatives,  and 
was  elected  to  the  Forty-fourth  Congress,  which 
convened  in  1875. 

Jacob  H.  Stewart,  M.  D.,  was  elected  to  the 
Forty-fifth  Congress,  which  convened  in  Decem- 
ber, 1877.  He  was  born  January  15th,  1829,  in 
Columbia  county.  New  York,  and  in  1851,  grad- 
uated at  the  University  of  New  York.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  practiced  medicine  at  PeekskiU,  New 
York,  and  in  1855,  removed  to  St.  Paul.  In  1859, 
he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,'  and  was  Chair- 
man of  the  Railroad  Committee.  In  1864,  he  was 
Mayor  of  St.  Paul.     He  was  Surgeon  of  the  First 


160 


OUTLINE  n  I  STORY  OF  THE  STATE  OP  MINNESOTA 


Jilinnesota,  aud  taken  prisoner  at  the  first  battle  of 
Bull  Kun.  From  18G9  to  1873,  he  was  again 
Mayor  of  St.  Paul,  and  is  at  the  present  time 
United  States  Surveyor  General  of  the  Minnesota 
land  offioe. 

Henry  Poehler  was  the  successor  of  Horace  B. 
Strait  for  the  term  ending  March  4,  1881,  when 
Mr.  Strait  was  again  elected. 

William  Drew  Washburn  on  the  1-lth  of  lan- 
uary,  1831,  was  born  at  Livermore,  Maine,  and  in 
1854,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College.  In  1857,  he 
came  to  Minnesota,  and  in  18G1,  was  appointed  by 
the  President,  Surveyor  General  of  U.  S.  Lands, 
for  this  region.  He  has  been  one  of  the  most 
active  among  the  business  men  of  Minneapolis. 
In  November,  1878,  he  was  elected  to  represent 
the  3d  district  in  the  U.  S.  House  of  Kcpresenta- 
tives,  and  in  1880,  re-elected.  He  is  a  brother  of 
C.  C,  late  Governor  of  Wisconsin,  and  of  E.  B., 
the  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  U.  S.  of  America, 
to  France,  and  resident  in  Paris  during  the  late 
Franco-German  war. 

KECAPITULATION  TERBITOBIAL      GOVERSORS       OF 

MINNESOTA. 

Alexander  Ramsey 1«  10-1853 

Willis  A.  Gorrann 1S53-1857 

Samuel  Medary 1857 

STATE   GOVEUNOUS. 

Henry  H.  Sibley 1858-1860 

Alexander  Rams?y 1860-1863 

H.  A.  Swift,  Acting  Gov.  .  . '. 1863-1861 

Stephen  Miller 1864-18GG 

W.  R.  Marshall 1866-1870 

Horace  Austin 1870-1874 


C.  K.  Davis 1874-1S76 

John   S.  PilLsbury 1876-1882 

L.  F.  Hubb.'.rd . ." 1882 

TERRITORIAL  DELEGATES  TO  CONGRESS. 

Henry   H.  Sibley 1849-1853 

Henry  M.  Rice 1853-1857 

W.  W.  Kingsbury 1857-1858 

UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 

Henry  M.  Rice 1857-1863 

James   Shields 1857-1859 

M.   S.  Wilkinson 1859-1865 

Alexander    Ramsey 1863-1875 

Daniel  S.  Norton 1865-1870 

O.  P.  Stearns 1871 

William  Wiudom 1871 

A.  J.  Edgerton 1881 

S.  J.  R.  McMillan 1875 

MEMBERS    tJOTTED  STATES    HOUSE     OF    REPRESENTA- 
TIVES. 

W.  W.  Phelps 1857-1859 

J.  M.  Oavauaugh 1857-1859 

WiUiam  Windom 1859-1871 

Cyrus  Aldrieh 1859-1863 

Ignatius  Donnelly 1863-1869 

Eugene  M.  Wilson : 1869-1871 

M.  S.  Wilkinson 1869-1771 

M.  H.  Dunnell 1871 

J.  T.  Averill 1871-1875 

H.  B.  Strait 1875-1879 

"  1881 

Henry   Poehler 1879-1S81 

W.S.  King 1875-1877 

J.  H.  Stewart 1877-1879 

W.  D.  Washburn 1879 


STATE  EDUCATION. 


IGl 


STATE  EDUCATION. 


BY  CHARLES  S.  BKYA.NT,  A.  M, 


CHAPTER  XXVin. 

EDUCATION — DEFINITION     OF     THE    WOED — CHURCH 

AND      STATE     SEPARATED COLONIAL      PERIOD 

HOWARD  COLLEGE — WILLIAM  PENN'S  GREAT  LAW 
WILLIAM  AND  MARY  COLLEGE STATE  EDUCA- 
TION UNDER  THE  CONFEDERATION AID  GIVEN  TO 

STATES  IN  THE  NORTHWEST. 

As  a  word,  education  is  of  wide  application  and 
may  convey  but  an  indefinite  idea.  Broadly,  it 
means  to  draw  out,  to  lead  forth,  to  train  up,  to 
foster,  to  enable  the  individual  to  properly  use  the 
faculties,  mental  or  corpora),  with  which  he  is  en- 
dowed; and  to  use  them  in  a  way  that  will  accom- 
plish the  desired  result  in  all  relations  and  in  any 
department  of  industry,  whether  in  the  domain  of 
intellectual  research,  or  confined  to  the  fields  of 
physical  labor. 

State  Education  points  at  once  to  a  definite  field 
of  investigation;  an  organization  which  is  to  have 
extensive  direction  and  control  of  the  subject  matter 
embraced  in  the  terms  chosen.  It  at  once  excludes 
the  conclusion  that  any  other  species  of  education 
than  secular  education  is  intended.  It  excludes  all 
other  kinds  of  education  not  included  in  this  term, 
without  the  slightest  reflection  upon  parochial,  sec- 
tarian, denominational  or  individual  schools;  inde- 
pendent or  corporate  educational  organizations. 
State  Education,  then,  may  embrace  whatever  is 
required  by  the  State,  in  the  due  execution  of  its 
mission  in  the  protection  of  individual  rights  and 
the  proper  advancement  of  the  citizen  in  material 
prosperity;  in  short  whatever  may  contribute  in 
any  way  to  the  honor,  dignity,  "and  fair  fame  of  a 
State;  whose  sovereign  will  directs,  and,  to  a  very 
great  extent,  controls  the  destiny  of  its  subjects. 

11 


A  reason  may  be  given  for  this  special  depart- 
ment of  education,  without  ignoring  any  others 
arising  from  the  necessity  of  civil  government,  and 
its  necessary  separation  from  ecclesiastical  control. 
It  must  be  observed  by  every  reasoning  mind,  that 
in  the  advancement  and  growth  of  social  elements 
from  savagery  through  famUies  and  tribes  to  civil- 
ization, and  the  better  forms  of  government,  that 
in  the  increasing  growth  multijjlied  industries 
continually  lead  to  a  resistless  demand  for  devision 
of  labor,  both  intellectual  and  physical.  This 
division  must  eventually  lead,  in  every  form  of 
government,  to  a  separation  of  what  may  be  termed 
Church  and  State:  and,  of  course,  in  such  division 
every  separate  organization  must  control  the  ele- 
ments necessary  to  sustain  its  own  perpetuity;  for 
otherwise  its  identity  would  be  lost,  and  it  would 
cease  to  have  any  recognized  existence. 

In  these  divisions  of  labor,  severally  organized 
for  different  and  entirely  distinct  objects,  mutual 
benefits  must  result,  not  from  any  invasion  of  the 
separate  rights  of  the  one  or  the  other,  by  hostile 
aggression,  but  by  reason  of  the  greatest  harmony 
of  elements,  and  hence  greater  perfection  in  the 
labors  of  each,  when  limited  to  the  promotion  of 
each  separate  and  peculiar  work.  In  the  division, 
one  would  be  directed  towards  the  temporal,  the 
other  toward  the  spiritual  advancement  of  man,  in 
any  and  all  relations  which  he  sustains,  not  only 
to  his  fellow  men,  but  to  the  material  or  immaterial 
universe.  These  departments  of  labor  are  suffic- 
iently broad,  although  intimately  related,  tojequire 
the  best  directed  energies  of  each,  to  properly  cul- 
tivate their  separate  fields.  And  an  evidence  of 
the  real  harmony  existing  between  these  organiza- 


162 


STATE  EDUCATION. 


tionB,  the  Church  and  State,  relative  to  the  present 
investigation,  is  found  in  the  admilted  fact  that 
education,  both  temporal  and  spiritual,  secular  and 
sectarian,  was  a  principal  of  the  original  organiza- 
tion, and  not  in  conflict  with  its  highest  duty,  or  its 
most  vigorous  growth.  In  the  division  of  the 
original  organization,  that  department  of  educa- 
tion, which  was  only  spiritual,  was  retained  with 
its  necessary  adjuncts,  while  that  which  was  only 
temporal  was  relegated  to  a  new  organization,  the 
temporal  organization,  the  State.  The  separate 
elements  are  still  of  the  same  (juality,  althougli 
wielded  by  two  instead  of  one  organization.  In 
this  respect  education  may  be  compared  to  the 
diamond,  which  when  broken  and  subdivided  into 
most  minute  particles,  each  separate  particle  re- 
tains not  only  the  form  and  number  of  facets,  but 
the  brilliancy  of  the  original  diamond.  So  in  the 
case  before  us,  though  education  has  suffered 
division,  and  has  been  aj)i)ropriated  by  different 
organisms,  it  is  nevertheless  the  same  in  nature, 
and  retains  the  same  quaUty  and  luster  of  the 
parent  original. 

The  laws  of  growth  in  these  separate  organiza- 
tions, the  Church  composed  of  every  creed,  and 
the  State  in  every  fonn  of  government,  must  de- 
termine the  extent  to  which  their  special  educa- 
tion shall  be  carried.  If  it  shall  be  determined 
by  the  church,  that  her  teachers,  leaders,  and  fol- 
lowers in  any  stage  of  its  growth,  shall  be  limited 
in  their  acquisitions  to  the  simple  elements  of 
knowledge,  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic,  it  may 
be  determined  that  the  State  should  limit  educa- 
tion to  the  same  simple  elements.  But  as  th(! 
Church,  conscious  of  its  immature  growth,  has 
never  restricted  her  leaders,  teachers,  or  followers, 
to  these  simple  elements  of  knowledge;  neither 
lias  the  State  seen  fit  to  limit,  nor  can  it  ever  limit 
education  to  any  standard  short  of  the  extreme 
limits  of  its  growth,  the  fullest  development  of 
its  resources,  and  the  demands  of  its  citizens. 
State  Education  and  Church  Education  are  alike 
in  their  infancy,  and  no  one  is  able  to  prescribe 
limits  to  the  one  or  the  other.  The  separation  of 
Church  and  State,  in  matters  of  government  only, 
is  yet  of  very  narrow  limits,  and  is  of  very  recent 
origin.  And  the  separation  of  Church  and  State, 
in  matters  of  education,  has  not  yet  clearly  dawned 
upon  the  minds  of  the  accredited  leaders  of  these 
clearly  distinct  organizations. 

It  is  rational,  however,  to  conclude,  that  among 


reasonable  men,  it  would  be  quite  as  easy  to  de- 
termine the  final  triumph  of  State  Education,  as 
to  determine  the  final  success  of  the  Christian 
faith  over  Buddhism,  or  the  fijial  triumph  of  man 
in  the  subjugation  of  the  earth  to  his  control. 
The  decree  has  gone  forth,  that  man  shall  subdue 
the  earth;  so  that,  guided  by  the  higher  law,  Ed- 
ucation, under  the  direction  or  protection  of  the 
State,  must  prove  a  final  success,  foi'  only  by 
organic,  scientific,  and  human  instrumentality  can 
the  purpose  of  the  Creator  be  possibly  accom- 
plished on  earth. 

If  we  have  found  greater  perfection  in  quality, 
and  better  adaptation  of  methods  in  the  work  done 
by  these  organizations  since  the  separation,  we 
must  conclude  that  the  triumphs  of  each  wiU  be 
in  proportion  to  the  completeness  of  the  separa- 
tion; and  that  the  countries  the  least  shackled  by 
entangling  alliances  in  this  regard,  must,  other 
things  being  equal,  lead  the  van,  both  in  the  ad- 
vancement of  science  and  in  the  triumphs  of  an 
enlightened  faith.  And  we  can,  by  a  very  slight 
comi^arison  of  the  ])resent  with  the  past,  deter- 
mine for  ourselves,  that  the  scientific  curriculum  of 
State  schools  has  been  greatly  widened  and  en- 
riched, and  its  methods  better  adapted  to  proposed 
ends.  We  can  as  easily  ascertain  the  important 
fact  that  those  countries  are  in  advance,  where  the 
two  great  organizations,  Church  and  State,  are 
least  in  conflict.  We  know  also,  that  from  the 
nature  of  the  human  movement  westward,  that 
the  best  defined  conditions  of  these  organizations 
should  be  found  in  the  van  of  this  movement.  On 
this  continent,  then,  the  highest  development  of 
these  organizations  should  be  found,  at  least,  when 
time  shall  have  matured  its  natural  results  in  the 
growth  and  polish  of  our  institutions.  Even  now, 
in  our  infancy,  what  coimtry  on  earth  can  show- 
equal  results  in  either  the  growth  of  general 
knowledge,  the  advance  of  education,  or  the  tri- 
umphs of  Christian  labor  at  home  and  abroad  ? 
These  are  the  legitimate  fruits  of  the  wonderful 
energy  given  to  the  mind  of  man  in  the  separate 
labors  of  these  organizations,  on  the  j'rinciple  of 
the  division  of  labor,  and  consequently  better  di- 
rected energies  in  every  department  of  industry. 
This  movement  is  onward,  across  the  continent, 
and  thence  around  the  globe.  Its  force  is  irresist- 
able,  and  all  efforts  to  reunite  these  happily  di- 
vided powers,  and  to  return  to  the  culture  of  past 
times,  and  the  governments  and  laws  of  past  ages, 


COLONIAL   PERIOD. 


163 


must  be  as  unavailiug  as  an  attempt  to  reverse 
the  laws  of  nature.  In  their  separation  and 
friendly  rivalry,  exists  the  hope  of  man's  temporal 
and  sjnritual  elevation. 

State  Education  is  natural  in  its  application. 
In  the  beginning  God  created  the  heavens  and  the 
earth,  and  every  organism  after  its  own  kind. 
Now,  in  pursuance  of  this  well  known  law  of  na- 
ture, that  everything  created  is  made  after  its  own 
order  and  its  own  likeness,  it  follows  that  the  new 
comers  on  this  continent  brought  with  them  the 
germ  of  national  and  spiritual  life.  If  we  are 
right  in  this  interpretation  of  tlie  laws  of  life  re- 
lating to  living  organisms,  we  shall  expect  to  find 
its  proper  manifestation  in  the  early  institutions 
they  created  for  their  own  special  purposes  imme- 
diately after  their  arrival  here.  We  look  into 
their  history,  and  we  find  that  by  authority  of  the 
General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  in  1636,  sixteen 
years  after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers, 
Harvard  College  was  established,  as  an  existing 
identity;  that  in  1638,  it  was  endowed  by  John 
Harvard,  and  named  after  him.  But  the  Common 
School  was  not  overlooked.  At  a  public  meeting 
in  Boston,  April  13th  1636,  it  was  "generally 
agreed  that  one  Philemon  Pormont  be  entreated 
to  become  schoolmaster  for  teaching  and  nourter- 
ing  children." 

After  the  date  above,  matters  of  education  ran 
through  the  civil  authority,  and  is  forcibly  ex- 
pressed in  the  acts  of  1642  and  1647,  passed  by 
the  General  Court  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Col- 
ony. By  the  act  of  1642,  the  select  men  of  every 
town  are  required  to  have  vigilant  eye  over  their 
brothers  and  neighbors,  to  see,  first,  that  none  of 
them  shall  suffer  so  much  barbarism  in  any  of 
their  families,  as  not  to  endeavor  to  teach,  by  them- 
selves or  others,  their  children  and  apprentices  so 
much  learning  as  shall  enable  them  perfectly  to 
read  the  English  tongue,  and  knowledge  of  the 
Capital  laws,  under  penalty  of  twenty  shillings 
for  each  offence.  By  the  act  of  1647,  support  of 
schools  was  made  compulsory,  and  their  blessings 
universal.  By  this  law  "every  town  containing 
fifty  house-holders  was  required  to  appoint  a 
teacher,  to  teach  all  children  as  shall  resort  to  him 
to  write  and  read;"  and  every  town  containing  one 
hundred  families  or  house-holders  was  required  to 
"set  up  grammar  schools,  the  master  thereof  being 
able  to  instruct  youths  so  far  as  they  may  be  fitted 
for  the  University." 


In  New  Amsterdam,  among  the  Keformed  Prot- 
estant Dutch,  the  conception  of  a  school  system 
guaranteed  aud  protected  by  the  State,  seems  to 
have  been  entertained  by  the  colonists  from  Hol- 
land, although  circumstances  hindered  its  practi- 
cal development.  The  same  general  statement  is 
true  of  the  mixed  settlements  along  the  Delaware; 
Menonites,  Catholics,  Dutch,  aud  Swedes,  in  con- 
nection -with  their  churches,  established  little 
schools  in  their  early  settlements.  In  1682,  the 
legislative  assembly  met  at  Chester.  William 
Penn  made  provision  for  the  education  of  youth 
of  the  province,  and  enacted,  that  the  Governor 
and  provincial  Council  should  erect  and  order  all 
public  schools.  One  section  of  Penn's  "Great 
law"  is  in  the  woi'ds  following : 

'^Be  it  enacted  by  authority  aforesaid,  that  all 
persons  within  the  province  and  territories  thereof, 
having  children,  and  all  the  guardians  and  trus- 
tees of  orphans,  shall  cause  such  to  be  instructed 
in  reading  and  writing,  so  that  they  may  be  able 
to  read  the  scriptures  and  to  write  by  the  time  that 
they  attain  the  age  of  12  years,  aud  that  they  then 
be  taught  some  useful  trade  or  skill,  that  the  poor 
may  work  to  live,  and  the  rich,  if  they  become 
poor,  may  not  want;  of  which  every  county  shall 
take  care.  And  in  case  such  parents,  guardians, 
or  oversee;'s  shall  be  found  deficient  in  this  respect, 
every  such  parent,  guardian,  or  overseer,  shall  pay 
for  every  such  child  five  pounds,  except  there 
should  appear  incaisacity  of  body  or  understanding 
to  hinder  it." 

And  this  "Great  law"  of  William  Penn,  of  1682, 
will  not  suffer  in  comparison  with  the  English 
statute  on  State  Education,  passed  in  1870,  and 
amended  in  1877,  one  hundred  and  ninety-five 
years  later.  In  this  respect,  America  is  two  hun- 
dred years  in  advance  cf  Great  Britain  in  State 
education.  But  our  present  limits  will  not  allow 
us  to  compare  American  and  English  State  school 
systems. 

In  1693,  the  assembly  of  Pennsylvania  passed  a 
second  school  law  providing  for  the  education  of 
youth  in  every  couuty.  These  elementary 
schools  were  free  for  boys  and  girls.  In  1755, 
Pennsylvania  College  was  endowed,  and  became  a 
University  in  1779. 

In  Virginia,  William  and  Mary  College  was 
famous  even  in  colonial  times.  It  was  supported 
by  direct  State  aid.  In  1726,  a  tax  was  levied  on 
liquors  for  its  benefit  by  the  House  of  Burgesses; 


164 


til'ATE  EDUCATION. 


in  1759,  a  tax  on  peildlers  was  given  this  college 
by  law,  and  from  various  revenues  it  was,  in  1776, 
the  richest  coUege  in  North  America. 

These  extracts  from  the  early  history  of  State 
Education  in  pre-Cohjnial  and  Colonial  times  give 
abundant  evidence  of  the  nature  of  the  organisms 
planted  in  American  soil  by  the  Pilgrim  Fathera 
and  their  successors,  as  well  as  other  early  settlers 
on  our  Atlantic  coast.  The  inner  life  has  kept 
pace  with  the  rcrpiirements  of  the  external  organ- 
izations, as  the  body  assumes  still  greater  and 
more  national  proportions.  The  inner  life  grew 
with  the  exterior  demands. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  1787,  it  was  proclaimed  to 
the  world,  that  on  the  15th  of  November,  1778,  in 
the  second  year  of  the  independence  of  America, 
the  several  colonies  of  New  Hampshire,  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  Kbode  Island,  Providence  Planta- 
tions, Connecticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Penn- 
sylvania, Delaware,  Maryland,  Virgiuia,  North 
Carolina,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia  had  entered 
into  a  Confederate  Union. 

This  Confederate  Union,  thus  organized  as  a 
Government,  was  able  to  receive  grants  of  land 
and  to  hold  the  same  for  such  purposes  as  it  saw 
proper.  To  the  new  government  cessions  were 
made  by  several  of  the  States,  from  1781  to  1802, 
of  which  the  Virginia  grant  was  the  most  im- 
portant. 

The  Confederate  Government,  on  the  13th  of 
July,  1787,  and  within  less  than  four  years  after 
the  reception  of  the  Virginia  Land  Grant,  known 
as  the  Northwest  Territory,  passed  the  ever  memo- 
rable ordinance  of  1787.  This  was  the  first  real 
estate  to  wliich  the  Confederation  had  acquired 
the  absolute  title  in  its  own  right.  The  legal 
government  had  its  origin  September  17th,  1787, 
while  the  ordinance  for  the  government  of  the 
Northwest  Territory  was  passed  two  months  and 
four  days  before.  Article  Third  of  the  renowned 
ordinance  reads  as  follows: 

"lieUgion,  morality,  and  knowledge  being  nec- 
essary to  good  government  and  the  happiness  of 
mankind,  schools  and  the  means  of  education  shall 
forever  be  encouraged." 

What  is  the  territory  embraced  by  this  authori- 
tative enunciation  of  the  Confederate  (ToveruniBut  ? 
The  extent  of  the  land  embraced  is  abnost  if  not 
quite  e(iual  to  the  area  of  the  original  thirteen  colo- 
nies. Out  of  this  munificent  possession  added  to  the 
infant  American  Union,  have  since  been  carved,  by 


the  authority  of  the  United  States  government,  the 
princely  states  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michi- 
gan, Wisconsin,  and  in  part  Minnesota.  In  this 
vast  region  at  least,  the  Government  has  said  that 
education  "shall  bo  forever  encouraged."  En- 
couraged how  and  by  whom?  Encouraged  by 
the  Government,  by  the  legal  State,  by  the  su- 
preme power  of  the  land.  This  announcement  of 
governmental  aid  to  State  schools  was  no  idle 
boast,  made  for  the  encouragement  of  a  delusive 
hope,  but  the  enunciation  of  a  great  truth,  in- 
spired by  the  spirit  of  a  higher  life,  now  kindled 
in  this  new  American  temple,  in  which  the  Creator 
intended  man  should  worship  him  according  to  the 
dictates  of  an  enlightened  conscience,  "where  none 
should  molest  or  make  him  afraid." 

The  early  Confederation  passed  away,  but  the 
sjjirit  that  animated  the  organism  was  immortal, 
and  immediately  manifested  itself  in  the  new  Gov- 
ernment, under  our  present  constitution.  On  the 
17th  of  September,  1787,  two  months  and  four 
days  from  the  date  of  the  ordinance  erecting  the 
Northwest  Territory  was  adopted,  the  new  Con- 
stitution was  inaugurated.  The  first  State  gov- 
ernment erected  in  the  new  territory  was  the  state 
of  Ohio,  in  1802.  The  enabling  act,  passed  by 
Congress  on  this  accession  of  the  first  new  State, 
a  part  of  the  new  acquisition,  contains  this  sub- 
stantial evidence  that  State  aid  was  faithfully 
remembered  and  readily  olTered  to  the  cause  of 
education : 

Sec.  3:  "That  the  following  proposition  be  and 
the  same  is  hereby  offered  to  the  convention  of  the 
eastern  States  of  said  territory,  when  formed,  for 
their  free  acceptance  or  rejection,  which  if  accepteil 
by  the  convention  shall  be  obligatory  upon  the 
United  States: 

"  That  section  number  sixteen  in  every  town- 
ship, and  where  such  .section  has  been  sold,  granted 
or  disposed  of,  other  lands  equivalent  thereto,  and 
most  contiguous  to  the  same,  shall  be  granted  to 
the  inhabitants  of  such  township  for  the  use  of 
schools." 

The  proposition  of  course  was  duly  accepted  bj 
the  vote  of  the  people  in  the  adoption  of  theii 
constitution  prior  to  their  admission  to  the  Union, 
and  on  March  3d,  1803,  Congress  granted  to  Ohio 
in  addition  to  section  sixteen,  an  additional  grant 
of  one  complete  township  tor  the  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing any  higher  institutions  of  learning.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  substantial  national  recogni- 


iHf 


AID  TO  STATES  IN  THE  NORTHWEST  TERRITORY. 


1G5 


tion  of  State  aid  to  schools  by  grants  of  lanJ  out  of 
the  national  domain,  but  the  government  aid  did 
not  end  in  this  first  effort.  The  next  State,  Indi- 
ana, admitted  in  1816,  was  granted  the  same  sec- 
tion, number  sixteen  in  each  township;  and  in 
addition  thereto,  two  townships  of  land  were  ex- 
pressly granted  for  a  seminary  of  learning.  In  the 
admission  of  Illinois,  in  1818,  the  section  numbered 
sixteen  in  each  township,  and  two  entire  townships 
in  addition  thereto,  for  a  seminary  of  learning  and 
the  title  thereto  vested  in  the  legislature.  In  the 
admission  of  Michigan  in  1836,  the  same  section 
sixteen,  and  seventy-two  sections  in  addition  there- 
to, were  set  apart  to  said  State  for  the  purpose  of 
a  State  University.  In  the  admission  of  Wis- 
consin, in  1848,  the  same  provision  was  made  as 
was  made  to  the  other  States  previously  formed 
out  of  the  new  territory.  This  was  the  com- 
mencement. 

These  five  States  completed  the  list  of  States 
which  could  exist  in  the  territory  northwest  of  the 
Ohio  Kiver.  Minnesota,  the  next  State,  in  part 
lying  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in  jiart  west, 
takes  its  territory  from  two  different  sources;  that 
east  of  the  Father  of  Waters,  from  Virginia,  which 
was  embraced  in  the  Northwest  Territory,  and  that 
lying  west  of  the  same  from  the  "  Louisiana  Pur- 
chase," bought  of  France  by  treaty  of  April  30, 
1803,  including  also  the  territory  west  of  the  Mis- 
sippi,  which  Napoleon  had  previously  acquired 
from  Spain.  The  greater  portion  of  Minnesota, 
therefore  lies  outside  the  first  territorial  acquisi- 
tion of  the  Government  of  the  United  States;  and 
yet  the  living  spirit  that  inspired  the  early  grants 
out  of  the  first  acquisition,  had  lost  nothing  of  its 
fervor  in  the  grant  made  to  the  New  Northwest. 
When  the  Territory  of  Minnesota  was  organized, 
Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  then  a  Senator  in  Con- 
gress from  the  state  of  Illinois,  nobly  advocated 
the  claims  of  Minnesota  to  an  increased  amount  of 
Government  aid  for  the  support  of  schools,  extend- 
ing from  the  Common  school  to  the  University. 
By  Mr.  Douglas'  very  able,  disinterested  and  gen- 
erous assistance  and  support  in  Congress,  aided  by 
Hon.  H.  M.  Rice,  then  Delegate  from  Minnesota, 


our  enabling  act  was  made  still  more  liberal  in 
relation  to  State  Education,  than  that  of  any  State 
or  Territory  yet  admitted  or  organized  in  the 
amount  of  lands  granted  to  schools  generally. 

Section  eighteen  of  the  enabling  act,  passed  on 
the  3d  of  March,  1849,  is  as  follows: 

"And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  when  the  lands 
in  said  Territory  shall  be  surveyed  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  pre- 
paratory to  bringing  the  same  into  market,  sec- 
tions numbered  sixteen  and  thirty-six  in  each  town- 
ship in  said  Territory,  shall  be,  and  the  same  are 
hereby  reserved  for  the  purpose  of  being  applied 
to  schools  in  said  Territory,  and  in  the  States  and 
Ttrritories  hereafter  to  be  created  out  of  the  same." 

As  the  additions  to  the  family  of  States  increase 
westward,  the  national  domain  is  still  more  freely 
contributed  to  the  use  of  schools;  and  the  charac- 
ter of  the  education  demanded  by  the  people 
made  more  and  more  definite.  In  1851,  while 
Oregon  and  Minnesota  were  yet  territories  of  the 
United  States,  Congress  passed  the  following  act: 

"  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Eepresentatives  of  America,  in  Congress  assembled : 
That  the  Governors  and  legislative  assemblies  of 
the  territories  of  Oregon  and  Minnesota,  be,  and 
they  are  hereby  authorized  to  make  such  laws  and 
needful  regulations  as  they  shall  deem  most  expe- 
dient to  protect  from  injury  and  waste,  sections 
numbered  sixteen  and  thirty-six  in  said  Territories 
reserved  in  each  township  for  the  support  of  schools 
therein. 

(2.)  "And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Interior  be,  and  he  is  hereby  authorized 
and  directed  to  set  apart  and  reserve  from  sale,  out 
of  any  of  the  public  lands  within  the  territory  of 
Minnesota,  to  which  the  Indian  title  has  been  or 
may  be  extinguished,  and  not  otherwise  appropri- 
ated, a  quantity  of  land  not  exceeding  two  entire 
townships,  for  the  use  and  support  of  a  University 
in  said  Territory,  and  for  no  other  purpose  what- 
ever, to  be  located  by  legal  subdivisions  of  not 
less  than  one  entire  section." 

[Approved  February  It),  1851.] 


166 


STATE  EDUCATION. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

STATE    EDUCATION    IN    MINNESOTA BOARD    OP     BE- 

GENTS CNIVEIiSITI  OltANT — AID  OF  CONGBESS  IN 

1862 VALUE  OF  SOHOOLHOUSES — LOCAL  TAXA- 
TION IN  DIFFERENT  STATES STATE  SCHOOL  SYS- 
TEM     KNOWS     NO    SECT lONOBANCE      INHERITED, 

THE  COMMON  FOE  OF  MABKIND CONCLUSION. 

When  Minnesota  was  prepared  by  her  popula- 
tion for  ajiplication  to  Congress  for  admission  as 
a  State,  Congress,  in  an  act  authorizing  her  to 
form  a  State  government,  makes  the  following 
provision  for  schools: 

( 1 )  "That  sections  uumliered  sixteen  and  thirty- 
sis  in  every  township  of  public  lands  in  said  State, 
and  where  either  of  said  sections,  or  any  part 
thereof,  has  been  sold  or  otherwise  disposed  of, 
other  lands  equivalent  thereto,  and  as  contiguous 
as  may  be,  shall  be  granted  to  said  State  for  the 
use  of  schools. 

(2)  "That  seventy-two  sections  of  land  shall 
be  set  apart  and  reserved  for  the  use  and  support 
of  a  State  TJuivei'sity  to  be  selected  by  the  Gov- 
ernor of  said  State,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
commissioner  at  the  general  land  office,  and  be 
appropriated  and  applied  in  such  manner  as  the 
legislature  of  said  State  may  prescribe  for  the 
jMirposes  aforesaid,  but  for  no  other  purpose." 
[Passed  February  26,  1857.] 

But  that  there  might  be  no  misapprehension 
that  the  American  Government  not  only  had  the 
inclination  to  aid  in  the  proper  education  of  the 
citizen,  but  that  in  cases  requiring  direct  control, 
the  government  would  not  hesitate  to  exercise  its 
authority,  in  matters  of  education  as  well  as  in 
any  and  all  other  questions  affecting  its  sover- 
eignty. To  this  end,  on  the  second  of  July,  1862, 
Congress  passed  the  "act  donating  public  lands  to 
the  several  States  and  Territories  which  may  pro- 
vide colleges  for  the  benefit  of  agriculture  and  the 
mechanic  arts." 

"Be  it  enacted,  «fcc.,  that  there  be  granted  to  the 
several  States  for  the  purposes  hereinafter  men- 
tioned, an  amount  of  public  land  to  be  appor- 
tioned to  each  State  (except  States  in  reliellion),  a 
quantity  equal  to  thirty  thousand  acres  for  each 
senator  and  representative  in  Congress  to  which 
the  States  are  respectively  entitled  by  the  appor- 
tionment imdor  the  census  of  1860." 

Section  four  of  said  act  is  in  substance  as  fol- 
lows: 

"That  all  moneys  derived  from  the  sale  of  these 


lands,  directly  or  indirectly,  shall  be  invested  in 
stocks  yielding  not  less  than  five  per  cent,  upon 
the  par  value  of  such  stocks.  That  the  money  so 
invested  shall  constitute  a  perpetual  fund,  the  cap- 
ital of  which  shall  remain  forever  undiminished, 
and  the  interest  thereof  shall  be  inviolably  appro- 
])riated  by  each  State  which  may  claim  the  benefit 
of  the  act  to  the  endowment,  support,  and  main- 
tenance of  at  least  one  college,  where  the  leading 
object  shall  be,  without  excluding  other  scientific 
and  classical  studies,  and  including  military  tac- 
tics, to  teach  such  branches  of  learning  :is  are  re- 
lated to  agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts,  in 
such  manner  as  the  legislatures  of  the  States  may 
respectively  prescribe,  in  order  to  promote  the 
liberal  and  practical  education  of  the  industrial 
classes  in  the  several  pursuits  and  professions  of 
life. 

Section  five,  second  clause  of  said  act,  provides 
"That  no  portion  of  said  fund,  nor  the  interest 
thereon,  shall  be  applied,  directly  or  indirectly, 
under  any  pretence  whatever,  to  the  purchase, 
erection,  preservation,  or  repair  of  any  building  or 
buildings." 

Section  five,  third  clause,  "That  any  State 
which  may  take  and  claim  the  benefit  of  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act  shall  provide,  within  five  years, 
at  least  not  less  than  one  college,  as  described  in 
tlie  fourth  section  of  this  act,  or  the  grant  to  such 
State  shall  cease;  and  the  said  State  shall  be 
bound  to  pay  the  United  States  the  amount  re- 
ceived of  any  lands  previously  sold." 

Section  five,  fourth  clau.se,  "An  annual  report 
shall  be  made  regarding  the  progress  of  each  col- 
lege, recording  any  improvements  and  experi- 
ments made,  with  their  costs  and  results,  and  such 
other  matters,  including  State  industrial  and  eco- 
nomical statistics,  as  may  be  supposed  useful;  one 
copy  of  which  shall  be  transmitted  by  mail  free, 
by  each,  to  all  the  other  colleges  which  may  be 
endowed  under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  and  aLso 
one  copy  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interit)r." 

Under  this  act  Minnesota  is  entitled  to  select 
150,000  acres  to  aid  in  teaching  the  branches  in 
the  act  named  in  the  State  University,  making  the 
endowment  fund  of  the  Government  to  the  state 
of  Minnesota  for  educational  purposes  as  follows: 

1.  For  common  schools,  in  acres 3,000,000 

2.  For  State  University,  four  townships      208,360 


Total  apportionment 3,208,360 


AID  OF  CONGRESS  IN  1862. 


167 


All  these  lands  have  not  been  selected.  Under 
the  agricultural  college  grant,  only  94,439  acres 
have  been  selected,  and  only  72,708  acres  under 
the  two  University  grants,  leaving  only  167,147 
acres  realized  for  University  purposes,  out  of  the 
208,360,  a  possible  loss  of  41,203  acres. 

The  permanent  school  fund  derived  from  the 
national  domain  by  the  state  of  Minnesota,  at  a 
reasonable  estimate  of  the  value  of  the  lands  se- 
cured out  of  those  granted  to  her,  cannot  vary 
far  from  the  results  below,  considering  the  prices 
already  obtained: 

1.  Common   school  lands    in    acres, 
3,000,000,  valued   at .^18,000,000 

2.  University  grants,  in  all,  in  acres, 

223,000,   valued  at 1,115,000 


Amount  in  acres,  3,223,000.  . . .    $19,115,000 
Out  of  this  permanent  school  fund  may  be  real- 
ized an  annual  fund,  when  lands  are  all  sold : 

1.  For  common  schools $!1,000,000 

2.  University  instruction 60,000 

These  several  grants,  ample  as  they  seem  to  be, 
are,  however,  not  a  tithe  of  the  means  required 
from  the  State  itself  for  the  free  education  of  the 
children  of  the  State.  We  shall  see  further  on 
what  the  State  has  already  done  in  her  free  school 
system. 

Minnesota,  a  State  first  distinguished  by  an 
extra  grant  of  government  land,  has  something  to 
unite  it  to  great  national  interest  Its  position  in 
the  sisterhood  of  States  gives  it  a  prominence  that 
none  other  can  occupy.  A  State  lying  on  both 
sides  of  the  great  Father  of  waters,  in  a  conti- 
nental valley  midway  between  two  vast  oceans, 
encircling  the  Western  Hemispliere,  with  a  soil  of 
superior  fertility,  a  climate  unequalled  for  health, 
and  bright  with  skies  the  most  inspiring,  such  a 
State,  it  may  be  said,  must  ever  hold  a  prominent 
position  in  the  Great  American  Union. 

In  the  acts  of  the  early  settlements  on  the  At- 
lantic coast,  in  the  Colonial  Government,  and  the 
National  Congress,  we  have  the  evidence  of  a 
determined  intention  "that  schools  and  the  means 
of  education  shall  forever  be  encouraged"  by  the 
people  who  have  the  destinies  of  the  Western 
Hemisphere  in  their  hands.  That  the  external 
organism  of  the  system  capable  of  accomplishing 
this  heavy  task,  and  of  carrying  forward  this  re- 
sponsible duty,  rests  with  the  people  themselves, 


and  is  as  extensive  as  the  government  they  have 
established  for  the  protection  of  their  rights  and 
the  growth  of  their  physical  industries,  and  the 
free  development  of  their  intellectual  powers. 
The  peojjle,  organized  as  a  Nation,  in  assuming 
this  duty,  have  in  advance  proclaimed  to  the 
world  that  "Religion,  Morality,  and  Knowledge" 
are  alike  essential  "to  good  government."  And  in 
organizing  a  government  free  from  sectarian  con- 
trol or  alliance,  America  made  an  advance  hitherto 
unknown,  both  in  its  temporal  and  spiritual  power; 
for  hitherto  the  work  of  the  one  had  hindered  the 
others,  and  the  labors  and  unities  of  the  two  were 
inconsistent  with  the  proper  functions  of  either. 
The  triumph,  therefore,  of  either,  for  the  control 
of  both,  was  certain  ruin,  while  separation  of  each, 
the  one  from  the  other,  was  the  true  life  of  both. 
Such  a  victory,  therefore,  was  never  before  known 
on  earth,  as  the  entire  separation,  and  yet  the 
friendly  rivalry  of  Church  and  State,  first  inaugu- 
rated in  the  free  States  of  America.  This  idea  was 
crystalized  and  at  once  stamped  on  the  fore-front 
of  the  Nation's  life  in  the  aphorism,  "Keligion, 
morality,  and  knowledge  are  alike  essential  to 
good  government."  And  the  deduction  from  this 
national  aphorism  necessarily  follows:  "That 
schools  and  the  means  of  education  should  forever 
be  encouraged."  We  assume,  then,  without  fur- 
ther illustration  drawn  from  the  acts  of  the  Nation, 
that  the  means  of  education  have  not  and  will  not 
be  withheld.  We  have  seen  two  great  acquisitions, 
the  Northwest  Territory,  and  the  Louisiana  Pur- 
chase, parceled  out  in  greater  and  greater  pro- 
fusion for  educational  uses,  till  the  climax  is 
reached  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  the  future  great 
cent«r  of  national  power.  At  the  head  of  this 
valley  sits  as  regnant  queen  the  state  of  Minne- 
sota, endowed  with  the  means  of  education  unsur- 
passed by  any  of  her  compeers  in  the  sisterhood 
of  States.  Let  us  now  inquire,  as  pertinent  to 
this  discussion, 

WHAT  HAS  MINITESOTA  DONE  FOR  STATE  EDUCATION? 

The  answer  is  in  part  made  up  from  her  con- 
stitution and  the  laws  enacted  in  pursuance 
thereof:  First,  then,  article  VIII.  of  her  consti- 
tution reads  thus: 

Section  1.  The  stability  of  a  republican  form  of 
government  depending  mainly  upon  the  intelli- 
gence of  the  people,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Legislature  to  establish  a  general  and  uniform 
system  of  public  schools. 


168 


STATE  EDUCATION. 


Section  2.  The  proceeds  of  such  lands  as  are, 
or  hereafter  may  \>e  granted  by  the  United  States, 
for  the  use  of  schools  in  each  towuship  in  this 
State,  shall  remain  a  perpetual  school  fund  to  the 
State.  *  *  *  *  The  principal  of  aU  funds 
arising  from  sales  or  other  disposition  of  lands  or 
other  property,  granted  or  entrusted  to  this  State, 
sliall  forever  be  preserved  inviolate  and  undimin- 
ished; and  tlie  income  arising  from  the  lease  or  sale 
of  said  school  land  shall  be  distributed  to  the  dif- 
ferent townships  throughout  the  State  in  propor- 
tion to  the  number  of  scholars  in  each  township, 
between  the  ages  of  five  and  tweuty-one  years; 
and  shall  be  faitlifully  applied  to  the  specific  object 
of  the  original  grant  or  appropriation." 

Section  3.  The  legislature  shall  make  such  pro- 
vision by  taxation  or  otherwise,  as,  with  the  in- 
come arising  from  the  school  fund,  will  secure  a 
thorough  and  efficient  system  of  public  schools  in 
each  township  in  the  State. 

But  in  no  case  shall  the  moneys  derived  as  afore- 
siiid,  or  any  portion  thereof,  or  any  public  moneys 
or  property,  be  njipropriated  or  used  for  the  sup- 
port of  schools  wherein  the  destinctive  doctrines, 
creeds,  or  tenets  of  any  particular  Christian  or 
other  religious  sect  are  promulgated  or  taught." 

THE    DNIVBRSITT. 

"Section  4.  Tlie  location  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  as  established  by  existing  laws,  [Sept. 
1851]  is  hereby  confirmed,  and  said  institution  is 
hereby  declared  to  be  tie  University  of  Minnesota. 
All  the  rights,  immunities,  franchises,  and  endow- 
ments heretofore  granted  or  conferred,  are  hereby 
perpetuated  unto  the  said  University;  and  all  lands 
which  may  be  granted  hereafter  by  Congress,  or 
other  donations  for  said  University  purposes,  shall 
rest  in  the  institution  referred  to  in  this  section. 

The  State  constitution  is  in  full  harmony  with 
the  National  government  in  the  distinctive  outlines 
laid  down  in  the  extracts  above  made.  .\nd  the 
Territorial  and  State  governments,  within  these 
Umits,  have  consecutively  appropriated  by  legis- 
lation, sufficient  to  carry  forward  the  State  school 
system.  In  the  Territorial  act,  establishing  the 
University,  the  peojile  of  the  State  announced  in 
advance  of  the  establishment  of  a  State  govern- 
ment, "  that  the  proceeds  of  the  land  that  may 
hereafter  be  granted  by  the  United  States  to  the 
Territory  for  the  sujjport  of  the  University,  shall 
be  and  remain  a  perpetual  fund,  to  be  called  "the 


University  Fund,"  the  interest  of  which  shall  be 
appropriated  to  the  support  of  a  University,  and 
no  sectarian  instruction  sliall  be  allowed  in  such 
University! "'  This  organization  of  the  University 
was  confirmed  by  the  State  constitution,  and  the 
congressional  land  grants  severally  passed  to  that 
corporation,  and  the  use  of  the  funds  arising  there- 
from were  subjected  to  the  restrictions  named.  So 
that  both  the  common  school  and  University  were 
dedicated  to  State  school  purposes,  and  exjirossly 
excluded  from  sectarian  control  or  sectarian  in- 
struction. 

In  this  respect  the  State  organization  corres- 
ponds with  the  demands  of  the  general  govern- 
ment; and  has  organized  the  school  system  reach- 
ing from  the  common  school  to  the  university,  so 
that  it  may  be  said,  the  State  student  may,  if  he 
choose,  in  the  state  of  Minnesota  pass  from  grade 
to  grade,  through  common  school,  high  school,  and 
State  University  free  of  charge  tor  tuition.  With- 
out referring  f.pecially  to  the  progressive  legisla- 
tive enactments,  the  united  system  may  be  referred 
to  as  made  up  of  units  ot  diflerent  order.i,  and  suc- 
cessively in  its  ascending  grades,  governed  by 
separate  boards,  rising  in  the  scale  of  importance 
from  the  local  trustee,  directors,  and  treasurer,  in 
common  school,  to  the  higher  board  of  education, 
of  six  members  ip  the  independent  school  district, 
and  more  or  less  than  that  number  in  districts  and 
large  cities  under  special  charter,  until  we  reach 
the  climax  in  the  dignified  Board  of  Regents;  a 
board  created  by  law  and  known  as  the  Regents  of 
the  State  University.  This  honorable  body  con- 
sists of  seven  men  nominated  by  the  Governor  and 
confirmed  by  the  senate  of  the  State  legislature, 
each  holding  his  office  for  three  years;  and  besides 
these  there  are  three  ex-officio  members,  consisting 
of  the  President  ot  the  State  University,  the' 
Superintendent  ot  Public  Instruction,  and  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State.  This  body  of  ten  men  are  in 
reality  the  legal  head  of  the  State  University,  and 
indirectly  the  effective  liead  ot  the  State  school 
system  of  Minnesota,  and  are  themselves  subject 
only  to  the  control  of  the  State  Legislature. 
These  various  officers,  throughout  this  series,  are 
severally  trustees  ot  legal  duties  which  cannot  be 
delegated.  They  fall  under  the  legal  maxim 
"that  a  trustee  cannot  make  a  trustee."  These 
are  the  legal  bodies  to  whom  the  several  series  of 
employes  and  servitors  owe  obedience.  These 
various  trustees    determine    the    courae  of  studv 


MINNESOTA  STATE  SYSTEM. 


169 


and  the  rules  of  transfer  from  grade  to  grade  until 
the  last  grade  is  reached  at  the  head  of  the  State 
system,  or  the  scholar  has  perhaps  completed  a 
post-graduate  course  in  a  polytechnic  school,  in- 
augurated by  the  State  for  greater  perfection,  it 
may  be  in  chemistry,  agriculture,  the  mechanic 
arts,  or  other  specialty,  required  by  the  State  or 
national  government. 

This  system,  let  it  be  understood,  differs  from 
all  private,  parocliial,  denominational,  or  sectarian 
schools.  The  State  organism  and  all  the  sectarian 
elements  of  the  church  are,  in  this  department  of 
labor,  entirely  distinct.  The  State  protects  and 
encourages,  but  does  not  control  either  the  schools 
or  the  faith  of  the  church.  The  church  supports 
and  approves,  but  does  not  yield  its  tenets  or  its 
creed  to  the  curriculum  of  the  schools  of  the  State. 
The  State  and  the  Church  are  in  this  respect  en- 
tirely distinct  and  diflferent  organizations.  State 
education,  however,  and  the  education  of  the  ad- 
herents of  the  church  are  in  harmony  throughout 
a  great  portion  of  the  State  curriculum.  Indeed, 
there  seems  to  be  no  reason  why  the  greater  por- 
tion of  denominational  teaching,  so  far  as  the  same 
is  in  ha'mony  with  the  schools  of  the  State,  should 
not  be  relegated  to  the  State,  that  the  church 
throughout  all  its  sectarian  element  might  be  the 
better  able  to  direct  its  energies  and  economize 
its  benevolence  in  the  cultivation  of  its  own  fields 
of  chosen  labor.  But,  however  this  may  be,  and 
wherever  these  two  organizations  choose  to  divide 
their  labors,  they  are  still  harmonious  even  in  their 
rivalry. 

The  organism  as  a  State  system  has,  in  Minne- 
sota, so  matured  that  through  all  the  grades  to  the 
University,  the  steps  are  defined  and  the  gradients 
passed  without  any  conflict  of  authority.  The 
only  check  to  the  regular  order  of  ascend- 
ing grades  was  first  met  in  the  State  Uni- 
versity. These  schools,  in  older  countries,  had  at 
one  time  an  independent  position,  and  in  their 
origin  had  their  own  scholars  of  all  grades,  from 
the  preparatory  department  to  the  Senior  Class  in 
the  finished  course;  but  in  our  State  system,  when 
the  common  schools  became  graded,  and  the  High 
School  had  grown  up  as  a  part  of  the  organism  of 
a  completed  system,  the  University  naturally  took 
its  place  at  the  head  of  the  State  system,  having 
the  same  relation  to  the  High  School  as  the  High 
School  has  to  the  Common  School.  There  was  no 
longer  any  reason  why  the  same  rule  should  not 


apply  in  the  transfer  from  the  High  School  to  the 
University,  that  applied'  in  the  transfer  from  the 
Common  School  to  the  High  School,  and  to  this 
conclusion  the  people  of  the  State  have  already 
fully  arrived.  The  rules  of  the  board  of  Regents 
of  the  State  University  now  allow  students,  with 
the  Principal's  certificate  of  qualification,  to  enter 
the  Freshman  class,  on  examination  in  sub-Fresh- 
man studies  only.  But  even  this  is  not  satisfac- 
tory to  the  friends  of  the  State  school  system. 
They  demand  for  High  School  graduates  an  en- 
trance into  the  University,  when  the  grade  below 
is  passed,  on  the  examination  of  the  school  below 
for  graduation  therein.  If,  on  the  one  hand,  the 
High  schools  of  the  State,  under  the  law  for  the 
encouragement  of  higher  education,  are  required 
to  prepare  students  so  that  they  shall  be  qualified 
to  enter  some  one  of  the  classes  of  the  University, 
on  the  other  hand  the  University  should  be  re- 
quired to  admit  the  students  thus  qualified  with- 
out further  examination.  The  rule  should  work 
in  either  direction.  The  rights  of  students  under 
the  law  are  as  sacred,  and  should  be  as  inalienable, 
as  the  rights  of  teachers  or  faculties  in  State  in- 
stitutions. The  day  of  unlimited,  irresjionsible 
discretion,  a  relic  of  absolute  autocracy,  a  des- 
potic power,  has  no  place  in  systems  of  free 
schools  under  constitutional  and  statutory  limita- 
tions, and  these  presidents  and  faculties  \\  ho  con- 
tinue to  exercise  this  power  in  the  absence  of 
right,  should  be  reminded  by  Boards  of  Regents 
at  the  head  of  American  State  systems  that  their 
resignation  would  be  acceptable.  They  belong  to 
an  antiquated  system,  outgrown  by  the  age  in 
which  we  live. 

The  spirit  of  the  people  of  our  State  was  fully 
intimated  in  the  legislature  of  1881,  in  the  House 
bill  introduced  as  an  amendment  to  the  law  of 
1878-79,  for  the  encouragement  of  higher  educa- 
tion, but  finally  laid  aside  for  the  law  then  in 
force,  slightly  amended,  and  quite  in  harmony 
with  the  House  bill.  Sections  two  and  five 
alluded  to  read  as  follows; 

".\ny  public,  graded  or  high  school  in  any  city 
or  incorporated  village  or  township  organized  into 
a  district  under  the  s(<-called  township  system, 
which  shall  have  regular  cla.sses  and  courses  of 
study,  articulating  with  some  course  of  study,  op- 
tional or  required,  in  the  State  University,  and 
shall  raise  annually  for  the  expense  of  said  school 
doiible  the  amoiuit  of  State  aid   allowed  by  this 


170 


STATE  EDUCATION. 


act,  and  shall  admit  students  of  either  sex  into  the 
higlier  classes  thereof  from  any  part  of  the  State, 
without  charge  for  tuition,  shall  receive  State  aid, 
as  specified  in  section  four  of  this  act.  Provided, 
that  non-resident  pupils  shall  in  all  cases  be  qual- 
ified to  enter  the  highest  department  of  said 
school  at  the  entrance  examination  for  resident 
pupils." 

"The  High  School  Board  shall  have  power,  and 
it  is  hereby  made  their  duty  to  provide  uniform 
questions  to  test  the  qualifications  of  the  scholars 
of  said  graded  or  high  schools  for  entrance  and 
graduation,  and  especially  conduct  the  examina- 
tions of  scholars  in  said  schools,  when  desired  and 
notified,  and  award  diplomas  to  graduates  who 
shall  upon  examination  be  found  to  have  completed 
any  course  of  study,  either  optional  or  required, 
entitling  the  holder  to  enter  any  class  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota  named  therein,  any  time 
within  one  year  from  the  date  thereof,  without 
further  examination;  said  dijiloma  to  be  executed 
by  the  several  members  of  the  High  School 
Board." 

THE  KELATED  SYSTEM. 

We  have  now  seen  the  position  of  the  University 
in  our  syst«m  of  public  schools.  In  its  position 
only  at  the  head  of  the  series  it  differs  from  the 
grades  below.  The  rights  of  the  scholar  follow 
him  throughout  the  series.  When  he  has  com- 
pleted and  received  the  certificate  or  diploma  in 
tlic  prescribed  course  in  the  High  School,  articu- 
lating with  any  course,  optional  or  required,  in  the 
University,  he  has  the  same  right,  unconditioned, 
to  pass  to  the  higher  class  in  that  course,  as  he 
had  to  pass  on  examination,  from  one  class  to  the 
other  in  any  of  the  grades  beiow.  So  it  follows, 
that  the  University  faculty  or  teacher  who  as- 
snmes  the  right  to  reject,  condition,  or  re-examine 
such  student,  would  exercise  an  abuse  of  power, 
unwarranted  in  law,  arbitrary  in  spirit,  and  not 
republican  in  character.  This  rule  is  better  and 
better  understood  in  all  State  Universities,  as  free 
State  educational  organisms  are  more  crystalized 
into  forms,  analogous  to  our  State  and  national 
governments.  The  arbitrary  will  of  the  interme- 
diate, or  head  master,  no  longer  prevails.  His  will 
niust  yield  to  more  certain  legal  rights,  as  the 
learner  passes  on,  midcr  prescribed  rules,  from  in- 
fancy \o  manhood  through  all  the  grades  of  school 
life.     And    no   legislation  framed   on    any  other 


theory  of  educational  promotion  in  republican 
States  can  stand  against  this  American  conscious- 
ness of  equality  existing  between  all  the  members 
of  the  body  politic.  In  this  consciousness  is  em- 
braced the  inalienable  rights  of  the  child  or  the 
youth  to  an  education  free  in  all  our  public 
schools.  In  Minnesota  it  is  guaranteed  in  the 
constitution  that  the  legislature  shall  make  such 
provisions,  by  taxation  or  otherwise,  as,  with  the 
income  arising  from  the  school  fund,  will  secure  a 
thorough  and  cllicient  system  of  public  schools  in 
each  township  in  tlie  State.  Who  shall  say  that 
the  people  have  no  right  to  secure  such  thorough 
and  efficient  system,  even  should  that  "thorough 
and  efficient  system"  extend  to  direct  taxation  for 
a  course  extending  to  graduation  from  a  Univer- 
sity? Should  such  a  course  exceed  the  constitu- 
tional limitation  of  a  thorough  and  eflicient  sys- 
tem of  public  schools? 

INTERPKETATION  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION. 

The  people,  through  the  medium  of  the  law- 
making power,  have  given  on  three  several  occa- 
sions, in  1878,  1879,  and  1881,  an  intimation  of 
the  scope  and  measuring  of  our  State  constitution 
'on  educational  extension  to  higher  education  than 
the  common  school.  In  the  first  section  of  the  act 
of  1881,  the  legislature  created  a  High  School 
Board,  consisting  of  the  Governor  of  the  State, 
Superintendent  of  Public  lustniction,  and  the 
President  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  who  are 
charged  with  certain  duties  and  granted  certain 
powers  contained  in  the  act.  And  this  High 
School  Board  are  required  to  grant  State  aid  to 
the  amount  of  .f  400  diiring  the  school  year  to  any 
public  graded  school,  in  any  city  or  incorporated 
village,  or  township  organized  into  a  district, 
which  shall  give  preparatory  instruction,  extend- 
ing to  and  articulating  with  the  University  course 
in  some  one  of  its  classes,  and  shall  admit  stu- 
dents of  either  sex,  from  any  part  of  the  State, 
without  charge  for  tuition.  Provided  only  that 
non-resident  pupils  shall  be  qualified  to  enter 
some  one  of  the  organized  classes  of  such  graded 
or  high  school.  To  carry  out  this  act,  giving 
State  aid  directly  out  of  the  State  treasury  to  a 
course  of  education  reaching  upward  from  the 
common  school,  through  the  high  school  to  the 
University,  the  legislature  appropriated  the  entire 
sum  of  #20,000.  In  this  manner  we  have  the  in- 
terpretation of  the  people  of  Minnesota  lis  to  the 


RESULTS  OF  THE  RELATED  SYSTEM. 


171 


meaning  of  "a  thorough  and  efficient  system  of 
public  schools,  operative  alike  in  each  township  in 
the  State."  And  this  interpretation  of  our  legis- 
lature is  in  harmony  witli  the  several  acts  of  Con- 
gress, and  particularly  the  act  of  July  the  second, 
1862,  granting  lands  to  the  several  States  of  the 
Union,  known  as  the  Agricultural  College  Grant. 
The  States  receiving  said  lands  are  required,  in 
their  colleges  or  universities,  to  "teach  such 
branches  of  learning  as  are  related  to  Agriculture 
and  the  Mechanic  arts,  without  excluding  other 
scientific  and  classical  studies,  and  including  mil- 
itary tactics,  in  such  manner  as  the  legislatures  of 
(he  States  may  respectively  prescribe,  in  order  to 
jMomote  the  liberal  and  practical  education  of  the 
industrial  classes  in  the  several  pursuits  and  pro- 
fessions of  life."' 

And  the  Legislature  of  Minnesota  has  already 
established  in'  its  University,  optional  or  required 
courses  of  study  fully  meeting  the  limitations  in 
the  congressional  act  of  1862.  In  its  elementary 
department  it  has  three  courses,  known  as  classi- 
cal, scientific,  and  modern.  In  the  College  of 
Science,  Literature,  and  the  Arts,  the  courses  of 
study  are  an  extension  of  those  of  the  elementary 
departments,  and  lead  directly  to  the  degrees  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  Bachelor  of  Science,  and  Bach- 
elor of  Literature.  In  the  College  of  Mechanic 
Arts  the  several  courses  of  studies  are  principally 
limited  to  Civil  Engineering,  Mechanical  Engi- 
neering, and  Architecture.  In  the  College  of  Ag- 
riculture are :  (1 )  The  regular  University  course, 
leading  to  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Agriculture. 
(2)  The  elementary  course,  in  part  coinciding  with 
the  Scientific  course  of  the  Elementary  Depart- 
ment. (3)  A  Farmers' Lecture  course.  (4)  Three 
special  courses  for  the  year  1880-81.  Law  and 
Medicine  have  not  yet  been  opened  in  the  State 
University  for  want  of  means  to  carry  forward 
these  departments,  now  so  much  needed. 

Our  State  constitution  has  therefore  been  prac- 
tically interpreted  by  the  people,  by  a  test  that 
caimot  be  misconstrued.  They  have  fortified 
their  opinion  by  the  payment  of  the  necessary  tax 
to  insure  the  success  of  a  thorough  and  efficient 
system  of  public  schools  throughout  the  State. 
This  proof  of  the  people's  interest  in  these  schools 
appears  in  the  amounts  paid  for  expenses  and  in- 
struction. From  the  school  fund  the  State  of 
Minnesota  received,  in  1879,  the  full  sum  of 
$232,187.43     The  State  paid  out  the  same  year, 


the  sum  of  $394,737.71.  The  difference  is  $162,- 
550.28,  which  was  paid  out  by  the  State  more  than 
was  derived  from  the  government  endowment  fund. 
And  it  is  not  at  all  likely  that  the  endowment  fund, 
generous  as  it  is,  will  ever  produce  an  amount 
equal  to  the  cost  of  instruction.  The  ratio  of  the 
increase  of  scholars  it  is  believeil  will  always  be  in 
advance  of  the  endowment  fund.  The  cost  of  in- 
struction cannot  fall  much  below  an  average,  for 
all  grades  of  scholars,  of  eight  dollars  per  annum 
to  each  pupil.  Our  present  180,000  scholars  en- 
rolled would,  at  this  rate  require  $1,440,000,  and 
in  ten  years  and  long  before  the  sale  of  the  school 
lands  of  the  State  shall  have  been  made,  this  180,- 
000  will  have  increased  a  hundred  per  cent., 
amounting  to  360,000  scholars.  These,  at  $8.00 
per  scholar  for  tuition,  would  equal  $2,880,000 
per  annum,  while  the  interest  from  the  school 
fund  in  the  same  time  cannot  exceed  $2,000,000, 
even  should  the  land  average  the  price  of  $6.00 
per  acre,  and  the  interest  realized  be  always  equal 
to  0  per  cent. 

SOME  OF  THE  RESULTS 

In  these  infant  steps  taken  by  our  State,  we  can 
discern  the  tendency  of  our  organism  towards  a 
completed  State  system,  as  an  element  of  a  still 
wider  union  embracing  the  nation.  To  know 
what  is  yet  to  be  done  in  this  direction  we  must 
know  what  has  already  been  done.  We  have,  in 
the  twenty  years  of  our  State  history,  built  3,693 
schoolhouses,  varying  in  cost  from  $400  to  $90,- 
000;  total  value  of  all,  $3,156,210;  three  Normal 
school  buildings  at  a  cost  of  (1872)  $215,231.52; 
a  State  University  at  an  expenditure  for  buildings 
alone  of  $70,000,  and  an  allowance  by  a  late  ack 
of  the  legislature  of  an  additional  $100,000,  in 
three  yearly  appropriations,  for  additional  build- 
ings to  be  erected,  in  all  $170,000,  allowed  by  the 
State  for  the  University.  Add  these  to  the  cost  of 
common  school  structures,  and  we  have  already 
expended  in  school  buildings  over  $4,800,000  for 
the  simple  purpose  of  housing  the  infant  oi-gan- 
ism,  our  common  school  system  here  planted. 
We  have  seen  a  movement  in  cities  like  St.  Paul, 
Minneapolis,  Stillwater,  and  Winona,  towards  the 
local  organization  of  a  completed  system  of  home 
schools,  carrying  instruction  free  to  the  University 
course,  with  a  total  enrollment  of  13,500  scholars 
and  265  teachers,  daily  seated  in  buildings,  all  in 
the  modem  style  of  school  architecture  and  school 


172 


STATE  EDUCATION. 


furniture,  costing  to  these  cities  the  sum  of  8850,- 
000  for  buildings,  and  for  instruction  the  sum  of 
8118,000  annually. 

We  have,  in  addition  to  these  schools  in  the 
cities  named,  other  home  and  fitting  schools,  to 
whom  have  been  paid  iji'lOO  eaeh,  under  the  law 
for  the  "Enoouragemont  of  Higher  Education," 
passed  in  1878,  and  amended  in  1870,  as  follows: 
Anoka,  Austin,  Blue  Earth  City,  Chatfield,  Cannon 
Falls,  Crookstou,  Duluth,  Detroit,  Eyota,  Fari- 
bault, Garden  City,  Glenooc,  Howard  Tiake,  Hast- 
ings, Henderson,  Kasson,  Litchfield,  Lancbboro, 
Le  Sueur,  Lake  City,  Monticello,  Moorhead,  Man- 
kato,  Northfield,  Owatonna,  Osseo,  Plainview,  Eed 
Wing,  Rushford,  Rochester,  St.  Cloud,  St.  Peter, 
Sauk  Centre,  Spring  Valley,  Wells,  Waterville, 
Waseca,  Wabasha.  Wilmar,  Winnebago  City,  Zum- 
brota,  and  Mantorville. 

These  forty-two  Stat*  aid  schools  have  paid  in 
all  for  buildings  and  furniture  the  gross  sum  of 
8042,700;  some  of  these  buildings  are  superior  in 
all  that  constitutes  superiority  in  school  architect- 
ure. The  Rochester  buildings  and  grounds  cost 
the  sum  of  $90,000.  Several  others,  such  as  the 
Austin,  Owatonna,  Faribault,  Hastings,  Red  Wing, 
Rushford,  St.  Cloud,  and  St.  Peter  schoolhouses, 
exceed  in  value  the  sum  of  825,000;  and  others  of 
these  buildings  arc  estimated  at  «G,000,  88,000, 
.$10,000,  and  815,000.  In  all  they  have  an  enroll- 
ment of  scholars  in  attendance  on  classes  graded  up 
to  the  University  course,  numbering  13,000,  under 
301  teachers,  at  an  annual  salary  amounting  in  all 
to  $123,509,  and  having  in  tlieir  A,  B,  C,  D  classes 
1704  scholars,  of  whom  120  were  prepared  to 
enter  the  sub-freshman  class  of  the  State  Univer- 
sity in  1880,  and  the  number  entering  these  grades 
in  the  year  1879-80  was  934,  of  whom  400  were 
non-residents  of  the  districts.  And  in  all  these 
forty-two  home  schools  of  the  people,  the  fitting 
schools  of  the  State  University,  one  uniform  course 
of  study,  articulating  with  some  course  in  the 
Univenrity,  was  observed.  As  many  other  courses 
as  the  local  boards  desired  were  also  carried  on  in 
these  schools.  This,  in  short,  is  a  part  of  what 
we  have  done. 

The  organic  elements  that  regularly  combine  to 
form  governments,  are  similar  to  tho.sc  organic  ele- 
ments that  combine  to  form  systems  of  mental 
culture.  The  primitive  type  of  government  is  the 
family.  This  is  the  lowest  organic  form.  If  no 
improvement  is  ever  made  upon  this  primitive  ele- 


ment, by  other  combinations  of  an  artificial  na- 
ture, human  governments  would  never  rise  higher 
than  the  family.  If  society  is  to  advance,  this 
organism  widens  into  the  clan,  and  in  like  manner 
the  clan  into  the  village,  and  the  village  into  the 
more  dignified  ])rovince,  and  the  province  into  the 
State.  All  these  artificial  conditions  above  tho 
family  are  the  evidences  of  growth  in  pursuance 
of  the  laws  of  artificial  life.  In  like  manner  the 
growth  of  intellectual  organisms  proceeds  from 
the  family  instruction  to  the  common  school. 
Here  the  artificial  organism  would  cease  to  ad- 
vance, and  would  remain  stationary,  as  the  clan  in 
the  organism  of  government,  unless  the  common 
school  should  pass  on  to  the  wider  and  still  higher 
unit  of  a  grad(>d  system  reaching  upward  to  the 
high  school.  Now  this  was  the  condition  of  the 
common  school  in  America  during  the  Colonial 
state,  and  even  down  to  the  national  organization. 
Soon  after  this  period,  the  intellectual  life  of  the 
nation  began  to  be  aroused,  and  within  the  hujt 
fifty  years  the  Stata  common  school  has  culmi- 
nated in  the  higher  organism  of  the  high  school, 
and  it  is  of  very  recent  date  that  the  high  school 
has  reached  up  to  and  articuhitod  in  any  State 
with  the  State  University.  On  this  continent,  both 
government  and  State  schools  started  inlo  life, 
freed  from  the  domination  of  institutions  grown 
effete  from  age  and  loss  of  vital  energy.  Hero, 
both  entered  into  wider  combinations,  reaching 
higher  results  than  the  ages  of  the  past.  And 
yet,  in  educational  organization  we  are  far  below 
the  standard  of  perfection  we  shall  attain  in  the 
rapidly  advancing  future.  Not  until  our  eystem 
of  education  has  attained  a  national  character  as 
complete  in  its  related  articulation  as  the  civil  or- 
ganization of  towns,  counties,  and  States  in  the 
national  Union,  can  our  educational  institutions  do 
the  work  required  of  this  age.  And  in  Minnesota, 
one  of  the  leading  States  in  connected  school  or- 
ganic relations,  we  have,  as  yet,  some  4,000  com- 
mon school  districts,  with  an  enrollment  of  some 
100,000  scholars  of  different  ages,  from  five  to 
twenty -one  years;  no  higher  in  the  scale  than  the 
common  school,  prior  to  the  first  high  school  on 
the  American  continent.  These  chaotic  elements, 
outside  of  the  system  of  graded  schools  now  aided 
by  the  State,  must  be  reduced  to  the  same  organ- 
ized graded  system  as  those  that  now  articulate  in 
their  course  with  the  State  University. 

Our  complete  organization  as  a  State  svstem  for 


DIVISION  UF  LABOR  A  CAUSE  OF  GROWTH. 


173 


educational  purposes,  equal  to  the  demands  of  the 
State,  and  required  by  the  spirit  of  the  age,  will 
not  be  consummated  until  our  four  thousand 
school  districts  shall  reap  the  full  benefits  of  a 
graded  system  reaching  to  the  high  school  course^ 
articulating  with  some  course  in  the  State  Uni- 
versity and  a  course  in  commen  with  every  other 
high  school  in  the  State.  The  system  thus  or- 
ganized might  be  required  to  report  to  the  Board 
of  Begents,  as  the  legal  head  of  the  organization 
of  the  State  School  system,  not  only  the  numerical 
statistics,  but  the  number  and  standing  of  the 
classes  in  each  of  the  high  schools  in  the  several 
studies  of  the  uniform  course,  established  by  the 
Board  of  Eegents,  under  the  direction  of  the  State 
Legislature.  To  this  system  must  finally  belong 
the  certificate  of  standing  and  graduation,  en- 
titling the  holder  to  enter  the  designated  class  in 
any  grade  of  the  State  schools  named  therein, 
whether  High  School  or  University.  But  this 
system  is  not  and  can  never  be  a  skeleton  merely, 
made  up  of  lifeless  materials,  as  an  anatomical 
specimen  in  the  office  of  the  student  of  the 
practice  of  the  healing  art.  Within  this  organism 
there  must  preside  the  living  teacher,  bringing 
into  this  organic  structure,  not  the  debris  of  the 
effete  systems  of  the  past,  not  the  mental  esuvia 
of  dwarfed  intellectual  powers  of  this  or  any  for- 
mer age,  but  the  teacher  inspired  by  nature  to 
feel  and  appreciate  her  methods,  and  ever  moved 
by  her  divine  afflatus. 

Every  living  organism  has  its  own  laws  of 
growth;  and  the  one  we  have  under  consideration 
may,  in  its  most  important  feature,  be  compared  to 
the  growth  of  the  forest  tree.  In  its  earlier  years 
the  forest  tree  strikes  its  roots  deep  into  the  earth 
aud  matures  its  growing  rootlets,  the  support  of 
its  future  trunk,  to  stand  against  the  storms  and 
winds  to  which  it  is  at  all  times  exposed.  When 
fully  rooted  in  the  groimd,  with  a  trunk  matured 
by  the  growth  of  years,  it  puts  forth  its  infant 
branches  and  leaflets,  suited  to  its  immature  but 
maturing  nature;  finally  it  gives  evidence  of  stal- 
wart powers,  and  now  its  widespreading  top  tow- 
ers aloft  among  its  compeers  rearing  its  head  high 
among  the  loftiest  denizens  of  the  woods.  In  like 
manner  is  the  growth  of  the  maturing  State  school 
organism.  In  the  common  school,  the  foundation 
is  laid  for  the  rising  structure,  but  here  are  no 
branches,  no  fruitage.  It  seems  in  its  earliest  in- 
fancy to  put  forth  no  branches,  but  is  simjjly  tak- 


ing hold  of  the  elements  below  on  which  its  inner 
life  and  growth  depend.  As  the  system  rises,  the 
underlaying  laws  of  life  come  forth  in  the  princi- 
ples of  invention,  manufacturing,  engraving,  and 
designing,  enriching  every  branch  of  intellectual 
and  professional  industry,  and  beautifying  every 
field  of  human  culture.  These  varied  results  are 
all  in  the  law  of  growth  in  the  organism  of  State 
schools  carried  on  above  the  common  schools  to 
the  University  course.  The  higher  the  course  the 
more  beneficial  the  results  to  the  industries  of  the 
world,  whether  those  industries  are  intellectual  or 
purely  physical,  cater  only  to  the  demands  of 
wealth,  or  tend  to  suljserve  the  modi  st  demands  of 
the  humblest  citizen. 

The  only  criticism  that  can  reach  the  question 
now  under  consideration,  is  whether  the  graded 
organization  tends  to  produce  the  results  to  which 
we  have  referred.  The  law  relating  to  the  division 
of  .labor  has  esiJCcially  operated  in  the  graded  sys- 
tem of  State  schools.  Under  its  operation,  it  is 
claimed,  by  good  judges,  that  eight  years  of 
school  life,  from  five  to  twenty-one,  has  been  saved 
to  the  pupils  of  the  present  generation,  over  those 
of  the  imgraded  schools  ante-dating  the  last  fifty 
years.  By  the  operation  of  this  law,  in  one  gen- 
eration, the  saving  of  time,  on  the  enrollments  of 
State  schools  in  the  graded  systems  of  the  north- 
ern States  of  the  American  Union,  would  be 
enormous.  For  the  State  of  Minnesota  alone,  on 
the  enrollment  of  180,000,  the  aggregate  years  of 
time  saved  would  exceed  a  million!  The  time 
saved  on  the  enrollment  of  the  schools  of  the  dif- 
ferent States,  under  the  operation  of  this  law 
would  exceed  over  twenty  million  years! 

To  the  division  of  labor  is  due  the  wonderful 
facility  with  which  modern  business  associations 
have  laid  their  hands  ui^on  every  branch  of  indus- 
trial pursuits,  and  bestowed  upon  the  world  the 
comforts  of  life.  Introduced  into  our  system  of 
education  it  produces  results  as  astonishing  as  the 
advent  of  the  Spinning  Jenny  in  the  manufacture  of 
cloth.  As  the  raw  material  from  the  cotton  field 
of  the  planter,  passing,  by  gradation,  through  the 
unskilled  hands  of  the  ordinary  laborer  to  the 
more  perfect  process  of  improved  machinery,  se- 
cure additional  value  in  a  constantly  increasing 
ratio;  so  the  graded  system  of  intellectual  culture, 
from  the  Primary  to  the  High  school,  and  thence 
to  the  University,  adds  increased  lustre  and  value 
to  the   mental   development   in  a  ratio  commen- 


174 


STATE  EDUCATION. 


surate  with   the  increased  skill  of   the  meutal  ope- 
rator. 

The  law  of  growth  in  State  schools  was  clearly 
aniidunced  by  Horace  Mann,  when  he  applied  to 
this  system  the  law  governing  hydraulics,  that  no 
stream  could  rise  above  its  fountain.  The  com- 
mon school  could  not  jjroduce  a  scholarship  above 
its  own  curriculum.  The  high  school  was  a  grade 
above,  and  as  important  in  the  State  system  as 
the  elevated  fountain  head  of  the  living  stream. 
This  law  of  growth  makes  the  system  at  once  the 
most  natural,  the  most  economical,  and  certainly 
the  most  pojnilar.  These  several  elements  might 
be  illustrated,  but  the  reader  can  easily  imagine 
them  at  his  leisure.  As  to  the  last,  however,  suffer 
an  illustration.  In  Minnesota,  for  the  school  year 
ending  August  21st,  1880,  according  to  the  report 
of  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  there 
were  enrolled,  one  hundred  and  eighty  thousand, 
two  hundred  and  fifty-eight  scholars  in  the  State 
schools,  while  all  others,  embracing  kindergartens, 
private  schools,  parochial  schools,  of  all  sects  and 
all  denominations,  had  an  attendance  at  the  same 
time  of  only  two  thousand  four  hundred  and 
tweuty-eight;  and  to  meet  all  possible  omissions, 
it  M'O  allow  double  this  number,  there  is  lyss  than 
three  per  cent,  of  the  enrollment  in  the  State 
school.  This  ratio  will  be  found  to  hold  good,  at 
least  throughout  all  the  Northern  States  of  the 
American  Union.  These  State  schools,  then,  are 
not  unpopular  in  comparison  with  the  schools  of  a 
private  and  opposite  character.  Nor  is  it  owing 
altogether  to  the  important  fact,  that  State  schools 
are  free,  that  they  are  more  popu'ir  than  schools 
of  an  0])posit€  character;  for  these  State  schools 
are  a  tax  upon  the  property  of  the  people,  and  yet 
a  tax  most  cheerfully  borne,  in  consequence  of 
their  superior  excellence  and  importance. 

The  State  school,  if  not  already,  can  be  so 
graded  that  each  scholar  can  have  the  advantage 
of  superior  special  instruction  far  better  adaptsd 
to  the  studies  through  which  he  desires  to  pass, 
than  similar  instruction  can  be  had  in  ungraded 
schools  of  any  character  whatever.  In  this  re- 
spect the  State  system  is  without  a  rival.  It  has 
the  power  to  introduce  such  changes  as  may  meet 
all  the  demands  of  the  State  and  all  the  claims  of 
the  learner. 

The  State  school  knows  no  sect,  no  party,  no 
privileged  class,  and  no  special  favorites;  the  high, 
the  low,  the  rich,  and  the  poor,  the  home  and  for- 


eign-boru,  black  or  white,  are  all  equal  at  this 
altar.  The  child  of  the  ruler  and  the  ruled  are 
here  equal.  The  son  of  the  Governor,  the  wood- 
sawyer,  and  tlie  hod-carrier,  here  meet  on  one 
level,  and  alike  contend  for  ranks,  and  alike  expect 
the  honors  due  to  superior  merit,  the  reward  of 
intellectual  culture.  But,  aside  from  the  republi- 
can character  of  the  State  school  system,  the  sys- 
tem is  a  State  necessity.  Without  the  required 
State  culture  under  its  control,  the  State  must 
cease  to  exist  as  an  organism  for  the  promotion  of 
human  hapjriness  or  the  protection  of  human 
rights,  and  its  people,  though  once  cultured  and 
refined,  must  certainly  return  to  barbarism  and 
savage  life.  There  can  be  no  compromise  in  the 
warfare  against  inherited  ignorance.  Under  all 
governments  tha  statute  of  limitations  closes  over 
the  subject  at  twenty-one  years;  so  that  during 
the  minority  of  the  race  must  this  warfare  be 
waged  by  the  government  without  truce.  No 
peace  can  ever  be  proclaimed  in  this  war,  until  the 
child  shall  inherit  the  matured  wisdom,  instead  of 
the  primal  ignorance  of  the  ancestor. 

The  State  school  system,  in  our  government,  is 
from  the  necessity  of  the  case,  national.  No 
State  can  enforce  its  system  beyond  the  limits  of 
its  own  territory.  And  unless  the  nation  enforce 
its  own  uniform  system,  the  conflict  between  juris- 
dictions could  never  be  determined.  No  homo- 
geneous system  could  ever  be  enforced.  As  the 
graded  system  of  State  schools  has  now  reached 
the  period  in  its  history  which  corresponds  to  the 
colonial  history  of  the  national  organization,  it 
m\ist  here  fail,  as  did  the  colonial  system  of  gov- 
ernment, to  fully  meet  the  demands  of  the  people. 
And  what  was  it,  let  us  consider,  that  led  the  peo- 
ple in  the  organization  of  the  national  government 
"to  form  a  more  perfect  union?"  Had  it  then  be- 
come necessary  to  take  this  step,  that  "justice" 
might  be  established,  domestic  tranquility  insured, 
the  common  defense  made  more  efficient,  the  gen- 
eral welfare  promoted,  and  the  blessings  of  liberty 
better  secured  to  themselves  and  their  posterity, 
that  the  fathers  of  the  government  should  think  it 
necessary  to  form  a  more  perfect  union?"  Why 
the  necessity  of  a  more  perfect  union?  Were  our 
fathers  in  fear  of  a  domestic  or  foreign  foe,  that 
had  manifested  his  power  in  their  immediate  jjres- 
cnce,  threatening  to  jeopardize  or  destroy  their  do- 
mestic tranquility?  Was  this  foe  an  hereditary 
enemy,  who  mi_L'ht  at  long  intervals  of  time  invade 


CONCLUSION. 


175 


their  territory,  and  endanger  the  liberties  of  this 
people  ?  And  tor  this  reason  did  they  demand  a 
more  perfect  imion?  And  does  not  this  reason 
now  exist  in  still  greater  force  fur  the  formation  of 
»  still  more  perfect  union  in  our  system  of  State 
schools?  Our  fathers  were  moved  by  the  most 
natural  of  all  reasons,  by  this  law  of  self-defense. 
They  were  attacked  by  a  power  too  great  to  be 
successfully  resisted  in  their  colonial  or  unorgan- 
ized state.  The  fear  of  a  destruction  of  the  sev- 
eral colonies  without  a  more  perfect  union  drove 
them  to  this  alternative.  It  was  union  and  the 
hope  of  freedom,  against  disunion  and  the  fear  of 
death,  that  cemented  the  national  government. 
And  this  was  an  external  organism,  the  temple  in 
which  the  spirit  of  freedom  should  preside,  and  in 
which  her  worshippers  should  enjoy  not  only  do- 
mestic but  national  tranquility.  Now,  should  it  be 
manifested  to  the  world  that  the  soul  and  spirit, 
the  very  life  of  this  temple,  erected  to  freedom,  is 
similarly  threatened,  should  not  be  the  same  cause 
that  operated  in  the  erection  of  the  temple  itself, 
operate  in  the  protection  of  its  sacred  fires,  its  soul 
and  spirit?  It  would  seem  to  require  no  admoni- 
tion to  move  a  nation  in  the  direction  of  its  highest 
hopes,  the  protection  of  its  inner  life. 

And  what  is  this  enemy,  and  where  is  the  power 
able  to  destroy  both  the  temple  and  the  spirit  of 
freedom?  And  why  should  State  Education  take 
upon  itself  any  advanced  position  other  than  its 
present  indej)endent  organic  elements?  In  the 
face  of  what  enemy  should  it  now  be  claimed  we 
should  attempt  to  change  front,  and  "form  a  more 
perfect  union  to  insure  domestic  tranquility,  and 
promote  the  {.eneral  welfare,"  to  the  end  that  we 
may  the  better  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to 
ourselves  and  our  posterity  ?  That  potent  foe  to 
our  free  institutions,  to  which  we  are  now  brought 
face  to  face,  is  human  ignornuce,  the  natural  hered- 
itary foe  to  every  form  of  enlightened  free  gov- 
ernment. This  hereditary  enemy  is  now  home- 
steaded  upon  our  soil.  This  enemy,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  declaration  made  by  the  colonies 
against  their  hereditary  foe,  this  enemy  to  our 
government,  has  kept  among  us  a  standing  army 
of  illiterates,  who  can  neither  read  nor  write,  but 
are  armed  with  the  ballot,  more  powerful  than  the 
sword,  ready  to  strike  the  most  deadly  blow  at 
human  freedom;  he  has  cut  off  and  almost  en- 
tirely destroyed  our  trade  between  States  of  the 
same    government;  has   imposed    a   tax  upon  us 


without  our  consent,  most  grievous  to  be  borne; 
he  has  quite  abolished  the  free  system  of  United 
States  laws  in  several  of  our  States;  he  has  estab- 
lished, in  many  sections,  arbitrary  tribunals,  ex- 
cluding the  subject  from  the  right  of  trial  by  jury, 
and  enlarged  the  powers  of  his  despotic  rule,  en- 
dangered the  lives  of  peaceable  citizens;  he  has 
alienated  government  of  one  section,  by  declaring 
the  inhabitants  aliens  and  enemies  to  his  supposed 
hereditary  right;  he  has  excited  domestic  insur- 
rections amongst  us;  he  has  endeavored  to  destroy 
the  peace  and  harmony  of  our  people  by  bringing 
his  despotic  ignorance  of  our  institutions  into  con- 
flict with  the  freedom  and  purity  of  our  elections; 
he  has  raised  up  advocates  to  his  cause  who  have 
openly  declared  that  our  system  of  State  Educa- 
tion, on  which  our  government  rests,  is  a  failure;* 
he  has  spared  no  age,  no  sex,  no  portion  of  our 
country,  but  has,  with  his  ignominious  minions, 
afflicted  the  North  and  the  South,  the  East  and  the 
West,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the  black  and  the 
white;  an  enemy  alike  to  the  people  of  every  sec- 
tion of  the  government,  from  Maine  to  California, 
from  Minnesota  to  Louisiana.  Such  an  inexora- 
ble enemy  to  government  and  the  domestic  tran- 
quility of  all  good  citizens  deserves  the  oppro- 
brium due  only  to  the  Prince  of  Darkness,  against 
whom  eternal  war  should  be  waged ;  and  for  the 
support  of  this  declaration,  with  a  firm  reliance  on 
the  protection  of  Divine  Providence,  we  should,  as 
did  our  fathers,  mutually  pledge  to  each  other, 
as  citizens  of  the  free  States  of  America,  our  lives, 
our  fortunes,  and  our  sacred  honor. 

We  have  thus  far  considered  the  State  school 
system  in  some  of  its  organic  elements,  and  the 
nature,  tendency,  and  neceseary  union  of  these 
elements;  first  in  States,  and  finally  for  the  forma- 
tion of  a  more  perfect  union,  that  they  may  be 
united  ia  one  national  organization  under  the  con- 
trol of  one  sovereign  will.  The  mode  in  which 
these  unorganized  elements  shall  come  into  union 
and  harmony  with  themselves,  and  constitute  the 
true  inner  life  and  soul  of  the  American  Union,  is 
left  for  the  consideration  of  those  whose  special 
duty  it  is  to  devote  their  best  energies  to  the  pro- 
motion of  the  welfare  of  the  Nation,  and  by 
.statesman-like  forethought  provide  for  the  domes- 
tic, social,  civil,  intellectual,  and  industrial  pro- 
gress of  the   rapidly  accumulating  millions  who 

'Richard  Grant  White  in  North  American  Kevicw 


176 


UTAl'E  EDUCATION. 


are  soon  to  swarm  upou  tbo  American  continent. 
We  see  truly  that 

"The  rudiments  of  empire  here 
Are  plastic  yet  and  warm; 
The  ehaos  nf  a  miyhty  world 
Is  rounding  into  form! 

"Each  rude  and  jostling  fragment  sof)n 
Its  fitting  plaee  shall  find— 
The  raw  material  of  a  State, 
Its  muscle  and  its  mind." 

But  we  must  be  allowed,  in  a  word,  to  state  the 
results  which  we  hope  to  see  accomplished^  before 
the  jostling  fragments  which  are  yet  plastic  and 
warm,  shall  have  attained  a  temperament  not 
easily  fused  and  "rounded"  into  one  homogenous 
national  system,  rising  in  the  several  States  from 
the  kindergarten  to  the  University,  and  from  the 
State  Universities  through  all  orders  of  specialties 
demanded  by  the  widening  industries  and  growing 
demands  of  a  progressive  age.     And  in  this  direc- 


tion we  cannot  fail  to  see  that  the  national  govern- 
ment must  so  mould  its  intellectual  systems  that 
the  State  and  national  curricula  shall  be  uniform 
throughout  the  States  and  territories,  so  that  a 
class  standing  of  every  pupil,  jji'operly  certified, 
shall  be  equally  good  for  a  like  class  standing  in 
every  portion  of  the  government  to  which  he  may 
desire  to  remove.  America  will  then  be  ready  to 
celebrate  her  liual  indejjendeuce,  the  inalienable 
right  of  American  youth,  as  ha\'ing  a  standing 
limited  by  law  in  her  State  and  national  systems 
of  education,  entitling  them  to  rank  everywhere 
with  associates  and  compeers  on  the  same  plain; 
when  in  no  case,  shall  these  rights  be  denied  or 
abridged  by  the  United  States,  or  by  any  State 
or  authority  thereof,  on  account  of  race,  color, 
or  previous  condition  of  scholarship,  secular  or 
secfarian,  till  the  same  shall  forever  find'the  most 
ample  protection  under  the  broad  banner  of 
NATIONAL  and  NATURAL  rights,  common  alike  to 
all  in  the  ever  widening  uia-unLic  of  i.eiters. 


HISTORY 

OF   THE 

SIOUX  MASSACRE  OF  1862. 


CHAPTEE  XXX. 

LO0IS  HEN  •  ■spin's  visit  TO  THE  UPPER    MISSISSIPPI 
IN  1680  •  -CAPTAIN  JONATHAN  CABVEE    VISITS  THE 

COUNTRY  TS  1766 THE  NAMES  OF   THE   TRIBES 

TREATIES  WITH  SIOUX  INDIANS  FROM  1812  TO 
1859 THEIR  RESERVATIONS CIVILIZATION  EF- 
FORTS— SETTLEMENTS  OF  THE  WHITES  CONTIGU- 
OUS TO  THE  RESERVATIONS. 

The  first  authentic  knowledge  of  the  country 
upon  the  waters  of  the  Upper  Mississippi  and  its 
tributaries,  was  given  to  the  world  by  Louis  Hen- 
nepin, a  native  of  France.  In  1680  he  visited  the 
FaUs  of  St.  Anthony,  and  gave  them  the  name  of 
his  patron  saint,  the  name  they  still  bear. 

Hennepin  foimd  the  country  occupied  by  wild 
tribes  of  Indians,  by  whom  he  and  his  compan- 
ions were  detained  as  prisoners,  but  kindly  treated, 
and  finally  released. 

In  1766,  this  same  country  was  again  visited  by 
a  white  man,  this  time  by  Jonathan  Carver,  a 
British  subject,  and  an  officer  in  the  British  army. 
Jonathan  Carver  spent  some  three -years  among 
different  tribes  of  Indians  in  the  Upper  Missis- 
sippi country.  He  knew  the  Sioux  or  Dakota 
Indians  as  the  Naudowessies,  who  were  then  occu- 
pying the  country  along  the  Mississippi,  from 
Iowa  to  the  Falls  of  St.  .'Vntliony,  and  along  the 
Minnesota  river,  then  called  St.  Peter's,  from  its 
6ource  to  its  mouth  at  Mendota.  To  the  north  of 
these  tribes  the  country  was  then  occupied  by  the 
Ojibwas,  commonly  called  Chippewas,  the  heredi- 
tary enemies  of  the  Sioux. 

Carver  found  these  Indian  nations  at  war,  and 
by  Ms  commanding  influence  finally  succeeded  in 
making  peace  between  them.  As  a  reward  for  his 
good  offices  in  this  regard,  it  is  claimed  that  two 
chiefs  of  the  Naudowessies,  acting  for  their  nation, 
at  a  council  held  with  Carver,  at  the  great  cave, 

12 


now  in  the  corporate  limits  of  St.  Paul,  deeded  to 
Carver  a  vast  tract  of  land  on  the  Mississippi 
river,  extending  from  the  FaUs  of  St.  Anthony  to 
the  foot  of  Lake  Pepin,  on  the  Mississippi;  thence 
east  one  hundred  English  miles;  thence  north  one 
hundred  and  twenty  miles;  thence  west  to  the 
place  of  beginning.  But  this  pretended  grant  has 
been  examined  by  our  government  and  entirely 
ignored  as  a  pure  invention  of  parties  in  interest, 
after  Carver's  death,  to  profit  by  his  Indian  ser- 
vice in  Minnesota. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  these  same  Indians, 
known  to  Captain  Carver  as  the  Naudowessies,  in 
1767,  were  the  same  who  inhabited  the  country 
upon  the  Upper  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries 
when  the  treaty  of  Traverse  des  Sioux  was  made, 
in  1851,  between  the  United  States  and  the  Sisse- 
'ton  and  Wapaton  bands  of  Dakota  or  Sioux  Indi- 
ans. The  name  Sioux  is  said  to  have  been  bestowed 
upon  these  tribes  by  the  French;  and  that  it  is  a 
corruption  of  the  last  syllable  of  their  more  an- 
cient name,  which  in  the  peculiar  guttural  of  the 
Dakota  tongue,  has  the  sound  of  the  last  syllable 
of  the  old  name  NaudowesszVs,  Sioux. 

The  tribes  inhabiting  the  Territory  of  Minne- 
sota at  the  date  of  the  massacre,  1862,  were  the 
following:  Medawakontons  (or  VUlage  of  the 
Spirit  Lake);  WajDatons  (or  Village  of  the 
Leaves);  Sissetons  (or  Village  of  the  Marsh); 
and  Wajjakutas  (or  Leaf  Shooters).  All  these 
were  Sioux  Indians,  connected  intimately  with 
other  wild  bands  scattered  over  a  vast  region  of 
country,  including  Dakota  Territory,  and  the 
country  west  of  the  Missouri,  even  to  the  base  of 
the  Eocky  Mountains.  Over  all  this  vast  region 
roamed  these  wild  bands  of  Dakotas,  a  powerful 
and  warlike  nation,  holding  by  their  tenure  the 
country  north  to  the  British  Possessions. 

(177) 


178 


UISTORY   OF  THE   STOUX  M.iSSACliE. 


The  Sissetons  had  a  hereditary  chief,  Ta-tanka 
Mazin,  or  Standing  Bufialo;  and  at  the  date  of 
the  massacre  his  father,  "Star  Face,"  or  the  "Or- 
phan," was  yet  aUve,  but  superannuated,  and  all 
the  duties  of  the  chief  were  vested  in  the  sou. 
Standing  Buffalo,  who  remained  friendly  to  the 
whites  and  took  no  part  in  the  terrible  massiicre 
on  our  border  in  1862. 

The  four  tribes  named,  the  Medawakontons,  Wa- 
patons,  Sissetons  and  Wapakutas,  comprised  the 
entire  "annuity  Sioux"  of  Miune-ota;  and  in  18C2 
these  tribes  numbered  about  six  thousand  and  two 
hundred  persons.  All  these  Indians  had  from 
time  to  time,  from  the  19th  day  of  July,  1815,  to 
the  date  of  the  massacre  of  1SC2,  received  pres- 
ents from  the  Government,  by  virtue  of  various 
treaties  of  amity  and  friendship  between  us  and 
their  accredited  chiefs  and  heads  of  tribes. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  last  war  with  Great 
Britain,  on  the  first  day  of  June,  1816,  a  treaty 
was  concluded  at  St.  Louis  between  the  United 
States  and  the  chiefs  and  warriors  representing 
eight  bands  of  the  Sioux,  composing  the  three 
tribes  then  called  the  "Sioux  of  the  Leaf,"  the 
"Sioux  of  the  Broad  Leaf,"  and  the  "Sioux  who 
Shoot  in  the  Pine  Tops,"  by  the  terms  of  which 
these  tribes  confirmed  to  the  United  States  all 
cessions  or  grants  of  lands  previously  made  by 
them  to  the  British,  French,  or  Spanish  govern- 
ments, within  the  limits  of  the  United  States  or 
its  Territories.  For  these  cessions  no  annuities 
were  paid,  for  the  reason  that  they  were  mere  con- 
firmations of  grants  made  by  them  to  powers 
from  whom  we  had  acquired  the  territory. 

From  the  treaty  of  St.  Louis,  in  1816,  to  the 
treaty  ratified  by  the  United  States  Senate  in  1859, 
these  tribes  liad  remained  friendly  to  the  whites, 
and  had  by  treaty  stipulations  parted  with  all  the 
lands  to  which  they  claimed  title  in  Iowa;  all  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  all  on 
the  Minnesota  river,  in  Minnesota  Territory,  ex- 
cept certain  reservations.  One  of  these  reserva- 
tions lay  upon  both  sides  of  the  Minnesota,  ten 
miles  on  either  side  of  that  stream,  from  Hawk 
river  on  the  north,  and  Yellow  Medicine  river  on 
the  south  side,  thence  westerly  to  the  head  of  Big 
Stone  Lake  and  Lake  Traverse,  a  distance  of 
about  one  hundred  miles.  Another  of  these  reser- 
vations commenced  at  Little  Kock  river  on  the 
east,  and  a  line  running  due  south  from  opjjosite 
its  mouth,  and  extending  up  tlie  river  westerly  to 
the  easterly  line  of  the  first-named  reservation,  at 


the  Hawk  and  Yellow  Medicine  rivers.  This  last 
resers-ation  had  also  a  width  of  ten  miles  on  each 
side  of  the  Minnesota  river. 

The  Indians  west  of  the  Missouri,  in  referring 
to  those  of  their  nation  east  of  the  river,  called 
them  Isanties,  which  seems  to  have  been  applied 
to  them  from  the  fact  that,  at  some  remote  period, 
they  had  lived  at  Isantamde,  or  "Knife  Lake," 
one  of  the  Mille  Lacs,  in  Minnesota. 

These  Indian  treaties  inaugurated  and  contrib- 
uted greatly  to  strengthen  a  custom  of  granting, 
to  the  pretended  owners  of  lands  occupied  for 
purposes  of  hunting  the  wild  game  thereon,  and 
living  upon  the  natural  products  thereof,  a  con- 
sideration for  the  cession  of  their  lands  to  the 
Government  of  the  United  States.  This  custom 
culminated  ia  a  vast  annuity  fund,  in  the  aggre- 
gate to  over  three  million  dollars,  owing  to  these 
tribes,  before  named,  in  Minnesota.  This  annuity 
system  was  one  of  the  causes  of  the  massacre  of 
1862. 

Indian  Litb. — Before  the  whites  came  in  con- 
tact with  the  natives,  they  dressed  in  the  skins  o' 
animals  which  they  killed  for  food,  such  as  the 
buffalo,  wolf,  elk,  deer,  beaver,  otter,  as  well  as  the 
small  fur-bearing  animals,  which  they  trapped  on 
lakes  and  streams.  In  later  years,  as  the  settle- 
ments of  the  white  race  approached  their  borders, 
they  exchanged  these  peltries  and  furs  for  blankets, 
cloths,  iind  other  articles  of  necessity  or  ornament. 
The  Sioux  of  the  plains,  those  who  inhabited  the 
Cuteau  and  beyond,  and,  indeed,  some  of  the 
Sisseton  tribes,  dress  in  skins  to  this  day.  Even 
among  those  who  are  now  called  "civilized,"  the 
style  of  costume  is  often  unique.  It  is  no  picture 
of  the  imagination  to  portray  to  the  reader  a  "stal- 
WAKT  Indian"  in  breech-cloth  and  leggins,  with 
y.  calico  shirt,  all  "fluttering  in  the  wind,"  and  hia 
head  surmouuted  with  a  stove-pipe  hat  of  most 
surprising  altitude,  carrying  in  his  hand  a  pipe  of 
exquisite  workmanship,  on  a  stem  not  unlike  a 
cane,  sported  as  an  ornament  by  some  city  dandy. 
His  appearance  is  somewhat  varied,  as  the  seas(ms 
come  and  go.  He  may  be  seen  in  summer  or  in 
winter  dressed  in  a  heavy  cloth  coat  of  poarse  fab- 
ric, often  turned  inside  out  with  all  his  civilized 
and  savage  toggery,  from  head  to  foot,  in  the  most 
bewildering  juxtaposition.  On  beholding  him, 
the  dullest  imagination  cannot  refrain  from  the 
poetic  exclamtion  of  Alexander  Pope, 

"Lol  the  poor  Indian,  whose  untutored  mind>" 


EFFORTS   OF  CfVILTZATION. 


179 


Efforts  to  Civilize  these  Ankuity  Indians. 
— The  treaty  of  1858,  made  at  Washingtou,  elabo- 
rated a  scheme  for  the  civihzation  of  these  annnity 
Indians.  A  civilization  fund  was  proxdded,  to  be 
taken  from  their  annuities,  and  expended  in  im- 
provements on  the  lands  of  such  of  them  as  should 
abandon  their  tribal  relations,  and  ;:dopt  the  habits 
and  modes  of  life  of  the  -n-hite  race.  To  aU  such, 
-  lands  were  to  be  assigned  in  severalty,  eighty 
acres  to  each  head  of  a  family.  On  these  farms 
were  to  be  erected  the  necessary  farm-buildings, 
and  farming  implements  and  cattle  were  to  be 
furnished  them. 

In  addition  to  these  favors  the  government 
offered  them  pay  for  such  labors  of  value  as  were 
performed,  in  addition  to  the  crops  they  raised. 
Indian  farmers  now  augmented  rapidily,  until  the 
appalling  outbreak  in  1862,  at  which  time  about 
one  hundred  and  sixty  had  taken  advantage  of  the 
munificent  provisions  of  the  treaty.  A  number  of 
farms,  some  160,  had  good,  snug  brick  houses 
erected  upon  them.  Among  these  cisj7z>cfZ savages 
was  Little  Crow,  and  many  of  these  farmer- Indians 
belonged  to  his  own  band. 

The  Indians  disliked  the  idea  of  taking  any  por- 
tion of  the  general  fund  belonging  to  the  tribe  for 
the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  civilization  scheme- 
Thos6  Indians  who  retained  the  "blanket,"  and 
hence  called  "blanket  Indians,"  denounced  the 
measure  as  a  fraud  upon  their  rights.  The  chase 
was  then  a  God-given  right;  this  scheme  forfeited 
that  ancient  natural  right,  as  it  pointed  unmistaka- 
bly to  the  destruction  of  the  chase. 

But  to  the  friends  of  Indian  races,  the  course 
inaugurated  seemed  to  be,  step  by  step,  lifting 
these  rude  children  of  the  plains  to  a  higher  level. 
This  scheme,  however,  was  to  a  great  degree 
thwarted  by  the  helpless. condition  of  the  "blanket 
Indians"  during  a  great  portion  of  the  year,  and 
their  persistent  determination  to  remain  followers 
of  the  chase,  and  a  desire  to  continue  on  the  war- 
path. 

When  the  chase  fails,  the  "blanket  Indians"  re- 
sort to  their  relatives,  the  farmers,  pitch  their 
tepees  around  their  houses,  and  then  commence 
the  process  of  eating  them  out  of  house  and  home. 
When  the  ruin  is  complete,  the  farmer  Indians, 
driven  by  the  law  of  self-preservation,  with  their 
wives  and  children,  leave  their  homes  to  seek  such 
subsistence  as  the  uncertain  fortunes  of  the  chase 
may  yield. 


In  the  absence  of  the  family  from  the  house  and 
fields,  thu5  deserted,  the  wandering  "blanket  In- 
dians" commit  whatever  destruction  of  fences  or 
tenements  their  desires  or  necessities  may  suggest. 
This  perennial  process  go2s  on;  so  that  in  the 
spring  Allien  the  disheartened  farmer  Indian  re- 
turns to  his  desolate  home,  to  prepare  again  for 
another  crop,  he  looks  forward  with  no  different 
results  for  the  coming  winter. 

It  will  be  seen,  from  this  one  illustration,  drawn 
from  the  actual  results  of  the  civilizing  process, 
how  hopeless  was  the  prospect  of  elevf/ting  one 
class  of  related  savages  without  at  the  same  time 
protecting  them  from  the  incursions  of  their  own 
relatives,  against  whom  the  class  attempted  to  be 
favored,  had  no  redress.  In  this  attempt  to  civil- 
ize these  Dakota  Indians  the  forty  years,  less  or 
more,  of  missionary  and  other  efforts  have  been 
measurably  lost,  and  the  money  spent  in  that  di- 
rection, if  not  wasted,  sadly  misapplied. 

The  treaty  of  1858  lu-d  opened  for  settlement  a 
vast  frontier  country  of  the  most  attractive  char- 
acter, in  the  Valley  of  the  Minnesota,  and  the 
streams  putting  into  the  Minnesota,  on  either  side, 
such  as  Beaver  creek.  Sacred  Heart,  Hawk  and 
Chippewa  rivers  and  some  other  small  streams, 
were  flourishing  settlemelits  of  white  families. 
Within  this  ceded  tract,  ten  miles  wide,  were  the 
scattered  settlements  of  Birch  Coolie,  Patterson 
Eapids,  on  the  Sacred  Heart,  and  others  as  far  up 
as  the  Upper  Agency  at  Yellow  Medicine,  in  Een- 
ville  county.  The  county  of  Brown  adjoined  the 
reservation,  and  was,  at  the  time  of  which  we  are 
now  writing,  settled  mostly  by  Germans.  In  this 
county  was  the  flourishing  town  of  New  Ulm,  and 
a  thriving  settlement  on  the  Big  Cottonwood  and 
Watonwan,  consisting  of  German  and  American 
pioneers,  who  had  -selected  this  lovely  and  fertUe 
valley  for  their  future  homes. 

Other  counties.  Blue  Earth,  Nicollet,  Sibley, 
Meeker,  McLeod,  Kandiyohi,  Monongalia  and 
Murray,  were  all  situated  in  the  finest  portions  of 
the  state.  Some  of  the  valleys  along  the  streams, 
such  as  Butternut  valley  and  others  of  similar 
character,  were  lovely  as  Wyoming  and  as  fertile 
as  the  Gardaa  of  Edeu.  These  counties,  with 
others  somewhat  removed  from  the  direct  attack  of 
the  Indians  in  the  massacre,  as  Wright,  Stearns 
and  Jackson,  and  even  reaching  on  the  north  to 
Fort  Abercrombie,  thus  extending  from  Iowa  to 
the  Valley  of  the  Bed  Eiver  of  the  North,  were 
severally  involved  in  the  consequences  of  the  war- 


180 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


fare  of  18G2.  This  extended  area  had  at  the  time 
a  population  of  over  fifty  thousand  people,  princi- 
pally in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture;  and  although 
the  settlements  were  in  their  infancy,  the  people 
were  happy  and  contented,  and  as  prosperous  as 
any  similar  community  in  any  new  country  on  the 
American  continent,  since  the  landing  of  the  Pil- 
grim Fathers. 

We  have  in  short,  traced  the  Dakota  tribes  of 
Minnesota  from  an  early  day,  when  the  white  man 
first  visited  and  explored  these  then  unknown  re- 
gions, to  the  time  of  the  massacre.  We  have  also 
given  a  synopsis  of  all  the  most  important  treaties 
between  them  and  the  government,  with  an  allu- 
sion to  the  country  adjacent  to  the  reservations, 
and  the  probable  number  of  people  residing  in  the 
portions  of  the  state  ravaged  by  the  savages. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


COMPLAINTS    OP    THE    INDIANS — TKEATIES    OF    TEA- 

VEKSE   DBS  SIOUX  AND  MENDOTA OBJECTIONS   TO 

THE    MODE   OP   PAYMENT INKPADUTA    MASSACRE 

AT     SPIKIT      LAKE PUOOP     OP     CONSPIKAOV IN- 
DIAN  OOTJNCILS. 

In  a  former  chapter  the  reader  has  had  some 
account  of  the  location  of  the  several   bands  of 

Sioux  Indians  in  Minnesota,  and  their  relation 
to  the  white  settlements  on  the  western  border  of 
the  state.  It  is  now  proposed  to  state  in  brief 
some   of  the  antecedents  of  the  massacre. 

PBOMINENT    CAUSES. 

1.  By  the  treaty  of  Traverse  des  Sioux,  dated 
July  23, 1851,  between  the  United  States  and  the 
Sissetons  and  Wapatons,  $275,000  were  to  be  paid 
their  chiefs,  and  a  further  sum  of  .§30,000  was  to 
be  expended  for  their  benefit  in  Indian  improve- 
ments. By  the  treaty  of  Mendota,  dated  August 
5,  1851,  the  Medawakantons  and  Wapakutas  were 
to  receive  the  sum  of  $200,000,  to  be  paid  to  their 
chief,  and  for  an  improvement  fund  the  further 
sum  of  $30,000.  These  several  sums,  amounting 
in  the  aggregate  to  .$555,000,  these  Indians,  to 
whom  they  were  payable,  claim  they  were  never 
paid,  except,  perhaps,  a  small  portion  expended  in 
improvements  on  the  reservations.  Thej  became 
dissatisfied,  and  expressed  theii-  views  in  councO 
freely  with  the  agent  of  the  govei'nment. 

In  1857,  the  Indian  department  at  Washington 
sent  out  Major  Kintzing  Prichette,  a  man  of  great 
experience,  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  this  disaf- 


fection towards  the  government.  In  his  report  of 
that  year,  made  to  the  Indian  department,  JNIajor 
Prichette  says: 

"The  complaint  which  runs  through  all  their  coun- 
cils points  to  the  imperfect  performance,  or  non-ful 
fillment  of  treaty  stipulations.  Whether  these 
were  well  or  ill  founded,  it  is  not  my  promise  tc 
discuss.  That  such  a  behcf  prevails  among  them, 
uupairing  their  coufideuce  and  good  faith  in  the 
government,  cannot  be  questioned." 

In  one  of  these  councils  Jagmani  said :  "The 
Indians  sold  their  lands  at  Traverse  des  Sioux.  1 
say  what  we  were  told.  For  fifty  years  they  were 
to  be  paid  850,000  per  annum.  We  were  also 
promised  $300,000,  and  that  we  have  not  seen." 

Mapipa  Wicasta  (Cloud  Man),  second  chief  of 
Jagmani's  baud,  said: 

"At  the  treaty  of  Traverse  des  Sioux,  $275,000 
were  to  be  paid  them  when  they  came  upon  their 
reservation;  they  desired  to  know  what  had  be- 
come of  it.  Every  white  man  knows  that  they 
have  been  five  years  upon  their  reservation,  and 
have  yet  heard  nothing  of  it." 

In  this  abridged  form  we  can  only  refer  in  brief 
to  these  complaints;  but  the  history  would  seem 
to  lack  completeness  without  the  presentation  of 
this  feature.  As  the  fact  of  the  dissatisfaction  ex- 
isted, the  government  thought  it  worth  while  to 
appoint  Judge  Yoimg  to  investigate  the  charges 
made  against  the  governor,  of  the  then  Minnesota 
territory,  then  acting,  ex-officio,  as  superintendent 
of  Indian  affairs  for  that  locahty.  Some  short 
extracts  from  Judge  Young's  report  are  here  pre- 
sented : 

"The  governor  is  next  charged  -n-ith  having  paid 
over  the  greater  part  of  the  money,  appropriated 
under  the  fourth  article  of  the  treaty  of  July  23 
and  August  5,  1851,  to  one  Hugh  Tyler,  for  pay- 
ment or  distribution  to  the  'traders'  and  'half- 
breeds,'  contrary  to  the  wishes  and  remonstrances 
of  the  Indians,  and  in  violation  of  law  and  the 
stipulations  contained  in  said  treaties;  and  also 
in  violation  of  his  own  solemn  pledges,  personally 
made  to  them,  in  regard  to  said  payments. 

"Of  $275,000  stipulated  to  be  paid  under  the 
first  clause  of  the  fourth  article  of  the  treaty  of 
Traverse  des  Sioux,  of  July  24,  1851,  the  sum  of 
.§250,000,  was  dcUvered  over  to  Hugh  Tyler,  by 
the  governor,  for  distribution  omong  the  'traders" 
and  'half-breeds,'  according  to  the  arrangement 
made  by  the  schedule  of  the  Traders^  Papr.r,  dated 
at  Traverse  des  Sioux,  July  23,  1851." 


CAUSES   OF   IRRITATION. 


181 


"  For  this  large  sum  of  money,  Hugh  Tyler  ex- 
ecuted two  receipts  to  the  Governor,  as  the  attor- 
ney for  the  'traders'  and  'halt  breeds;'  the  one  for 
$210,000  on  account  of  the  'traders,'  and  the  other 
for  .^40,000  on  account  of  the  'half-breeds;'  the 
first  dated  at  St.  Paul,  December  8,  1852,  and  the 
second  at  Meudota,  December  11,  1852." 

"And  of  the  sum  of  $110,000,  stipulated  to  be 
paid  to  the  Medawakantons,  under  the  fourth  ar- 
ticle of  the  treaty  of  August  5,  1851,  the  sum  of 
$70,000  was  in  like  manner  paid  over  to  the  said 
Tyler,  on  a  power  of  attorney  executed  to  him  by 
the  traders  and  claimants,  under  the  said  treaty, 
on  December  11,  1852.  The  receipts  of  the  said 
Tyler  to  the  Governor  for  this  money,  $70,000,  is 
dated  at  St.  Paul,  December  13,  1852,  making  to- 
gether the  sum  of  $320,000.  This  has  been  shown 
to  have  been  contrary  to  the  wishes  and  remon- 
strances of  a  large  majority  of  the  Indians."  And 
Judge  Young  adds:  "It  is  also  believed  to  be  in 
violation  of  the  treaty  stipulations,  as  well  as  the 
law  making  the  appropriations  under  them." 

These  several  sums  of  money  were  to  be  paid  to 
these  Indians  in  open  council,  and  soon  after  they 
were  on  their  reservations  provided  tor  them  by 
the  treaties.  In  these  matters  the  report  shows 
they  were  not  consulted  at  all,  in  open  coimcil; 
but  on  the  contrary,  that  arbitrary  divisions  and 
distributions  were  made  of  the  entire  fund,  and 
their  right  denied  to  direct  the  manner  in  which 
they  should  be  appropriated.  See  Ads  of  Con- 
gress, August  30,  1852. 

The  Indians  claimed,  also,  that  the  third  section 
of  the  act  was  violated,  as  by  that  section  the  ap- 
propriations therein  referred  to,  should,  in  every 
instance,  be  paid  directly  to  the  Indians  them- 
selves, to  whom  it  should  be  due,  or  to  the  tribe, 
or  part  of  the  tribe,  per  capita,  "  unless  otherwise 
the  imperious  interest  of  the  Indians  or  some 
treaty  stipulation  should  require  the  payment  to 
be  made  otherwise,  under  the  direction  of  the 
president."  This  money  was  never  so  paid.  The 
report  further  states  that  a  large  sum,  "  $55,000, 
was  deducted  by  Hugh  Tyler  by  way  of  discount 
and  percentage  on  gross  amount  of  payments, 
and  that  these  exactions  were  made  both  from  tra- 
ders and  half-breeds,  without  any  previous  agree- 
ment, in  many  instances,  and  in  such  a  way,  in 
some,  as  to  make  the  impression  that  unless  they 
were  submitted  to,  no  payments  would  be  made  to 
such  claimants  at  all." 

And,  finally  the  report  says,  that  from  the  testi- 


mony it  was  evident  that  the  money  was  not  paid 
to  the  chiefs,  either  to  the  Sisseton,  Wapaton,  or 
Medawakanton  bands,  as  they  in  open  council  re- 
quested; but  that  they  were  compelled  to  submit 
to  this  mode  of  payment  to  the  traders,  otherwise 
no  payment  would  be  made,  and  the  money  would 
be  returned  to  Washington;  so  that  in  violation  of 
law  they  were  compelled  to  comply  with  the  Gov- 
ernor's terms  of  payment,  according  to  Hugh  Ty- 
ler's power  of  attorney. 

The  examination  of  this  complaint,  on  the  part 
of  the  Indians,  by  the  Senate  of  the  United  States, 
resulted  in  exculpating  the  Governor  of  "Minnesota 
(Governor  Ramsey)  from  any  censure,  yet  the  In- 
dians "were  not  satisfied  with  the  treatment  they 
had  received  in  this  matter  by  the  accredited  agents 
of  the  Government. 

2.  Another  cause  of  irritation  among  these  In- 
dians arose  out  of  the  massacre  of  1857,  at  Spirit 
Lake,  known  as  the  Inkpaduta  massacre.  Inkpa- 
data  was  an  outlaw  of  the  Wapakuta  band  of 
Sioux  Indians,  and  his  acts  in  the  murders  at 
Spirit  Lake  were  entirely  disclaimed  by  the  "annu- 
ity Sioux."  He  had  slain  Tasagi,  a  Wapakuta 
chief,  and  several  of  his  relatives,  some  twenty 
years  previous,  and  had  thereafter  led  a  wandering 
and  marauding  life  about  the  head  waters  of  the 
Des  Moines  river. 

Inkpaduta  was  connected  with  several  of  the 
bands  of  annuity  Sioux  Indians,  and  similar  rela- 
tions with  other  bands  existed  among  his  followers. 
These  ties  extended  even  to  the  Yanktons  west  of 
the  James  river,  and  even  over  the  Missouri.  He 
was  himself  an  outlaw  for  the  murder  of  Tasagi 
and  others  as  stated,  and  followed  a  predatory  and 
lawless  life  iu  the  neighborhood  of  his  related 
tribes,  for  which  the  Sioux  were  themselves  blamed. 

The  depredations  of  these  Indians  becoming  in- 
suCferable,  and  the  settlers  finding  themselves  suf- 
ficiently strong,  deprived  them  of  their  gims  and 
drove  them  from  the  neighborhood.  Eecovering 
some  of  their  guns,  or,  by  other  accounts,  digging 
up  a  few  old  ones  which  they  had  buried,  they 
proceeded  to  the  settlement  of  Spirit  Lake  and 
demanded  food.  This  appears  to  have  been  given 
to  a  portion  of  the  band  which  had  first  arrived, 
to  the  extent  of  the  means  of  those  applied  to. 
Soon  after,  Inkpaduta,  with  the  remainder  of  his 
followers,  who,  in  all,  numbered  twelve  men  and 
two  boys,  with  some  women  who  had  hngered  be- 
hind, came  in  and  demanded  food  also.  The  set- 
tler gave  him  to  understand  that  he  had  no  more 


182 


niSrORT  OF  THE   SIOVX  MASSACRE. 


to  give;  wbereupon  Inkpaduta  Bpoke  to  his  eldest 
Bon  to  the  effect  that  it  was  disgracerul  to  ask 
these  people  for  food  which  they  ought  to  take 
themselves,  and  not  to  have  it  thrown  to  them  like 
dogs.  Thus  assured,  the  son  immediately  shot  the 
man,  and  the  murder  of  the  whole  family  fol- 
lowed. From  thence  they  proceeded  from  house, 
to  house,  until  every  family  in  the  settlement, 
without  warning  of  those  previously  slain,  were 
all  massacred,  except  four  women,  whom  they  bore 
away  prisoners,  and  afterward  violated,  with  cir- 
cumstances of  brutality  so  abhorrent  as  to  find  uo 
parallel  in  the  annals  of  savage  barbarity,  unless 
we  except  the  massacre  of  1862,  whicli  occurred  a 
few  years  later. 

From  Spirit  Lake  the  murderers  proceeded  to 
Springfield,  at  the  outlet  of  Shetek,  or  Pelican 
lake,  near  the  head  waters  of  the  Des  Moines 
river;  where  they  remained  encamped  for  some 
days,  trading  with  Mr.  William  Wood  from  Man- 
kato,  and  his  brothers.  Here  .tbey  succeeded  in 
killing  seventeen,  including  the  Woods,  making, 
in  all,  forty-seven  persons,  when  the  men  rallied, 
and  tiring  upon  them,  tbey  retreated  and  deserted 
that  part  of  the  country.  Of  tba  four  women 
taken  captives  by  Inkpaduta,  Mrs.  Stevens  and 
Mrs.  Noble  were  killed  by  the  Indians,  and  Mrs. 
Marble  and  Miss  Gardner  were  rescued  by  the 
Wapaton  Sioux,  under  a  promisa  of  reward  from 
the  Government,  and  for  which  the  three  Indians 
who  brought  in  these  captives  received  each  one 
thousand  dollars. 

The  Government  liad  required  of  the  Sioux  the 
delivery  of  Inkpaduta  and  bis  band  as  the  condi- 
tion for  the  payment  of  their  annuities.  This  was 
regarded  by  certain  of  the  bauds  as  a  great  wrong 
visited  upon  the  innocent  for  the  crimes  of  the 
guilty.  One  of  their  speakers  (Mazakuti  Mani), 
in  a  council  held  with  the  Sissetons  and  Wapatous, 
August  10,  1S57,  at  Yellow  Medicine,  said: 

"The  soldiers  have  appointed  me  to  speak  for 
them.  The  men  who  killed  the  white  people  did 
not  belong  to  us,  and  we  did  not  expect  to  be  called 
upon  to  account  for  the  deeds  of  another  band. 
We  have  always  tried  to  do  as  our  Great  Father 
tells  us.  One  of  our  young  men  brought  in  a 
captive  woman.  I  went  out  and  brought  in  the 
other.  The  soldiers  came  up  here  and  our  men 
assisted  to  Jdll  one  of  Inkpaduta's  sons  at  this 
place.  The  lower  Indians  did  not  get  ujd  the  war- 
party  for  you;  it  was  our  Indians,  the  Wapatons 
and  Sissetons.     The  soldiers  here  say  that  they 


were  told  by  you  that  a  thousand  dollars  would 
be  paid  for  killing  each  of  the  murderers.  We, 
with  the  men  who  went  out,  want  to  be  paid  for 
what  we  have  done.  Three  men  were  killed,  as 
we  know.  *****  AH  of  us  want  our 
money  very  much.  A  man  of  another  band  has 
done  wrong,  and  we  are  to  suffer  for  it.  Our  old 
women  and  children  are  hungry  for  this.  I  have 
seen  S10,000  sent  here  to  pay  for  our  going  out. 
I  wish  our  soldiers  were  paid  for  it.  I  suppo.se 
our  Great  Father  has  more  money  than  this." 

Major  PritcUette,  the  special  government  agent, 
thought  it  necessary  to  answer  some  points  made 
by  Mazakuti  Mani,  and  spoke,  in  council,  as  fol- 
lows: 

"Your  Great  Father  has  sent  me  to  see  Suppr- 
intendent  Cullen,  and  to  say  to  him  he  was  well 
satisfied  with  bis  conduct,  because  he  had  acted  ac- 
cording to  his  instructions.  Your  Great  Father 
bad  heard  that  some  of  his  white  children  had  been 
cruelly  and  brutally  murdered  by  some  of  the 
Sioux  nation.  The  news  was  sent  on  the  wings  of 
the  lightning,  from  the  extreme  north  to  the  land 
of  eternal  summer,  throughout  which  his  children 
dwell.  His  young  men  wished  to  make  war  on 
the  whole  Sioux  nation,  and  revenge  the  deaths  of 
their  brethren.  But  your  Great  Father  is  a  just 
father  and  wishes  to  treat  all  his  children  alike 
Avith  justice.  He  wants  no  innocent  man  punished 
for  the  guilty.  He  punishes  the  guilty  alone.  Ho 
expects  that  those  missionaries  who  have  been  here 
teac!  iag  you  the  laws  of  the  Great  Spirit  had 
taught  you  this.  Whenever  a  Sioux  is  injured  by 
a  wliite  man  your  Great  Father  will  punish  him, 
and  expecis  from  the  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the 
gi'eat  Sioux  nation  that  they  will  punish  those  In- 
dians who  injure  the  whites.  He  considers  the 
Si  mx  as  a  part  of  his  family;  and  as  friends  and 
brothers  he  expeots  them  to  do  as  the  whites  do  to 
tham.  He  kuow.s  that  the  Sioux  nation  is  divided 
into  bands;  but  he  knows  also  how  they  can  all 
band  together  for  common  protection.  Ho  expects 
the  nation  to  punish  these  m;irJerers,  or  to  deliver 
them  up.  He  expects  this  because  they  are  his 
friends.  As  long  as  these  murderers  remain  un- 
punished or  not  delivered  up,  they  are  not  acting 
as  friends  of  their  Great  Father.  It  is  for  this 
reason  that  ho  has  witheld  the  annuity.  Y''our 
(i.eat  Father  will  have  his  white  children  p.o- 
teoted;  <ind  all  who  have  told  you  that  your  Great 
Father  is  not  able  to  punish  those  who  injure  them 
will    find    themselves    bitterly    mistaken.     Your 


REPORT  OF  SPECIAL   AGENT. 


183 


Great  Father  desires  to  do  good  to  all  lais  children 
and  will  do  all  in  his  power  to  accomplish  it;  but 
he  is  firmly  resolved  to  punish  all  who  do  wrong." 

After  this,  another  similar  council,  SejDtember  1, 
1857,  was  held  with  the  Sisseton  and  Wapaton 
band  of  Upper  Sioux  at  Yellow  Medicine.  Agent 
Flandran,  in  the  meantime,  had  succeeded  in  or- 
ganizing a  band  of  warriors,  made  up  of  all  the 
"annuity"  bands,  under  Little  Crow.  This  expe- 
dition numbered  altogether  one  hundred  and  six, 
besides  four  half-breeds.  This  party  went  out  af- 
ter Inkpaduta  on  the  22d  of  July,  1857,  starting 
from  Yellow  Medicine. 

Oa  the  5th  of  August  Major  Pritchette  reported 
to  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  "That  the 
party  of  Indians,  rejiresenting  the  entire  Sioux  na- 
tion, under  the  nominal  head  of  Little  Crow,  re- 
turned yesterday  from  the  expedition  in  search  of 
Inkpaduta  and  his  band,"  after  an  absence  of  thir- 
teen days. 

As  this  outlaw,  Inkpaduta,  has  achieved  an  im- 
mortality of  infamy,  it  may  be  allowable  in  the 
historian  to  record  the  names  of  his  followers.  In- 
kpaduta (Scarlet  Point)  heads  the  hst,  and  the 
names  of  the  eleven  men  are  given  by  the  wife  of 
Tateyahe,  who  was  killed  by  the  party  of  Sioux 
under  Little  Crow,  thus:  Tateyahe  (Shifting 
Wind);  Makpeahoteman  (Roaring  Cloud),  son  of 
Inkpaduta,  killed  at  Yellow  Medicine;  Makpiope- 
ta  (Fire  Cloud),  twin  brother  of  Makpeohotoman; 
Tawachshawakan  (His  Mysterious  Feather),  killed 
in  the  late  expedition;  Bahata  (Old  Man);  Kech- 
omon  (Putting  on  as  He  Walks);  Huhsan  (One 
Leg);  Kahadai  (Rattling),  son-in-law  of  Inkpa- 
duta; I'etoa-tanka  (Big  Face);  Tatelidashinksha- 
mani  (One  who  Makes  Crooked  Wind  as  He 
Walks);  Tachanchegahota  (His  Great  Gun),  and 
the  two  boys,  children  of  Inkpaduta,  not  named. 

After  the  band  had  been  pursued  by  Little 
Crow  into  Lake  Chouptijatanka  (Big  Dry  Wood), 
distant  twenty  miles  in  a  northwestern  direction 
from  Skuuk  Lake,  and  three  of  them  killed  out- 
right, wounding  one,  taking  two  women  and  a 
little  child  prisoners,  the  Indians  argued  that  they 
had  done  sufficient  to  merit  the  payment  of  their 
annuities;  and  on  the  18th  of  August,  1854,  Maj. 
Cullen  telegraphed  the  following  to  the  Hon.  J. 
W.  Denver,  commissioner  of  Indian  affaire: 

"If  the  department  concurs,  I  am  of  the  opinion 
that  the  Sioux  of  the  Mississippi,  having  done  all 
in  their  power  to  punish  or  surrender  Inkpaduta 
and  his  band,  their  annuities  may  with  propriety 


be  paid,  as  a  signal  to  the  military  movements 
from  Ports  Ridgely  and  Randall.  The  special 
agent  from  the  department  waits  an  answer  to 
this  dispatch  at  Dunleith,  and  for  instructions  in 
the  premises." 

In  this  opinion  Major  Pritchette,  in  a  letter  of 
the  same  date,  concurred,  for  reasons  therein 
stated,  and  transmitted  to,  the  department.  In 
this  letter,  among  other  things,  the  wi-iter  says : 

"No  encouragement  was  given  to  them  that 
such  a  request  would  be  granted.  It  is  the 
opinion,  however,  of  Superintendent  Cullen,  the 
late  agent.  Judge  Flandrau,  Governor  Medary, 
and  the  general  intelligent  sentiment,  that  the  an- 
nuities may  now  with  propriety,  be  paid,  without 
a  violation  of  the  spirit  of  the  expressed  deter- 
mination of  the  department  to  withhold  them  until 
the  murderers  of  Spirit  Lake  should  be  surren- 
dered or  punished.  It  is  argued  that  the  present 
friendly  disposition  of  the  Indians  is  manifest,  and 
should  not  be  endangered  by  subjecting  them  to 
the  wants  incident  to  their  condition  during  the 
coming  winter,  and  the  consequent  temptation  to 
depredation,  to  which  the  withholding  their 
money  would  leave  them  exposed." 

The  major  yielded  this  point  for  the  reasons 
stated,  yet  he  continued: 

"If  not  improper  for  me  to  express  an  opinion,  I 
am  satisfied  that,  without  chastising  the  whole 
Sioux  nation,  it  is  impossible  to  enforce  the  sur- 
render of  Inkpaduta  and  the  remainder  of  his 
band."  *  *  •*  "Nothing  less  than  the  entire 
extirpation  of  Inkpaduta's  murderous  outlaws  will 
satisfy  the  justice  and  dignity  of  the  government, 
and  vindicate  outraged  humanity." 

We  here  leave  the  Inkjoaduta  massacre,  remark- 
ing only  that  the  government  paid  the  Indians 
their  annuities,  and  made  no  further  effort  to  bring 
to  condign  punishment  the  remnant  who  had 
escaped  -alive  from  the  piirsuit  of  Little  Crow  and 
his  soldiers.  This  was  a  great  error  on  the  part 
of  our  government.  The  Indians  construed  it 
either  as  an  evidence  of  weakness,  or  that  tie 
whites  were  afraid  to  pursue  the  matter  further, 
lest  it  might  terminate  in  still  more  disastrous  re- 
sults to  the  infant  settlement  of  the  state  border- 
ing upon  the  Indian  country.  The  resiUt  was, 
the  Indians  became  more  insolent  than  ever  be- 
fore. Little  Crow  and  his  adherents  had  found 
capital  out  of  which  to  foment  future  difficulties 
in  which  the  two  races  should  become  involved. 
And  it  is  now  believed,  and  subsequent   circum- 


184 


niSTOBT   OF  THE  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


stances  have  greatly  strengthened  that  belief,  that 
Little  Crow,  from  the  time  the  government  ceased 
its  efforts  to  punish  Inkpaduta,  began  to  agitate 
his  great  scheme  of  driving  the  whites  from  the 
state  of  Minnesota;  a  scheme  which  finally  cul- 
minated in  the  ever-to-be-remembcred  massacre  of 
August,  A.  D.  1862. 

The  antecedent  exciting  causes  of  this  massacre 
are  numerous.  The  displaced  agents  and  traders 
find  the  cause  in  the  erroneous  action  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, resulting  in  their  removal  from  office. 
The  statesman  and  the  pbilosopber  may  unite  in 
tracing  the  cause  to  improper  theories  as  to  the 
mode  of  acquiring  the  right  to  Indian  lands. 
The  former  may  locate  the  evil  in  our  system  of 
treaties,  and  the  latter  in  our  theories  of  goveru- 
meut.  The  philanthropist  may  find  the  cause  in 
the  absence  of  justice  which  we  exhibit  in  all  our 
intercourse  with  the  Indian  races.  The  poet  and 
the  lovers  of  romance  in  human  character  find  the 
true  cause,  as  they  believe,  in  the  total  absence  of 
all  appreciation  of  the  noble,  generous,  confiding 
traits  peculiar  to  the  native  Indian.  The  Chris- 
tian teacher  finds  apologies  for  acts  of  Indian 
atrocities  in  the  deficient  systems  of  mental  and 
moral  culture.  Each  of  these  different  classes 
are  satisfied  that  the  great  massacre  of  August, 
1862,  had  its  origin  in  some  way  intimately  con- 
nected with  his  favorite  theory. 

Let  us,  for  a  moment,  look  at  the  facts,  in  rela- 
tion to  the  two  races  who  had  come  into  close  con- 
tact with  each  other,  and  in  the  light  ot  these 
facts,  judge  of  the  probable  cause  of  this  fearful 
collision.  The  white  race,  some  two  hundred 
years  ago,  had  entered  upon  the  material  conquest 
of  the  American  continent,  armed  with  all  the  ap- 
pliances for  its  complete  subjugation.  On  the 
shores  of  this  prolific  continent  these  new  ele- 
ments came  in  contact  with  a  race  ot  savages  with 
many  of  the  traits  peculiar  to  a  common  human- 
ity, yet,  with  these,  exhibiting  all,  or  nearly  all, 
the  vices  of  the  most  barbarous  of  savage  races. 
The  period  of  occupancy  of  this  broad,  fertile 
land  was  lost  in  the  depths  of  a  remote  antiquity. 
The  culture  of  the  soil,  if  ever  understood,  had 
been  long  neglected  by  this  race,  and  the  chase 
was  their  principal  mode  of  gaining  a  scanty  subi- 
sistence.  It  had  lost  all  that  ennobled  man,  and 
was  alive  only  to  all  his  degradations.  The  white 
man  was  at  once  acknowledged,  the  Indian  being 
judge,  superior  to  the  savage  race  with  which  he 
had  come  in  contact. 


Here,  then,  is  the  first  cause,  in  accordance  with 
a  universal  principle,  in  which  the  conflict  of  the 
two  races  had  its  origin.  It  was  a  conflict  of 
knowledge  with  ignorance,  of  right  with  wrong. 
If  this  conflict  were  only  mental,  and  the  weapons 
of  death  had  never  been  resorted  to  in  a  single 
instance,  the  result  would  have  been  the  same. 
The  inferior  race  must  either  recede  before  the  su- 
perior, or  sink  into  the  common  mass,  and,  like  the 
raindrops  falling  upon  the  bosom  of  the  ocean, 
lose  all  traces  of  distinction.  This  warfare  takes 
place  the  world  over,  on  the  principle  of  mental 
and  material  progress.  The  presence  ot  the  supe- 
rior light  eclipses  the  inferior,  and  cau.ses  it  to 
retire.  Mind  makes  aggression  upon  mind,  and 
the  superior,  sooner  or  later,  overwhelms  the  infe- 
rior. This  process  may  go  on,  with  or  without 
the  conlliot  of  physical  organisms.  The  final 
result  will  be  the  same. 

Again,  we  come  to  the  great  law  of  right.  The 
white  race  stood  upon  this  undeveloped  continent 
ready  and  willing  to  execute  the  Divine  injunc- 
tion, to  replenish  the  earth  and  subdue  it.  On  the 
one  side  stood  the  white  race  armed  with  his  law ; 
ou  the  other  the  savage,  resisting  the  execution  of 
that  law.  The  result  could  not  be  evaded  by  any 
human  device.  In  the  case  before  us,  the  Indian 
races  were  in  the  wrongful  possession  of  a  conti- 
nent required  by  the  superior  right  of  the  white 
man.  This  right,  founded  in  the  wisdom  of  God, 
eliminated  by  the  ever-operative  laws  of  progress, 
will  continue  to  assert  its  dominion,  with  varying 
success,  contingent  on  the  use  of  means  employed, 
until  all  opposition  is  hushed  in  the  perfect  reign 
of  the  superior  aggressive  principle. 

With  these  seemingly  necessary  reflections,  we 
introduce  the  remarks  of  the  Sioux  agent  touching 
the  antecedents  oE  the  great  massacre,  unparalleltd 
in  the  history  of  the  conflict  of  the  races.  The 
agent  gives  his  peculiar  views,  and  they  are  worthy 
of  careful  consideration. 

Major  Thomas  Galbraith,  Sioux  Agent,  says: 

"The  radical,  moving  cause  ot  the  outbreak  is, 
I  am  satisfied,  the  ingrained  and  fixed  hostility  of 
the  savage  barbarian  to  reform  and  civilization. 
As  in  aU  barbarous  communities,  in  the  history  of 
the  world,  the  same  people  have,  for  the  most  part, 
resisted  the  encroachments  of  civilization  upon 
their  ancient  customs;  so  it  is  in  the  case  before 
us.  Nor  does  it  matter  materially  in  what  shape 
civilization  makes  its  attack.  Hostile,  opposing 
forces  meet  in  conflict,  and  a  war  of  social  elements 


VIEWS   OF  MAJOR   OALBliAITH. 


18S 


is  the  result — civilization  is  aggressive,  and  bar- 
barism stubbornly  resistant.  Sometimes,  indeed, 
civilization  has  achieved  a  bloodless  victory,  but 
generally  it  has  been  otherwise.  Christianity,  it- 
self, the  trae  basis  of  civilization,  has,  in  most  in- 
stances, •waded  to  success  through  seas  of  blood. 
*  *  *  Having  stated  thus  much,  I  state  as  a 
settled  fact  in  my  mind,  that  the  encroachments  of 
Christianity,  and  its  handmaid,  civilization,  uj^on 
the  habits  and  customs  of  the  Sioux  Indians,  is 
the  cause  of  the  late  terrible  Sioux  outbreak.  There 
were,  it  is  true,  many  immediate  inciting  causes, 
which  will  be  alluded  to  and  stated  hereafter,  but 
they  are  subsidiary  to,  and  developments  of,  or 
incident  to,  the  great  cause  set  forth.  *  *  * 
But  that  the  recent  Sioux  outbreak  would  have 
happened  at  any  rate,  as  a  result,  a  fair  conse- 
quence of  the  cause  here  stated,  I  have  no  more 
doubt  than  I  doubt  that  the  great  rebellion  to 
overthrow  our  Government  would  have  occurred 
had  Mr.  Lincoln  never  been  elected  President  of 
the  United  States. 

"  Now  as  to  the  existing  or  immediate  causes  of 
the  outbreak:  By  my  predecessor  a  new  and 
radical  system  was  inaugurated,  practically,  and, 
in  its  inauguration,  he  was  aided  by  the  Christian 
missionaries  and  by  the  Government.  The  treaties 
of  1858  were  ostensibly  made  to  carry  this  new 
system  into  effect.  The  theory,  in  substance,  'wss 
to  break  up  the  community -system  which  prevailed 
among  the  Sioux;  weaken  and  destroy  their 
tribal  relations,  and  individualize  tliem,  by  giving 
them  each  a  separate  home.  *  *  *  On  the 
1st  day  of  June,  A.  D.  1861,  when  I  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  my  office,  I  found  that  the  system 
had  just  been  inaugurated.  Some  hundred  fami- 
lies of  the  Annuity  Sioux  had  become  novitiates, 
and  their  relatives  and  friends  seemed  to  be  favor- 
ably disposed  to  the  new  order  of  things.  But  I 
also  found  that,  against  these,  were  arrayed  over 
live  thousand  "Annuity  Sioux,"  besides  at  least 
three  thousand  Tanktonais,  all  inflamed  by  the 
most  bitter,  relentless,  and  devilish  hostility. 

"  I  saw,  to  some  extent,  the  difficulty  of  the 
situation,  but  I  determined  to  continue,  if  in  my 
power,  the  civilization  system.  To  favor  it,  to  aid 
and  build  it  up  by  every  fair  means,  I  advised, 
encouraged,  and  assisted  the  farmer  novitiates;  in 
short,  I  sustained  the  poUoy  inaugurated  by  my 
predecessor,  and  sustained  and  recommended  by  the 
Government.  I  soon  discovered  tliat  the  system 
could  not  be  successful  without  a  sufficient  force 


to  protect  the  "farmer"  from  the  hostility  of  the 
"blanket  Indians." 

"During  my  term,  and  up  to  the  time  of  the  out- 
break, about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  had 
their  hair  cut  and  had  adopted  the  habits  and  cus- 
toms of  white  men. 

"  For  a  time,  indeed,  my  hopes  were  strong  that 
civilization  would  soon  be  in  the  ascendant.  But 
the  increase  of  the  civilization  party  and  their  evi- 
dent prosperity,  only  tended  to  exasperate  the  In- 
dians of  the  'ancient  customs,'  and  to  widen  the 
breach.  But  while  these  are  to  be  enumerated,  it 
may  be  permitted  me  to  hope  that  the  radical 
cause  will  not  be  forgotten  or  overlooked;  and  I 
am  bold  to  express  this  desire,  because,  ever  since 
the  outbreak,  the  public  journals  of  the  country, 
religious  and  secular,  have  teemed  with  editorials 
by  and  communications  from  'reliable  individuals,' 
politicians,  philanthropists,  philosophers  and  hired 
'penny-a-liners,'  mostly  mistaken  and  sometimes 
willfully  and  grossly  false,  giving  the  cause  of  the 
Indian  raid." 

Major  Galbraith  enumerates  a  variety  of  other 
exciting  causes  of  the  massacre,  which  our  limit 
will  not  allow  us  to  insert  in  this  volume.  Among 
other  causes,  *  *  that  the  United  States  was 
itself  at  war,  and  that  Washington  was  taken  by 
the  negroes.  *  *  But  none  of  these  were,  in 
his  opinion,  the  cause  of  the  outbreak. 

The  Major  then  adds: 

"Grievances  such  as  have  been  related,  and 
numberless  others  akin  to  them,  were  spoken  of, 
recited,  and  chanted  at  their  councils,  dances,  and 
feasts,  to  such  an  extent  that,  in  their  excitement, 
in  June,  1862,  a  secret  organization  known  as  the 
'  Soldier's  Lodge,'  was  founded  by  the  young 
men  and  soldiers  of  the  Lower  Sioux,  with  the 
object,  as  far  as  I  was  able  to  learn  through  spies 
and  informers,  of  preventing  the  'traders'  from 
going  to  the  pay-tables,  as  had  been  their  custom. 
Since  the  outbreak  I  have  become  satisfied  that 
the  real  object  of  this  'Lodge'  was  to  adopt 
measures  to  'clean  out'  all  the  white  people  at  the 
end  Qf  the  payment." 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  cause  of  the  fear- 
ful and  bloody  tragedy,  it  is  certain  that  the  man- 
ner of  the  execution  of  the  infernal  deed  was  a 
deep-laid  conspiracy,  long  cherished  by  Little 
Crow,  taking  form  under  the  guise  of  the  "  Sol- 
diers' Lodge,"  and  matured  in  secret  Indian  coun- 
cils. In  all  these  secret  movements  Little  Crow 
was  the  moving  spirit. 


186 


IIISTORT  OF  TUB  SIOUX  ilASSACllE. 


Now  the  (ipjiortune  moment  seemed  to  have 
come.  Only  tliirty  soldiers  were  stationed  at  Fort 
Ridgely.  Some  thirty  were  all  that  Fort  Ripley 
could  muster,  and  at  Fort  Abercrombie  one  com- 
pany, under  Captain  Van  Der  Hork,  was  all  the 
whites  could  depend  upon  to  repel  any  attack  iu 
that  quarter.  The  whole  effective  force  for  th;- 
defense  of  the  entire  frontier,  from  Pembina  to  the 
Iowa  line,  djd  not  exceed  two  hundred  men.  The 
annuity  money  was  daily  expected,  and  no  troops 
except  about  one  hundred  men  at  Yellow  Medi- 
cine, had  been  detailed,  as  usual,  to  attend  the  an- 
ticipated payment.  Here  was  a  glittering  prize  to 
be  paraded  before  the  minds  of  the  excited  sav- 
ages. The  whites  were  weak;  they  were  engaged 
in  a  terrible  war  among  themselves;  their  atten- 
tion was  now  directed  toward  the  great  struggle 
in  the  Soiitli.  At  such  a  time,  offering  so  many 
chances  for  rapine  and  plunder,  it  would  be  easj' 
to  unite,  at  least,  all  the  annuity  Indians  in  one 
common  movement.  Little  Crow  knew  full  well 
that  the  Indians  could  easily  be  made  to  believe 
that  now  was  a  favorable  time  to  make  a  grand 
attack  upon  the  border  settlements.  In  view  of  all 
the  favorable  auspices  now  concurring,  a  famous 
Indian  coimcil  was  called,  which  was  fully  attended 
by  the  "  Soldiers'  Lodge."  Rev.  S.  R.  Riggs,  iu 
his  late  work,  1880,  ("Mary. and  I");  referring  to 
the  outbrejik,  says: 

"On  \ug\ist  17th,  the  outbreak  was  commenced 
in  the  border  whits  settlements  at  Acton,  Minne- 
sota. Tliat  night  the  news  was  carried  to  the 
Lower  Sioux  Agency,  and  a  council  of  war  was 
called."  *  *  *  "Sometliing  of  the  kind  had 
been  meditated  and  talked  of,  and  prepared  for 
undoubtedly.  Some  time  before  this,  they  had 
formed  tlie  Tce-yo-tee-pee,  or  Soldiers'  Lodge." 

A  memorable  council,  convened  at  Little  Crow's 
village,  near  the  Lower  Agency,  on  Sunday  night 
previous  to  the  attack  on  Fort  Ridgely,  and  pre- 
cisely two  weeks  before  the  first  massacres  at  Ac- 
ton. Little  Crow  was  at  this  council,  and  he  was 
not  wanting  in  ability  to  meet  the  greatness  of 
the  occasion.  The  proceedings  of  this  council,  of 
course,  were  secret.  Some  of  the  results  arrived 
at,  however,  have  since  come  to  the  writer  of  these 
pages.  The  council  matured  the  details  of  a  con- 
spiracy, which  for  atrocity  has  hitherto  never 
found  a  place  in  recorded  history,  not  excepting 
that  of  Cawnpore. 

The  evidence  of  that  conspiracy  comes  to  us,  in 
part,  from  the  relation  of  one  who  was  present  at 


the  infamous  council.  Comparing  the  statement 
of  the  narrative  with  the  known  occurrences  of 
the  times,  that  council  preceded  the  attack  on  the 
Government  stores  at  the  Upper  Agency,  and  waB 
convened  on  Sunday  night;  the  attack  on  the 
Upper  Agency  took  place  the  next  day,  Monday, 
the  4th  of  August;  and  on  the  same  day,  an  at- 
tempt was  made  to  take  Fort  Ridgely  by  strategy. 
Not  the  slightest  danger  was  anticipated.  Only 
thirty  soldiers  occupied  the  post  at  Fort  Ridgelv 
and  this  was  deemed  iimply  sufficient  in  times  of 
peace.  But  we  will  not  longer  detain  the  reader 
from  the  denouement  of  this  horrible  plot. 

Our  informant  states  the  evidences  of  the  de-  . 
crees  of  the  council  of  the  3d  of  August,  thus: 

"I  was  looking  toward  the  Agency  and  saw  a 
large  body  of  men  Coming  toward  the  fort,  and 
supposed  them  soldiers  returning  from  the  pay- 
ment at  Yellow  Medicine.  On  a  second  look,  I 
observed  they  were  mounted,  and  knowing,  at  this 
time,  that  they  must  be  Indians,  was  surprised  at 
seeing  so  large  a  body,  as  they  were  not  expected. 
I  resolved  to  go  into  the  garrison  to  see  what  it 
meant,  having,  at  the  time,  not  the  least  suspicion 
that  the  Indians  intended  any  hostile  demonstr  i- 
tion.  When  I  arrived  at  the  garrison,  I  toui.d 
Sergeant  Jones  at  the  entrance  with  a  mounted 
howitzer,  charged  with  shell  and  canister-shot, 
pointed  towards  the  Indians,  who  were  removed 
but  a  short  distance  from  the  guard  house.  I 
inquired  of  the  sergeant  what  it  meant?  whether 
any  danger  was  apprehended?  He  replied  indif- 
ferentlj-,  "No,  but  that  he  thought  it  a  good  rule 
tT  observe  that  a  soldier  should  always  be  ready 
for  any  emergency." 

These  Indians  had  requested  the  privilege  to 
dance  in  the  inclosure  surrounding  the  fort.  On 
this  occasion  that  request  was  refused  them.  But 
I  saw  that,  about  sixty  yards  west  of  the  guard 
house,  the  Indians  were  m:iking  the  necessary 
preparations  for  a  dance.  I  thought  nothing  of  it 
as  they  had  frequently  done  the  same  thing,  but  a 
little  further  removed  from  the  fort,  under  some- 
what different  circumstances.  I  considered  it  a 
singular  exhibition  of  Indian  foolishness,  and,  at 
the  solicitation  of  a  few  ladies,  went  out  and  wr.s 
myself  a  spectator  of  the  dance. 

"When  the  dance  was  concluded,  the  Indians 
.sought  aud  obtained  permission  to  encamp  on 
some  rising  ground  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west 
of  the  trrirrison.  To  this  ground  they  soon  re- 
[laired,  and  encamped  for  the  night.     The  next 


EVIDENCE   OF  CONSPIRAGY. 


187 


mo.-uing,  by  10  o'clock,  all  had  left  the  vicinity  of 
the  garrison,  departing  in  the  direction  of  the 
Lower  Agency.  This  whole  matter  of  the  dance 
was  so  conducted  as  to  lead  most,  if  not  all,  the 
residents  of  the  garrison  to  believe  that  the  In- 
dians had  paid  them  that  visit  for  the  purpose  of 
dancing  and  obtaining  provisions  for  a  feast. 

"Some  things  were  observable  that  were  unu- 
sual. The  visitors  were  all  warriors,  ninety-six  in 
number,  all  in  undress,  except  a  very  few  who  wore 
calico  shirts;  and,  in  addition  to  this,  they  all  car- 
ried arms,  guns  and  tomahawks,  with  ammunition 
pouches  suspended  around  their  shoulders.  Pre- 
vious to  the  dance,  the  war  implements  were  de- 
posited some  two  hundred  yards  distant,  where 
they  had  left  -their  ponies.  But  even  this  circum- 
Bi'ance,  so  far  as  it  was  tben  known,  excited  no 
suspicion  of  danger  or  hostilities  in  the  minds  of 
the  residents  of  the  garrison.  These  residents 
were  thiity-five  men;  thirty  soldiers  and  five  citi- 
zens, with  a  few  women  and  children.  The  guard 
that  day  consisted  of  three  soldiers;  one  waswalk- 
uig  leisurely  to  and  fro  in  front  of  the  guard- 
h;mse;  the  other  two  were  off  duty,  passing  about 
an  "■  taking  their  rest;  and  all  entirely  without  aji- 
prehcnsion  of  danger  from  Indians  or  any  other 
foe.  As  the  Indians  left  the  garrison  without  do- 
ing any  mischief,  most  of  us  supposed  that  no  evil 
was  meditated  by  them.  But  there  was  one  man 
who  acted  on  the  supposition  that  there  was  al- 
v.ays  danger  surrounding  a  garrison  when  visited 
by  savages;  that  man  was  Sergeant  Jones.  From 
t':e  time  he  took  his  position  at  the  gun  he  never 
left  it,  but  acted  as  he  said  he  believed  it  best  to 
do,  that  was  to  be  always  ready.  He  not  only  re- 
mained at  the  gun  himself,  but  retained  tw'o  other 
men,  whom  he  had  previously  trained  as  assistants 
to  work  the  piece. 

"Shortly  before  dark,  without  disclosing  his  in- 
tentions. Sergeant  Jones  said  to  his  wife:  'I  have 
a  little  business  to  attend  to  to-night;  at  bed-time 
I  wish  you  to  retire,  and  not  to  wait  for  me.'  As 
he  had  frequently  done  this  before,  to  discharge 
some  official  duty  at  the  quartermaster's  office,  she 
thought  it  not  singular,  but  did  as  he  had  re- 
quested, and  retired  at  the  usual  hour.  On  awak- 
ening in  the  morning,  however,  she  was  surprised 
at  finding  that  he  was  not  there,  and  had  not  been 
in  bed.  In  truth,  this  faithful  soldier  had  stood 
by  bis  gun  throughout  the  entire  night,  ready  to 
fire,  if  occasion  required,  at  any  moment  during 
that  time;  nor  could  he  be  per  ,uaded  to  leave  that 


gun  until  all  this  party  of  Indians  had  entirely 
disappeared  from  the  vicinity  of  the  garrison. 

"Some  two  weeks  after  this  time,  those  same  In- 
dians, with  others,  attacked  Fort  Ridgely  and,  af- 
ter some  ten  days'  siege,  the  gnrrison  was  relieved 
by  the  arrival  of  soldiers  under  Colonel  H.  H  Sib- 
ley. The  second  day  after  Colonel  Sibley  arrived, 
a  Frenchman  of  pure  or  mixed  blood  appeared 
before  Sergeant  Jones,  in  a  very  agitated  manner, 
and  intimated  that  he  had  some  disclosures  to 
make  to  him;  but  no  sooner  Lad  he  made  this  in- 
timation than  he  became  extremely  and  violently 
agitated,  and  seemed  to  be  in  a  perfect  agony  of 
mental  perturbation.  Sergeant  Jones  said  to  him, 
'If  you  have  anything  to  disclose,  you  ought,  at 
once,  to  make  it  known.'  The  man  repeated  that 
he  had  disclosures  to  make,  but  that  he  did  not 
dare  to  make  them;  and  although  Sergeant  Jones 
urged  him  by  every  oonside}ation  in  his  power  to 
tell  what  he  knew,  the  man  seemed  to  be  so  com- 
pl(  tely  under  the  dominion  of  terror,  that  he  was 
rmable  to  divulge  the  great  secret.  'Why,'  said 
he,  'they  will  kill  me;  they  will  kill  my  wife  and 
children.'  Saying  which  he  turned  and  w;il  . 
away. 

"Shortly  after  the  first  interview,  this  man  i 
turned  to  Sergeant  Jones,  when  again  the  S. 
geant  urged  him  to  disclose  what  he  knew;  ai. 
promised  him  that  if  he  would  do  so,  he  would 
keep  his  name  a  j^rofound  secret  forever;  that  if 
the  information  which  he  should  disclose  should 
lead  to  the  detection  and  punishment  of  the  giulfy 
the  name  of  the  informant  should  n,  ver  be  mi.de 
known.  Being  thus  assured,  the  Frenchman  soon 
became  more  calm.  Hesitating  a  moment,  he  in- 
quired of  Sergeant  Jones  if  he  remembered  that, 
some  two  weeks  ago,  a  party  of  Indians  came 
down  to  the  fort  to  have  a  dance?  Sergeant 
Jones  replied  that  he  did.  'Why,'  said  the  French- 
man, 'do  you  know  that  these  Indians  were  aU 
warriors  of  Little  Crow,  or  some  of  the  other  lower 
bands  ?  Sir,  these  Indians  had  all  been  selected 
for  the  purpose,  and  came  down  to  Fort  Eidgel> 
by  the  express  command  of  Little  Crow  and  thi. 
other  chiefs,  to  get  permission  to  dance;  and  when 
all  suspicion  should  be  completely  lulled,  in  the 
midst  of  the  dance,  to  seize  their  weapons,  kill 
every  person  in  the  fort,  seize  the  big  guns,  open 
the  magazine,  and  secure  the  ammuuifion,  when 
they  should  be  joined  by  all  the  remaining  war- 
riors of  the  lower  bands.  Thus  armed,  and  in- 
creased by  numbers,  they  were  to  proceed  together 


188 


HISTOHr  OF  TUB  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


down  the  valley  of  the  Minnesota.  With  this 
force  and  these  weapons  they  were  assured  they 
could  drive  every  white  man  beyond  the  Missis- 
sippi.' 

"All  this,  the  Frenchman  informed  Sergeant 
Jones,  he  had  learned  by  being  present  at  a  coun- 
cU,  and  from  conversations  had  with  other  Indians, 
who  bad  told  him  that  they  had  gone  to  the  gar- 
rison for  that  very  purpose.  When  he  had  con- 
cluded this  revelation,  Sergeant  Jones  inquired, 
'Why  did  they  not  execute  their  purpose?  Why 
did  they  not  take  the  fort?'  The  Frenchman  re- 
phed:  -Because  they  saw,  during  all  their  dance, 
and  then  stay  at  the  fort,  that  big  gun  constantly 
pointed  at  them.' " 

Interpreter  Quinn,  now  dead,  told  the  narrator 
of  the  foregoing  incidents  that  Little  Crow  had 
said,  repeatedly,  in  their  councils,  that  the  Indians 
could  kiU  all  the  white  men  in  the  Minnesota  Val- 
ley. In  this  way,  he  said,  we  can  get  all  our  lands 
back;  that  the  whites  would  again  want  these  lands, 
and  that  they  could  get  double  annuities.  Some 
of  the  councils  at  which  these  suggestions  of  Lit- 
tle Crow  were  made,  dated,  he  said,  as  far  back  as 
the  summer  of  1857,  immediately  after  the  Ink- 
paduta  war. 

On  the  17th  day  of  August,  1862,  Little  Crow, 
Inkpaduta,  and  Little  Priest,  the  latter  one  of  the 
Winnebago  chiefs,  attended  church  at  the  Lower 
Agency,  and  seemed  to  listen  attentively  to  the 
services,  conducted  by  the  Eev.  J.  D.  Hinman. 
On  the  afternoon  ot  that  day  Little  Crow  invited 
these  Indians  to  his  house,  a  short  distance  above 
the  Agency.  On  the  same  day  an  Indian  council 
was  held  at  Eice  Creek,  sixteen  miles  above  the 
Lower  Agency,  attended  by  the  Soldiers'  Lodge. 
Inkpaduta,  it  ia  believed,  and  Little  Priest,  with 
some  thirteen  Winnebago  warriors,  attended  this 
council.  Why  this  council  was  held,  and  what 
was  its  object,  can  easily  be  imagined.  The  de- 
crees of  the  one  held  two  weeks  before  had  not  been 
executed.  The  reason  why  the  fort  was  not  taken 
has  been  narrated.  The  other  part  of  the  same 
sclieme,  the  taking  of  the  agency  at  the  Yellow 
Medicine,  on  the  same  day  the  fort  was  to  have 
fallen,  will  be  alluded  to  in  another  chapter.  It 
then  became  necessary  for  the  conspirators  to  hold 
another  council,  to  devise  new  plans  for  the  exe- 
cution of  their  nefarious  designs  upon  the  whites. 

The  Acton  tragedy,  forty  miles  distant,  had  taken 
place  but  a  few  hours  before  this  council  was  con- 
vened.    On  Monday,  the  18th  of  August,  these 


Acton  murderers  were  seen  at  the  miU  on  Crow 
river,  six  miles  from  Hutchinson,  with  the  team 
taken  from  Acton;  so  that  these  Indians  did  not 
go  to  the  Lower  Agency,  but  remained  in  th( 
country  about  Hutchinson.  One  of  the  number 
only  returned  to  the  Agency  by  the  next  morning 
after  the  council  at  Rice  Creek  had  been  held. 
AU  that  followed  in  the  bloody  drama,  originated 
at  this  council  of  Death,  over  which  Little  Crow 
presided,  on  Sunday  afternoon,  the  17th  day  of 
August,  1862,  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day  of 
the  Acton  murders.  The  general  massacre  of  all 
white  men  was  by  order  ot  this  council,  to  com- 
mence at  the  Agency,  on  the  morning  of  the  18th, 
and  at  as  many  other  points,  simultaneously,  as 
could  be  reached  by  the  dawn  of  day,  radiating 
from  that  point  as  a  center.  The  advantage 
gained  by  the  suddenness  of  the  attack,  and  the 
known  panic  that  would  result,  was  to  be  followed 
up  until  every  settlement  was  massacred,  Fort 
Ridgely  taken,  both  Agencies  burned.  New  Ulm, 
Mankato,  St.  Peter,  and  all  the  towns  on  the  river 
destroyed,  the  whole  country  plundered  and  devas- 
tated, and  as  many  of  the  inhabitants  as  were  left 
alive  were  to  be  driven  beyond  the  Mississippi 
river.  The  decree  of  this  savage  council,  matured 
on  a  Christian  Sabbath,  by  Indians,  who  were  sup- 
posed to  be  civilized,  so  immediately  after  atten- 
tively listening  to  the  gospel  of  peace,  filled  the 
measure  of  the  long-cherished  conspiracy  matured 
by  Little  Crow,  until  it  was  full  of  the  most  hope- 
ful results  to  his  polluted  and  brutal  nature. 
"Once  an  Indian,  always  an  Indian,"  seems  in  this 
instance  to   have   been  horribly  demonstrated. 


CHAPTER  XSXn. 


Change  of  Indian  officials — patsient  of  1861 — 
bepokt  or  agent  galbbaith — tjppeb  and 
lower  bands — supplies attack  on  the  ware- 
house  renville  kangeks return  to  fort 

EIDGELT. 

The  change  in  the  administration  of  the  Grov- 
ernment  in  1861,  resulting,  as  it  did,  in  a  general 
change  in  the  minor  offices  throughout  the  coun- 
try, carried  into  retirement  Major  William  J.  Cul- 
len.  Superintendent  ot  Indian  Affairs  for  the 
Northern  Superintendency,  and  Major  Joseph  K. 
Brown,  Agent  for  the  Sioux,  whose  places  were 
filled  respectively  by  Colonel  Clark  W.  Thomp- 
son   and   Major   Thomas   J.  Galbraith.     Colonel 


MAJOR   GALBRAITWS   REPORT. 


189 


Thompson  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  in 
May  of  that  year,  and  Major  Galbraith  on  the 
first  day  of  June.  In  that  month  the  new  agent 
and  many  of  the  new  employes,  with  their  fami- 
lies, took  up  their  residence  on  the  reservations. 

These  employes,  save  a  few  young  men  who 
were  employed  as  laborers,  were,  with  two  excep- 
tions, men  of  families,  it  being  the  policy  of  the 
agent  to  employ  among  the  Indians  as  few  un- 
married men  as  possible. 

During  that  year  nothing  occurred  on  the  res- 
ervations of  an  unusual  character  more  than  the 
trouble  with  which  the  Agents  had  always  to  deal 
at  every  semi-annual  gathering  at  the  Agencies. 
We  say  "semi-annual,"  because  they  came  in  the 
summer  to  draw  their  annuities,  and  again  in  the 
autumn  tor  their  winter  supply  of  goods. 

It  has  been  usual  at  the  payment  of  annuities 
to  have  a  small  force  of  troops  to  guard  against 
any  xintoward  event  which  might  otherwise  occur. 
The  payment  to  the  lower  bands,  in  1861,  was 
made  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  and  to  the  upper 
bands  about  the  middle  of  July.  These  pay- 
ments were  made  by  Superintendent  Thompson 
in  person. 

The  Sisseton  bands  came  down  to  the  Agency 
at  a  very  early  day,  as  had  always  been  their 
habit,  long  before  the  arrival  of  the  money, 
bringing  with  them  a  large  body  of  Yanktonais 
(not  annuity  Sioux),  who  always  came  to  the 
payments,  claiming  a  right  to  a  share  of  the  an 
nuities  issued  to  the  Indians, 

These  wild  hunters  of  the  plains  were  an  un- 
failing element  of  trouble  at  the  payments  to  the 
upper  bands.  At  this  last  payment  they  were  in 
force,  and  by  their  troublesome  conduct,  caused  a 
delay  of  some  days  in  the  making  of  the  payments. 
Tlus  was,  however,  no  unusual  occurrence,  as  they 
always  came  with  a  budget  of  grievances,  upon 
which  they  were  wont  to  dilate  in  council.  This 
remark  is  equally  true  of  the  annuity  Indians. 
Indeed,  it  would  be  very  strange  if  a  payment 
could  be  made  without  a  demand,  on  the  part  of 
the  "yoimg  men,"  for  three  or  four  times  the 
amount  of  their  annual  dues. 

These  demands  were  usually  accompanied  by 
overt  acts  of  violence;  yet  the  j^aymentwas  made; 
and  this  time,  after  the  payment,  all  departed  to 
their  village  at  Big  Stone  Laka  They  came 
again  in  the  fall,  drew  their  supply  of  goods,  and 
went  quietly  away. 

It  so  turned  out,  however,  that  the  new  agent, 


Galbraith,  came  into  office  too  late  to  insure  a  large 
crop  that  year.     He  says: 

"The  autumn  of  1861  closed  upon  us  rather  un- 
favorably. The  crojjs  were  light;  especially  was 
this  the  case  with  the  Upper  Sioux ;  they  had  little 
or  nothing.  As  heretofore  communicated  to  the 
Department,  the  cut-worms  destroyed  aU  the 
Sisetons,  and  greatly  injured  the  crop  of  the 
Wapatons,  Medawakantons,  Wapakutas.  For 
these  latter  I  purchased  on  credit,  in  anticipation 
of  the  Agricultural  and  Civilization  Funds,  large 
quantities  of  pork  and  flour,  ut  current  rates,  to 
support  them  during  the  winter. 

"Early  in  the  autumn,  in  view  of  the  necessitous 
situation  of  the  Sisetons,  I  made  a  requisition  on 
the  department  for  the  sum  of  $5,000,  out  of  the 
special  fund  for  the  relief  of  'poor  and  destitute 
Indians;'  and,  in  anticipation  of  receiving  this 
money,  made  arrangements  to  fe:d  the  old  and  in- 
firm men,  and  the  women  and  children  of  these 
people.  I  directed  the  Rev.  S.  R.  Riggs  to  make 
the  selection,  and  furnish  me  a  list. 

"He  carefully  did  this,  and  we  fed,  in  an  econ- 
omical, yea,  even  parsimonious  way,  about  1,500 
of  these  people  from  the  middle  of  December  until 
nearly  the  first  of  April.  We  had  hoped  to  get 
them  off  on  their  spring  hunt  earlier,  but  a  tre- 
mendous and  unprecedented  snow-storm  during 
the  last  days  of  February  prevented. 

"In  response  to  my  requisition,  I  received 
$3,000,  and  expended  very  nearly  $5,000,  leaving 
a  deficiency  not  properly  chargable  to  the  regular 
funds,  of  about  $2,000. ' 

"These  people,  it  is  believed,  must  have  per- 
ished had  it  not  been  for  this  scanty  assistance. 
In  addition  to  this,  the  regular  issues  were  made 

to  the  farmer  Indians  in  payment  for  their  labor. 
****         *         m         ^         *         Hi 

"In  the  month  of  August,  1861,  the  superinten- 
dents of  farms  were  directed  to  have  ploughed  'in 
the  fall,'  in  the  old  public  and  neglected  private 
fields,  a  sufficient  quantity  of  land  to  provide 
'plantings'  for  such  Indians  as  could  not  be  pro- 
vided with  oxen  and  implements.  In  jmrsuance 
of  this  direction,  there  were  ploughed,  at  rates 
ranging  from  $1.50  to  $2,00  per  acre,  ac- 
cording to  the  nature  of  the  work,  by  teams  and 
men  hired  for  the  purpose,  for  the  Lower  Sioux, 
about  500  acres,  and  for  the  Upper  Sioux,  about 
475  acres.  There  were,  also,  at  the  same  time, 
ploughed  by  the  farmer  Indians  and  the  depart- 
ment teams,  about  250  acres  for  the  Lower,  and 


190 


BI STORY  OF  rUE  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


nbout  325  acres  for  the  Upper  Sioux.  This  fall 
ploughing  was  continued  until  the  frost  prevented 
its  further  prosecution.  It  was  done  to  facilitate 
the  work  of  the  agrionltural  department,  and  to 
kill  the  worms  which  had  proved  so  injurious  the 
previous  year.     *     *     * 

"The  carp?nter-shops  at  both  Agencies  were 
Bupphed  with  lumber  for  the  manufacture  and  re- 
pair of  sleds,  wagons,  and  other  farming  utensils. 
Sheds  were  erected  for  the  ])rotectioii  of  the  cattle 
and  utensils  of  the  depertment,  and  the  farmer 
Indians,  assisted  by  the  department  carpenters, 
erected  stables,  pens,  and  out-houses  for  the  pro- 
tection of  their  catt-'e,  hoi-ses  and  utensils.  *  '' 
Hay,  grain,  and  other  supplies  were  provided, 
and,  in  short,  every  thing  was  done  which  the 
means  at  command  of  the  agent  would  justify. 

"The  work  of  the  autiunn  bc>ing  thus  closed,  I 
set  about  making  preparations  for  the  work  of  the 
next  spring  and  summer,  and  in  du'ectiug  the 
work  of  the  winter.  I  made  calculations  to  erect, 
during  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1862,  at  least 
lit'ty  dwelling-houses  for  Indian  families,  at  an 
estimated  average  cost  of  S'300  each;  and  also  to 
aid  the  farmer  Indians  in  erecting  as  many  ad- 
ditional dwellings  as  possible,  not  to  exceed  thirty 
or  forty;  and  to  have  planted  for  the  Lower 
Sioux,  at  least  1,200  acres,  and  for  the  Upper 
Sioux,  at  least  1 ,300  acres  of  crops,  and  to  have 
all  the  land  planted,  exsept  that  at  Big  Stone 
L;ike,  inclosed  by  a  fence. 

"To  carry  out  these  calculations,  early  in  the 
the  winter  the  superintendents  of  farms,  the  black- 
smiths, the  carpenters,  and  the  superintendents  of 
schools  wore  directed  to  furnish  estimates  for  the 
amount  of  agricultural  implem^nt^,  hor.ses,  oxen, 
wagons,  carts,  bnilJiug  material,  iron,  steel,  tools, 
and  supplies  needed  to  carry  on  successfully  their 
several  departments  for  one  year  from  the  open- 
ing of  navigation  in  the  sjiring  of  1SG2. 

"These  estimates  were  prepared  and  furnished 
me  about  the  1st  of  February.  In  accordance 
with  these  estimates,  I  proceeded  to  purchase,  in 
open  market,  the  articles  and  supplies  recommend- 
ed. 

"I  made  the  estimates  for  one  year,  and  pur- 
chases accordingly,  in  order  to  secure  the  benefit 
of  transportation  by  water  in  the  spring,  and  thus 
avoid  the  delays,  vexations,  and  extra  expense  of 
transportation  by  land  in  the  fall.  Tlie  bulk  of 
purchases  were  made  with  the  distinct  undenstand- 
ind  that  payment  would  be  made  out  of  the  funds 


belonging  to  the  quarter  in  which  the  goods,  im- 
plements, or  supplies,  were  expended." 

"Thus  it  will  be  seen  that,  in  the  spring  of  1862, 
there  was  on  hand  supplies  and  material  sufficient 
to  carry  us  through  the  coming  year.  *  *  * 
Thu."!,  to  all  appearance,  the  spring  season  opened 
propitiously.  *  *  *  To  carry  out  my  original 
design  of  having  as  much  as  possible  planted  for 
the  Indians  at  Big  Stone  Lake  and  Lac  qui  Parle 
as  early  in  the  month  of  May,  1862,  as  the  condi- 
tion of  the  swollen  streams  would  permit,  I  visited 
Lac  qui  Parle  and  Big  Stone  Lake,  going  as  far 
as  North  Island,  in  Lake  Traverse,  having  with 
me  Antoine  Freniere,  United  States  Interpreter, 
Dr.  J.  L.  Wakefield,  physician  of  the  Upper  Sio>ix, 
and  Nelson  Givens,  assistant  Agent.  At  Lac  qui 
Parle  I  found  the  Indians  wiDing  and  anxious  to 
plant.  I  inquired  into  their  condition  and  wants, 
and  made  arrangements  to  have  them  supplied 
with  seeds  and  imj)lements,  and  directed  Amos  W. 
Huggins,  the  school  teacher  there,  to  aid  and  in- 
struct them  in  their  work,  and  to  make  proper 
distribulion  of  the  seeds  and  implements  furnished, 
and  placed  at  his  disposal  an  ox-team  and  wagon 
and  two  breaking-teams,  with  instructions  to  de- 
vote his  whole  time  and  attention  to  the  superin- 
tendence and  instruction  of  the  resident  Indians 
during  the  planting  season,  and  until  the  crops 
were  cultivated  and  safely  harvested. 

"I  also  found  the  Indians  at  Big  Stone  Lake  and 
Lake  Traverse  very  anxious  to  plant,  but  without 
any  means  whatever  so  to  do.  I  looked  over  their 
tields  in  order  to  see  what  coiild  be  done.  After 
having  inquired  into  the  whole  matter,  I  instructed 
Mr.  Givens  to  remain  at  Big  Stone  Lake  and  su- 
perintend and  direct  the  agricultural  operations 
of  the  season,  and  to  remain  there  imtil  it  was  too 
late  to  plant  any  more.  I  placed  at  his  di'>posal 
ten  double  plough  teams,  with  men  to  operate 
them,  and  ordered  forward  at  once  one  hundred 
Ijushels  of  seed  corn  and  five  hundred  bushels  of 
seed  potatoes,  with  pumpkin,  squash,  turnip,  and 
other  seeds,  in  reasonable  proportion,  together 
with  a  sufficient  supply  of  ploughs,  hoes,  and 
other  imj)lemcuts  for  the  Indians,  and  a  black- 
smith to  repair  breakages;  and  directed  him  to 
see  tha*  every  Indian,  and  every  Indian  horse  or 
pony,  did  as  much  work  as  was  poesible.  *  * 
'  "On  my  way  down  to  the  agency,  I  visited  the 
plantings  of  Tahampih'da,  (Rattling  Moccasin), 
Alazasha,  (Bed  Iron),  Mahpiya  Wicasta,  (Cloud 
xMan),   and  Battling  Cloud,   and  found  that  the 


MAJOR    GALDEAITWa  REPORT. 


191 


Superintendent  of  Farms  for  the  Upper  Sioux  had, 
in  accordance  with  my  instructions,  been  faithfully 
attending  to  the  ivants  of  these  bands.  He  had 
supplied  them  with  implements  and  seeds,  and  I 
left  them  at  work.  On  my  arrival  at  the  Agency, 
I  found  that  the  farmer  Indians  residing  there- 
abouts had,  in  my  absence,  been  industriously  at 
«ork,  and  had  not  only  completed  their  plowing, 
but  had  planted  very  extensively.  The  next  day 
after  my  arrival  at  the  Agency,  I  visited  each 
farmer  Indian  at  the  Yellow  Medicine,  and  con- 
gratulated him  on  his  prosjject  for  a  good  crop, 
and  spoke  to  him  such  words  of  encouragement 
■IS  occurred  to  me. 

"The  next  day  I  proceeded  to  the  Lower  Agency, 
and  then  taking  with  me  Mr.  A.  H.  Wagner,  the 
Suiwrintendent  of  Farms  for  the  Lower  Sioux,  I 
weut  around  each  planting,  and,  for  the  second 
time,  visited  each  farmer  Indian,  and  found  that, 
in  general,  my  instructions  had  been  carried  out. 
The  plowing  was  generally  completed  in  good 
order,  and  the  planting  neai'ly  all  done,  and  many 
of  the  farmer  Indians  were  engaged  in  repairing 
old  and  making  new  fences.  I  was  pleased  and 
gratified,  and  so  told  the  Indians — the  prospect 
was  so  encouraging. 

"About  the  first  of  July  I  visited  gll  the  plant- 
ings of  both  the  Upper  and  Lower  Sioux,  except 
those  at  Big  Stone  Lake,  and  found,  in  nearly 
every  instance,  the  prospects  for  good  crops  very 
hoj^eful  indeed.  The  superintendents  of  farms, 
the  male  school  teachers,  and  all  the  employes 
assisting  them,  had  done  their  duty.  About  this  ■ 
time  Mr.  Givens  returned  from  Big  Stone  Lake, 
and  reports  1  to  me  his  success  there.  From  all  I 
knew  and  aU  I  thus  learned,  I  was  led  to  believe 
that  we  would  have  no  'starving  Indians'  to  feed 
the  next  winter,  and  little  did  I  dream  of  the  un- 
fortunate and  terrible  outbreak  which,  m  a  short 
time,  biirst  upon  us,     *     *     * 

"In  the  fall  of  1861,  a  good  and  substantial 
school- room  and  dwelling,  a  store-house  and  black- 
smith-shop, were  completed  at  Lac  qui  Parle,  and, 
about  the  first  of  November,  Mr.  Amos  W.  Hug- 
gins  and  his  family  occupied  the  dwelling,  and, 
assisted  by  Miss  Julia  LaFrambois,  prepared  the 
school-room,  and  devoted  their  whole  time  to 
teaching  such  Indian  children  as  they  could  in- 
duce to  attend  the  school. 

"The  storehouse  was  supplied  with  provisions, 
which  Mr.  Huggins  was  instructed  to  issue  to  the 
fhildren  and  their  parents  at  his  discretion.     Here 


it  may  be  permitted  me  to  remark  to  Mr.  Hug- 
gins,  who  was  born  and  raised  among  the  Sioux, 
and  Miss  LaFrambois,  who  was  a  Sioux  mixed- 
blood,  were  two  persons  entirely  capable  and  in 
every  respect  qualified  for  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  their  situation,  than  whom  the  Indians 
had  no  more  devoted  friends.  They  lived  amor,; 
the  Indians  of  choice,  because  they  thought  they 
could  be  beneficial  to  them.  Mr.  Huggins  exer- 
cised nothing  but  kindness  toward  them.  He  fed 
them  when  hungry,  clothed  them  when  naked, 
attended  them  when  sick,  and  advised  and  cheered 
them  in  all  their  difficulties.  He  was  intelligent, 
entrgetic,  industrious,  and  good,  and  yet  he  was 
one  of  the  first 'victims  of  the  outbreak,  shot  down 
like  a  dog  by  the  very  Indians  whom  he  had  so 
long  and  so  well  served.  *  ^  *  *  *  *  * 
"In  the  month  of  June,  1862,  being  well  aware 
of  the  influence  exerted  by  Little  Crow  over  the 
blanket  Indians,  and,  by  his  plausibility,  led  to 
believe  that  he  intended  to  act  in  good  faith,  I 
promised  to  build  him  a  good  brick  house  pro- 
vided that  he  would  agree  to  aid  me  in  bringing 
around  the  idle  young  men  to  habits  of  industry 
and  civilization,  and  that  he  would  abandon  the 
leader.-hip  of  the  blanket  Indians  and  become  a 
'wliite  man.' 

"This  being  well  understood,  as  I  thought,  I 
directed  Mr.  Nairn,  the  carpenter  of  the  Lower 
Sioux,  to  make  out  the  plan  and  estimates  for 
Crow's  house,  and  to  jjroceed  at  once  to  make  the 
window  and  door  frames,  and  to  prepare  the  lum- 
ber necessary  for  the  building,  and  ordered  the 
teamsters  to  deliver  the  necessary  amount  of  brick 
as  soon  ;.s  possible.  Little  Crow  agreed  to  dig 
the  cellar  and  haul  the  necessary  lumber,  both  of 
which  he  had  commenced.  The  carpenter  had 
nearly  completed  his  part  of  the  work,  and  the 
brick  was  being  promjatly  delivered  at  the  time 
of  the  outbreak. 

"On  the  15th  of  August,  only  three  days  pre- 
vious to  the  outbreak,  I  had  an  interview  with 
Little  Crow,  and  he  seemed  to  be  well  pleased  and 
satisfied.  Little  indeed  did  I  susj^ect,  at  that 
time,  that  he  would  be  the  leader  in  the  terrible 
outbreak  of  the  18th." 

There  were  planted,  according  to  the  statement 
of  Agent  Galbraith  in  his  report,  on  the  lower 
reservation,  one  thousand  and  twenty-five  acres  of 
corn,  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  potatoes, 
sixty  acres  of  turnips  and  ruta-bagas,  and  twelve 
acres  of  wheat,  besides  a  large    quantity  of  field 


192 


HISTORY  OF  TUE  SIOUX  MAS8A0US. 


and  garden  vegetables.  These  crops,  at  a  low 
estimate,  would  have  hai-vested,  in  the  fall,  74,865 
bushels.  There  were,  on  the  lower  reservation, 
less  than  three  thousand  Indians,  all  told.  This 
crop,  therefore,  would  have  yielded  full  twenty- 
tive  bushels  to  each  man,  woman  and  child,  in- 
cluding the  blanket  as  weU  as  the  farmer  Indians 

There  were,  also,  of  growing  crops,  in  fitne  con- 
dition, on  the  upper  reservation,  one  thousand  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres  of  com,  three  hundred 
acres  of  potatoes,  ninety  acres  of  turnips  and 
nita-bagas,  and  twelve  acres  of  wheat,  and  field 
and  garden  vegetables  in  due  proportion.  These, 
at  a  low  estimate,  would  have  harvested  85,740 
bushels.  There  were,  on  the  upper  reservation,  a 
little  over  four  thousand  annuity  Sioux.  This 
crop,  therefore,  would  have  harvested  them  about 
twenty-one  bushels  for  each  man,  woman  and 
child,  including,  also,  the  blanket  Indians. 

Thus,  under  the  beneficent  workings  of  the  hu- 
mane policy  of  the  Government  inaugurated  in 
1858,  they  were  fast  becoming  an  independent 
people.  Let  it  be  borne  ia  mmd,  however,  that 
these  results,  so  beneficial  to  the  Indian,  were  ac- 
complished only  through  the  sleepless  vigilance 
and  untiring  energy  of  those  who  had  the  welfare 
of  these  rude,  savage  beings  in  their  care. 

Major  Galbraith,  after  giving  these  statistics  of 
the  crops  on  the  reservations,  and  the  arrange- 
ments made  for  gathering  hay,  by  the  Indians, 
for  their  winter's  use,  says: 

"I  need  hardly  say  tliat  our  Lopes  were  high  at 
the  prospects  before  us,  nor  need  I  relate  my 
chagrin  and  mortification  when,  in  a  moment,  I 
found  these  high  hopes  blasted  forever." 

Such,  then,  was  the  condition,  present  and  pros- 
pective, of  the  "Annuity  Sioux  Indians,"  in  the 
summer  of  1862.  No  equal  number  of  pioneer 
settlers  on  the  border  could,  at  that  time,  make  a 
better  showing  than  was  exhibited  on  these  reser- 
vations. They  had  in  fair  prospect  a  surplus  over 
and  above  the  wants  of  the  entire  tribes  for  the 
coming  year.  This  had  never  before  occurred  in 
their  history. 

The  sagacity  and  wise  forethought  of  their 
agent,  and  the  unusually  favorable  season,  had 
amply  provided  against  the  possibility  of  recurring 
want.  The  coming  winter  would  have  found  their 
granaries  full  to  overflowing.  Add  to  this  the 
fact  that  they  had  a  large  cash  annuity  coming  to 
them  from  the  Government,  as  well  as  large 
amounts  of  goods,  consisting  of  blankets,   cloths. 


groceries,  flour  and  meats,  powder,  shot,  lead,  etc., 
and  we  confidently  submit  to  the  enlightened 
reader  the  whole  question  of  their  alleged  griev- 
ances, confident  that  there  can  be  but  one  verdict 
at  their  hands,  and  that  the  paternal  care  of  the 
Government  over  them  was  good  and  just;  nay, 
generous,  and  that  those  having  the  immediate  su- 
pervision of  their  interests  were  perfornung  their 
whole  duty,  honestly  and  nobly. 

The  hopes  of  the  philanthropist  and  Christian 
beat  high.  They  believed  the  day  was  not  far 
distant  when  it  could  be  said  that  the  Sioux  Indi- 
ans, as  a  race,  not  only  could  be  civilized,  but  that 
here  were  whole  tribes  who  tccrc  civilized,  and  had 
abandoned  the  chase  and  the  war-jjuth  for  the  cul- 
tivation of  the  soil  and  the  arts  of  peace,  and  that 
the  juggleries  and  sorcery  of  the  medicine-men 
had  been  abandoned  ior  the  milder  teachings  of 
the  missionaries  of  the  Cross. 

How  these  high  hopes  were  dashed  to  the  earth, 
extinguished  in  an  ocean  of  blood,  and  their  own 
bright  prospects  utterly  destroyed,  by  their  horri- 
ble and  monstrous  perfidy  and  unheard  of  atroci- 
ties, it  will  be  our  work,  in  these  pages,  to  sliow. 

We  are  now  rapidly  approaching  the  fatal  and 
bloody  denouement,  the  terrible  18th  of  August, 
the  memory  of  which  will  linger  in  the  minds  of 
the  survivors  of  its  tragic  scenes,  and  the  succeed- 
ing days  and  weeks  of  horror  and  blood,  till  rea- 
son kindly  ceases  to  perform  its  oifice,  and  blots 
out  the  fearfiil  record  in  the  oblivion  of  the  grave. 

Again  we  quote  from  the  able  report  of  Major 
Galbraith : 

"About  the  25th  of  June,  1862,  a  number  of  the 
chiefs  and  head  men  of  the  Sissetons  and  Wapa- 
tons  visited  the  Agency  and  inquired  about  the 
payments;  whether  they  were  going  to  get  any 
( as  they  had  been  told,  as  they  alleged,  that  they 
would  not  be  paid,)  and  if  so,  how  much,  and 
when?  I  answered  them  that  they  woiild  cer- 
tainly be  paid;  exactly  how  much  I  could  not 
say,  but  that  it  would  be  nearly,  it  not  quite,  ;i 
full  payment;  that  I  did  not  know  when  the  pay- 
ment would  be  made,  but  that  I  felt  sure  it  could 
not  be  made  befoi-e  the  20th  of  July.  I  advised 
them  to  go  home,  and  admonished  them  not  to  come 
back  again  until  I  sent  for  them.  I  issued  pro- 
visions, powder  and  shot  and  tobacco  to  them,  and 
they  departed. 

"  In  a  few  days  after  I  went  to  the  Lower  Agency, 
and  sjjoke  to  the  lower  Indians  in  regard  to  their 
payments.     As  thev  all  lived  within  a  few  miks  of 


ATTACK  ON   UPPEB  AGE  NOT. 


193 


the  Agency,  little  was  said,  as,  when  the  money 
came,  (liey  could  be  called  together  in  a  day.  I 
remained  about  one  week  there,  visiting  the  farms 
and  plantings,  and  issued  to  the  Indians  a  good 
supply  of  pork,  flour,  powder,  shot,  and  tobacco, 
and  urged  upon  them  the  necessity  of  cutting  and 
securing  hay  for  the  winter,  and  of  watching  and 
keeping  the  birds  from  their  corn. 

"  I  left  them  apparently  satisfied,  and  arrived  at 
Yellow  Medicine  on  the  14th  of  July,  and  found, 
to  my  surprise,  that  nearly  all  the  Upper  Indians 
had  arrived,  and  were  encamped  about  the  Agency. 
I  inquired  of  them  why  they  had  come,  and  they 
answered,  that  they  were  afraid  something  was 
wrong;  they  feared  they  would  not  get  their 
money,  because  white  men  had  been  telling  them  so. 
"Being  in  daily  expectation  of  the  arrival  of 
the  money,  I  determined  to  make  the  best  of  it^ 
and  notified  the  Sujjerintendent  of  Indian  Affairs 
accordingly. 

"How  were  over  4,000  Annuity,  and  over  1,000 
Tanktonais  Sioux,  with  nothing  to  eat,  and  entirely 
dependent  on  me  for  supplies,  to  be  provided  for? 
I  supplied  them  as  best  I  could.  Our  stock  was 
nearly  used  iip,  and  still,  on  the  1st  day  of  Au- 
gust, no  money  had  come. 

"  The  Indians  complained  of  starvation.  I  held 
back,  in  order  to  save  the  provisions  to  the  last 
moment.  On  the  4th  of  August,  early  in  the 
morning,  the  young  men  and  soldiers,  to  the  num- 
ber of  not  less  than  four  hundred  mounted,  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  on  foot,  surprised  and  de- 
ceived the  commander  of  the  troops  on  guard, 
and  surrounded  the  camp,  and  proceeded  to 
the  warehouse  in  a  boisterous  manner,  and  in 
sight  of,  and  within  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  of  one  hundred  armed  men,  with  two 
twelve-pound  mountain  howitzers,  out  down  the 
door  of  the  warehouse,  shot  down  the  American 
flag,  and  entered  the  building,  and  before  they 
could  be  stopped  had  carried  over  one  himdred 
sacks  of  flour  from  the  warehouse,  and  were  evi- 
dently bent  on  a  general  'clearing  out.' 

"The  soldiers,  now  recovered  from  their  panic, 
came  gallantly  to  our  aid,  entered  the  warehouse 
and  took  possession.  The  Indians  all  stood  around 
with  their  guns  loaded,  cooked  and  leveled.  I 
spoke  to  them,  and  they  consented  to  a  talk.  The 
result  was,  that  they  agreed,  if  I  would  give  them 
plenty  of  pork  and  flour,  and  issue  to  them  the 
annuity  yoods  the  next  day,  they  would  go  .away. 
I  told  them  to  go  away  with  enough  to  eat  for  two 

13 


days,  and  to  send  the  chiefs  and  head  men  for  a 
council  the  nest  day,  unarmed  and  peaceably  and 
I  would  answer  them.  They  assented  and  went 
to  their  camp.  In  the  meantime  I  had  sent  for 
Captain  Blar.sh,  the  commandant  of  Fort  Eidgely, 
who  promptly  arrived  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
next  day. 

"I  laid  the  whole  case  before  him,  and  stated 
my  plan.  He  agreed  with  me,  and,  in  the  after- 
noon, the  Indians,  unarmed,  and  apparently 
peaceably  disposed,  came  in,  and  we  had  a  'talk,' 
and,  in  the  presence  of  Captain  Marsh,  Eev.  Mr. 
Eiggs  and  others,  I  agreed  to  issue  the  annuity 
goods  and  a  Qxed  amount  of  provisions,  provided 
the  Indians  would  go  home  and  watch  their  corn, 
and  wait  for  the  payment  until  they  were  sent  for. 
They  assented.  I  made,  on  the  6th,  7th  and  8th 
of  August  the  issues  as  agreed  upon,  assisted  by 
Captain  Marsh,  and,  on  the  9th  of  August  the  In- 
dians were  all  gone,  and  on  the  12th  I  had  defi- 
nite information  that  the  Sissetons,  who  had  started 
on  the  7th,  had  all  arrived  at  Big  Stone  Lake,  and 
that  the  men  were  preparing  to  go  on  a  buffalo 
hunt,  and  that  the  women  and  children  were  to 
stay  and  guard  the  crops.  Thus  this  threatening 
and  disagreeable  event  passed  off,  but,  as  usual, 
without  the  punishment  of  a  single  Indian  who 
had  been  engaged  in  the  attack  on  the  warehouse. 
They  should  have  been  punished,  but  they  were 
not,  and  simply  because  we  had  not  the  power  to 
punish  them.  And  hence  we  had  to  adopt  the 
same  'sugar-plum'  policy  which  had  been  so  often 
adopted  before  with  the  Indians,  and  especially  at 
the  time  of  the  Spirit  Lake  massacre,  in  1857." 

On  the  12th  day  of  August,  thirty  men  enlisted 
at  Yellow  Medicine;  and,  on  the  13th,  accompa- 
nied by  the  agent,  proceeded  to  the  Lower  Agency, 
where,  on  the  14th,  they  were  joined  by  twenty 
more,  making  about  fifty  in  all.  On  the  afternoon 
of  the  15th  they  proceeded  to  Fort  Kidgely,  where 
they  remained  imtil  the  morning  of  the  17tb, 
when,  having  been  furnished  by  Captain  Marsh 
with  transportation,  accompanied  by  Lieutenant 
N.  K.  Culver,  Sergeant  McGrew,  and  four  men  of 
Company  B,  Fifth  Minnesota  Volunteers,-  they 
started  for  Fort  Snelling  by  the  way  of  New  Ulm 
and  St.  Peter,  little  dreaming  of  the  terrible  mes- 
sage, the  news  of  which  would  reach  them  at  the 
latter  place  next  day,  and  turn  them  back  to  the 
defense  of  that  jaost  and  the  border. 

On  Monday  morning,  the  18th,  at  about  8 
o'clock,  they  left  New  Ulm,  and  reached  St.  Peter 


194 


iiii^rony  OF  THE  aioux  massacre. 


at  about  4  o'clock  P.  M.  About  6  o'clock,  Mr.  J. 
C.  Dickinson  arrived  from  the  Lower  Agency, 
bringing  the  startling  news  that  the  Lidians  Lad 
broken  out,  and,  before  he  left,  had  conunenced 
murdering  the  whites. 

They  at  once  set  about  making  preparations  to 
return.  There  were  in  St.  Peter  some  fifty  old 
Harper's  Ferry  muskets ;  these  they  obtained,  and, 
])rocuring  ammunition,  set  about  preparing  cart- 
ridges, at  which  many  of  them  worked  all  night, 
and,  at  sunrise  on  Tuesday  morning  were  on  their 
way  back,  with  heavy  hearts  and  dark  forebodings, 
toward  the  scene  of  trouble. 

In  the  night  Sergeant  Sturgis,  of  Captain 
Marsh's  company,  had  arrived,  on  his  way  to  St. 
Paul,  with  dispatches  to  Governor  Ramsey,  from 
Lieutenant  Thomas  Gere,  then  in  command  of 
Fort  Ridgely,  bringing  the  sad  news  of  the  des- 
truction of  Captain  Marsh  and  the  most  of  his 
command  at  the  ferry,  at  the  Lower  Agency,  on 
Monday  afternoon.  Tbey  had  but  a  slender 
chance  of  reaching  the  fort  in  safety,  and  still  less 
of  saving  it  from  destruction,  for  they  knew  that 
there  were  not  over  twentj--five  men  left  in  it, 
Lieutenant  Sheehan,  with  his  company,  having 
left  for  Fort  Eipley  on  the  17th,  at  the  same  time 
that  the  "Kenville  Rangers"  (the  company  from 
the  Agencies)  left  for  Fort  Snelling.  Their  friends, 
too,  were  in  the  very  heart  of  the  Indian  country. 
Some  of  them  had  left  their  wives  and  little  ones 
at  Yellow  Medicine,  midway  between  the  Lower 
Agency  and  the  wild  bands  of  the  Sissetons  and 
Yanktonais,  who  made  the  attack  upon  the  ware- 
house at  that  Agency  only  two  weeks  before. 
Their  hearts  almost  died  within  them  as  they 
thought  of  the  dreadful  fate  awaiting  them  at  the 
hands  of  those  savage  and  blood-thirsty  monstera. 
But  they  turned  their  faces  toward  the  West,  de- 
termined, if  Fort  Ridgely  was  yet  imtaken,  to  enter 
it,  or  die  in  the  attempt,  and  at  about  siuidown 
entered  the  fort,  and  found  all  within  it  as  yet 
safe. 

A  messenger  had  been  sent  to  Lieutenant  Shee- 
han, who  immediately  turned  back  and  had  enter- 
ed the  fort  a  few  hours  before  Dhem.  There  were 
in  the  fort,  on  their  arrival,  over  two  hundred  and 
fifty  refugees,  principally  women  and  children, 
and  they  continued  to  come  in,  until  there  were 
nearly  three  hundred. 

Here  they  remained  on  duty,  night  and  day, 
uutil  the  morning  of  the   28th,   when   reinforce- 


ments, under  Colonel  McPhail  and  Captain  Anson 
Northrup  and  R.  H.  Chittenden  arrived. 

The  annuity  money  by  Superintendent  Thomp- 
son had  been  dispatched  to  the  Agency  in  charge 
of  his  clerk,  accompanied  by  E.  A.  C.  Hatch,  J. 
C.  Ramsey,  M.  A.  Daily,  and  two  or  three  others. 

On  their  arrival  at  the  fort,  on  Tuesday  night. 
Major  Galbraith  found  these  gentlemen  there, 
they  having  arrived  at  the  post  Monday  noon,  the 
very  day  of  the  outbreak.  Had  they  been  one  day 
sooner  they  would  have  been  at  the  Lower  Agency, 
and  their  names  would  have  been  added,  in  all 
probability,  to  the  long  roll  of  the  victims,  at  that 
devoted  point  of  Indian  barbarity,  and  about 
$10,000  in  gold  would  have  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  the  savages. 

These  gentlemen  were  in  the  fort  during  the 
siege  which  followed,  and  were  among  the  bravest 
of  its  brave  defenders.  Major  Hatch,  afterwards 
of  "Hatcli's  Battalion"  (cavalry),  was  particu- 
lary  conspicuous  for  his  cool  courage  and  undaunt- 
ed bravery. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  how  utterly  false  was  the 
information  which  the  Indians  said  they  had  re- 
ceived that  they  were  to  get  no  money. 

And  notwithstanding  all  that  has  been  said  as 
to  the  cause  of  the  outbreak,  it  may  be  remarked 
that  the  removal  of  the  agent  from  Yellow  Medi- 
cine, with  the  troops  raised  by  him  for  the  South- 
ern Rebellion,  at  the  critical  period  when  the  In- 
dians were  exasperated  and  excited,  and  ready  at 
any  moment  to  arm  for  warfare  upon  the  whites, 
was  one  of  the  causes  acting  directly  upon  the  In- 
dians to  precipitate  the  blow  that  afterwards  fell 
upon  the  border  settlements  of  Minnesota  on  the 
18th  of  August,  1862.  Had  he  remained  with  his 
family  at  Yellow  Medicine,  as  did  the  Winnebago 
agent,  with  his  family,  at  the  agency,  the  strong 
probability  is  that  the  attack  at  Yellow  Medicine 
might  have  been  delayed,  if  not  entirely  pre- 
vented. 


CHAPTER   XXXin. 

MUBDEB     AT     AOTON MASSACRE     AT      THE      LOWEB 

AGENCY CAPTURE    OF    MATTIE    WILLIAMS,    MARY 

ANDERSON    AND     MAUY    SCHWANDT MURDER    OP 

GEORGE  OLEASON — CAPTURE  OF    MES.  WAKEFIELD 
AND  CHILDREN. 

We  come  now  to  the  massacre  itself,  the  terrible 
blow  which  fell,  like  a  thunderbolt  from  a  clear 
sky,  with  such  appalling  force  and  suddenness, 


MURDEI18   AT  ACTON. 


195 


upon  the  unarmed  and  defenceless  border,  crim- 
soning its  fair  iielda  with  the  blood  of  its  murdered 
people,  and  lighting  up  the  midnight  sky  with 
the  lurid  blaze  of  burning  dwellings,  by  the  light 
of  which  the  affrighted  survivors  fled  from  the 
nameless  terrors  that  beset  their  path,  before  the 
advancing  gleam  of  the  uplifted  tomahawk,  many 
of  them  only  to  fall  victims  to  the  Indian  bullet, 
while  vainly  seeking  a  place  of  security. 

The  first  blow  fell  upon  the  town  of  Acton, 
thirty-five  miles  north-east  of  the  Lower  Sioux 
agency,  in  the  county  of  Meeker.  -On  Sunday, 
August  17,  18C2,  at  1  o'clock  P.  M.,  six  Sioux  In- 
dians, said  to  be  of  Shakopee's  band  of  Lower  An- 
nuity Sioux,  came  to  the  house  of  Jones  and  de- 
manded food.  It  was  refused  them,  as  Mrs.  Jones 
was  away  from  home,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Howard 
Baker,  a  son-in-law,  three  fourths  of  a  mile  dis- 
tant. They  became  angry  and  boisterous,  and 
fearing  violence  at  their  hands,  Mr.  Jones  took 
his  children,  a  boy  and  a  girl,  and  went  himself  to 
Baker's,  leaving  at  the  house  a  girl  from  fourteen 
to  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  a  boy  of  twelve — 
brother  and  sister — who  lived  with  him.  The  In- 
dians soon  followed  on  to  Baker's.  At  Howard 
Baker's  were  a  Mr.  Webster  and  his  wife.  Baker 
and  wife  and  infant  child,  and  Jones  and  his  wife 
and  two  children. 

Soon  after  reaching  the  house,  the  Indians  pro- 
posed to  the  three  men  to  join  them  in  target- 
shooting.  They  consented,  and  all  discharged 
their  guns  at  the  target.  Mr.  Baker  then  traded 
guns  with  an  Indian,  the  savage  giving  him  $3 
as  the  difference  in  the  value  of  the  guns.  Then 
all  commenced  loading  again.  The  Indians  got 
the  charges  into  their  guns  first,  and  immediately 
turned  and  shot  Jones.  Mrs.  Jones  and  Mrs. 
Baker  were  standing  in  the  door.  When  one  of 
the  savages  leveled  his  gun  at  Mrs.  Baker,  her 
husband  saw  the  movement,  and  sprang  between 
them,  receiving  the  bullet  intended  for  his  wife 
in  his  own  body.  At  the  same  time  they  shot 
Webster  and  Mrs.  Jones.  Mrs.  Baker,  who  had 
her  infant  in  her  arms,  seeing  her  husband  fall, 
fainted,  and  fell  backward  into  the  cellar  (a  trap- 
door being  open),  and  thus  escaped.  Mrs.  Web- 
ster was  lying  in  their  wagon,  from  which  the 
goods  were  not  yet  unloaded,  and  escaped  unhurt. 
The  children  of  Mr.  Jones  were  in  the  house,  and 
were  not  molested.  They  then  returned  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Jones,  and  killed  and  scalped  the  girl. 
The  boy  was  lying  ou  the  bed  and  was  undiscov- 


ered, but  was  a  silent  witness  of  the  tragic  fate  of 
his  sister. 

After  killing  the  girl  the  savages  left  without 
disturbing  anything,  and  going  directly  to  the 
hoiise  of  a  settler,  took  from  his  stable  a  span  of 
horses  already  in  the  harness,  and  while  the  fam- 
ily was  at  dinner,  hitched  them  to  a  wagon  stand- 
ing near,  and  without  molesting  any  one,  drove 
off  in  the  direction  of  Beaver  Creek  settlement  and 
the  Lower  Agency,  leaving  Acton  at  about  3 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  This  span  of  horses,  har- 
ness and  wagon  were  the  only  property  taken  from 
the  neighborhood  by  them. 

The  boy  at  Jones's  who  escaped  massacre  at 
their  hands,  and  who  was  at  the  house  during  the 
entire  time  that  they  were  there,  avers  that  they 
obtained  no  liquor  there  that  day,  but  even  that 
when  they  came  back  and  murdered  his  sister,  the 
bottles  upon  the  shelf  were  untouched  by  them. 
They  had  obtained  none  on  their  first  visit  before 
going  over  to  Baker's.  It  would  seem,  therefore, 
that  the  very  general  belief  that  these  first  mur- 
ders at  Acton,  on  the  17th,  were  the  result  of 
drunkenness,  is  a  mistake. 

Mrs.  Baker,  who  was  unhurt  by  the  fall,  re- 
mained in  the  cellar  until  after  the  Indians  were 
gone,  when,  taking  the  children,  she  started  for  a 
neighboring  settlement,  to  give  the  alarm.  Before 
she  left,  an  Irishman,  calling  himself  Cox,  came 
to  the  house,  whom  she  asked  to  go  with  her,  and 
carry  her  child.  Cox  laughed,  saying,  "the  men 
were  not  dead,  but  drunk,  and  that,  falling  down, 
they  had  hurt  their  noses  and  made  them  bleed," 
and  refusing  to  go  with  Mrs.  Baker,  went  off  in 
the  direction  taken  by  the  Indians.  This  man 
Cox  had  frequently  been  seen  at  the  Lower  Agen- 
cy, and  was  generally  supposed  to  be  an  insane 
man,  wanderiQg  friendless  over  the  country.  It 
has  been  supposed  by  many  that  he  was  in  league 
with  the  Indians.  We  have  only  to  say,  if  he  was, 
he  coimterfeited  insanity  remarkably  well. 

Mrs.  Baker  reached  the  settlement  in  safety,  and 
on  the  next  day  (Monday)  a  company  of  citizens 
of  Forest  City,  the  county  seat  of  Meeker  county, 
went  out  to  Acton  to  bury  the  dead.  Forest  City 
is  twelve  mUes  north  of  that  place.  The  party 
who  went  out  on  Monday  saw  Indians  on  horse- 
back, and  chased  them,  but  failed  to  get  near 
enough  to  get  a  shot,  and  they  escaped. 

As  related  in  -a  preceding  chapter,  a  council  was 
held  at  Kice  Creek  on  Sunday,  at  which  it  was  de- 
cided that  the  fearful  tragedy  should  commence 


196 


mSTORr  OF  THE   SIOUX  MAiiSAORE. 


on  the  next  morning.  It  is  doubtful  whether  the 
Acton  murders  were  then  known  to  these  con- 
spirators, as  this  council  assembled  in  the  after- 
noon, and  the  savages  who  committed  those  mur- 
ders had  some  forty  miles  to  travel,  after  3  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  to  reach  the  place  of  this  coun- 
cil. It  would  seem,  therefore,  that  those  murders 
could  have  had  no  influence  in  precif>itating  this 
council,  as  they  could  not,  at  that  time,  have  been 
known  to  Little  Crow  and  his  conspirators. 

The  final  decision  of  these  fiends  must  luive  been 
made  as  early  as  sundown;  for  by  early  dawn  al- 
most the  entu'e  force  of  warriors,  of  the  Lower 
tribes,  were  ready  for  the  work  of  slaughter.  They 
were  already  armed  and  painted,  and  dispersed 
through  the  scattered  settlements,  over  a  region  at 
least  forty  miles  in  extent,  and  were  rapidly  gath- 
ering in  the  vicinity  of  the  Lower  Agency,  until 
some  250  were  collected  at  that  point,  and  sur- 
rounded the  houses  and  stores  of  the  traders, 
while  yet  the  inmates  were  at  their  morning  meal, 
or  asleep  in  their  beds  in  fancied  security,  all  un- 
conscious of  the  dreadful  fate  that  awaited  them. 
The  action  was  concerted,  and  the  time  fixed. 
The  blow  was  unexpected,  and  unparalleled!  In 
the  language  af  Adjutent-General  Malniros: 

"Since  the  formation  of  our  general  Govern- 
ment, no  State  or  Territory  of  the  Republic  has 
received  so  severe  a  blow  at  the  hands  of  the  sav- 
ages, or  witnessed  within  its  borders  a  parallel 
scene  of  murder,  butchery,  and  rapine." 

Philander  Presoott,  the  aged  Government  In- 
terpreter at  that  Agency,  who  had  resided  among 
the  Sioux  for  forty-five  years,  having  a  wife  and 
children  alhed  to  them  by  ties  of  blood,  and  who 
knew  their  language  and  spoke  it  better  than  any 
man  of  their  own  race,  and  who  seemed  to  under- 
stand every  Indian  impulse,  had  not  the  sUghtest 
intimation  or  conception  of  such  a  catastrophe  as 
was  about  to  fall  upon  the  country.  The  Kev.  S. 
R.  Riggs,  in  a  letter  to  a  St.  Paul  paper,  under 
date  of  August  13,  writes  that  "all  is  quiet  and 
orderly  at  the  place  of  the  forthcoming  payment." 
This  gentleman  had  been  a  missionary  among 
these  people  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century.  His, 
intimate  acquaintance  with  their  character  and 
language  were  of  such  a  nature  as  to  enable  him 
to  know  and  detect  the  first  symptoms  of  any  in- 
tention of  committing  any  depredations  upon  the 
whites,  and  had  not  the  greatest  secrecy  been  ob- 
served by  them,  the  knowledge  of  their  designs 
would  undoubtedly  have  been  communicated  to 


either  Mr.  Prosoott,  Mr.  Riggs,  or  Dr.  Williamson, 
who  had  also  been  among  them  almost  thirty 
years.  Such  was  the  position  of  these  gentlemen 
that,  had  they  discovered  or  suspected  any  lurking 
signs  of  a  conspiracy,  such  as  after  developments 
satisfy  us  actually  existed,  and  had  failed  to  com- 
municate it  to  the  authorities  and  the  jjeople,  they 
would  have  laid  themselves  open  to  the  horrible 
charge  of  complicity  with  the  murderers.  But 
whatever  may  be  the  public  judgement  upon  the 
course  afterward  pursued  by  the  two  last-named 
gentlemen,  in  their  etTorts  to  shield  the  guilty 
wretches  from  that  punishment  their  awful  crimes 
so  justly  merited,  no  one  who  knows  them  would 
for  a  moment  harbor  a  belief  that  they  had  any 
suspicion  of  the  coming  storm  until  it  burst  upon 
them. 

A  still  stronger  proof  of  the  feeling  of  security 
of  these  upon  the  reservation,  and  the  belief  thai 
the  recent  demonstrations  were  only  such  as  wer4> 
of  yearly  occurrence,  and  that  all  danger  was 
passed,  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact  that,  as  late  au, 
the  15th  of  August,  the  substance  of  a  dispatcb. 
was  published  in  the  daily  papers  of  St.  Paul, 
from  Major  Galbraith,  agreeing  fully  with  thy 
views  of  Mr.  Riggs,  as  to  the  quiet  and  orderlj^ 
conduct  of  the  Indians.  This  opinion  is  accom. 
panied  by  the  very  highest  evidence  of  humau 
sincerity.  Under  the  belief  of  their  peaceabli, 
disposition,  he  had,  on  the  16th  day  of  August, 
sent  his  wife  and  children  from  Fort  Ridgely  tj- 
Yellow  Medicine,  where  they  arrived  on  Sunday, 
the  17th,  the  very  day  of  the  murda/o  at  Acton,, 
and  on  the  very  day,  also,  that  the  o^inncil  at  Rico 
Creek  had  decided  that  the  white  ioce  in  Minn&- 
sota  must  either  perish  or  be  drivfcu  back  east  o/ 
the  Mississippi.  But  early  on  tiis  fatal  Monday 
morning  Mr.  Prescott  and  Re/.  J.  D.  Hinmaw 
learned  from  Little  Crow  that  the  storm  of  ss.vagt( 
wrath  was  gathering,  and  abowt  to  break  upoj, 
their  devoted  heads,  and  that  their  only  safety 
was  in  instant  flight. 

The   first  crack  of  the  Indian,  guns  that  fell  o/. 

his  ear,  a  moment  afterward,  round   Presoott  auU 

Hinman,  and  his  household  fleeing  for  their  hves, 

"While  on  the  billowy  bosom  jf  the  air 
Rolled  the  dread  notes  of  anguish  and  despair." 

Mrs.  Hinman  was,  fortunately,  then  at  Fari- 
bault. All  the  other  members  of  the  family  es- 
caped with  Mr.  Hinman  co  Fort  Ridgely.  The 
slaughter  at  the  Agency  now  commenced.  John 
Lamb,  a  teamster,  was  shot  down,  near  the  house 


MASSACRE   AT   LOWER   AGENCY. 


197 


of  Mr.  Hinman,  just  as  that  gentleman  and  his 
family  were  starting  on  their  perilous  journey  of 
escape.  At  the  same  time  some  Indians  entered 
the  stable,  and  were  taking  therefrom  the  horses 
belonging  to  the  Government.  Mr.  A.  H.  Wag- 
ner, Superintendent  oE  Farms  at  that  Agency,  en- 
tered the  stable  to  prevent  them,  and  was,  by  order 
of  Little  Crow,  instantly  shot  down.  Mr.  Hin- 
man waited  to  see  and  hear  no  more,  but  fled 
toward  the  ferry,  and  soon  put  the  Minnesota  river 
between  himself  and  the  terrible  tragedy  enact- 
ing behind  him. 

At  about  the  same  time,  Mr.  J.  C.  Dickinson, 
who  kept  the  Government  boarding-house,  with 
all  his  family,  including  several  girls  who  were 
working  for  him,  also  succeeded  in  crossing  the 
river  with  a  span  of  horses  and  a  wagon;  these, 
with  some  others,  mostly  women  and  children,  who 
had  reached  the  ferry,  escaped  to  the  fort. 

Very  soon  after.  Dr.  Philander  P.  Humphrey, 
physician  to  the  Lower  Sioux,  with  his  sick 
wife,  and  three  children,  also  succeeded  in 
crossing  the  river,  but  never  reached  the  fort. 
All  but  one,  the  eldest,  a  boy  of  about  twelve 
years  of  age,  were  killed  upon  the  road.  They 
had  gone  about  four  miles,  when  Mrs.  Humphrey 
became  so  much  exhausted  as  to  be  unable  to  pro- 
ceed further,  and  they  went  into  the  house  of  a 
Mr.  Magner,  deserted  by  its  inmates.  Mrs.  Hum- 
phrey was  placed  on  the  bed;  the  son  was  sent  to 
the  spring  for  water  for  his  mother.  *  *  The 
boy  heard  the  wild  war-whoop  of  the  savage 
break  upon  the  stillness  of  the  air,  and,  in  the 
nest  moment,  the  ominous  crack  of  their  guns, 
which  told  the  fate  of  his  family,  and  left  him  its 
sole  survivor.  Fleeing  hastily  toward  Fort  Eidge- 
ly,  about  eight  miles  distant,  he  met  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  Marsh  on  their  way  toward  the 
Agency.  The  young  hero  turned  back  with  them 
to  the  ferry.  As  they  passed  Magner's  house, 
they  saw  the  Doctor  lying  near  the  door,  dead, 
but  the  house  itself  was  a  heap  of  smouldering 
ruins;  and  this  brave  boy  was  thus  compelled  to 
look  upon  the  funeral  pyre  of  his  mother,  and  his 
little  brother  and  sister.  A  burial  party  afterward 
found  their  charred  remains  amid  the  blackened 
ruins,  and  gave  them  Christian  sepulture.  In  the 
charred  hands  of  the  little  girl  was  foimd  her  china 
doU,  with  which  she  refused  to  part  even  in  death. 
The  boy  went  on  to  the  ferry,  and  in  that  disas- 
trous conflict  escaped  unharmed,  and  finally  made 
liis  way  into  the  fort. 


In  the  mean  time  the  work  of  death  went  on. 
The  whites,  taken  by  surprise,  were  utterly  de- 
fenseless, and  so  great  had  been  the  feeling  of  se- 
curity, that  many  of  them  were  actually  unai-med, 
although  living  in  the  very  midst  of  the  savages. 
At  the  store  of  Nathan  Myrick,  Hon.  James  W. 
Lynd,  formerly  a  member  of  the  State  Senate, 
Andrew  J.  Myrick,  and  G.  W.  Divoll  were  among 
the  first  victims.  *  *  *  In  the  store  of  Wil- 
liam H.  Forbes  were  some  five  or  six  persons, 
among  them  Mr.  George  H.  Spencer,  jr.  Hearing 
the  yelling  of  the  savages  outside,  these  men  ran 
to  the  door  to  ascertain  its  cause,  when  they  were 
instantly  fired  upon,  kilUng  four  of  their  number, 
and  severely  wounding  Mr.  Spencer.  Spencer  and 
his  uninjured  companion  hastily  sought  a  tempo- 
rary place  of  safety  in  the  chamber  of  the  build- 
ing. 

Mr.  Spencer,  in  giving  an  accoiint  of  this  open- 
ing scene  of  the  awful  tragedy,  says: 

"  When  I  reached  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  I  turned 
and  beheld  the  store  filling  with  Indians.  One 
had  followed  me  nearly  to  the  stairs,  when  he  took 
deliberate  aim  at  my  body,  but,  providentially, 
both  barrels  of  his  gun  missed  fire,  and  I  succeeded 
in  getting  above  without  further  injury.  Not  ex- 
pecting to  live  a  great  while,  I  threw  myself  upon 
a  bed,  and,  while  lying  there,  could  hear  them 
opening  cases  of  goods,  and  carrying  them  out, 
and  threatening  to  burn  the  building.  I  did  not 
relish  the  idea  of  being  burned  to  death  very  well, 
so  I  arose  very  quietly,  and  taking  a  bed-cord,  I 
made  fast  one  end  to  the  bed-post,  and  carried  the 
other  to  a  window,  which  I  raised.  I  intended,  in 
case  they  fired  the  building,  to  let  myself  down 
from  the  window,  and  take  the  chances  of  being 
shot  again,  rather  than  to  remain  where  I  was  and 
bum.  The  man  who  went  up-stairs  with  me,  see- 
ing 0  good  opportunity  to  escape,  rushed  down 
through  the  crowd  and  ran  for  life;  he  was  fired 
upon,  and  two  charges  of  buckshot  struck  him, 
but  he  succeeded  in  making  his  escape.  I  had 
been  up-stairs  probably  an  hour,  when  I  heard  the 
voice  of  an  Indian  inquiring  for  me.  I  recognized 
his  voice,  and  felt  that  I  was  safe.  Upon  being 
told  that  I  was  up-stairs,  he  rushed  up,  followed  by 
ten  or  a  dozen  others,  and  approaching  my  bed, 
asked  if  I  was  mortally  wounded.  I  told  him  that 
I  did  not  know,  but  that  I  was  badly  hurt.  Some 
of  the  others  came  up  and  took  me  by  the  hand, 
and  appeared  to  be  sorry  that  I  had  been  hurt. 
!  Ih&s   then   asked  me  where   the  guns  were.     I 


198 


niSTORT  OF  THE  SIOUX  M.iSSACIiE. 


pointed  to  them,  when  my  comrade  assisted  me  in 
getting  down  stairs. 

"  The  name  of  this  Indian  is  Wakinyatawa,  or, 
in  English,  'His  Thunder.'  He  was,  up  to  the  time 
of  the  outbreak,  the  head  soldier  of  Little  Crow, 
and,  some  four  or  five  years  ago,  went  to  Wash- 
ington with  that  chief  to  see  their  Great  Father. 
He  is  a  fine-looking  Indian,  and  has  always*  been 
noted  for  his  bravery  in  fighting  the  Chippewas. 
When  we  reached  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  some  of 
the  Indians  cried  out,  'Kill  him!'  'Spare  no 
Americans!'  'Show  mercy  to  none!'  My  friend, 
who  was  unarmed,  seized  a  hatchet  that  was  lying 
near  by,  and  declared  that  he  would  cut  down  the 
first  one  that  should  attempt  to  do  me  any  further 
harm.  Said  he,  'If  you  had  killed  him  before  I 
saw  him,  it  would  have  been  all  right;  bu";  we  have 
been  friends  and  comrades  for  ten  years,  and  now 
that  I  have  seen  him,  I  will  protect  him  or  die  with 
him.'  They  then  made  way  for  us,  and  we  passed 
out;  he  procured  a  wagon,  and  gave  me  over  to  a 
couple  of  squaws  to  take  me  to  his  lodge.  On  the 
■way  we  were  stopped  two  or  three  times  by  armed 
Indians  on  horseback,  who  inquired  of  the  squaws 
'What  that  meant?'  Upon  being  answered  that 
'  This  is  Wakinyatawa's  friend,  and  he  has  saved 
his  life,'  they  suffered  us  to  pass  on.  His  lodge 
was  about  four  miles  above  the  Agency,  at  Little 
Crow's  village.  My  friend  soon  came  home  and 
washed  me,  and  dressed  my  wounds  with  roots. 
Some  few  white  men  succeeded  in  making  their 
escape  to  the  fort.  There  were  no  other  white 
men  taken  prisoners." 

The  relation  of  "comrade,"  which  existed  be- 
tween Mr.  Spencer  and  this  Indian,  is  a  species 
of  Freemasonry  which  is  in  existence  among  the 
Sioux,  and  is  jDrobably  also  common  to  other  In- 
dian tribes. 

The  store  of  Louis  Robert  was,  in  like  manner, 
attacked.  Patrick  McClellan,  one  of  the  clerks  in 
charge  of  the  store,  was  killed,  There  were  at  the 
store  several  other  persons;  some  of  them  were 
killed  and  some  made  their  escape.  Mr.  John 
Nairn,  the  Government  carpenter  at  the  Lower 
Sioux  Agency,  seeing  the  attack  upon  the  stores 
and  other  places,  seized  his  children,  four  in  num- 
ber, and,  with  his  wife,  started  out  on  the  prairie, 
making  their  way  toward  the  fort.  They  were 
accompanied  by  Mr.  Alexander  Hunter,  an  at- 
tached personal  friend,  and  his  young  wife.  Mr. 
Nairn  had  been  among  them  in  the  employ  of  the 
Government,  some  eight  years,  and  had,  by  his 


urbane  manners  and  strict  attention  to  their  in- 
terests, secured  the  personal  friendship  of  many 
of  the  tribe.  Mr.  Nairn  and  his  family  reached 
the  fort  in  safety  that  artemoon.  Mr.  Hunter  had, 
some  years  before,  frozen  his  feet  so  badly  as  to 
lose  the  toes,  and,  being  lame,  walked  with  great 
difficulty.  When  near  an  Indian  village  below  the 
Agency,  they  were  met  by  an  Indian,  who  urged 
Hunter  to  go  to  the  village,  promising  to  get  them 
a  horse  and  wagon  with  which  to  make  their  es- 
cape. Mr.  Hunter  and  his  wife  went  to  the  Indian 
village,  believing  their  Indian  friend  would  re- 
deem his  promises,  but  from  inabiUty,  or  some 
other  reason,  he  did  not  do  so.  They  went  to  the 
woods,  where  they  remained  all  night,  and  in  the 
morning  started  for  Fort  Ridgely  on  foot.  They 
had  gone  but  a  short  distance,  however,  when  they 
met  an  Indian,  who,  without  a  word  of  warning, 
shot  poor  Hunter  dead,  and  led  his  distracted 
young  wife  away  into  captivity. 

We  now  return  once  more  to  the  scene  of  blood 
and  conflagration  at  the  Agency.  The  white- 
haired  interpreter,  Philander  Prescott  (now  verg- 
ing upon  seventy  years  of  age),  hastily  left  his 
house  soon  after  his  meeting  with  Little  Crow,  and 
fled  toward  Fort  Eidgely.  The  other  members  of 
his  family  remained  behind,  knowing  that  their 
relation  to  the  tribe  would  save  them.  Mr.  Pres- 
cott had  gone  several  miles,  when  he  was  overtaken. 
His  murderers  came  and  talked  with  him.  He 
reasoned  with  them,  saying:  "I  am  an  old  man: 
I  have  lived  with  you  now  forty-tive  years,  almost 
half  a  century.  My  wife  and  children  are  among 
you,  of  your  own  blood;  I  have  never  done  you 
any  harm,  and  have  been  your  true  friend  in  all 
your  troubles;  why  should  you  wish  to  kill  me?" 
Their  only  reply  was:  "We  would  save  your  life 
if  we  could,  but  the  white  manmust  die;  we  cannot 
spare  your  life;  our  orders  are  to  kill  all  white 
men;  we  cannot  spare  you." 

Seeing  that  all  remonstrance  was  vain  and  hope- 
less, and  that  his  time  had  come,  the  aged  man 
with  a  firm  step  and  noble  bearing,  sadly  turned 
away  from  the  deaf  ear  and  iron  heart  of  the  sav- 
age, and  with  dignity  and  composure  received  the 
fatal  messenger. 

Thus  perished  Philander  Prescott,  the  true,  tried, 
and  faithful  friend  of  the  Indian,  by  the  hands  of 
that  perfidious  race,  whom  he  had  so  long  and  so 
faithfully  labored  to  benefit  to  so  little  purpose. 

The  number  of  persons  who  reached  Fort  Ridge- 
ly   from    the   agency  was    forty-one.     Some  are 


AT  It  ED  WOOD  lilVER. 


199 


known  to  have  reached  other  places  of  safety.  All 
suffered  incredible  hardships;  many  hiding  by  day 
in  the  tall  prairie  grass,  in  bogs  and  sloughs,  or 
under  the  trunks  of  prostrate  trees,  crawling 
stealthily  by  night  to  avoid  the  lurking  and  wily 
foe,  who,  with  the  keen  scent  of  the  blood-hound 
and  ferocity  of  the  tiger,  followed  on  their  trail, 
thirsting  for  blood. 

Among  those  who  escaped  into  the  fort  were 
BIr.  J.  O.  Whipple,  of  Faribault;  Mr.  Charles  B. 
Hewitt,  of  New  Jersey.  The  services  of  Mr. 
Whipple  were  recognized  and  rewarded  by  the 
Government  with  a  first  lieutenant's  commis- 
sion in  the  volunteer  artillery  service. 

James  Powell,  a  young  man  residing  at  St. 
Peter,  was  at  the  Agency  herding  cattle.  He  had 
just  turned  the  cattle  out  of  the  yard,  saddled  and 
mounted  his  mule,  as  the  work  of  death  com- 
menced. Seeing  Lamb  and  Wagner  shot  down 
near  him  he  turned  to  flee,  when  Lamb  called  to 
him  for  help;  but,  at  that  moment  two  shots  were 
fired  at  him,  and,  putting  spurs  to  his  mule  he 
turned  toward  the  ferry,  passing  close  to  an  In- 
dian who  leveled  his  gun  to  fire  at  him ;  biit  the 
caps  exploded,  when  the  savage,  evidently  sur- 
prised that  he  had  failed  to  kill  him,  waved  his 
hand  toward  the  river,  and  exclaimed,  "Packachee! 
Puckachee!"  Pcwell  did  not  wait  for  a  second 
warning,  which  might  come  in  a  more  unwelcome 
form,  but  slipped  at  once  from  the  back  of  his  an- 
imal, dashed  down  the  bluff  through  the  brush, 
and  I'eached  the  ferry  just  as  the  boat  was  leaving 
the  shore.  Looking  over  his  shoulder  as  he  ran, 
he  saw  an  Indian  in  full  pursuit  on  the  very  mule 
he  had  a  moment  before  abandoned. 

All  that  day  the  work  of  sack  and  plunder  went 
on;  and  when  the  stores  and  dwellings  and  the 
warehouses  of  the  Government  had  been  emptied 
of  their  contents,  the  torch  was  applied  to  the  var- 
ious buddings,  and  the  little  village  was  soon  a 
heap  of  smouldering  ruins. 

The  bodies  of  their  slain  victims  were  left  to  fes- 
ter in  the  sun  where  they  fell,  or  were  consumed 
in  the  buildings  from  which  they  had  been  unable 
to  effect  their  escape. 

So  complete  was  the  surprise,  and  so  sudden 
and  unexpected  the  terrible  blow,  that  not  a  sin- 
gle one  of  all  that  host  of  naked  savages  was  slain. 
In  thirty  minutes  from  the  time  the  first  gun  was 
fired,  not  a  white  person  was  left  alive.  All  were 
either  weltering  in  their  gore  or  had  fled  in  fear 
and  terror  from  that  place  of  death. 


BEDWOOD    BrVEE. 

At  the  Bedwood  river,  ten  miles  above  the 
Agency,  on  the  road  to  Yellow  Medicine,  resided 
Mr.  Joseph  B.  Reynolds,  in  the  employment  of 
the  Government  as  a  teacher.  His  house  was 
within  one  mile  of  Shakopee's  village.  His  family 
consisted  of  his  wife,  a  niece — Miss  Mattie  Wil- 
liams, of  Painesville,  Ohio — Mary  Anderson  and 
Mary  Sohwandt,  hired  girls.  William  Landmeier, 
a  hired  man,  and  Legrand  Davis,  a  yoimg  man 
from  Shakopee,  was  also  stoppmg  with  them  tem- 
porarily. 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th  of  August,  at  about 
6  o'clock,  John  Moore,  a  half-breed  trader,  resid- 
ing near  them,  came  to  the  house  and  informed 
them  that  there  was  an  outbreak  among  the  In- 
dians, and  that  they  had  better  leave  at  once.  Mr. 
Reynolds  immediately  got  out  his  buggy,  and, 
taking  his  wife,  started  off  across  the  prairie  in 
such  a  direction  as  to  avoid  the  Agency.  At  the 
same  time  Davis  and  the  three  girls  got  into  the 
wagon  of  a  Mr.  Patoile,  a  trader  at  Yellow  Medi- 
cine, who  had  just  arrived  there  on  his  way  to  New 
Ulm,  and  they  also  started  out  on  the  prairie. 
WiUiam,  the  hired  man,  would  not  leave  until  he 
had  been  twice  warned  by  Moore  that  his  life  was 
in  danger.  He  then  went  down  to  the  river  bot- 
tom, and  following  the  Minnesota  river,  started  for 
the  fort.  When  some  distance  on  his  way  he 
came  ujDon  some  Indians  who  were  gathering  up 
cattle.  They  saw  him  and  there  was  no  way  of 
escape.  They  came  to  him  and  told  him  that  if 
he  would  assist  them  in  driving  the  cattle  they 
would  not  kiU  him.  Making  a  merit  of  necessity 
he  complied,  and  went  on  with  them  tUl  they  were 
near  the  Lower  Agency,  when  the  Indians,  hear- 
ing the  firing  at  the  ferry,  suddenly  left  him  and 
hastened  on  to  take  part  in  the  battle  then  pro- 
gressing between  Captain  Marsh  and  their  friends. 
William  fled  in  an  opposite  direction,  and  that 
night  entered  Fort  Ridgely. 

We  return  now  to  Patoile  and  his  party. 
After  crossing  the  Redwaod  near  its  mouth,  he 
drove  some  distance  up  that  stream,  and,  turning 
to  the  left,  struck  across  the  prairie  toward  New 
Ulm,  keeping  behind  a  swell  in  the  prairie  which 
ran  parallel  with  the  Minnesota,  some  three  miles 
south  of  that  stream. 

They  had,  unpursued,  and  apparently  unob- 
served, reached  a  point  within  about  ten  miles  of 
New  Uhn,  and  nearly  opposite  Fort  Ridgely,  when 
they    were   suddenly    assailed    by   Indians,    who 


200 


niSTORT  OF  THE  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


killed  Patoile  and  Davis,  and  severely  wounded 
Mary  Anderson.  Miss  Williams  and  Mary 
Sehwandt  were  captured  unhurt,  aud  were  taken 
back  to  Waucouta's  village. 

The  poor,  injured  young  woman  survived  her 
■wounds  and  the  brutal  and  fiendish  violation  of 
her  person  to  which  she  was  subjected  by  these 
dej)ils  incarnate,  but  a  few  days,  when  death,  in 
mercy,  came  to  her  relief  and  ended  her  sufferings 
in  the  quiet  of  the  grave! 

Mattie  Williams  and  Mary  Sehwandt  were  af- 
terwards restored  to  their  friends  by  General  Sib- 
ley's expedition,  at  Camp  Eelease.  We  say,  res- 
stored  to  their  friends;  this  was  hardly  true  of 
Mary  Sehwandt,  who,  when  release  came,  found 
alive,  of  all  her  father's  family,  only  one,  a  little 
brother;  and  he  had  witnessed  the  fiendish  slaugh- 
ter of  all  the  rest,  accompanied  by  circumstances 
of  infernal  barbarity,  without  a  parallel  in  the  his- 
tory of  savage  brutality. 

On  Sunday,  the  17th,  George  Gleason,  Govern- 
ment stoie-keeper  at  the  Lower  Agency,  accomjsa- 
nied  by  the  family  of  Agent  Galbraith,  to  Yellow 
Medicine,  and  on  Monday  afternoon,  ignorant  of 
the  terrible  tragedy  enacted  below,  started  to  re- 
turn. He  had  with  him  the  wife  and  two  children 
of  Dr.  J.  S.  Wakefield,  physician  to  the  Upper 
Sioux.  When  about  two  miles  above  the  mouth 
of  the  Eedwood,  they  met  two  armed  Indians  on 
the  road.  Gleason  greeted  them  with  the  usual 
salutation  of  "Ho !"  accompanied  with  the  inquiry, 
in  Sioux,  as  he  passed,  "Where  are  you  going  ?" 
They  returned  the  salutation,  but  Gleason  had 
gone  but  a  very  short  distance,  when  the  sharp 
crack  of  a  gun  behind  him  bore  to  his  ear  the  first 
iutimntion  of  the  death  in  store  for  him.  The 
bullet  passed  through  his  body  and  he  fell  to  the 
ground.  At  the  same  moment  Chaska,  the  Indian 
who  had  not  fired,  sprang  into  the  wagon,  by  the 
side  of  Mrs.  Wakefield,  and  driving  a  short  dis- 
tance, returned.  Poor  Gleason  was  lying  upon 
the  groimd,  still  alive,  writhing  in  mortal  agony, 
when  the  savage  moniter  completed  his  hellish 
work,  by  placing  his  gun  at  his  breast,  and  shoot- 
ing him  again.  Such  was  the  sad  end  of  the  life 
of  George  Gleason;  gay,  jocund,  genial  and  gen- 
erous, he  was  the  life  of  every  circle.  His  pleas- 
ant face  was  seen,  and  his  mellow  voice  was  heard 
in  song,  at  almost  every  social  gathering  on  that 
rude  frontier.  He  had  a  smile  and  pleasant  woi-d 
for  all;  and  yet  he  fell,  in  his  manly  strength,  by 
the  hands  of  these  bloody  monsters,  whom  he  had 


never  wronged  in  word  or  deed.  Some  weeks  af- 
terward, his  mutilated  remains  were  found  by  the 
troops  imder  Colonel  Sibley,  and  buried  where  he 
fell.  They  were  subsequently  removed  by  hia 
friends  to  Shakopee,  where  they  received  the  rites 
of  Christian  sepulture. 

Mrs.  Wakefield  and  children  were  held  as  pris- 
oners, and  were  reclaimed  with  the  other  captives 
at  Camp  Eelease. 


CHAPTEB  XXXIV. 

JU.SSACBE  ON  THE  NORTH  SIDE  OF  THE  MINNESOTA 

BUIINING  OF  MKS.  HENDERSON  AND  TWO  CHILDREN 
ESCAPE  OF  J.  W.  EARLE  AND  OTHERS^ — THE  SET- 
TLERS   ENDEAVOR    TO    ESCAPE MCIiDER   OF   THE 

SCHWANDT  FAMTLT WHOLESALE  MASSACRE UP- 
PER AGENCY THE    PEOPLE    WARNED    BY    JOSEPH 

LAFKAMBOIS    AND    OTHER    DAT — ESCAPE    OF    THE 

WHITES    FROM    YELLOW    MEDICINE SETTLEMENT 

ON  THE  CHIPPEWA MURDER  OF  JAMES  W,  LIND- 
SAY AND  HIS  COMRADE. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  the  settlers 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Minnesota  river,  adjoining 
the  reservation,  were  surprised  to  see  a  large  num- 
ber of  Indians  in  their  immediate  neighborhood. 
They  were  seen  soon  after  the  people  arose,  simul- 
taneously, all  along  the  river  from  Birch  Coolie  to 
Beaver  Creek,  and  beyond,  on  the  west,  apparent- 
ly intent  on  gathering  up  the  horses  and  cattle. 
When  interrogated,  they  said  they  were  after 
Chippewas.  At  about  6  or  7  o'clock  they  sudden- 
ly began  to  repair  to  the  various  houses  of  the  set- 
tlers, and  then  the  flight  of  the  inhabitants  and 
the  work  of  death  began. 

In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Beaver  Creek,  the 
neighbors,  to  the  number  of  about  twenty-eight, 
men,  women,  and  children,  assembled  at  the  house 
of  Jonathan  W.  Earle,  and,  with  several  teams, 
started  for  Fort  Ridgely,  having  with  them  the 
sick  wife  of  S.  K.  Henderson,  her  children,  and 
the  family  of  N.  D.  White,  and  the  wife  and  two 
children  of  James  Carrothers. 

There  were,  also,  David  Carrothers  and  family, 
Earle  and  family,  Henderson,  and  a  German  named 
Wedge,  besides  four  sons  of  White  and  Earle;  the 
rest  were  women  and  children.  They  had  gone 
but  a  short  distance  when  they  were  surrounded 
by  Indians.  When  asked,  by  some  of  the  party 
who  could  speak  their  language,  what  they  wanted, 
the  Indians  answered,  "We  are  going  to  kiU  you." 


MASSACRE  AT  OERMAN  SETTLEMENT. 


201 


When  asked  why  they  were  to  be  killed,  the  In- 
dians consented  to  let  them  go,  with  one  team  and 
the  buggy  with  Mrs.  Henderson,  on  giving  up  the 
rest.  They  had  gone  but  a  short  distance  when 
they  were  again  stopped  by  the  savages,  and  the 
remaining  team  taken.  Again  they  moved  on, 
drawing  the  buggy  and  the  sick  woman  by  hand 
but  had  gone  but  a  few  rods  further,  when  the  In- 
dians began  to  fire  upon  them.  The  men  were 
with  the  buggy ;  the  women  and  children  had  gone 
on  ahead,  as  well  as  the  boys  and  Carrothers. 

Mr.  Earle,  seeing  the  savages  were  determined 
to  kill  them,  and  knowing  that  they  could  not  now 
save  Mrs.  Henderson,  hastened  on  and  came  up 
with  the  fleeing  fugitives  ahead.  Mr.  Henderson 
waved  a  white  cloth  as  a  flag  of  truce,  when  they 
shot  off  his  fingers,  and,  at  the  same  time,  killed 
Wedge.  Henderson  then  ran,  seeing  that  he  could 
not  save  his  wife  and  children,  and  made  his  es- 
cape. They  came  up  with  his  buggy,  and,  taking 
out  the  helpless  woman  and  children,  threw  them 
on  the  prairie,  and  placing  the  bed  over  them,  set 
it  on  fire,  and  hastened  on  after  the  fleeing  fugi- 
tives. 

The  burned  and  blackened  remains  of  both  the 
mother  and  her  two  children  were  afterward  found 
by  a  burial  party,  and  interred. 

Coming  up  with  the  escaping  women  and  chil- 
dren, they  were  all  captured  but  two  children  of 
David  Carrothers.  These  they  had  shot  in  the 
chase  after  Carrothers,  Earle,  and  the  sons  of  Earle 
and  White.  They  killed,  also,  during  this  chase 
and  running  fight,  Eugene  White,  a  son  of  N.  D. 
AVhite,  and  Eadner,  son  of  Jonathan  W.  Earle. 

Carrothers  escaped  to  Crow  Kiver,  and  thence  to 
St.  Paul.  Mr.  Earle  and  two  of  his  sons,  and  one 
son  of  Mr.  White,  after  incredible  hardships,  es- 
caped to  Cedar  City,  and  subsequently  made  their 
way  back  to  St.  Peter  and  Fort  Ridgely.  All  the 
captives  taken  at  this  time  were  carried  to  Crow's 
village,  and,  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  James 
Carrothers  and  her  children,  were  recovered  at 
Camp  Eelease. 

After  they  had  captured  the  women  and  children, 
they  returned  to  the  houses  of  the  settlers,  and 
plundered  them  of  their  contents,  carrying  off 
what  they  could,  and  breaking  up  and  destroying 
the  balance.  They  then  gathered  up  the  stock 
and  drove  it  to  their  village,  taking  their  captives 
with  them. 

Some  two  or  three  miles  above  the  neighborhood 
of  Earle  and  White  was  a  settlement  of  German 


emigrants,  numbering  some  forty  persons,  quiet, 
industrious,  and  enterprising.  Early  on  the 
morning  of  the  18th  these  had  all  assembled  al 
the  house  of  John  Meyer.  Very  soon  after  they 
had  assembled  here,  some  fifty  Indians,  led  by 
Shakopee,  appeared  in  sight.  The  people  all  fled, 
except  Meyer  and  his  family,  going  into  the  grass 
and  bushes.  Peter  Bjorkman  ran  toward  his  own 
house.  Shakopee,  whom  he  knew,  saw  him,  and 
exclaimed,  "There  is  Bjorkman;  kill  him!"  but, 
keeping  the  building  between  him  and  the  sav- 
ages, he  plunged  into  a  slough  and  concealed 
himself,  even  removing  his  shirt,  fearing  it  might 
be  the  means  of  revealing  his  whereabouts  to  the 
lurking  savages.  Here  he  lay  from  early  morning 
until  the  darkness  of  night  enabled  him  to  leave 
with  safety — suffering  unutterable  torments,  mos- 
quitoes literally  swarming  upon  his  naked  person, 
and  the  hot  sim  scorching  him  to  the  bone. 

They  immediately  attacked  the  house  of  Meyer, 
killing  his  wife  and  all  his  children.  Seeing  his 
family  butchered,  and  having  no  means  of  de- 
tense,  Meyer  effected  his  escape,  and  reached  Fort 
Eidgely.  In  the  meantime  the  affrighted  people 
had  got  together  again  at  the  house  of  a  Mr. 
Sitzton,  near  Bjorkman's,  to  the  number  of  about 
thirty,  men,  women,  and  children.  In  the  after- 
noon the  savages  returned  to  the  house  of  Sitzton, 
kiUing  every  person  there  but  one  woman,  Mrs. 
Wilhelmina  Eindeutield,  and  her  child.  These 
ware  captured,  and  afterward  found  at  Camp  Ee- 
lease, but  the  husband  and  father  was  among  the 
slain.  From  his  place  of  concealment  Mr.  Bjork- 
man witnessed  this  attack  and  wholesale  massacre 
of  almost  an  entire  neighborhood.  After  dark  he 
came  out  of  the  slough,  and,  going  to  his  house, 
obtained  some  food  and  a  bundle  of  clothing,  as 
his  house  was  not  yet  plundered;  fed  his  dog  and 
calf,  and  jvent  over  to  the  house  of  Meyer;  here 
he  foimd  the  windows  all  broken  in,  but  did  not 
enter  the  house.  He  then  went  to  the  house  of 
Sitzton ;  his  nerves  were  not  equal  to  the  task  of 
entering  that  charnel-house  of  death.  As  he 
passed  the  yard,  he  turned  out  some  cattle  that  the 
Indians  had  not  taken  away,  and  hastened  toward 
Fort  Ridgely.  On  the  road  he  overtook  a  woman 
and  two  children,  one  an  infant  of  six  months,  the 
wife  and  children  of  John  Sateau,  who  had 
been  killed.  Taking  one  of  the  children  in  his 
arms,  these  companions  in  misfortune  and  suffer- 
ing hurried  on  together.  Mrs.  Sateau  was  nearly 
naked,  and    without   either  shoes    or    stockings. 


2oa 


niHTOItT  OF  THE  SIOUX  MASSACME. 


The  rough  prairie  grass  lacerated  her  naked  feet 
and  limbs  terribly,  and  she  was  about  giWng  out 
in  despair.  Bjorkman  took  from  his  bundle  a 
shirt,  and  tearing  it  in  parts,  she  woimd  it  about 
her  feet,  and  proceeded  on. 

At  daylight  they  came  in  sight  of  the  house  of 
Maguer,  eight  miles  above  the  fort.  Here  they 
saw  some  eight  or  ten  Indians,  and,  turning  aside 
from  the  road,  dropped  down  into  the  grass,  where 
they  remained  until  noon,  when  the  Indians  disap- 
peared. They  again  moved  toward  the  fort,  but 
slowly  and  cautiously,  as  they  did  not  reach  it 
until  about  midnight.  Upon  reaching  the  fort 
Mrs.  Sateau  found  two  sons,  aged  ten  and  twelve 
years  respectively,  who  had  efl'ected  their  escape 
and  reached  there  before  her. 

Mrs.  Mary,  widow  of  Patrick  Hay  den,  who  re- 
sided about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  house 
of  J.  W.  Earle,  near  Beaver  Creek,  in  Kenville 
county,  says : 

"On  the  morning  of  the  18th  of  August,  Mr. 
Hayden  started  to  go  over  to  the  house  of  Mr.  J. 
B.  Keynolds,  at  the  Redwood  river,  on  the  reser- 
vation, and  met  Thomas  Kobinson,  a  half-breed, 
who  told  him  to  go  home,  get  his  family,  and 
leave  as  soon  as  possible,  for  the  Indians  were 
coming  over  to  kill  all  the  whites.  He  came  im- 
mediately home,  and  we  commenced  to  make 
preparations  to  leave,  but  in  a  few  minutes  we 
saw  some  three  or  four  Indians  coming  on  horse- 
back. We  then  went  over  to  the  house  of  a 
neighbor,  Benedict  June,  and  found  them  all 
ready  to  leave.  I  started  off  with  June's  people, 
and  my  husband  went  back  home,  still  thinking 
the  Indians  would  not  kiU  any  one,  and  intending 
to  give  them  some  provisions  if  they  wanted  them. 
I  never  saw  him  again. 

"We  had  gone  about  four  miles,  when  jje  saw  a 
man  lying  dead  in  the  road  and  his  faithful  dog 
watching  by  his  side. 

"We  drove  on  tiU  we  came  to  the  house  of  David 
Faribault,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  about  one  and  a 
half  miles  from  the  Agency  ferry.  When  we  got 
here  two  Indians  came  out  of  Faribault's  house, 
and  stopping  the  teams,  shot  Mr.  Zimmerman, 
who  was  driving,  and  his  two  boys.  I  sprang  out 
of  the  wagon,  and,  with  my  child,  one  year  old,  in 
my  arms,  ran  into  the  bushes,  and  went  up  the 
hill  toward  the  fort.  When  I  came  near  the  house 
of  Mr.  ISIaguer,  I  saw  Indians  throwing  furniture 
out  of  the  door,  and  I  went  down  into  the  bushes 


again,  on  the  lower  side  of  the  road,  and  staid 
there  until  sundown. 

"While  I  lay  here  concealed,  I  saw  the  Indians 
taking  the  roof  off  the  warehouse,  and  saw  the 
buildings  burning  at  the  Agency.  I  also  heard 
the  firing  during  the  battle  at  the  ferry,  when 
Marsh  and  his  men  were  killed. 

"I  then  went  up  near  the  fort  road,  and  sitting 
down  under  a  tree,  waited  till  dark,  and  then 
started  for  Fort  Ridgely,  carrying  my  child  all  the 
way.  I  arrived  at  the  fort  at  about  1  o'clock  A. 
M.  The  distance  from  our  place  to  Eidgley  was 
seventeen  miles. 

"On  Tuesday  morning  I  saw  John  Magner,  who 
told  me  that,  when  the  soldiers  went  up  to  the  Agen- 
cy the  day  before,  he  taw  my  husband  lying  in  the 
road,  near  David  Faribault's  house,  dead.  John 
Hayden,  his  brother,  who  lived  with  us,  was  found 
dead  near  La  Croix  creek.  They  had  got  up  the 
oxen,  and  were  bringing  the  family  of  Mr.  Eisen- 
rich  to  the  fort,  when  they  were  overtaken  by  In- 
dians. Eisenrich  was  killed  and  his  wife  and  five 
children  were  taken  prisoners. 

"Mrs.  Zimmerman,  who  was  blind,  and  her  re- 
maining children,  and  Mrs.  Jime  and  her  children, 
five  in  number,  were  captured  and  taken  to  the 
house  of  David  Faribault,  where  they  were  kept 
till  night,  the  savages  torturing  them  by  teUing 
them  that  they  were  going  to  fasten  them  in  the 
house  and  bum  them  alive,  but  for  some  inexpli- 
cable reason  let  them  go,  and  they,  too,  reached 
the  fort  in  safety.  Mr.  Jime,  who  with  one  of  his 
boys,  eleven  years  old,  remained  behind  to  drive 
in  his  cattle,  was  met  by  them  on  the  road  and 
killed.  The  boy  was  captured,  and,  with  the  other 
prisoners,  recovered  at  Camp  Release." 

The  neighborhoods  in  the  vicinity  of  La  Croix 
creek,  and  between  that  and  Fort  Ridgely,  were 
visited  on  Monday  forenoon,  and  the  people  either 
massacred,  driven  away  or  made  prisoners.  Ed- 
ward Magner,  living  eight  miles  above  the  fort, 
was  killed.  His  wife  and  children  had  gone  to 
the  fort.  He  had  returned  to  look  after  his  cat- 
tle when  he  was  shot.  Patrick  Kelley  and  David 
O'Coimor,  both  single  men,  were  killed  near  Mag- 
nor's. 

Kearn  Horan  makes  the  followbig  statement. 

"I  lived  four  miles  from  the  Lower  Sioux 
Agency,  on  the  fort  road.  On  the  18th  of  August 
Patrick  Horan,  my  brother,  came  early  from  the 
Agency  and  told  us  that  the  Indians  were  murder- 
ing the  whites.     He  had  escaped  alone  and  crossed 


STATEMENT  OF  KEARN  KORAN. 


203 


the  ferry,  and  with  some  Frenchmen  was  on  bis 
waj  to  the  fort.  My  brothers  and  Wilham  and 
Thomas  Smith  went  with  me.  We  saw  Indians  in 
the  road  near  Magner's.  Thomas  Smith  went  to 
them,  thinking  they  were  white  men,  and  I  saw 
them  kill  him.  We  then  turned  to  flee,  and  saw 
men  escaping  with  teams  along  the  road.  All  fled 
towards  the  fort  together,  the  Indians  firing  ujjon 
us  as  we  ran.  The  teams  were  oxen,  and  the  In- 
dians were  gaining  upon  us,  when  one  of  men  in 
his  excitement  dropped  his  gun.  The  savages 
came  up  to  it  and  picked  it  up.  All  stopped  to 
examine  it,  and  the  men  in  the  wagons  whipped 
the  oxen  into  a  run.  This  delay  enabled  us  to 
elude  them. 

"As  we  passed  the  house  of  Ole  Sampson,  Mrs. 
Sampson  was  crying  at  the  door  for  help.  Her 
three  children  were  with  her.  We  told  her  to  go 
into  the  bush  and  hide,  for  we  could  not  help 
her.  We  ran  into  a  ravine  and  hid  in  the  grass. 
After  the  Indians  had  hunted  some  time  for  us, 
they  came  along  the  side  of  the  ravine,  and  called 
to  us  in  good  English,  saying,  'Come  out,  boys; 
what  are  you  afraid  of?  We  don't  want  to  hurt 
you.'  After  they  left  us  we  crawled  out  and  made 
our  way  to  the  fort,  where  we  arrived  at  about  4 
o'clock  P.  M.  My  family  had  gone  there  before 
me.  Mrs.  Sampson  did  not  go  to  the  bush,  but 
hid  in  the  wagon  from  which  they  had_  recently 
come  from  Waseca  county.  It  was  what  we  call  a 
prairie  schooner,  covered  with  cloth,  a  genuine 
emigrant  wagon.  They  took  her  babe  from  her, 
and  throwing  it  down  upon  the  grass,  put  hay  im- 
der  the  wagon,  set  fire  to  it  and  went  away.  Mrs. 
Sampson  got  out  of  the  wagon,  badly  burned,  and 
taking  her  infant  from  the  ground  made  he,  w  y 
to  the  fort.  Two  of  her  children  were  burned  to 
death  in  the  wagon.  Mr.  Sampson  had  been  pre- 
viously killed  about  eighty  rods  from  the  house. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  La  Croix  creek,  or  Birch 

CooUe,  Peter   Pereau,  Frederick   Closen,  

Piguar,  Andrew  Bahlke,  Henry  Keartner,  old  Mr. 
Closen  and  Mrs.  WiUiam  Vitt,  and  several  others 
were  killed.  Mrs.  Maria  Frorip,  an  aged  Ger-v 
man  woman,  was  wounded  fom-  different  times 
with  small  shot,  but  escaped  to  the  fort.  The  wife 
of  Henry  Keartner  also  escajied  and  reached  the 
fort.  The  wife  and  child  of  a  Mr.  Cardenelle 
were  taken  prisoners,  as  were  also  the  wife  and 
child  of  Frederick  Closen. 

William  Vitt  came  into  Fort  Kidgely,  but  not 


until  he  had,  with  his  own  hands,  buried  his  mur- 
dered wife  and  also  a  Mr.  Piguar. 

A  flourishing  German  settlement  had  sprung  up 
near  Patterson's  Eapids,  on  the  Sacred  Heart, 
twelve  miles  below  YeUow  Medicine. 

Word  came  to  this  neighborhood  about  sun- 
down of  the  18th,  that  the  Indians  were  murder- 
ing the  whites.  This  news  was  brought  to  them 
by  two  men  who  had  started  from  the  Lower 
Agency,  and  had  seen  the  lifeless  and  mutilated 
remains  of  the  murdered  victims  lying  upon  the 
road  and  in  their  plundered  dwellings  towards 
Beaver  Creek.  The  whole  neighborhood,  with  the 
exception  of  one  family,  that  of  Mr.  Schwandt, 
soon  assembled  at  the  house  of  Paul  Kitzman,  with 
their  oxen  and  wagons,  and  prejjared  to  start  for 
Fort  Eidgely. 

A  messenger  was  sent  to  the  house  of  Schwandt 
but  the  Indian  rifle  and  the  tomahawk  had  done 
their  fearful  work.  Of  all  that  family  but  two 
sui-vived;  one  a  boy,  a  witness  of  the  awful  scene 
of  butchery,  and  he  then  on  his  way,  covered  with 
blood,  towards  Fort  Kidgely.  The  other,  a  young 
girl  of  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  then  residing 
at  Redwood,  who  was  captured  as  previously 
stated. 

This  boy  saw  his  sister,  a  young  married  wo- 
man, ripped  open,  while  ahve,  and  her  unborn 
babe  taken,  yet  struggling,  from  her  person  and 
nailed  to  a  tree  before  the  eyes  of  the  dying 
mother. 

This  party  started  in  the  evening  to  make  their 
escape,  going  so  as  to  avoid  the  settlements  and 
the  traveled  roads,  striking  across  the  country  to- 
ward the  head  of  Beaver  creek. 

They  traveled  this  way  all  night,  and  in  the 
morning  changed  their  course  towards  Fort  Eidge- 
ly. They  continued  in  this  direction  until  the 
sun  was  some  two  hours  high,  when  they  were  met 
by  eight  Sioux  Indians,  who  told  them  that  the 
murders  were  committed  by  Chippewas,  and  that 
they  had  come  over  to  protect  them  and  punish 
the  murderers;  and  thus  induced  them  to  turn 
back  toward  their  homes.  One  of  the  savages 
spoke  Enghsh  well.  He  was  acquainted  with  some 
of  the  company,  having  often  hunted  with  Paul 
Kitzman.  He  kissed  Kitzman,  telling  him  he  was 
a  good  man;  and  they  shook  hands  with  all  of  the 
party.  The  simple  hearted  Germans  believed 
them,  gave  them  food,  distributed  money  among 
them,  and,  gratefully  receiving  their  assurances  of 
friendship  and  j)rot€Ction,  turned  back. 


201 


uisronr  of  tub  sioux  massacre. 


They  traveled  on  toward  their  deserted  homes 
till  noon,  when  they  again  halted,  and  gave  their 
pretended  protectors  food.  The  Indians  went 
away  by  themselves  to  eat.  The  suspicions  of  the 
fugitives  were  now  somewhat  aroused,  but  they 
felt  that  they  were,  to  a  great  extent,  in  the  power 
of  the  wretches.  They  soon  came  back,  and  or- 
dered them  to  go  on,  taking  their  position  on  each 
side  of  the  train.  Soon  after  t)i  ey  went  on  and 
disappeared.  The  train  kept  on  toward  home; 
and  when  within  a  few  rods  of  u  house,  where  they 
thought  they  could  defend  themselves,  as  they  had 
guns  with  them,  they  were  suddenly  surrounded 
by  fourteen  Indians,  who  instf  ntly  fired  upon  them, 
killing  eight  (all  but  three  of  the  men)  at  the  first 
discharge.  At  the  next  fire  tJiey  killed  two  of  the 
remaining  men  and  six  of  the  women,  leaving  only 
one  man,  Frederick  Kreiger,  alive.  His  wife  was 
also,  as  yet,  unliurt.  They  soon  dispatched  Kreiger, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  began  boating  out  the  brains 
of  the  screaming  children  \\ith  the  butts  of  their 
guns.  Mrs.  Kreiger  was  standing  in  the  wagon, 
and,  when  her  husband  fell,  attempted  to  spring 
from  it  to  the  grouisd,  but  was  shot  from  behind, 
and  fell  back  in  the  wagon-box,  although  not  dead, 
or  tntirely  unconscious.  She  was  roughly  seized 
and  dragged  to  the  ground,  and  the  teams  were 
driven  off.  She  now  became  insensible.  A  few  of 
the  children,  during  this  awful  scene,  escaped  to 
the  timber  near  by ;  and  a  few  also,  maimed  and 
mangled  by  these  horrible  monsters,  and  left  for 
dead,  survived,  and,  after  enduring  incredible 
hardships,  got  to  Fort  Ridgely.  Mrs.  Zable,  and 
five  children,  were  horribly  mangled,  and  almost 
naked,  entered  the  fort  eleven  days  afterward- 
Mrs.  Kreiger  also  survived  her  unheard-of  suffer- 
ings. 

Some  forty  odd  bodies  were  afterward  found  and 
buried  on  that  fatal  field  of  slaughter.  Thus  per- 
ished, by  the  hands  of  these  terrible  scourges  of 
the  border,  almost  an  entire  neighborhood.  Quiet, 
sober,  and  industrious,  they  had  come  hither  from 
the  vine-clad  hills  of  their  fatherland,  by  the  green 
shores  and  gliding  waters  of  the  enchanting 
Rhine,  and  had  built  for  themselves  homes,  where 
they  had  fondly  hoped,  in  peace  and  quiet,  to 
spend  yet  long  years,  under  the  fair,  bluo  sky,  and 
in  the  sunny  clirae  of  Miimosota,  when  suddenly, 
and  in  one  short  hour,  by  the  hand  of  the  savage, 
they  were  doomed  to  one  common  annihilation. 

During  all  the  fatal  18th  of  August,  the  people 
at  the  Upper  Agency  pursued  their  usual   avoca- 


tions. As  night  approached,  however,  an  unusual 
gathering  of  Indians  was  observed  on  the  hill  just 
wejit  of  the  Agency,  and  between  it  and  the  house 
of  John  Other  Day.  Judge  Givens  and  Charles 
Crawford,  then  acting  as  interpreters  in  the  ab- 
sence of  Freniere,  went  out  to  them,  and  sought 
to  learn  why  they  were  there  in  coimcil,  but  coidd 
get  no  satisfactory  reply.  Soon  after  this.  Other 
Day  came  to  them  witli  the  news  of  the  outbreak 
below,  as  did  also  Joseph  Laframbois,  a  half- 
breed  Sious.  The  families  there  were  soon  all 
gathered  together  in  the  warehouse  and  dwelling 
of  the  agent,  who  resided  in  the  same  building, 
and  with  the  guns  they  had,  prepared  themselves 
as  best  they  could,  and  awaited  the  attack,  deter- 
mined to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible. 
There  were  gathered  here  sixty-two  persons,  men, 
women,  and  children. 

Other  Day,  and  several  other  Indians,  who  came 
to  them,  told  them  they  would  stand  by  them  to 
the  last.  These  men  visited  the  council  outside, 
several  times  during  the  night;  but  when  they 
were  most  needed,  one  only,  the  noble  and  heroic 
Other  Day,  remained  faithful.  AH  the  others  dis- 
appeared, one  after  another,  during  the  night. 
About  one  or  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Stewart 
B.  Garvie,  connected  with  the  traders'  store,  known 
as  Myrick's,  came  to  the  warehouse,  and  was  ad- 
mitted, badly  wounded,  a  charge  of  buckshot  hav- 
ing entered  his  bowels.  Garvie  was  standing  in 
the  door  or  his  store  when  he  was  fired  upon  and 
wounded.  He  ran  up  stairs,  and  jumping  from 
the  window  into  the  garden,  crawled  away,  and 
reached  the  Agency  without  further  molestation. 
At  about  this  time  Joseph  Laframbois  went  to  the 
store  of  Daily  &  Pratt,  and  awakened  the  two  men 
in  charge  there,  Duncan  R.  Kennedy  and  J,  D. 
Boardman,  and  told  them  to  flee  for  their  lives. 
They  hastily  dressed  and  left  the  store,  but  had 
not  gone  ten  rods  when  they  saw  in  the  path  be- 
fore them  three  Indians.  They  stepped  down 
from  the  jiath,  which  ran  along  the  edge  of  a  rise 
in  the  ground  of  some  feet,  and  crouching  in  the 
grass,  the  Indians  passed  within  eight  feet  of 
them.  Kennedy  went  on  toward  Fort  Ridgely, 
determined  to  reach  that  post  if  possible,  and 
Boardman  went  to  the  warehouse.  At  the  store  of 
William  H.  Forbes,  Constans,  book-keeper,  a  na- 
tive of  France,  was  killed.  At  the  store  of  Pa- 
toile,  Peter  Patoile,  clerk,  and  a  nephew  of  the 
proprietor,  was  shot  just  outside  the  store,  the  ball 
entering  at  the  back  and  coming  ont  near  the  nip- 


WHITES   RESCUED  Br  OTUER  DAT. 


205 


pie,  passing  througli  bis  lungs.  An  Indian  came 
to  him  after  be  fell,  turned  bim  over,  and  saying, 
"He  is  dead,"  left  bim. 

Tbey  then  turned  their  attention  to  the  stores. 
The  clerlis  in  the  store  of  Louis  Koliert  had  effect- 
ed their  escape,  so  that  there  were  now  no  white 
men  left,  and  when  they  had  become  absorbed  in 
the  work  of  plunder,  Patoile  crawled  off  into  the 
bushes  on  the  banks  of  the  Yellow  Medicine,  and 
secreted  himself.  Here  he  remained  all  day. 
After  dark  he  got  up  and  started  for  a  place  of 
safety;  ascending  the  bluflf,  outof  the  YeUow Med- 
icine bottom,  he  dragged  himself  a  mile  and  a 
haK  further,  to  the  Minnesota,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Yellow  Medicine.  Wading  the  Minnesota,  be 
entered  the  house  of  Louis  Labelle,  on  the  oppo- 
site side,  at  the  ford.  It  was  deserted.  Finding  a 
bed  in  the  house  he  lay  down  upon  it  and  was  soon 
fast  asleejj,  and  did  not  awake  until  morning. 
Joseph  Laframbois  and  Narces  Freniere,  and  an 
Indian,  Makacago,  entered  the  house,  and  finding 
him  there,  awoke  him,  telUng  bim  there  were  hos- 
tile Indians  about;  that  he  must  bide.  They  gave 
him  a  blanket  to  disguise  himself,  and  going  with 
him  to  the  ravine,  concealed  bim  in  the  grass  and 
left  him,  promising  to  return,  as  soon  as  it  was 
safe  to  do  so,  to  bring  him  food,  and  guide  him 
away  to  the  prairie.  He  lay  in  this  ravine  until 
toward  night,  when  his  friends,  true  to  their 
promise,  returned,  bringing  some  crackers,  tripe, 
and  onions.  They  went  with  him  some  distance 
out  on  the  prairie,  and  enjoined  upon  him  not  to 
attempt  to  go  to  Fort  Ridgely,  and  giving  him  the 
best  directions  they  could  as  to  the  course  he 
should  take,  shook  hands  with  him  and  left  him. 
Their  names  should  be  inscribed  upon  tablets  more 
enduring  than  brass.  That  night  he  slept  on  the 
prairie,  and  the  nest  day  resumed  his  wanderings, 
over  an  unknown  region,  without  an  inhabitant. 
After  wandering  for  days  without  food  or  drink, 
bis  little  stock  of  crackers  and  tripe  being  exhaust- 
ed, he  came  to  a  deserted  bouse,  which  he  did  not 
know.  Here  he  remained  all  night,  and  obtained 
two  raw  potatoes  and  three  ears  of  green  corn. 
These  he  ate  raw.  It  was  all  the  food  he  had  for 
eight  days.  Wandering,  and  unknowing  whither 
to  go,  on  the  twelfth  day  out  from  Labelle's  house, 
he  heard  the  barking  of  dogs,  and  creeping  nearer 
to  them,  still  fearing  there  might  be  Indians  about, 
he  was  overjoyed  at  seeing  white  men.  Soon 
making  himself  and  his  condition  known,  he  was 
h'keu  and  kindly  cared  for  by  these  men,  who  had 


some  days  before  deserted  their  farms,  and  had 
now  returned  to  look  after  their  crops  and  cattle. 
He  now  learned  for  the  first  time  where  he  was. 
He  bad  struck  a  settlement  far  up  the  Sauk  Val- 
ley, some  forty  miles  above  St.  Cloud.  He  must 
have  wandered,  in  these  twelve  days  of  sufifering, 
not  less  than  two  hundred  miles,  including  devia- 
tions from  a  direct  course. 

He  was  taken  by  these  men,  in  a  wagon,  to  St. 
Cloud,  where  his  wound  was  dressed  for  the  first 
time.  From  St.  Cloud  the  stage  took  bim  to  St. 
Anthony,  where  he  took  the  cars  to  St.  Paul.  A 
case  of  equal  suffering  and  equal  endurance  is 
scarcely  to  be  found  on  record.  With  a  bullet 
wound  through  the  lungs,  he  walked  twelve  days, 
not  over  a  smooth  and  easy  road,  but  across  a 
trackless  prairie,  covered  with  rank  grass,  wading 
sleighs  and  streams  on  his  way,  almost  without 
food,  and  for  days  without  water,  before  he  saw  the 
face  of  a  man;  and  traveled  by  wagon,  stage, 
and  cars,  over  one  hundred  miles. 

His  recovery  was  rapid,  and  he  soon  enlisted  in 
the  First  Regiment  Minnesota  Mounted  Rangers 
under  General  Sibley,  in  the  expedition  against 
the  Siovix.  Patoile  was  in  the  battles  on  the  Mis- 
souri in  the  summer  of  1863,  where  his  company, 
that  of  Captain  Joseph  Anderson,  is  mentioned  as 
having  fought  with  great  bravery. 

We  now  return  to  the  warehouse  at  Yellow  Med- 
icine, which  we  left  to  follow  the  strange  fortunes 
of  young  Patoile.  Matters  began  to  wear  a  seri- 
ous aspect,  when  Garvie  came  to  them  mortally 
wounded.  Other  Day  was  constantly  on  the  watch 
outside,  and  reported  the  progress  of  aifairs  to 
those  within.  Toward  daylight  every  friendly 
Indian  had  deserted  save  Other  Day;  the  yells  of 
the  savages  came  distinctly  to  their  ears  from  the 
trading-post,  half  a  mile  distant.  They  were  ab- 
sorbed in  the  work  of  plunder.  The  chances  of 
escape  were  sadly  against  them,  yet  they  decided 
to  make  the  attempt.  Other  Day  knew  every  foot 
of  the  country  over  which  they  must  pass,  and 
would  be  their  guide. 

The  wagons  were  driven  to  the  door.  A  bed 
was  placed  in  one  of  them;  Garvie  was  laid  upon 
it.  The  women  and  children  provided  a  few  loaves 
of  bread,  and  just  as  day  dawned,  the  cortege 
started  on  its  perilous  way.  This  party  consisted 
of  the  family  of  Major  Galbraith,  wife  and  three 
children;  Nelson  Givens,  wife,  and  wife's  mother, 
and  three  children ;  Noah  Sinks,  wife,  and  two  chil- 
dren; Henry  EscheUe,  wife,  and  five  children;  John 


206 


HISTORY  OP  TUB  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


Fadden,  wife,  and  three  cliildren;  Mr.  German  and 
wife;  Frederick  Patoile,  wife,  and  two  children; 
Mrs.  Jane  K.  Murch,  Miss  IMaiy  Charles,  Miss 
Lizzie  Sawyer,  Miss  Mary  Daly,  Miss  Mary  Hays, 
Mrs.  Eleanor  Warner,  Mrs.  John  Other  Day  and 
one  child,  Mrs.  Haurahan,  N.  A.  Miller,  Edward 
Cramsie,  'Zi.  Hawkins,  Oscar  Canfil,  Mr.  Hill,  an 
artist  from  St.  Paul,  J.  D.  Boardman,  Parker 
Pierce,  Dr.  J.  L.  Wakefield,  and  several  others. 

They  crossed  the  Minnesota  at  Labelle's  farm, 
and  soon  turned  into  the  timber  on  the  Hawk 
river,  crossed  that  stream  at  some  distance  above 
its  mouth,  and  ascended  from  the  narrow  valley 
through  which  it  runs  to  the  open  prairie  beyond, 
and  followed  down  the  Minnesota,  keeping  back 
on  the  prairie  as  far  as  the  farm  of  Major  J.  K. 
Bro^^■n,  eight  miles  below  the  Yellow  Medicine. 
Mr.  Fadden  and  Other  Day  visited  the  house  and 
found  it  deserted.  A  consultation  th'en  took  place, 
for  the  purpose  of  deciding  where  they  should  go. 
Some  of  them  wished  to  go  to  Fort  Kidgely;  oth- 
ers to  some  town  away  from  the  frontier.  Other 
Day  told  them  that  if  they  attempted  to  go  to  the 
fort  they  would  all  be  killed,  as  the  Indians  would 
either  be  lying  in  ambush  on  that  road  for  them, 
or  would  follow  them,  believing  they  would  at- 
tempt to  go  there.  His  counsel  prevailed,  and 
they  turned  to  the  left,  across  the  prairie,  in  the 
direction  of  Kandiyohi  Lakes  and  Glencoe.  At 
night  one  of  the  pnrty  mounted  a  horse  and  rode 
forward,  and  found  a  house  about  a  mile  ahead. 
They  hastened  forward  and  reached  it  in  time  to 
escape  a  furious  storm.  They  were  kindly  re- 
ceived by  the  only  person  about  the  premises,  a 
man,  whose  family  were  away.  The  next  morn- 
ing, soon  after  crossing  Hawk  river,  they  were 
joined  by  Louis  Labelle  and  Gertong,  his  son-in- 
law,  who  remained  with  them  all  that  day. 

On  Wednesday  morning  they  left  the  house  of 
the  friendly  settler,  and  that  night  reached  Cedar 
City,  eleven  miles  from  Hutchinson,  in  the  county 
of  McLeod.  The  inhabitants  had  deserted  the 
town,  and  gone  to  an  island,  in  Cedar  Lake,  and 
had  erected  a  rude  shelter.  From  the  main  land 
the  island  was  reached  through  shallow  water. 
Through  this  water  our  escaping  party  drove, 
guided  by  one  of  the  citizens  of  Cedar  City,  and 
were  cordially  welcomed  by  the  people  assembled 
there. 

That  night  it  rained,  and  all  were  drenched  to 
the  skin.  Poor  Garvie  was  laid  under  a  rude 
shed,  upon  his  bed,  and  all  was  done  for  him  that 


man  could  do;  but,  in  the  morning,  it  was  evident 
that  he  could  go  no  further,  and  he  was  taken  to 
the  house  of  a  Mr.  Peek,  and  left.  He  died  there, 
a  day  or  two  afterward.  Some  of  the  company, 
who  were  so  worn  out  as  to  be  unable  to  go  on  be- 
yond Hutchinson,  returned  to  Cedar  City  and  saw 
that  he  was  decently  interred. 

On  Thursday  they  went  on,  by  way  of  Hutchin- 
son and  Glencoe,  to  Carver,  and  thence  to  Shako- 
pee  and  St.  Paul.  Major  Galbraith,  in  a  report  to 
the  department,  says  of  this  escape: 

"Led  by  the  Noble  Other  Day,  they  struck  out 
on  the  naked  prairie,  literally  placing  their  lives 
in  this  faithful  creature's  hands,  and  guided  by 
him,  and  him  alone.  After  intense  suffering  and 
jirivation,  they  reached  Shakopee,  on  Friday,  the 
22d  of  August,  Other  Day  never  leaving  them  for 
an  instant;  and  thia  Other  Day  is  a  pure,  full- 
blooded  Indian,  and  was,  not  long  since,  one  of  the 
wildest  and  fiercest  of  his  race.  Poor,  nolile  fel- 
low! must  he,  too,  be  ostracized  for  the  sins  of  his 
nation  ?  i  commend  him  to  the  care  of  a  just  God 
and  a  Uberal  government ;  and  not  only  him,  but 
all  others  who  did  Ukewise." 

[Government  gave  John  Other  Day  a  farm  in 
Minnesota.  He  died  several  years  since  univer- 
sally esteemed  by  the  white  people.] 

After  a  knowledge  of  the  designs  of  the  Indians 
reached  the  people  at  the  Agency,  it  was  impossi- 
ble for  them  to  more  than  merely  communicate 
with  the  two  families  at  the  saw-miU,  three  miles 
above,  and  with  the  families  at  the  Mission.  They 
were,  therefore,  reluctantly  left  to  their  fate. 
Early  in  the  evening  of  Monday,  two  civilized  In- 
dians, Chaskada  and  Tankanxaceye,  went  to  the 
house  of  Dr.  Williamson,  and  warned  them  of  their 
danger,  informing  them  of  what  had  occurred  be- 
low; and  two  halt-breeds,  Michael  and  Gabriel 
Renville,  and  two  Christian  Indians,  Paul  Maxa- 
kuta  Mani  and  Simon  Anaga  Mani,  went  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Kiggs,  the  missionary,  at  Hazel- 
wood,  and  gave  them  warning  of  the  danger  im- 
pending over  them. 

There  were  at  this  place,  at  that  time,  the  family 
of  the  Eev.  Stephen  R.  Eiggs,  Mr.  H.  D.  Cun- 
ningham and  family,  Mr.  D.  W.  Moore  and  his 
wife  (who  reside  in  New  Jersey),  and  Jonas  Petti- 
john  and  family.  Mr.  Pettijohn  and  wife  were 
in  charge  of  the  Government  school  at  Red  Iron's 
village,  and  were  now  at  Mr.  Eiggs'.  They  got 
up  a  team,  and  these  friendly  Indians  went  with 
them  to  an  Island  in  the  Minnesota,  about  tliree 


ESCAPE   OF  REV.  S.  li.  RIGGS   AJfD   OTHERS. 


207 


miles  from  the  Mission.  Here  they  remained  till 
Tuesday  evening.  In  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday, 
Andrew  Hunter,  a  son-in-law  of  Dr.  Williamsou, 
came  to  him  with  the  information  that  the  family 
of  himself  and  the  Doctor  were  secreted  below. 
The  families  at  the  saw-mill  had  been  informed  by 
the  Eenvilles,  and  were  with  the  party  of  Dr.  Wil- 
liamson. At  night  they  formed  a  junction  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Minnesota,  and  commenced  their 
perilous  journey.  A  thunder-storm  effectually  ob- 
Uterated  their  tracks,  so  that  the  savages  could  not 
follow  them.  They  started  out  on  the  prairie  in  a 
northeasterly  direction,  and,  on  Wednesday  morn- 
ing, changed  their  course  south-easterly,  till  they 
struck  the  Lac  qui  Parle  road,  and  then  made  di- 
rectly for  Fort  Eidgely.  On  Wednesday  they 
were  joined  by  three  Germans,  who  had  escaped 
from  YeUow  Medicine.  On  Wednesday  night  tliey 
found  themselves  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Upper 
Agency,  and  turned  to  the  north  again,  keeping 
out  on  the  prairie.  On  Friday  they  were  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Beaver  Creek,  when  Dr.  Wil- 
liamson, who,  with  his  wife  and  sister,  had  re- 
mained behind,  overtook  them  in  an  ox-cart,  hav- 
ing left  about  twenty -four  hours  later.  They  now 
determined  to  go  to  Fort  Bidgelj.  When  within 
a  few  miles  of  that  post,  just  at  night,  they  were 
discovered  by  two  Indians  on  horseback,  who  rode 
along  parallel  with  the  train  for  awhile,  and  then 
turned  and  galloped  away,  and  the  fugitives  has- 
tened on,  momentarily  expecting  an  attack.  Near 
the  Three-Mile  creek  they  passed  a  dead  body 
lying  by  the  road-side.  They  drove  on,  passing 
the  creek,  and,  turning  to  the  left,  passed  out  on 
to  the  prairie,  and  halted  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
the  fort.  It  was  now  late  at  night;  they  had 
heard  firing,  and  had  seen  Indians  in  the  vicinity. 
They  were  in  doubt  what  to  do.  It  was  at  length 
decided  that  Andrew  Hunter  should  endeavor  to 
enter  the  fort  and  ascertain  its  condition,  and 
learn,  if  possible,  whether  they  could  get  in. 
Hunter  went,  and,  although  it  was  well-nigh  sur- 
rounded by  savages  (they  had  been  besieging  it 
all  the  afternoon),  succeeded  in  crawling  by  on  his 
hands  and  knees.  He  was  told  that  it  would  be 
impossible  for  so  large  a  party,  forty-odd,  to  get 
through  the  Indian  lines,  and  that  he  had  better 
return  and  tell  them  to  push  on  toward  the  to\vns 
below.  He  left  as  he  had  entered,  crawling  out 
into  the  prairie,  and  reached  his  friends  in  safety. 
It  seemed  very  hard,  to  be  so  near  a  place  of  fan- 
cied security,  and  obliged  to  turn  away  from  it, 


and,  weary  and  hungry,  press  on.  Perils  beset 
their  path  on  every  hand;  dangers,  seen  and  un- 
seen, were  around  them ;  but  commending  them- 
selves to  the  care  of  Him  who  "suffereth  not  a 
sparrow  to  fall  to  the  ground  without  His  notice," 
they  resumed  their  weary  march.  They  knew 
that  all  around  them  the  work  of  death  and  deso- 
lation was  going  on,  for  the  midnight  sky,  on 
every  side,  was  red  with  the  lurid  flame  of  burn- 
ing habitations.  They  heard  fiom  out  the  gloom 
the  tramp  of  horses'  feet,  hurrying  past  them  in 
the  darkness;  but  they  still  pressed  on.  Soon 
their  wearied  animals  gave  out,  and  again  they 
encamped  for  the  night.  With  the  early  dawn 
they  were  upon  the  move,  some  eight  miles  from 
the  fort,  in  the  direction  of  Henderson.  Here, 
four  men,  the  three  Germans  who  had  joined  them 
on  AVeJuesday,  and  a  young  man  named  Gilligan, 
left  them,  and  went  off  in  the  direction  of  New 
Ulm.  The  bodies  of  these  unfortunate  men  were 
afterward  found,  scarcely  a  mile  from  the  place 
where  they  had  left  the  guidance  of  Other  Day. 

They  traveled  on  in  the  direction  of  Henderson, 
slowly  and  painfully,  for  their  teams,  as  well  as 
themselves,  were  nearly  exhausted.  That  day  the 
savages  were  beleaguering  New  Ulm,  and  the 
sounds  of  the  conflict  were  borne  faintly  to  their 
ears  upon  the  breeze.  They  had  flour  with  them, 
but  no  means  of  cooking  it,  and  were,  consequently, 
much  of  the  time  without  proper  food.  On  the 
afternoon  of  this  day  they  came  to  a  deserted 
house,  on  the  road  from  Fort  Ridgley  to  Hender- 
son, the  house  of  Michael  Cummings,  where  they 
found  a  stove,  cooking  utensils,  and  a  jar  of  cream. 
Obtaining  some  ears  of  corn  from  the  field  or  gar- 
den near  by,  and  "  confiscating"  the  cream,  they 
prepared  themselves  the  first  good  meal  they  had 
had  since  leaving  their  homes  so  hastily  on  Mon- 
day night. 

After  refreshing  themselves  and  their  worn  ani- 
mals at  tliis  place  for  some  hours,  their  journey 
was  again  resumed.  That  night  they  slept  in  a 
forsaken  house  on  the  prairie,  and,  on  Sabbath 
morning  early,  were  again  on  their  way.  As  they 
proceeded,  they  met  some  of  the  settlers  returning 
to  their  deserted  farms,  and  calh'ng  a  halt  at  a  de- 
serted house,  where  they  found  a  large  company  of 
jjeople,  they  concluded  to  remain  until  Monday, 
and  recuperate  themselves  and  teams,  as  well  as  to 
observe  in  a  proper  manner  the  holy  Sabbath.  On 
Monday  morning  they  separated,  part  going  to 
Henderson  and  part  to  St.  Peter,  all  feeling  thai 


208 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SIOUX  SI  ASS  AG  RE. 


the  All-seeing  Eye  that  never  slumbers  or  sleeps 
had  watched  over  them,  and  that  the  loving  hand 
of  God  had  guided  them  siifely  through  the  dan- 
gers, seen  and  unseen,  that  had  beset  their  path. 

In  the  region  of  the  State  above  the  Upper 
Agency  there  were  but  few  white  inhabitants.  Of 
all  those  residing  on  the  Cliippewa  river,  near  its 
mouth,  we  can  hear  of  but  one  who  escaped,  and 
he  was  wounded,  while  his  comrade,  who  lived  with 
him  was  killed.  This  man  joined  the  party  of  the 
missionaries,  and  got  away  with  them. 

On  the  Yellow  Medicine,  above  the  Agency  about 
twelve  mUes,  was  a  settler  named  James  W. 
Lindsay.  He  was  unmarried,  and  another  single 
man  was  "baching  it"  with  liim.  They  were  both 
killed.  Their  nearest  white  neighbors  were  at 
the  Agency,  and  they  could  not  be  warned  of  their 
danger,  and  knew  nothing  of  it  until  the  savages 
were  upon  them. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

LEOPOLD     WOHIiER     AND      WIPE^LEAVENWORTH 

STATEMENT    OF    MRS.  MAKY  3.  COVIl,Ij STOKY    OF 

MRS.  LAURA  WHTTON MILFORD — NICOLLET  COUN- 
TY  WEST     NEWTON LAFAYETTE — OOUETLAUD 

SWAN    LAKE PARTIAL   LIST    OF    THE    KILLED  IN 

NICOLLET  COUNTY INDIANS  SCOURING  THE  COUN- 
TRY— A  SCOUTING  PARTY  SEEN  AT  ST.  PETER. 

The  news  of  the  murders  below  reached  Leo- 
pold Wohler  at  the  "lime-kUn,"  three  miles  be- 
low Yellow  Medicine,  on  Monday  afternoon. 
Taking  his  wife,  he  crossed  the  Minnesota  river, 
and  went  to  the  house  of  Major  Joseph  E.  Brown. 

Major  Brown's  family  consisted  of  his  wife  and 
nine  children;  Angus  Brown  and  wife,  and  Charles 
Blair,  a  son-in-law,  his  wife,  and  two  children. 
The  Major  himself  was  away  from  home.  Includ- 
ing Wohler  and  his  wife,  there  were  then  at  their 
house,  on  the  evening  of  the  18th  of  August, 
eighteen  persons. 

They  started,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  19th, 
to  make  their  escape,  with  one  or  two  others  of 
their  neighbors,  Charles  Holmes,  a  single  man,  re- 
siding on  the  claim  above  them,  being  of  the  party. 
They  were  overtaken  near  Beaver  Creek  by  Indi- 
ans, and  all  of  the  Browns,  Mr.  Blair  and  family, 
and  Mrs.  Wohler,  were  captured,  and  taken  at 
once  to  Little  Crow's  village.  Messrs.  Wohler  and 
Holmes  escaped.  Major  Brown's  family  were  of 
mixed  Indian  blood.    This  fact,  probably,  accounts 


for  their  saving  the  lite  of  Blair,  who  was  a 
white  man. 

Crow  told  him  to  go  away,  as  his  young  men 
were  going  to  kill  him ;  and  he  made  his  escape  to 
Fort  Kidgely,  being  out  some  five  days  and  nights 
without  food.  Mr.  Blair  was  in  poor  health.  The 
hardships  he  endured  were  too  much  for  his  al- 
ready shattered  constitution;  and  although  he  es- 
caped the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife,  he  was 
soon  numbered  among  the  victims  of  the  massacre. 

J.  H.  Ingalls,  a  Scotchman,  who  resided  in  this 
neighborhood,  and  his  wife,  were  killed,  and  their 
four  children  were  taken  into  captivity.  Two  of 
them,  young  girls,  aged  twelve  and  fourteen  years, 
were  rescued  at  Camp  Release,  and  the  two  httle 
boys  were  taken  away  by  Little  Crow.  Poor  httle 
fellows!  their  fate  is  still  shrouded  in  mystery. 
A  Mr.  Frace,  residing  near  Brown's  place,  was  also 
killed.  His  wife  and  two  children  were  foimd  at 
Camp  Release. 

The  town  of  Leavenworth  was  situated  on  the 
Cottonwood,  in  the  county  of  Brown.  Word  was 
brought  to  some  of  the  settlers  in  that  town,  on 
Monday  afternoon,  that  the  Indians  had  broken 
out  and  were  killing  the  inhabitants  on  the  Min- 
nesota. They  immediately  began  to  make  prepa- 
rations to  leave.  Mr.  Wilham  Carroll  started  at 
once  for  New  Ulm  alone,  to  learn  the  facts  of  the 
rumored  outbreak.  The  most  of  the  inhal)itants, 
alarmed  by  these  rumors,  fled  that  night  toward 
New  Ulm.  Some  of  them  reached  that  town  in 
safety,  and  others  were  waylaid  and  massa:Ted 
upon  the  road. 

The  family  of  a  Mr.  Blum,  a  worthy  German 
citizen,  were  all,  except  a  small  boy,  killed  while 
endeavoring  to  escape.  On  Tuesday  morning, 
Mr.  Philetus  Jackson  was  killed,  while  on  the  way 
to  town  with  his  wife  and  son.  Mrs.  Jackson  and 
the  young  man  escaped. 

We  insert  here  the  statements  of  two  ladies,  who 
escaped  from  this  neighborhood,  as  they  detail 
very  fully  the  events  of  several  days  in  that  local- 
ity. Mrs.  Mary  J.  Covill,  wife  of  George  W. 
OoviU,  says: 

"On  Monday,  the  18th  of  August,  messengers 
came  to  the  house  of  Luther  Whiton,  from  both 
above  and  below,  with  a  rejjort  of  an  outbreak  of 
the  Indians.  My  husband  was  at  Mr.  Wliiton's, 
stacking  grain.  He  came  home  about  four  o'clock 
P.  M.,  and  t;)ld  me  about  it,  and  then  went  back 
to  Whiton" s,  about  half  a  mile  away,  to  get  a  Mr. 
Biaut,  who  had  recently  come  there  from  the  State 


STATEMENT  OP  MRS.  COVILL. 


209 


of  Maine,  to  take  his  team  aud  esnap^.  I  packed 
a  triiuk  with  clothing,  and  hid  it  in  the  grass,  and 
then  went  myself  to  Whitou's,  as  I  was  afraid  to 
remain  at  home.  Mr.  Kiant  got  up  his  team, 
and  taking  bis  two  trunks — one  of  them 
containing  over  two  thousand  dollars  in  gold 
— took  us  all  with  him.  There  was  a  family  at 
Mr.  Whiton's  from  Tennessee,  and  a  young  child 
of  theirs  had  died  that  day.  The  poor  woman 
took  her  dead,  child  in  her  arms,  and  we  all  started 
across  the  prairie,  avoiding  the  road,  for  Mankato. 
We  camped  that  night  about  three  miles  from 
home,  on  the  prairie;  and  seeing  no  fires,  as  of 
burning  buildings,  returned  to  the  house  of  our 
neighbor,  Van  Guilder,  and  found  that  tlie  settlers 
had  nearly  all  left.  Mr.  Van  Guilder  and  family, 
Edward  Allen  and  wife,  Charles  Smith  and  family 
and  Mrs.  Carroll,  were  all  we  knew  of  that  re- 
mained. 

"  We  started  on,  thinking  that  we  would  over- 
take the  Leavenworth  party,  who  had  J;)een  gone 
about  an  hour.     We  had  gone  about  two  and  a 
half  miles,  when  we  saw,  ahead  of  us,  a  team,  with 
two  men  in  the  wagon,  who  drove  toward  us  until 
they  got  into  a  hollow,  and  then  got  out  and  went 
behind  a  knoU.     We  drove  quite  near  them,  when 
Mr.  Covin  discovered -them  to  be  Indians.     Kiant 
turned  his  horses  round  and  fled,  when  they  jumped 
up  out  of  the  grass,  whooped,   and  fired  at  us. 
They  then  jumped  into  their  wagon  and  followed. 
Mr.   Covin  had  the  only  gun  in  the  party  that 
could  be  used,  and  kept  it  pjinted  at  the  Indians 
as  we  retreated.    They  fired  at  us  some  half-dozen 
times,  but,  fortunately,  without  injuring  any  one. 
"  We  drove  hastily  back  to  the  house  of  Van 
Guilder,  and  entered  it  as  quickly  as  possible,  the 
savages  firing  upon  us  all   the  time.     Mr.   Van 
Guilder  had  just  started  away,  with  bis  family,  as 
we  came  back,  and  returned  to  the  house  with  us. 
A  shot  from  the  Indians  broke  the  arm  of  his  mo- 
ther, an  aged  lady,  soon  after  we  got  into  the 
house,  as  she  was  passing  a  window.    In  our  haste, 
we  had  not  stopped  to  hitch  the  horses,  and  they 
soon  started  off,   aud  the  Indians  followed.     As 
they  were  going  over  a  hill  near  the  house,  they 
shook  a  white  cloth  at  us,  and,  whooping,  disap- 
peared.    There  were  in  this  comj^any — after  Riant 
was  gone,  who  left  us,  and  hid  in  a  slough — fifteen 
persons.     We  immediately  started  out  on  the  prai- 
rie again.     We  had  now  only  the  ox-team  of  Van 
Guilder,  and  the  most  of  us  were   compelled  to 
ivalk.     His  mother,  some  small  children,  and  some 


trunks,  made  a  wagon-load.  The  dead  child, 
which  the  mother  had  brought  back  to  the  h<juse 
with  her,  was  left  lying  upon  the  table.  It  was 
afterward  found,  with  Us  head  severed  from  its  body 
by  the  fiends.  S.  L.  Wait  and  Luther  Whiton, 
who  had  concealed  themselves  in  the  grass  when 
they  saw  the  Indians  coming,  joined  us.  Mrs.  A. 
B.  Hough  and  infant  child  were  with  the  family  ot 
Van  Guilder.  These  made  our  number  up  to  fif- 
teen. We  traveled  across  the  prairie  all  day  with- 
.  out  seeing  any  Indians,  and,  at  night,  camped  on 
the  Little  Cottonwood.  We  waded  the  stream, 
and  made  our 'camp  on  the  opposite  side,  in  the 
tall  grass  and  reeds.  We  reached  this  spot  on 
Tuesday  night,  aud  remained  there  till  Friday  af- 
ternoon, without  food,  save  a  little  raw  flour,  which 
we  did  not  dare  to  cook,  for  fear  the  smoke  would 
reveal  our  whereaboTits  to  the  savages,  when  a 
company  from  New  Uhn  rescued  us. 

"On  Wednesday  night,  ^ter  dark,  CoviU  and 
Wait  started  for  New  Ulm,  to  get  a  party  to  come 
out  to  our  aid,  saying  they  would  be  back  the 
next  day.  That  night,  and  nearly  all  the  next 
day,  it  rained.  At  about  daylight  the  next  day, 
when  just  across  the  Big  Cottonwood,  five  miles 
from  New  Ulm,  they  heard  an  Indian  whooping  in 
their  rear,  and  turned  aside  into  some  hazel-bushes, 
where  they  lay  aU  day.  At  the  place  where  they 
crossed  the  river  they  found  a  fish-rack  in  the 
water,  and  in  it  caught  a  fish.  Part  of  this  they 
ate  raw  that  day.  It  was  now  Thursday,  and 
they  had  eaten  nothing  since  Monday  noon.  They 
started  again  at  dark  for  New  Ulm.  When  near 
the  graveyard,  two  miles  from  the  town,  an  Indian, 
with  grass  tied  about  his  head,  arose  from  the 
ground  and  attempted  to  bead  them  off.  They 
succeeded  in  evading  him,  aud  got  in  about  ten 
o'clock.  When  about  entering  the  place,  they 
were  fired  upon  by  the  pickets,  which  alarmed  the 
town,  and  when  they  got  in,  all  was  in  commo- 
tion, to  meet  an  expected  attack. 

"  The  next  morning,  one  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
under  Captain  Tousley,  of  Le  Sueur,  and  S.  A. 
Buell,  of  St.  Peter,  started  to  our  relief,  reachin"' 
our  place  of  coucealmsnt  about  two  o'clock.  They 
brought  us  food,  of  which  our  famished  party 
eagerly  partook.  They  were  accompanied  by  Dr. 
A.  W.  Daniels,  of  St.  Peter,  and  Dr.  Mayo,  of 
Le  Sueur.  They  went  on  toward  Leavenworth, 
intending  to  remain  there  all  night,  bury 
the  dead,  should  any  be  found,  the  next 
day,     reseu3     any     who     might     remain     alive, 


14 


210 


HISTORY   OP  THE  SIOUX  31  ASS  AC  lib:. 


and  then  return.  They  buried  the  Blum  fam- 
ily of  six  persons  that  afternoon,  and  then  con- 
cluded to  return  that  night.  We  reached  New 
Ulm  before  midnight.  Mr.  Van  Guilder's  mother 
died  soon  after  we  got  into  town  from  the  effects 
of  her  wound  and  the  exposure  to  which  she  had 
.  been  subjected. 

"At  about  the  same  time  that  we  returned  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Van  Guilder,  on  Tuesday,  Charles 
Smith  and  family,  Edward  Allen  and  wife,  and 
Mrs.  Carroll  had  left  it,  and  reached  New  Ulm 
without  seeing  Indians,  about  halt  an  hour  before 
the  place  was  attacked.  The  same  day,  William 
Carroll,  with  a  party  of  men,  came  to  the  house 
for  us,  found  Mr.  Riant,  who  was  concealed  in  a 
slough,  and  started  back  toward  New  Ulm.  But 
few  of  them  reached  the  town  alive." 

An  account  of  the  adventures  of  this  company, 
and  its  fate,  will  be  found  elsewhere,  in  the  state- 
ment of  Ralph  Thomas,  one  of  the  party. 

On  Monday,  the  18th  of  August,  two  women, 
Mrs.  Harrington  and  Mrs.  Hill,  residing  on  the 
Cottonwood,  below  Leavenworth,  heard  of  the  out- 
break, and  prevailed  upon  a  Mr.  Henshaw,  a  sin- 
gle man,  living  near  them,  to  harness  up  his  team 
and  take  them  away,  as  their  husbands  were  away 
from  home.  Mr.s.  Harrington  had  two  childnm ; 
Mrs.  Hill  none.  They  had  gone  but  a  short  dis- 
tance when  they  were  overtaken  by  Indians.  Mr. 
Henshaw  was  killed,  and  Mrs.  Harrington  was 
badly  woimded,  the  ball  passing  through  her 
shoulder.  She  had  just  sprung  to  the  ground 
with  her  youngest  child  in  her  arms;  one  of  its 
arms  was  thrown  over  her  shoulder,  and  the  ball 
passed  through  its  little  hand,  lacerating  it  dread- 
fully. The  Indians  were  intent  upon  securing  the 
team,  and  the  women  were  not  followed,  and  es- 
caped. Securing  the  horses,  they  drove  away  in 
an  opposite  direction. 

Mrs.  Harrington  soon  became  faint  from  the  loss 
of  blood;  and  Mrs.  Hill,  concealing  her  near  a 
slough,  took  the  eldest  child  and  started  for  New 
Ulm.  Before  reaching  that  place  she  met  John 
Jackson  and  William  Carroll,  who  resided  on  the 
Cottonwood,  above  them;  and,  telling  them  what 
had  happened,  they  put  her  on  one  of  their  horses 
and  turned  back  with  her  to  the  town. 

On  the  next  day,  Tuesday,  Mr.  Jackson  was  one 
of  the  party  with  Carrcll,  heretofore  mentioned, 
that  wont  out  to  Leavenworth,  and  visited  the 
house  of  Van  Guilder,  in  search  of  their  families. 
When  that  party  turned  back  to  New  Ulm,  Jack- 


son did  not  go  with  them,  but  went  to  his  own 
house  to  look  for  his  wife,  who  had  already  left. 
He  visited  the  houses  of  most  of  his  neighbors,  and 
finding  no  one,  started  back  alone.  When  near 
the  house  of  Mr.  Hill,  between  Leavenworth  and 
New  Ulm,  on  the  river,  he  saw  what  he  supposed 
were  white  men  at  the  house,  but  when  within  a 
tew  rods  of  them,  discovered  they  were  Indians. 
The  moment  he  made  this  discovery  he  turned  to 
flee  to  the  woods  near  by.  They  filed  upon  him, 
and  gave  chase,  but  he  outran  them,  and  reached 
the  timber  unharmed.  Here  he  remained  concealed 
until  late  at  night,  when  he  made  his  way  back  to 
town,  where  he  found  his  wife,  who,  with  others  of 
their  neighbors,  had  fled  on  the  first  alarm,  and 
reached  the  village  in  safety.  Mrs.  Laura  Whiton, 
widow  of  Elijah  Whiton,  of  Leavenworth,  Brown 
county,  m  ikes  the  following  statement: 

"We  had  resided  on  our  claim,  at  Leavenworth, 
a  little  over  four  years.  There  were  in  our  family, 
on  the  18th  of  August,  1862,  four  persons — Mr. 
Whiton,  myself,  and  two  children — a  son  of  sixteen 
ye:irs,  and  a  daughter  nine  years  of  age.  On  Mon- 
day evening,  the  18th  of  August,  a  neighbor,  Mr. 
Jackson,  and  his  son,  a  yoimg  boy,  who  resided 
three  miles  from  our  place,  cr-me  to  our  house  in 
search  of  their  horses,  and  told  us  that  the  Indians 
had  murdered  a  family  on  the  Minnesota  river,  and 
went  away.  We  saw  no  one,  and  heard  nothing 
more  until  Thursday  afternoon  following,  about  4 
o'clock,  when  about  a  dozen  Indians  were  seen 
coming  from  the  direction  of  the  house  of  a  neigh- 
bor namsd  Heydriek,  whom  they  were  chasing. 
Hoydrick  jumped  off  a  bridge  across  a  ravine,  and, 
raaniug  down  tlie  ravine,  concealed  himself  under 
a  log.  wliere  he  remained  until  8  o'clock,  when 
he  came  out,  and  made  his  escape  into  New  Ulm. 

'•The  savages  had  already  slain  all  his  family, 
cousi.sting  of  his  wife  and  two  children.  Mr. 
Whiton,  who  was  at  work  near  the  door  at  the 
time,  came  into  tlie  house,  but  even  then  did  not 
believe  there  was  any  thing  serious,  supposing 
H3ydrick  was  unnecessarily  frightened.  But  when 
he  saw  them  leveling  their  gims  at  him,  he  came 
tj  the  conclusion  that  we  had  better  leave.  He 
loaded  his  double-barreled  gun,  and  we  aU  started 
for  the  timber.  After  reaching  the  woods,  Mr. 
Whiton  left  us  to  go  to  the  house  of  his  brother, 
Luther,  a  single  man,  to  see  what  had  become  of 
him,  telling  us  to  remain  wliere  we  were  until  he 
came  back.  We  never  saw  him  again.  After  he 
bft  us,  not  daring  to  remain   where   wo  were,  we 


STATEMENT  OF  MBS.  WIIITON: 


211 


forded  the  river  (Cottonwood),  and  hid  in  the  tim- 
ber, on  the  opposite  side,  where  we  remained 
until  about  8  o'clock,  when  we  started  for  New  Uhn. 

"  While  we  lay  concealed  in  the  woods,  we  heard 
the  Indians  driving  up  onr  oxen,  and  yoking  them 
up.  They  hitched  them  to  our  wagon,  loaded  it 
up  with  our  trunks,  bedding,  etc.,  and  drove  away. 
we  went  out  on  the  prairie,  and  walked  all  night 
and  all  next  day,  arriving  at  New  Ulm  at  about 
dark  on  Friday,  the  22d.  About  midnight,  on 
Thursday  night,  as  we  were  fleeing  along  the  road, 
we  passed  the  bodies  of  the  family  of  our  neigh- 
bor, Bhim,  lying  dead  by  the  road-side.  They  had 
started  to  make  their  escape  to  town,  but  were 
overtaken  by  the  savages  upon  the  road,  and  all 
but  a  little  boy  most  brutally  murdered. 

"  Mr.  Whiton  returned  home,  from  his  visit  to 
the  house  of  his  brother,  which  he  found  deserted, 
and  found  that  our  house  had  already  been  plun- 
dered. He  then  went  to  the  woods  to  search  for 
us.  He  remained  in  the  timber,  prosecuting  his 
search,  until  Saturday,  without  food;  and,  failing 
to  find  us,  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that  we  were 
either  dead  or  in  captivity,  and  then  himself  start- 
ed for  New  Ulm.  On  Saturday  night,  when  trav- 
eling across  the  prairie,  he  came  suddenly  upon  a 
camp  of  Indians,  but  they  did  not  see  him,  and  he 
beat  as  hasty  a  retreat  as  possible  from  their  vi- 
cinity. 

"When  near  the  Lone  Cottonwood  Tree,  on 
Sirnday  morning,  he  fell  in  with  William  J.  Duly, 
who  had  made  his  escape  from  Lake  Shetek. 
They  traveled  along  together  tiU  they  came  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Henry  Thomas,  six  miles  from  our 
farm,  in  the  town  of  Milford.  This  house  had  evi- 
dently been  deserted  by  the  family  in  great  haste, 
for  the  table  was  spread  for  a  meal,  and  the  food 
remained  untouched  upon  it.  Here  they  sat  down 
to  eat,  neither  of  them  having  had  any  food  for  a 
long  time.  WhOe  seated  at  the  table,  two  Indians 
came  to  the  house;  and,  as  Mr.  Whiton  arose  and 
stepped  to  the  stove  for  some  water,  they  came  into 
the  door,  one  of  them  saying,  '2?a  mea  iepee.' 
[This  is  my  house.]  There  was  no  way  of  escape, 
and  Mr.  Whiton,  thinking  to  propitiate  him,  said 
'Come  in'  Mr.  Duly  was  sitting  partly  behind  t^ie 
door,  and  was,  probably,  unobserved.  The  savage 
made  no  answer,  but  instantly  raised  his  gun,  and 
shot  him  through  the  heart,  they  then  both  went 
into  the  corn.  Duly  was  unarmed;  and,  when  Mr. 
Whiton  was  killed,  took  his  gun  and  ran  out  of  the 
house,  and  concealed  himself  in  the  bushes  near  by. 


"While  lying  here  he  could  hear  the  Indians 
yelling  and  firing  their  guns  in  close  proximity  to 
his  place  of  concealment.  After  awhile  he  ven- 
tured out.  Being  too  much  exhausted  to  carry 
it,  he  threw  away  the  gun,  and  that  night  ar- 
rived at  New  Ulm,  without  again  encountering 
Indians." 

We  now  return  to  Mrs.  Harrington,  whom,  the 
reader  wiU  remember,  we  left  badly  wounded,  con- 
cealed near  a  slough.  We  regret  our  inability  to 
obtain  a  full  narrative  of  her  wanderings  during 
the  eight  succeeding  days  and  nights  she  spent 
alone  upon  the  prairie,  carrying  her  wounded 
child.  We  can  only  state  in  general  terms,  that 
after  wandering  for  eight  weary  days  and  nights, 
without  food  or  shelter,  unknowing  whither,  early 
on  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  the  26th,  before  day- 
light, she  found  herself  at  Crisp's  farm,  midway 
between  New  Ulm  and  Mankato.  As  she  ap- 
proached the  pickets  she  mistook  them  for  In- 
dians, and,  when  hailed  by  them,  was  so  fright- 
ened as  not  to  recognize  the  EngUsh  language, 
and  intent  only  on  saving  her  life,  told  them  she 
was  a  Sioux.  Two  guns  were  instantly  leveled  at 
her,  but,  providentially,  both  missed  fire,  when  an 
exclamation  from  her  led  them  to  think  she  was 
wliite,  and  a  woman,  and  they  went  out  to  her. 
She  was  taken  into  camp  and  all  done  for  her  by 
Judge  Flandrau  and  his  men  that  could  be  done. 
They  took  her  to  Mankato,  and  soon  after  she  was 
joined  by  her  husband,  who  was  below  at  the  time 
of  the  outbreak,  and  also  found  the  child  which 
Mrs.  HiU  took  with  her  to  New  Ulm. 

Six  mUes  from  New  Ulm  there  Uved,  on  the 
Cottonwood,  in  the  county  of  Brown,  a  German 
family  of  the  name  of  Heyers,  consisting  of  the 
father,  mother  and  two  sons,  both  young  men. 
A  burial  party  that  went  out  from  New  Ulm  on 
Friday,  the  22d,  found  them  aU  murdered,  and 
buried  them  near  where  they  were  killed. 

The  town  of  Milford,  Brown  county,  adjoining 
New  Ulm  on  the  west  and  contiguous  to  the  res- 
ervation, was  a  farming  community,  composed  en- 
tirely of  Germans.  A  quiet,  sober,  industrious, 
and  enterprising  class  of  emigrants  had  here 
made  their  homes,  and  the  prairie  wilderness 
around  them  began  to  "bud  and  blossom  like  the 
rose."  Industry  and  thrift  had  brought  their  sure 
reward,  and  peace,  contentment  and  happiness 
filled  the  hearts  of  tins'  simple-hearted  people. 
The  noble  and  classic  Ehine  and  the  vine-clad  hills 
of  Fathei'land  were  almost  forgotten,  or,   if   not 


212 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SIOVX  MASSACRE. 


forgotten,  were  now  reniHmbered  without  regret, 
in  these  fair  prairie  homes,  beneath  the  glowing 
and  genial  sky  of  Minnesota. 

When  the  sun  arose  on  the  morning  of  the  18th 
of  August,  1862,  it  looked  down  upon  this  scene 
in  all  its  glowing  beauty;  but  its  declining  rays 
fell  upon  a  field  of  carnage  and  horror  too  fearful 
to  describe.  The  council  at  Eice  Creek,  on  Sun- 
day night,  had  decided  upon  the '  details  of  the 
work  of  death,  and  the  warriors  of  the  lower 
bands  were  early  on  the  trail,  thirsting  for  blood. 
Early  in  the  forenoon  of  Monday  they  appeared 
in  large  numbers  in  this  neighborhood,  and  the 
work  of  slaughter  began.  The  first  house  visited 
was  that  of  Wilson  Massipost,  a  prominent  and 
iniiuentiiil  citizen,  a  widower.  Mr.  Massipost  had 
two  daughters,  intelligent  and  accomplished. 
These  the  savages  murdered  most  brutally.  The 
head  of  one  of  them  was  afterward  found,  severed 
from  the  body,  attached  to  a  fish-hook,  and  hung 
upon  a  nail.  His  son,  a  young  man  of  twenty- 
four  years,  was  also  killed.  Mr.  Massipost  and  a 
son  of  eight  yeai-s  escaped  to  New  Ulm.  The 
house  of  Anton  Hanley  was  likewise  visited.  Mr. 
Hanley  was  absent.  The  children,  four  in  num- 
ber, were  beaten  with  tomahawks  on  the  head  and 
person,  inflicting  fearful  wounds.  Two  of  them 
were  lulled  outright,  and  one,  an  infant,  recovered; 
the  other,  a  young  boy,  was  taken  by  the  parents, 
at  night,  to  New  Ulm,  thence  to  St.  Paul,  where 
he  died  of  his  wounds.  After  killing  these  child- 
ren, they  proceeded  to  the  field  near  by,  where 
Mrs.  Hanley,  her  father,  Anton  Mesmer,  his  wife, 
son  Joseph,  and  daughter,  were  at  work  harvesting 
wheat.  AU  these  they  instantly  shot,  except  Mrs. 
Hanley,  who  escaped  to  the  woods  and  secreted 
herself  tUl  night,  when,  her  husband  coming  home, 
they  took  their  two  wounded  children  and 
made  their  escape.  At  the  house  of  Agrenatz 
Hanley  all  the  children  were  kUlcd.  The  parents 
escaped. 

Bastian  Mey,  wife,  and  two  children  were  mas- 
sacred in  their  house,  and  three  children  were  ter- 
ribly mutilated,  who  afterward  recovered. 

Adolph  Shilling  and  his  daughter  were  killed; 
his  son  badly  wounded,  escaped  with  his  mother. 
Two  families,  those  of  a  Mr.  Zeller  and  a  Mr.  Zet- 
tle,  were  completely  annihilated;  not  a  soul  was 
left  to  tell  the  tale  of  their  sudden  destruction. 
Jacob  Keck,  Max  Fink,  and  a  Mr.  Belzer  were 
also  victims  of  savage  barbarity  at  th's  place.  Af- 
ter kUUng  the   inhabitants,   they  plundered   and 


sacked  the  houses,  destroying  all  the  property 
they  could  not  carry  away,  driving  away  all  the 
horses  and  cattle,  and  when  night  closed  over  the 
dreadful  scene,  desolation  and  death  reigned  su- 
preme. 

There  resided,  on  the  Big  Cottonwood,  between 
New  Ulm  and  Lake  Shetek,  a  German,  named 
Charles  Zierke,  familiarly  kno^vn  throughoiit  all 
that  region  as  "Dutch  Charley."  On  the  same 
road  resided  an  old  gentleman,  and  his  son  and 
daughter,  named  Brown.  These  adventurous  pio- 
neers lived  many  miles  from  any  other  human 
habitation,  and  kept  houses  of  entertainment  on 
that  lonely  road.  This  last-named  house  was 
known  as  "Brown's  place."  It  is  not  known  to  us 
when  the  savages  came  to  those  isolated  dwell- 
ings. We  only  know  that  the  mutilated  bodies  of 
all  three  of  the  Brown  family  were  found,  and 
buried,  some  miles  from  their  house.  Zierke  and 
his  family  made  their  escape  toward  New  Ulm, 
and,  when  near  the  town,  were  pursued  and  over- 
taken by  the  Indians  on  the  prairie.  By  sharp 
running,  Zierke  escaped  to  the  town,  but  his  wife 
and  children,  together  with  his  team,  were  taken 
by  them.  Returning  afterward  with  a  jiarty  of 
men,  the  savages  aliandoued  the  captured  team, 
woman,  and  children,  and  they  were  recovered 
and  all  taken  into  New  Ulm  in  safety. 

The  frontier  of  Nicollet  county  contiguous  to 
the  reservation  was  not  generally  visited  by  the 
savages  until  Tuesday,  the  19th,  and  the  succeed- 
ing days  of  that  week.  The  people  had,  generally 
in  the  meantime,  sought  safety  in'  flight,  and  were 
principally  in  the  town  of  St.  Peter.  A  few,  how- 
ever, remained  at  their  homes,  in  isolated  locali- 
ties, where  the  news  of  the  awful  scenes  enacting 
aroimd  them  did  not  reach  them;  or,  who  having 
removed  their  families  to  places  of  safety,  returned 
to  look  after  their  property.  These  generally  fell 
victims  to  the  rifle  and  tomahawk  of  the  savages. 
The  destruction  of  life  in  this  county,  was,  how- 
ever, trifling,  compared  with  her  sister  counties  of 
Brown  and  Renville;  but  the  loss  of  projierty  was 
immense.  The  entire  west  half  of  the  county  was, 
of  necessity,  abandoned  and  completely  desolated. 
The  ripened  grain  crop  was  much  of  it  imcut,  and 
wasted  in  the  field,  while  horses  and  cattle  and 
sheep  and  hogs  roamed  unrestrained  at  will  over 
the  unharvested  fields.  And,  to  render  the  ruin 
complete  the  savage  hordes  swept  over  this  por- 
tion of  the  county,  gathering  up  horses  and  cattle 
shooting  swine  and  sheep,  and  all  other  stock  that 


DBVj\JSTATION  1M  NICOLLET  COUNTY. 


213 


they  could  not  catch;  liuishing  the  work  of  ruin 
by  jipplyiug  the  torch  to  the  stacks  of  hay  and 
grain,  and  in  some  instances  to  the  dwelhngs  of 
the  settlers. 

William  Mills  kept  a  public  house  in  the  town 
of  West  Newton,  four  miles  from  Fort  Kidgely,  on 
the  St.  Peter  road.  Mr.  Mills  heard  of  the  out- 
break of  the  Sioux  on  Monday,  and  at  once  took 
the  necessary  steps  to  secure  the  safety  of  his  fam- 
ily, by  sending  them  across  the  prairie  to  a  se- 
cluded spot,  at  a  slough  some  three  miles  from  the 
house.  Leaving  a  span  of  horses  and  a  wagon 
with  them,  he  instructed  them,  if  it  should  seem 
necessary  to  their  safety,  to  drive  as  rapidly  as 
possible  to  Henderson.  He  then  went  to  Fort 
Ridgely  to  possess  himself,  if  possible,  of  the  exact 
state  of  affairs.  At  night  he  visited  his  house,  to 
obtain  some  articles  of  clothing  for  his  family,  and 
carried  them  out  to  their  place  of  concealment,  and 
went  again  to  the  fort,  where  he  remained  until 
Tuesday  morning,  when  he  started  out  to  his  fam- 
ily, thinking  he  would  send  them  to  Henderson, 
and  return  and  assist  in  the  defense  of  that  post. 
Soon  after  leaving  the  fort  he  met  Lieutenant  T.  J. 
Sheehan  and  his  company,  on  their  way  back  to 
that  post.  Sheehan  roughly  demanded  of  him 
where  he  was  going.  He  replied  he  was  going  to 
send  his  family  to  a  place  of  safety,  and  return. 
The  lieutenant,  with  an  oath,  wrested  from  him  his 
gun,  the  only  weapon  of  defense  he  had,  thus  leav- 
ing him  defenseless.  Left  thus  unarmed  and 
powerless,  he  took  his  family  and  hastened  to  Hen- 
derson, arriving  there  that  day  in  safety. 

A  few  Indians  were  seen  in  the  neighborhood  of 
West  Newton  on  Monday  afternoon  on  horseback, 
but  at  a  distance  on  the  prairie.  The  most  of  the 
inhabitants  fled  to  the  fort  on  that  day :  a  few  re  - 
mained  at  their  homes  and  some  fled  to  St.  Peter 
and  Henderson.  The  town  of  Lafayette  was,  in 
like  manner,  deserted  on  Monday  and  Monday 
night,  the  inhabitants  chiefly  making  for  St.  Peter. 
Courtland  township,  lying  near  New  Ulm,  caught 
the  contagion,  and  her  people  too  fled — the  women 
and  children  going  to  St.  Peter,  while  many  of  her 
brave  sons  rushed  to  the  defense  of  New  Ulm,  and 
in  that  terrible  siege  bore  a  conspicuous  and  hon- 
orable part. 

As  the  cortege  of  panic  stricken  fugitives  poured 
along  the  various  roads  leading  to  the  towns  be- 
low, or  Monday  night  and  Tuesday,  indescribable 
terror  seized  the  inhabitants;  and  the  rapidly  ac- 
cumulating human  tide,  gathering  force  and  num- 


bers as  it  moved  across  the  prairie,  rolled  an 
overwhelming  flood  into  the  towns  along  the 
river. 

The  entire  county  of  Nicollet,  outside  of  St. 
Peter,  was  depopulated,  and  their  crops  and  herds 
left  by  the  inhabitants  to  destruction. 

On  the  arrival  of  a  force  of  mounted  men,  under 
Captains  Anson  Nortbriip,  of  Minneapolis,  and  B. 
H.  Chittenden,  of  the  First  Wisconsin  Cavalry,  at 
Henderson,  on  the  way  to  Fort  Eidgely,  they  met 
Charles  Nelson,  and,  on  consultation,  decided  to  go 
to  St.  Peter,  where  they  were  to  report  to  Colonel 
Sibley,  by  way  of  Norwegian  Grove.  Securing 
the  services  of  Nelson,  John  Fadden,  and  one  or 
two  others,  familiar  to  the  country,  they  set  out 
for  the  Grove. 

Captain  Chittenden,  in  a  letter  to  the  "New 
Haven  Palladium,"  written  soon  after,  says: 

"  The  prairie  was  magnificent,  but  quite  desert- 
ed. Sometimes  a  dog  stared  at  us  as  we  jjassed; 
but  even  the  bnites  seemed  conscious  of  a  terrible 
calamity.  At  2  o'clock  we  reached  the  Grove, 
which  surrounded  a  lake.  The  farms  were  in  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation;  and,  strange  to  say,  although 
the  houses  were  in  ruins,  the  grain  stacks  were  un- 
touched. Beapers  stood  in  the  field  as  the  men 
had  left  them.  Cows  wandered  over  the  israiries 
in  search  of  their  masters.  Nelson  led  the  way  to 
tha  spot  where  he  had  been  overtaken  in  attempt- 
ing to  escape  with  his  wife  and  children.  We 
found  his  wagon;  the  ground  was  strewn  with  ar- 
ticles of  apparel,  Ms  wife's  bonnet,  boxes,  yarn,  in 
fact  everything  they  had  hastily  gathered  up.  But 
the  wife  and  boys  were  gone.  Her  he  had  seen 
them  murder,  but  the  children  had  nm  into  the 
corn-field.  He  had  also  secreted  a  woman  and 
child  under  a  hay -stack.  We  went  and  turned  it 
over;  they  were  gone.  I  then  so  arranged  the 
troops  that,  by  marching  abreast,  we  made  a 
thorough  search  of  the  corn-field.  No  clue  to  his 
boys  could  be  found.  Passing  the  still  bumiag 
embers  of  his  neighbor's  dwellings,  we  came  to 
Nelson's  own,  the  only  one  still  standing.  *  *  * 
The  heart-broken  man  closed  the  gate,  and  turned 
away  without  a  tear;  then  simply  asked  Sergeant 
Thompson  when  he  thought  it  would  be  safe  to 
return.  I  must  confess  that,  accustomed  as  I  am 
to  scenes  of  horror,  the  tears  would  come." 

The  troops,  taking  Nelson  with  them,  proceeded 
to  St.  Peter,  where  he  found  the  dead  body  of  his 
wife,  which  had  been  carried  there  by  some  of  liis 
neighbors,  and  his  children,  alive.     They  had  fled 


214 


BISTORT  OF  rUE  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


tbrough  the  com,  and  escaped  from  their  savage 
pursuers. 

Jacob  Mauerle  bad  taken  bis  family  down  to 
St.  Peter,  and  returned  on  Friday  to  bis  bouse, 
in  West  Newton.  He  bad  tied  some  clothing 
in  a  bundle,  and  started  for  the  fort,  when  be 
was  shot  and  scalped,  some  eighty  rods  from  the 
house. 

The  two  Applebaum's  were  evidently  fleeing  to 
St.  Peter,  when  overtaken  by  the  Indians  and 
kiUed. 

Felix  Smith  had  escaped  to  Fort  Bidgely,  and 
on  Wednesday  forenoon  went  out  to  bis  bouse, 
some  three  miles  away.  The  Indians  attacked  the 
fort  that  afternoon,  and  be  was  killed  in  endeavor- 
ing to  get  back  into  that  post. 

Small  parties  of  Indians  scoured  the  country  be- 
tween Fort  Ridgely,  St.  Peter,  and  Henderson, 
during  the  first  week  o£  the  massacre,  driving  away 
cattle  and  burning  buildings,  w-itbin  twelve  miles 
of  the  first-named  place.  The  Swan  Lake  House 
was  laid  in  ashes.  A  scouting  party  of  six  savages 
was  seen  by  General  M.  B.  Stone,  upon  tlie  blufT, 
in  sight  of  the  town  of  St.  Peter,  on  Friday,  the 
22d  day  of  August,  the  very  day  they  were  making 
their  most  furious  and  detennined  assault  upon 
Fort  Bidgely. 

This  scouting  party  had,  doubtless,  been  de- 
tached from  the  main  force  besieging  that  post, 
and  sent  forward,  under  the  delusion  that  the  fort 
must  fall  into  their  hands,  to  reconnoiter,  and  re- 
port to  Little  Crow  the  condition  of  the  j)lace,  and 
the  ability  of  the  people  to  defend  themselves. 
But  they  failed  to  take  Fort  Eidgely,  and,  on  the 
22d,  their  scouts  saw  a  large  body  of  troops,  under 
Colonel  Sibley,  enter  St.  Peter. 


CHAPTER  XXXVL 


BIG  STONE  LAKE WHITES  KILI.ED — LAKE  SHETEK 

NAMES   OF    SBTTLKRS MBS.     ALOMINA    HUKD     ES- 

C.ii.PES  WITH  HER  TWO  OHILDEEN THE   BATTLE  OF 

SPIRIT    LAKE WARFARE    IN    JACKSON    OOTINTr 

D^UCOTA  TERRITORY MURDERS  AT  SIOUX  F.ALLS 

DESTRUCTION    OF    PROPERTY KILLING   OP   AMOS 

HUGGINS. 

At  Big  Stone  Lake,  in  what  is  now  Big  Stone 
county,  were  four  trading  bouses,  Wm.  H.  Forbes, 
Daily,  Pratt  &  Co..  and  Kathan  Myrick.  The  liahi- 
tues  of  these  Indian  trading  houses,  as  usual,  wore 
mostly  half-breeds,  natives  of  the  country.     The 


store  of  Daily,  Pratt  k  Co.  was  in  charge  of  Mr. 
Ryder  of  St.  Paul.  On  the  21st  of  August,  four 
of  these  men  at  work  cutting  hay,  unsuspicious  of 
danger,  were  suddenly  attacked  and  all  murdered, 
except  Anton  Mauderfield;  while  one  half-breed, 
at  the  store,  Baptiste  Gubeau,  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  was  informed  that  be  would  be  killed  that 
night.  But  Gubeau  succeeded  in  escaping  from 
their  grasp,  and  making  his  way  to  the  lake.  His 
escape  was  a  wonderful  feat,  bound  as  be  was,  as 
to  bis  bands,  pursued  by  yelling  demons  determ- 
ined on  his  death.  But,  ahead  of  all  his  pursuers,  he 
reached  the  lake,  and  dashing  into  the  reeds  on  the 
margin,  was  hid  from  the  sight  of  his  disappointed 
pursuers.  Wading  noiselessly  into  the  water,  until 
his  head  alone  was  above  the  water,  he  remained 
perfectly  still  for  some  time.  The  water  soon 
loosened  the  rawhide  on  his  wrists,  so  that  they 
were  easily  removed.  The  Indians  sought  for  him 
in  vain;  and  as  the  shades  of  night  gathered  around 
lum,  he  came  out  of  his  hiding  place,  crossed  the 
foot  of  the  lake  and  struck  out  for  the  Upper 
Mississippi.  He  finally  reached  St.  Cloud.  Here 
be  was  mistaken  for  an  Indi;in  spy,  and  threatened 
with  death,  but  was  finally  saved  by  the  interposi- 
tion of  a  gentleman  who  knew  him. 

The  other  employes  at  the  lake  were  all  killed 
except  Manderfield,  who  secreted  himself  while  his 
comrades  were  being  murdered.  Manderfield,  in 
his  escape,  when  near  Lac  qui  Parle,  was  met  by 
Joseph  Laframboise,  who  had  gone  thither  to  ob- 
tain his  sister  Julia,  then  a  captive  there.  Man- 
derfield received  from  Larramboise  proper  direc- 
tions, and  finally  reached  Fort  Eidgely  in  safety. 

Lake  Shetek. — This  beautiful  lake  of  quiet 
water,  some  six  miles  long  and  two  broad,  is  situ- 
ated about  seventy  miles  west  of  New  Ulm,  in  the 
county  of  Murray.  Here  a  little  commimity  of 
some  fifty  persons  were  residing  far  out  on  our 
frontier,  the  nearest  settlement  being  the  Big  Cot- 
tonwood. The  families  and  persons  located  here 
were:  John  Eastlick  and  wife,  Charles  Hatch, 
Phineas  B.  Ilurd  and  wife,  John  Wright,  Wm.  J. 
Duly  and  wife,  H.  W.  Smith,  Aaron  Myers,  Mr. 
Everett  and  wife,  Thomas  Ireland  and  wife,  Koch 
and  wife;  these  witb  their  several  families,  and  six 
single  men,  Wm.  James,  Edgar  Bently,  John 
Voight,  E.  G.  Cook,  and  John  F.  and  Daniel 
Burns,  the  latter  residing  alone  on  a  claim  at  Wal- 
nut Grove,  some  distance  from  the  lake,  consti- 
tuted the  entire  population  of  Lake  Shetek  settle- 
ment, in  Miirray  county. 


L^iKE  SHETEE. 


215 


On  the  20th  of  August  some  twenty  Sioux  In- 
dians rode  up  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Hurd.  Mr. 
Hurd  himself  had  left  home  for  the  Missouri  river 
on  the  2d  day  of  June  previous.  Ten  of  these  In- 
dians entered  the  house,  talked  and  smoked  their 
pipes  while  Mrs.  Hurd  was  getting  breakfast.  Mr. 
Voight,  the  work-hand,  while  waiting  for  break- 
fast, took  up  the  babe,  as  it  awoke  and  cried,  and 
walked  with  it  out  in  the  yard  in  front  of  the  door. 
No  sooner  had  he  left  the  house  than  an  Indian 
took  his  gun  and  deliberately  shot  him  dead  near 
the  door.  Mrs.  Hurd  was  amazed,  at  the  infernal 
deed,  as  these  Indians  had  always  been  kindly 
treated,  and  often  fed  at  her  table.  She  ran  to 
the  fallen  man  to  raise  him  up  and  look  after  the 
safety  of  her  child.  To  her  utter  horror,  one  of 
the  miscreants  intercepted  her,  telling  her  to  leave 
at  once  and  go  to  the  settlements  across  the  prairie. 
She  was  refused  the  privilege  of  dressing  her 
naked  children,  and  was  compelled  to  turn  awaj 
from  her  ruined  home,  to  commence  her  wandering 
over  an  almost  trackless  waste,  without  food,  and 
almost  -without  raiment,  for  either  herself  or  little 
ones. 

These  Indians  proceeded  from  the  house  of  Mr. 
Hurd  to  that  of  Mr.  Andrew  Koch,  whom  they 
shot,  and  plundered  the  house  of  its  contents. 
Mrs.  Koch  was  compelled  to  get  up  the  oxen  and 
hitch  them  to  the  wagon,  and  drive  them,  at  the 
dii'ection  of  her  captors,  into  the  Indian  country. 
In  this  way  she  traveled  ten  days.  She  was  the 
captive  of  White  Lodge,  an  old  and  ugly  chief  of 
one  of  the  ujiper  bands.  As  the  course  was  tow- 
ards the  Missouri  river,  Mrs.  Koch  refused  to  go 
farther  in  that  direction.  The  old  chief  threatened 
to  shoot  her  if  she  did  not  drive  on.  Making  a 
virtue  of  necessity  she  reluctantly  obeyed.  Soon 
after  she  was  required  to  carry  the  vagabond's 
gun.  Watching  her  opportunity  she  destroyed 
the  explosive  quality  of  the  cap,  and  dampened 
the  powder  in  the  tiibe,  leaving  the  gim  to  appear- 
ance all  right.  Soon  afterward  she  again  refused 
to  go  any  farther  in  that  direction.  Again  the 
old  scoundrel  threatened  her  with  der.th.  She  in- 
stantly bared  her  bosom  and  dared  him  to  fire. 
He  aimed  his  gun  at  her  breast  and  essayed  to 
fire,  but  the  gun  refused  to  take  part  in  the  work 
of  death.  The  superstitious  savage,  supposing 
she  bore  a  charmed  life,  lowered  his  gun,  and 
asked  which  way  she  wishsd  to  go.  She  pointed 
toward  the  settlements.  In  this  direction  the 
teams  were  turned.     They  reached  the  neighbor- 


hood of  the  Upper  Agency  in  ten  days  after  leav- 
ing Lake  Shetek,  about  the  time  of  the  arrival  of 
the  troops  under  Colonel  Sibley  in  the  vicinity  of 
Wood  Lake  and  Yellow  Medicine.  White  Lodge 
did  not  like  the  looks  of  things  around  Wood 
Lake,  and  left,  moving  off  in  an  opposite  direction 
for  greater- safety.  Mrs.  Koch  was  finally  rescued 
at  Camp  Release,  after  wading  or  swimming  the 
Minnesota  river  ten  times  in  company  with  a 
friendly  squaw. 

At  Lake  Shetek,  the  settlers  were  soon  all  gath- 
ered at  the  house  of  John  Wright,  prepared  for 
defense.     They  were,  however,  induced  by  the  ap- 
parently  friendly  persuasion   of   the  Indians   to 
abandon  the  house,  and  move  towards  the  slough 
for  better  safety.     The  Indians  commenced  firing 
upon  the  retreating  party.     The  whites  returned 
the  fire  as  they  ran.     Mrs.  Eastlick  was  wounded 
in  the  heel,  Mr.  Duly's  oldest  son  and  daughter 
were  shot  through  the  shoulder,  and  Mrs.  Ireland's 
youngest  child  was  shot  through  the  leg,  while 
rimning  to  the  slough.     Mr.  Hatch,  Mr.  Everett, 
Mr.  Eastlick,  Mrs.  Eastlick,  Mrs.  Everett,  and  sev- 
eral children  were  shot.     The  Indians  now  told 
the  women  to  come  out  of  the  slough,  and  they 
would  not  kill  them  or  the  children,  if  they  woidd 
come  out.     They  went  out  to  them  with  the  children, 
when  they  shot  Mrs.  Everett,  Mrs.  Smith,  and  Mrs. 
Ireland   dead,    and  killed  some  of   the  children. 
Mrs.  Eastlick  was  shot  and  left  on  the  field,  sup- 
posed to  be  dead,  but  she  finally  escaped,  and  two 
of  her  children,  Merton  and  Johnny.     Her  inter- 
esting narrative  will  be  found  in  the  large  work, 
from  which  this  abridgment  is  made  up.     Mrs. 
Julia  A.  Wright,  and  Mrs.  Duly,  and  the  two  chil- 
dren of  Mrs.  Wright,  and  two  of  the  children  of 
Mrs.   Duly  were   taken   captive.     Some  of  these 
were  taken  by  the  followers  of  Little  Crow  to  the 
Missouri  river,  and  were  subsequently  ransomed 
at  Fort  Pierre,  by  Major  Galpin.     All  the  men  ex- 
cept Mr.  Eastlick,  being  only  wounded,  escaped 
to  the  settlements.     The  brothers  Burns  remained 
on    their    claim,    and   were   not    molested.     One 
sneaking  Indian  coming  near  them  paid  the  for- 
feit with  his  life. 

Spirit  Lake. — On  or  about  the  25th  day  of 
August,  1862,  the  "Annuity  Sioux  Indians"  made 
their  appearance  at  Sfiirit  Lake,  the  scene  of  the 
terrible  Inkpaduta  massacre  of  1857.  The  inhab- 
itants fled  in  dismay  from  their  homes;  and  the 
savages,  after  plundering  the  dwelUngs  of  the  set- 


216 


niSTORT  OF  THE  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


tiers,  completed  their  fiendish  work  by  setting  fire 
to  the  country. 

Dakota  Tebbitobt. — Portions  of  Dakota  Ter- 
ritory were  visited  by  the  Sioux  in  1862.  At 
Sious  Falls  City  the  following  murders  were  com- 
mitted by  the  Sioux  Indians  on  tho  25th  of  Au- 
gust: Mr.  Joseph  B.  and  ]Mr.  M.  Amidon,  father 
and  son,  were  found  dead  in  a  com- field,  near 
which  they  had  been  making  hay.  The  son  was 
shot  with  both  balls  and  arrows,  the  father  with 
balls  only.  Their  bodies  lay  some  ten  rods  apart. 
On  the  morning  of  the  2Gth,  about  fifteen  Indians, 
supposed  to  be  Sioux,  attacked  the  camp  of  sol- 
diers at  that  place.  They  were  followed,  but 
eluded  the  vigilant  pursuit  of  our  soldiers  and  es- 
caped. The  families,  some  ten  in  number,  were 
removed  to  Yankton,  the  capital,  sixty-five  miles 
distant.  This  removal  took  place  before  the  mur- 
ders at  Lake  Shetek  were  known  at  Sioux  Falls 
Citv,  The  mail  carrier  who  carried  the  news  from 
New  Ulm  had  not  yet  arrived  at  Sioux  Falls,  on 
his  return  trip.  He  had,  on  his  outward  trip, 
found  Mrs.  EastUck  on  the  prairie,  near  Shetek, 
and  carried  her  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Bro^vn,  on  the 
Cottonwood. 

In  one  week  after  the  murders  at  the  Falls,  one- 
half  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Missouri  slope  had 
fled  to  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  six  miles  below  the  mouth 
of  the  Big  Sioux. 

The  Murder  of  Amos  Huggins. — Amos  Hug- 
gins  (in  the  language  of  Kev.  S.  B.  Kiggs,  in  his 
late  work,  1880,  entitled  "Mary  and  I,")  "was  the 
eldest  child  of  Alexander  G.  Huggins,  who  had 
accompanied  Dr.  Williamson  to  the  Sioux  coun- 
try in  1835.  Amos  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  was  at 
this  time  (1862)  over  thirty  years  old.  He  was 
married,  and  two  children  blessed  their  home, 
which  for  some  time  before  the  outbreak  had  been 
at  Lao  qui  Parle,  near  where  the  town  of  that 
name  now  stands.  It  was  then  an  Indian  village 
and  planting  place,  the  principal  man  being  Wa- 
kanmane — Spirit  Walker,  or  Walking  Spirit.  It 
the  people  of  the  village  had  been  at  home  Mr. 
Huggins  and  his  family,  which  inchided  Miss 
Julia  Laframboise,  who  was  also  a  teacher  in  the 
employ  of  the  Government,  would  have  been  sate. 
But  in  the  absence  of  Spirit  Walker's  people  three 
Indian  men  came — two  of  them  from  the  Lower 
Sioux  Agency — and  killed  Mr.  Huggins,  and  took 
from  the  house  such  things  as  they  wanted."  pp. 
169-170. 

This  apology  for  the  conduct  of  Christian  In- 


dians towards  the  missionaries  and  their  assistants, 
who  had  laljored  among  them  since  1835  up  to 
1862,  a  jjoriod  of  twenty-seven  years,  shows  a 
truly  Christian  spirit  on  the  part  of  the  Eev.  S.  K. 
Kiggs;  but  it  is  scarcely  satisfactory  to  the  general 
reader  that  the  Christian  Indians  were  entirely  in- 
nocent of  all  blame  in  the  great  massacre  of  1862. 


CHAPTER  XXXVn. 


Occurrences  previous  to  the  attack  on  the 
town  op  new  ulm — the  attack  by  indians 

JUDGE  FLANDRAU  ARRIVES  WITH  BEINFORCEMENTS 
EVACUATION  OF  NEW  ULM. 

On  the  18th  of  August,  the  day  of  the  outbreak, 
a  volunteer  recruiting  party  for  the  Union  army 
went  out  from  New  Ulm.  Some  eight  miles  west 
of  that  place  several  dead  bodies  were  found  on 
the  road.  The  party  turned  back  toward  the  town, 
and,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  were  fired  upon  by  In- 
dians in  ambush,  killing  several  of  their  party. 
Another  paity  leaving  New  Ulm  for  the  Lower 
Agency,  when  seven  miles  above  the  town  some 
fifty  Indians  near  the  road  fired  upon  them,  killing 
three  of  the.se  men.  This  party  returned  to  town. 
One  of  these  parties  had  seen,  near  the  Cotton- 
wood, Indians  kUl  a  man  on  a  stack  of  grain,  and 
some  others  in  the  field.  The  people  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  fled  for  their  lives  into  the  town, 
leiiving,  some  of  them,  portions  of  their  families 
killed  at  their  homes  or  on  the  way  to  some  place 
of  safety. 

During  the  18th  and  19th  of  August  the  In- 
dians overran  the  country,  burning  buildings  and 
driving  off  the  stock  from  the  farms. 

The  people  had  no  arms  fit  for  use,  and  were 
perfectly  panic-stricken  and  helpless.  But  the 
news  of  the  outbreak  had  reached  St.  Peter,  and  at 
about  one  o'clock  of  August  19th,  T.  B.  Thompson, 
James  Hughes,  Charles  Wetherell,  Samuel  Coflin, 
Merrick  Dickinson,  H.  Cay  wood,  A.  M.  Bean,  James 
Parker,  Andrew  Friend,  Henry  and  Frederick  Otto, 
C.  A.  Stein,  E.  G.  Covey,  Frank  Kennedy,  Thomas 
and  GriiBn  Williams,  and  the  Hon.  Henry  A.  Swift, 
afterwards  made  Governor  of  Minnesota,  by  opera- 
tion of  the  organic  law,  and  William  G.  Hayden, 
organized  themselves  into  a  company,  by  the  elec- 
tion of  A.  M.  BeaU;  Captain,  and  Samuel  Coffin, 
Lieutenant,  and  took  up  position  at  New  Ulm,  in 
the  defense  of  that  beleaguered  place.  They  at  once 
ad\  auced  ujjou  the  Indians,  who  were  pi.sted  behind 


BATTLE  OF  NEW   ULM. 


Ill 


the  houses  in  the  outer  portions  of  the  place.  By 
this  opportune  arrival  the  savage  foe  were  held  in 
check.  These  were  soon  joined  by  another  arrival 
from  St.  Peter:  L.  M.  Bordman,  J.  B.  Trogdon,  J. 
K.  Moore,  Horace  Austin  (since  Governor),  P.  M. 
Bean,  James  Homer,  Jacob  and  Philijj  Stetzer, 
William  Wilkinson,  Lewis  Patch,  S.  A.  Buell,  and 
Henry  Snyder,  all  mounted,  as  well  as  a  few  from 
the  surrounding  country. 

By  the  time  these  several  parties  had  arrived, 
the  savages  had  retired,  after  burning  five  build- 
ings on  the  outskirts  of  the  town.  In  the  first 
battle  several  were  killed,  one  Miss  Paula  of  the 
place,  standing  on  the  sidewalk  opposite  the  Da- 
kota House.     The  enemy's  loss  is  not  known. 

Ou  the  same  evening  Hon.  Charles  E.  Flandran, 
at  the  head  of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
men,  volunteers  from  St.  Peter  and  vicinity,  en- 
tered the  town;  and  reinforcements  continued  to 
arrive  from  Blankato,  Le  Sueur,  and  other  points, 
untQ  Thursday,  the  21st,  when  about  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty-live  armed  men  were  in  New  Ulm, 
under  the  command  of  Judge  Flandrau.  Cap- 
tain Bierbauer,  at  the  head  of  one  hundred  men, 
from  Mankato,  arrived  and  participated  in  the  de- 
fense of  the  place. 

Some  rude  barricades  around  a  few  of  the 
houses  in  the  center  of  the  village,  fitted  up  by 
means  of  wagons,  boxes  and  waste  lumber,  par- 
tially protected  the  volunteer  soldiery  operating 
now  under  a  chosen  leader. 

On  Saturday,  the  22d,  the  commandant  sent 
aci'oss  the  river  seventy-five  of  his  men  to  dislodge 
some  Indians  intent  on  burning  buildings  and 
grain  and  hay  stacks.  First  Lieutenant  William 
Huey,  of  Traverse  des  Sioux,  commanded  this 
force.  This-  officer,  on  reaching  the  opposite 
shore,  discovered  a  large  body  of  Indians  in  ad- 
vance of  him;  and  in  attempting  to  return  was 
completely  intercepted  by  large  bodies  of  Indians 
on  each  side  of  the  river.  There  was  Ijiit  one  way 
of  escape,  and  that  was  to  retreat  to  the  company 
of  E.  St.  Julien  Cox,  known  to  be  approaching 
from  the  direction  of  St.  Peter.  This  force,  thus 
cut  off,  returned  with  the  command  of  Captain  E. 
St.  Julien  Cox;  and  with  this  increased  force  of 
one  hiuidred  and  seventy-five.  Captain  Cox  soon 
after  entered  the  town  to  the  relief  of  both  citizens 
and  soldiers. 

The  Imlians  at  the  siege  of  New  Ulm,  at  t'  p 
time  <).  the  princija)  attack  before  the  arrival  (.: 
Cupt..in  Cox,  weie  estimated  at  about  five  i.un  i.    , 


coming  from  the  direction  of  the  Lower  Agency. 
The  movement  is  thus  described  by  Judge  Flan- 
drau: 

"Their  advance  upon  the  sloping  prairie  in  the 
bright  sTinlight  was  a  very  fine  spectacle,  and  to 
such  inexperienced  soldiers  as  we  all  were,  intense- 
ly exciting.  When  within  about  one  mile  of  us 
the  mass  began  to  expand  like  a  fan,  and  increas- 
ing in  the  velocity  of  its  approach,  continued 
this  movement  until  within  about  double  rifle-shot, 
when  it  covered  our  entire  front.  Then  the  sav- 
ages uttered  a  terrific  yell  and  came  down  upon 
us  like  the'  wind.  I  had  stationed  myself  at  a 
point  in  the  rear  where  communication  could  be 
had  with  me  easily,  and  awaited  the  first  discharge 
with  great  anxiety,  as  it  seemed  to  me  that  to 
yield  was  certain  destruction,  as  the  enemies  would 
rush  into  the  town  and  drive  all  before  them.  The 
yell  unsettled  the  men  a  little,  and  just  before  the 
rifles  began  to  crack  they  fell  back  along  the  whole 
line,  and  committed  the  error  of  passing  the  outer 
houses  without  taking  possession  of  them,  a  mis- 
take which  the  Indians  immediately  took  advan- 
tage of  by  themselves  occupying  them  in  squads 
of  two,  three  and  up  to  ten.  They  poured  into 
us  a  sharp  and  rapid  fire  as  we  fell  back,  and 
opened  from  the  houses  in  every  direction.  Sev- 
eral of  us  rode  up  to  the  hill,  endeavoring  to  rally 
the  men,  and  with  good  effect,  as  they  gave  three 
cheers  and  sallied  out  of  the  various  houses  they' 
had  retreated  to,  and  checked  the  advance  effect- 
ually. The  firing  from  both  sides  then  became 
general,  sharp  and  rapid,  and  it  got  to  be  a  regu- 
lar Indian  .skirmish,  in  which  every  man  did  his 
own  work  after  his  own  fashion.  The  Indians  had 
now  got  into  the  rear  of  our  men,  and  nearly  on 
all  sides  of  them,  and  the  fire  of  the  enemy  was 
becoming  very  galling,  as  they  had  possession  of 
a  large  number  of  buildings." 

Fight  at  the  Wind-Mill. — Rev.  B.  G.  Coffin, 
of  Mankato,  George  B.  Stewart,  of  Le  Sueur,  and 
J.  B.  Trogdon,  of  Nicollet,  and  thirteen  others, 
fought  their  way  to  the  wind-mill.  This  they 
held  during  the  battle,  their  unerring  shots  tel 
ing  fearfully  upon  the  savages,  and  finally  forcing 
them  to  retire.  At  night  these  brave  men  set  fire 
to  the  buildiDg,  and  then  retreated  within  the  bar- 
ricades, in  the  vicinity  of  the  Dakota  House. 
During  the  firing  from  this  mill  a  most  determined 
and  •  btin.ite  figlit  was  kept  up  from  the  brick 
Hi  f.  where  Governor  Swift  was  stationed, 
.■  d   most  fatally   upon  the  foe,  and  from 


218 


niSTORT   OF  THE   SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


this  point  many  an  Indian  fell  before  the  deadly 
aim  of  the  true  men  stationed  there. 

Captain  William  B.  Dodd. — When  the  attack 
was  made  upon  the  place  the  Indians  had  suc- 
ceeded in  reaching  the  Lower  Town.  The  wind 
was  favoring  them,  as  tlie  smoke  of  burning  build- 
ings was  carried  into  the  main  portion  of  the  town, 
behind  which  they  were  advancing.  "Captain 
William  B.  Dodd,  of  St.  Peter,  seeing  the  move- 
ment from  that  quarter,  supposed  the  expected  re- 
inforcements were  in  from  that  direction.  He 
made  at  once  a  superhuman  elTort,  almost,  to  en- 
courage the  coming  troops  to  force  the  Indian 
line  and  gain  admittance  into  the  town.  He  had 
gone  about  seventy-five  yards  outside  the  lines, 
when  the  Indians  from  buildings  on  either  side  of 
the  street  poured  a  full  volley  into  the  horse  and 
rider.  The  Captain  received  three  balls  near  his 
heart,  wheeled  his  horse,  and  riding  within  twenty- 
five  yards  of  our  lines  fell  from  his  horse,  and  was, 
assisted  to  walk  into  a  house,  where  in  a  few  mo- 
ments he  died,  'the  noblest  Roman  of  them  all.' 
He  dictated  a  short  message  to  his  wife,  and  re- 
marked that  he  liad  discharged  his  duty  and  was 
ready  to  die.  No  man  fought  more  courageously, 
or  died  more  nobly.  Let  his  virtues  be  forever  re- 
membered. He  was  a  hero  of  the  truest  type!" 
— St.  Peter  Statesman. 

At  the  stage  of  the  battle  in  which  Captain 
Dodd  was  killed,  several  others  also  were  either 
killed  or  wounded.  Captain  Saunders,  a  Baptist 
minister  of  Le  Svieur,  was  wounded,  with  miiny 
others.  Howell  Houghton,  an  old  settler,  was 
killed.  The  contest  was  continued  until  dark, 
when  the  enemy  began  to  carry  off  their  dead  and 
wounded.  In  the  morning  of  the  next  day  (Sun- 
day) a  feeble  firing  was  kept  up  for  several  hours 
by  the  sullen  and  retiring  foe.  The  battle  of  New 
Ulm  had  been  fought,  and  the  whites  were  masters 
of  the  field;  but  at  what  a  fearful  price!  The 
dead  and  dying  and  wounded  filled  the  buildings 
left  standing,  and  this  l^eautiful  and  entoiprising 
German  town,  which  on  Monday  morning  con- 
tained over  two  hundred  buildings,  had  been  laid 
in  ashes,  only  some  twenty-five  houses  remaining 
to  mark  the  spot  where  New  Ulm  once  stood. 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  Captain  Cox's  command, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  volunteers  from  Nicollet, 
Sibley  and  Le  Sueur,  armed  with  Austrian  rifles, 
shot-guns  and  hunting  rifles  arrived.  The  Indians 
retreated,  and  returned  no  more  to  make  battle 
with  the  forces  at  New  Ulm. 


But  strange  battle  field.  The  Indians  deserted 
it  on  Sunday,  and  on  Monday  the  successful  de- 
fenders also  retire  from  a  place  they  dare  uot  at- 
tempt to  hold!  The  town  was  evacuated.  All 
the  women  and  children,  and  wounded  men, 
making  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  wagon  loads, 
while  a  considerable  number  composed  the  com- 
pany on  /oot.  AH  these  moved  with  the  command 
of  Judge  riandrau  towards  Mankato. 

The  loss  to  our  forces  in  this  engagement  was 
ten  killed,  and  about  fifty  wounded.  The  lots  of  the 
enemy  is  unknown,  but  must  have  been  heavy,  as 
ten  of  their  dead  were  found  on  the  field  of  battle, 
which  they  bad  been  unable  to  remove. 

We  might  fill  volumes  with  incidents,  and  mi- 
raculous escapes  from  death,  but  our  limits  abso- 
lutely forbid  their  introduction  in  this  abridge- 
ment. The  reader  must  consult  the  larger  work 
for  these  details.  The  escape  of  Governor  Swift, 
riandrau  and  Bird,  and  J.  B.  Trogdon  and  D.  G. 
Shellaek  and  others  from  perilous  positions,  are 
among  the  many  exciting  incidents  of  the  siege  of 
New  Ulm. 

Omitting  the  story  of  John  W.  Young,  of  won- 
derful interest,  we  refer  briefly  to  the  weightier 
matters  of  this  sad  chapter,  and  conclude  the  same 
by  the  relation  of  one  short  chapter. 

THE  EXPEDITION  TO  LEAVEN^'OETH. 

During  the  siege  of  New  Ulm,  two  expeditions 
were  sent  out  from  that  place  toward  the  settle- 
ments on  the  Big  Cottonwood,  and  although  not 
really  forming  a  part  of  the  operations  of  a  de- 
fensive character  at  that  place,  are  yet  so  connect- 
ed with  them  that  we  give  them  here. 

On  Thursday  morning,  the  21st  of  August,  a 
party  went  out  on  the  road  to  Leavenworth  for  the 
purpose  of  burying  the  dead,  aiding  the  wounded 
and  bringing  them  in,  should  they  find  any,  and 
to  act  as  a  scouting  party.  They  went  out  some 
eight  miles,  found  and  buried  several  bodies,  and 
returned  to  New  Ulm,  at  night,  without  seeing 
c'.ny  Indians. 

On  Friday,  the  22d,  another  party  of  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  men,  under  command  of  Captain 
George  M.  Tousley,  started  for  the  purpose  of  res- 
cuing a  party  of  eleven  persons,  women  and  child- 
ren, who,  a  refugee  informed  the  commandant, 
were  hiding  in  a  ravine  out  toward  Leavenwortli. 
Accompanying  this  party  were  Drs.  A.  W.  Daniels, 
of  St.  Peter,  and  Ayer,  of  Le  Sueur. 

On  the  way  out,  the  cannonading  at  Fort 
Ridgely  was  distinctly  beard  by  them,   and   then 


STATEMENT  OF  RALPH  THOM.iS. 


219 


Dr.  Daniels,  who  had  resided  among  the  Sioux 
several  years  as  a  physician  to  the  lower  bands, 
had,  for  the  first  time,  some  conception  of  the  ex- 
tent and  magnitude  of  the  outbreak. 

As  the  main  object  of  the  expedition  had  alrea- 
dy been  accomplished — i.  e.,  the  rescue  of  the  wo- 
men and  children — Dr.  Daniels  urged  a  return  to 
New  Ulm.  The  question  was  submitted  to  the 
company,  and  they  decided  to  go  on,  and  proceed- 
ed to  within  four  miles  of  Leavenworth,  the  de- 
sign being  to  go  to  that  place,  remain  there  all 
night,  bury  the  dead  next  day,  and  return. 

It  was  now  nearly  night;  the  cannonading  at 
the  fort  could  still  be  heard;  Indian  spies  were, 
undoubtedly,  watching  them;  only  about  one 
hundred  armed  men  were  left  in  the  town,  and 
from  his  intimate  knowledge  of  the  Indian  char- 
acter. Dr.  Daniels  was  convinced  that  the  safety  of 
their  force,  as  well  as  New  "Dim  itself,  required 
their  immediate  return. 

A  halt  was  called,  and  this  view  of  the  case  was 
presented  to  the  men  by  Drs.  Daniels,  Ayer,  and 
Mayo.  A  vote  was  again  taken,  and  it  was  deci- 
ded to  return.  The  return  march  commenced  at 
about  sundown,  and  at  one  o'clock  a.  m.  they  re- 
entered the  village. 

Ealph  Thomas,  who  resided  on  the  Big  Cotton- 
wood, in  the  county  of  Brown,  had  gone  with 
many  of  his  neighbors,  on  Monday,  the  18th  of 
August,  into  New  Ulm  tor  safety,  while  William 
Carroll  and  some  others  residing  further  iip  the 
river,  in  Leavenworth,  had  gone  to  the  same  place 
to  ascertain  whether  the  rumors  they  had  heard 
of  an  uprising  among  the  Sioux  were  trae.  Mr. 
Thomas  makes  the  following  statement  of  the  do- 
ings of  this  little  party,  and  its  subsequent  fate: 

"  There  were  eight  of  us  on  horseback,  and  the 
balance  of  the  party  were  in  three  wagons.  We 
had  gone  about  a  mile  when  we  met  a  German 
going  into  New  Ubn,  who  said  he  saw  Indians  at 
my  place  skinning  a  heifer,  and  that  they  drove 
him  off,  chasing  him  with  spears.  He  had  come 
from  near  Leavenworth.  We  kept  on  to  my  place, 
near  which  we  met  John  Thomas  and  Almon  Par- 
ker, who  had  remained  the  night  before  in  a  grove 
of  timber,  one  and  a  half  miles  from  my  place. 
About  eight  o'clock  the  evening  before,  they  had 
seen  a  party  of  ten  or  twelve  Indians,  mounted  on 
ponies,  coming  toward  them,  who  chased  them  into 
the  grove,  the  savages  passing  on  to  the  right, 
leaving  them  alone.  They  stated  to  us  that  they 
had  seen  Indians  that  morning  traveling  over  the 


prairie  southward.  We  stopped  at  my  place  and 
fed  our  horses.  While  the  horses  were  eating,  I 
called  for  three  or  four  men  to  go  with  me  to  the 
nearest  houses,  to  see  what  had  become  of  the  peo- 
ple. We  went  first  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Mey,  where 
we  found  him  and  his  family  lying  around  the 
house,  to  all  appearance  dead.  We  also  found 
here  Joseph  Emery  and  a  Mr.  Heuyer,  also  appa- 
rently dead.  We  had  been  here  some  five  minutes 
viewing  the  scene,  when  one  of  the  children,  a  girl 
of  seven  years,  rose  up  from  the  ground  and  com- 
menced crying  piteously.  I  took  her  in  my  arms, 
and  told  the  other  men  to  examine  the  other  bodies 
and  see  if  there  were  not  more  of  them  alive. 
They  found  two  others,  a  twin  boy  and  girl  about 
two  years  old;  all  the  rest  were  dead. 

"  We  next  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Mr.  George 
Eaeser,  and  found  the  bodies  of  himself  and  wife 
lying  near  the  house  by  a  stack  of  grain.  We 
went  into  the  house  and  found  their  child,  eighteen 
months  old,  ahve,  trying  to  get  water  out  of  the 
pail.  We  then  went  back  to  my  place,  and  sent 
John  Thomas  and  Mr.  Parker  with  an  ox-team  to 
New  Ulm  with  these  chOdren.  Mr.  Mey's  three 
children  were  wounded  with  blows  of  a  tomahawk 
on  the  head;  the  other  child  was  uninjured.  We 
then  went  on  toward  Leavenworth,  seeing  neither 
Indians  nor  whites,  until  we  arrived  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Seaman,  near  which  we  found  an  old  gen- 
tleman named  Riant  concealed  in  a  slough  among 
the  tall  grass.  He  stated  to  us  that  a  party  of 
whites  with  him  had  been  chased  and  fired  upon 
by  a  party  of  Indians.  It  consisted  of  himself, 
Luther  Whiton,  George  W.  Covill  and  wife,  Mrs. 
Covin's  son,  Mrs.  Hough  and  child,  Mr.  Van  Guil- 
der and  wife  and  two  children,  and  Mr.  Van  Guil- 
der's mother.  AH  these  Mr.  Eiant  said  had  scat- 
tered over  the  prairie.  We  remained  about  two 
hours,  hunting  for  the  party,  and  not  finding 
them,  turned  back  toward  New  Ulm,  taking  Mr. 
Riant  with  us.  We  proceeded  down  opposite  my 
place,  where  we  separated,  eleven  going  down  on 
one  side  of  the  Big  Cottonwood,  to  Mr.  Tuttle's 
place,  and  seven  of  us  proceeded  down  on  the 
other,  or  north  side  of  the  stream.  The  design 
was  to  meet  again  at  Mr.  Tiitjle's  house,  and  all 
go  back  to  New  Ulm  together;  but  when  we  ar- 
rived at  Tuttle's,  they  had  gone  on  to  town  with- 
out waiting  for  us,  and  we  followed.  When  near 
Mr.  Hibbard's  place  we  met  Mr.  .Takes  going  west. 
He  said  that  he  had  been  within  a  mile  of  New 
Ulm,  and  saw  the  other  men  of  our  jiarty.     He 


220 


HISrORT  OF  THE  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


ftiitUpr  in'oi-med  us  that  he  saw  grjiin-staeks  and 
sh.  ds  on  lire  at  that  distance  from  the  place. 

"  When  -we  came  to  the  burning  stacks  we  halted 
to  look  for  Indians.  Our  comrades  were  half  an 
Jiour  ahead  of  us.  When  they  got  in  sight  of  the 
town,  one  of  them,  Mr.  Hinton,  rode  up  on  an  ele- 
vation, where  he  could  overlook  the  place,  and  saw 
Indians,  and  the  town  on  fire  in  several  places.  He 
went  back  and  told  tliem  that  the  Indians  had  at- 
tacked the  town,  and  that  he  did  not  consider  it 
safe  for  them  to  try  to  get  in,  and  proposed  cross- 
ing the  Cottonwood,  and  going  toward  the  Man- 
kato  road,  and  entering  town  on  that  side.  His 
proposition  was  opposed  by  several  of  the  party, 
who  thought  him  frightened  at  the  sight  of  half  a 
dozen  Indians.  They  asked  him  how  many  he  had 
seen.  He  said  some  forty.  They  came  up  and 
looked,  but  could  see  but  three  or  four  Indians. 
Mr.  Carroll  told  them  they  had  better  go  on,  and, 
if  opposed,  out  their  way  through.  He  told  Hin- 
ton t«  lead,  and  they  would  follow.  They  passed 
down  the  hill,  and  met  with  no  opposition  until 
they  came  to  a  slough,  half  a  mile  from  the  town. 
Here  two  Indians,  standing  on  a  large  stone  by  the 
side  of  the  road,  leveled  their  double-barreled 
guns  at  Mr.  Hinton.  He  drew  his  revolver,  placed 
it  between  his  horse's  ears,  and  made  for  them. 
The  balance  of  the  company  followed.  The  Indi- 
ans retired  to  cover  without  firing  a  shot,  and  the 
company  kept  on  iintil  they  had  crossed  the  slough, 
when  the  savages,  who  were  lying  in  ambush, 
arose  from  the  grass,  and  firing  upon  them,  killed 
five  of  their  number,  viz. :  William  Carroll,  Almond 
Loomis,  Mr.  Lamb,  Mr.  Riant,  and  a  Norwegian, 
and  chased  the  balance  into  the  town. 

"We  came  on  about  half  an  hour  afterward,  and 
passing  down  the  hill,  crossed  the  same  slough, 
and  unconsciims  of  danger,  approached  the  fatal 
spot,  when  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  savr.ges 
sprang  up  out  of  the  grass  and  fired  upon  us, 
killing  five  horses  and  six  men.  My  own  horse 
was  shot  through  the  body,  close  to  my  leg,  killing 
him  instantly.  My  feet  were  out  of  the  stirrups  in 
a  moment,  and  I  sprang  to  the  ground,  striking 
on  my  hands  and  feet.  I  dropped  my  gun,  jump- 
ed up,  and  ran.  An  Indian,  close  behind,  dis- 
charged the  contents  of  both  barrels  of  a  shot-gun 
at  me.  The  charge  tore  up  the  ground  at  my  feet, 
throwing  dirt  all  around  me  as  I  ran.  I  made  my 
way  into  town  on  foot  as  fast  as  I  could  go.  No 
other  of  our  party  cscajjcd;  all  the  rest  were 
killed.     Beinforcements  fiom    St.  Peter   came  to 


the  relitf  of  the  place  in  about  half  an  hour  after 
I  got  in,  and  the  Indians  soon  after  retired." 


CHAPTiiR  SXXVin. 


BATTLE    AT    LOWER    AGESCT    FERRY— SIEGE  OF  FORT 

BIDGELY BATTLE  OF  WEDNESDAY— JACK  FRAZER 

B.\TTLE  OF  FRIDAY— HEINFOBCEMENTS   ARRIVE. 

On  Monday  morning,  the  18th  of  August,  1862, 
at  about  9  o'clock,  a  messenger  arrived  at  Fort 
Kidgely,  from  the  Lower  Sioux  Agency,  bringing 
the  startling  news  that  the  Indians  were  massacre- 
ing  the  whites  at  that  place.  Captain  John  S. 
Marsh,  of  Company  B,  Fifth  Eegiment  Minnesota 
Volunteer  Infantry,  then  in  command,  immediately 
dispatched  mefscngers  after  Lieutenant  Shcehan, 
of  Company  C,  of  the  same  regiment,  wl.o  had  left 
that  post  on  the  morning  before,  with  a  detach- 
ment of  his  company,  for  Fort  Eipley,  on  the 
Upper  Mississipi,  and  Major  T.  J.  Galbraith,  Sioux 
Agent,  who  had  akso  left  tl.e  fort  at  the  same  time 
with  fifty  men,  afterwards  known  as  the  Een- 
vUle  Rangers,  for  Fort  Snelling,  urging  them  to 
return  to  Fort  Eiilgely  with  all  possible  dispatch, 
as  there  were  then  in  the  fort  only  Company  B, 
numbering  about  seventy-five  or  eighty  men.  Tl.e 
gallant  captain  then  took  a  detachment  of  forty- 
six  men,  and  accompanied  by  Interpreter  Quinn, 
immediately  started  for  the  scone  of  blood,  distant 
twelve  mOes.  Thoy  made  a  very  rapid  march. 
When  within  about  four  miles  of  the  ferry,  op- 
posite the  Agency,  they  met  the  ferryman,  Mr. 
Martelle,  who  informed  Captain  Marsh  that  the  In- 
dians were  in  considerable  force,  and  wore  mur- 
dering all  the  people,  and  advised  hira  to  return. 
He  replied  that  he  was  there  to  protect  and  defend 
the  frontier,  and  he  should  do  so  if  it  was  in  his 
power,  and  gave  the  order  "Forward !"  Between 
this  point  and  the  river  they  passed  nine  dead 
bodies  on  or  near  the  road.  Arriving  near  the 
ferry  the  company  was  halted,  and  Corporal 
Ezekiel  Rose  was  sent  forward  to  examine  the  ferry, 
and  see  if  all  was  right.  The  captain  and  inter- 
preter were  mounted  on  mules,  the  men  were  on 
foot,  and  formed  in  two  ranks  in  the  road,  near 
the  ferry-house,  a  few  rods  from  the  banks  of  the 
river.  The  corporal  had  taken  a  pail  with  him  to 
the  river,  and  returned,  reporting  the  ferry  all 
right,  bringing  with  him  water  for  the  exhausted 
and  thirsty  men. 


CAPTAIN   MARSn  KILLED. 


221 


lu  the  meantime  an  Indian  bad  made  liis  ap- 
pearance on  the  opposite  bank,  and  calling  to 
Quiun,  urged  them  to  come  across,  telling  him  all 
was  right  on  that  side.  The  suspicions  of  the  cap- 
tain were  at  once  aroused,  and  he  ordered  the  men 
to  remain  in  their  places,  and  not  to  move  on  to 
the  boat  until  he  could  ascertain  whether  the  In- 
dians were  in  ajubush  in  the  ravines  on  the  ojipo- 
site  shore.  The  men  were  in  the  act  of  drinking, 
when  the  savage  on  the  opposite  side,  seeing  they 
were  not  going  to  cross  at  once,  fired  his  gun,  as  a 
signal,  when  instantly  there  arose  out  of  the  grass 
and  brush,  all  around  them,  some  four  or  five  hun- 
dred warriors,  who  i3oured  a  terrifio  volley  upon 
the  devoted  band.  The  aged  interpreter  fell  from 
his  mule,  pierced  by  over  twenty  balls.  The  cap- 
tain's mule  fell  dead,  but  he  himself  sprang  to  the 
ground  unhai  med.  Several  of  the  men  fell  at  this 
first  fire.  The  testimony  of  the  survivors  of  this 
sanguinary  engagement  is,  that  "their  brave  com- 
mander was  as  cool  and  collected  as  if  on  dress  pa- 
rade. They  retreated  down  the  stream  about  a 
mile  and  a  half,  fighting  their  way  inch  by  inch, 
when  it  was  discovered  that  a  body  of  Indians, 
taking  advantage  of  the  fact  that  there  was  a  bend 
in  the  river,  had  gone  across  and  gained  the  bank 
below  them. 

The  heroic  little  band  was  already  reduced  to 
about  one-half  its  original  number.  To  cut  their 
way  through  this  large  number  of  Indians  was 
impossible.  Their  only  hope  now  was  to  cross  the 
river  to  the  reservation,  as  there  app)eared  to  be  no 
Indians  on  that  shore,  retreat  do^vn  that  side  and 
recross  at  the  fort.  The  river  was  supposed  to  be 
fordable  where  they  were,  and,  accordingly,  Capt. 
Marsh  gave  the  order  to  cross.  Taking  his  sword 
in  one  hand  and  his  revolver  in  the  other,  accom- 
panied by  his  men,  he  waded  out  into  the  stream. 
It  was  very  soon  ascertained  that  they  must  swim, 
when  these  who  could  not  do  so  returned  to  the 
shore  and  hid  in  the  grass  as  best  they  could, 
while  those  who  could,  dropped  their  arms  and 
struck  out  for  the  opposite  side.  Among  these 
latter  was  Capt.  Marsh.  When  near  the  opposite 
shore  he  was  struck  by  a  ball,  and  immediately 
sank,  but  arose  again  to  the  surface,  and  grasped 
the  shoulder  of  a  man  at  his  side,  but  the  garment 
gave  way  in  his  grasp,  and  he  again  sank,  this 
time  to  i-lse  no  more. 

Thirteen  of  the  men  reached  the  bank  in  safety, 
a  ;d   returned  to  the   fort    that  night.     Those  of 


them  who  were  unable  to  cross  remained  in  the 
grass  and  bushes  until  night,  when  they  made 
their  way,  also,  to  the  fort  or  settlements.  Some 
of  them  were  badly  wounded,  and  were  out  two  or 
three  days  before  they  got  in.  Two  weeks  after 
ward,  Josiah  F-.  Marsh,  brother  of  the  caj.- 
tain,  with  a  mounted  escort  of  thirty  men — l.i.- 
old  neighbors  from  Fillmore  county — made  search 
for  his  body,  but  without  success.  On  the  day 
before  and  the  day  after  this  search,  as  was  sub- 
sequently ascertained,  two  hundred  Indians  were 
scouting  along  the  river,  upon  the  the  very  ground 
over  which  these  thirty  men  passed,  in  their  fruit- 
less search  for  the  remains  of  theii-  dead  brother 
and  friend.  Two  weeks  later  another  search  was 
made  with  boats  along  the  river,  and  this  time  the 
search  was  successful.  His  body  was  discovered 
a  mile  and  a  half  below  where  he  was  killed,  under 
the  roots  of  a  tree  standing  at  the  water's  edge. 
His  remains  were  borne  by  his  sorrowing  com- 
panions to  Fort  Ridgely,  and  deposited  in  the 
military  burial-ground  at  that  place. 

This  gallant  uiBoer  demands  more  than  a  pass- 
ing notice.  When  the  Southern  rebellion  broke 
out,  in  1861,  John  S.  Marsh  was  residing  in  FUl- 
more  county,  Minnesota.  A  company  was  re- 
cruited in  his  neighborhood,  designed  for  the  gal- 
lant 1st  Minnesota,  of  which  he  was  made  first 
lieutenant.  Before,  however,  this  company  reach- 
ed Fort  Snelling,  the  place  of  rendezvous,  the  reg- 
iment was  lull,  and  it  was  disbanded.  The  patri- 
otic fire  still  burned  in  the  soul  of  young  Marsh. 
Going  to  La  Crosse,  he  volimteered  as  a  primte  in 
the  2d  Wisconsin  regiment,  and  served  some  ten 
months  in  the  ranks.  In  the  following  winter  his 
brother,  J.  F.  Marsh,  assisted  in  raising  a  com- 
pany in  Fillmore  countj',  of  which  John  S.  was 
elected  first  lieutenant,  and  he  was  therefore  trans- 
ferred, by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  his 
company,  and  arrived  at  St.  Paul  about  the  12th 
of  March,  1862.  In  the  meantime.  Captain  Gere 
was  promoted  to  major,  and  on  the  2ith  Lieuten- 
ant Marsh  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of  his 
company,  and  ordered  to  report  at  Fort  Ridgely 
and  take  command  of  that  important  frontier  post. 
Captain  Marsh  at  once  repaired  to  his  post  of 
duty,  where  he  remained  in  command  imtil  the 
fatal  encounter  of  the  18th  terminated  both  his 
usefulness  and  life.  He  was  a  brave  and  accom- 
plished soldier,  and  a  noble  man, 

'Niino  knew  him  but  to  love  him, 
None  named  him  but  to  praise." 


222 


HISTORY  OF  TUB  SIOUX  MASS  AG  HE. 


SIEGE   OF   FOET   KIDGELT. 

Foiled  in  their  attack  on  New  Ulm  by  the 
timely  arrival  of  reinforcements  under  Flandrau, 
the  Indians  turned  their  attention  toward  Fort 
Ridgely,  eighteen  miles  north-west.  On  Wednes- 
day, at  three  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  20th  of  August, 
they  suddenly  appeared  in  great  force  at  that 
post,  and  at  once  commenced  a  furious  assault 
upon  it.  The  fort  is  situated  on  the  edge  of  the 
prairie,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  Minnesota  river, 
a  timbered  bottom  intervening,  and  a  wooded  ra- 
vine running  up  out  of  the  bottom  around  two 
sides  of  the  fort,  and  within  about  twenty  rods  of 
the  buildings,  affording  shelter  for  an  enemy  on 
three  sides,  within  easy  rifle  or  musket  range. 

The  first  Icnowledge  the  garrison  had  of  the 
presence  of  the  foe  was  given  by  a  volley  from  the 
rapine,  which  drove  in  the  pickets.  The  men  were 
instantly  formed,  by  order  of  Lieutenant  Sheehan, 
in  line  of  battle,  on  the  parade-ground  inside  the 
works.  Two  men,  Mark  M.  Grear,  of  Company 
C,  and  William  Goode,  of  Company  B,  fell  at  the 
first  fire  of  the  concealed  foe,  after  the  line  was 
formed;  the  former  was  instantly  killed,  the  latter 
badly  ■wounded,  both  being  shot  in  the  head. 
Robert  Baker,  a  citizen,  who  had  escaped  from  the 
massacre  at  the  Lower  Agency,  was  shot  through 
the  head  and  instantly  killed,  while  standing  at  a 
window  in  the  barracks,  at  about  the  same  time. 
The  men  soon  broke  for  shelter,  and  from  behind 
boxes,  from  windows,  from  the  shelter  of  the 
buildings,  and  from  every  spot  where  concealment 
was  possible,  watched  their  opportunities,  wasted 
no  ammunition,  but  poured  theu'  shots  with  deadly 
effect  upon  the  wUy  and  savage  foe  whenever  he 
suffered  himself  to  be  seen. 

The  forces  in  the  fort  at  this  time  were  the  rem- 
nant of  Company  B,  5th  Regiment  M.  V.,  Lieu- 
tenant Culver,  thirty  men;  about  fifty  men  of 
Company  C,  same  regiment,  Lieutenant  T.  ,T. 
Sheehan;  the  Renville  Rangers,  Lieutenant  James 
Gorman,  numbering  fifty  men,  all  under  command 
of  Lieutenant  T.  J.  Sheehan. 

Sergeant  John  Jones,  of  the  regular  army,  a 
brave  and  skillful  man,  was  stationed  at  this  fort 
as  post-sergeant,  in  charge  of  the  ordnance,  and 
took  immediate  command  of  the  artillery,  of  which 
there  were  in  the  fort  six  pieces.  Three  only,  how- 
ever, were  used — two  six-pounder  howitzers  and 
one  twenty-four-pouuder  field-piece.  A  sufficient 
number  of  men  had  been  detailed  to  work  these 


guns,  and  at  the  instant  of  the  fi*st  alarm  were 
promptly  at  their  posts.  One  of  the  guns  was 
placed  in  charge  of  a  citizen  named  J.  C.  Whipple, 
fm  old  artillerist,  who  had  seen  service  in  the  Mex- 
ican war,  and  in  the  United  States  navy,  and  had 
made  his  escape  from  the  massacre  at  the  Lower 
Agency,  and  one  in  charge  of  Sergeant  McGrew, 
of  Company  C;  the  other  in  charge  of  Sergeant 
Jones  in  person.  In  this  assault  there  were,  prob- 
ably, not  less  than  five  hundred  warriors,  led  by 
their  renowned  chief,  Little  Crow. 

So  sudden  had  been  the  outbreak,  and  so  weak 
was  the  garrison  that  there  had  been  no  time  to 
construct  any  defensive  works  whatever,  or  to  re- 
move or  destroy  the  wooden  structures  and  hay- 
stacks, behind  which  the  enemy  could  take  position 
and  shelter.  The  magazine  was  situated  some 
twenty  rods  outside  the  main  works  on  the  open 
prairie.  Men  were  at  once  detailed  to  take  the 
ammunition  into  the  fort.  Theii-s  was  the  post  of 
danger;  but  they  passed  through  the  leaden  storm 
un.scathed. 

In  the  rear  of  the  barracks  was  a  ravine  up  which 
the  St.  Peter  road  passed.  The  enemy  had  poses- 
sion  of  this  ravine  and  road,  while  others  were 
posted  in  the  buildings,  at  the  windows,  and  in 
sheltered  portions  in  the  sheds  in  the  rear  of  the 
officer's  quarters.  Here  they  fought  from  3  o'clock 
until  dark,  the  artillery  all  the  while  shelling  the 
ravine  at  short  range,  and  the  rifles  and  muskets 
of  the  men  dropping  the  yelling  demons  like  au- 
tumn leaves.  In  the  meantime  the  Indians  had 
got  into  some  of  the  old  out-buildings,  and  had 
crawled  up  behind  the  hay-stacks,  from  which  they 
poured  heavy  volleys  into  the  fort.  A  few  well-di- 
rected shells  fi'om  the  howitzers  set  them  on  fire, 
and  when  night  closed  over  the  scene  the  lurid 
light  of  the  burnmg  buildings  shot  up  with  a  fit- 
ful glare,  and  served  the  purpose  of  revoaUug  to 
the  wary  sentinel  the  lurking  foe  should  he  again 
appear. 

The  Indians  retired  with  the  closing  day,  and 
were  seen  in  large  ni^mbers  on  their  ponies,  mak- 
ing their  way  rapidly  toward  tJje  Agency.  The 
great  danger  feared  by  all  was,,  that,  under  cover 
of  the  darkness,  the  savages  might  creep  up  to  the 
buildings  and  with  fire-arrows  ignite  the  dry  roofs 
of  the  wooden  structures.  But  about  midnight 
tlic  heavens  opened  and  the  earth  was  deluged 
with  rain,  effectually  preventing  the  consumma- 
tion of  such  a  design,  if  it  was  intended.  As  the 
first  great  drops  fell  on  the  faces  upturned  to  the 


FORT  RIDOELT  ATTACKED. 


223 


gathering  heavens  the  glad  shout  of  "Kain!  rain! 
thank  God!  thank  God!"  went  round  the  beleag- 
uered garrison.  Stout-hearted,  strong-armed  men 
breathed  free  again;  and  weary,  frightened  women 
and  children  slept  once  more  in  comparative  safety. 

In  this  engagement  there  were  two  men  killed, 
and  nine  wouuded,  and  all  the  government  mules 
were  stampeded  by  the  Indians.  Jack  Frazer,  an 
old  resident  in  the  Indian  country,  volunteered  as 
a  bearer  of  dispatches  to  Governor  Ramsey,  and 
avaiUng  himself  of  the  darkness  and  the  furious 
storm,  made  his  way  safely  out  of  the  fort,  and 
reached  St.  Peter,  where  he  met  Colonel  Sibley  and 
his  command  on  their  way  to  the  relief  of  the  fort. 

Kain  continued  to  fall  until  nearly  night  of 
Thursday,  when  it  ceased,  and  that  night  the  stars 
looked  down  upon  the  weary,  but  still  wakeful  and 
vigilant  watchers  in  Fort  Eidgely.  On  that  night 
a  large  quantity  of  oats,  in  sacks,  stored  in  the 
granary  near  the  stable,  and  a  quantity  of  cord- 
wood  piled  near  the  fort,  were  disposed  about  the 
works  in  such  a  manner  as  to  afford  protection  to 
the  men,  in  case  of  another  attack.  The  roof  of 
the  commissary  building  was  covered  with  earth,  as 
a  protection  against  fire-arrows.  The  water  in  the 
fort  had  given  out,  and  as  there  was  neither  well 
nor  cistern  in  the  works,  the  garrison  were  depend- 
ent upon  a  spring  some  sixty  rods  distant  in  the 
ravine,  for  a  supply  of  that  indispensable  element. 
Their  only  resource  now  was  to  dig  for  water, 
which  they  did  at  another  and  less  exposed  point, 
and  by  noon  had  a  supply  suiBoient  for  two  or 
three  days  secured  inside  the  fort. 

In  the  meantime  the  small  arm's  ammunition 
hatdng  become  nearly  exhausted  in  the  battle  of 
Wednesday,  the  balls  were  removed  from  some  of 
the  spherical  case-shot,  and  a  party  of  men  and 
wo'Tien  made  them  up  into  cartridges,  which  were 
yr^atly  needed.  Small  parties  of  Indiana  had 
tyien  seen  about  the  fort,  out  of  range,  during 
Thursday  and  Friday  forenoon,  watching  the  fort, 
to  report  if  reinforcements  had  reached  it.  At 
about  1  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  Friday,  the  22d, 
they  appeared  again  in  force,  their  numbers  greatly 
augmented,  and  commenced  a  furious  and  most  de- 
termined assault.  They  came  apparently  from  the 
Lower  Agency,  passing  down  the  Minnesota  bot- 
tom, and  round  into  the  ravine  surrounding  the 
fort.  As  they  passed  near  the  beautiful  residence 
of  B.  H.  Randall,  post  sutler,  they  applied  the 
torch  and  it  was  soon  wrapped  in  flames.  On  came 
tlie  painted  savages  yelUng  like  so  many  demons 


let  loose  from  the  bottomless  pit;  but  the  brave 
men  in  that  sore  pressed  garrison,  knowing  fuU 
well  that  to  be  taken  alive  was  certain  death  to 
themselves  and  all  within  the  doomed  fort,  each 
man  was  promptly  at  his  post. 

The  main  attack  was  directed  against  that  side 
of  the  works  next  to  the  river,  the  buildings  here 
being  frame  structures,  and  the  most  vulnerable 
part  of  the  fort.  This  side  was  covered  by  the 
stable,  granary,  and  one  or  two  old  buildings, 
besides  the  sutler's  store  on  the  west  side,  yer 
standing,  as  well  as  the  buildings  named  above. 
Made  bold  by  their  augmented  numbers,  and  the 
non-arrival  of  reinforcements  to  the  garrison,  the 
Indians  pressed  on,  seemingly  determined  to  rush 
at  once  into  the  works,  but  were  met  as  they 
reached  the  eud  of  the  timber,  and  swept  roimd 
up  the  ravine  with  such  a  deadly  fire  of  musketry 
poured  upon  them  from  behind  the  barracks  and 
the  windows  of  the  quarters,  and  of  grape,  canister 
and  shell  from  the  guns  of  the  brave  and  heroic 
Jones,  Whipple,  and  McGrew,  that  they  beat  a 
hasty  retreat  to  the  friendly  shelter  of  the  bottom, 
out  of  musket  range.  But  the  shells  continued  to 
scream  wildly  through  the  air,  and  biu-st  around 
and  among  them.  They  soon  rallied  and  took 
possession  of  the  stable  and  other  out-buildings 
on  the  south  side  of  the  fort,  from  which  they 
poured  terrific.  voUeys  upon  the  frail  wooden 
buildings  on  that  side,  the  bullets  actually  passing 
through  their  sides,  and  through  the  j'artitions 
inside  of  them.  Here  Josej^h  Vanosse,  a  citizen, 
was  shot  through  the  body  by  a  ball  which  came 
through  the  side  of  the  building.  They  were 
soon  driven  from  these  buildings  by  the  artillery, 
which  shelled  them  out,  setting  the  buildings  on 
fire.  The  sutler's  store  was  in  like  manner 
shelled  and  set  on  fire.  The  scene  now  became 
grand  and  terrific.  The  Hames  and  smoke  of  the 
burning  buildings,  the  wild  and  demoniac  yells  of 
the  savage  besiegers,  the  roaring  of  cannon,  the 
screaming  of  shells  as  they  hurtled  through  the 
air,  the  sharp  crack  of  the  rifle,  and  the  unceasing 
rattle  of  musketry  presented  an  exhibition  never 
to  be  forgotten  by  those  who  witnessed  it. 

The  Indiana  retired  hastily  from  the  burning 
buildings,  the  men  in  the  fort  sending  a  shower  of 
bullets  among  them  as  they  disappeared  over  the 
bkiffs  toward  the  bottom.  With  wild  yells  they 
now  circled  round  into  the  ravine,  and  from  the 
tall  grass,  lying  on  their  faces,  and  from  thn 
sholter  of   the   timber,   continued   the  battle   till 


•^24 


UTSTORY   OF  THE  SIOUX  MASSACJIE. 


ni;.ht,  their  leader.  Little  Crow,  vainly  ordering 
lb.  in  to  clinrge  on  the  guns.  They  formed  once 
fv.i'  t.icit  purpose,  about  sundown,  but  a  shell  and 
r  1  Hid  of  canister  sent  into  their  midst  closed  the 

11  est,  when,with  an  unearthly  yell  of  rage  and  dis- 
,|),...intment,  they  left.  These  shots,  as  was  aftei- 
.  .ir.ls  ascertained,  killed  and  wounded  seventeen 
of  tlieir  number.  Jones  continued  to  shell  the 
ravine  and  timber  around  the  fort  until  after  dark, 
when  the  firing  ceased,  and  then,  as  had  been 
done  on  each  night  before,  since  the  investment  of 
the  fort,  the  men  all  went  to  tlieir  several  posts  to 
wait  and  watch  for  the  coming  of  the  wily  foe. 
The  night  waned  slowly;  but  they  must  not  sleep; 
their  foe  is  sleepless,  and  that  wide  area  of  dry 
shingled  roof  must  be  closely  scanned,  and  the 
approaches  be  vigilantly  guarded,  by  which  he 
may,  under  cover  of  the  darkness,  creep  upon 
them  unawares. 

Morning  broke  at  last,  the  sun  rode  up  a  clear 
and  cloudless  sky,  but  the  foe  came  not.  The  day 
passed  away,  and  no  attack;  the  night  again,  and 
then  another  day;  and  yet  other  days  and  nights 
of  weary,  sleepless  watching,  but  neither  friend  nor 
foe  approached  the  fort,  until  aliout  daylight  on 
Wednesday  morning,  the  27th,  when  the  cry  was 
heard  from  the  look-out  on  the  roof,  '-There  are 
horsemen  coming  on  the  St.  Peter  road,  across  the 
ravine!"  Are  they  friends  or  foes?  was  the  ques- 
tion on  the  tongues  of  aU.  By  their  cautious 
movements  they  were  evidently  reconnoitering, 
and  it  was  yet  too  dark  for  those  in  the  fort  to  be 
able  to  tell,  at  that  distance,  friends  from  foes. 
But  as  daylight  advanced,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
mounted  men  were  seen  dashing  through  the  ra- 
vine; and  amidst  the  wild  hurras  of  the  assembled 
garrison.  Colonel  Samuel  McPhail,  at  the  head  of 
two  companies  of  citizen-cavalry,  rode  into  the 
fort.  In  command  of  a  company  of  tliese  men 
were  Anson  Northrup,  from  Minneapolis,  aa  o!d 
frontiers-man,  and  K.  H.  Chittenden,  of  the  First 
Wisconsin  Cavalry.  This  force  had  ridden  all 
night,  having  left  St.  Peter,  forty-five  miles  dis- 
tant, at  6  o'clock  the  night  before.  From  them 
the  garrison  learned  that  heavy  reinforcements 
were  on  their  way  to  their  relief,  under  Colonel 
(now  Brigadier-General)  H.  H.Sibley.  The  worn- 
out  and  exhaust  d  garrison  could  now  sleep  with 
a  feeling  of  comparative  security.  The  number 
of  kOled  and  wounded  of  the  enemy  is  not  known, 
but  must  have  been  considerable,  as,  at  the  close 
ul  each  battle,  they  were  seen  carrying  away  their 


dead  and  wounded.  Our  own  fallen  heroes  were 
buried  on  the  edge  of  the  prairie  near  the  fort; 
and  the  injuries  of  the  wounded  men  were  care- 
fully attended  to  by  the  skillful  and  excellent  post' 
surgeon,  Dr.  Alfred  Muller. 

We  close  our  account  of  this  protracted  siege 
by  a  slight  tribiite  or  behalf  of  the  sick  and 
wounded  in  that  garrison,  to  one  whose  name  will 
ever  be  mentioned  by  them  with  love  and  respect. 
The  hospitals  of  Sebastopol  had  their  Florence 
Nightingale,  and  over  every  blood-stained  field  of 
the  South,  in  our  own  struggle  for  national  life, 
hovered  angels  of  mercy,  cheering  and  soothing 
the  sick  and  wounded,  smoothing  the  pillows 
and  (;losing  the  eyes  of  our  fallen  braves. 
And  when,  in  after  years,  the  brave  men  who  fell, 
sorely  wounded,  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Ridgely, 
Birch  Coolie,  and  Wood  Lake,  Cghtuig  against 
tlie  savage  hordes  who  overran  the  borders  of  our 
beautiful  State,  in  August  and  September,  1862, 
carrying  the  fiaming  torch,  the  gleaming  toma- 
hawk, and  bloody  sealping-knife  to  hundreds  of 
peaceful  homes,  shaU  tell  to  their  children  and 
cliildren"s  children  the  story  of  the  "dark  and 
bloody  ground"  of  Minnesota,  and  shall  exhibit  to 
them  the  scars  those  wounds  have  left;  they  will 
tell,  with  moistened  cheek  and  swelling  hearts  of 
the  noble,  womanly  deeds  of  Mrs.  Eliza  Muller, 
the  "Florence  Nightingale" '  of  Fort  Kidgely. 
[Mrs.  Muller  several  years  since  died  at  the  asylum 
at  St.  Peter.] 

SEBGE.iNT    JOHN    JONES. 

We  feel  that  the  truth  of  history  will  not  be  fully 
vindicated  should  we  fail  to  besiow  upon  a  brave 
and  gallant  officer  that  meed  of  praise  so  justly 
due.  The  only  officer  of  experience  loft  in  the  fort 
by  the  death  of  its  brave  commandant  was  Ser- 
geant John  Jones,  of  the  regular  artillery;  and  it 
is  but  just  to  that  gallant  officer  that  we  should 
say  that  but  for  the  cool  courage  and  discretion  of 
Sergeant  Jones,  Fort  Ridgely  would,  in  the  firet 
day's  battle  have  become  a  funeral  pyre  for  all 
within  its  doomed  walls.  And  it  gives  us  more 
than  ordinary  pleasure  to  record  the  fact,  that  the 
services  he  then  rendered  the  Government,  in  the 
d9fense  of  the  frontier  were  fully  recognized  and 
rewarded  with  the  commission  of  Captain  of  the 
Second  Minnesota  Battery. 


CAPrAiN  wirrrooMB  at  forest  city. 


225 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

CAPTAIN  WHITCOMB'S  AEEIVAli  AT  ST.  PAUL PASSES 

THKOOGH  MEEKER  OOTJNTY A  FOET  OONSTEUCTED 

— ENGAGELIENT  WITH  INDIANS— ATTACK  ON  FOREST 

OlTr CONDITION     OF     THE       COUNTRY CAPTAIN 

STEODT  AT  GlENCOE ATTACKED  NEAR    ACTON   BY 

ONE    HUNDRED  AND     FIFTY    INDIANS — ATTACK   ON 
HUTCHINSON. 

This  chapter  will  be  devoted  to  the  upper  por- 
tion of  the  state,  and  the  movements  of  troops  for 
the  relief  of  the  frontier,  not  immediately  con- 
nected with  the  main  expedition  under  Colonel 
Sibley;  and  to  avoid  repetition,  the  prominent  in- 
cidents of  tlie  massacre  in  this  portion  of  the  state 
will  be  given  in  connection  with  the  movements  of 
the  troops.  We  quote  from  the  Adjutant-Gen- 
eral's Report: 

The  19th  day  of  August  the  first  news  of  the 
outbreak  at  Redwood  was  received  at  St.  Paul. 
On  the  same  day  a  messenger  arrived  from  Meeker 
county,  with  news  of  murders  committed  in  that 
county  by  the  Indians,  and  an  earnest  demand  for 
assistance.  The  murders  were  committed  at  Ac- 
ton, about  twelve  miles  from  Forest  City,  on  Sun- 
day, the  17th  day  of  the  month.  The  ciroum- 
stauces  under  which  these  murders  were  committed 
are  fully  detailed  in  a  previous  chapter. 

George  C.  Whitcomb,  commander  of  the  state 
forces  raised  in  the  county  of  Meeker,  was  sta- 
tioned at  Forest  City.  On  the  19th  of  August, 
Mr.  Whitcomb  arrived  at  St.  Paul,  and  received 
from  the  state  seventy-five  stand  of  arms  and  a 
small  quantity  of  ammimition,  for  the  purpose  of 
enabling  the  settlers  of  Meeker  county  to  stand  on 
the  defensive,  until  other  assistance  could  be  sent 
to  their  aid.  With  these  in  his  possession,  he 
started  on  his  return,  and,  on  the  following  day  he 
met  Ool.  Sibley  at  Shakopee,  by  whom  he  was  or- 
dered to  raise  a  company  of  troops  and  report  with 
command  to  the  Colonel,  at  Fort  Ridgely.  On  ar- 
riving at  Hutchinson,  in  McLeod  county,  he  found 
the  whole  country  on  a  general  stampede,  and 
small  bands  of  Indians  lurking  in  the  border  of 
Meeker  county. 

Captain  Richard  Strout  was  ordered,  under  date 
of  August  24,  to  proceed  with  a  company  of  men 
to  Forest  City,  in  the  county  of  Meeker,  for  the 
protection  of  that  locality. 

In  the  meantime  Captain  Whitcomb  arrived  at 
Forest  City  with  the  arms  fui"aished  him  by  the 

15 


state,  with  the  exception  of  those  left  by  him  at 
Hutchinson.  Upon  his  arrival  he  speedily  en- 
listed, for  temporary  service,  a  company  of  fltty- 
three  men,  tweuty-five  of  whom  were  mounted, 
and  the  remainder  were  to  act  as  infantry. 

Captain  Whitcomb,  with  the  mounted  portion  of 
his  company,  made  a  rapid  march  into  the  county 
of  Monongalia,  to  a  point  about  thirty  miles  from 
Forest  City,  where  he  found  the  bodies  of  two  men 
who  had  been  shot  by  the  Indians,  who  had  muti 
lated  the  corpses  by  cutting  their  throats  and 
scalping  them.  In  the  same  vicinity  he  found  the 
ruins  of  three  houses  that  had  been  burned,  and 
the  carcasses  of  a  large  number  of  cattle  that  had 
been  wantonly  killed  and  devoted  to  destruction. 

Owing  to  rumors  received  at  this  point,  he  pro- 
ceeded in  a  north-westerly  direction,  to  the  distance 
of  ten  miles  further,  and  found  on  the  route  the 
remains  of  five  more  of  the  settlers,  all  of  whom 
had  been  shot  and  scalped,  and  some  of  them  were 
otherwise  mutilated  by  having  their  hands  cut  off 
and  gashes  cut  in  their  faces,  done  ajDparently  with 
hatchets. 

On  the  return  to  camp  at  Forest  City,  when 
within  about  four  miles  of  Acton,  he  came  to  a 
point  on  the  road  where  a  train  of  wagons  had  been 
attacked  on  the  23d.^  He  here  found  two  more 
dead  bodies  of  white  men,  mutUated  in  a  shocking 
manner  by  having  their  hands  cut  off,  being  dis- 
emboweled and  otherwise  disfigured,  having  knives 
still  remaining  in  their  abdomens,  where  they  had 
been  left  by  the  savages.  The  road  at  this  place 
was,  for  three  miles,  lined  with  the  carcasses  of 
dead  cattle,  a  great  portion  of  which  belonged  to 
the  train  upon  which  the  attack  had  been  made. 
On  this  excursion  the  company  were  abont  foiir 
days,  during  which  time  they  traveled  over  one 
hundred  miles,  and  buried  the  bodies  of  niae  per- 
sons who  had  been  murdered. 

On  the  next  day  after  having  returned  to  the 
camp,  being  the  28th  of  the  month,  the  same 
party  made  a  circuit  through  the  western  portion 
of  Meeker  coimty,  and  buried  the  bodies  of  three 
more  men  that  were  found  mutilated  and  disfigured 
in  a  similar  manner  to  those  previously  mentioned. 
In  addition  to  the  other  services  rendered  by  the 
company  thus  far,  they  had  discovered  and  re- 
moved to  the  camp  several  persona  found  wounded 
and  disabled  in  the  vicinity,  and  two,  who  had 
been  very  severely  wounded,  had  been  sent  by 
them  to  St.  Cloud  for  the  purpose  of  receiving 
surgical  attention. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SIOUX  MASS  AC  HE. 


The  company,  in  addition  to  their  other  labors, 
were  employed  in  the  construction  of  a  stockade 
fort,  to  be  used  if  necessary  for  defensive  purposes, 
and  for  the  protection  of  those  who  were  not  capa- 
ble of  bearing  arms.  It  was  formed  by  inserting 
the  ends  of  pieces  of  rough  timber  into  the  earth 
to  the  depth  of  three  feet,  and  leaving  them  from 
ten  to  twelve  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  ground. 
In  this  way  an  area  was  inclosed  of  one  himdred 
and  forty  feet  in  length  and  one  hundred  and 
thirty  in  width.  Within  the  fortidcatiou  was  in- 
cluded one  frame  dwelling-house  and  a  well  of 
water.  At  diagonal  comers  of  the  inclosure  were 
erected  two  wings  or  bastions  provided  with  port- 
boles,  from  each  of  which  two  sides  of  the  main 
work  could  be  guarded  and  raked  by  the  rifles  of 
the  company. 

Information  was  received  by  Captain  Whitcomb 
that  a  family  at  Green  Lake,  in  M<jnougalia  county, 
near  the  scenes  visited  by  him  in  his  expedition  to 
that  county,  had  made  their  e.=eape  from,  the  In- 
dians, and  taken  refuge  upon  an  island  Lu  the  lake. 
In  attempting  to  rescue  this  family  Captain  Whit- 
comb  had  a  severe  encounter  with  Indians  found 
in  ambush  near  the  line  of  Meeker  county,  and 
after  much  skirmishing  and  a  brisk  engagement, 
which  proved  very  much  to  the  disadvantage  of 
the  Indians,  they  succeeded  in  effecting  their  es- 
cape to  the  thickly-timbered  region  in  the  rear  of 
their  first  position.  The  members  of  the  company 
were  nearly  all  experienced  marksmen,  and  the 
Springfield  rifles  in  their  hands  proved  very  gall- 
ing to  the  enemy.  So  anxious  was  the  latter  to 
effect  his  retreat,  that  he  left  tliree  of  his  dead 
upon  the  ground.  No  loss  was  sustained  on  the 
part  of  our  troops,  except  a  flesh-wound  in  the  leg 
received  by  one  of  the  company.  As  it  was 
deemed  uuadvisable  to  pursue  the  Indians  into  the 
heavy  timber  with  the  small  force  at  command,  the 
detachment  fell  back  to  their  camp,  arriving  the 
same  evening. 

On  the  following  day,  Captain  Whitcomb, 
taking  with  him  twenty  men  from  his  company, 
and  twenty  citizens  who  volunteered  for  the  occa- 
sion, proceeded  on  the  same  route  taken  the  day 
previous.  With  the  increase  in  his  forces  he 
expected  to  be  able,  without  much  difficulty,  to 
overcome  the  Indians  previously  encountered. 
After  proceeding  about  ten  miles  from  the  camp, 
their  further  progress  was  ag;iin  disput^^d  by  the 
Indians,  who  had  likewise  been  reinforced  since 
their  last  encounter.     Owing  to  the  great  superi- 


ority of  the  enemy's  forces,  the  Captain  withdrew 
his  men.  They  fell  gradually  back,  fighting 
steadily  on  the  retreat,  and  were  pursued  to  within 
four  miles  of  the  encampment.  In  this  contest, 
one  Indian  is  known  to  have  been  killed.  On  the 
part  of  the  whites  (^ne  horee  and  wagon  got  mired 
in  a  slough,  and  had  to  be  abandoned.  No  other 
injmy  was  suffered  from  the  enemy ;  but  two  men 
were  wounded  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a 
gun  in  their  own  ranks. 

A  fortification  was  prepared,  and  the  citizens, 
with  their  families,  were  removed  within  the 
inclosure.  Captain  Whitcomb  quartered  his  com- 
pany in  tlie  principal  hotel  of  the  place,  and 
guards  were  stationed  for  the  night,  while  all  the 
men  were  directed  to  be  prepared  for  any  contin- 
gency that  might  arise,  and  be  in  readiness  for 
using  their  arms  at  any  moment. 

Between  2  and  3  o'clock  tlie  following  morning, 
the  guards  discovered  the  approach  of  Indians, 
and  gave  the  alarm.  As  soon  as  the  savages  per- 
ceived that  they  were  discovered,  they  uttered  the 
war-whoop,  and  poured  a  volley  into  the  hotel 
where  the  troops  were  quartered.  The  latter 
immediately  retired  to  the  stockade,  taking  with 
them  all  the  ammunition  and  equipments  in  their 
possession.  They  had  scarcely  effected  an  en- 
trance when  fire  was  opened  upon  it  from  forty  or 
fifty  Indian  rifles.  Owing  to  the  darkness  of  the 
morning,  no  distinct  view  could  be  obtained  of  the 
enemy,  and,  in  consequence,  no  very  effective  fire 
could  be  opened  upon  him. 

While  one  party  of  the  Indians  remained  to  keep 
up  a  fire  upon  the  fort  and  harass  the  garrison, 
another  portion  was  engaged  in  setting  fire  to 
buildings  and  haystacks,  while  others,  at  the  same 
time,  ^^■ere  engaged  in  colleetiug  horses  and  cattle 
found  in  the  place,  and  driving  them  off.  Occa- 
sional glimpses  could  be  obtained  of  those  near 
the  fires,  but  as  soon  as  a  shot  was  fired  at  them 
they  would  disappear  in  the  darkness.  Most  of 
the  buildings  burned,  however,  were  such  a  dis- 
tance from  the  fort  as  to  be  out  of  range  of  the 
guns  of  the  garrison.  The  fire  kept  up  from  that 
point  prevented  the  near  approach  of  the  incen- 
diary party,  and  by  that  means  the  principal  part 
of  the  town  was  saved  from  destruction.  On  one 
occasion  an  effort  was  made  to  carry  the  flames 
into  a  more  central  part  of  ttie  town,  and  the 
torches  in  the  hands  of  the  party  were  seen 
approaching  the  office  of  A.  C.  Smith,  Esq. 
Directed  by  the  hglit  of  the  torches,  a  volley  was 


CAPTAIN  STMOUTS  PAMXr   ATTACKJiD. 


227 


poured  into  their  midst  from  the  fort,  whereupon 
the  braves  hastily  abandoned  their  incendiary 
implements  and  retreated  from  that  quarter  of  the 
vUlage.  From  signs  of  blood  afterward  found 
upon  the  ground,  some  of  the  Indians  were  sup- 
posed to  have  met  the  fate  intended  for  them,  but 
no  dead  were  left  behind. 

The  fight  continued,  without  other  decided  re- 
sults, iintil  about  daylight,  at  which  time  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  the  forces  retired.  As  the  light  in- 
creased, so  that  objects  became  disceiraible,  a  small 
party  of  savages  were  observed  engaged  in  dri- 
ving off  a  number  of  cattle.  A  portion  of  the 
garrison,  volunteering  for  the  purpose,  sallied 
out  to  recover  the  stock,  which  they  accomplish- 
ed, with  the  loss  of  two  men  wounded,  one  of  them 
severely. 

This  comjDany  had  no  further  encounters  with 
the  Indians,  but  afterward  engaged  in  securing 
the  grain  and  other  property  belonging  to  the  set- 
tlers who  had  abandoned,  or  been  driven  from,  their 
farms  and  homes.  Nearly  every  settlement  be- 
tween Forest  City  and  the  western  frontier  had,  by 
this  timei,  been  deserted,  and  the  whole  country 
was  in  the  hands  of  the  savages.  In  speaking  of 
his  endeavors  to  save  a  portion  of  the  property 
thus  abandoned.  Captain  Whitcomb,  on  the  7th  of 
September,  wrote  as  follows: 

"It  ia  only  in  their  property  that  the  inhabitants 
can  now  be  injured;  the  people  have  all  fled. 
The  country  is  totally  abandoned.  Not  an  inhab- 
itant remains  in  Meeker  county,  west  of  this  place. 
No  white  person  (unless  a  captive)  is  now  living 
in  Kandiyohi  or  Monongalia  county." 

On  the  1st  of  September,  Oaijtain  Strout,  who 
had  previously  arrived  at  Glencoe,  made  prepara- 
tions for  a  fui-ther  advance.  Owing  to  the  vigor- 
ous measures  adopted  by  General  John  H.  Stevens, 
of  the  State  militia,  it  was  thought  unnecessary 
that  any  additional  forces  should  be  retained  at 
this  point.  Under  his  directions  no  able-bodied 
man  having  deserted  the  country  further  to  the 
westward,  had  been  permitted  to  leave  the  neigh- 
borhood, or  pass  through.  All  such  were  re- 
quired to  desist  from  further  flight,  and  assist 
in  making  a  stand,  in  order  to  check  the  further 
advance  of  the  destroyers  of  their  homes.  The 
town  of  Glencoe  had  been  fortified  to  a  certain 
extent,  and  a  military  company  of  seventy-three 
members  had  been  organized,  and  armed  with  such 
guns  as  were  in  possession  of  the  settlers..  With 
Glencoe  thus  provided  for,   General  Stevens   did 


not  hesitate  to  advise,  nor  Captain  Strout  to  at- 
tempt a  further  advance  into  the  overrun  and 
threatened  territory. 

The  company  of  the  latter,  by  this  time,  had 
been  increased  by  persons,  principally  from  "Wright 
county,  who  volunteered  their  services  for  the  ex- 
pedition, until  it  numbered  about  seventy-five  men. 
With  this  force  he  marched,  as  already  stated,  on 
the  1st  day  of  September. 

Passing  through  Hutchinson  on  his  way,  no  op- 
jiosition  was  encountered  until  the  moi'ning  of  the 
3d  of  September.  On  the  night  previous,  he  had 
arrived  at  and  encam2oed  near  Acton,  on  the  west- 
ern border  of  Meeker  county. 

At  about  half-past  five  o'clock  the  nest  morning 
his  camp  was  attacked  by  a  force  comprising  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  Indians.  The  onset  was 
made  from  the  direction  of  Hutchinson,  with  the 
design,  most  probably,  of  cutting  off  the  retreat 
of  the  comj^any,  and  of  precluding  the  possibility 
of  sending  a  messenger  after  reinforcements.  They 
fought  with  a  spirit  and  zeal  that  seemed  determ- 
ined to  annihilate  our  little  force,  at  whatever  cost 
it  might  require. 

For  the  first  half  hour  Captain  Strout  formed 
his  company  into  four  sections,  in  open  order,  and 
pressed  against  them  as  skirmishers.  Finding  their 
forces  so  much  superior  to  his  own,  he  concentra- 
ted the  force  of  his  company,  and  hurled  them 
against  the  main  body  of  the  enemy.  In  this 
manner  the  fight  was  kept  up  for  another  hour 
and  a  half,  the  Indians  falling  slowly  back  as  they 
were  pressed,  in  the  direction  of  Hutchinson,  but 
maintaining  all  the  while  their  order  and  line  of 
battle.  At  length  the  force  in  front  of  the  compa- 
ny gave  way,  and  falling  upon  the  rear,  continued 
to  harrass  it  in  its  retreat. 

About  one-half  of  the  savages  were  mounted, 
partly  on  large,  fine  horses,  of  which  they  had 
plundered  the  settlements,  and  partly  on  regular 
Indian  ponies.  These  latter  were  so  well  trained 
for  the  business  in  which  they  were  now  engaged, 
that  their  riders  would  drive  them  at  a  rapid  rate 
to  within  any  desirable  distance  of  our  men,  when 
pony  and  rider  would  both  instantly  lie  down  in 
the  tall  grass,  and  thus  become  concealed  from  the 
aim  of  the  shai-p-shooters  of  the  company. 

With  the  intention,  most  likely,  of  creating  a 
panic  in  our  ranks,  and  causing  the  force  to  scat- 
ter, and  become  separately  an  easy  prey  to  the 
pursuers,  the  Indians  would  at  times,  uttering  the 
most  terrific  and  unearthly   yells  of  which  their 


228 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SIOUX  MASSAC  HE. 


lungs  and  skill  were  capable,  charge  in  a  mass 
upon  the  little  band.  On  none  of  these  occasions, 
however,  did  a  single  man  falter  or  attempt  a 
flight;  and,  after  approaching  within  one  hundred 
yards  of  the  retreating  force,  and  perceiving  that 
they  still  remained  firm,  the  Indians  would  halt 
the  charge,  and  seek  concealment  in  the  grass  or 
elsewhere,  from  which  places  they  would  continue 
their  fire. 

After  having  thus  hitng  upon  and  harrassed  the 
rear  of  the  retreating  force  for  about  half  an  hour, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  the  column  had  arrived 
mthin  a  short  distance  of  Cedar  City,  in  the 
extreme  north-west  corner  of  McLeod  county,  the 
pursuit  was  given  up,  and  the  company  continued 
the  retreat  without  further  opposition  to  Hutchin- 
son, at  which  place  it  arrived  at  an  early  hoiu-  in 
the  same  afternoon. 

The  loss  of  the  company  in  the  encounter  was 
three  men  killed  and  fifteen  wounded,  some  of 
them  severely.  AH  were,  however,  brought  from 
the  field. 

In  addition  to  this  they  lost  most  of  their  ra- 
tions, cooking  utensils,  tents,  and  a  portion  of 
their  ammunition  and  arms.  Some  of  their  horses 
became  unmanageable  and  ran  away.  Some  were 
mired  and  abandoned,  making,  with  those  killed 
by  the  enemy,  an  aggregate  loss  of  nine.  The 
loss  inflicted  upon  the  enemy  could  not  be  de- 
termined with  any  degree  of  certainty,  but  Caj)- 
tain  Strout  was  of  the  opinion  that  thoir  killed  and 
wovmded  were  two  or  three  times  as  great  as  ours. 

At  Hutchinson  a  military  company,  consisting  of 
about  sixty  members,  had  been  organized  for  the 
purpose  of  defending  the  place  against  any  attacks 
from  the  Indians.  Of  this  company  Lewis  Har- 
rington was  elected  captain.  On  the  first  appre- 
hension of  danger  a  house  was  barricaded  as  a 
last  retreat  in  case  of  necessity.  The  members  of 
the  company,  aided  by  the  citizens,  afterward  con- 
structed a  small  stockade  fort  of  one  hundred  feet 
square.  It  was  built  after  the  same  style  as  that 
at  Forest  City,  with  bastions  in  the  same  position, 
and  a  wall  composed  of  double  timbers  rising  to 
the  height  of  eight  feet  alwva  the  gn)und.  The 
work  was  provided  with  loop-holes,  from  which  a 
musketry  fire  could  be  kept  up,  and  was  of  suffi- 
cient strength  to  resist  any  projectiles  that  the  sav- 
ages had  the  means  of  throwing.  At  tliis  place 
Captain  Strout  lialtcd  his  company,  to  await  fur- 
ther developments. 

At  about  nine  o'clock  on  the  nest  morning,  the 


4th  of  September,  the  Indians  approached  the 
town  thus  garrisoned  and  commenced  the  attack. 
They  were  repUed  to  from  the  fortification;  but. 
as  they  were  careful  not  to  come  within  close 
range,  and  used  every  means  to  conceal  their  per- 
sons, but  little  punishment  was  inflicted  upon 
them.  They  bent  their  energies  more  in  attempts 
to  burn  the  town  than  to  inflict  any  serious  injury 
upon  the  military.  In  these  endeavors  they  were 
so  far  successful  as  to  burn  all  the  buildings  sit- 
uated on  the  bluff  in  the  rear  of  the  town,  includ- 
ing the  college  building,  which  was  here  located. 
They  at  one  time  succeeded  in  reaching  almost  the 
heart  of  the  village,  and  applying  the  incendiary 
torch  to  two  of  the  dwelling-houses  there  situated, 
which  were  consumed. 

Our  forces  marched  out  of  the  fort  and  engaged 
them  in  the  open  field;  but,  owing  to  the  superior 
numbers  of  the  enemy,  and  their  scattered  and 
hidden  positions,  it  was  thought  that  no  advantage 
could  be  gained  in  this  way,  and,  after  driving 
them  out  of  the  town,  the  soldiers  were  recalled  to 
the  fort.  The  day  was  spent  in  this  manner,  the 
Indians  making  a  succession  of  skirmishes,  but  at 
the  same  time  endeavoring  to  maintain  a  sufficient 
distance  between  them  and  the  soldiers  to  insure 
an  almost  certain  impunity  from  the  fire  of  their 
muskets.  At  about  five  o'clock  in  the  evening 
their  forces  were  withdrawn,  and  our  troops  rested 
on  their  arms,  in  expectation  of  a  renewal  of  the 
fight  in  a  more  desperate  form. 

As  soon  as  General  Stevens  was  informed  of  the 
attack  made  upon  Captain  Strout,  near  Acton,  and 
his  being  compelled  to  fall  back  to  Hutchinson, 
he  directed  Captain  Davis  to  proceed  to  the  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant  Weinmann,  then  stationed 
near  Lake  Addie,  in  the  same  county,  to  form  a 
jimction  of  the  two  commands,  and  proceed  to 
Hutchinson  and  reinforce  the  command  of  Captain 
Strout. 

On  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  September  the 
pickets  belonging  to  Lieutenant  Weinmann's  com- 
mand reported  having  heard  firing  in  the  direction 
of  Hutchinson.  The  Lieutenant  immediately  as- 
cended an  eminence  in  the  vicinity  of  his  camp, ' 
and  from  that  point  could  disliuguish  the  smoke 
from  six  different  fires  in  the  same  direction. 
Being  satisfied  from  these  indications  that  an  at- 
tack had  been  made  upon  Hutchinson,  he  deter- 
mined at  once  to  march  to  the  assistance  of  the 
place.  Leaving  behind  him  sis  men  to  collect  the 
teams  and  follow  with  the  wagons,  he  started  with 


MORE  SAVAGE  BARBARITIES. 


229 


the  remainder  of  his  force  in  the  direction  indi- 
cated. 

Some  time  after  he  had  commenced  his  march 
the  company  of  Captain  Davis  arrived  at  the  camp 
he  had  just  left. 

Upon  learning  the  state  of  affairs,  the  mounted 
company  followed  in  the  same  direction,  and,  in  a 
short  time,  came  up  with  Lieutenant  Weinmann. 
A  junction  of  their  forces  was  immediately  effect- 
ed, and  they  proceeded  in  a  body  to  Hutchinson, 
at  which  place  they  arrived  about  6  o'clock  in  the 
evening.  No  Indians  had  been  encountered  on 
the  march,  and  the  battle,  so  long  and  so  diligently 
kept  up  during  most  of  the  day,  had  just  been 
terminated,  and  the  assailing  forces  withdrawn. 
A  reconnoissance,  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  was 
made  from  the  fort  on  the  same  evening,  but  none 
of  the  Indians,  who,  a  few  hours  before,  seemed  to 
be  everywhere,  could  be  seen;  but  the  bodies  of 
three  of  their  victims,  being  those  of  one  woman 
and  two  children,  were  found  and  brought  to  the 
village. 

On  the  following  morning,  six  persons  arrived 
at  the  fortification,  who  had  been  in  the  midst  of 
and  surrounded  by  the  Indians  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  day  before,  and  had  succeeded  in  con- 
cealing themselves  until  they  retired  from  before 
the  town,  and  finally  effected  their  escape  to 
the  place. 

The  companies  of  Captain  Davis  and  Lieuten- 
ant Weinmann  made  a  tour  of  examination  in  the 
direction  that  the  Indians  were  supposed  to  have 
taken.  All  signs  discovered  seemed  to  indicate 
that  they  had  left  the  vicinity.  Their  trail,  indi- 
cating that  a  large  force  had  passed,  and  that  a 
number  of  horses  and  cattle  had  been  taken 
along,  was  discovered,  leading  in  the  direction  of 
Eedwood.  As  the  battle  of  Birch  Coolie  had  been 
fought  two  or  three  days  previous,  at  which  time 
the  Indians  first  learned  the  great  strength  of  the 
colmnn  threatening  them  in  that  quarter,  it  is 
most  likely  that  the  party  attacking  Hutchinson 
had  been  called  in  to  assist  in  the  endeavor  to 
repel  the  forces  under  Colonel  Sibley. 

On  the  23d  of  Seistember  the  Indians  suddenly 
reappeared  in  the  neighborhood.  About  3  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  a  messenger  arrived,  with  dis- 
patches from  Lieutenant  Weinmann,  informing 
Captain  Strout  that  Samuel  White  and  family, 
residing  at  Lake  Addie,  had  that  day  been  brutally 
murdered  by  savages. 

At  about   11  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  scouts  from  the 


direction  of  Cedar  City  came  in,  having  been  at- 
tacked near  Greenleaf,  and  one  of  their  number,  a 
member  of  Captain  Harrington's  company,  killed 
and  left  ujJon  the  ground.  They  reported  having 
seen  about  twenty  Indians,  having  killed  one,  and 
their  belief  that  more  were  in  the  party.  The 
scouts  from  nearly  every  direction  reported  having 
seen  Indians,  some  of  them  in  considerable  num- 
bers, and  the  country  all  around  seemed  at  once 
to  have  become  infested  with  them. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  Lieutenant  William 
Byrnes,  of  the  Tenth  Eegiment  Minnesota  Volun- 
teers, with  a  command  of  forty-seven  men,  started 
from  Minneapolis,  where  his  men  were  recruited, 
for  service  in  Meeker  and  McLeod  counties.  Upon 
his  arrival  in  the  country  designated,  he  was 
finally  stationed  at  Kingston,  in  the  county  of 
Meeker,  for  the  purpose  of  affording  protection  to 
that  place  and  vicinity.  He  quartered  his  men  in 
the  storehouse  of  Hall  &  Co.,  which  had  been  pre- 
viously put  in  a  state  of  defense  by  the  citizens  of 
the  place.  He  afterward  strengthened  the  place 
by  means  of  earth-works,  and  made  daily  examina- 
tions of  the  surrounding  country  by  means  of 
scouts. 

Capt.  Pettit,  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  Minnesota 
Volimteers,  was,  about  the  same  time,  sent  to  re- 
inforce Captain  Whitcomb,  of  Forest  City,  at  which 
place  he  was  stationed  at  the  time  of  the  sudden 
reappearance  of  the  Indians  in  the  country.  On 
the  22d  of  September  word  was  brought  to  Forest 
City  that  the  Indians  were  committing  depreda- 
tions at  Lake  Kipley,  a  point  some  twelve  miles  to 
the  westward  of  that  place.  Captain  Pettit  there- 
upon sent  a  messenger  to  Lieutenant  Byrnes,  re- 
questing his  co-operation,  mth  as  many  of  his 
command  as  could  leave  their  post  in  safety,  for 
the  purpose  of  marching  into  the  invaded  neigh- 
borhood. 

In  pursuance  of  orders.  Lieutenant  Byrnes,  with 
thirty -six  men,  joined  the  command  of  Capt  Pettit 
on  the  same  evening.  On  the  next  morning,  the 
23d  of  September,  the  same  day  that  Captain 
Strout's  scouting  party  was  attacked  at  Greenleaf, 
Captain  Pettit,  with  the  command  of  Lieutenant 
Byrnes  and  eighty-seven  men,  from  the  post  at 
Forest  City,  marched  in  the  direction  in  which  the 
Indians  had  been  reported  as  committing  depre- 
dations on  the  previous  day.  Four  mounted  men 
of  Captain  Whitcomb's  force  accompanied  the  party 
as  guides. 

On  arriving  at  the  locality  of  reported  depreda- 


230 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


tions,  they  found  the  mutilated  corpse  of  a  citizen 
by  the  name  of  Oleson.  He  had  received  three 
shots  through  the  body  and  one  through  the 
hand.  Not  even  satisfied  with  the  death  thus  in- 
flicted, the  savages  had  removed  his  scalp,  beaten 
out  his  brains,  cut  his  throat  from  ear  to  ear,  and 
cut  out  his  tongue  by  the  roots.  Leaving  a  de- 
tachment to  bury  the  dead,  the  main  body  of  ex- 
pedition continued  the  march  by  way  of  Long 
Lake,  and  encamped  near  Acton,  where  Captain 
Strout's  command  was  first  attacked,  and  at  no 
great  distance  from  the  place  where  his  scouts  were 
attacked. 

Scouts  were  sent  out  by  Captain  Pettit,  all  of 
whom  returned  without  having  seen  any  Indians. 
Two  dwelling-houses  had  been  visited  that  had 
been  sot  on  fire  by  the  Indians,  but  the  ilaraes  had 
made  so  little  progress  as  to  be  capable  of  being 
extinguished  by  the  scouts,  which  was  done  ac- 
cordingly. Three  other  houses  on  the  east  side  of 
Long  Lake  had  been  fired  and  consumed  during 
the  same  day.  Three  women  were  found,  who  bad 
been  lying  in  the  woods  for  a  number  of  days, 
seeking  concealment  from  the  savages.  They  were 
sent  to  Forest  City  for  safety.  During  the  early 
part  of  the  night,  Imlians  were  heard  driving  or 
collecting  cattle,  on  the  opposite  side  of  Long 
Lake  from  tlie  encampment. 

During  the  24th  of  September  the  march  was 
continued  to  Diamond  Lake,  in  Monongalia  county. 
All  the  houses  on  the  route  were  found  to  be  ten- 
antless,  all  the  farms  were  deserted,  and  every  thing 
of  value,  of  a  destructible  nature,  belonging  to  the 
settlers,  had  been  destroyed  by  the  savages.  Only 
one  Indian  was  seen  during  the  day,  and  be  being 
mounted,  soon  made  his  escape  into  the  big  woods. 
The  carcasses  of  cattle,  belonging  to  the  citizens, 
were  found  in  all  directions  upon  the  prairie,  where 
they  had  been  wantonly  slaughtered  and  their 
tiesh  abandoned  to  the  natural  process  of  decom- 
position. 

At  break  of  day,  on  the  morning  of  the  ■25th, 
an  Indian  was  seen  by  one  of  the  sentinels  to  rise 
from  the  grass  and  attempt  to  take  a  sui-vey  of 
the  encampment.  He  was  immediately  fired  upon 
when  he  uttered  a  yell  and  disappeared.  Captain 
Pettit  thereupon  formed  his  command  in  order  of 
battle  and  sent  out  skirmishers  to  reconnoiter;  but 
the  Indians  had  decamped,  and  nothing  further 
could  be  ascertained  concerning  them. 

At  seven  o'clock  the  return  march  to  Forest  City 
was  commenced,  by  a  route  different  from   that 


followed  in  the  outward  march.  About  ten  o'clock 
the  expedition  came  upon  a  herd,  comprising  sixty- 
five  head  of  cattle,  which  the  Indians  had  collected, 
and  were  in  the  act  of  driving  off,  when  they  were 
surprised  by  the  near  approach  of  volunteers.  As 
the  latter  could  be  seen  advancing  at  a  distance 
of  three  miles,  the  Indians  had  no  dilKculty  in 
making  their  escape  to  the  timber,  and  in  this  way 
eluding  pursuit  from  the  expedition  by  abandon- 
ing their  plunder.  The  cattle  were  driven  by  the 
party  to  Forest  City,  w-here  a  great  portion  of  the 
herd  was  found  to  belong  to  persons  who  were 
then  doing  military  duty,  or  taking  refuge  from 
their  enemies. 

At  Rockford,  on  the  Crow  river,  a  considerable 
force  of  citizens  congregated  for  the  purpose  of 
mutual  protection,  and  making  a  stand  against  the 
savages  in  case  they  should  advance  thus  far.  A 
substantial  fortification  was  erected  at  the  place, 
aflfording  ample  means  of  shelter  and  protection  to 
those  there  collected;  but  we  are  not  aware  that  it 
ever  became  necessary  as  a  place  of  last  resort  to 
the  people,  nor  are  we  aware  that  the  Indians 
committed  any  act  of  hostilities  within  tlie  county 
of  Wright. 

On  the  24th  of  August  rumors  reached  St. 
Cloud  that  murders  and  other  depredations  had 
^  been  commi'.ted  by  the  Indians  near  Paynesville, 
on  the  border  of  Stearns  county,  and  near  the  di- 
viding line  between  Meeker  and  Monongalia  coun- 
ties. A  public  meeting  of  the  citizens  was  called 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  at  which,  among 
other  measures  adopted,  a  squad,  well  armed  and 
equipped,  was  instructed  to  proceed  to  Paynes- 
ville, and  ascertain  whether  danger  was  to  be  ap- 
prehended in  that  direction.  This  party  immedi- 
ately entered  upon  the  discharge  of  their  duty, 
and  started  to  Paynesville  the  same  evening. 

On  the  evening  of  the  following  day  they  re- 
turned, and  reported  that  they  met  at  Paynesnlle 
the  fugitives  from  Norway  Lake,  which  latter 
place  is  situated  in  Monongalia  county,  and  about 
seventeen  miles  in  a  south-west  direction  from  the 
former.  That,  on  Wednesday,  the  20tli  day  of 
August,  as  a  family  of  Swedes,  by  the  name  of 
Lomberg,  were  returning  from  church,  they  were 
attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians,  and  three  brothers 
killed,  and  another  one,  a  boy,  wounded.  The 
father  had  fourteen  shots  fired  at  him,  but  suc- 
ceeded in  making  his  escape.  One  of  his  sons, 
John,  succeeded  in  bearing  off  his  wounded 
brother,  and  making  their  escape  to  Paynesville. 


COMPANY  FORMED  AT  ST.  OLOUD. 


231 


On  the  24tli,  a  party  went  out  from  Paynesville 
for  the  purpose  of  burying  the  dead  at  Norway 
Lake,  where  they  found,  in  addition  to  those  of 
the  Lomberg  faruily,  two  other  entire  families 
murdered — not  a  member  of  either  left  to  tell  the 
tale.  The  clothes  had  all  been  burned  from  their 
bodies,  while  from  each  had  been  cut  either  the 
nose,  an  ear  or  a  finger,  or  some  other  act  of  muti- 
lation had  been  committed  upon  it. 

The  party,  having  buried  the  dead,  thirteen  in 
number,  were  met  by  a  Httle  boy,  who  informed 
them  that  his  father  had  that  day  been  killed  by 
the  savages  while  engaged  in  cutting  hay  in  a 
swamp.  They  proceeded  with  the  intention  of 
burying  the  body,  but  discovered  the  Indians  to 
be  in  considerable  force  around  the  marsh,  and 
they  were  compelled  to  abandon  the  design. 

The  party  beheld  the  savages  in  the  act  of  driv- 
ing off  forty -four  head  of  cattle,  a  sj)an  of  horses, 
and  two  wagons ;  but  the  paucity  of  their  num- 
bers compelled  them  to  refrain  from  any  attempt 
to  recover  the  property,  or  to  inflict  any  punish- 
ment upon  the  robbers  and  murderers  having  it 
in  their  possession.  A  scouting  party  had  been 
sent  to  Johanna  Lake,  about  ten  miles  from  Nor- 
way Lake,  where  about  twenty  persons  had  been 
living.  Not  a  single  person,  dead  or  alive,  could 
there  be  found.  Whether  they  had  been  killed, 
escaped  by  hasty  flight,  or  been  carried  off  ag* 
prisoners,  could  not  be  determined  from  the  sur- 
rounding circumstances.  As  the  party  were  re- 
turning, they  observed  a  man  making  earnest  en- 
deavors to  escape  their  notice,  and  avoid  them  by 
flight,  under  the  impression  that  they  were  Indi- 
ans, refusing  to  be  convinced  to  the  contrary  by 
any  demonstrations  they  could  make.  Upon  their 
attempting  to  overtake  him,  he  plunged  into  a 
lake  and  swam  to  an  island,  from  which  he  could 
not  be  induced  to  return.  His  family  were  dis- 
covered and  brought  to  Paynesville,  but  no  infor- 
mation could  be  derived  from  them  respecting  the 
fate  of  their  neighbors. 

When  this  report  had  been  made  to  the  citizens 
of  St.  Cloud  by  the  returned  party,  a  mounted 
company,  consisting  of  twenty-five  members,  was 
immediately  formed,  for  the  purpose  of  co-oper- 
ing  with  any  forces  from  Paynesville  in  efforts  to 
recover  and  rescue  any  citizens  of  the  ravaged 
district.  Of  this  company  Ambrose  Freeman  was 
elected  captain,  and  they  proceeded  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Paynesville  the  next  morning  at  8  o'clock. 

At  Maine  Prairie,  a  point  to  the  south-west  of 


St.  Cloud,  and  about  fifteen  miles  distant  from 
that  place,  a  determined  band  of  farmers  united 
together  with  a  determination  never  to  leave  until 
driven,  and  not  to  be  driven  by  an  inferior  force. 
Their  locahty  was  a  small  prairie,  entirely  sur- 
rounded by  timber  and  dense  thickets,  a  circum- 
stance that  seemed  to  favor  the  near  approach  of 
the  stealthy  savage. 

By  concerted  action  they  soon  erected  a  sub- 
stantial fortification,  constructed  of  a  double  row 
of  timbers,  set  vertically,  and  inserted  firmly  in 
the  ground.  The  building  was  made  two  stories 
in  height.  The  upiser  story  was  fitted  up  for  the 
women  and  children,  and  the  lower  was  intended 
for  purposes  of  a  more  strictly  military  character. 
Some  of  their  number  were  dispatched  to  the  State 
Capital  to  obtain  such  arms  and  supplies  as  could 
be  furnished  them.  Provisions  were  laid  in,  and 
they  soon  expressed  their  confidence  to  hold  the 
place  against  five  hundred  savages,  and  to  stand 
a  siege,  if  necessary.  Their  determination  was 
not  to  be  thus  tested,  however.  The  Indians 
came  into  their  neighborhood,  and  committed 
some  small  depredations,  but,  so  far  as  reported, 
never  exhibited  themselves  within  gunshot  of  the 
fort. 

At  Paynesville,  the  citizens  and  such  others  as 
sought  refuge  in  the  town  constructed  a  fortifica- 
tion for  the  purpose  of  protecting  themselves  and 
defending  the  village;  but  no  description  of  the 
work  has  ever  been  received  at  this  office,  and,  I 
beUeve,  it  was  soon  abandoned. 

At  St.  Joseph,  in  the  Watab  Valley,  the  citizens 
there  collected  erected  three  substantial  fortifica- 
tions. These  block-houses  were  built  of  solid 
green  timber,  of  one  foot  in  thickness.  The 
structure  was  a  pentagon,  and  each  side  was  fifty 
feet  in  length.  They  were  located  at  diS'erent 
l^oints  of  the  town,  and  comjjletely  commanded 
the  entrance  in  all  directions.  In  case  the  savages 
had  attacked  the  town,  they  must  have  suffered  a 
very  heavy  loss  before  a  passage  could  be  effected, 
and  even  after  an  entry  had  been  made,  they  would 
have  become  fair  targets  for  the  riflemen  of  the 
forts.  Beyond  them,  to  the  westward,  every  house 
is  said  to  have  become  deserted,  and  a  great  por- 
tion of  the  country  ravaged,  thus  placing  them 
upon  the  extreme  frontier  in  that  dh-ection;  but, 
owing,  no  doubt,  to  their  activity  in  preparing  the 
means  for  effective  resistance,  they  were  permitted 
to  remain  almost  undisturbed. 

Sauk  Center,  near   the   north-western  comer  of 


232 


niSTORT  OF  THE  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


the  county,  and  situated  on  the  head- waters  of  the 
Sauk  river,  is,  perhaps,  the  most  extreme  point  in 
this  direction  at  which  a  stand  was  made  by  the 
settlers.  Early  measures  were  taken  to  perfect 
a  military  organization,  which  was  effected  on  the 
25th  of  August,  by  the  election  of  Sylvester 
Ramsdell  as  captain.  The  company  consisted  of 
over  fifty  members,  and  labored  under  discourag- 
ing circumstances  at  the  outset.  The  affrighted 
and  panic-stricken  settlers,  from  all  places  located 
still  further  to  the  north  and  west,  came  pouring 
past  the  settlement,  almost  commimicating  the 
same  feeling  to  the  inhabitants.  From  Holmes 
City,  Chippewa  Lake,  Alexandria,  Osakis,  and  West 
Union,  the  trains  of  settlers  swept  by,  seeking 
safety  only  in  flight,  and  apparently  willing  to  re- 
ceive it  in  no  other  manner. 

Assistance  was  received  from  the  valley  of  the 
Ashley  river,  from  Grove  Lake,  and  from  West- 
port,  in  Pope  county. 

A  small  stockade  fort  was  constructed,  and 
within  it  were  crowded  the  women  and  children. 
The  haste  with  which  it  was  constructed,  and  the 
necessity  for  its  early  completion,  prevented  its 
either  being  so  extensive  or  so  strongly  built  as 
the  interest  and  comfort  of  the  people  seemed  to 
require. 

Upon  being  informed  of  the  exposed  situation 
of  the  place,  and  the  determination  of  the  settlers 
to  make  a  imited  eiTort  to  repel  the  destroyers  from 
their  homes,  orders  were,  on  the  30th  day  of  Au- 
gust, issued  to  the  conmiandant  at  Fort  SnelUng, 
directing  him,  with  all  due  speed,  to  detail  from 
his  command  two  companies  of  troops,  with  in- 
structions to  proceed  to  Sauk  Center,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  protecting  the  inhabitants  of  the  Sauk 
Valley  from  any  attack  of  hostile  Indians,  and  to 
co-operate  as  far  as  pussible  with  the  troops  sta- 
tioned at  Fcrt  Abercrombie. 

In  obedience  to  these  orders,  the  companies 
under  command  respectively  of  Captains  George 
G.  McCoy,  of  the  Eighth  Eegiment  Minnesota 
Volunteers,  and  Theodore  H.  Barrett,  of  the  Ninth 
Regiment,  were  sent  forward.  Their  arrival  at  the 
stockade  created  a  thrill  of  joy  in  the  place,  espe- 
cially among  the  women  and  children,  and  all,  even 
the  most  timid,  took  courage  and  rejoiced  in  their 
security.  Captain  Barrett  was,  shortly  afterward, 
sent  with  his  command  in  the  expedition  for  the 
relief  of  Fort  Abercombie,  and  a  short  time  after- 
ward Captain  McCoy,  in  obedience  to  orders  from 
General  Pope,  fell  back  to  St.  Cloud. 


Upon  the  departure  of  these  troops,  many  of  the 
more  timid  were  again  almost  on  the  verge  of 
despair,  and  would  willingly  have  retreated  from 
the  position  they  so  long  held.  More  courageous 
councils  prevailed,  and  the  same  spirit  of  firmness 
that  refused  safety  by  flight  in  the  first  instance, 
was  still  unbroken,  and  prompted  the  company  to 
further  action,  and  to  the  performance  of  other 
duties  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  those  who  had 
accepted  their  proffers  of  protection.  Disease  was 
beginning  to  make  its  appearance  within  the  stock- 
ade, where  no  other  enemy  had  attcmjited  to 
penetrate,  and  this  fact  admonished  the  company 
that  more  extensive  and  better  quarters  were 
required  in  order  to  maintain  the  health  of  the 
people. 

Several  plans  were  submitted  for  a  new  stock- 
ade, from  which  one  was  selected,  as  calculated  to 
secure  the  best  means  of  defense,  and  at  the  same 
time,  to  afford  the  most  ample  and  comfortable 
quarters  for  the  women,  chUdreu,  and  invalids, 
besides  permitting  the  horses  and  cattle  to  be 
secured  within  the  works.  In  a  few  days  the  new 
tort  was  completed,  inclosing  an  area  of  about  one 
acre  in  extent,  the  walls  of  which  were  constructed 
of  a  double  row  of  timljers,  principally  tamarack 
poles,  inserted  firmly  in  the  ground,  and  rising 
eleven  feet  above  the  surface.  These  were  prop- 
erly prepared  with  loopholes  and  other  means  of 
protection  to  tbose  within,  and  for  the  repulsion 
of  an  attacking  party. 

When  the  people  had  removed  their  stock  and 
other  property  within  the  new  fortification,  and 
had  been  assigned  to  their  new  quarters,  they  for 
the  first  time  felt  really  secure  and  at  ease  in 
mind.  Had  any  vigorous  attack  been  made  upon 
the  party  in  their  old  stockade,  they  might  have 
saved  the  lives  of  the  people,  but  their  horses  and 
cattle  would  most  certainly  have  been  driven  off 
or  destroyed.  Now  they  felt  that  there  was  a 
chance  of  safety  for  their  property  as  well  as 
themselves. 

A  short  time  after  this  work  had  been  completed 
Captain  McCoy,  after  having  rendered  services  in 
other  parts  of  the  country,  was  ordered  back  to 
Sauk  Center.  A  company  from  the  Twenty- 
fifth  Wisconsin  Regiment  was  sent  to  the  same 
place  upon  its  arrival  in  the  state,  and  remained 
there  until  about  the  first  of  December. 

Two  days  after  the  citizens  from  Grove  Lake — 
a  point  some  twelve  miles  to  the  south-west  of 
Sauk  Center — had  cast  their  lot  with  the  people 


PREPAMATTONS  FOR  DEFENSE. 


233 


of  the  latter  place,  the  night-sentinels  of  Captain 
Kamsdell's  company  discovered  fires  to  tlie  south- 
west. Fearing  that  all  was  not  right  in  the 
vicinity  of  Grove  Lake,  a  party  was  sent  out  the 
next  morning  to  reconnoiter  in  that  neighborhood. 
They  found  one  dwelling-house  burned,  and 
others  plundered  of  such  things  as  had  attracted 
the  fancy  of  the  savages,  while  all  furniture  was 
left  broken  and  destroyed.  A  number  of  the 
cattle  which  had  not  been  taken  with  the  settlers 
when  they  left,  were  found  killed. 

A  Mr.  Van  Eaton,  who  resided  at  that  place, 
about  the  same  time,  started  from  Sauk  Center, 
with  the  intention  of  reraiting  his  farm.  He  is 
BupjJosed  to  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  sav- 
ages, as  he  never  returned  to  the  fort.  Several 
parties  were  sent  in  search  of  him,  but  no  positive 
trace  could  ever  be  found. 

At  St.  Cloud,  in  the  upper  part  of  the   town,  a 
small  but  substantial  fortification  was  erected,  and 
"Broker's   Block"  of  buildings    was    surrounded 
with  a  breastwork,  to  be  used  in  case  the  citizens 
should  be  compelled  to  seek  safety  in  this  manner. 
In  Lower  Town    a   small  work  was  constructed, 
called  Fort  Holes.     It   was  located  upon  a  ridge 
overlooking  the  "flat"  and  the  lower   landing  on 
the  river.     It  was  circular  in  form,  and  was  fortv- 
five  feet  in  diameter.     The  walls  were  formed  by 
two  rows  of  posts,   deeply  and   firmly  set  in  the 
groimd,  with   a  space   of  four   feet   between  the 
rows.     Boards  were  then  nailed  upon  the  sides  of 
the  posts  facing  the  opposite  row,  and   the  inter- 
space filled  and  packed  with   earth,  thus  forming 
an   earthen  wall  of  four  feet  in   thickness.     The 
structure  was  then  covered  with  two-inch  plank, 
supported  by  heavy  timbers,  and  this  again  with 
sods,  in  order  to  render  it  fire-proof.     In  the  cen- 
ter, and  above  all,  was  erected  a  bullet-proof  tower, 
of  the  "monitor"  style,  but  without  the  means  of 
causing  it  to  revolve,  prepared  with  loop-holes  for 
twelve  sharp-shooters.     This  entire  structure  was 
inclosed  with  a  breastwork  or  wall  similar  to  that 
of  the  main  building,  two  feet  in  thickness  and  ten 
in  height,  with  a  projection  outward  so  as  to  ren- 
der it  difficult  to  be   scaled.     It  was  pierced   for 
loop-holes    at   the   distance   of    every    five    feet. 
"Within  this  fortification  it  was  intended  that  the 
inhabitants  of  Lower  Town  should  take  refuge  in 
case  the  Indians  should  make  an  attack  in  anv 
considerable  force,  and  where  they  expected  to  be 
able  to  stand  a  siege  until  reinforcements  would 
be  able   to  reach  them.     They  were  not  put   to 


this  test,  however;  but  the  construction  of  the 
fort  served  to  give  confidence  to  the  citizens, 
and  prevented  some  fi-om  leaving  the  place  that 
otherwise  would  have  gone,  and  were  engaged  in 
the  preparation  at  the  time  the  work  was  com- 
menced. 

On  the  22d  of  September  a  messenger  arrived 
at  St.  Cloud  from  Richmond,  m  the  same  county, 
who  reported  that,  at  four  o'clock  the  same  morn- 
ing, the  Indians  had  appeared  within  a  mde  of  the 
last-mentioned  town,  and  had  attacked  the  house 
of  one  of  the  settlers,  killing  two  children  and 
wounding  one  woman.  Upon  the  receipt  of  this 
intelligence  Captain  McCoy,  who  was  then  sta- 
tioned at  St.  Cloud  with  forty  men  of  his  com- 
mand, got  under  way  for  the  reported  scene  of  dis- 
turbance at  ten  o'clock  a.  m.,  and  was  followed 
early  in  the  afternoon  by  a  mounted  company  of 
home-guards,  under  command  of  Captain  Cramer. 
Upon  arriving  at  Richmond  the  troops  took  the 
trail  of  the  Indians  in  the  direction  of  Paynes- 
ville,  and  all  along  the  road  found  the  dwellings 
of  the  settlers  in  smouldering  ruins,  and  the  stock 
of  their  farms,  even  to  the  poultry,  killed  and 
lying  in  all  directions.  Seven  of  the  farm-houses 
between  these  two  towns  were  entirely  consumed, 
and  one  or  two  others  had  been  fired,  but  were 
reached  before  the  flames  had  made  such  progress 
as  to  be  incapable  of  being  extinguished,  and 
these  were  saved,  in  a  damaged  condition,  through 
the  exertions  of  the  troops.  On  arriving  at  Paynas- 
ville  they  found  eight  dwelling-houses  either  con- 
sumed or  so  far  advanced  in  burning  as  to  pre- 
clude the  hope  of  saving  them,  and  all  the  out- 
buildings of  every  description  had  been  commit- 
ted to  the  flames  and  reduced  to  ruins.  Only  two 
dwelling-houses  were  left  standing  in  the  village. 
At  Clear  Water,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  bcliw 
Si  Cloud,  and  in  the  county  of  Wright,  the  citizens 
formed  a  home  guard  and  budt  a  fortification  for 
their  own  protection,  which  is  said  to  have  been  a 
good,  substantial  structure,  but  no  report  has  been 
received  in  regard  either  to  their  military  force  or 
preparations  for  defense. 

Morrison  county,  which  occupies  the  extreme 
frontier  in  this  direction,  tliere  being  no  organized 
coimty  beyond  it,  we  believe,  was  deserted  by  but 
few  of  its  inhabitants.  They  collected,  however, 
from  the  various  portions  of  the  county,  and  took 
position  in  the  town  of  Little  Falls,  its  capital, 
where  they  fortified  the  court-house,  by  strength- 
ening its  walls  and  digging  entrenchments  around 


23i 


mSTORT  OF  THE  SfOUX  MASSACRE. 


it.  During  the  uight  the  women  and  children 
occupied  the  inside  of  the  building,  while 
the  men  remained  in  quarters  or  on  guard  on  the 
outside.  In  the  morning  the  citizens  of  the  town 
would  return  to  their  habitiitions,  taking  with  them 
such  of  their  neighbors  as  they  could  accommo- 
date, and  detachments  of  the  men  would  proceed 
to  the  farms  of  some  of  the  settlers  and  exert  them- 
selves in  securing  the  produce  of  the  soil.  In- 
dians were  seen  on  several  occasions,  and  some  of 
the  people  were  fired  upon  by  them,  but  so  far  as 
information  has  been  communicated,  no  lives  were 
lost  among  the  settlers  of  the  county. 


CH.^PTER  XL. 

HOSTfLITIES  IN  THE  VADtEY  OP  THE  RED  KIVER  OF 
THE  NORTH CAPTAINS  FREEMAN  AND  DAVIS  OR- 
DERED TO  GO  TO  THE    RELIEF  OP  ABERCROMBIE 

INDIANS  APPEAR  NEAR    THE  FOKT  IN    LARGE  NUM- 
BERS  THE      ATTACK — INDIANS    RETIRE SECOND 

ATTACK    ON    THE    FORT UNION    OP    FORCES AN- 
OTHER ATTACK  UPON    THE    FORT^EFFEOT  OF  THE 

HOWITZER RETURN  OF  CAPTAIN  FREEMAN  TO    ST. 

CliOUD. 

On  the  23d  of  August  the  Indians  commenced 
hostilities  in  the  valley  of  the  Red  Eiver  of  the 
North.  This  region  of  country  was  protected  by 
the  post  of  Fort  Abercrombie,  situated  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  river,  in  Dakota  Territory.  The  troops 
that  had  formerly  garrisoned  the  forts  had  been 
removed,  and  sent  to  aid  in  suppressing  the 
Southern  rebellion,  and  their  place  Was  supplied, 
as  were  all  the  posts  within  our  state,  by  a  de- 
tachment from  the  Fiftli  Rogimeut  Minnesota  Vol- 
unteers. But  one  company  had  been  assigned  to 
this  point,  which  was  under  the  command  of  Cap- 
tain John  Van  der  Horck.  About  one-half  of  the 
company  was  stationed  at  Georgetown,  some  fifty 
miles  below,  for  the  purpose  of  overawing  the  In- 
dians in  that  vicinity,  who  had  threatened  some 
opposition  to  the  navigation  of  the  river,  and  to  de- 
stroy the  property  of  the  Transportation  Company. 
The  force  was  thus  divided  at  the  commencement 
of  the  outbreak. 

The  interpreter  at  the  post,  who  had  gone  to 
Yellow  Medicine  for  the  purpose  of  attending  the 
Indian  payment,  returned  about  the  20th  of  Au- 
gust, and  reported  that  the  Indians  were  becoming 
exasperated  and  that  he  expected  hostilities  to  be 


immediately  commenced.  Upon  the  receipt  of  this 
intelligence  the  guards  were  doubled,  and  every 
method  adopted  that  was  likely  to  insure  protec- 
tion against  surprises. 

Tlie  Congress  of  the  United  States  had  author- 
ized a  treaty  to  be  made  with  the  Red  Lake  In- 
dians, (Chippewas,)  and  the  officers  were  already 
on  their  way  for  the  purpose  of  consummating  such 
treaty.  A  train  of  some  thirty  wagons,  loaded 
with  goods,  and  a  herd  of  some  two  hundred  head 
of  cattle,  to  be  used  at  the  treaty  by  the  United 
States  Agent,  was  likewise  on  the  way,  and  was 
then  at  no  great  distance  from  the  fort. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  2^(1  a  messenger 
arrived,  and  informed  the  commandant  that  a  band 
of  nearly  five  hundred  Indians  had  already  crossed 
the  Otter  Tail  river,  with  the  iutentiou  of  cutting 
off  and  capturing  the  train  of  goods  and  cattle  in- 
tended for  the  treaty.  Word  was  immediately  sent 
to  those  having  the  goods  in  charge,  and  request- 
ing them  to  take  refuge  in  the  fort,  which  was 
speedily  complied  with.  Messengers  were  like- 
wise sent  to  Breckenridge,  Old  Crossing,  Graham's 
Point,  and  all  the  principal  settlements,  urging 
the  inhabitants  to  flee  to  the  fort  for  safety,  as 
from  the  weakness  of  the  garrison,  it  was  not  pos- 
sible that  protection  could  be  afforded  them  else- 
where. 

The  great  majority  of  the  people  from  the  set- 
tlements arrived  in  safety  on  the  same  day,  and 
were  assigned  to  quarters  within  the  fortification. 
Three  men,  however,  upon  arriving  at  Brecken- 
ridge, refused  to  go  any  further,  and  took  posses- 
sion of  the  hotel  of  the  place,  where  they  declared 
they  would  defend  themselves  and  their  property 
without  aid  from  any  source.  On  the  evening  of 
the  same  day  a  detachment  of  six  men  was  sent 
out  in  that  direction,  in  order  to  learn,  if  possible, 
the  movements  of  the  Indians.  Upon  their  arriv- 
ing in  sight  of  Breckenridge  they  discovered  the 
place  to  be  occupied  by  a  large  force  of  the  sav- 
ages. They  were  likewise  seen  by  the  latter,  who 
attempted  to  surround  them,  but  being  mounted, 
and  the  Indians  on  foot,  they  were  enabled  to  make 
their  escape,  and  returned  to  the  fort. 

The  division  of  the  company  at  Georgetown 
was  immediately  ordered  in;  and,  on  the  morning 
of  the  •  24th,  a  detachment  was  sent  to  Brecken- 
ridge, when  tliey  found  the  place  deserted  by  the 
Indians,  but  discovered  the  bodies  of  the  three 
men  who  had  there  determined  to  brave  the  vio- 
lence of  the  war  party  by  themselves.     They  had 


FvUT  AUEliOllOMBlE. 


235 


lieen  brutally  murdered,  and,  when  found,  had 
cLiains  bound  around  their  ankles,  by  which  it  ap- 
peared, from  signs  upon  the  floor  of  the  hotel, 
their  bodies  at  least  had  been  dragged  around  in 
t'le  savage  war-dance  of  their  murderers,  and,  per- 
li:i,  s,  in  that  very  mode  of  torture  they  had  suf- 
fered a  lingering  death.  The  mail-coach  for  St. 
Paul,  which  left  the  fort  on  the  evening  of  the 
2"2d.  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  the 
di'ver  lolled,  and  the  contents  of  the  mail  scat- 
tered over  the  prairie,  as  was  discovered  by  the 
detachment  on  the  24th. 

Over  fifty  citizens  capable  of  bearing  arms  had 
taken  refuge  ■with  the  garrison,  and  willingly  be- 
came soldiers  for  the  time  being;  but  many  of 
them  were  destitute  of  arms,  and  none  could  be 
furnished  them  from  the  number  in  the  possession 
of  the  commandant.  There  was  need,  however, 
to  strengthen  the  position  with  outside  intrench- 
ments,  and  all  that  could  be  spared  from  other 
duties  were  employed  in  labor  of  that  character. 

On  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  August,  messen- 
gers were  dispatched  ftrom  the  post  to  head-quar- 
ters, stating  the  circumstances  Tinder  which  the 
garrison  was  placed,  and  the  danger  of  a  severe 
attack;  but,  as  all  troops  that  could  be  raised,  and 
were  not  indispensable  at  other  points,  had  been 
sent  to  Colonel  Sibley,  then  on  the  march  for  the 
relief  of  Fort  Kidgely,  it  was  impossible  at  once  to 
reinforce  Fort  Abercrombie  with  any  troops  al- 
ready reported  ready  for  the  field.  Authority  had 
been  given,  and  it  was  expected  that  a  considera- 
ble force  of  mounted  infantry  for  the  State  ser- 
vice had  been  raised,  or  soon  would  be,  at  St. 
Cloud. 

As  the  place  was  directly  upon  the  route  to  Ab- 
ercrombie, it  was  deemed  advisable  to  send  any 
troops  that  could  be  raised  there  to  the  assistance 
of  Captain  Van  der  Horck,  relying  upon  our  abil- 
ity to  have  their  places  shortly  filled  with  troops, 
then  being  raised  in  other  parts  of  the  State.  Ac- 
cordingly, Captain  Freeman,  with  his  company,  of 
about  sixty  in  number,  started  upon  the  march; 
but  upon  arriving  at  Sauk  Center,  he  became  con- 
vinced, from  information  there  received,  that  it 
would  be  extremely  dangerous,  if  not  utterly  im- 
possible, to  make  the  march  to  the  fort  with  so 
small  a  number  of  men.  He  then  requested  Cap- 
tain Kamsdell,  in  command  of  the  troops  at  Sauk 
Center,  to  detail  thirty  men  fi-om  his  command,  to 
be  united  with  his  own  company,  and,  with  his 
force  so  strengthened,   he  proposed  to  make  the 


attempt  to  reach  the  fort.  Captain  Kamsdell 
thought  that,  by  complying  with  this  request,  he 
would  so  weaken  his  own  force  that  he  would  be 
unable  to  hold  position  at  Sauk  Center,  and  that 
the  region  of  country  around  would  become  over- 
run by  the  enemy,  and  he  refused  his  consent. 
Captain  Freeman  then  deemed  it  necessary  to 
await  reinforcements  before  proceeding  any  further 
on  his  perilous  journey. 

On  the  same  day  that  orders  were  issued  to  the 
mounted  men  then  assembling  at  St.  Cloud,  simi- 
lar orders  were  issued  to  those  likewise  assembling 
in  Goodhue  coimty,  under  the  command  of  Cap- 
tain David  L.  Davis,  directing  them  to  complete 
their  organization  with  all  speed,  and  then  to  pro- 
ceed forthwith  to  the  town  of  Carver,  on  the  Min- 
nesota river,  and  thence  through  the  counties  of 
McLeod,  Meeker,  and  Stearns,  until  an  intersec- 
tion was  made  with  the  stage-route  from  St.  Cloud 
to  Fort  Abercrombie,  and  thence  along  such  stage- 
route  to  the  fort,  unless  the  officers  in  command 
became  convinced  that  their  services  were  more 
greatly  needed  in  some  other  quarter,  in  which 
case  they  had  authority  to  use  discretionary  pow- 
ers. This  company,  likewise,  marched  pursuant 
to  orders;  but,  in  consequence  of  the  attacks  then 
being  made  upon  Forest  City,  Acton,  and  Hutch- 
inson, they  deemed  it  their  duty  to  render  as- 
sistance to  the  forces  then  acting  in  that  part  of 
the  country. 

The  first  efforts  to  reinforce  the  garrison  on  the 
Red  River  had  failed.  Upon  the  fact  becoming 
known  at  this  office,  there  were  strong  hopes  that 
two  more  companies  of  infantry  could  be  put  into 
the  field  in  a  very  short  time,  and,  therefore,  on 
the  30th  day  of  August,  orders  were  issued  to  the 
commandant  of  Fort  Snelling,  directing  him  to 
detail  two  companies,  as  soon  as  they  could  be 
had,  to  proceed  to  Sauk  Center,  and  thence  to 
proceed  to  Fort  Abercrombie,  in  case  their  ser- 
vices were  not  urgently  demanded  in  the  Sauk 
Valley.  These  companies  were,  soon  after,  dis- 
patched accordingly,  and  it  was  hoped  that,  by 
means  of  this  increased  force  on  the  north-western 
frontier,  a  sufficiently  strong  expedition  might  be 
formed  to  effect  the  reinforcement  of  Abercrombie. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  these  troops  at  the  rendez- 
vous, however,  they  still  considered  the  forces  in 
that  vicinity  inadequate  to  the  execution  of  the 
task  proposed.  Of  this  fact  we  first  had  notice  on 
the  6th  day  of  September.  Two  days  previously, 
the  effective  forces  of  the  state  had  been  strength- 


236 


HISTORl'  OF  THE  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


ened  by  the  arrival  of  the  Third  Regiment  Minne- 
sota Volunteers,  without  any  coramissionod  officers 
and  being  but  a  wreck  of  that  once  noble  regi- 
ment. Three  hundred  of  the  men  had  already 
been  ordered  to  the  field,  under  the  command  of 
Major  Welch.  It  was  now  determined  to  send 
forward  the  remaining  available  force  of  the  regi- 
ment, to  endeavor  to  effect  the  project  so  long 
delayed,  of  reinforcing  the  command  of  Captain 
Van  der  Horck,  on  the  Red  River  of  the  North. 
Orders  were  accordingly  issued  to  the  commandant 
at  Fort  SneUing,  on  the  6th  day  of  September, 
directing  him  to  fit  out  an  expedition  for  that  pur- 
pose, to  be  composed,  as  far  as  possible,  of  the 
troops  belonging  to  the  Third  Regiment;  and 
Colonel  S  nith,  the  commandant  at  the  post,  im- 
mediately entered  upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties 
assigned  him  in  the  order. 

Daring  the  time  that  these  efforts  had  been 
making  for  their  relief,  the  garrison  at  Port  Abor- 
crombie  was  kept  in  a  state  of  siege  by  the  sav- 
ages, who  had  taken  possession  of  the  surrounding 
country  in  large  niimbers.  On  the  25th  ot  August, 
tho  same  day  that  the  first  messengers  were  sent 
from  that  post.  Captain  Van  der  Horck  detailed  a 
squad,  composed  of  six  men  from  his  company  and 
six  of  the  citizens  then  in  the  fort,  to  proceed  to 
Breckenridge  anil  recover  the  bodies  of  the  men 
who  had  there  been  murdered.  They  proceeded, 
without  meeting  with  any  opposition,  to  the  point 
designated,  where  they  found  the  bodies,  and  con- 
signed them  to  boxes  or  rough  coffins,  prepared 
for  the  purpose,  and  were  about  starting  on  the 
return,  when  they  observed  what  they  supposed  to 
be  an  Indian  in  the  saw-mill,  at  that  place.  A 
further  examination  revealed  the  fact  that  the 
object  mistaken  tor  an  Indian  was  an  old  lady  by 
the  name  of  Scott,  from  Old  Crossing,  on  the 
Otter  Tail,  a  point  distant  fifteen  miles  from 
Breckenridge. 

When  discovered,  she  had  three  wounds  on  the 
breast,  which  she  had  received  from  the  Indians, 
at  her  residence,  on  the  morning  of  the  previous 
day.  Notwithstanding  the  severity  of  her  wounds, 
and  the  fact  that  she  was  sixty-five  years  of  age, 
she  made  her  way  on  foot  and  alone,  by  walking 
or  crawling  along  the  banks  of  the  river,  until  she 
arrived,  in  a  worn-out,  exhausted,  and  almost  dy- 
ing condition,  at  the  place  where  she  was  found. 
She  stated  that,  on  tho  24:th  of  August,  a  party  of 
Indians  came  to  her  residence,  where  they  were 
met  by  her  son,  a  young  man,  whom  they  instantly 


shot  dead,  and  immediately  fired  upon  her,  inflict- 
ing the  wounds  upon  her  person  which  she  still 
bore.  That  tlien  a  teamster  in  the  employment  of 
Burbank  &  Co.  appeared  in  sight,  driving  a  wagon 
loaded  with  oats,  and  they  went  to  attack  him, 
taking  with  them  her  grandchild,  a  boy  about 
eight  years  of  age.  That  they  fired  upon  the 
teamster,  wounding  nim  in  the  arm,  after  which  he 
succeeded  in  making  his  escape  for  that  time,  and 
they  left  her,  no  doubt  believing  her  to  be  dead, 
or,  at  least,  in  a  dying  condition.  She  was  con- 
veyed to  the  fort,  wliere  her  wounds  were  dressed, 
after  which  she  gradually  recovered.  A  party  was 
sent  out,  on  the  27th  of  August,  to  the  Old  Cross- 
ing, for  the  purpose  of  burying  the  body  of  her 
son,  which  was  accomplished,  and  on  their  way  to 
that  point  they  discovered  the  body  of  another 
man  who  had  been  murdered,  as  was  supposed,  on 
the  24th. 

On  Saturday,  the  3l)th  of  August,  another 
small  party  were  sent  out,  with  the  intention  of 
going  to  the  Old  Crossing  for  reconnoitering  pur- 
poses, and  to  collect  and  drive  to  the  fort  such 
cattle  and  other  live  stock  as  could  there  be  found. 
They  had  proceeded  ten  miles  on  their  way,  when 
they  canie  upon  a  party  of  Indians,  in  ambush,  by 
whom  they  were  fired  upon,  and  one  of  their  party 
killed.  The  remainder  of  the  sqund  made  their 
escape  unhurt,  but  with  the  loss  of  their  baggage 
wagon,  five  mules,  and  their  camp  equipage. 

At  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day,  the  Indians  appeared  in  large  numbers 
in  sight  of  the  fort.  At  this  time  nearly  all  the 
live  stock  belonging  to  the  post,  as  well  as  that 
belonging  to  the  citizens  then  quartered  within 
the  work,  together  with  the  cattle  that  had  been 
intended  for  the  treaty  in  contemplation  with  the 
Red  Lake  Indians,  were  all  grazing  upon  the 
prairie  in  rear  of  the  fort,  over  a  range  extending 
from  about  one-half  mile  to  three  miles  from  it. 
The  Indians  approached  boldly  within  this  dis- 
tance, and  drove  off  the  entire  herd,  about  fifty 
head  of  which  afterward  escaped.  They  succeeded, 
however,  in  taking  between  one  hundi-ed  and  sev- 
enty and  two  hundred  head  of  cattle,  and  about 
one  hundred  horses  .and  mules.  They  made  no 
demonstration  against  the  fort,  except  their  appa- 
rently bold  acts  of  defiance;  but,  from  the  weak- 
ness ot  the  garrison  in  men  and  arms,  no  force 
was  sent  out  to  dispute  with  them  the  possession 
of  the  property.  It  was  mortifying  in  tho  ex- 
treme, especially  to  the  citizens,  to ,  be  compelled 


UNSUCCESSFUL   ATTACK. 


237 


to  look  thus  quietly  on,  while  they  were  being 
robbed  of  their  property,  and  dare  not  attempt  its 
rescue,  lest  the  fort  should  be  filled  with  their  ene- 
mies in  their  absence. 

On  the  2d  day  of  September,  another  reconnoi- 
tering  party  of  eight  were  sent  out  in  the  direction 
of  Breckenridge,  who  returned,  at  four  o'clock  p.  m. 
without  having  encountered  any  ojjposition  from 
the  Indians,  or  without  having  even  seen  any ;  but 
brought  with  them  the  cattle  above  spoken  of  as 
having  escaped  from  their  captors,  which  were 
found  running  at  large  during  their  march. 

At  daybreak  on  the  following  morning,  the  3d 
of  September,  the  garrison  was  suddenly  called  to 
arms  by  the  report  of  alarm-shots  fired  by  the  sen- 
tinels in  the  vicinity  of  the  stook-yard  belonging 
to  the  post.  The  firing  soon  became  sharp  and 
rapid  in  that  direction,  showing  that  the  enemy 
were  advancing  upon  that  point  with  considerable 
force.  The  command  was  shortly  after  given  for 
aU  those  stationed  outside  to  fall  back  within  the 
fortification.  About  the  same  time,  tivo  of  the 
haystacks  were  discovered  to  be  on  fire,  which 
greatly  emboldened  and  inflamed  the  spirits  of  the 
citizens,  whose  remaining  stock  they  considered  to 
be  in  extreme  jeopardy.  They  rushed  with  great 
eagerness  and  hardihood  to  the  stables,  and  as  the 
first  two  of  them  entered  on  one  side,  two  of  the 
savages  had  just  entered  from  the  other.  The  fore- 
most of  these  men  killed  one  of  the  Indians  and 
captured  his  gun.  The  other  Indian  fired  upon 
the  second  man,  wounding  him  severely  in  the 
shoulder,  notwithstanding  which,  he  afterward 
shot  the  Indian  and  finished  him  with  the  bayonet. 
By  this  time  two  of  the  horses  had  been  taken 
away  and  two  killed. 

The  fight  was  kept  up  for  about  two  hours  and 
a  half,  during  which  time  three  of  the  inmates  of 
the  fort  were  seriously  wounded  (one  of  whom  af- 
terward died  from  the  wound)  by  shots  from  the 
enemy;  and  the  commandant  received  a  severe 
wound  in  the  right  arm  from  an  accidental  shot, 
fired  by  one  of  his  own  men.  The  Indians  then 
retired  without  having  been  able  to  effect  an  en- 
trance into  the  fort,  and  without  having  been  able 
to  succeed  in  capturing  the  stock  of  horses  and 
cattle,  which,  most  probably,  had  been  the  jirinci- 
pal  object  of  thek  attack. 

Active  measures  were  taken  to  strengthen  the 
outworks  of  the  fort.  The  principal  materials  at 
hand  were  cord-wood  and  hewn  timber,  but  of 
this  there   was   a   considerable   abundance.       By 


means  of  these  the  barracks  were  surrounded  with 
a  breastwork  of  cord- wood,  well  filled  in  with 
earth  to  the  height  of  eight  feet,  and  this  capped 
with  hewn  oak  timbers,  eight  inches  square,  and 
having  port-holes  between  them,  from  which  a  fire 
could  be  opened  on  the  advancing  foe.  This  was 
designed  both  as  a  means  of  protection,  in  case  of 
attack,  and  a  place  of  final  retreat  in  case  the 
main  fort  should  by  any  means  be  burned  or  de- 
stroyed, or  the  garrison  should  in  any  manner  be 
driven  from  it. 

On  Saturday,  the  6th  day  of  September,  the 
same  day  that  an  expedition  to  that  point  was  or- 
dered from  the  Third  Regunent,  the  fort  was  a  se- 
cond time  attacked.  Immediately  after  daybreak 
on  that  morning,  the  Indians,  to  the  number  of 
about  fifty,  mounted  on  horseback,  made  their  ap- 
pearance on  the  open  prairie  in  the  rear  of  the 
fort.  Their  intention  evidently  was,  by  this  bold 
and  defiant  challenge,  with  so  small  a  force,  to  in- 
duce the  garrison  to  leave  their  fortifications  and 
advance  against  them,  to  punish  their  audacity. 

In  becoming  satisfied  that  our  troops  could  not 
be  seduced  from  their  intreuchmcntg,  the  Indians 
soon  displayed  themselves  in  different  directions, 
and  in  large  numbers.  Their  principal  object  of 
attack  in  this  instance,  as  on  the  former  occasion, 
seemed  to  be  the  Government  stables,  seeming  de- 
termined to  get  possession  of  the  remaining  horses 
and  cattle  at  almost  any  sacrifice,  even  if  they 
should  make  no  other  acquisition. 

The  stables  were  upon  the  edge  of  the  prairie, 
with  a  grove  of  heavy  timber  lymg  between  them 
and  the  river.  The  savages  were  not  slow  in  per- 
ceiving the  advantage  of  making  their  approach 
upon  that  point  fi-om  this  latter  direction.  The 
shores  of  the  river,  on  both  sides,  were  lined  with 
Indians  for  a  considerable  -distance,  as  their  war- 
whoops,  when  they  concluded  to  commence  the 
onset,  soon  gave  evidence.  They  seemed  determ- 
ined to  frighten  the  garrison  into  a  cowardly  sub- 
mission, or,  at  least,  to  drive  them  from  the  out- 
posts, by  the  amount  and  unearthliness  of  their 
whoops  and  yells.  They,  in  turn,  however,  were 
saluted  and  partially  quieted  by  the  opening  upon 
them  of  a  six-pounder,  and  the  explosion  of  a  shell 
in  the  midst  of  their  ranks. 

A  large  force  was  led  by  one  of  their  chiefs 
from  the  river  through  the  timber  until  they  had 
gained  a  close  proximity  to  the  stables,  still  under 
cover  of  large  trees  in  the  grove.  When  no  nearer 
position  could  be  gained  ■ivithout  presenting  them- 


238 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SIOVX  MASSACRE. 


selves  in  the  open  ground,  they  were  urged  by 
their  leader  to  make  a  charge  upon  the  point  thus 
sought  to  be  gained,  and  take  the  place  by  storm. 
They  appeared  slow  in  rendering  obedience  to  his 
command,  whereby  they  were  to  expose  themselves 
in  an  open  space  intervening  between  them  and 
the  stables.  When  at  length  he  succeeded  in  cre- 
ating a  stir  among  them  (for  it  assuredly  did  not 
approach  the  grandeur  of  a  charge),  they  were 
met  by  such  a  volley  from  the  direction  in  which 
they  were  desired  to  march  that  they  suddenly  re- 
versed their  advance,  and  each  sought  the  body  of 
a  tree,  behind  which  to  screen  himself  from  the 
threatened  storm  of  flying  bullets. 

As  an  instance  of  the  manner  in  which  the  fight 
was  now  conducted,  we  would  mention  a  part  of 
the  personal  adventures  of  Mr.  Walter  P.  HUls, 
a  citizen,  who  three  times  came  as  a  messenger 
from  the  fort  during  the  time  it  was  in  a  state  of 
siege.  He  had  just  returned  to  the  post  with  dis- 
patches the  evening  before  the  attack  was  made. 
He  took  part  in  the  engagement,  and  killed  his 
Indian  in  the  early  portion  of  tlie  fight  before 
the  enemy  was  driven  across  the  river. 

He  afterward  took  position  at  one  of  the  port- 
holes, where  he  paired  off  with  a  particular  Sious 
warrior,  posted  behind  a  tree  of  his  own  selection. 
He,  being  acquainted  with  the  language  to  a  con- 
siderable extent,  saluted  and  conversed  with  his 
antagonist,  and  as  the  opportunity  was  presented, 
each  would  fire  at  the  other.  This  was  kept  up 
for  about  an  hour  without  damage  to  either  party, 
when  the  Indian  attempted  to  change  his  position, 
so  as  to  open  fire  from  the  opposite  side  of  his  tree 
from  that  which  he  had  been  using  hitherto.  In 
this  maneuver  he  made  an  unfortunate  exposure  of 
his  person  in  the  direction  of  the  upper  bastion  of 
the  fort.  The  report  of  a  rifle  from  that  point  was 
heard,  and  the  Indian  was  seen  to  make  a  sudden 
start  backward,  when  a  second  and  third  shot  fol- 
lowed in  rapid  succession,  and  Mr.  Hills  beheld  his 
polite  opponent  stretched  a  corj)se  upon  the 
ground.  He  expressed  himself  as  experiencuig  a 
feeling  of  di.ssatisfaction  at  beholding  the  death  of 
his  enemy  thus  inflicted  by  other  hands  than  his 
jwn,  after  he  had  endeavored  so  long  to  accom- 
plish the  same  object. 

Several  of  the  enemy  at  this  point  were  killed 
while  in  the,  act  of  skulking  from  one  tree  to  an- 
other. The  artillery  of  the  ])ust  was  used  with 
considerable  efl'ect  during  the  engagement.  At 
one  time  a  number  of  the  euemv's  liorscnien  were 


observed  collecting  upon  a  knoU  on  the  prairie,  at 
the  distance  of  about  half  a  mile  from  the  fort, 
with  the  apparent  intention  of  making  a  charge. 
A  howitzer  was  brought  to  bear  upon  them,  and  a 
shell  was  planted  in  their  midst,  which  immediately 
afterward  exploded,  filling  the  air  with  dust,  sand, 
and  other  fragments.  When  this  had  sufficiently 
cleared  away  to  permit  the  knoll  to  be  again  seen, 
the  whole  troop,  horses  and  riders,  had  vanished, 
and  could  nowhere  be  discovered. 

The  fight  lasted  until  near  noon,  when  the  enemy 
withdrew,  taking  with  him  nearly  all  his  dead. 
The  loss  which  he  sustained  could  not  be  fully  as- 
certained, but  from  the  number  killed  in  plain 
view  of  the  works,  and  the  marks  of  blood,  broken 
guns,  old  rags,  and  other  signs  discovered  where 
the  men  had  fallen  or  been  dragged  away  by  their 
companions,  it  must  have  been  very  severe.  Our 
loss  was  one  man  killed  and  two  wounded,  one  of 
them  mortally. 

Mr.  Hills  left  the  fort  the  same  evening  as  bearer 
of  dispatches  to  headquarters  at  St.  Paul,  where 
he  arrived  in  safety  on  the  evening  of  the  8th  of 
September. 

Captain  Emil  A.  Buerger  was  appointed,  by 
special  order  from  headquarters,  to  take  command 
of  the  exjjodition  for  the  relief  of  Fort  Abercrom- 
bie.  He  had  .served  with  some  distinction  in  the 
Prussian  army  for  a  period  of  ten  years.  He  after- 
ward emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  be- 
came a  resident  of  the  state  of  Minnesota, 
taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  and  making  a 
declaration  of  his  intention  to  become  a  citizen. 
He  enlisted  in  the  second  company  of  Minnesota 
Sharp-Shooters,  and  was  with  the  company  in  the 
battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  in  Virginia,  where  he  was 
severely  wounded  and  loft  upon  the  field.  He  was 
there  found  by  the  enemy,  and  carried  to  Eich- 
mond  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  After  having  in  a 
great  measure  recovered  from  his  wounds,  he  was 
paroled  and  sent  to  Benton  Barracks,  in  the  state 
of  Missouri,  where  he  was  sojourning  at  the  time 
the  3d  Regiment  was  ordered  to  this  state.  As  the 
regiment  at  that  time  was  utterly  destitute  of  com- 
missioned ofiicers,  Captain  Buerger  was  designated 
to  take  charge  and  command  during  the  passage 
from  St.  Louis,  and  to  report  the  command  at  head- 
quarters in  this  state. 

From  his  kno\vn  experience  and  bravery,  he 
was  selected  to  lead  the  expedition  to  the  Red 
River  of  the  North,  for  the  rehef  of  the  garrison  at 


REINFORCEMENTS. 


239 


Fort  Abercrombie.  On  the  9th  of  September  he 
was  informed,  by  the  commandant  at  Fort  Snell- 
ing,  that  the  companies  commanded  respectively 
by  Captains  George  Atkinson  and  Rolla  Banks, 
together  \\dth  about  sixty  men  of  the  Third  Kegi- 
ment,  under  command  of  Sergeant  Dearborne,  had 
been  assigned  to  bis  command,  constituting  an 
aggregate  force  of  about  250  men. 

The  next  day  (September  10)  arms  and  accou- 
trements were  issued  to  the  men,  and,  before  noon 
of  the  11th  of  September,  Captam  Atkinson's 
company  and  the  company  formed  from  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Third  Kegiment  were  ready  for  the 
march.  With  these  Captain  Buerger  at  once  set 
out,  leaving  Captain  Bank's  company  to  receive 
their  clothing,  but  with  orders  to  follow  after  and 
overtake  the  others  as  soon  as  possible,  which  they 
did,  arriving  at  camp  and  reporting  about  3  o'clock 
the  nest  morning. 

It  was  also  deemed  expedient  to  send  the  only 
remaining  field-piece  belonging  to  the  state  along 
with  the  expedition,  and  Lieutenant  Eobert  J. 
McHenry  was,  accordingly,  appointed  to  take 
command  of  the  piece,  and  was  sent  after  the 
expedition,  which  he  succeeded  in  overtaking,  near 
Clear  Water,  on  the  13th  of  September,  and  imme- 
diately repoited  for  further  orders  to  the  captain 
commanding  the  expedition. 

Being  detained  by  heavy  rains  and  muddy 
roads,  the  expedition  was  considerably  delayed 
upon  its  march,  but  arrived  at  Richmond,  in 
Steams  county,  on  the  16th  of  September,  and 
encamped  in  a  fortification  erected  at  tliat  point  by 
the  citizens  of  the  place.  Upon  his  arrival.  Cap- 
tain Buerger  was  informed  that  the  night  previous 
an  attack  had  been  made  upon  the  neighboring 
village  of  Paynesville,  and  a  church  and  school- 
house  had  been  burned,  and  that,  on  the  day  of 
his  arrival,  a  party  of  thirty  Sioux  warriors,  well 
mounted,  had  been  seen  by  some  of  the  Eichmond 
home-guards,  about  three  miles  beyond  the  Sauk 
river  at  that  point. 

Captain  Buerger  thereupon  detailed  a  party  of 
twenty  men  to  proceed  to  Eichmond,  to  patrol  up 
and  down  the  bank  of  the  river  as  far  as  the  town 
site  extended,  and,  in  case  of  an  attack  being 
made,  to  render  all  possible  or  necessary  assistance 
and  aid  to  the  home  militia;  at  the  same  time  he 
held  the  remainder  of  his  command  in  readiness  to 
meet  any  emergency  that  might  arise.  No  In- 
dians appeared  during  the  night,  and,  on  the 
morning  following,  the  march  was  resumed. 


On  the  19th  of  September  the  expedition  reached 
Wyman's  Station,  at  the  point  where  the  road 
enters  the  "Alexandria  Woods."  At  the  setting 
out  of  the  expedition  it  was  next  to  impossible  to 
obtain  means  of  transportation  for  the  baggage 
and  supplies  necessary  for  the  force.  The  fitting 
out  of  so  many  other  exjieditions  and  detachments 
about  the  same  time  had  drawn  so  heavily  upon 
the  resom-ces  of  the  country,  that  scarcely  a  horse 
or  wagon  could  be  obtained,  either  by  contract  or 
impressment.  Although  Mr.  Kimball,  the  quarter- 
master of  the  expedition,  had  been  assiduously 
epgaged  from  the  8th  of  September  in  endeavor- 
ing to  obtain  such  transportation,  yet,  on  the  11th, 
he  had  but  partially  succeeded  in  liis  endeavors. 

Captain  Buerger  had  refused  longer  to  delay, 
and  started  at  once  with  the  means  then  at  hand, 
leaving  directions  for  others  to  be  sent  forward  as 
rapidly  as  circumstances  would  allow.  The  march 
was  much  less  rapid,  for  want  of  this  part  of  the 
-  train.  These,  fortunately,  arrived  while  the  com- 
mand was  encamped  at  Wyman's  Station,  just 
before  the  commencement  of  what  was  considered 
the  dangerous  part  of  the  march. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  Captains  Barrett 
and  Freeman,  having  united  their  commands,  de- 
termined to  make  the  attempt  to  relieve  Fort 
Abercrombie,  in  obedience  to  jirevious  orders. 
They  broke  up  camp  on  the  evening  of  that  day, 
and  by  evening  of  the  15th,  had  reached  Lake 
AmeUa,  near  the  old  trail  to  Eed  Eiver,  where  they 
encamped.  During  the  night  a  messenger  arrived 
at  their  camp,  bearing  dispatches  from  Captain 
McCoy,  advising  them  of  the  advance  of  the  expe- 
dition under  command  of  Captain  Buerger,  by 
whom  they  were  directed  to  await  further  orders. 

On  the  18th  they  received  orders  directly  from 
Captain  Buerger,  directing  them  to  proceed  to 
Wyman's  Station,  on  the  Alexandria  road,  and 
join  his  command  at  that  point  on  the  19tb, 
which  was  promptly  executed.  Captain  Buerger 
expressed  himself  as  bemg  highly  pleased  with 
these  companies,  both  officers  and  men.  He  had 
been  directed  to  assume  command  over  these 
companies,  and  believing  the  country  in  his  rear 
to  be  then  sufficiently  guarded,  and  being  so  well 
jaleased  with  both  companies  that  he  disliked  to 
part  with  either,  he  ordered  them  to  join  the  ex- 
pedition during  the  remainder  of  the  march. 

By  the  accession  of  these  companies  the  strength 
of  the  expedition  was  increased  to  something  over 
four   hundred   effective   men.     This  whole   force. 


uo 


n  I  STORY  OF  THE  SIOUK  MASSACRE. 


with  the  entire  train,  marched  on  the  20tli  of  Sep- 
tember, and  passed  through  the  "Alexandria 
Woods"  without  seeing  any  Indians.  After  pass- 
ing Sauk  Center,  however,  there  was  not  an  inhab- 
itant to  be  seen,  and  the  whole  coxmtry  had  been 
laid  waste.  The  houses  were  generally  burned, 
and  those  that  remained  had  been  plundered  of 
their  contents  and  broken  up,  until  they  were  mere 
wrecks,  while  the  stock  and  produce  of  the  farms 
had  been  all  carried  off  or  destroyed. 

On  the  21st  they  passed  the  spot  where  a  Mr. 
Andrew  Austin  had  been  murdered  by  the  Indian's 
a  short  time  previous.  His  body  was  found,  terd- 
ribly  mutilated,  the  head  having  been  severed  from 
the  body,  and  lying  about  forty  rods  distant  from 
it,  with  the  scalp  torn  ofiF.  It  was  buried  by  the 
expedition  in  the  best  style  that  circumstances 
would  admit.  Pomme  de  Terre  river  was  reached 
in  the  evening. 

On  the  22J  they  arrived  at  the  Old  Crossing,  on 
the  Otter  Tail  river,  between  Dayton  and  Breck- 
enridge,  about  fifteen  miles  from  the  latter  place. 
On  the  2.3d  the  march  was  resumed,  and  nothing 
woi'ihy  of  remark  occurred  until  the  espodition 
had  approached  within  about  a  mile  of  the  P.eJ 
River,  and  almost  within  sight  of  Fort  Abercroni- 
bie.  At  this  point  a  dense  smoke  was  observed  in 
the  direction  of  tlie  fort,  and  the  impression  cre- 
ated among  the  troops  was,  that  the  post  had  al- 
ready fallen,  and  was  now  being  reduced  to  ash^s 
by  the  victorious  savages,  through  the  means  of 
their  favorite  element  of  war. 

Upon  ascending  an  eminence  where  a  bettor 
view  could  be  obtained,  a  much  better  state  of  af- 
fairs was  discovered  to  be  existing.  There  stood 
the  little  fort,  yet  monarch  of  the  prairie,  and  the 
flag  of  the  Union  was  still  waving  above  its  bat- 
tlements. The  fire  from  which  the  smoke  wr.s 
arising  was  between  the  command  and  the  post, 
and  was  occasioned  by  the  burning  of  the  praiiie, 
which  had  been  set  on  fire  by  the  Indians,  with  the 
evident  design  of  cutting  off  the  expedition  from 
the  crossing  of  the  river.  After  they  had  advanced 
a  short  distance  further  toward  the  river,  a  party 
of  thirteen  Indians  appeared  on  the  opposite  bank, 
rushing  in  wild  haste  from  a  piece  of  woods. 
They  hastily  fired  a  few  shots  at  our  men  from  a 
distance  of  about  fifteen  hundred  yards,  inflictiLg 
no  injuries  on  any  one  of  the  command,  after 
which  tliey  disappeared  in  great  trepidation,  be- 
hind some  bushes  on  the  river  shore. 

A  detachment  comprising  twenty  mounted  men 


of  Captain  Freeman's  company,  under  command  of 
Lieutenant  Taylor,  and  twenty  from  the  members 
of  the  Third  Kegiment,  the  latter  to  act  as  skir- 
mishers in  the  woods,  was  directed  to  cross  the 
river  with  all  possible  celerity,  and  follow  the  re- 
treating enemy.  The  men  entered  upon  the  duty 
assigned  them  with  the  greatest  zeal,  crossed  the 
river,  and  follov.ed  in  the  direction  taken  by  the 
Indians. 

Captain  Buerger  took  with  him  the  remaining 
force  of  the  Third  Kegiment  and  the  field-piece, 
and  jjrcceeded  up  the  river  to  a  point  where  he  sus- 
pected the  Indians  would  pass  in  their  retreat,  and 
where  he  was  able  to  conceal  his  men  from  their 
sight  until  within  a  very  short  distance. 

He  soon  discovered,  however,  that  the  savag.  s 
were  retreating,  under  cover  of  the  woods,  across 
the  prairie,  in  the  direction  of  the  Wild  Eice  river. 
The  whole  expedition  was  then  ordered  to  cross  the 
river,  which  was  effected  in  less  than  an  hour,  the 
men  not  awaiting  to  be  carried  over  in  wagons,  but 
plunging  into  the  water,  breast-deep,  and  wading 
to  the  opposite  shore. 

By  this  time  the  savages  had  retreated  some 
three  miles,  and  were  about  entering  the  heavy 
timber  beyond  the  prairie,  and  further  pursuit  was 
considered  useless.  The  march  was  continued  to 
the  fort,  at  which  place  the  expedition  arrived 
about  4  o'clock  of  the  same  daj-,  to  the  great  joy 
of  the  imprisoned  garrison  and  citizens,  who  wel- 
comed their  deliverers  with  unbounded  cheers  and 
demonstrations  of  delight. 

When  the  moving  columns  of  the  expedition 
were  first  descried  from  tlie  ramparts  of  the  fort, 
they  were  taken  to  be  Indians  advancing  to  an- 
other attack.  All  was  excitement  and  alarm. 
The  following  description  of  the  after-part  of  the 
scene  is  from  the  pen  of  a  lady  who  was  an  inmate 
of  the  fort  during  the  long  weeks  that  they  were 
besieged,  and  could  not  dare  to  venture  beyond 
half  cannon-shot  from  the  post  without  being  in 
imminent  peril  of  her  life: 

"About  ."5  o'clock  the  rejjort  came  to  quarters 
t'.iat  the  Indians  were  again  coming  from  up  to- 
ward Bridges.  With  a  telescope  we  soon  discovered 
tour  white  men,  our  messengers,  riding  at  full 
speed,  who,  upon  reaching  here  informed  us  that 
in  one  half  hour  we  would  be  reinforced  by  three 
hundred  and  fifty  men.  Language  can  never  ex- 
press the  delight  of  all.  Some  wept,  some 
laughed,  others  hallooed  and  cheered.  Tlie  sol- 
i   diers  and  citizens  here  formed  in  a  line  and  went 


BARBABITIES. 


241 


out  to  meet  them.  It  was  quite  dark  before  all  got 
in.  Wc  aU  cheered  so  that  the  nest  day  more  than 
half  of  us  could  hardly  speak  iiloud.  The  ladies 
all  went  out,  and  as  they  passed,  cheered  them. 
They  were  so  dusty  I  did  not  kuow  one  of  them." 

On  the  same  day  that  the  expedition  reached 
the  fort,  but  at  an  early  hour,  it  had  been  deter- 
mined to  dispatch  a  messenger  to  St.  Paul,  with  re- 
ports of  the  situation  of  the  garrison,  and  a  request 
for  assistance.  The  messenger  was  escorted  a  con- 
siderable distance  by  a  force  of  twenty  men,  com- 
posed of  soldiers  and  partly  of  the  citizens  quar- 
tered at  the  post.  When  returning,  and  within 
about  a  mile  of  the  fort,  they  were  fired  upon  by 
Indians  in  ambush,  and  two  of  the  number,  one 
citizen  and  one  soldier,  were  killed,  and  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  others,  by  extraor- 
dinary exertions,  succeeded  in  making  their  es- 
cape, and  returned  to  the  garrison. 

The  next  morning,  about  two-thirda  of  the 
mounted  company,  under  command  of  Captain 
Freeman,  escorted  by  a  strong  infantry  force,  went 
out  to  search  for  the  bodies  of  those  slain  on  the 
day  before.  After  scouring  the  woods  for  a  con- 
siderable distance,  the  bodies  were  found  upon  the 
prairie,  some  sixty  or  eighty  rods  apart,  mangled 
and  mutilated  to  such  a  degree  as  to  be  almost  de- 
prived of  human  form.  The  body  of  the  citizen 
was  found  ripped  open  from  the  center  of  the  ab- 
domen to  the  throat.  The  heart  and  liver  were  en- 
tirely removed,  while  the  lungs  were  torn  out  and 
left  upon  the  outside  of  the  chest.  The  head  was 
cut  off,  scalped,  and  thrust  within  the  cavity  of  the 
abdomen,  with  the  face  toward  the  feet.  The  hands 
were  cut  off  and  laid  side  by  side,  with  the  palms 
downward,  a  short  distance  from  the  main  portion 
of  the  body.  The  body  of  the  soldier  had  been 
pierced  by  two  balls,  one  of  which  must  have  oc- 
casioned almost  instant  death.  When  found,  it 
was  lying  upon  the  face,  with  the  ujiper  part  of  tlie 
head  completely  smashed  and  beaten  in  with  clubs 
while  the  brains  were  scattered  around  upon  the 
grass.  It  exhibited  eighteen  bayonet  wounds  in 
the  back,  and  one  of  the  legs  had  received  a  gash 
almost,  or  quite,  to  the  bone,  extending  fiom  the 
calf  to  the  junction  with  the  body. 

The  citizen  had  lived  in  the  vicinity  for  years. 
The  Indians  had  been  in  the  habit  of  visiting  his 
father's  house,  shariug  the  hospitahties  of  the 
dwelling,  and  receiving  alms  of  the  family.  He 
must  have  been  well  known  to  the  savages  who  in- 

16 


flicted  such  barbarities  upon  his  lifeless  form; 
neither  could  they  have  had  aught  against  him, 
except  his  belonging  to  a  different  race,  and  his  be- 
ing found  in  a  coimtry  over  which  they  wished  to 
re-establish  their  supremacy. 

That  his  body  had  been  treated  with  stiU  greater 
indignity  and  cruelty  than  that  of  the  soldier  was 
in  accordance  with  feeKngs  previously  expressed  to 
some  of  the  garrison.  In  conversation  with  some 
of  the  Sioux,  previous  to  the  commencement  of 
hostihties,  they  declared  a  very  strong  hatred 
against  the  settlers  in  the  country,  as  they  fright- 
ened away  the  game,  and  thus  interfered  with 
their  hunting.  They  objected,  in  similar  terms,  to 
having  United  States  troojjs  quartered  so  near 
them,  but  said  they  did  not  blame  the  soldiers,  as 
they  had  to  obey  orders,  and  go  wherever  they 
were  directed,  but  the  settlers  had  encroached  upon 
them,  of  their  own  free  will,  and  as  a  matter  of 
choice;  for  this  reason  the  citizens  should  be  se- 
verely dealt  with. 

No  more  Indians  were  seen  around  the  fort  until 
the  26th  of  September.  At  about  7  o'clock  of  that 
day,  as  Captain  Freeman's  company  were  water- 
ing their  horses  at  the  river,  a  volley  was  fired 
upon  them  by  a  party  of  Sioux,  who  had  placed 
themselves  in  ambush  for  the  purpose.  One  man, 
who  had  gone  as  teamster  with  the  expedition, 
was  mortally  wounded,  so  that  he  died  the  suc- 
ceeding night;  the  others  were  unarmed.  From 
behind  the  log-buildings  and  breastworks  the  fire 
was  soon  ^-eturned  with  considerable  effect,  as  a 
number  of  the  enemy  were  seen  to  fall  and  be  car- 
ried off  by  their  comrades.  At  one  time  two  In- 
dians were  observed  skulking  near  the  river.  They 
were  fired  upon  by  three  men  from  the  fortifica- 
tion, and  both  fell,  when  they  were  dragged  away 
by  their  companions. 

On  another  occasion,  during  the  fight,  one  of 
the  enemy  was  discovered  perched  on  a  tree,  where 
he  had  stationed  himself,  either  for  the  purjjose  of 
obtaining  a  view  of  the  movements  inside  of  the 
fort,  or  to  gain  a  more  favorable  position  for  firing 
upon  our  men.  He  was  fired  upou  by  a  member 
of  Captain  Barrel's  company,  when  he  released 
Iris  hold  upon  the  tree  and  fell  heavily  into  a  fork 
near  the  ground,  from  which  he  was  removed  and 
borne  off  by  his  Comrades.  In  a  very  short  time 
a  howitzer  was  brought  into  position,  and  a  few 
shells  (which  the  Indians  designate  as  rotten  bul- 
lets) were  thrown  among  them,  silencing  their  fire 
and  causing  them  to  withdraw. 


242 


HISTORY   OF  TUB  SIOUX  MASS  ACME. 


A  detacliment,  comprising  Captain  Freeman's 
company,  fifty  men  of  the  3J  Eegiment,  and  a 
squad  in  charge  of  a  howitzer,  were  ordered  in 
pursuit,  and  started  over  the  prairie,  up  the  river. 
At  the  distance  of  about  two  miles  they  came  upon 
the  Sioux  camp,  but  the  warriors  fled  in  the  great- 
est liaste  and  consternation  upon  their  approach. 
A  few  shots  were  fired  at  them  in  their  iiight,  to 
which  they  replied  by  yells,  but  were  in  too  great 
haste  to  return  the  fire.  The  howitzer  was  again 
opened  upon  them,  whereupon  their  yelling  sud- 
denly ceased,  and  they  rushed,  if  possible,  with 
stUl  greater  celerity  through  the  brush  and  across 
the  river. 

Their  camp  was  taken  possession  of,  and  was 
found  to  contain  a  considerable  quantity  of  plun- 
der, compo.sed  of  a  variety  of  articles,  a  stock  of 
liquors  being  part  of  the  assortment.  Everything 
of  value  was  carried  to  the  fort,  and  the  remainder 
was  burned  upon  the  ground. 

On  the  evening  of  September  29th  a  light  skir- 
mish was  had  with  a  small  party  of  Sioux,  who 
attempted  to  gain  an  ambush  in  order  to  fire  upon 
the  troops  while  watering  their  horses,  as  on  a  pre- 
vious occcasion.  Fire  was  first  opened  upon  them, 
which  they  returned,  wovuiding  one  man.  They 
were  immediately  routed  and  driven  off,  but  with 
what  loss,  if  any,  was  unknown. 

On  the  30th  of  September  Captain  Freeman's 
company  and  the  members  of  the  3d  Kegiment, 
together  with  a  number  of  citizens  and  families, 
started  on  their  return  from  Fort  Abercrombie  to 
St.  Cloud.  They  passed  by  where  the  town  of 
Dayton  had  formerly  stood,  scarcely  a  vestige  of 
which  was  then  found  remaining.  The  dead  body 
of  one  of  the  citizens,  who  had  been  murdered, 
was  there  found,  and  buried  in  the  best  manner 
possible  under  the  circumstances.  The  whole 
train  arrived  in  safety  at  St.  Cloud,  on  the  5th  of 
October,  without  having  experienced  any  consid- 
erable adventures  on  the  journey. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

SOUTH-WESTERN     DEPAUTMENT — HON.     CHARLES     E. 

ELANDEAU FEAKS  OF  WINNEBAGOES  AND  SIOUX 

MANKATO    RAISES   A    COMPANY    FOR   THE   DEFENSE 

OP  NEW  ULM HEADQUARTERS   AT   SOUTH  BEND 

WAKEFIELD SIOUX    RAID    IN  WATONWAN    COUNTY 

PURSUIT  OF  INDIANS STATE  TROOPS  RE- 
LIEVED FROM  DUTY— COLONEL  SIBLEY  ADVANCED 
FROM  ST.  PETER CONCLUSION. 

That  portion   of  the   State  lying  between  the 


Minnesota  river  and  the  Iowa  line,  supposed  in 
the  early  part  of  the  military  movement  to  occupy 
a  position  of  extreme  danger,  was  placed  under 
the  control  of  Hon.  Charles  E.  Flandrau.  In  the 
division  was  the  Winnebago  Eeservation.  And  it 
wjs  reasonably  supposed  that  the  Winnebagoes 
would  more  readily  unite  with  the  Sioux  than  with 
the  Ojibwas  [Chippewas]  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  State,  the  former  tribe  being  on  good  terms 
with  the  Sioux,  while  the  latter  held  the  Sioux  as 
hereditary  enemies,  with  whom  an  alliance  offen- 
sive or  defensive  would  hardly  take  place,  unless 
under  extraordinary  conditions,  such  as  a  general 
war  of  the  Indian  tribes  upon  the  white  race.  This 
peculiar  condition  did  not  mark  the  present  out- 
break. 

In  this  portion  of  the  State  were  distributed  the 
following  forces,  subject  to  special  duty  as  circum- 
stances required:  a  company  of  sixty-three  mem- 
bers under  the  command  of  Captain  Cornelius  F. 
Buck,  marched  from  Winona,  Sept.l,  1861;  on  the 
26th  of  August,  six  days  previous.  Captain  A.  J. 
Edgerton,  of  the  10th  Eegiment,  with  one  hun- 
dred and  nine  men,  arrived  at  the  Winnebago 
Agency,  where  the  inhabitants  were  in  great  ter- 
ror. After  the  evacuation  of  New  Ulm,  by  Col- 
onel Flandrau,  he  encamped  at  Crisp's  farm,  halt 
way  between  New  Ulm  and  Mankato.  On  the  31st 
of  August,  a  company  of  forty-four  members,  from 
Mankato,  took  up  position  at  South  Bend,  at 
which  place  Colonel  Flandrau  had  established  his 
headquarters.  On  the  23d  of  August  a  company 
of  fifty-eight  members,  from  Winnebago  City, 
under  command  of  Captain  H.  W.  Holly,  was 
raised  for  special  services  in  the  counties  of  Blue 
Earth,  Faribault,  Martin,  Watonwan,  and  Jackson. 
This  command,  on  the  7th  of  September,  was  re- 
lieved at  Winnebago  City  by  the  Fillmore  County 
Rangers,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Colburn. 
At  Blue  Earth  City,  a  company  of  forty- two  mem- 
bers, under  command  of  Captain  J.  B.  Wakefield, 
by  order  of  Colonel  Flandrau.  remained  at  that 
point  and  erected  fortifications,  and  adopted  means 
for  subsisting  his  men  there  during  the  term  of 
their  service.  Major  Charles  E.  Read,  of  the  State 
miUtia,  with  a  squad  of  men  from  south-eastern 
Minnesota,  also  reported  to  Colonel  Flandrau  at 
South  Bend.  Captain  Dane,  of  the  9th  Regi- 
ment, was  by  order  of  the  Colonel  in  command, 
stationed  at  New  Ulm.  Captain  Post,  and  Colonel 
John  R.  Jones,  of  the  State  militia,  reported  a 
company  of  mounted  men  from  the  county  of  Fill- 


FORT    COX. 


243 


more,  aod  were  assigned  a  position  at  Garden 
City.  Captain  Alilricb,  of  the  8th  Regiment,  re- 
ported his  company  at  South  Bend,  and  was  placed 
in  position  at  New  Ulm.  Captahi  Ambler,  of  the 
10th  Regiment,  reported  his  company,  and  was 
stationed  at  Mankato.  Captain  Sanders,  of  the 
10th,  also  reported,  and  was  stationed  at  Le  Sueur. 
Captain  Meagher  likewise  was  assigned  a  position 
with  his  company  at  Mankato,  where  the  company 
was  raised.  Captain  Cleary,  with  a  company,  was 
stationed  at  Marysburg,  near  the  "Winnebago 
Reserve,  and  a  similar'  company,  under  Captain 
Potter,  was  raised,  and  remained  at  camp  near 
home.  Captain  E.  St.  Julien  Cox,  with  a  com- 
mand composed  of  detachments  from  difl'erent 
companies,  was  stationed  at  Madelia.  He  here 
erected  a  fort  commanding  the  country  for  some 
twenty  miles.  It  was  octagonal  in  form,  two 
stories  in  height,  with  thirty  feet  between  the  walls. 
This  was  inclosed  by  a  breastwork  and  ditch  six 
feet  deep,  and  four  feet  wide  at  the  bottom,  with 
projecting  squares  of  similar  thickness  on  the  cor- 
ners, from  wliich  the  ditch  could  be  swept  through 
its  entire  length.  This  structure  was  named  Fort 
Cox,  in  honor  of  its  projector. 

From  this  disposition  of  forces  in  the  depart- 
ment commanded  by  Colonel  Flandrau,  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  south-western  portion  of  the  State 
was  provided  with  the  most  ample  means  of  de- 
fense against  any  attack  from  any  open  enemy  in 
any  ordinary  warfare;  and  yet  on  the  10th  of  Sep- 
tember, the  wily  Indian  made  an  attack  upon  But- 
ternut Valley,  near  the  line  of  Blue  Earth  and 
Brown  counties  and  fired  upon  the  whites,  wound- 
ed a  Mr.  Lewis  in  the  hand,  killed  James  Edwards, 
and  stOJ  further  on  killed  Thomas  J.  Davis,  a  Mr. 
Mohr,  and  wounded  Mr.  John  W.  Task  and  left 
him  for  dead.  Mr.  Task,  however,  survived.  And 
again  on  the  21st  of  September,  a  party  of  Sioux 
came  into  Watonwan  county,  killed  John  Arm- 
strong, two  children  of  a  Mr.  Patterson,  and  a  Mr. 
Peterson.  • 

The  consequences  of  the  massacre  we  have  de- 
tailed in  these  pages  to  some  extent  can  be  easily 
imagined,  and  the  task  of  the  historian  might  here 
be  transferred  to  the  reader.  But  even  the  reader 
of  fiction,  much  more  the  reader  of  history,  re- 
quires some  aid  to  direct  the  imagination  in  arriv- 
ing at  proper  conclusions.  A  few  words  in  connec- 
tion with  the  facts  already  presented  ^vill  suffice  to 
exhibit  this  tragic  epoch  in  our  State's  history  in 
its  projier  light. 


Minnesota,  the  first  State  in  the  North-west, 
bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Great  Father  of  Wa- 
ters, had  taken  her  place  in  the  fair  sisterhood  of 
states  with  prospects  as  flattering  as  any  that  ever 
entered  the  American  Union.  The  tide  of  hardy, 
vigorous,  intelligent  emigrants  had  come  hither 
from  the  older  states,  as  well  as  from  England, 
Ireland,  and  the  different  countries  on  the  Euro- 
pean continent,  until  a  thriving  population  of 
200,000  had  taken  up  their  abode  upon  her  virgin 
soil,  and  were  in  the  quiet  and  peaceable  enjoy- 
ment of  her  salubrious  climate.  Her  crystal  lakes, 
her  wooded  streams,  her  bewitchin  g  water-falls,  her 
island  groves,  her  lovely  prairies,  would  have  added 
gems  to  an  earthly  paradise.  Her  Lake  Superior, 
her  Mississippi,  her  Bed  River  of  the  North,  and 
her  Minnesota,  were  inviting  adjunats  to  the  com- 
merce of  the  world.  Her  abundant  harvests  and 
her  fertile  and  enduring  soil  gave  to  the  husband- 
man the  highest  hopes  of  certain  wealth.  Her  po- 
sition in  the  track  of  the  tidal  human  current 
sweeping  across  the  continent  to  the  Pacific  coast, 
and  thence  aroiuid  the  globe,  placed  her  forever  on 
the  highway  of  the  nations. 

Minnesota,  thus  situated,  thus  lovely  in  her  virgin 

youth,  had  one  dark  spot  resting  on  the  horizon  of 

her  otherwise  cloudless   sky.     The  dusky  savage, 

as  we  have  seen,  dwelt  in  the  land.     And,  when  all 

was  peace,  without  a  note  of  warning,    that  one 

dark  spot,  moved   by   the  winds  of   savage  hate, 

suddenly  obscured  the  whole  sky,  and  poured  out, 

to  the  bitter  dregs,  the  vials  of  its  wrath,  without 

mixture  of  mercy.     The  blow  fell  like  a  storm  of 

thimderbolts  from  the  clear,  bright  heavens.     The 

storm  of  fierce,  savage  murder,  in  its  most  horrid 

and  frightful  forms,  rolled  on.     Day  passed  and 

night  came; 

"Down  nank  the  sun,  nor  ceased  the  carnage  there- 
Tumultuous  horrors  rent  the  midnight  air." 

until  the  sad  catalogue  reached  the  fearful  number 
of  two  thousand  human  victims,  from  the  gray- 
haired  sire  to  the  helpless  infant  of  a  day,  who  lay 
mangled  and  dead  on  the  ensanguined  field  1  The 
dead  were  left  to  bury  the  dead;  for 
*'The  dead  reigned  there  alone." 
In  two  days  the  whole  work  of  murder  was  done, 
with  here  and  there  exceptional  cases  in  differ- 
ent settlements.  And  during  these  two  days  a 
population  of  thirty  thousand,  scattered  over  some 
eighteen  counties,  on  the  western  border  of  the 
state,  on  foot,  on  horseback,  with  teams  of  oxen 
and  horses,  under  the  momentum  of  the  panic  thus 


214 


HISTORY   OF  THE   SIOUX  MASS  AG  HE. 


created,  were  rusliing  wildly  and  frantically  over 
the  prairies  to  places  of  safety,  cither  to  Fort 
Kidgely  or  to  the  yet  remaining  towns  on  the  Min- 
nesota and  Mississippi  rivers.  Flight  from  an  in- 
vading army  of  civilized  foes  is  awful;  but  thght 
from  the  uplifted  tomahawk,  in  the  hands  of  sav- 
age fiends  in  pursuit  of  unarmed  men,  women  and 
children,  is  a  scene  too  horrible  for  the  stoutest 
heart.  The  unarmed  men  of  the  settlements  offer- 
ed no  defense,  and  could  oifer  none,  but  tied  before 
the  savage  horde,  each  in  his  own  way,  to  such 
places  as  the  dictates  of  self  preservation  gave  the 
slightest  hope  of  safety.  Some  sought  the  protec- 
tion of  the  nearest  slough;  others  crawled  into  the 
tall  grass,  hiding,  in  many  instances,  in  sight  of 
the  lurking  foe.  Children  of  tender  years,  hacked 
and  beaten  and  blee^liug,  fled  from  their  natural 
protectors,  now  dead  or  disabled,  and,  by  the  aid 
of  some  trail  of  blood,  or  by  the  instincts  of  our 
common  nature,  fled  away  from  fields  of  slaughter, 
cautiously  crawling  by  night  from  the  line  of  fire 
and  smoke  in  the  rear,  either  toward  Fort  Kidgely 
or  to  some  distant  town  on  the  Minnesota  or  the 
Mississippi.  Over  the  entire  border  of  the  State, 
and  even  near  the  populous  towns  on  the  river,  an 
eye  looking  down  from  above  could  have  seen  a 
human  avalanche  of  thirty  thousand,  of  all  ages, 
and  in  all  possible  plight,  the  rear  ranks  maimed 
and  bleeding,  and  faint  from  starvation  and  the 
loss  of  blood,  continually  falling  into  the  hands  of 
inhuman  savages,  keen  and  fierce,  on  the  trail  of 
the  white  man.  An  eye  thus  situated,  it  human, 
could  not  endure  a  scene  so  terrible.  And  angels 
from  the  realms  of  peace,  if  ever  touched  with 
human  woe,  over  such  a  scene  might  have  shed 
tears  of  blood;  and,  passing  the  empyreal  sphere 
into  the  Eternal  presence,  we  might  see 
,  »  t  «  »  "QaH  lament, 
And  draw  a  cloud  of  mourning  round  his  throne,** 

Who  wiU  say,  looking  on  this  picture,  that  the 
human  imagination  can  color  it  at  all  equal  to  the 
sad  reality?  Keality  here  has  outdone  the  highest 
flights  to  which  fancy  ever  goes!  The  sober- 
minded  Governor  Sibley,  not  uuusod  to  the  most 
horrible  phases  of  savage  life,  seeing  only  a  tithe 
of  the  wide  field  of  ruin,  giving  utterance  to  his 
thoughts  in  official  form,  says:  "Unless  some 
crushing  blow  can  be  dealt  at  once  upon  these  too 
successful  murderers,  the  state  is  ruined,  and  some 
of  its  fairest  portions  will  revert,  for  years,  into  the 
possession  of  these  miserable  wretches,  who,  of  all 
devils  in  human  shape,  are  among  the  most  cruel 


and  ferocious.  To  appreciate  this,  one  must  see, 
as  I  have,  the  mutilated  bodies  of  their  victims. 
My  heart  is  steeled  against  them,  and  if  I  have 
the  means,  aud  can  catch  them,  I  will  sweep  them 
with  the  besom  of  death."  Again,  aUudiug  to  the 
narrations  of  those  who  have  escaped  from  the 
scenes  of  the  brutal  carnage,  he  says:  "Don't 
think  there  is  an  exaggeration  in  the  horrible 
pictures  given  by  individuals — they  fall  far  short 
of  the  dreadful  reality." 

The  Adjutant-General  of  the  State,  in  an  official 
document,  has  attemjited,  by  words  of  carefully- 
measured  meaning,  to  draw  a  picture  of  the 
scenes  we  are  feebly  attempting  to  present  on 
paper.  But  this  picture  is  cold  and  stately  com- 
pared with  the  vivid  coloring  of  living  reality. 
'•During  the  time  th  it  this  force  was  being  mar- 
shaled and  engaged  in  the  march  to  this  point 
(St.  Peter),  the  greater  portion  of  the  country 
above  was  being  laid  waste  by  murder,  fire,  and 
robbery.  The  inhabitants  that  could  make  their 
escape  were  fleeing  like  affrighted  deer  before  the 
advancing  gleam  of  the  tomahawk.  Towns  were 
deserted  by  the  residents,  and  their  places  gladly 
taken  by  those  who  had  fled  from  more  sparsely - 
settled  portions  of  the  regions.  A  stream  of 
fugitives,  far  outnumbering  the  army  that  was 
marching  to  their  relief,  came  pouring  down  the 
valley.  The  arrivals  from  more  distant  points 
communicated  ten-or  to  the  settlements,  and  the 
inhabitants  there  fled  to  points  still  further  in  the 
interior,  to  communicate  in  turn  the  alarm  to 
others  stiU  further  removed  from  the  scene  of  hos- 
tilities. This  rushing  tide  of  humanity,  on  foot, 
on  horse,  and  in  all  manner  of  vehicles,  came  meet- 
ing the  advancing  columns  of  our  army.  Even 
this  sign  of  protection  failed  to  arrest  their  pro- 
gress. On  they  came,  spreading  panic  in  their 
course,  and  many  never  halted  till  they  had 
reached  the  capital  city  of  the  stale;  while  others 
again  felt  no  security  even  here,  and  hurriedly 
and  rashly  sacrificed  their  property,  and  fled  from 
the  state  of  their  adoption  to  seek  an  asylum  of 
safety  in  some  of  our  sister  states  further  removed 
from  the  sound  of  the  war-whoop." 

Thirty  thousand  panic-stricken  inhabitants  at 
once  desert  their  homes  in  the  midst  of  an  indis- 
criminate slaughter  of  men,  womeui  and  children. 
All  this  distracted  multitude,  from  the  wide  area 
of  eighteen  counties,  are  on  the  highways  and 
byways,  hiding  now  in  the  sloughs,  and  now  in 
the  grass  of  the  open  prairie;  some  famishing  for 


TUB   COUNTRY  DE POPULATED. 


245 


water,  and  some  dying  for  want  of  food;  some 
barefooted,  some  in  torn  garments,  and  some  en- 
tirely denuded  of  clothing;  some,  by  reason  of 
wounds,  crawling  on  their  bands,  and  dragging 
their  torn  limbs  after  them,  were  all  making  their 
way  over  a  country  in  which  no  white  man  could 
offer  succor  or  administer  consolation.  The  varied 
emotions  that  struggled  for  utterance  in  that  frag- 
mentary mass  of  humanity  cannot  be  even  faintly 
set  forth  in  words.  The  imagination,  faint  and 
aghast,  turns  from  the  picture  in  dismay  and  hor- 
ror! What  indelible  images  are  burned  in  upon 
the  talilets  of  the  souls  of  thousands  of  mothers 
bereft  of  their  children  by  savage  barbarity! 
What  unavailing  tears  fall  unseen  to  the  ground 
from  the  scattered  army  of  almost  helpless  in- 
fancy, now  reduced  by  cruel  hands  to  a  life  of 
cheerless  orphanage!  How  many  yet  linger 
around  the  homes  they  loved,  hiding  from  the 
keen-eyed  savage,  awaiting  the  return  of  father, 
mother,  brother,  or  friend,  who  can  never  come 
again  to  their  relief!  We  leave  the  reader  to  his 
own  contemplations,  standing  in  view  of  this 
mournful  picture,  the  narration  of  which  the  heart 
sickens  to  pursue,  and  tuiTis  away  with  more  be- 
coming silence! 

The  scene  of  the  panic  extended  to  other  coun- 
ties and  portions  of  the  State  remote  from  all  ac- 
tual danger.  The  Territory  of  Dakota  was  de- 
populated, except  in  a  few  towns  on  the  western 
border.  Eastward  from  the  Minnesota  river  to  the 
Mississippi,  the  inhabitants  fled  from  their  homes 
to  the  towns  of  Red  Wing,  Hastings,  Wabasha, 
and  Winona;  and  thousands  again  from  these 
places  to  Wisconsin,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio,  and 
some  to  distant  New  England  friends. 

Thirty  thousand  human  beings,  suddenly  forced 
from  their  homes,  destitute  of  all  the  necessaries 
of  life,  coming  suddenly  upon  the  towns  in  the 
Minnesota  Valley,  can  easily  be  supposed  to  have 
beiVQ  a  burden  of  onerous  and  crushing  weight. 
It  came  like  an  Alpine  avalanche,  sweeping  down, 
in  the  wildness  of  its  fury,  upon  the  plain.  No 
wisdom  could  direct  it;  no  force  coidd  resist  it. 
No  power  of  description  is  equal  to  the  task  of 
presenting  it  in  fitting  words.  It  was  horribly 
"grand,  gloomy,  and  peculiar."  One  faint  picture 
must  here  suffice. 

St.  Peter,  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  August, 
1862,  manifested  some  unwonted  commotion. 
Couriers  arrived  before  the  dawn  of  that  day,  an- 
nouncing the  alarming  news  that  the  neighboring 


town  of  New  Ulm  was  on  fire,  and  its  inhabitants 
were  being  massacred  by  the  savages,  led  by  Lit- 
tle Crow.  At  the  same  time,  or  a  little  previous, 
came  the  tidings  that  Fort  Ridgely  was  in  immi- 
nent danger;  that  Captain  Marsh  had  been  killed, 
and  his  command  almost,  if  not  entirely,  cut  off, 
in  attempting  to  give  succor  to  the  Lower  Agency, 
which  had  been  attacked  on  the  morning  of  the 
18th,  the  day  previous,  and  was  then  in  ashes'. 
By  nine  o'clock  the  news  of  these  events  began  to 
meet  a  response  from  the  surrounding  country. 
Horsemen  and  footmen,  from  different  parts  of 
Nicollet  and  Le  Sueur  counties,  came  hurrying 
into  town,  some  with  guns  and  ammunition,  but 
more  without  arms.  Men  were  hurrying  through 
the  streets  in  search  of  guns  and  ammunition; 
some  were  running  bullets,  while  others  were  fit- 
ting up  teams,  horses,  and  provisions.  Busiest 
among  the  agitated  mass  were  Hon.  Charles  E. 
Flandrau  and  Captain  William  B.  Dodd,  giving 
directions  for  a  hasty  organization  for  the  purpose 
of  defending  New  Ulm,  or,  if  that  was  impossible, 
to  hold  the  savages  in  check,  outside  of  St.  Peter, 
sufficiently  long  to  give  the  men,  women,  and 
children  some  chance  to  save  their  lives  by  hasty 
flight,  if  necessary.  Every  man,  woman,  and 
child  seemed  to  catch  the  spirit  of  the  alarming 
moment.  Now,  at  about  ten  o'clock.  Judge  Flan- 
drau, as  captain,  with  quick  words  of  command, 
aided  by  proper  subalterns  in  rank,  with  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  men,  armed  as  best  they  could 
be,  with  shot-guns,  muskets,  rifles,  swords,  and  re 
volvers,  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  New  Ulm. 
At  an  earlier  hour,  fifty  volunteers,  known  as  the 
Renville  Rangers,  on  their  way  to  Fort  SneUing, 
had  turned  their  course  toward  Fort  Ridgely, 
taking  with  them  aU  the  Government  arms  at  St. 
Peter. 

With  the  departure  of  these  noble  bands  went 
not  only  the  wishes  and  prayers  of  wives,  motherp, 
brothers,  sisters,  and  children  for  success,  but  with 
them  all,  or  nearly  all,  the  able-bodied  citizens 
capable  of  bearing  arms,  together  with  all  the 
guns  and  ammunition  St.  Peter  could  muster.  For 
one  moment  we  follow  these  little  bands  of  soldiers, 
the  hope  of  the  Minnesota  Valley.  Their  march 
is  rapid.  To  one  of  these  parties  thirty  weary 
miles  intervened  between  them  and  the  biirning 
town  of  New  Ulm.  Expecting  to  meet  the  savage 
foe  on  their  route,  flushed  with  their  successful 
massacre  at  New  Ulm,  the  skirmishers — a  few  men 
on  horseback — were  kept  in  advance  of  the  hurry- 


246 


niSTORT  OF  TUB  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


ing  footmen.  Before  dark,  the  entire  force  des- 
tined for  New  Ulm  reached  the  crossing  of  the 
Minnesota  at  the  Red  Stone  Perry.  Here,  for  a 
moment,  a  lialt  was  ordered;  the  field  of  ruin  lay 
in  full  view  before  them.  The  smoke  of  the  burn- 
ing buildings  was  seen  ascending  over  the  town. 
No  signs  of  life  were  visible.  Some  might  yet  be 
aUve.  There  was  no  wavering  in  that  Uttle  army 
of  rehef.  The  ferry  was  manned,  the  river  was 
crossed,  and  soon  New  Ulm  was  frantic  with  the 
mingled  shouts  of  the  delivered  and  their  deliv- 
erers. An  accoant  of  the  hard- fought  battle 
which  terminated  the  siege  is  to  be  found  in 
another  chapter  of  this  work.  Such  expedition 
has  seldom,  if  ever,  been  chronicled,  as  was  exhib- 
ited by  the  deliverers  of  New  Ulm.  Thirty  miles 
had  been  made  in  a  little  over  half  a  day,  travel- 
ing all  the  time  in  the  face  of  a  motley  crowd  of 
panic-stricken  refugees,  pouring  in  through  every 
avenue  toward  St.  Peter. 

The  other  party,  by  dusk,  had  ronehed  Port 
Kidgely,  traveling  about  forty-flve  miles,  crossing 
the  ravine  near  the  fort  at  the  precise  point  where 
one  hundred  and  fifty  Indians  had  lain  in  ambush 
awaiting  their  approach  until  a  few  moments  be- 
!ore  they  came  up,  and  had  only  retired  for  the 
night;  and,  when  too  late  to  intercept  them,  the 
disappointed  savages  saw  the  EenvUle  Kangers 
enter  the  fort. 

But  let  us  now  return  to  St.  Peter.  Wliat  a 
night  and  a  day  have  brought  forth !  The  quiet 
village  of  a  thousand  inhabitants  thus  increased 
by  thousands,  had  become  full  to  overflowing. 
Every  private  house,  every  pul)lic  house,  every 
church,  school-house,  warehouse,  shed,  or  saloon, 
and  every  vacant  structure  is  full.  The  crowd 
throng  the  public  highways;  a  line  of  cooking- 
stoves  smoke  along  the  streets;  the  vacant  lots  are 
occupied,  for  there  is  no  room  in  the  houses.  All 
is  clatter,  rattle,  and  din.  Wagons,  ponies,  mules, 
oxen,  cows  and  calves  are  promiscuously  distrib- 
uted among  groups  of  men,  women  and  children. 
'  The  live  stock  from  thousands  of  deserted  farms 
surround  the  outskirts  of  the  town ;  the  lowing  of 
strange  cattle,  the  neighing  of  restless  horse.s,  the 
crying  of  lost  and  hungry  children,  the  tales  of 
horror,  the  tomahawk  wounds  undressed,  the 
bleeding  feet,  the  cries  for  food,  and  the  loud 
wailing  for  missing  friends,  all  combine  to  bum 
into  the  soul  the  dreadful  reality  that  some  ter- 
rible calamity  was  upon  the  country. 

But  the  news   of   the   rapid   approach   of   the 


savages,  the  bodies  of  the  recently-murdered,  the 
burning  of  houses,  the  admitted  danger  of  a 
sudden  attack  upon  St.  Peter,  agitated  and  moved 
that  vast  multitude  as  if  some  volcano  was  ready 
to  engulf  them.  The  overflowing  streets  were 
crowded  into  the  already  overflowing  houses.  The 
stone  buildings  were  barricaded,  and  the  women 
and  children  wore  huddled  into  every  conceivable 
place  of  safety.  Between  hope  and  fear,  and 
prayer  for  succor,  several  weary  days  and  nights 
passed  away,  when,  on  the  22d  day  of  August,  the 
force  under  Colonel  Sibley,  fourteen  hundred 
stiong,  arrived  at  St.  Peter. 

Now,  as  the  dread  of  immediate  massacre  was 
past,  they  were  siezed  with-a  fear  of  a  character  en- 
tirely different.  How  shall  this  multitude  be  fed. 
clothed  and  nursed?  The  grain  was  unthreshcd 
in  the  field,  and  tlie  flour  in  the  only  mill  left 
standing  on  the  Minnesota,  above  Belle  Plaine, 
was  almost  gone.  The  flouring  mill  at  Mankato, 
twelve  miles  above,  in  the  midst  of  the  panic,  had 
been  burned,  and  fears  were  entertained  that  the 
mill  at  St.  Peter  would  share  the  same  fate.  Nor 
had  this  multitude  any  means  ^\■ithin  themselves 
to  support  life  a  single  day.  Every  scheme  known 
to  human  ingenuity  was  canvassed.  Every  device 
was  suggested,  and  every  expedient  tried.  The 
multitude  was  fearfully  clamoring  for  food,  rai- 
ment, and  shelter.  The  sick  and  wounded  were  in 
need  of  medicine  and  skillful  attention.  Between 
six  and  seven  thousand  persons,  besides  the  citi- 
zens of  the  place,  were  already  crowding  the  town; 
and  some  thousand  or  fifteen  himdred  more  daily 
expected,  as  a  proper  quota  from  the  two  thousand 
now  comjielled  to  abandon  New  Ulm.  The  gath- 
ering troops,  regular  and  irregular,  were  moving, 
in  large  numbers,  upon  St.  Peter,  now  a  frontier 
town  of  the  State,  bordering  on  the  country  under 
the  full  dominion  of  the  .Annuity  Sioux  Indians, 
with  torch  and  tomahawk,  burning  and  murdering 
in  their  train. 

A  committee,  aided  by  expert  clerks,  opened 
an  oflice  for  the  distribution  of  such  articles 
of  food,  clothing  and  medical  stores  as  the 
town  could  furnish,  on  their  orders,  trusting  to  the 
State  or  General  Government  for  pay  at  some  fu- 
ture day.  So  great  was  the  crowd  pressing  for 
relief,  that  much  of  the  exhausting  labor  was  per- 
formed while  bayonets  guarded  the  entrance  to  the 
building  in  which  the  office  of  distribution  was 
held.  A  bakery  was  established,  furnishing  two 
thousand  loaves  of  bread  per  day,  whOe  many  pri- 


REFUGEES  AT  ST.   PETES. 


247 


vate  houses   were  put  under  requisition  for  the 
same  purpose,  and,  aided  by  individual  benevo- 
lence throughout  the  town,  the  hungry  began  to 
be  scantily  fed.     A  butcher-shop  was  pressed  into 
the  needed  service,  capable  of  supplying  ten  thou- 
sand rations  a  day  over  and  above  the  citizens' 
ordinary  demand.     Still,  there  was  a  vast  moving 
class,  single  persons,  women,  and  children,  not  yet 
reached  by  these  well-directed  efforts.     The  com- 
mittee, feeling  every  impulse  of  the  citizens,  to 
satisfy  the  demand  for  food  fitted  up  a  capacious 
soup-house,   where   as   high    as   twelve   hundred 
meals  were  supplied  daily.     This  institution  was 
a  great  success,  and  met  the  entire  approval  of  the 
citizens,  while  it  suited  the  conditions  of  the  pe- 
culiar population  better  than  any  other  mode  in 
which  relief  could  be  administered.     Soup  was  al- 
ways ready,  and  its  quality  was  superior.     The 
aged  and  the  young  could  here  find  relief,  singly 
or  in  families;  the  well  relished  it,  and  the  sick 
found  it  a   grateful  beverage.     In  this  way  the 
committee,  aided  by  the  extreme  efforts  of  private 
charity,   ever  active  and  vigilant,   continued  for 
weeks  to  feed  the  refugees  at  St.  Peter,  taxing  every 
energy  of  body  and  mind  from  twelve  to  sixteen 
hours  per  day.     The  census  of  the  population  was 
never  taken;  but  it  is  believed  that,  after  the  arri- 
val of  the  refugees  from  New  TJlm,  and  a  portion 
of  the  inhabitants  from  Le  Sueur  county,  east  of 
the  town,  excluding  the  fourteen  hundred  troops 
under  Colonel  H.  H.  Sibley,  who  were  here  a  part 
of  the  time,   the   population  of  St.  Peter  was  at 
least  nine  thousand.     This  was  an  estimate  made 
by  the  committee  of  supplies,  who    issued  eight 
thousand  rations  of   beef  each  day   to   refugees 
alone,  estimating  one  ration  to  a  person.     The  ra- 
tion was  from  a  half-pound  to  a  pound,  varied  to 
meet  the  condition  of  persons  and  families. 

But  the  task  of  feeding  the  living  did  not  stop 
with  the  human  element.  The  live  stock,  horses 
and  oxen,  with  an  innumerable  herd  of  cattle  fi-om 
a  thousand  prairies,  ruly  and  unruly,  furious  from 
fright,  BO  determined  on  food  that  in  a  few  days 
not  a  green  spot  could  be  protected  from  their  vo- 
racious demands.  Eences  offered  no  obstruction. 
Some  bold  leader  laid  waste  the  field  or  garden, 
and  total  destruction  followed,  until  St.  Peter  was 
as  barren  of  herbage,  with  scarce  an  exception,  as 
the  Great  American  desert.  The  committee  could 
not  meet  successfully  this  new  demand.  The 
sixty  tons  ot  hay  cut  by  their  order  was  only  an 
aggravation  to  the  teams  of  the  Government  and 


the  necessary  demands  of  the  gathering  cavalry. 
Some  military  power  seemed  needed  to  regulate 
the  collection  and  distribution  of  food  in  this  de- 
partment. This  soon  came  in  an  oflScial  order 
from  Col.  H.  H.  Sibley  to  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee, assigning  him  to  the  separate  duty  of  col- 
lecting food  for  Government  use  at  St.  Peter.  A 
wider  range  of  country  was  now  brought  under 
contribution,  and  such  of  the  live  stock  as  was  re- 
quired for  constant  use  was  amply  supplied.  The 
cattle  not  required  by  the  butchers  were  forced  to 
a  still  wider  extent  of  country. 

Not  only  food,  such  as  the  mill,  the  bakery,  the 
butcher-shop,  and  the  soup-house  could  furnish 
was  required  among  this  heterogeneous  multitude, 
but  the  infirm,  the  aged  and  the  sick  needed  other 
articles,  which  the  merchant  and  druggist  alone 
could  furnish.  Tea,  cofi"ee,  sugar,  salt,  soap,  can- 
dles, wine,  brandy,  and  apothecaries'  drugs,  as 
well  as  shoes,  boots,  hats,  .and  wear  for  men, 
women  and  children,  and  articles  of  bedding  and 
hospital  stores,  were  demanded  as  being  abso- 
lutely necessary.  The  merchants  and  druggists 
of  the  town  honored  the  orders  of  the  committee, 
and  this  demand  was  partially  supphed.  In  all 
these  efforts  of  the  town  to  meet  the  wants  of  the 
refugees,  it  was  discovered  that  the  hmit  of  sup- 
ply would  soon  be  reached.  But  the  demand  still 
continued  inexorable.  The  fearful  crisis  was  ap- 
proaching! Public  exertion  had  found  its  hmit; 
private  benevolence  was  exhausted;  the  requisite 
stores  of  the  merchant  and  the  druggist  were  well- 
nigh  expended.  It  was  not  yet  safe  to  send  the 
multitude  to  their  homes  in  the  country.  The 
fierce  savage  was  yet  in  the  land,  thirsting  for 
blood.  What  shall  be  done?  Shall  this  vast 
crowd  be  sent  to  other  towns,  to  St.  Paul,  or  stiU 
further,  to  other  States,  to  seek  relief  from  public 
charity  ?  or  shall  they  be  sufiered  to  perish  here, 
when  all  means  of  relief  shall  have  failed  ? 

On  the  13th  of  September,  1862,  after  a  month 
had  nearly  expired,  a  relief  committee,  consisting 
of  Eev.  A.  H.  Kerr  and  F.  Lange,  issued  an  ap- 
peal, approved  by  M.  B.  Stone,  Provost  Marshal 
of  St.  Peter,  from  which  we  make  a  few  extracts, 
showing  the  condition  ot  things  at  the  time  it  bears 
date.  Previous  to  this,  however,  a  vast  number 
had  left  for  other  places,  principally  for  St.  Paul, 
crowding  the  steamboats  on  the  Minnesota  river  to 
their  utmost  capacity.     The  appeal  says: 

"Friends!  Bbethren!  In  behalf  of  the  suf- 
fering,  the  destitute,  and  homeless — in  behalf  of 


248 


BISTORT  OF  THE  SIOUX  JfASSACIlB. 


the  widow,  the  fatherless,  and  the  houseless,  we 
make  this  appeal  for  help.  A  terrible  blow  has 
fallen  upon  this  frontier,  by  the  uprising  of  the 
Sioux  or  Dakota  Indians.  All  the  horrors  of  an 
Indian  war;  the  massacre  of  families,  the  aged  and 
the  young;  the  burning  of  houses  and  the  wanton 
destruction  of  property;  all,  indeed  that  makes  an 
Indian  war  so  fearful  and  terribly  appalling,  are 
upon  the  settlements  immediately  west  and  north- 
west of  us. 

"In  some  cases  the  whole  family  have  been  mur- 
dered; in  others  the  husband  has  fallen;  in  others 
the  wife  and  children  have  been  taken  captive;  in 
others  only  one  child  has  escaped  to  tell  the  sad 
story.  Stealthily  the  Indians  came  upon  the  set- 
tlements, or  overtook  families  flying  for  refuge. 
Unprotected,  alarm  and  terror  siezed  the  people, 
and  to  escape  with  life  was  the  great  struggle. 
Mothers  clasped  their  little  ones  in  their  arms  and 
fled;  if  any  lagged  behind  they  were  overtaken  by 
a  shot  or  the  hatchet.  Many,  many  thus  left  their 
homes,  taking  neither  food  nor  clothing  with  them. 
The  Indians  immciliately  commenced  the  work  of 
pillaging,  taking  clothing  and  bedding,  and,  in 
many  instances  giving  the  house  and  all  it  con- 
tained to  the  flames.  Some  have  lost  their  all, 
and  many,  from  comparative  comfort,  are  left  ut- 
terly deiititute.  A  groat  number  of  cattle  have 
been  driven  back  into  the  Indian  coimtry,  and 
where  a  few  weeks  ago  plenty  abounded,  desolation 
now  reigns.         ****** 

"Friends  of  humanity — Christians,  brethren,  in 
your  homes  of  safety,  can  you  do  something  for 
the  destitute  and  homeless?  We  ask  for  cast-off 
clothing  for  men,  women  and  children — for  shoes 
and  stockings;  caps  for  boys,  anything  for  the  lit- 
tle girls  and  infants;  woolen  underclothing, 
blankets,  comfortables;  anything,  indeed,  to  alle- 
viate their  sufferings.  Can  not  a  church  or  town 
collect  such  articles,  fill  a  box  and  send  it  to  the 
committee?     It  should  be  doue  speedily." 

Circulars,  containing  the  appeal  from  which  we 
have  made  the  above  quotations,  were  sent  to 
churches  in  Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania, 
New  York,  and  throughout  the  towns  and  cities  of 
New  England.  And  similar  appeals,  from  other 
places,  were  made,  and  met  with  universal  re- 
sponse, worthy  of  men  and  women  who  honor  the 
Christian  profession.  By  these  efforts,  the 
refugees  throughout  the  state  were  greatly 
relieved.    In  reply  to  these  circulars  about  $20,000 


were  received,  to  which  was  added  $25,0J0  by  the 
stfite,  for  general  distribution. 

Other  places  on  the  frontier,  such  as  Henderson, 
Chaska,  Carver,  and  even  Belle  Plaine,  Shakopee, 
and  St.  Paul,  felt,  more  or  less,  the  crushing 
weight  of  the  army  of  refugees,  as  they  poured 
across  the  coimtry  and  down  the  Minnesota  Val- 
ley; but  no  place  felt  this  burden  so  heavily  as 
the  frontier  town  of  St.  Peter. 

One  reflection  should  here  be  made.     Had  New 
Ulm  and  Fort  Eidgely  fallen  on   the  first  attack, 
Mankato  and  St.  Peter  would  have  been  taken  be- 
fore the  state  troops  could  have  offered  the  proper 
assistance.      Had  New  Ulm   fallen  on  the  19th, 
when  it  was  attacked,  and  Fort  Kidgely  on  the 
20th,    when  the  attack  was  made  on  that  place, 
Mankato  and    St.   Peter  could   easUy   have  been 
reached  by  the  21st,  when  the  state  troops  were 
below,  on  their  way  to  St.  Peter.     The  successful 
defense  of  these  places.  New  Ulm  and  Fort  Ridge- 
ly,  was  accomplished  by  the  volunteer  citizens  of 
Nicollet,  Le  Sueur,  and  Blue  Earth  counties,  who 
reached  New  Ulm  by  the  19th  of  .4ugust,  and  the 
Renville  Rangers,  who  timely  succored  Fort  Ridge- 
ly,  by  a  forced  march  of  forty-five  miles  in  one 
day,  reaching  the  fort  previous  to  the  attack  on 
that   post.     Whatever  credit  is  due  to  the  state 
troops,  tor  the  successful  defensa  of  the  frontiei 
and  the  rescue  of  the  white  captives,  should  be 
gratefully  acknowledged  by  the  citizens  of  Min 
nesota.     Such  acts  are  worthy  of  lasting  honor  to 
all  who  were  participants  in   those  glorious  deeds. 
But  to  the  brave  men  who  first  advanced  to  the 
defense  of  New  Ulm  and   Fort   Eidgely,  higher 
honor  and  a  more  lasting  debt  of  gratitude  are 
due  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  valley  of  the  Min- 
nesota.    Let  their  names  be  honored  among  men. 
Lat  them  stand  side  by  side  with  the  heroes  of 
other  days.     Let  them  rank  with  veteran  brethren 
who,  on  Southern  battle-fields,  have  fought  nobly 
for  constitutional  freedom  and  the  perj)etuity,  of 
the  Union  of  these  states.     These  are  all  of  them 
worthy  men,  who  like 

"Patriots  have  toiled,  and  in  their  conntry*s  cause 
Bled  nobly,  and  their  deeds,  as  they  deserve, 
Ueceive  proud  recompense.    We  {rive  in  charge 
Their  names  to  the  sweet  lyre.    The  Historic  Muse. 
Proud  of  her  treasure,  marches  with  it  down 
To  latest  times;  and  Sculpture,  in  her  turn. 
Gives  bond,  in  stone  and  ever-during  brass, 
To  guard  them,  and  immortalize  her  trust." 


BATTLE   OF  BlliCn   COOLIE. 


249 


CHAPTER  XLn.  ' 

BATTLE  OF  BIRCH  COOLIE BATTLE    OF    WOOD    LAKE 

CAMP     BELEASE MILITART     COMPANIES SUC- 
CESS or  THE  EXPEDITION  DNDEK  GENBBAL  SIBLEY. 

The  massacre  being  the  main  design  of  this  his- 
tory, the  movement  of  the  troops,  in  the  pursuit 
and  pimishment  of  the  Indians  connected  with  the 
atrocious  murders  initiated  on  the  18th  of  August, 
1862,  must  especially,  in  this  abridgement,  be  ex- 
ceedingly brief. 

On  the  day  after  the  outbreak,  August  19th,  1862, 
an  order  was  issued  by  the  commander-in-chief  to 
Colonel  H.  H.  Sibley,  to  proceed,  with  four  com- 
panies, then  at  Fort  Sneaing,  and  such  other 
forces  as  might  join  his  command,  to  the  protec- 
tion of  the  frontier  coimties  of  the  State.  The 
entire  force,  increased  by  the  separate  commands 
of  Colonels  Marshall  and  BlcPhail,  reached 
Port  Eidgely,  August  28th,  1862.  A  detachment 
made  up  of  Company  A,  6th  Regiment  Minnesota 
Volunteers,  under  Captain  H.  P.  Grant,  some  sev- 
enty mounted  men  under  Captain  Joseph  Andei- 
son,  and  a  fatigue  party,  aggregating  in  all  a 
force  of  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  were  sent 
in  advance  of  the  main  army,  to  protect  the  set- 
tlements from  further  devastation,  ;md  at  the  same 
time  collect  and  bury  the  dead  yet  lying  on  the 
field  of  the  recent  slaughter.  On  the  first  of  Sep- 
tember, near  the  Beaver  Creek,  Captain  Grant's 
party  found  Justiua  Krieger,  who  had  escaped 
aUve  from  the  murders  committed  near  Sacred 
Heart.  Mrs  Krieger  had  been  shot  and  dread- 
fully butchered.  During  this  day  this  detachment 
buried  fifty-five  victims  of  savage  barbarity,  and 
in  the  evening  went  into  camp  at  Birch  Coolie. 
The  usual  precautions  were  taken,  and  no  imme- 
diate fears  of  Indians  were  apprehended;  yet  at 
half-past  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  sec- 
ond of  September,  one  of  the  guards  shouted 
"Indians!"  Instantly  thereafter  a  sliower  of  bul- 
lets was  poured  into  the  encampment.  A  most 
fearful  and  terrible  battle  ensued,  and  for  the  num- 
bers engaged,  the  most  bloody  of  any  in  which 
our  forces  had  been  engaged  during  the  war.  The 
loss  of  men,  in  proportion  to  those  engaged,  was 
extremely  large;  twenty-three  were  killed  out- 
right, or  mortally  wounded,  and  forty-five  so  se- 
verely wounded  as  to  require  surgical  aid,  while 
scarce  a  man  remained  whose  dress  had  not  been 
pierced  by  the  enemies'  bullets.  On  the  evening 
of  the  3d  of  September  the  besieged  camp  was 


reheved  by  an  advance  movement  of  Colonel  Sib- 
ley's forces  at  Fort  Ridgely. 

This  battle,  in  all  probability,  saved  the  towns 
of  Mankato  and  St.  Peter  from  the  destruction  in- 
tended by  the  savages.  They  had  left  Yellow 
Medicine  with  the  avowed  object  of  attacking 
these  towns  on  the  Minnesota.  The  signal  defeat 
of  the  forces  of  Little  Crow  at  Birch  Coolie,  not 
only  saved  the  towns  of  Mankato  and  St.  Peter, 
but  iu  effect  ended  his  efi'orts  in  subduing  the 
whites  on  the  borders. 

After  the  battle  of  Birch  Coolie  aU  the  maraud- 
ing forces  under  the  direction  of  Little  Crow  were 
called  in,  and  a  retreat  was  ordered  up  the  valley 
of  the  Minnesota  toward  Yellow  Medicine;  and  on 
the  16th  day  of  September  Colonel  Sibley  ordered 
an  advance  of  his  whole  column  in  pursuit  of  the 
fleeing  foe;  his  forces  now  increased  by  the  3d 
Minnesota  Volunteers,  paroled  prisoners  returned 
from  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  under  command  of 
Major  Abraham  E.  Welch. 

On  the  evening  of  the  22d  Colonel  Sibley  ar- 
rived at  Wood  Lake.  On  the  morning  of  the  23d, 
at  about  seven  o'clock,  a  force  of  three  hundred 
Indians  suddenly  appeared  before  his  camp,  yell- 
ing as  savages  only  can  yell,  and  firing  with  great 
rapidity.  The  troops  under  Colonel  Sibley  were 
cool  and  determined,  and  the  3d  Regiment  needed 
no  urging  by  officers.  All  our  forces  engaged  the 
enemy  with  a  will  that  betokened  quick  work  with 
savages  who  had  outraged  every  sentiment  of  hu- 
manity, and  earned  for  themselves  an  immortality 
of  mfamy  never  before  achieved  by  the  Dakota 
nation.  The  fight  lasted  about  two  hours. 
We  lost  in  kUled  four,  and  about  fifty  wounded. 
The  enemy's  loss  was  much  larger;  fourteen  of 
their  dead  were  left  on  the  field,  and  au  unknown 
number  were  carried  off  the  field,  as  the  Indians 
are  accustomed  to  do. 

The  battle  of  Wood  Lake  put  an  end  to  all  the 
hopes  of  the  renowned  chief.  His  warriors  were 
in  open  rebellion  against  his  schemes  of  warfare 
against  the  whites.  He  had  gained  nothing. 
Fort  Ridgely  was  not  taken.  New  Ulm  was  not 
in  his  possession.  St.  Peter  and  Mankato  were 
mtact,  and  at  Birch  Coolie  and  Wood  Lake  he  had 
suffered  defeat.  No  warrior  would  longer  follow 
his  fortunes  in  a  war  so  disastrous.  On  the  same 
day  of  the  battle  at  Wood  Lake  a  deputation  from 
the  Wapeton  band  appeared  under  a  flag  of  truce, 
asking  terms  of  peace.  The  response  of  Colonel 
Sibley  was  a  demand  for  the  delivery  of  all  the 


250 


niSTORY  OF  THE  SIOUX  MASSACRE. 


white  captives  in  the  possesBion  of  these  savages. 
Wabasha,  at  the  head  of  fifty  lodges,  immediately 
parted  company  with  Little  Crow,  and  established 
a  camp  near  Lao  qui  Parle,  with  a  view  of  sur- 
rendering his  men  on  the  most  favorable  terms. 
A  flag  of  truce  announced  his  action  to  Colonel 
Sibley,  who  soon  after,  under  proper  military 
guard,  visited  Wabasha's  camp.  After  the  formal- 
ities of  the  occasion  were  over.  Colonel  Sibley  re- 
ceived the  captives,  in  all,  theu  and  thereafter,  to 
the  number  of  107  pure  whites,  and  about  162 
half-breeds,  and  conducted  them  to  his  headquar- 
ters. The  different  emotions  of  these  captives  at 
their  release  can  easily  be  imagined  by  the  reader. 
This  place  well  deserved  the  name  given  it,  "Camp 
Eelease." 

A  MitjITart  Commission  was  soon  after  inau- 
gurated to  try  the  parties  charged  with  the  mur- 
der of  white  persons.  The  labors  of  this  commis- 
sion continued  untd  about  the  5th  of  November, 
1862.  Three  hundred  and  twenty-one  of  the  sav- 
ages and  their  allies  had  been  found  guilty  of  the 
charges  preferred  against  them;  three  hiuidred 
and  three  of  whom  were  recommended  for  capital 
punishment,  the  others  to  suffer  imprisonment. 
These  were  immediately  removed,  under  a  guard 
of  1,500  men,  to  South  Bend,  on  the  Minnesota 
river,  to  await  further  orders  from  the  United 
States  Government. 

Pursuit  of  th3  Desertsks. — A.fter  the  disaster 
met  with  at  Wood  Lake,  Little  Crow  retreated, 
with  those  who  remained  with  him,  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Big  Stone  Lake,  some  sixty  miles  to  the 
westward.  On  the  5th  of  October,  Colonel  Sibley 
had  sent  a  messenger  to  the  principal  camp  of  the 
deserters,  to  inform  them  that  he  expected  to  be 
able  to  pursue  and  overtake  aU  who  remained  in 
arms  against  the  Government;  and  that  the  only 
hope  of  mercy  that  they  need  expect,  even  for 
their  wives  and  children,  would  be  their  early  re- 
turn and  surrender  at  discretion.  By  the  8th  of 
October  the  prisoners  who  had  come  in  and  sur- 
rendered amounted  to  upwards  of  2,000.  On  the 
14th  of  October,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Marshall, 
with  252  men,  was  ordered  to  go  out  upon  the  fron- 
tier as  a  scouting  party,  to  ascertain  whether  there 
were  any  hostile  camps  of  savages  located  within 
probable  striking  distance,  from  which  they  might 
be  able,  by  sudden  marches,  to  fall  upon  the  set- 
tlements before  the  opening  of  the  campaign  in 
the  coming  spring.  About  this  time,  Colonel  Sib- 
ley, hitherto  acting  under  State  authority,  received 


the  commission  of  Brigadier  General  of  Volun- 
teers from  the  United  States. 

The  scouting  party  under  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Marshall  followed  uf)  the  line  of  retreat  of  the  fugi- 
tives, and  near  the  edge  of  the  Coteau  de  Prairie, 
about  forty-five  miles  from  Camp  Eelease,  foimd 
two  lodges  of  straggling  Indians.  The  males  of 
these  camps,  three  young  men,  were  made  prison- 
ers, and  the  women  and  children  and  an  old  man 
were  directed  to  deliver  themselves  up  at  Camp 
Release.  From  these  Indians  here  captured  they 
received  information  of  twenty-seven  lodges  en- 
camjjed  near  Cbanopa  (Two  Wood)  lakes.  At 
these  lakes  they  found  no  Indians;  they  had  left, 
but  the  trail  was  followed  to  the  north-west,  to- 
wards the  Big  Sioux  river.  At  noon  of  the  16th, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Marshall  took  with  him  fifty 
mounted  men  and  the  howitzer  and  started  in  pur- 
suit, without  tents  or  supplies  of  any  kind,  but 
leaving  the  infantry  and  supply  wagons  to  follow 
after.  They  crossed  the  Big  Sioux  river,  passing 
near  and  on  the  north  side  of  Lake  Kampeska. 

By  following  closely  the  Indian  trail,  they  ar- 
rived at  dark  at  the  east  end  of  a  lake  some  six  or 
eight  miles  long,  and  about  eight  miles  in  a  north- 
westwardly direction  from  Lake  Kampeska.  Here 
they  halted,  without  tents,  fire  or  food,  until  near 
daylight,  when  reconnoitering  commenced,  and  at 
an  early  hour  in  the  morning  they  succeeded  in 
surprising  and  capturing  a  camp  composed  of  ten 
lodges,  and  thirteen  Indians  and  their  famOies. 
From  those  captured  at  this  place  information  was 
received  of  another  camp  of  some  twelve  or  fifteen 
lodges,  located  at  the  distance  of  about  one  day's 
march  in  the  direction  of  James  river. 

Placing  a  guard  over  the  captured  camp,  the  re- 
maining portion  of  the  force  pressed  on  in  the  di- 
rection indicated,  and  at  the  distance  of  about  ten 
miles  from  the  first  camp,  and  about  midway  be 
tween  the  Big  Sioux  and  James  rivers  they  came 
in  sight  of  the  second  party,  just  as  they  were 
moving  out  of  camp.  The  Indians  attempted  to 
make  their  escape  by  flight,  but  after  an  exciting 
chase  for  some  distance  they  were  overtaken  and 
captured,  without  any  armed  resistance.  Twenty- 
one  men  were  taken  at  this  place.  Some  of  them 
liad  separated  from  the  camp  previous  to  the  cap- 
ture, and  were  engaged  in  hunting  at  the  time. 
On  the  return  march,  which  was  shortly  after  com- 
menced, six  of  these  followed  the  detachment,  and, 
after  making  ineffectual  efforts  to  recover  their 
families,  came  forward  and  surrendered  themselves 


INDFAN  SYMPATHIZERS. 


251 


into  our  hands  The  iufantry  and  wagons  were 
met  by  the  returning  party  about  ten  miles  west  of 
the  Big  Sioux. 

The  men  of  this  detachment,  officers  aaid  pri- 
vates, evinced  to  a  large  degree  the  bravery  and 
endurance  that  characterizes  the  true  soldier. 
They  wUlingly  and  cheerfully  pressed  on  after  the 
savages,  a  part  of  them  without  food,  fire  or  shel- 
ter, and  all  of  them  knowing  that  they  were 
thereby  prolonging  the  period  of  their  absence 
beyond  the  estimated  time,  and  subjecting  them- 
selves to  the  certain  necessity  of  being  at  least  one 
or  two  days  without  rations  of  any  kind  before  the 
return  to  Camp  Kelease  could  be  effected. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Marshall,  with  a  guard  of  some  fifteen  hundi-ed 
men,  started  for  Fort  Snelling  in  charge  of  other 
captured  Indians,  comprising  the  women  and 
children,  and  such  of  the  men  as  were  not  found 
guilty  of  any  heinous  crime  by  the  Military  Com- 
mission, and  arrived  safely  at  their  destination  on 
the  13th. 

From  the  commencement  of  hostilities  until  the 
16th  day  of  September  the  war  was  carried  on 
almost  entirely  from  the  resources  of  the  State 
alone,  and  some  little  assistance  from  our  sister 
States  in  the  way  of  arms  and  ammunition.  On 
this  latter  date  Major-General  John  Pope,  who  had 
been  apjjoiuted  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States  to  take  command  of  the  Dapartment  of  the 
North-west,  arrived  and  established  his  headquar- 
ters in  the  city  of  St.  Paul,  in  this  state.  The 
principal  part  of  the  active  service  of  the  season's 
camjjaign  had  previously  been  gone  through  with; 
but  the  forces  previously  under  the  command  of 
of  the  State  authorities  were  immediately  turned 
over  to  his  command,  and  the  after-movements 
were  entirely  under  his  control  and  direction. 

He  brought  to  the  aid  of  the  troops  raised  in 
the  State  the  25th  Wisconsin  and  the  27th  Iowa 
Regiments,  both  infantry.  These  forces  were 
speedily  distributed  at  different  points  along  the 
frontier,  and  assisted  in  guarding  the  settlements 
during  the  autumn,  but  they  were  recalled  and 
sent  out  of  the  State  before  the  closing  in  of  the 
winter. 

It  was  contemplated  to  send  the  6th  and  7th 
Eegiments  Minnesota  Volunteers  to  take  part  in 
the  war  against  the  rebels  in  the  Southern  States, 
and  orders  to  this  effect  had  already  been  issued, 
but  on  the  6th  of  November,  in  obedience  to  the 
expressed  wish  of  a  large  portion  of  the  inhab- 


itants of  the  State,  these  orders  were  counter- 
manded. They  were  directed  to  remain  in  the 
state,  and  the  3d  Regiment  was  ordered  ofi'  instead. 

All  the  forces  then  remaining  in  the  state  were 
assigned  to  winter  quarters  at  such  points  as  it  was 
thought  expedient  to  keep  guarded  during  the 
winter,  and  on  the  25th  of  November  Major-Gen- 
eral Pope  removed  his  headquarters  to  Madison,  in 
the  State  of  Wisconsin.  Brigadier-General  Sib- 
ley then  remained  in  the  immediate  command  of 
the  troops  retained  in  service  against  the  Indians, 
and  established  his  headquarters  in  the  city  of 
St.  Paul. 

On  the  9th  of  October  the  "Mankato  Record" 
thus  speaks  of  this  expedition: 

"Considering  the  many  serious  disadvantages 
under  which  General  Sibley  has  labored— a  defi- 
ciency of  arms  and  ammunition,  scarcity  of  pro- 
visions, and  the  total  absence  of  cavalry  at  a  time 
when  he  could  have  successfully  pursued  and  cap. 
tured  Little  Crow  and  his  followers— the  expedi- 
tion has  been  successful  beyond  the  most  sanguine 
anticipations.  Of  the  three  hundred  white  cap- 
tives in  the  hands  of  the  Indians  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war,  all,  or  nearly  all,  have  been 
retaken  and  returned  to  their  friends.  Much  pri- 
vate property  has  been  secured,  and  some  fifteen 
hundred  Indians,  engaged  directly  or  indirectly  in 
the  massacres,  have  been  captured;  and  those  who 
have  actually  stained  their  hands  in  the  blood  of 
our  frontier  settlers  are  condemned  to  suffer  death. 
Their  sentence  will  be  carried  into  execution,  un- 
less countermanded  by  authorities  at  Washington." 


CHAPTER  XLIIL 

INDIAN  SYMPATHIZERS  — MEMOKIAL  TO  THE  PKESI- 
DENT— THE  HANGING  OP  THIKTY-EIGHT ANNUL- 
LING THE  TREATIES  WITH  CERTAIN  SIOUX RE- 
MOVAL OF  WINNEBAGOE3  AND  SIOUX  TO  THE  UPPER 
MISSOURI. 

After  the  campaign  of  1862,  and  the  guilty  par- 
ties were  confined  at  Camp  Lincoln,  near  Mendota, 
the  idea  of  executing  capitally,  three  hundred  In- 
dians, aroused  the  sympathy  of  those  far  removed 
from  the  scenes  of  their  inhuman  butcheries. 
President  Lincoln  was  importuned,  principally  by 
parties  in  the  East,  for  the  release  of  these  sav- 
ages. The  voice  of  the  blood  of  innocence  crying 
from  the  ground,  the  waiKngs  of  mothers  bereft  of 
tlieir   children  was  hushed  in  the   tender   cry  of 


252 


HISTORY  OF  TUE  .alOUX  MASSACRE. 


sympathy  for  the  condemned.  Even  the  Christian 
ministers,  stern  in  the  belief  that,  "Whosoever 
sheddeth  man's  blood  by  man  shall  his  blood  be 
shed,"  seemed  now  the  most  zealous  for  the  par- 
don of  these  merciless  outlaws,  who,  without  cause 
had  shed  the  blood  of  innocent  women  and  chil- 
dren in  a  time  of  peace. 

Senator  IM.  S.  Wilkin.son  and  Congressmen  C.  Al- 
drich  and  William  Windom,  made  an  urgent  ap- 
peal to  the  President  for  the  proper  execution  of 
the  sentence  in  the  case  of  these  Indians.  From 
this  appeal  the  following  extract  will  be  sufficient 
to  indicate  its  character: 

"The  people  of  Minnesota,  Mr.  President,  have 
stood  firmly  by  you  and  your  Administration.  They 
have  given  both  you  and  it  their  cordial  support. 
They  have  not  violated  any  law.  They  have  borne 
these  sufferings  with  patience,  such  as  few  people 
have  ever  exhibited  under  extreme  trials.  These 
Indians  now  are  at  their  mercy;  but  our  people 
have  not  risen  to  slaughter,  because  they  believed 
their  President  would  deal  with  them  justly. 

"We  are  told,  Mr.  President,  that  the  committee 
from  Pennsylvania,  whose  families  are  living  hap- 
pily in  their  pleasant  homes  in  that  state,  have 
called  upon  you  to  pardon  these  Indians.  We 
protest  against  the  pardon  of  these  Indians;  be- 
cause if  it  is  done,  the  Indians  will  become  more 
insolent  and  cruel  than  they  ever  were  before,  be- 
lieving, as  they  certainly  will,  that  their  Great 
Father  at  Washington  either  justifies  their  acts  or 
is  afraid  to  punish  them  for  their  crimes. 

•'We  protest  against  it,  because,  if  the  President 
does  not  permit  the  execution  to  take  place  under 
the  forms  of  law,  the  outraged  people  of  Minne- 
sota will  dispose  of  these  wretches  without  law. 
These  two  people  cannot  live  together.  We  do 
not  wish  to  see  mob  law  inaugurated  in  Minne- 
sota, as  it  certainly  will  be,  if  you  force  the  peo- 
ple to  it.  We  tremble  at  the  approach  of  such 
a  condition  of  things  in  our  state. 

"You  can  give  us  peace,  or  you  can  give  us  law- 
less violence.  We  pray  you,  as  in  view  of  all  we 
have  suffered,  and  of  the  danger  which  still  awaits 
us,  let  the  law  be  executed.  Let  justice  be  done  to 
our  people." 

The  prcsri  of  Blinnesota,  without  a  single  excep- 
tion, insisted  that  the  condemned  Indians  should 
expiate  their  dreadful  crime  upon  the  gallows, 
while  the  Eastern  press,  with  some  few  exceptions, 
gave  vent  to  the  deep  sympathy  of  the  sentimen- 
tal philosophers  and  the  fanciful  strains  of  the  im- 


aginative poets.  It  seemed  to  our  Eastern  neigh- 
bors that  Minnesotians,  in  their  contact  with  sav- 
age life,  had  ceased  to  appreciate  the 

•    •    *    "Poor  Indian,  whose  untutored  mind 
Sees  God  in  clouds,  and  hears  Him  in  the  wind;" 

that  they  had  looked  upon  the  modem  race  of  sav- 
ages in  their  criminal  degradation  until  they  had 
well-nigh  forgotten  the  renoun  of  Massasoit,  and 
his  noble  sons  Alexander  and  Philip. 

But  two  hundred  years  never  fails  to  change 
somewhat  the  character  and  sentiments  of  a  great 
people,  and  blot  from  its  memory  something  of 
its  accredited  history.  This  may  have  happened 
in  the  case  of  our  fellow-kinsmen  in  the  Eastern 
and  Middle  States.  They  may  not  now  fully  enter 
into  the  views  and  sentiments  of  those  who  witness- 
ed the  outrages  of  Phihp  and  his  cruel  warriors 
in  their  conspiracies  against  the  infant  colonies;  . 
in  their  attacks  upon  Springfield,  HatfieldJLian- 
caster,  Medfield,  Seekong,  Groton,  Warwick,  Marl- 
borough, Plymouth,  Taunton,  Scituate,  Bridge- 
water,  and  Northfield.  They  seem  not  fully  now 
to  appreciate  the  atrocities  of  the  savages 
of  these  olden  times.  The  histoiian  of  the 
times  of  Philip  was  not  so  sentimental  as  some  of 
later  days. 

"The  town  of  Springfield  received  great  injury 
from  their  attacks,  more  than  thirty  houses  being 
burned;  among  the  rest  one  containing  a  'brave 
library,'  the  finest  in  that  part  of  the  country, 
which  belonged  to  the  Kev.  Pelatiah  Glover." 

"  This,"  says  Hubbard,  "did,  more  than  any 
other,  discover  the  said  actors  to  be  the  children 
of  the  devil,  full  of  all  subtilty  and  malice."  And 
we  of  the  present  can  not  perceive  why  the  massacre 
of  innocent  women  and  children  should  not  as 
readily  discover  these  Minnesota  savages,  under 
Little  Crow,  to  be  children  of  the  devil  as  the 
burning  of  a  minister's  library  two  hundred  years 
ago.  Minnesotians  lost  by  these  Indians  splen- 
did, not  to  say  brave  libraries;  but  of  this  minor 
evil  they  did  not  complain,  in  their  demand  for  the 
execution  of  the  condemned  murderers. 

Indians  are  the  same  in  all  times.  Two  hun- 
dred years  have  wrought  no  change  upon  Indian 
character.  Had  King  Philip  been  powerful 
enough,  he  would  have  killed  all  the  white  men 
inhabiting  the  New  England  Colonies.  "Once  an 
Indian,  always  an  Indian,"  is  fully  borne  out  by 
their  history  during  two  hundred  years'  contact 
with  the  white  race. 

Eastern  writers  of  the  early  history  of  the  conn- 


MEMORIALS   TO   THE   PRESIDENT. 


253 


try  spoke  and  felt  in  regard  to  Indians  very  much 
as  Minnesotians  now  speak  and  feel.  When  Weet- 
amore,  queen  of  Pocasset,  and  widow  of  Alexan- 
der, Philip's  eldest  brother,  in  attempting  to  es- 
cape from  the  pursuit  of  Captain  Church,  had  lost 
her  Hfe,  her  head  was  cut  off  by  those  who  discov- 
ered her,  and  fixed  upon  a  pole  at  Taunton!  Here, 
being  discovered  by  some  of  her  loving  subjects, 
then  in  captivity,  their  unrestrained  grief  at  the 
shocking  sight  is  characterized  by  Mather  as  "a 
most  horrid  and  diabolical  lamentation!"  Have 
Minnesotians  exhibited  a  more  unfeeling  senti- 
ment than  this,  even  against  condemned  murder- 
ers ?  Mather  lived,  it  is  true,  amid  scenes  of  In- 
dian barbarity.  Had  he  lived  in  the  present  day 
and  witnessed  these  revolting  cruelties,  he  would 
have  said  with  Colonel  H.  H.  Sibley,  "My  heart 
is  steeled  against  them."  But  those  who  witness- 
ed the  late  massacre  could  truly  say,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  an  Eastern  poet, 

'*  All  died — the  wailing  babe — the  shrieking  maid — 
And  in  the  flood  of  tire  that  scathed  the  glade, 
The  roofs  went  down!" 

Early  in  December,  1862,  while  the  final  decis- 
ion of  the  President  was  delayed,  the  valley  towns 
of  Minnesota,  led  off  by  the  city  of  St.  Paul,  held 
primaiy  meetings,  addressed  by  the  most  intelli- 
gent speakers  of  the  diifeient  localities.  An  ex- 
tract from  a  memorial  of  one  of  the  assemblages 
of  the  people  is  given  as  a  sample  of  others  of 
similar  import.  The  extract  quoted  is  from  the 
St.  Paul  meeting,  drawn  up  by  George  A.  Nourse, 
United  States  District  Attorney  for  the  District 
of  Minnesota: 

"To  the  President  of  the  United  States:  We, 
the  citizens  of  St.  Paul,  in  the  State  of  Minnesota, 
respectfully  represent  that  we  have  heard,  with 
regret  and  alarm,  through  the  public  press,  i-eports 
of  an  intention  on  the  part  of  the  United  States 
Government  to  dismiss  without  punishment  the 
Sioux  warriors  captured  by  our  soldiers;  and  fur- 
ther, to  allow  the  several  tribes  of  Indians  lately 
located  upon  reservations  within  this  State  to  re- 
main upon  the  reservations. 

"Against  any  such  policy  we  respectfully  but 
firmly  protest.  The  history  of  this  continent  pre- 
sents no  event  that  can  compare  with  the  late  Sioux 
outbreak  in  wanton,  unprovoked,  and  fiendish 
cruelty.  All  that  we  have  heard  of  Indian  warfare 
in  the  early  history  of  this  country  is  tame  in 
contrast  with  the  atrocities  of  this  late  massacre. 
Without  warning,  in  cold  blood,  beginning  with 


the  murder  of  their  best  friends,  the  whole  body 
of  the  Annuity  Sioux  commenced  a  deliberate 
scheme  to  exterminate  every  white  person  upon  the 
land  once  occupied  by  them,  and  by  them  long 
since  sold  to  the  United  States.  In  carrying  out 
ihis  bloody  sciieme  they  have  spared  neither  age 
nor  sex,  only  reserving,  for  the  gratification  of 
their  brutal  lust,  the  few  white  women  whom  the 
rifle,  the  tomahawk  and  the  scalping-knife  spared. 
Nor  did  their  fiendish  barbarities  cease  with 
death,  as  the  mutilated  corpses  of  their  victims, 
disemboweled,  cut  limb  from  limb,  or  chopped 
into  fragments,  will  testify.-  These  cruelties,  too, 
were  in  many  cases  preceded  by  a  pretense  of 
friendship;  and  in  many  instances  the  victims  of 
these  more  than  murderers  were  shot  down  in  cold 
blood  as  soon  as  their  backs  were  turned,  after  a 
cordial  shaking  of  the  hand  and  loud  professions 
of  friendship  on  the  part  of  the  murderers. 

"We  ask  that  the  same  judgment  should  be 
passed  and  executed  upon  these  deliberate  mur- 
derers, these  ravishers,  these  mtitalators  of  their 
murdered  victims,  that  would  be  passed  upon 
white  men  guilty  of  the  same  offense.  The  blood 
of  hundreds  oE  our  muidered  and  mangled  fellow- 
citizens  cries  from  the  ground  for  vengeance. 
'Veugeance  is  mine;  I  will  repay,  saith  the  Lord;' 
and  the  authorities  of  the  United  States  are,  we 
bslieve,  the  chosen  instruments  to  execute  that 
vengeance.     Let  them  not  neglect  their  plain  duty. 

"Nor  do  we  ask  alone  for  vengeance.  We  de- 
mand security  for  the  future.  There  can  be  rfo 
safety  for  us  or  for  our  families  unless  an  example 
shall  be  made  of  those  who  have  committed  the 
horrible  murders  and  barbarities  we  have  recited. 
Let  it  be  once  understood  that  these  Indians  can 
commit  such  crimes,  and  be  pardoned  upon  sur- 
rendering themselves,  and  there  is  henceforth  a 
torch  for  every  white  man's  dwelling,  a  knife  for 
every  white  man's  heart  upon  our  frontier. 

"Nor  will  even  the  most  rigorous  punishment 
give  perfect  security  agaiust  these  Indians  so  long 
as  any  of  them  are  left  among,  or  in  the  vicinity 
of  our  border  settlements.  The  Indian's  nature 
can  no  more  be  trusted  than  the  wolf's.  Tame 
him,  cultivate  him,  strive  to  Christianize  him  as 
you  will,  and  the  sight  of  blood  will  in  an  instant 
call  out  the  savage,  wolfish,  devilish  instincts  of 
the  race.  It  is  notorious  that  among  the  earliest 
and  most  murderous  of  the  Sioux,  in  perpetrating 
their  late  massacre,  were  many  of  the  'civilized 
Indians,'  so  called,  with  their  hair  cut  short,  wear- 


254 


EISrORY   OF  TUB  SIOUX  ifASSAOliB. 


ing  white  men's  clothes,  and  dwelling  in  brick 
houses  bviilt  for  them  by  the  Government. 

"We  respectfully  ask,  we  demand  that  the  cap- 
tive Indians  now  in  the  bands  of  our  military 
forces,  proved  before  a  military  commission  to  bo 
guilty  of  murder,  and  even  worse  crimes,  shall  re- 
ceive the  punishment  due  those  crimes.  This,  too, 
not  merely  as  a  matter  of  vengeance,  but  much 
more  as  a  matter  of  future  security  for  our  border 
settlers. 

"We  ask,  further,  that  these  savages,  proved  to 
be  treacherous,  unreliable,  and  dangerous  beyond 
example,  may  be  removed  from  close  proximity  to 
oureettlements,  to  such  distance  and  such  isola- 
tion as  shall  make  the  jieople  of  this  State  safe 
from  their  future  attacks." 

DJSAPPOXNTMENT  OF  THE   PEOPLE   IN    MINNESOTA. 

The  final  decision  of  the  President,  on  the  1 7th 
of  December,  1862,  ordering  the  execution  of  thir- 
ty-nine of  the  three  hundred  condemned  murderers, 
disappointed  the  people  of  Minnesota.  These 
thirty-nine  were  to  be  hung  on  Friday,  the  2Gth 
of  December. 

It  was  not  strange  that  the  people  of  Minnesota 
were  disappointed.  How  had  New  England  looked 
upon  her  Indian  captives  in  her  early  history  ? 
Her  history  says : 

"  King  Philip  was  hunted  like  a  wild  beast,  his 
body  quartered  and  set  on  poles,  his  head  exposed 
as  a  trophy  for  twt  n'y  years  on  a  gibbet,  in 
Plymouth,  and  one  of  his  hands  sent  to  Boston; 
then  the  ministers  returned  thanks,  and  one  said 
that  they  had  prayed  a  bullet  into  Philip's  heart. 
In  1677,  on  a  Sunday,  in  Marblehead,  the  women, 
as  they  came  out  of  the  meeting-house,  fell  upon 
two  Indians  that  had  been  brought  in  as  captives. 
and,  in  a  very  tumultuous  way,  murdered  them,  in 
revenge  for  the  death  of  some  fishermen." 

These  Puritan  ideas  have  greatly  relaxed  in  the 
descendants  of  the  primitive  stock.  But,  as  the 
sepulchers  of  the  fathers  are  garnished  by  their 
children  as  an  indorsement  of  their  deeds,  shall  we 
not  hope  that  those  who  La  e  in  this  way  given 
evidence  of  their  paternity  will  find  some  pallia- 
tion for  a  people  who  have  sinned  in  the  similitude 
of  their  fathers? 

On  the  2ith  of  December,  at  the  request  of  the 
citizens  of  Maulcato  of  a  previous  date.  Colonel 
Miller,  (Ex  Governor  Stephen  Miller,  whose  death 
at  Worthington,  Minn.,  took  place  in  August, 
1881),  in  order  to  secure  the  public  peace,  declared 


martial  law  over  all  the  territory  within  a  circle  of 
ten  miles  of  the  place  of  the  intended  execution. 

On  Monday,  the  21st,  the  thirty-nine  had  been 
removed  to  apartments  separate  and  distinct  from 
the  other  Indians,  and  the  death-warrant  was  made 
known  to  them  through  an  interpreter — the  Rev. 
Mr.  Riggs,  one  of  the  Sioux  missionaries.  Through 
the  interpreter.  Colonel  Miller  addressed  the  pris- 
oners in  substance,  as  follows: 

"  The  commanding  officer  at  this  place  has  called 
to  speak  to  you  upon  a  very  serious  subject  thit 
afternoon.  Your  Great  Father  at  Washington, 
after  carefully  reading  what  the  witnesses  have 
t'  stifled  in  your  several  trials,  has  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  you  have  each  been  guilty  of  wantonlj 
and  wickedly  murdering  his  white  children;  and, 
for  this  reason,  he  has  directed  that  you  each  bb 
hanged  by  the  neck  until  you  are  dead,  on  next 
P'riday,  and  that  order  will  be  carried  into  effect  on 
that  day  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon. 

"Good  ministers,  both  Catholic  and  Protestant, 
are  here,  fi'om  among  whom  each  of  you  can  se- 
lect your  spiritual  adviser,  who  will  be  permitted 
to  commune  with  you  constantly  during  the  few 
days  that  you  are  yet  to  live." 

Adjutant  Arnold  was  then  instructed  to  read  to 
them  in  English  the  letter  of  President  Lincoln, 
which,  in  substance,  stated  the  number  and  names 
of  those  condemned  for  execution,  which  letter 
was  also  read  by  Rev.  S.  R.  Rig^s,  in  Dakota. 

The  Colonel  further  instructed  Mr.  Riggs  to  tell 
them  that  they  had  so  sinned  against  their  fellow- 
men  that  there  is  no  hope  of  clemency  except  in 
the  mercy  of  God  through  the  merits  of  the 
Blessed  Redeemer,  and  that  he  earnestly  exhorted 
them  to  apply  to  Him  as  their  only  remaining 
source  of  consolation. 

The  number  condemned  was  forty,  but  one  died 
before  the  day  fixed  for  the  execution,  and  one, 
Henry  Milord,  a  half  breed,  had  his  sentence  com- 
muted to  imprisonment  for  life  in  the  penitentiary; 
so  that  thirty-eight  only  were  hung. 

On  the  16th  of  February,  1863,  the  treaties  be- 
fore that  time  existing  between  the  United  States 
and  these  annuity  Indians  were  abrogated  and  an- 
nulled, and  all  lands  and  rights  of  occupancy 
within  the  state  of  Minnesota,  and  all  annuities 
and  claims  then  existing  in  favor  of  said  Indians 
were  declared  forfeited  to  the  United  States. 

These  Indians,  in  the  language  of  the  act,  had, 
in  the  year  1862,  "made  unprovoked  aggression 
and  most  savage  war  upon  the  United  States,  and 


BEMOVAI.   OF  INDI.INS. 


255 


massacred  a  large  number  of  men,  ■women  and 
children  within  the  state  of  Minnesota;"  and  as 
in  this  war  and  massacre  they  had  "destroyed  and 
damaged  a  large  amount  of  property,  and  thereby 
forfeited  all  just  claims"  to  their  "monies  and  an- 
nuities to  the  United  Sfcites,"  the  act  provides  that 
"two-thirds  of  the  balance  remaining  unexpended" 
of  their  annuities  for  the  fiscal  year,  not  exceeding 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  the  further  sum 
of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  being  two-thirds 
of  the  annuities  becoming  due,  and  payable  during 
the  next  fiscal  year,  should  be  appropriated  and 
paid  over  to  three  cormnissioners  appointed  by  the 
President,  to  be  by  them  apportioned  among  the 
heads  of  famiUes,  or  their  survivors,  who  suffered 
damage  by  the  depredations  of  said  Indians,  or 
the  troops  of  the  United  States  in  the  war  against 
them,  not  exceeding  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dol- 
lars to  any  one  family,  nor  more  than  actual  dam- 
age sustained.  All  claims  for  damages  were  re- 
quired, by  the  act,  to  be  presented  at  certain 
times,  and  according  to  the  rules  prescribed  by 
the  commissioners,  who  should  hold  their  first  ses- 
sion at  St.  Peter,  in  the  "state  of  Minnesota,  on  or 
before  the  first  Monday  of  April,  and  make 
and  return  their  finding,  and  all  the  papers  re- 
lating thereto,  on  or  before  the  first  Monday  in 
December,  1863. 

The  President  appointed  for  this  duty,  and 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  the 
Hons.  Albert  S.  White,  of  the  state  of  Indiana, 
Eli  K.  Chase,  of  Wisconsin,  and  Cyrus  Aldrich,  of 
Minnesota. 

The  duties  of  this  board  were  bo  vigoroiisiy 
prosecuted,  that,  by  the  1st  of  November  following 
their  appointment,  some  twenty  thousand  sheets 
of  legal  cap  paper  had  been  consumed  in  reducing 
to  writing  the  testimony  under  the  law  requiring 
the  commissioners  to  report  the  testimony  in 
writing,  and  proper  decisions  made  requisite  to  the 
payment  of  the  two  hundred  dollars  to  that  class 
of  sufferers  designated  by  the  act  of  Congress. 
Such  dispatch  in  Government  agents  gives  abund- 
ant evidence  of  national  vigor  and  integrity. 

It  was,  no  doubt,  the  object  of  this  act  of  Con- 
gress to  make  such  an  appropriation  as  would  re- 
lieve the  sufferings  of  those  who  had  lost  all  pres- 
ent means  of  support,  and  for  the  further  purpose 
of  ascertaining  the  whole  amonut  of  claims  for 
damages  as  a  necessary  pre-requisite  to  future  leg- 
islation. Regarded  in  this  light,  the  act  is  one  of 
wisdom  and  economy. 


On  the  21st  of  February  following  the  annulling 
of  the  treaty  with  the  Sioux  above  named.  Con- 
gress passed  "An  act  for  the  removal  of  the  Win- 
nebago Indians,  and  the  sale  of  their  reservation 
in  Minnesota  for  their  benefit."  The  money  aris- 
ing from  the  sale  of  their  lands,  after  paying 
their  indebtedness,  is  to  be  paid  into  the  treasury 
of  the  United  States,  and  expended,  as  the  same  is 
received,  under  the  direction  of  the  Secretarv  of 
the  Interior,  in  necessary  improvements  upon  their 
new  reservation.  The  lands  in  the  new  reservation 
are  to  be  allotted  in  severalty,  not  exceeding  eighty 
acres  to  each  head  of  a  family,  except  to  the  chiefs, 
to  whom  larger  allottments  may  be  made,  to  be 
vested  by  patent  in  the  Indian  and  his  heirs,  with- 
out the  right  of  alienation. 

These  several  acts  of  the  General  Government 
moderated  to  some  extent  the  demand  of  the  peo- 
ple for  the  execution  of  the  condemned  Sioux  yet 
in  the  military  prison  at  Mankato  awaiting  the 
final  decision  of  the  President.  The  removal  of 
the  Indians  from  the  borders  of  Minnesota,  and 
the  opening  up  for  settlement  of  over  a  million 
of  acres  of  superior  land,  was  a  prospective  ben- 
efit to  the  State  of  immense  value,  both  in  its  do- 
mestic quiet  and  its  rapid  advancement  in  material 
wealth. 

In  pursuance  of  the  acts  of  Congress,  on  the 
22d  of  April,  and  for  the  purpose  of  carrying 
them  into  execution,  the  condemned  Indians  were 
first  taken  from  the  State,  on  board  the  steamboat 
Favorite,  carried  down  the  Mississippi,  and  con- 
fined at  Davenport,  in  the  state  of  Iowa,  where 
they  remained,  with  only  such  privileges  as  are 
allowed  to  convicts  in  the  penitentiary. 

On  the  4th  of  May,  A.  D.  186.3,  at  "six  o'clock  m 
the  afternoon,  certain  others  of  the  Sioux  Indians, 
squaws  and  pappooses,  in  all  about  seventeen  hun- 
dred, left  Fort  Snelling,  on  board  the  steamboat 
Davenport,  for  their  new  reservation  on  the  Upper 
Missouri,  above  Fort  Randall,  accompanied  by  a 
strong  guard  of  soldiers,  and  attended  by  certain 
of  the  missionaries  and  employes,  the  whole  beino- 
under  the  general  direction  of  Superintendent 
Clark  W.  Thompson.  By  these  two  shipments, 
some  two  thousand  Sioux  had  been  taken  from  the 
State  and  removed  far  from  the  borders  of  Minne- 
sota. The  expedition  of  1863,  fitted  out  against 
the  scattered  bands  of  the  Sioux  yet  remaining  on 
the  boi-ders  of  the  State,  or  still  further  removed 
into  the  Dakota  Territory,  gave  to  the  border  set* 
tlements  some  assurance  of  protection  and  security 


2DG 


U I  STORY   OF  THE  SIOUX  MASS  AC  HE. 


against  any  further  disturbancs  from  these  partic- 
ular bands  of  Indians. 

DEATH   OF    LITTIiE   CROW. 

On  Friday  evening,  July  3,  1863,  Mr.  Lampson 
and  his  sou  Chauucey,  while  traveling  along  the 
ro.id,  about  six  miles  north  of  Hutchinson,  discov- 
ered two  Indians  in  a  little  prairie  t)pening  in  the 
woods,  interspersed  with  clumps  of  bushea  and 
vines  and  a  few  scattering  poplars,  picking  berries. 
These  two  Indians  were  Little  Crow  and  his  son 
Wowinapa. 

STATEMENT    BY    HIS    SON. 

"I  am  the  son  of  Little  Crow;  my  name  is  Wo- 
winapa; I  am  sixteen  years  old;  my  father  had 
two  wives  before  he  took  my  mother;  the  first  one 
had  one  son,  the  second  one  a  son  and  daughter; 
the  third  wife  was  my  motlior.  After  taking  my 
mother  ho  put  away  the  hrst  two;  he  had  seven 
children  by  my  mother — six  are  dead;  I  am  the 
only  one  living  now;  the  fourth  wife  had  four 
children  born;  do  not  know  whether  any  died  or 
not;  two  were  boys  and  three  were  girls;  the  fiftli 
wife  had  five  children — three  of  them  are  dead, 
two  are  living;  the  sixth  wife  had  three  children; 
aU  of  them  are  dead;  the  oldest  was  a  boy,  the 
olher  two  were  girls;  the  last  four  wives  were 
sisters. 

"Father  went  to  St.  Joseph  last  spring.  When 
we  were  commg  back  he  said  he  could  not  fight 
the  white  men,  but  would  go  below  and  steal  horses 
from  them,  and  give  them  to  his  children,  so  that 
they  could  be  comfortable,  and  then  he  would  go 
away  off. 

"Father  also  told  me  that  he  was  getting  old, 
and  wanted  me  to  go  with  him  to  carry  his  bun- 
dles. He  left  his  wives  and  his  other  children  be- 
hind. There  were  sixteen  men  and  one  squaw  iu 
the  party  that  went  below  with  us.  We  had  no 
horses,  but  walked  all  the  way  do-ivn  to  the  settle- 
ments. Father  .and  I  were  picking  red-berries, 
near  Scattered  Lake,,at  the  time  he  was  shot.  It 
was  near  night.  He  was  hit  the  first  time  in  the 
side,  just  above  the  hip.  His  gun  and  mine  were 
lying  on  the  ground.  He  took  up  my  gun  and 
fired  it  first,  and  then  fired  his  own.  He  was  shot 
the  second  time  when  he  was  firing  his  own  gun. 
The  ball  struck  the  stock  of  his  gun,  and  then  hit 
him  in  the  sidf,  near  the  shoulder.  This  was  the 
shot  that  killed  him.  He  told  me  that  he  was 
killed,  and  asked  me  for  water,  which  I  gave  him. 
He  died    immediately  after.     When  I  heard  the 


first  shot  fired  I  laid  down,  and   the  man  did  not 
see  me  before  fathei'  was  killed. 

"A  short  time  before  father  was  killed  an  Indian 
named  Hiuka,  who  married  the  daughter  of  my 
father's  second  wife,  came  to  him.  He  had  a 
horse  with  him — also  a  gray-colored  coat  that  he 
had  taken  from  a  man  that  he  had  killed  to  the 
north  of  where  father  was  killed.  He  gave  the 
coat  to  father,  telling  him  he  might  need  it  when 
it  rained,  as  he  had  no  coat  with  him.  Hiuka  said 
he  h;;d  a  horse  now,  and  was  going  back  to  the 
Indian  country. 

"The  Indians  that  went  down  with  us  separated. 
Eight  of  them  and  the  squaw  wont  north;  the 
other  eight  went  further  down.  I  have  not  seen 
any  of  them  since.  After  father  was  killed  I  took 
both  guns  and  the  ammunition  and  started  to  go 
to  Devil's  Lake,  where  I  expected  to  find  some  of 
my  friends.  When  I  got  to  Beaver  creek  I  saw 
the  tracks  of  two  Indians,  and  at  Standing 
Buffalo's  village  saw  where  the  eight  Indians  that 
had  gone  north  had  crossed. 

"I  carried  both  guns  as  far  as  the  Shoyenue 
river,  where  I  saw  two  men.  I  was  scared,  and 
threw  my  gun  and  the  ammunition  down.  After 
that  I  traveled  only  in  the  night;  and,  as  Iliad  no 
ammunition  to  kill  anything  to  eat,  I  had  not 
strength  enough  to  travel  fast.  I  went  on  until  I 
arrived  near  Devil's  Lake,  when  I  staid  in  one  place 
three  days,  being  so  weak  and  hungry  that  I 
could  go  no  further.  I  had  picked  up  a  cartridge 
near  Big  Stone  Lake,  which  I  still  had  with  me, 
and  loaded  father's  gun  with  it,  cutting  the  ball 
iuto  slugs.  With  this  charge  I  shot  a  wolf,  ate 
some  of  it,  which  gave  me  strength  to  travel,  and 
went  on  up  the  lake  until  the  day  I  was  captured, 
which  was  twenty-six  days  from  the  day  my 
father  was  killed." 

Here  ends  this  wonderful  episode  iu  our  contact 
with  the  Indian  race  in  Minnesota.  It  commenced 
with  Little  Crow,  in  this  instance,  and  it  is  proper 
that  it  should  end  with  his  inglorious  life.  With 
the  best  means  for  becoming  an  exponent  of  In- 
dian civilization  on  this  Continent,  he  has  driven 
the  missionaries  from  his  people  and  become  a 
standing  example  of  the  assertion:  "Once  an  In- 
dian always  an  Indian." 

Little  Crow  has  indeed  given  emphasis  to  the 
aphorism  of  Ferdousi,  "For  that  which  is  unclean 
by  nature,  thou  cans't  entertain  nohojje;  no  wash- 
ing will  make  the  gypsy  white." 


CHRONOLOGY. 


257 


CHRONOLOGY 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

PRINCIPAL     EVENTS     CHKONOLOGICALLT      ARRANGED. 

1659.  Groselliers  (Gro-zay-yay)  and  Eadisson 
visit  Minnesota. 

1661.  Menard,  a  Jesuit  missionary,  ascends 
the  Mississippi,  according  to  Herrot,  twelve  years 
before  Marquette  saw  this  river. 

1665.  Allouez,  a  Jesuit,  visited  the  Minnesota 
shore  of  Lake  Superior. 

1679.  Du  Luth  planted  the  arms  of  France, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  leagues  beyond  Mille 
Lacs. 

1680.  Dn  Luth,  the  first  to  travel  in  a  canoe 
from  Lake  Superior,  by  way  of  the  St.  Croix  river, 
to  the  Mississippi.  Descending  the  Mississippi, 
he  writes  to  Signelay,  1683 :  "I  proceeded  in  a 
canoe  two  days  and  two  nights,  and  the  nest  day, 
at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  found  Accoult, 
Augelle,  and  Father  Hennepin,  with  a  hunting 
party  of  Sioux."  He  writes:  "The  want  of  respect 
which  they  showed  to  the  said  Reverend  Father 
provoked  me,  and  this  I  showed  them,  telling 
them  lie  was  my  brother,  and  I  had  placed  him  in 
my  canoe  to  come  with  me  into  the  villages  of  said 
Nadouecioux."  In  September,  Du  Luth  and  Hen- 
nepin were  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  on  their 
way  to  Mackinaw. 

1683.  Perrot  and  Le  Sueur  visit  Lake  Pepin. 
Perrot,  with  twenty  men,  builds  a  stockade  at  the 
base  of  a  bluff,  upon  the  east  bank,  just  above  the 
entrance  of  Lake  Pepin. 

1688.  Perrot  re-occupies  the  post  on  Lake 
Pepin. 

1689.  Perrot,  at  Green  Bay,  makes  a  formal 
record  of  taking  possession  of  the  Sioux  country 
in  the  name  cf  the  king  of  France 

17 


1693.  Le  Sueur  at  the  extremity  of  Lake  Su- 
perior. 

1694.  Le  Sueur  builds  a  post,  on  a  prairie 
island  in  the  Mississippi,  about  nine  mUes  below 
Hastings. 

1695.  Le  Sueur  brings  the  first  Sioux  chiefs 
who  visit  Canada. 

1700.  Le  Sueur  ascends  the  Minnesota  River. 
Fort  L'Huillier  built  on  a  tributary  of  the  Blue 
Earth  River. 

1702.     Fort  L'Huillier  abandoned. 

1727.  Fort  Beauharnois,  in  the  fall  of  this 
year,  erected  in  sight  of  Maiden's  Rock,  Lake 
Pepin,  by  La  Perriere  du  Boucher. 

1728.  Verendrye  stationed  at  Lake  Nepigon. 

1731.  Verendrye's  sons  reach  Rainy  Lake. 
Fort  St.  Pierre  erected  at  Rainy  Lake. 

1732.  Fort  St.  Charles  erected  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods. 

1734.  Fort  Maurepas  estabhshed  on  Winnipeg 
River. 

1736.  Verendrye's  sons  and  others  massacred 
by  the  Sioux  on  an  isle  in  the  Lake  of  the  Woods. 

1738.  Lort  La  Reine  on  the  Red  River  estab- 
lished. 

1743.  Verendrye's  sons  reach  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. 

1766.  Jonathan  Carver,  on  November  17th, 
reaches  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

1794.  Sandy  Lake  occupied  by  the  Northwest 
Company. 

1802.     William  Morrison  trades  at  Leach  Lake. 

1804.  William  Morrison  trades  at  Elk  Lake, 
now  Itasca. 

1805.  Lieutenant  Z.  M.  Pike  purchases  the 
site  since  occupied  by  Fort  Snelling. 

1817.  Earl  of  Selkirk  passes  through  Minne- 
sota for  Lake  Winnipeg. 


258 


CIIHONOLOOT. 


Iilajor  Stephen  H.  Long,  U.  S.  A.,  visits  Falls 
of  St.  Anthony. 

1818.  Dakotah  war  party  miJer  Black  Dog 
attack Ojibnays  on  tlie  Pomme  de  Terra  River. 

1819.  Col.  Leavenworth  arrives  on  the  24th  of 
August,  with  troops  at  Mendota. 

1820.  J.  B.  Faribault  brings  up  to  Mendota, 
horses  for  Col.  Leavenworth. 

Laidlow,  sujierintendent  of  farming  for  Earl  Sel- 
kirk, passes  from  Pembina  to  Prairie  du  Cbieii  to 
purchase  seed  wheat.  Upon  the  1.5th  of  April, 
left  Prairie  du  Chien  with  Mackinaw  boats  and 
ascended  the  Minnesota  to  Big  Stone  Lake,  where 
the  boats  were  placed  on  rollers  and  dragged  a 
short  distance  to  Lake  Traverfee,  and  on  the  3d  of 
June  reached  Pembina. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  Col.  Leavenworth  estab- 
lished summer  quarters  at  Camp  Coldwater,  Hen- 
nepin county. 

In  July,  Governor  Cass,  of  Michigan,  visits  the 
camp. 

In  August,  Col.  Snelling  succeeds  Leavenworth. 

September  20th,  corner-stone  laid  under  com- 
mand of  Col.  Snelling. 

First  white  marriage  in  Minnesota,  Lieutenant 
Green  to  daughter  of  Captain  Gooding. 

First  white  child  born  in  Minnesota,  daughter 
to  Col.  Snelliug;  died  following  year. 

1821.  Fort  St.  Anthony  was  sufficiently  com- 
pleted to  be  occupied  by  troops. 

Mill  at  St.  Anthony  Falls  constructed  for  the 
use  of  garrison,  under  the  supervision  of  Lieuten- 
ant McCabe. 

1822.  Col.  Dickson  attempted  to  take  a  drove 
of  cattle  to  Pembina. 

1823.  The  first  steamboat,  the  Virginia,  on 
May  10th,  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Minnesota 
river. 

Mill  stones  for  grinding  Hour  sent  to  St.  An- 
thony Falls. 

Major  Long,  U.  S.  A.,  visits  the  northern  bound- 
ary by  way  of  the  Minnesota  and  Bed  River. 

Beltrami,  the  Italian  traveler,  explores  the 
northernmost  source  of  the  Mississippi. 

1824.  General  Winfield  Scott  inspects  Fort 
St.  Anthony,  &nd  at  his  suggestion  the  War  De- 
partment changed  the  name  to  Fort  Snelling. 

1825.  April  5th,  steamboat  Rutus  Putnam 
reaches  the  Fort.  May,  steamboat  Rufus  Putnam 
arrives  again  and  delivers  freight  at  Land's  End 
trading  post  on  the  Minnesota,  about  a  mile  above 
the  Fort. 


1826.  January  26th,  first  mail  in  five  months 
received  at  the  Fort. 

Deep  snow  during  February  and  March. 

March  20th,  snow  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches. 

April  ."itli.  snow-storm  with  flashes  of  lightning. 

April  10th,  thermometer  four  degrees  above  zero. 

April  21st,  ice  began  to  move  in  the  river  at  the 
Fort,  and  with  twenty  feet  above  low  water  mark. 

May  2d,  first  steamboat  of  the  season,  the  Law- 
rence, Captain  Reeder,  took  a  ]jleasure  party  to 
within  three  miles  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

1826.  Dakotahs  kill  an  Ojibway  near  Fort 
Snelling. 

1827.  Flat  Mouth's  party  of  Ojibways  attacked 
at  Fort  Snelling,  and  Sioux  delivered  by  Colonel 
Snelling  to  be  killed  by  Ojibways,  and  their  bodies 
thrown  over  the  bluff  into  the  river. 

General  Gaines  inspects  Fort  Snelling. 
Troops  of  the  Fifth  Regiment  relieved  by  those 
of  the  First. 

1828.  Colonel  Snelling  dies  in  Washington. 

1829.  Rev.  Alvin  Coe  and  J.  D.  Stevens,  Pres- 
byterian missionaries,  visit  the  Indians  around 
Fort  Snelling. 

Major  Taliaferro,  Indian  agent,  estabUsbes  a 
farm  for  the  benefit  of  the  Indians  at  Lake  Cal- 
houn, which  he  called  Eatonville,  after  the  Secre- 
tary of  War. 

Winter,  Spring  and  Summer  very  dry.  One 
inch  was  the  average  monthly  fall  of  rain  or  snow 
for  ten  months.  Vegetation  more  backward  than 
it  had  been  for  ten  years. 

1830.  August  14tb,  a  sentinel  at  Fort  Snelling. 
just  before  daylight,  discovered  the  Indian  council 
house  on  fire.  Wa-pa-sha's  son-in-law  was  the 
incendiary. 

1831.  August  17th,  an  old  trader  Rocque,  and 
his  son  arrived  at  Fort  Snelling  from  Prairie  du 
Chien,  having  been  twenty-six  days  on  the  journey. 
Under  the  influence  of  whisky  or  stupidity,  they 
ascended  the  St.  Croix  by  mistake,  and  were  lost 
for  fifteen  days. 

1832.  May  12th,  steamboat  Versailles  arrives 
at  Fort  Snelling. 

June  IGth,  William  Carr  arrives  from  Missouri 
at  Fort  Snelling,  with  a  drove  of  cattle  and  horses. 

Henry  B.  Schoolcraft  explores  the  sources  of 
the  Mississippi. 

1 833.  Rev.  W.  T.  Boutwell  establishes  a  mission 
among  the  Ojibways  at  Leech  Lake. 

E.  F.  Ely  opens  a  mission  school  for  Ojibways 
at  Aitkin's  trading  post,  Sandy  Lake. 


CHRONOLOGY. 


259 


1834.  May.  Samuel  W.  and  Gideon  H.  Pond 
arrive  at  Lake  Calhoun  as  missionaries  among  the 
Sioux. 

November.  Henry  H.  Sibley  arrives  at  Mendota 
as  agent  of  Fur  Comjsany. 

1835.  May.  Kev.  T.  S.  Williamson  and  J.  D. 
Stevens  arrive  as  Sioux  missionaries,  with  Alex- 
ander G.  Huggins  as  lay-assistant. 

June.  Presbyterian  Church  at  Fort  Snelling 
organized. 

July  31st.  A  Red  River  train  arrives  at  Fort 
Snelling  with  fifty  or  sixty  head  of  cattle,  and 
about  twenty-five  horses. 

Major  J.  L.  Bean  surveys  the  Sioux  and  Cbip- 
peway  boundary  line  under  treaty  of  1825,  as  far 
as  Otter  Tail  Lake. 

November.  Col.  S.  C.  Stambaugh  arrives;  is 
sutler  at  Fort  Snelling. 

1836.  May  6th,  "Missouri  Fulton,"  first  steam- 
boat, arrives  at  Fort  SneUing. 

May  29th.     "Frontier,"  Capt.  Harris,  arrives. 

June  1st.     "Palmyra"  arrives. 

July  2d.  "Saint  Peters"  arrives  with  J.  N. 
Nicollet  as  passenger. 

July  30.  Sacs  and  Foxes  kill  twenty-four 
Winnebagoes  on  Root  River. 

1837.  Rev.  Stephen  R.  Riggs  and  wife  join 
Lake  Harriet  Mission. 

Rev.  A.  Brunson  and  David  King  establish 
Kaposia  Missirm. 

Commissioners  Dodge  and  Smith  at  Port  Snel- 
ling make  a  treaty  with  the  Chipjjeways  to  cede 
lands  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

Franklin  Steele  and  others  make  claims  at  Falls 
of  St.  Croix  and  St.  Anthony. 

September  29th.  Sioux  chiefs  at  Washington 
sign  a  treaty. 

November  10th.  '  Steamboat  Rolla  arrives  at 
Fort  Snelling  with  the  Sioux  on  their  return  from 
Washington. 

December  12th.  Jeremiah  Russell  and  L.  W. 
Stratton  make  the  first  claim  at  Marine,  in  St. 
Croix  valley. 

1838.  April,  Hole-iu-the-Day  and  party  kill 
thirteen  of  the  Lac-qui-parle  Sioux.  Martin  Mc- 
Leod  from  Pembina,  after  twenty-eight  days  of 
exposure  to  snow,  reaches  Lake  Traverse. 

May  25th,  Steamboat  Burlington  arrives  at  Fort 
Snelling  with  J.  N.  Nicollet  and  J.  0.  Fremont  on 
a  scientific  expedition. 

June  11th,  Marryat,  the  British  novelist,  Frank- 


lin Steele  and  others  rode  from  the  Fort  to  view 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

July  12th,  steamboat  Palmyra  arrives  at  Fort 
Snelling  with  an  ofBcial  notice  of  the  ratification 
of  treaty.  Men  arrived  to  develop  the  St.  Croix 
Valley. 

August  2d,  Hole-in  the- Day  encamped  with  a 
party  of  Chippeways  near  Fort  Snelling,  and  was 
attacked  by  Sioux  from  Mud  Lake,  and  one  killed 
and  another  wounded. 

August  27tb,  Steamboat  Ariel  arrives  with  com- 
missioners Pease  and  Ewing  to  examine  half-breed 
claims. 

September  30th,  steamboat  Ariel  makes  the  first 
trip  up  the  St.  Croix  river. 

October  26th,  steamboat  Gypsy  first  to  arrive  at 
Falls  of  St.  Croix  with  annuity  goods  for  the 
Chippeways.  In  passing  through  Lake  St.  Croix 
grounded  near  the  townsita  laid  out  by  S.  C. 
Stambaugh  and  called  Stambaughville. 

1839.  April  11th,  the  first  steamboat  at  Fort 
Snelling,  the  Ariel,  Capt.  Lyon. 

Henry  M.  Rice  arrives  at  Fort  Snelling. 

May  2d,  Rev.  E.  G.  Gear,  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church,  recently  appointed  chajjlain,  ar- 
rived at  Fort  Snelling  in  the  steamboat  Gipsy. 

May  I2th,  steamboat  Fayette  arrives  on  the  St' 
Croix,  having  been  at  Fort  Snelling,  with  members 
of  Marine  Mill  Company. 

May  21st,  the  Glancus,  Gapt.  Atchinson,  arrives 
at  Fort  Snelling. 

June  1st,  the  Pennsylvania,  Capt.  Stone,  arrives 
at  Fort  Snelling. 

June  5th,  the  Glancus  arrives  again. 

June  6th,  the  Ariel  arrives. 

June  12th,  at  Lake  Harriet  mission.  Rev.  D. 
Gavin,  Swiss  missionary  among  the  Sioux  at  Red 
Wing,  was  married  to  Cordelia  Stevens,  teacher  at 
Lake  Harriet  mission. 

June  25th,  steamboat  "Knickerbocker,"  arrived 
at  Fort  Snelling. 

June  26th,  steamboat  Ariel,  on  third  trip. 

June  27th,  a  train  of  Red  River  carts,  under 
Mr.  Sinclair,  with  emigrants,  who  encamped  near 
the  fort. 

July  2d,  Chippeways  killed  a  Sioux  of  Lake  Cal- 
houn band. 

July  3d,  Sioux  attack  Chippeways  in  ravine 
above  Stillwater. 

1840.  April,  Rev.  Luoian  Galtier,  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church,  arrives  at  Mendota. 


260 


CHRONOLOar. 


May  6th,  squatters  removed  on  military  reser- 
vation. 

June  15th,  Thomas  Simpson,  Artie  explorer, 
shoots  himself  near  Turtle  River,  under  aberration 
of  the  mind. 

June  17th,  four  Chippeways  kill  and  scalp  a 
Sioux  man  and  woman. 

1841.  March  6th,  wild  geese  appeared  at  the 
fort. 

March  20th,  Mississippi  opened. 

April  6th,  steamboat  Otter,  Capt.  Harris,  arrived. 
Kaboka,  an  old  chief  of  Lake  Calhoun  band,  killed 
by  Chippeways. 

May  24th,  Sioux  attack  Chippeways  at  Lake 
Pokeguma,  of  Snake  river.  Methodist  mission 
moved  from  Kaposia  to  Red  Rock,  Rev.  B.  F. 
Kavenaugh,  superintendent. 

November  1st,  Father  Galtier  completes  the  log 
chapel  of  St.  Paul,  which  gave  the  name  to  the 
capital  of  Minnesota.  Rev.  Augustin  Ravoux  ar- 
rives. 

1842.  July,  the  Chippeways  attack  the  Kapo- 
sia Sioux. 

1843.  Stillwater  laid  out.  Ayer,  Spencer  and 
Ely  establish  a  Chippeway  mission  at  Red  lake. 

July  15th,  Thomas  Longly,  brother-in-law  of 
Rev.  S.  R.  Riggs,  drowned  at  Traverse  des  Sioux 
mission  station. 

1844.  August,  Captain  Allen  with  fifty  dra- 
goons marches  from  Fort  Des  Moines  through 
southwestern  Minnesota,  and  on  the  10th  of  Sep- 
tember reaches  the  Big  Sioux  River.  Sisseton  war 
party  kill  an  American  named  Watson,  driving 
cattle  to  Fort  Snelling. 

1845.  June  25th,  Captain  Sumner  reaches 
Traverse  des  Sioux,  and  proceeding  northward 
arrested  three  of  the  murderers  of  Watson. 

1846.  Dr.  Williamson,  Sioux  missionary,  moves 
from  Lac-qui-parle  to  Kaposia.  March  31st, 
steamboat  Lynx,  Capt.  Atchinson,  arrives  at  Fort 
Snelling. 

1847.  St.  Croix  county,  Wisconsin,  organized. 
Stillwater  the  county  seat.  Harriet  E.  Bishop 
estabUshes  a  school  at  St.  Paul.  Saw-mills  begim 
at  St.  Anthony  Falls. 

August,  Commissioner  Verplanck  and  Henry  M. 
Rice  make  treaties  with  the  Chippeways  at  Fond 
du  Lac  and  Leech  Lake.  The  town  of  St.  Paul 
surveyed,  platted,  and  recorded  in  the  St.  Croix 
county  Register  of  Deeds  office. 

1848.  Henry  H.  Sibley  Delegate  to  Congress 
from  Wisconsin  territory. 


May  29th,  Wisconsin  admitted,  leaving  Minne- 
sota (with  its  present  boundaries)  without  a  gov- 
ern raont. 

.\ugust  26th,  -'Stillwater  convention"  held  to 
take  measures  for  a  separate  territorial  organiza- 
tion. 

October  30th,  H.  H.  Sibley,  elected  Delegate  to 

Congress. 

1849.  March,  act  of  Congress  creating  Minne- 
sota Territory. 

April  9th,  Highlimd  Mary,  Capt.  Atchinson,  ar- 
rives at  St.  Paul. 

April  18th,  James  M.  Goodhue  nrri%'es  at  St. 
Paul  with  first  newspaper  press. 

May  27th,  Gov.  Alexander  Ramsey  arrives  at 
Mendota. 

June  1st,  Gov.  Ramsey  issues  proclamation  de- 
claring the  territory  duly  organized. 

August  1st,  H.  H.  Sibley  elected  Delegate  to 
Congress  from  Minnesota. 

September  3d,  first  Legislatvire  convened. 

November,  First  Presbyterian  church,  St.  Paul, 
organized. 

December,  first  literary  address  at  Falls  of  St. 
Anthony. 

1850.  January  1st,  Historical  Society  meeting. 
June  11th,  Indian  council  at  Fort  Snelling. 
June    14tli,  steamer  Governor   Ramsey  makes 

first  trip  above  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

Juue  26th,  the  Anthony  Wayne  reaches  the 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

July  18th,  steamboat  Anthony  Wayne  ascends 
the  Minnesota  to  the  vicinity  of  Traverse  des 
Sioux. 

July  25th,  steamboat  Yankee  goes  beyond  Blue 
Earth  River. 

September,  H.  H.  Sibley  elected  Delegate  to 
Congress. 

October,  Fredrika  Bremer,  Swedish  novelist 
visits  Minnesota. 

November,  the  Dakotah  Friend,  a  monthly  pa- 
per appeared. 

December,  Colonel  D.  A.  Robertson  establishes 
Minnesota  Democrat. 

December  26th,  first  public  Thanksgiving  Day. 

1851.  May,  St.  Anthony  Express  newspaper 
begins  its  career. 

July,  treaty  concluded  with  the  Sioux  at  Tra- 
verse des  Sioux. 

July,  Rev.  Robert  Hopkins,  Sioux  missionary 
drowned. 


OHRONOLOar. 


261 


August,  treaty  concluded  with  the  Sioux  at 
Maukato. 

September  l9tb,  the  Minnesotian,  of  St.  Paul, 
edited  by  J.  P.  Owens,  appeared. 

November,  Jerome  Fuller,  Chief  Justice  in  place 
of  Aaron  Goodrich,  arrives. 

December  18th,  Thanksgiving  Day. 

1852.  Hennepin  county  created. 

February  14th,  Dr.  Rae,  Arctic  explorer,  arrives 
at  St.  Paul  with  dog  train. 

May  14th,  land  slide  at  Stillwater. 

August,  James  M.  Goodhue,  pioneer  editor,  dies. 

November,  Yuhazee,  an  Indian,  convicted  of 
murder. 

1853.  April  27th,  Chippewas  and  Sioux  fight 
in  streets  of  St.  Paul.  Governor  Willis  A.  Gor- 
man succeeds  Governor  Ramsey. 

October,  Henry  M.  Rice  elected  delegate  to  con- 
gress.    The  Capitol  building  completed. 

1854.  March  3d,  Presbyterian  mission  house 
near  Lac-qui-parle  burned. 

June  8th,  great  excursion  from  Chicago  to  St. 
Paul  and  St.  Anthony  Falls. 

December  27th,  Yuhazee,  the  Indian,  hung  at 
St.  Paul. 

1855.  January,  first  bridge  over  Mississippi 
completed  at  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

October,  H.  M.  Rice  re-elected  to  Congress. 

December  12,  James  Stewart  arrives  in  St.  Paul 
direct  from  Arctic  regions,  with  relics  of  Sir  John 
FrankUn. 

1856.  Erection  of  State  University  building 
was  begun. 

1857.  Congress  passes  an  act  authorizing  peo- 
ple of  Minnesota  to  vote  for  a  constitution. 

March.  Inkpadootah  slaughters  settlers  in 
southwest  Minnesota. 

Governor  Samuel  Medary  succeeds  Governor  W. 
A.  Gorman. 

March  5th.  Land-grant  by  congress  for  rail- 
ways. 

April  27th.  Special  session  of  legislature  con- 
venes. 

July.  On  second  Monday  convention  to  form 
a  constitution  assembles  at  Capitol. 

October  13th.  Election  for  State  officers,  and 
ratifying  of  the  constitution. 

H.  H.  Sibley  first  governor  under  the  State  con- 
stitution. 

December.  On  first  Wednesday,  first  State 
legislature  assembles. 


December.  Henry  M.  Rice  and  James  Shields 
elected  United  States  senators. 

1858,  April  15th.  People  approve  act  of  legis- 
lature loaning  the  public  credit  for  five  millions  of 
dollars  to  certain  railway  companies. 

May  11th.  Minnesota  becomes  one  of  the 
United  States  of  America. 

June  2d.  Adjourned  meeting  of  legislature 
held. 

November.  Supreme  court  of  State  orders  Gov- 
ernor Sibley  to  issue  Railroad  bonds. 

1859.  Normal  school  law  passed. 

June.  Burbank  and  Company  place  the  first 
steamboart  on  Red  River  of  the  North. 

August.  Bishop  T.  L.  Grace  arrived  in  St. 
Paul. 

1859.  October  11th,  State  election,  Alexander 
Ramsey  chosen  governor. 

1860.  March  23d,  Anna  Bilanski  hung  at  St! 
Paul  for  the  murder  of  her  husband,  the  first  white 
person  executed  in  Minnesota. 

1861.  April  14th,  Governor  Ramsey  calls  upon 
President  in  Washington  and  ofiiers  a  regiment  of 
volunteers. 

June  21st,  First  Minnesota  Regiment,  Col.  W. 
A.  Gorman,  leaves  for  Washington. 

July  21st,  First  Minnesota  in  battle  of  Bull 
Run. 

October  13th,  Second  Minnesota  Infantry,  Col. 
H.  P.  Van  Cleve,  leaves  Fort  SnelUng. 

November  16th,  Third  Minnesota  Infantry,  H. 
C.  Lester,  go  to  seat  of  war. 

1862.  January  19th,  Second  Minnesota  in  bat- 
tle at  Mill  Spring,  Kentucky. 

April  6th.  First  Minnesota  Battery,  Captaid 
Munch,  at  Pittsburg  Landing. 

April  21st,  Second  Minnesota  Battery  goes  to 
seat  of  war. 

April  2l8t,  Fourth  Minnesota  Infantry  Volun- 
teers. Col.  J.  B.  Sanborn,  leaves  Fort  Snelling. 

May  13th,  Fifth  Regiment  Volunteers,  Col.  Bor- 
gensrode,  leaves  for  the  seat  of  war. 

May  28th,  Second,  Fourth,  and  Fifth  in  battle 
near  Corinth,  Mississippi. 

May  31st,  First  Minnesota  in  battle  at  Fair 
Oaks,  Virginia. 

June  29th,  First  Minnesota  in  battle  at  Savage 
Station. 

June  30th,  First  Minnesota  in  battle  near  WU- 
lis'  Church. 

July  1st,  First  Minnesota  in  battle  at  Malvern 
Hill. 


262 


CnRONOLOGT. 


August,  Sixth  Eegiment,  Col.  Crooks,  organized. 

August,  Seventh  Begiment,  Col.  Miller,  organ- 
ized. 

August,  Eighth  Regiment,  Col,  Thomas,  organ- 
ized. 

August,  Ninth  Regiment,  Col.  Wilkm,  organ- 
ized. 

August  18th,  Sioux  attack  wliites  at  lower 
Sioux  Agency. 

September  23d,  Col.  Sibley  defeats  Sioux  at 
Mud  Lake. 

December  26th,  Thirty-eight  Sioux  executed  on 
the  same  scaffold  at  Mankato. 

1863.  .January,  Alexander  Ramsey  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

May  14th,  Fourth  and  Fifth  Regiment  in  battle 
near  Jackson,  Mississippi. 

July  2d,  First  Minnesota  Infantry  in  battle  at 
Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania. 

September  19th,  Second  Minnesota  Infantry  en- 
gaged at  Chickamaiiga,  Tennessee. 

November  23d,  Second  Minnesota  Infantry  en- 
gaged at  Mission  Ridge. 

1864.  January,  Col.  Stephen  Miller  inaugur- 
ated Governor  of  Minnesota. 

March  30th;  Third  Minnesota  Infantry  engaged 
at  Fitzhugh's  Wooods. 

.Tune  6th,  Fifth  Minnesota  Infantry  engaged  at 
Lake  Chicot,  Arkansas. 

July  13th,  Seventh,  Ninth,  and  Tenth,  with  por- 
tion of  the  Fifth  Minnesota  Infantry,  engaged  at 
Tupelo,  Mississippi. 

July  14th,  Col.  Alex.  Wilkin,  of  the  Ninth, 
killed. 

October  15th,  Fourth  Eegiment  engaged  near 
Altoona,  Georgia. 

December  7th,  Eighth  Regiment  engaged  near 
Murfreesboro,  Tennessee. 

Fifth,  Seventh,  Ninth,  and  Tenth  Regiments  at 
Nashville,  Tennessee. 

1865.  January  10th,  Daniel  S.  Norton,  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

April  9th,  Fifth,  Sixth,  Seventh,  Ninth,  and 
Tenth  at  the  siege  of  Mobile. 

November  10th,  Shakpedan,  Sioux  chief,  and 
Medicine  Bottle  executed  at  Fort  SnoUing. 

1866.  January  8th,  Col.  William  R.  Marshall 
inaugurated  Governor  of  Minnesota. 

1867.  Preparatory  dej)artment  of  the  State 
University  opened. 

1868.  January,  Governor  Marshall  enters  upon 
second  term. 


1869.  Bill  passed  by  legislature,  removing  sea 
of  Government  to  spot  near  Big  Kandiyohi  Lake 
— vetoed  by  Governor  Marshall. 

1870.  January  7th,  Horace  Austin  inaugurated 
as  Governor. 

1871.  January,  Wm.  Windom  elected  United 
States  Senator.  In  the  fall  destructive  fires,  oc- 
casioned by  high  winds,  swept  over  frontier  coun- 
ties. 

1872.  January,  Governor  Austin  enters  upon  a 
second  term. 

1873.  January  7th,  8th,  and  9th,  polar  wave 
sweeps  over  the  State,  seventy  persons  perishing. 

May  22d,  the  senate  of  Minnesota  convicts  State 
Treasurer  of  corruption  in  office. 

September,  grasshopper  raid  began,  and  con- 
tinued iive  seasons.  Jay  Cooke  failure  occasions  a 
financial  panic. 

1874.  January  9th,  Cushman  K.  Davis  inaug- 
urated Governor.  William  S.  King  elected  to  con- 
gress. 

1875.  February  19th,  8.  J.  R.  McMiUan  elected 
United  States  senator. 

November,  amendment  to  State  constitution,  al- 
lowing any  women  twenty-one  years  of  age  to  vote 
for  school  ofiBcers,  and  to  be  eligible  for  school  of- 
fices. Rocky  Mountain  locusts  destroy  crops  in 
southwestern  Minnesota. 

1876.  January  7th,  John  S.  PUlsbury  inaug- 
urated Governor. 

September,  6th,  outlaws  from  Missouri  kill  the 
cashier  of  the  Northfield  Bank. 

1879.  November,  State  constitution  amended 
forbidding  public  moneys  to  be  used  for  the  sup- 
port of  schools  wherein  the  distinctive  creeds  or 
tenets  of  any  particular  Christian  or  other  religions 
sect  are  taught.  J.  H.  Stewart,  M.  D.,  elected  to 
congress.  Biennial  sessions  of  the  legislature 
adopted. 

1878.  January,  Governor  Pillsbury  enters 
upon  a  second  term. 

May  2d,  explosion  in  the  Washburn  and  other 
flour  mills  at  Minneapolis.  One  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  appropriated  to  purchase  seed 
grain  for  destitute  settlers. 

1880.  November  15th,  a  portion  of  the  Insane 
Asylum  at  St.  Peter  was  destroyed  by  fire  and 
twenty -seven  inmates  lost  their  lives. 

1881.  March  1st,  Capitol  at  St.  Paul  destroyed 
by  fire. 

November.  Lucius  F.  Hubbard  elected  Gov- 
ernor. 


HISTORY  OP  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


263 


HISTORY 


OF 


FREEBORN  COUNTY 


CHAPTER  XLV. 
Location — Topogbaphicai,    aud   physical 

.    TUBES GeOIiOGICAL CoAL  MINING. 


Freeborn  is  on  the  southern  tier  of  Minnesota 
counties,  the  fourth  from  the  Mississippi,  and  next 
to  Mower  county;  on  the  south  it  has  Winnebago 
and  Worth  counties  in  Iowa;  on  the  west  it  is  the 
sixth  from  the  Dakota  line,  and  nest  to  Faribault; 
and  Steele  and  Waseca  are  the  northern  neigh- 
bors. 

There  are  thirty  or  more  lakes  in  its  territory, 
the  most  prominent  among  which  are  Lake  Albert 
Lea,  Geneva  Lake,  Kice  Lake, .  Freeborn  Lake, 
Twin  Lakes,  and  Pickerel  Lake.  It  is  well  water- 
ed, being  really  on  a  divide,  with  waters  flowing 
north  and  south.  Among  the  more  noted  streams 
are  the  Shell  Rook  River,  Cobb  River,  Goose 
Creek,  Turtle  Creek,  Deer  Creek,  Bancroft  Creek, 
Stewart's  Creek,  and  State  Line  Creek,  with  sever- 
al others.  These,  with  the  lakes  and  other  topo- 
graphical features,  receive  special  mention  in  the 
geological  sketch  and  in  the  town  histories.  The 
twenty  townships  all  coincide  with  the  govern- 
ment survey,  and  have  corresponding  political  or- 
ganizations. 

The  following  geological  description  is  taken 
from  the  very  able  report  of  Prof.  N.  H,  Winch- 
ell,  State  Geologist: 

SITUATION    AND    AREA. 

,  Freeborn  county  borders  on  the  state  of  Iowa, 
and  is  very  near  the  center  of  the  southern  boun- 
dary line  of  Miunesota.     It   has  the  form  of   a 


rectangle,  having  a  length,  east  and  west,  of  five 
government  towns,  and  north  and  south,  a  width 
of  four,  making  an  area  of  720  square  miles,  or 
449,23.5.63  acres,  after  deducting  the  areas  covered 
by  water. 

NATUBAL    DBAINAGE. 

With  the  exception  of  Freeborn,  Hartland,  and 
Carlston  townships,  the  surface  drainage  is  to- 
wards the  south  and  southeast.  The  county  em- 
braces the  headwaters  of  the  Shell  Rock  and 
Cedar  Rivers  of  Iowa,  and  those  of  the  Cobb 
River  which  joins  the  Minnesota  toward  the 
north.  Hence  it  lies  on  the  watershed  between 
two  great  drainage  slopes.  For  the  same  reason 
none  of  its  streams  are  large;  the  Shell  Rock, 
where  it  leaves  the  State,  being  its  largest.  The 
streams  have  not  much  fall,  but  afford  some  water- 
power,  which  has  been  improved  in  the  construc- 
tion of  flouring  mills.  Such  are  found  at  Albert 
Lea  and  Twin  Lakes.  In  these  cases  the  body  of 
water  confined  in  the  upjjer  lake  serves  as  the 
water-head  and  the  reservoir,  mills  being  con- 
structed near  their  outlets.  Tiiere  is  also  an 
available  water-power  at  Shell  Rock  village,  but 
its  use  would  cause  the  flooding  of  a  large  body 
of  land  adjoining  the  river. 

SUEFAOB    FEATUBBS. 

The  surface  of  the  county,  although  having  no 
remarkable  and  sudden  changes  of  level,  yet  is 
considerably  diversified  as  a  rolling  prairie,  more 
or  less  covered  with  sparse  oaks  and  oak  bushes. 
The  plats  of  the   United  States  surveyors,  on  file 


264 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


in  the  Register's  office  at  Albert  Lea,  indicate 
considerably  more  area  covered  with  timber,  or  as 
"oak  openings,"  when  the  county  was  surveyed 
by  them  (1854),  than  is  now  the  case.  The  fol- 
lowing minutes  are  based  on  an  examination  of 
their  plats,  and  will  give  a  pretty  correct  idea  of 
the  distribution  of  the  oak  openings  and  the 
prairie  tracts  throughout  the  county. 

London. — The  most  of  this  township  is  prairie, 
a  belt  of  oak  openings  and  timber  entering  it 
from  the  north,  about  three  miles  wide,  in  the 
center  of  the  town,  and  extending  to  the  center, 
bearing  off  to  the  southeast,  and  terminating  in 
section  twenty-four.  The  magnetic  variation 
throughout  the  town  was,  when  surveyed,  from  8 
deg.  20  min.  to  10  deg.  42  min.,  the  greatest  be- 
ing in  sections  thirty-three  and  thirty-four. 

Oakland. — A  little  more  than  a  half  of  this 
township  consists  of  oak  openings,  an  area  in  the 
eastern  half  only  being  prairie,  with  a  small  patch 
also  in  section  thirty-one.  Two  large  sloughs 
cross  the  town,  one  through  sections  thirty,  thirty- 
one,  and  thirty-two,  and  the  other  through  sections 
four,  five,  tight,  seven,  and  eighteen.  Magnetic 
variation  about  9  deg.,  varying  from  8  deg.  12 
min.  to  10  deg.  8  min. 

Moscow. — Nearly  the  whole  of  this  township  is 
taken  up  with  oak  openings  and  marshes.  Turtle 
Greek  crosses  it  from  northwest  to  southeast.  A 
large  portion  of  the  northern  half  of  the  town  is  a 
floating  marsh,  containing  a  great  quantity  of  peat. 
Magnetic  variation  8  deg.  20  min.  to  10  deg.  20 
min. 

Newrt. — There  is  a  small  patch  of  prairie  in 
the  north-east  part  of  this  town,  in  sections  one, 
twelve,  thirteen,  and  twenty-four,  and  a  small  area 
in  sections  twenty  and  twenty-one.  There  is  an- 
other in  the  northwest  corner,  embracing  sections 
six  and  seven  and  parts  of  five,  thirteen,  and 
eighteen.  The  rest  is  openings  and  marsh,  par- 
ticularly in  the  northwest  corner.  Magnetic 
variation,  8  deg.  20  min.  to  9  deg.  40  min. 

Shellrock. — A  belt  about  one  and  one-half 
miles  wide  along  the  west  side  of  this  town,  ac- 
companying the  Shellrock  River,  constitutes  the 
only  openings  occuring  in  sections  three,  ten,  and 
fifteen.  The  northwest  part  of  the  township  is 
rolling,  and  the  southeast  is  level  and  wet  with 
marshes.  Magnetic  variation,  11  deg.  30  min. 
to  13  deg.  40  min. 


Alden. — This  town  is  all  prairie,  with  scattered 
small  marshes.  Magnetic  variation,  11  deg.  27 
min.  to  13  deg.  15  min. 

Carlston. — This  town  is  all  prairie,  except  a 
narrow  belt  of  sparse  timber  about  Freeborn  Lake. 
Long  narrow  marshes  spread  irregularly  over  the 
central  and  eastern  portions  of  the  town.  In  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  thirty-six  there  is  also 
a  small  area  of  sparse  timber.  Magnetic  varia- 
tion, 11  deg.  13  min.  to  13  deg. 

Freeborn. — In  this  town  there  is  a  little  sparse 
timber  about  the  north  part.  Magnetic  varia- 
tion, 8  deg.  50  min.  to  10  deg.  15  min. 

Bath. — An  area  of  openings  comprising  about 
half  of  this  town,  in  the  central  and  eastern  por- 
tion, is  nearly  surrounded  by  a  belt  of  prairie. 
Small  marshes  are  scattered  through  the  town. 
Magnetic  variation,  8  deg.  45  min.  to  10  deg. 
35  min. 

NuNDA. — This  town  is  also  mostly  openings, 
but  an  area  of  prairie  occurs  in  sections  four,  five, 
nine,  and  three,  and  another  lies  southwest  of  Bear 
Lake.  Considerable  marsh  land  is  embraced 
within  the  area  of  openings.  Magnetic  varia- 
tion, 10  deg.  5  min.  to  12  deg.  15  min.,  the  latter 
in  section  thirty-one. 

Pickerel  Lake. — The  west  half  of  this  town- 
ship is  prairie,  and  the  eastern  is  devoted  to  open- 
ings with  lakes  and  marshes.  Magnetic  varia- 
tion. 9  deg.  45  min.  to  11  deg.  50  min. 

Manchester. — About  one-half  of  this  town  is 
prairie,  the  remainder  being  oak  openings.  The 
prairie  lies  in  the  northwestern  and  southern  por- 
tions. Small  marshes  occur  both  in  the  prairie 
and  openings.  Magnetic  variations,  10  deg.  to 
12  deg.  15  min. 

Hartl.^nd. — This  town  is  almost  entirely  com- 
posed of  prairie,  the  only  timber  being  about  Lake 
Mule,  and  in  the  southern  portions  of  sections 
thirty-four,  thirty-five,  and  thirty -six.  There  is 
not  much  marsh  in  the  town.  Magnetic  varia- 
tion, 9  deg.  45  min.  to  12  deg.  25  min. 

Mansfield. — This  town  is  nearly  all  prairie. 
Magnetic  variation,  8  deg.  45  min.  to  10  deg.  15 
min. 

Hatward. — A  wide  belt  of  prairie  occupies 
about  two-thirds  of  this  town,  running  north  and 
south  through  the  center.  On  the  west  of  this  is 
a  rolling  tract  embracing  a  portion  of  Lake  Albert 
Lea   and   some  tributary    marshes,  while   on    the 


PHT8I0AL  FEATURES. 


265 


east  a  large  marsh  covers  sections  twelve  and  four- 
teen, and  portions  of  thirteen,  eleven,  fifteen, 
twenty-two,  and  twenty-three.  There  is  also  a 
prairie  tract  in  section  one. 

RiCEL,.\ND. — This  township  is  about  equally 
divided  between  prairie,  openings,  and  marsh,  the 
first  being  in  the  south  central  portion,  the  second 
in  the  northwest  and  central,  bordering  on  Eice 
Lake,  and  the  marsh  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
the  town.  Magnetic  variation,  from  8  deg.  45 
min.  to  10  deg.  30  min. 

Geneva. — There  is  but  little  prairie  in  this 
town,  the  southern  portion  being  comprised  in  a 
large  marsh  which  is  crossed  by  Turtle  Creek,  the 
outlet  of  Walnut  Lake.  The  central  portion  is 
occupied  by  oak  openings  which  also  extend  to 
the  northwest  and  west  boundaries.  The  prairie 
is  in  the  northern  and  eastern  portions.  Mag- 
netic variation,  9  deg.  10  min.  to  10  deg.  23  min. 

Freeman. — This  township  contains  no  prairie. 
It  is  mostly  devoted  to  oak  openings,  but  a  series 
of  marshes,  drained  by  the  tributaries  of  the  Shell 
Eock  that  crosses  it  toward  the  southeast,  take  up 
a  considerable  area  in  the  central  and  eastern 
portion.  Magnetic  variation  9  deg.  to  10  deg. 
40  min.,  the  greatest  being  in  section  thirty-one. 

Albert  Lea. — This  township  is  nearly  all  taken 
up  with  oak  openings,  but  a  few  small  marshes, 
trending  northwest  and  southeast.,  are  found  in 
different  portions.  There  is  also  a  small  patch  of 
prairie  in  section  six,  and  another  in  the  south 
east  corner  of  the  county.  The  western  arm  of 
Albert  Lea  Lake,  through  which  the  Shell  Rock 
River  runs,  is  in  the  central  and  eastern  part  of 
this  town,  and  adds  greatly  to  the  variety  and 
beauty  of  its  natural  scenery.  Pickerel  Lake  is 
also  partly  in  this  township.  Magnetic  variation 
8  deg.  46  min.  to  10  deg.  8  min. 

Bancroft. — A  little  more  than  one-fourth  of 
this  township  is  prairie,  situated  in  the  center  and 
southwestern  portions.  The  rest  of  the  town  is 
covered  with  oak  openings.  The  source  of  the 
Shell  Eock  is  in  the  northwestern  ends  of  Free- 
born and  Spicer  Lakes,  and  a  little  adjoining 
Spicer  Lake  on  the  east.  There  are  also  some 
openings  in  section  twenty-six,  where  the  arms  of 
the  marsh  protect  the  timber  from  the  prairie 
fires.  The  rest  is  of  prairie  with  spreading 
marshes.  Magneitc  variation  11  deg.  5.5  min.  to 
12  deg.  50  min.  North  and  west  of  Albert  Lea  is 
a  very  broken  and  rolling  surface  of  sparse  timber. 


This  tract  consists  of  bold  hills  and  deep  valleys 
wrought  in  the  common  drift  of  the  country.  On 
some  of  these  hills  are  granitic  boulders,  but  the 
country  generally  does  not  show  many  boulders. 
The  drift  is  generally,  in  this  broken  tract,  a 
gravel-clay.  In  some  of  the  street-cuts  for  grad- 
ing, a  gravel  is  found,  containing  a  good  deal  of 
limestone. 

A  great  many  of  the  marshes  of  the  county  are 
surrounded  with  tracts  of  oak  openings,  a  fact 
which  indicates  that  the  marshes  serve  as  barriers 
to  the  prairie  fires.  Such  marshes  are  really  filled 
with  water,  and  quake  with  a  heavy  peat  deposit 
on  being  trod  on.  They  are  very  different  from 
those  of  counties  further  west,  as  in  Nobles  coun- 
ty, which,  in  the  summer,  are  apt  to  become 
dried,  and  are  annually  clothed  with  a  growth  of 
coarse  grass,  which  feeds  the  fires  that  pass  over 
the  country  in  the  fall.  As  a  general  rule,  but 
little  or  no  grass  grows  on  a  good  peat  marsh. 

The  county  contains  some  of  the  highest  land 
in  the  State.  Some  of  the  counties  farther  west, 
particularly  Nobles  and  Mower  counties  on  the 
east,  rise  from  one  to  two  hundred  feet  higher. 
There  is  also  a  high  and  rolling  tract  in  the  north 
central  portion  of  the  State,  covering  Otter  Tail 
county,  which  rises  to  about  the  same  level,  as 
shown  by  railroad  profiles.  The  greater  portion 
of  the  State,  however,  lies  several  hundred  feet 
lower  than  Freeborn  county. 

SOIL    AND    TIMBER. 

Throughout  the  county  the  soil  depends  on  the 
nature  of  the  drift,  combined  with  the  various 
modifying  local  circumstances.  There  is  nothing 
in  the  county  that  can  properly  be  designated  a 
limestone  or  a  sandstone  soil.  The  materials  of 
which  it  is  composed  have  been  transported,  per- 
haps, several  hundred  miles,  and  are  so  abundantly 
and  universally  spread  over  the  underlying  rock 
that  they  receive  no  influence  from  it.  The  sub- 
soil is  a  gravelly  clay,  and  in  much  of  the  county 
that  also  constitutes  the  surface  soil.  In  low 
ground  this,  of  course,  is  disguised  by  a  wash 
from  the  higher  ground,  causing  sometimes  a 
loam  and  sometimes  a  tough  fine  clay;  the  latter 
is  particularly  in  those  tracts  that  are  subject  to 
inundation  by  standing  water.  On  an  undulating 
prairie,  with  a  close  clay,  or  clayey  sub-soil,  such 
low  spots  are  apt  to  leave  a  black,  rich  loam  or 
clayey  loam,  the  colored  being  derived  from  the 
annual  prairie  fires  that  leave  charred  grass   and 


266 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  GOUNTT. 


other  vegetation  to  mingle  with  the  soil.  The 
same  takes  place  on  wide  tracts  of  flat  prairie.  In 
these  may  l)e,  but  rarely,  a  stone  of  any  kind— in- 
deed that  is  usually  the  case — but  below  the  im- 
mediate surface,  a  foot  or  eighteen  inches,  a 
gravelly  clay  is  always  met  with.  This  at  first 
doubtless  formed  the  soil,  the  disintegrating  forces 
of  frost,  rain,  and  wind,  combined  with  the  calcin- 
ing effects  of  the  prairie  fires,  having  reduced  the 
atones  and  gravel  to  powder,  leaving  a  finely  pul- 
verized substance  for  a  surface  soil. 

In  a  rolling  tract  of  country,  while  the  low 
ground  is  being  filled  slowly  with  the  wash  from 
the  hills,  and  furnished  with  a  fine  soil,  the  hills 
are  left  covered  with  a  coarse  and  stony  surface 
soil.  For  that  reason  a  great  many  boulders  are 
sometimes  seen  on  the  tops  of  drift  knolls.  Along 
streams  and  about  the  shores  of  lakes,  the  action 
of  the  water  has  carried  away  the  clay  of  the 
soil  and  often  eaten  into  the  original  drift,  letting 
the  stones  and  boulders  tumble  down  to  the  bot- 
tom of  the  bank,  where  they  are  often  very  nu- 
merous. Along  streams  they  are  sometimes  again 
covered  with  alluvium — indeed  are  apt  to  be — but 
along  the  shores  of  lakes  they  are  kept  near  the 
beach  line  by  the  action  of  the  winter  ice.  After 
a  lapse  of  time  sufficient,  the  banks  themselves 
become  rounded  off  and  finally  turfed  over  or 
covered  with  trees.  These  lakes  sometimes  extend 
their  limits  laterally,  but  slowly  become  shallower. 
This  county  is  furnished  with  a  number  of  beau- 
tiful lakes.  These  are  generally  in  the  midst  of  a 
rolling  country,  and  some  of  their  banks  are  high. 

In  the  survey  of  the  county  the  following  spec- 
ies of  trees  and  shrubs  are  noticed  growing  native: 

Burr  Oak.     Quercua  macrocarpa.     Michx. 

Red  Oak.  Quercus  rubra.  /,.  (This  species 
is  not  satisfactorily  indentified. ) 

Aspen.     Populus  tremuloides.     Midu: 

Elm.     Ulmus  Americana,    ( PI.   Clayt. )      Wilhl. 

Black  cherry.     Pruuusserotina.     E/ir. 

American  Crab.     Pyrus  coronaria.     L. 

Bitternut.     Carya  amara.     .Uutf. 

Black  Walnut.     Juglans  nigra.     L. 

Wild  Plum.     Prunus  Ameeicana.      .U<ir.<<!i. 

White  Ash.     Fraximus  Americana.     //. 

Butternut.     Juglans  cinerea.     L. 

Hazlenut.     Corylus  Americana.     Wnlt. 

Forest  Grape.     Vitis  cordifolia.     Mii-h.v. 

Bittersweet.     Celastrus  scandens.     L. 

Smooth  Sumach.     Rhus  glabra.      L. 


Bed  Raspberry.     Bnbus  strigosus.     Mirhx. 

Rose.     Rosa  blanda.     Ait. 

Wolfberry.  Symphoricarpus  ocdidentalis.  R. 
Br. 

Bass.     Tilia  Americana.     L. 

Prickley  Ash.  Zanthoxylum  Americanum. 
Mill. 

Cornel.     (Dififerent  species.) 

Willow.      (Different  species.) 

Gooseberry  (  prickley.)     Ribes  cynosbati.     L. 

Thorn.     Crataegus  coccinea.     L. 

Hackberry.     Celtis  occidentalis.     L. 

Sugar  Maple.     Acer  sacchariuum.      Wann. 

Cottonwood.     Populus  monilifera.     Ait. 

Soft  Maple.     Acer  rubruin.     /.. 

Cockspur  Thorn.     Crstaagus  Crus-galli.     L. 

Slippery  Elm.     Ulmus  fulva.     Michx. 

Black  Ash.     Fraximus  sambucifolia.     Lam. 

High-bush  Cranberry.     Niburnum  Opuvus.     L. 

Choke  Cherry.     Prunus  Virginiana.     L. 

Shagbark  Hickory.  Crrya  alba.  Xutt.  On 
M.  L.  BuUis'  land  in  Moscow  township,  near  the 
county  line. — A.  A.  Huncood.  ) 

Besides  the  foregoing,  the  following  list  em- 
braces trees  that  are  fre<[uently  seen  in  cultiva- 
tion in  Freeborn  county: 

Spruce. 

Red  Cedar.     Juniperus  Virginiana.     /.. 

Mountain  Ash.     Pyrus  Americana.     I).  C. 

Balsam  Poplar.  Populus  balsamifera.  /,.  Var. 
candicans. 

Lombardy  Poplar,     dilatata.     Ail. 

Locu.st.  Robinia  Pseudacacia.  /,.  [The 
Locust  dies  out  in  Freeborn  county.  | 

Hackmatack.     Larix  Americana.     .Mii-hx. 

Arbor  Vitw.     Thuja  occidentalis. 

THE  GEOLOGICAI,  STBUCTUBE. 

There  is  not  a  naturrl  exposure  of  the  underly- 
ing rock  in  Freeborn  county.  Hence  the  details 
of  its  geological  structure  are  wholly  luiknown. 
It  is  only  by  an  examination  of  outcrops  in  Mower 
county  and  in  the  adjoining  counties  of  Iowa,  to- 
gether with  a  knowledge  of  the  general  geology 
of  that  portion  of  the  State,  that  anything 
can  be  known  of  the  geology  of  Freeborn  county. 
In  the  absence  of  actual  outcrops  of  rock  within 
the  county,  there  are  still  some  evidences  of  the 
character  of  rock  that  underlies  the  county,  in  the 
nature  and  position  of  the  drift  materials.  There 
is,  besides,  a  shaft  that  has  struck  the  Cretaceous 


QEOLOaWAL  STRUCTURE. 


267 


in  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  county,  in  ex- 
ploration of  coal. 

Although  the  drift  is  heavy  it  lies  in  such  posi- 
tions that  it  shows  some  changes  in  the  surface  of 
the  bed  rock.  It  is  a  principle  pretty  well  estab- 
lished that  any  sudden  great  alternation  in  the 
rock  from  hardness  to  softness,  as  from  a  heavy 
limestone  layer  to  a  layer  of  erosible  shales,  or 
from  shales  to  more  enduring  sandstone,  each 
stratum  having  a  considerable  thickness,  is  ex- 
pressed on  the  drift  by  changes  from  a  rough  and 
rolling,  more  or  less  stony  surface,  to  a  flat  and 
nearly  smooth  surface,  or  viae  verita.  It  some- 
times happens  that  the  non-outcropping  line  of 
superposition  of  one  important  formation  with 
another,  either  above  or  below,  can  be  traced 
across  a  wide  tract  of  drift  covered  country  by 
following  up  a  series  of  gravel  knolls  or  ridges 
that  accompany  it,  or  by  some  similar  feature  of 
the  topography.  Again,  the  unusual  frequency 
of  any  kind  of  rock  in  the  di'ift  at  a  certain  place, 
especially  if  it  be  one  not  capable  of  bearing  long 
transportation,  is  pretty  good  evidence  of  the 
proximity  of  the  parent  rock  to  that  locality. 

Applying  these  principles  to  Freeborn  county, 
we  find  throughout  the  county  a  great  many  bould- 
ers of  a  hard,  white,  compact  magnesian  limestone , 
that  have  been  extensively  burned  for  quicklime. 
These  attracted  the  attention  of  early  settlers,  and 
before  the  construction  of  the  Southern  Minneso- 
ta railroad.supplied  aU  the  lime  used  in  the  county. 
Although  these  boulders  are  capable  of  being 
transported  a  great  distance,  their  great  abun- 
dance points  to  the  existence  of  the  source  of  siip- 
ply  in  the  underlying  bed-rock.  In  the  drift  also 
are  frequently  found  pieces  of  lignite  or  Cretace- 
ous coal,  which  cannot  be  far  transported  by 
glacier  agencies.  This  also  indicates  the  existence 
of  the  Cretaceous  lignites  in  Freeborn  county. 
In  regard  to  changes  in  the  character  of  the 
natural  surface,  we  see  an  evenly  flat  and  prairie 
surface  in  the  western  tier  of  towns,  and  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  county,  and  a  hilly  and 
gravelly  tract  of  irregular  shape  in  the  central 
portion.  There  are  two  ridges  or  divides,  formed 
superficially  of  drift,  that  occur  in  the  central 
part  of  the  county,  one  north  of  Albert  Lea,  and 
the  other  south  of  it,  separated  about  eleven  miles, 
as  shown  by  a  series  of  elevations  from  a  prelimi- 
nary railroad  survey  by  Mr.  William  Morin. 
What  may  be  their  directions  at  points  further  re- 


moved from  Albert  Lea  it  is  not  possible  to  state 
with  certainty,  but  on  one  side  they  seem  to  trend 
toward  the  northwest.  Indeed  there  seems  to  be 
a  northwest  and  southeast  trend  to  the  surface 
features  of  Freeborn  county  generally.  Such 
rough  surfaces,  and  especially  the  ridges  of  drift, 
are  more  stony  and  gravelly  than  the  fiat  por- 
tions of  the  county.  They  mark  the  location  of 
great  inequalities  in  the  upper  surface  of  the  un- 
derlying rock,  the  exact  nature  of  which  cannot 
be  known. 

In  addition  to  these  general  indications  of  the 
character  of  the  rock  of  the  county,  the  shaft  sunk 
for  coal  at  Freeborn,  reveals  the  presence  of  the 
Cretaceous  in  that  portion  of  the  county,  and 
examinations  of  the  nearest  exposures  in  the 
neighboring  county  of  Iowa,  discloses  the  Hamil- 
ton limestone  of  the  Devonian  age.  This  lime- 
stone is  exactly  like  that  found  so  abundantly  in 
the  form  of  boulders  in  Freeborn  county.  As  the 
general  direction  of  the  drift  forces  was  toward 
the  south,  and  as  the  trend  of  the  Hamilton  in 
Iowa,  according  to  Dr.  C.  A.  White  { see  his 
map  of  the  geology  of  Iowa,  final  Keport,  1870,) 
is  toward  the  northwest,  there  is  abundant  reason 
for  concluding  that  that  formation  also  extends 
under  Freeborn  county.  The  preluninary  geologi- 
cal map  of  the  state  of  Minnesota,  published  in 
1872,  indicates  Freeborn  county  almost  entirely 
underlain  by  the  Devonian,  the  only  exception 
being  in  the  northwestern  corner.  How  much 
farther  toward  the  northwest  these  limestone 
boulders  can  be  traced  with  equal  abundance,  the 
explorations  of  the  survey  have  not  yet  revealed. 

The  northwestern  corner  of  Freeborn  county 
has  been  regarded  as  underlain  by  a  limestone  of 
the  age  of  Niagara,  belonging  to  the  Upper 
Silurian,  that  formation  in  the  northwest  coming 
directly  below  the  limestones  of  the  Devonian. 
That  may  be  correct;  but  it  is  certain  that  there 
is  in  the  neighborhood  of  Freeborn  an  area  of  the 
Cretaceous,  which  must,  in  that  case,  overlie  the 
Silurian  limestones.  This  Cretaceous  area  is  be- 
lieved to  extend  north  and  south  across  the  west 
end  of  the  county,  and  to  be  roughly  coincident 
with  the  flat  and  prairie  portion  in  the  western 
part,  in  which  case  it  overlaps  the  Devonian. 

EXPLORATIONS    OF    COAI;. 

In  common  with  many  other  places  in  Southern 
Minnesota,  Freeborn  township,  in  the  northwestern 


268 


HISTORY  i)F  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


corner  of  the  county,  has  famished  from  the  drift 
pieces  of  cretacous  lignite  that  resemble  coal. 
These  have,  in  a  number  of  instances,  incited  ar 
dent  expectations  of  coal,  and  led  to  the  outlay  of 
money  in  explorations.  Such  pieces  are  taken 
out  in  digging  wells.  The  opinion  seems  to  grow 
in  a  community  where  such  fragments  are  found, 
that  coal  of  the  Carboniferous  age  exists  in  the 
rocks  below.  In  sinking  a  drill  for  an  artesian 
well  at  Freeborn  village,  very  general  attention 
wa.s  directed  to  the  reported  occurrence  of  this 
coal  in  a  regular  bed,  in  connection  with  slate 
rock.  This  locality  was  carefully  examined,  and 
all  the  information  gathered  bearing  on  the  sub- 
ject that  could  l)e  found.  The  record  of  the  first 
well  drilled  is  given  below,  as  reported  by  the 
gentleman  who  did  the  work: 

feet  inches 

1.  Soil  and  subsoil,  clay 15  .... 

2.  Blue  clay 35       

3.  "Conglomerated     rock"     (had     to 

drill) 2 

4.  Sand  with  water 5        .... 

5.  Fine  clay,  tough,  hurd  to  drill,  with 

gravel  and  limestone  pebbles ...  60       .... 

6.  Sand  with  watsr 4 

7.  "Slate  rock,"  probably  cretaceous     7       .... 

8.  "Coal,"  "  "54 

Total  depth 127  10 

This  indication  of  coal  induced  the  drilling  of 
another  well,  situated  100  feet  distant,  toward  the 
northeast.  In  this  the  record  was  as  follows, 
given  by  the  same  authority: 

feet  inches 

1.     Soil  and  subsoil,  clay 15  .... 

1.     Blue  clay 33  .... 

3.  "Conglomerated  rock" 2 

4.  Sand  with  water,  and  pieces  of  coal.l2  .... 

Total  depth 60  2 

When  the  drill  here  reached  the  "conglomer- 
ated rock,"  it  was  supposed  to  have  reached  the 
"slate  rock,"  No.  7  of  the  previous  section.  The 
amount  of  coal  in  the  sand  of  No.  4  was  also 
enough  to  cause  it  to  be  taken  for  No.  8  of  the 
previous  section.  Hence  the  boring  was  stopped; 
and  having  thus  demonstrated  the  existence  of  a 
coal-bed,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  proprietors,  the 
enterprise  was  pushed  further  in  the  sinking  of  a 
shaft.     In  sinking  this  shaft  the  water  troubled 


the  workmen  so  that  at  thirty-five  it  had  to  be 
abandoned. 

Three-quarters  of  a  mile  north  of  these  drills  a 
shaft  was  sunk  57  feet,  but  not  finding  the  coal  as 
expected,  according  to  the  developments  of  the 
last  section  above  given,  the  explorers  stopped 
here.  In  this  shaft  the  overseer  reports  the  same 
strata  passed  tlirough  in  the  drift  as  met  with  in 
the  first  well  drilled,  l>ut  the  so  called  "conglome- 
rated rock"  was  met  at  a  depth  of  45  feet.  The 
sand  below  the  "  conglomerated  rock  "  here  held 
no  water,  but  was  full  of  fine  pieces  of  coal.  Be- 
fore sinking  a  shaft  at  this  place  a  drill  was  made 
to  test  the  strata.  These  being  found  "  all 
right "  the  shaft  was  begun.  In  that  drill  gas 
was  first  met.  It  rose  up  in  the  drill  hole,  and 
being  ignited  it  Hamed  up  eight  or  ten  feet  with  a 
roaring  sound.  The  shaft  was  so  near  the  drill 
hole  that  it  drew  off  the  gas  gradually,  allowing 
the  intermixture  of  more  air,  thus  preventing 
rapid  burning.  From  this  place  the  exploration 
was  redirected  to  the  first  situation,  where  another 
shaft  was  begun.  This  was  in  search  for  the 
'■  lower  rock,"  so  called,  or  the  "  slate  rock,"  sup- 
posed to  overlie  the  "  coal."  Here  they  went 
through  the  same  materials,  shutting  off  the  water 
in  the  five  foot  sand-bed,  and  60  feet  of  fine  clay, 
when  water  rose  so  copiously  from  the  second 
sand-bed  (No.  6  of  the  first  section  given)  as  to 
compell  a  cessation  of  the  work.  In  this  shaft 
were  found  small  pieces  of  the  same  coal,  all  the 
way.  These  pieces  had  sharp  corners  and  fresh 
surfaces.  The  total  depth  here  was  106  feet,  and 
the  water  seems  to  have  been  impregnated  with 
the  same  gas  as  that  which  arose  in  the  drill  at 
the  point  three-fourths  of  a  mile  distant.  Such 
water  is  also  found  in  the  well  at  the  hotel  in 
Freeborn.  With  sugar  of  lead  it  does  not  present 
the  reaction.'<  for  sulphurated  hydrogen,  and  the 
gas  is  presumed  to  be  carbonated  hydrogen. 
This  account  of  explorations  for  coal  is  but  a 
repetition  of  what  has  taken  place  in  numerous 
instances  in  Minnesota.  The  cretaceous  lignites 
have  deceived  a  great  many,  and  considerable  ex- 
pense has  been  needlessly  incurred  in  fruitless 
search  for  good  coal. 

In  the  early  discovery  of  these  lignites,  some 
exploration  and  experimentation  within  the  limits 
of  the  State,  were  justifiable,  but  after  the  tests 
that  have  already  been  made  it  can  pretty  confi- 
dently   be     stated     that    these     lignites   are    at 


GEOLOGICAL  STRUCTURE. 


269 


present  of  no  economical  value.  This,  not  in 
ignorance  of  the  fact  that  they  will  burn,  or  that 
they  contain,  in  some  proportion,  all  the  valuable 
ingredients  that  characterize  coal  and  carbonace- 
ous shales,  but  in  the  light  of  the  competing 
prices  of  other  fuels,  the  cost  of  mining  them,  and 
the  comparative  inferiority  of  the  lignites  them- 
selves. It  they  were  situated  in  Greenland  they 
would  probably  be  pretty  thoroughly  explored, 
and  extensively  mined,  and  even  then  they  would 
havea  powerful  competitor  in  the  oil  in  use  there. 

THE    DRIFT. 

This  deposit  covers  the  entire  county  and  con- 
ceals the  rock  from  sight.  It  consists  of  the 
usual  ingredients,  but  varies  with  the  general 
character  of  the  surface.  In  rolling  tracts  it  is 
very  stony  and  has  much  more  gravel.  In  flat 
tracts  it  is  clayey.  It  everywhere  contains  a  great 
many  boulders,  and  these  are  shown  abundantly 
along  the  beaches  of  the  numerous  lakes  of  the 
county.  The  frequency  of  limestone  boulders, 
and  their  signiflcancy,  have  already  been  men- 
tioned. Thousands  of  bushels  of  lime  have  been 
made  from  such  loose  boulder  masses,  mainly 
gathered  about  the  shores  of  the  lakes.  In  gen- 
eral  the   drift   of   Freeborn   county  consists  of  a 

glacier  hard-pan,  or  unmodified  drift.  Yet,  in 
some  places,  the  upper  portion  is  of  gravel  and 
sand  that  show  all  the  effects  of  running  water  in 
violent  currents.  The  beds  here  are  oblique,  and 
subject  to  sudden  transitions  from  one  material  to 
another.     At  Albert  Lea  the  following  section  was 


observed.  It  occurs  just  west  of  the  center  of  the 
town.  It  covers  eight  feet  perpendicular,  and 
eight  feet  east  and  west. 

1.  Earth  and  soil  gravelly,below  twenty  inches. 

2.  Gravel,  unstratified,  with  considerable  lime- 
stone, six  inches. 

3.  Stratified  gravel,  eighteen  inches. 

4.  Regular  strata  of  coarse  gravel,  two  feet. 

5.  Unstratified. 

6.  Fine  sand  seen  two  feet. 

In  a  gravel  bank  at  Albert  Lea,  according  to 
Mr.  Wiliam  Morin,  the  jaw  bone  of  a  Mastodon 
was  found  a  number  of  years  ago.  It  was  sent  to 
St.  Paul  and  is  supposed  to  be  preserved. 

The  average  thickness  of  the  drift  in  Freeborn 
county  would  not  vary  much,  probably,  from  one 
hundred  feet.  In  the  survey  of  the  county,  con- 
siderable attention  was  paid  to  the  phenomena  of 
common  wells,  with  a  view  to  learn  the  nature  and 
thickness  of  this  deposit,  and  the  following  list  is 
the  result  of  notes  made. 

Wells  of  Freebokn  County. — Good  water  is 
generally  found  throughout  the  county,  in  the 
drift,  at  depths  less  than  eighty  feet;  but  some 
deep  wells  that  occur  within  the  Cretaceous  belt, 
in  the  western  part  of  the  county,  are  spoiled  by 
carburetted  hydrogen.  This  must  rise  from  car- 
bonaceous shales  in  the  Cretaceous,  and  indicates 
the  extent  of  that  formation.  Much  of  the  infor- 
mation contained  in  the  following  tabulated  list 
of  wells  was  obtained  of  W.  A.  Higgins,  well 
borer,  of  Albert  Lea: 


OWNER'S  NAME. 

Location. 

Depth 
g       Feet. 

Kind  of  Water 

Eemarks. 

W.  P.  Sargent 

Sec.  29  Albert  Lea 

Good 

One-half  bushel  of  coal  at  26  feet 

Geo.  Stevens 

Freeborn    

47 

Carburetted  . . 

Pieces  of  coal   in  the  blue  clay, 

T.  A.  Southwick.... 

" 

46 

Soft 

44  ft.  of  water.            [26ft  water. 

Ezra  Sterns 

Ju'm  w.  of  Freeborn 

30 

Good  

Found  pieces  of  coal. 

Ezra  Sterns 

t,                       n 

42 

ti 

"        "           " 

James  Hanson 

Im  nw.  of  Freeborn ...    . 

50 

Carburetted  . . 

((        1,            (. 

F.  D.  Drake 

Sec.  13,   Freeborn 

90 

(( 

Water  stands  5  feet  from  the  top. 

0.  U.  Wescott 

Byron,  Waseca 

94 

Soft 

[and  gravel. 

L.  C.Taylor 

6ms  nw.  Freeborn 

96 

Good 

Artesian :  at  first  bringing  stones 

Geo.  Snyder,  Jr 

2ms  nw.  Freeborn 

61 

Carburetted    . 

A.  M.  Trigg 

Alden 

37 

(( 

Found  pieces  of  coal  in  clay. 

H.  M.  Foot 

(1 

50 

Good 

John  Melender 

t( 

50 

t( 

«            a                       (t 

L.  C.  Taylor 

6ms  nw.  Freeborn 

96 

Carburetted  . . 

Artesian. 

Wm.  Comstock 

3ms  ne  Alden 

48 
125 

.< 

Chas.  Ayers 

Nw.  cor.  Freeborn 

Bore  for  coal. 

John  Ayers 

Trenton : . . 

142 

"        "        lost  tools. 

T.  A.  Southwick.... 

Freeborn 

35 

Carburetted  . . 

Blue  clay— water  in  sand&gravel 

J.  F.  Jones 

Geneva 

20 

Good 

Water  in  quicksand. 

Nelson  Kengsley . . . 

i( 

12 

Soft 

"        "        " 

270 


uiSToar  OF  frbebohn  county. 


ownpk's  name. 

Location. 

5€ 

1 
Kind  of  Water 

Remarks. 

John  Farrell 

Geneva 

Vi 
12 

72 
38 
52 
25 
72 

30 
28 
7'2 
42 
:H 
28 
(i5 
28 
28 
32 
65 
44 
80 
80 
75 
40 
30 

Soft 

Good 

Water  in  quicksand. 

.(        ((        .( 

Struck  gravel  below  the  blue  clay 

A.  Chamberlain 

D.G.Parker 

Albert   Ijea 

Dr.  C.W.Ballard... 

Ja  mes  Barker 

C.  W.  Leveus 

H.   Kowell 

(1 

Sec .  4,  Albert  Lea 

Albert  Lea   

<4 
(( 
(( 

Not  good 

Good 

if 

No  water 

Good 

(( 

t( 

Ci 

Not  Good.... 

In  gravel. 

Small  bed  of  gravel  in  blue  clay 

In  grave'. 

In  gravel  below  the  blue  clay. 

Sfk  bl'k  clay,  no  sticks  nor  grit. 

In  very  fine  blue  sandy  clay. 

W.  W.  Cargi'l 

Chas.   Ostron 

H .  Rowell 

Yellow  and  blue  clay,  then  grav^l 

Gravel  and  sand,  water  in  ([uick- 

"        "         "             [sand 

Water  in  gravel.                    [rook. 

Gravelly  clay,  fine  sandy  clay,  on 

Water  in  green  sand. 
((            (f          >( 

Gravel  in  sand,  then  quicksand. 

Col.  S.  A.  Hatch.... 
Ole  Knutson 

W.  W.  CargUl 

Geo.  Topon 

And.  Palmer 

Dr.  A.  C.  Wedge... 
W.  C.  Lincoln 

Sec.  28,  Albert  Lea 

Sec.  29, 

Sec.  8 

Albert  Lea 

Frank  Hall 

Aldeu  

Town  well 

In  gravel. 

Drift  clay,  water  in  gravel. 
"Tastes  like  kerosene." 
Clay  only. 

Lump  of  coal  at  27  feet. 

A.  W.   .Tohnson 

Rev.  G.  W.   Prescott 
Town  well 

A.  Palmer,  Jr 

Alden  

Sec.  29,  Albert  Lea 

In  some  wells  at  Albert  Lea  a  muck  is  struck, 
and  such  wells  atTord  a  water  that  is  unfit  for  use. 
This  muck  is  reported  to  contain  sticks,  and  is 
about  thirty -eight  or  forty  feet  below  the  surface. 
It  may  indicate  a  former  bed  of  the  river,  or  an 
interglacial  marsh,  as  Mr.  James  Geikie  has  ex- 
plained in  Scotland.  (See  "The  Great  Ice  Age.") 
It  is  by  some  called  slutsh,  and  seems  not  to  uni- 
formly hold  sticks  and  leaves,  but  to  be  rather  a 
fine  sand  of  a  dark  color.  The  well-diggers  call 
it  (juicksaud.  This  indicates  that  it  is  either  a 
bed  of  Cretaceous  black  clay,  arenaceous,  or  Creta- 
ceous debris.  Dr.  Wedge,  of  Albert  Lea,  thinks 
the  site  of  the  city  was  once  covered  by  a  lake, 
and  that  this  uliisli  was  its  sediment;  and  that  the 
overlying  gravel,  which  is  about  thirty -eight  feet 
thick,  has  since  been  thrown  onto  it  by  a  later 
force,  perhaps  by  currents.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  the  overlying  gravel  was  thus  deposited, 
those  currents  being  derived  from  the  ice  of  a  re- 
tiring glacier. 

Wells  at  Geneva  are  generally  not  ov(m-  twentv 
feet  in  depth.  They  also  pass  through  a  gravel 
that  overlies  a  tjuicksaud.  This  village  is  situated 
with  reference  to  Geneva  Lake  as  Albert  Lea  is 
with  Albert  Lea  Lake,  both  being  at  the  northern 
extremities  of  those  lakes.  The  phenomena  of 
wells  at  the  two  places  are  noticeably  similar,  and 


in  the  same  way  different  from  the  usual  phenom- 
ena of  wells  throughout  the  county, 

At  Albert  Lea,  gravel,  about  thirty  feet,  quick- 
sand with  water,  sometimes  black  and  mucky. 

At  Geneva,  gravel,  twelve  to  fifteen  feet,  quick- 
sand and  water. 

It  would  seem  that  the  history  of  the  drift  at 
Albert  Lea  was  repeated  at  Geneva.  These  tilla- 
ges being  both  situated  at  the  northern  end  of 
lake  basins,  are  probably  located  where  pre- glac- 
ial lakes  existed.  On  all  sides,  both  about  Albert 
Lea  and  Geneva,  the  usual  drift  clay,  hard  and 
blue,  is  met  in  wells  and  has  a  thickness  of  about 
one  hundred  feet. 

MATERIATj   resoukces. 

In  addition  to  the  soil,  Freeborn  county  has 
very  little  to  depend  on  as  a  source  of  material 
prosperity.  As  already  stated,  there  is  not  a  sin- 
gle exposure  of  the  bed-rock  in  the  county.  All 
building  stone  and  quicklime  have  to  be  im- 
ported. The  former  comes  by  the  South- 
ern Minnesota  railroad  from  Lanesboro  and 
Fountain  in  Fillmore  county,  though  it  is  very 
likely  that  the  Shakopee  stone  from  Mankato  will 
also  be  introduced.  The  latter  comes  from  Iowa 
largely  (Mason  City  and  Mitchell ).  and  from  kilns 
at  Mankato  and  Shakopee.     Some  building  stone 


MATERIAL  RESOURCES. 


271 


is  also  introduced  into  the  eastei'n   part  of  the 
county  from  the  Cretaceous  quarries  at  Austin. 

Lime. — At  Twin  Lakes  three  or  four  thousand 
bushels  of  lime  have  been  burned  by  Mr.  Carter 
from  boulders  picked  up  around  the  lake  shores. 
This  lime  sold  for  seventy-five  cents  per  bushel.  It 
was  a  very  fine  lime,  purely  white.  The  construc- 
tion of  railroads  put  a  stop  to  his  profits,  as  the 
Shakopee  lime  could  then  be  introduced  and  sold 
cheaper.  The  boulders  burned  were  almost  en- 
tirely of  the  same  kind  as  those  that  are  so  nu- 
merous in  McLeod  county.  They  are  fine,  close 
grained,  nearly  white,  on  old  weathered  surfaces, 
and  of  a  dirty  cream  color  on  the  fractured  sur- 
faces. They  very  rarely  show  a  little  graniilar  or 
rougher  texture,  like  a  maguesian  limestone, 
though  this  grain  is  intermixed  with  the  closer 
grain .  They  hold  but  few  fossils.  There  are  a 
few  impressions  of  shells,  and  by  some  effort  a 
globular  mass  of  a  course  Pavusitoid  coral  was 
obtained. 

Besides  the  above,  which  are  distinguished  as 
"white  limestone,"  there  are  also  a  few  bluish 
green  limestone  boulders.  One  of  these,  which 
now  lies  near  Twin  Lakes,  is  about  seven  feet  long, 
by  five  or  six  feet  broad,  its  thickness  being  at 
least  two  and  one-half  feet.  It  has  been  blasted 
into  smaller  pieces  tor  making  quicklime;  but 
nearly  all  of  it  yet  lies  in  its  old  bed,  the  frag- 
ments being  too  large  to  be  moved.  This  stone 
is  also  very  close-grained.  It  is  heavier  than  tlie 
other  and  more  evidently  crystalline.  It  holds 
small  particles  of  pyrites.  It  is  not  porous,  nor 
apparently  bedded.  On  its  outer  surface  it  Invks 
like  a  withered  dim'ite,  and  it  would  be  taken,  at 
a  glance,  for  a  boujder  of  that  kind.  It  is  said  to 
make  a  very  fine  lime.  Several  hundred  bushels 
of  lime  were  formerly  burned  at  Geiieva. 

The  clay  used,  which  is  about  five  feet  below 
the  surface,  is  fine  and  of  a  yellowish  ashy  color. 
It  is  underlain  by  gravel.  The  clay  itself  locally 
passes  into  a  sand  that  looks  like  "the  bluff."  At 
other  places  it  is  a  common,  fine  clay-loam,  with 
a  few  gravel-stones.  There  is  but  little  delete- 
rious to  the  brick  in  the  clay,  although  some  of 
the  brick  are,  on  fractured  surfaces,  somewhat 
spotted  with  poor  mixing,  and  with  masses  of 
what  appear  like  concretions.  The  clay  itself  is 
apparently  massive,  but  it  is  really  indistinctly 
bedded,  rarely  showing  a  horizontal  or  oblique, 
thin  layer   of  yellow  sand.     In   other  places  the 


clay  shows  to  better  advantage,  and  is  plainly 
bedded.  It  contains  sticks,  the  largest  observed 
being  a  little  over  half  an  inch  in  diameter.  These 
sticks  ore  plainly  endogenous  in  cellular  structure, 
but  have  a  bark.  They  are  not  oxydized  so  as  to 
be  brittle,  but  are  flexible  still,  with  small  branches 
like  rootlets  hanging  to  them.  It  is  uncertain 
whether  they  belong  to  the  deposit,  or  are  the 
roots  of  vegetation  that  grew  on  surface  since  the 
drift.  There  are  no  boulders  of  any  size  in  the 
drift;  but  a  few  granitoid  gravel-stones. 

Brick  was  formerly  made  at  Geneva,  and  at  a 
point  two  and  one-half  miles  east  of  that  place. 
At  Geneva  the  clay  was  taken  from  the  bank  of 
Allen  Creek,  about  eighteen  inches  lielow  the  sur- 
face. It  was  a  drift  clay,  with  small  pebbles. 
That  used  two  and  one-half  miles  east  of  Geneva 
was  of  the  same  kind.  In  both  places  snnd  had 
to  be  mixed  with  the  clay.  About  Geneva  sand  is 
abundant,  taken  from  the  gravel  and  sand  knolls, 
and  from  the  banks  of  the  creek. 

Peat. — In  Freeborn  county  there  is  an  abund- 
ance of  peat.  The  most  of  the  marshes,  of  which 
some  are  large,  are  peat-bearing.  In  this  respect 
the  county  differs  very  remarkably  from  those  in 
the  western  portion  of  the  same  tier  of  counties 
which  were  specially  examined  for  peat  in  the 
season  of  1873,  and  which,  being  entirely  desti- 
tute of  native  trees,  are  most  in  need  of  peat  for 
domestic  fuel. 

The  peat  of  the  county  is  generally  formed  en- 
tirely of  herbaceous  plants,  thougli  the  marshes 
are  often  in  the  midst  of  oak-o])enings.  The 
peat-moss  constitutes  by  far    the    larger   portion. 

There  is  no  observed  difference  in  peat-produc- 
ing qualities  between  the  marshes  of  the  prairie 
districts  and  those  of  the  more  rolling  woodland 
tracts  of  the  county. 

.\t  Alden  village,  in  the  midst  of  the  open  prai- 
rie, the  peat  of  a  large  marsh  rose  to  the  surface 
and  floated,  when,  for  certain  purposes,  the  marsh 
was  flooded.  The  water  now  stand.s  ten  feet  deep 
lielow  the  floating  peat,  which  is  about  three  feet 
thick. 

At  Freeborn,  peat  has  been  taken  out  on  John 
Scovill's  land.  Here  it  is  eight  feet  thick,  two 
rods  from  the  edge,  and  it  is  probably  much 
thicker  toward  the  center  of  the  marsh.  That 
below  the  surface  of  the  water  now  standing  in 
the  drain  is  too  pulpy  to  shovel  out;  and  after 
being  dipped  out  and  dried  on  boards,  it   is   cut 


272 


HISTORY  OF  FREEnoliN  COUNTY. 


into  blocks  and  hauled  to  town.  That  above  the 
water  is  more  fibrous,  and  can  be  taken  out  with 
a  spade  and  cut  into  convenient  blocks.  Yet  the 
level  of  the  water  varies,  and  that  datum  is  not 
constant.  It  appears  as  if  there  were  here  a  stratum 
of  more  fibrous  peat  that  separates  from  the  low- 
er, about  twenty  inches  thick,  and  floats  above  it 
at  certain  times  In  tlie  peat  at  this  place  a 
sound  Elk  horn  was  taken  out  at  the  depth  of 
six  feet. 

There  is  a  large  peat  marsh  in  section  eleven, 
Hay  ward,  owned  by  non-residents. 

coaij  mining. 

As  a  kind  of  supplement  to  this  account  of  the 
natural  history  and  the  geology  of  the  county, 
an  account  of  the  "  Freeborn  Consolidated  Coal 
and  Mining  Company "  is  added,  for,  notwith- 
standing the  discouraging  opinion  of  the  State 
geologist,  who,  of  course,  deals  with  facts  as  he 
knows  and  stes  them,  with  few  conjectures  as  to 
what  is  not  potent,  there  are  men  of  discrimina- 
tion, intelligence,  and  means,  who  believe  there  is 
valuable  mineral  there,  and  propose  to  test  the 
question. 

In  November,  1879,  Mr.  E.  B.  Clark  com- 
menced prospecting  for  coal,  and  employed  F.  D. 
Drake  to  put  down  a  four  inch  mining  pipe.  Mr. 
Drake  had  been  prospecting  more  or  less  at  Free- 
born for  five  years.  At  one  time,  in  connection 
with  L.  T.  Scott  and  E.  D.  Rogers,  he  had  par- 
tially organized  a  coal  conpany  and  taken  leases 
of  several  hundred  acres  of  laud  in  that  vicinity 
for  coal  purposes.  This  comjiany  bored  in  sev- 
eral places  as  far  down  as  the  second  vein  of 
water,  about  100  feet,  where  they  struck  quick- 
sand, and  not  having  any  tubing  could  go  no 
farther;  oon8e([Uently,  when  they  bored  the  last 
time  they  knew  no  more  about  the  existence  of 
coal  than  when  they  bored  at  first. 

A  man  named  A.  Short,  from  La  Crosse,  Wis- 
consin, came  to  Freeborn  and  leased  about  2,000 
acres  of  laud  for  jirospecting  purposes,  worked  a 
short  time  to  make  his  leases  hold  good,  and  left. 
This  was  in  187t.  After  it  became  evident  that 
he  would  do  no  more  towards  developing  what 
coal  or  other  substances  might  be  there,  Mr.  E. 
B.  Clark  bought  his  interest  in  the  leases,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1879,  together  with  E.  G.  Perkins  and 
W.  W.  Cargill  of  La  Crosse,  commenced  pros- 
pecting, and  hired  Mr.  Drake  to  put  down  the 
pipe.     He  not  having  had  any  experience  in  sink- 


iog  such  wells  did  not  start  the  bore  plumb,  and 
after  expending  a  large  amount  of  labor,  first  by 
Drake  and  then  by  Mr.  P.  Morse,  of  Wells,  and 
Geo.  Cross,  of  Freeborn,  the  work  in  that  well  had 
to  be  abandoned  in  consequence  of  trouble  in  the 
fall  of  1880.  In  April,  1881,  Mr.  E.  B.  Clark, 
together  with  E.  G.  Perkins  and  W.  W.  Cargill, 
organized  the  Freeborn  Consolidated  Coal  and 
Mining  Company,  and  in  July  following  held  its 
first  meeting  for  election  of  officers,  since  which 
time  there  has  been  developed  a  vein  of  gypsum, 
eight  feet  thick,  which  is  considered  by  experts  to 
be  a  sure  indication  of  coal.  The  company  will 
soon  sink  a  .shaft  to  the  gypsum,  and  mine  the 
same  while  they  sink  the  shaft  on  down.  The 
gypsum  is  11.5  feet  below  the  surface  in  the  pres- 
ent well,  as  well  as  in  the  well  put  down  in  1881; 
in  the  former  well  they  went  through  a  vein  of 
mineral,  supposed  to  be  Galena,  which  lies  about 
130  feet  below  the  surface.  Experts  who  have 
been  there  generally  concede  that  with  the  many 
indications  found  in  the  locality  there  must  be 
large  quantities  of  lead  deposits  underlaying  the 
gypsum.  The  company  held  its  annual  meeting 
at  Alden,  where  the  general  office  is  located,  on 
the  .31st  of  July,  1882,  at  which  time  the  follow- 
ing officers  were  elected: 

President,  L.  T.  Walker; Secretary,  E.  B.Clark; 
Treasurer,  O.  S.  Gilmore;  Superintendent,  E.  B. 
Clark. 

Directors:  L.  T.  Walker,  J.  Goward,  O.  S.  Gil- 
more,  N.  P.  Jacobson,  E.  B.  Clark,  A.  K.  Walker, 
C.  K.  Clark. 

Great  credit  is  due,  and  universally  conceded  to 
Mr.  E.  B.  Clark,  whose  zeal  and  untiring  energy 
and  perseverance  is  the  moving  power  through 
which  all  the  present  developments  have  been 
made,  and  in  all  future  operations  he  will,  in  all 
probability,  be  prominently  identified  with  what 
we  hope  will  be  the  successful  termination  of  fur- 
ther efforts. 

When  prospecting,  blue  clay  is  found  about 
fifteen  feet  from  the  surface,  interspersed  with 
pieces  of  coal  and  soapstone,  slate,  sulphur  balls, 
and  gas  in  abut:  dance,  as  well  as  oil.  When  a 
distance  of  forty-five  to  fifty  feet  from  the  surface 
is  reached,  a  vein  of  water  is  found  in  all  places 
except  one,  in  which  dry  sand  was  found,  and  a 
vein  of  gas  came  in  so  strong  that  it  raised  the 
rods  being  used  for  boring  several  feet.  The 
men  at  work  supjjosed  they  had   struck  a  fiowing 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 


273 


vein  of  water  by  the  noise  down  in  the  well,  a 
roaring,  gurgling  sound  being  heard.  Mr.  E.  D. 
Rogers,  who  smokes  occasionally,  remarked  that 
he  would  take  a  smoke,  and  scratched  a  match  up- 
on the  bowl  of  his  pipe;  this  ignited  the  gas 
which  was  the  cause  of  all  the  noise,  and  it  was 
thought  by  those  present  that  a  blaze  the  full  size 
of  the  tube,  which  was  six  inches,  shot  up  in  the 
air  about  fifteen  feet  and  gradually  settled  down 
to  about  six  feet.  It  burned  for  an  hour  or  two 
when  it  was  smothered  out  by  placing  a  sod  over 
the  hole.  For  several  weeks  afterward  it  was  vis- 
ited by  people  from  the  surrounding  country,  who 
would  remove  the  sod  and  apply  a  match  to  see  it 
burn.  This  vein  of  gas  was  found  at  the  same 
depth  that  a  vein  of  water  is  usually  found  in 
other  localities  where  boring  has  been  done,  and 
water  thus  found  is  strongly  impregnated  with 
gas;  in  some  places  so  much  so  that  it  is  not  fit 
for  use,  A  tin  pail  was  lost  in  one  well  and  taken 
out  in  a  few  days  after  covered  with  a  black  greasy 
substance  that  could  not  be  removed  until  sub- 
jected to  a  hard  scouring  with  soap  and  sand. 
Coal  has  been  found  in  every  bore  put  down  far 
enough  to  reach  the  blue  clay.  Mr.  L.  T.  Scott 
says  he  found  in  a  well  put  down  on  his  place  a 
piece  of  coal  the  length  of  a  spade  and  handle, 
and  about  as  large  square  as  his  spade  blade  was 
wide,  which  is  the  largest  piece  yet  found.  All 
those  indications,  with  the  gypsum  found,  are  sup- 
posed to  point  to  coal  when  a  sufficient  depth  is 
reached. 


CHAPTEB  XLVI. 


EABLT  EXPLORATIONS COL.  ALBERT  LEA EARLI- 
EST SETTLEMENT EARLY  INCIDENTS RUBLE'S 

LETTER   FROM  LOOKOUT   MOUNTAIN GENERAL 

REMARKS. 

In  March,  1857,  a  letter  was  written  to  Samuel 
M.  Thompson  by  Col.  Albert  M.  Lea,  in  relation 
to  the  Black  Hawk  purchase,  and  so  much  of  this 
autogram,  as  relates  to  the  early  history  of  Free- 
born county,  will  be  transcribed  here : 

Knoxville,  Tenn.,  March  6th,  1857. 
Dear  Sir — Your  favor  of  the  26th  of  January 
reached  me  a  few  days  since,  and  I  may  as  well 
confess  that  I  was  both  surprised  and  gratified  by 
it.  You  ask  for  information  about  "  Lake  Albert 
Lea."  In  the  year  1835,  being  a  Lieutenant  in 
18 


the  Twelfth  Regiment,  U.  S.  Dragoons,  stationed 
at  Fort  Des  Moines,  now  Montrose,  on  the  Iowa 
side  of  the  Mississippi,  I  accompanied  an  expedi- 
tion from  that  part  of  the  Sioux  country,  com- 
posed of  three  companies  of  troops  under  Lieut. 
Col.  Kearney,  afterwards  a  General  and  killed  at 
Chantilly,  Sept.  1st,  1862.  The  detachment 
marched  up  the  tablelands  laying  east  of  the  Des 
Moines  River  to  the  "neutral  grounds,"  and  then 
turning  more  eastwardly  crossed  the  Iowa  and 
Cedar  Rivers  and  struck  the  Mississippi  at  Wa- 
basha's village,  below  Lake  Pej^in,  and  thence, 
taking  a  west  course,  touched  some  of  the  tribu- 
taries of  the  St.  Peter's  River,  struck  the  Des 
Moines  above  the  upper  forks,  and  then  followed 
the  general  course  of  the  stream  back  to  the  fort. 

Although  during  this  long  march  I  was  the 
only  officer  attached  to  the  command,  I  sketched 
the  whole  route  topographically  ,taking  the  courses 
with  a  pocket  compass,  and  computing  the  dis- 
tances by  the  time  and  rate  of  marching.  On  the 
return  to  quarters  I  made  out  a  map  of  the  country 
traversed,  accompanied  by  a  memoir  which  was 
sent  by  Col.  Kearney  to  the  Adjutant  General, 
and  the  next  year,  having  obtained  additional 
material,  I  made  a  more  full  majj,  and  wrote  an 
extended  description  of  the  country,  which  was 
published  by  H.  S.  Tanner,  of  Philadelphia,  in 
18  mo.  form,  under  the  title  of  "Notes  on  the 
Iowa  District  of  Wisconsin  Territory."  I  have 
one  copy  of  this  work  that  I  will  send  you. 

On  our  march  westward  from  Wabasha's  villagt 
we  passed  through  that  beautiful  region  of  lakes, 
open  woods,  and  prairie,  in  which  the  head  waters 
of  the  Blue  Earth  and  Cedar  Rivers  intertwine, 
and  having  passed  one  breezy  day  across  a  deep 
creek,  connecting,  as  we  supposed,  two  of  these 
lakes,  we  came  out  upon  an  elevated  promontory 
descending  rather  abruptly  to  the  edge  of  the 
most  beautiful  sheet  of  water  that  we  had  ever 
seen.  We  stopped  for  an  hour  on  that  exquisite 
spot,  and  took  a  sketch  of  the  lake  as  I  could  from 
that  point.  In  making  out  my  map,  the  form  I 
gave  the  lake,  but  which  the  lithographer  did  not 
preserve,  suggested  to  me  the  idea  of  a  military 
chapeau,  and  I  gave  it  that  name. 

In  1841,  when  Nicollet  was  making  out  his 
map  of  the  region  between  the  Mississippi  and  the 
Missouri  rivers,  he  filled  in  a  large  part  of  it  by 
copying  mine,  and  in  acknowledgement  to  me  for 
such  material,  gave  my  name  to  the  pretty  piece 


274 


iiisniHY  OF  frkkhojin  coLwry. 


of  water  I  had  called  "Lake  Chapeau"  and  which 
I  had  described  to  him  somewhat  enthusiastically. 
Several  years  since  a  friend  sent  me  a  slip  from  a 
newspaper  containing  an  extract  from  a  letter 
written  by  some  one  in  lowa.stating  that  the  writer 
had  been  all  over  where  Lake  Albert  Loa  ought 
to  be,  but  fovind  no  sign  of  such  water,  and  I  con- 
cluded that  either  I  had  failed  to  give  it  the  pro- 
per position  on  the  map,  or  it  had  been  so  mis- 
placed in  the  transfer  to  Nicollefs  map,  that  the 
original  would  never  again  ba  recognized.  Hence 
my  surprise  and  gratification  on  the  receipt  of 
your  letter  giving  me  the  first  information  that 
my  pet  lake  was  not  lost.  *         *  -i;         * 

Very  respectfully  your  ol)edient  servant, 

Albert  Milleb  Lea. 

On  referring  to  the  map  of  Lieut.  Lea,  it  is 
found  that  the  Lake  now  called  Albert  Lea  was 
originally  Fox  Lake,  and  is  not  the  one  originally 
called  Albert  Lea  by  Nicollet.  The  lake  Lieut. 
Lea  named  Lake  Chapeau,  and  changed  by  Nicol- 
let, is  that  beautilul  sheet  of  water,  a  short  dis- 
tance west  of  the  village,  known  as  White's  Lake, 
near  the  residence  of  A.  W.  White. 

The  early  settlers  found,  when  they  arrived  at 
the  camping  spot  of  Lieut.  Lea  Und  hia  command 
near  White's  Lake,  an  inscription  out  on  a  tree 
which  was  deciphered  as  "  Lake  Aullolin."  By 
whom  this  was  cut,  is  very  uncertain,  as  it  oould 
hardly  have  been  done  by  Lea,  or  any  of  his  party, 
because  he  gave  the  name  of  Lake  Chapeau  to 
this  channing  sheet  of  water,  and  the  name  Albert 
Lea  was  proposed  some  years  afterwards  by 
Nicollet,  as  already  mentioned. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

Up  to  the  spring  of  1853,  as  far  as  known,  no 
white  man  liad  planted  a  home  in  this  county,  now 
80  well  filled  with  a  thriving  population.  The  ex- 
pansive prairies  and  beautiful  groves  bordering 
the  placid  lakes  and  beautiful  streams,  up  to  that 
time  were  in  a  state  of  repose,  and  only  occupied 
by  animal  life  and  perhaps  a  few  of  the  aborigin- 
al race,  which  was  in  a  condition  of  senility, 
ready  to  depart  and  give  place  to  a  superior  race. 

At  the  time  above  mentioned,  Ole  Gulbrandson, 
whose  name  reveals  his  nationality,  with  his 
family,  entered  in  and  took  possassion  of  a  moder- 
ate portion  of  this  goodly  land  in  section  thirty- 
throe  in  the  township  of  Hhell  Rock,  and  rolled 
up  some   logs  in  the   form  of  a  cabin,  whicli  still 


stands  on  the  farm  of  P.  J.  Miller,  who  is  himself 
a  well  known  old  settler.  Mr.  Gulbrandson  went 
to  work,  and  when  the  next  settler  came  along, 
two  years  afterwards,  he  had  provided  for  him- 
self and  family,  and  could  also  siijiply  liis  neigh- 
bors witli  the  necessities  of  life.  A  passing  notice 
should  be  made  of  the  courage  of  this  man,  to 
thus  plant  himself  so  far  beyond  the  confines  of 
civilization,  wliere,  for  aught  he  knew,  they  were 
liable  to  be  devoured  by  wild  boasts,  and  where 
the  .savages  might  have  blotted  him  and  his 
araily  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  with  no  one  to 
follow  on  the  avenging  trail.  And  some  credit  is 
also  due  the  Indians  themselves,  that  thoy  did  not 
molest  him  as  they  certainly  were  aware  of  his 
presence.  In  the  fall  of  1854,  a  daughter  was 
bom  in  their  little  log  house,  which  must  have 
been  the  very  first,  whatever  rival  claims  may  be 
put  in. 

In  the  early  spring  of  1855,  Mr.  William  Rice 
came  straggling  along  and  secured  a  place  in 
section  eight  in  the  same  township,  near  where 
Joseph  Landis  now  resides.  In  June  Mr.  Rice 
was  followed  by  his  family  and  his  wife's  relatives 
with  families,  and  they  placed  their  claims  whore 
Shell  Rock  City  now  is,  and  during  that  summer 
settlements  were  made  in  various  parts  of  the 
county. 

LyBrand  and  Thompson  located  within  the 
township  of  Albert  Lea  and  laid  out  as  a  town 
site  the  village  of  St  Nicholas,  which  was  the  fir.st 
of  this  brood  that  was  soon  hatched  out  in  such 
rapid  succession.  Here  the  first  store  was  opened 
with  a  large  stock  of  goods,  a  hotel,  a  saw-mill,  a 
blacksmith  shop,  and  other  improvements  rapidly 
followed,  and  the  impression  went  out  that  this 
was  be  the  great  metropolis  of  this  section,  the 
energy  of  its  founders,  with  the  wealth  of  Mr.  Ly 
Brand,  encouraging  this  idea.  But  to-day  not  a 
vestige  of  its  greatness  remains,  not  a  relic  can  be 
picked  up  as  a  remainder  of  its  ini|)rovement. 
Oblivion  has  marked -it  for  its  own,  and  it  remains 
only  as  a  recollection. 

In  the  fall  of  1855,  Lorenzo  Merry  and  George 
S.  Ruble  located  and  founded  Albert  Lea,  the 
shire  town  of  the  county.  Geneva  was  also  settled 
this  year,  and  also  Freeborn  Lake  and  Moscow. 

In  September  Mrs.  Fanny  Andrews,  the  wife  of 
William  Andrews,  a  prominent  old  settler,  died, 
and  this  must  have   been  the   first  death  in    the 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 


275 


county,  which  was  after  a  brief  two  months'  resi- 
dence. 

In  November  Willie  Andrews,  son  of  Oliver 
and  Mary  Andrews,  was  ushered  into  the  light  of 
this  world,  in  the  township  of  Hayward,  his 
parents  having  come  the  July  previous.  This 
was  the  first  son  l)orn,  and  the  second  child. 

We  have  thus  rapidly  sketched  the  earliest  set- 
tlements in  the  county,  and  a  continuation  of 
when  the  various  locations  were  peopled,  will  be 
found  in  the  several  town  histories. 

Hon.  A.  H.  Bartlett,  in  his  old  settlers'  address, 
thus  speaks  of  events  at  this  period : 

"The  Territory  of  Minnesota  had  been  organ- 
ized, and  its  delegate  to  the  National  congress, 
Hon.  H.  H.  Sibley,  had  been  admitted  to  a  seat  in 
the  National  halls  of  legislation,  and  Freeborn 
county  had  been  organized  into  a  voting  precinct, 
for  the  election  of  Territorial  officers,  and  on  the 
3d  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1856,  the  first  elec- 
tion in  the  county  was  held  at  the  house  of  Oliver 
Andrews,  situated  on  the  town  line,  between  the 
townships  of  Hayward  and  Shell  Rock.  Said 
spot  being  the  established  voting  place  in  this 
precinct.  At  this  election  the  entire  voting  pop- 
ulation of  the  county  turned  out,  and  a  total  of 
forty -four  votes  were  polled.  Post-offices  were 
now  established  in  various  parts  of  the  county, 
mail  facilities  being  supplied  by  private  enter- 
prise from  Mitchell,  in  Mitchell  county,  Iowa.  On 
the  3d  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1856,  William 
Rice  ( the  second  settler  in  Freeborn  county  ) , 
while  carrying  the  mail  across  the  broad  and 
bleak  prairie,  lying  between  the  Cedar  and  Shell 
Rock  rivers,  was  caught  in  a  severe  snow  storm 
and  lost  his  way.  He  wandered  around  over  the 
trackless  prairie,  without  shelter  or  protection 
from  the  storm,  iintil  he  froze  to  that  extent  that 
he  died  of  his  injuries  some  three  or  four  days 
afterwards.  This  calamity  was  followed  in  quick 
succession,  on  the  20th  day  of  the  same  month, 
by  Byron  Packard  and  Charles  Walker  (  a  part  of 
the  company  who  laid  out  and  founded  Shell 
Rock  City)  being  caught  in  a  terrific  storm  on 
the  same  broad  prairie,  while  hauling  a  steam 
boiler  to  its  destination  at  Shell  Rock,  and  both 
perished  from  the  severity  of  the  storm  and  the 
e.xtreme  cold.  Their  bodies,  frozen  stiff  and  cold 
in  deatb,  were  found  four  days  afterwards,  lying 
upon  the  frozen  crust  of  the  deep  snow.  Their 
bodies  were  carried  to  Shell   Rock,  and  there  bur- 


ied upon  the  town  site  they  had  so  lately  helped  to 
lay  out  and  form.  No  relatives  were  there  to  at- 
tend their  funeral  obsequeis  and  mourn  their  sad 
fate,  yet  sorrowing  and  bereaved  friends  and 
brother  pioneers,  composing  the  then  entire  com- 
munity, assisted  in  performing  the  last  duty  to 
the  untimely  departed.  No  preacher  of  the  Gos- 
pel could  be  found  in  the  county  to  speak  words 
of  consolation  to  sorrowing  and  bereaved  friends 
and  associates,  and  our  friend  Jacob  Hostetter, 
one  of  Freeborn  county's  earliest  pioneers,  feel- 
ingly and  eloquently  addressed  the  early  pioneers 
there  gathered,  upon  the  sadness  and  suddenness 
of  their  bereavement,  upon  the  mysterious  and 
inscrutable  ways  of  an  overshadowing  providence, 
in  which  no  one  could  tell  why,  in  the  prime  of 
vigorous  manhood,  when  hope,  the  ministry  of 
life  is  most  buoyant,  and  future  expectations  in 
the  coming  life  of  usefulness  is  most  prominent, 
that  a  mysterious  providence  should  step  in  with 
its  dread  mandates,  and  the  brightest  and  most 
promising  life  should  be  consigned  to  oblivion 
and  the  grave.  These  sad  bereavments  and 
others  which  happened  in  the  county  about  that 
time,  caused  by  the  unparalleled  severity  of  the 
memorable  winter  of  A.  V).  1856,  cast  a  sad  and 
sorrowing  gloom  over  the  young  settlement  of 
Freeborn  county.  Some  few  of  the  settlers  be- 
came disheartened  and  discouraged,  and  early  the 
following  spring  returned  to  their  former  eastern 
homes." 

About  the  first  judicial  proceedings  in  the 
county  were  in  January,  1857,  in  which  Henry 
Boulton  was  plaintiff,  and  C.  T.  Knapp,  defendant, 
and  the  case  came  before  William  Andrews,  who 
must  have  been  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Mr. 
Bartlett  was  counsel  for  both  parties,  who  were 
beaten  by  the  decision  of  the  court. 

At  Shell  Rock  City  the  first  schoolhouse  in  the 
county  was  built  and  finished  in  the  style  of  civil- 
ization, on  the  18th  of  August,  1857,  and  immedi- 
ately thereafter  a  common  school  therein  was  put 
in  full  blast,  with  Miss  Emily  Streeter  as  teacher, 
being  the  first  school  put  in  operation  in  the 
county.  Great  interest  was  taken  by  the  early 
settlers  in  everything  pertaining  to  a  civilized  life. 
Churches  were  organized  and  religious  services 
held  in  the  schoolhouses  and  private  dwellings  of 
the  inhabitants.  Thus  the  nucleus  was  formed 
from  which  our  present  proud  position  in  the  arts 
and  sciences,  moral  and  religious  intelligence,  and 


276 


HrSTORT  OF  FUEEBORN  COL'NTY. 


in  short  everything  that  pertains  to  a  civilized  and 
intelligent  people,  has  emanated. 

The  first  permanent_bridge!.built  in  the  county 
was  at  Shell  Kock,  I)y  subscription,  the  document 
bearing  date  on  the  9tli  of  June,  1857.  The  sums 
given  were  from  two  to  twenty-five  dollars,  each 
designating  as  to  whether  it  was  to  be  paid  in 
money,  work,  or  material.  The  men  who  signed 
the  paper  were:  Edward  P.  Skinner,  A.  M.  Burn- 
ham,  A.  H.  Bartlett,  F.  L.  Cutler,  G.  Cottrell.  J. 
W.  Smith,  C.  W.  Phillips,  Lars  Severson,  David 
L.  Phillips,  Almon  M.  Cottrell,  C.  T.  Kuapp, 
Jaraes  LafF,  I.  S.  Homing,  George  Gardner,  Wil- 
liam Andrews,  Robert  Budlong,  Thomas  Budlong, 
C.  Tarbell,  E.  S.  Anderson,  William  C.  Ellsworth, 
Elijah  Young,  James  Andrews,  George  P.  Holmes, 

J.  M.  Sannes,  R.  I.  Frank, Swarthout.    J. 

Hostetter,  Jacob    LyBrand,  and  S.  M.  Thompson. 

Bids  were  received  until  June  15th,  when  it  was 
begun  and  built  by  Dr.  Burnham  in  nine  days. 
The  whole  sum  subscribed  was  S277.  There  can 
be  no  question  as  to  these  men  being  old  settlers. 
Some  of  them  are  still  living  in  the  county,  and 
some  are  in  other  counties  or  States,  and  many  of 
them  are  well  situated.  In  relation  to  the  name 
of  the  founder  of  St.  Nicholas,  while  it  is  said 
that  he  subseciuently  wrote  it  differently,  his  sig- 
ature  here  is  "Jacob  LyBrand." 

At  an  early  day  there  was  considerable  trouble 
to  have  legal  documents  executed.  Magistrates 
were  often  scores  of  miles  apart,  iind  getting  mar- 
ried involved  difficulties  we  can  hardly  compre- 
hend in  these  days.  The  first  trouble  arose  from 
the  scarcity  of  marriagable  women,  but  having 
secured  that  indespensible  pre-requisite,  the  trou- 
ble of  finding  a  minister  or  a  justice  to  legalize 
the  union  was  often  most  exasperating  to  the  vic- 
tims of  "loves  young  dream." 

Mr.  McReynolds  had  not  been  ordained,  and 
therefore  was  not  vested  by  the  prospective  State 
of  Minnesota  with  authority  to  pronounce  single 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  husbands  and  wives,  with 
the  admonition  that  no  man  should  put  them 
asunder.  But  he  was  not  iinfrequently  called 
upon  to  perform  this  service,  and  on  one  occasion 
he  was  hailed  as  he  passed  a  log  house,  on  the 
way  to  fill  an  appointment,  and  requested  to  step 
as  he  came  back  and  "join  two  hearts  that  beat  as 
one."  Several  men  were  then  just  starting  out  to 
shoot  some  ducks  for  the  wedding  feast.  This  was 
near  Bear  Lake,  and  Mr.  McRevnolds  on  his  re- 


turn brought  a  Justice,  and  the  happy  pair  were 
duly  and  legally  started  in  the  journey  of  life 
hand  in  hand;  and  bo  the  society  papers  the  next 
week  might  have  read,  "Marriage  in  high  life — On 
the  7th  inst.,  at  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents, 
by  Frederick  McOall,  Esquire,  assisted  by  Rev. 
Isaac  W.  McReynolds,  Mr.  J.  H.  Bluberson  to 
Miss  Mary  Jane  Clark,  no  cards. 

A  great  many  strories  are  told  about  securing 
timber  by  borrowing  it  when  the  owner  was  away, 
and  while  the  stories  that  are  told  are  for  the 
most  part  fabrications,  a  large  number  of  instances 
might  be  related  that  will  never  see  the  light. 
Dr.  Burnham  says  that  he  owned  thirteen  acres  of 
land  near  Albert  Lea,  and  cut  a  lot  of  logs  and 
hauled  them  out  on  the  flat,  and  every  one  mys- 
teriously disappeared.  His  idea  was  that  the 
business  men  of  Albert  Lea  thought  it  would  be 
a  good  joke,  after  beating  him  for  the  county  seat, 
to  compel  him  involuntarily  to  furnish  timber  for 
the  county  buildings. 

After  the  saw-mil]  was  in  operation,  Mr. 
Sheehan,  who  was  a  robust  young  man,  was  told 
by  Mr.  Ruble  that  he  had  a  fine  yoke  of  cattle, 
and  if  Sheehan  would  take  them  and  haul  in  logs 
from  where  ever  he  could  find  them,  they  would 
go  shares  on  the  lumber  after  it  was  sawed  out. 
So  the  young  man  went  to  work  and  did  a  good 
business,  and  when  the  settlement  came  in  the 
spring,  Sheehan  was  not  quite  satisfied  nnth  the 
lumber  turned  over  to  his  share,  and  entered  a 
mild  protest  at  the  inequality  of  the  division:  but 
Ruble  politely  invited  him  to  take  that  or  noth 
ing.  Seeing  no  method  of  redress  he  accepted 
his  allotment  ,  which  having  secured,  he  got  even 
by  remarking  "well  Mr.  Ruble  you  are  not  so  far 
ahead  as  you  may  think,  for  I  got  every  one  of 
those  logs  off  of  your  own  land."  This  incident 
is  related  on  account  of  its  intrinsic  merit,  for  both 
"George"  and  "Tim"  declare  that  nothing  of  the 
kind  ever  happened. 

George  S.  Ruble  was  one  of  the  settlers  of  1855. 
Tlie  first  time  he  visited  Freeborn  ccmnty  was  in 
.June,  1854,  and  slept  under  a  tree  near  one  of  the 
little  lakes  in  Albert  Lea.  At  that  time  there  was 
not  a  house  in  the  county.  The  few  people  here 
lived  in  wagons,  happy  and  contented,  at  least 
for  a  time. 

At  the  sixth  annual  reunion  of  the  old  settlers, 
a  letter  was  received  from  Mr.  Ruble,  who  was 
then  at  Lookout  Mountain,  Tenneesee,  and  as  it 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 


277 


relates  to   the  early  history,   some   portion   of  it 
will  be  printed  here. 

"When,  for  the  first  time,  I  saw  the  country,  I 
loved  it  well  enough  to  make  it  my  future  home, 
with  a  few  others  to  denote  the  energies  of  my 
life,  to  redeem  it  from  its  wild  state,  and  help  to 
lay  the  stepping  stones  into  the  garden  spot  of  the 
Northwest.  As  I  look  around  upon  the  general 
improvements,  in  both  city  and  country,  I  con- 
clude that  I  have  never  seen  them  equalled,  and 
can  scarcely  realize  that  the  days  of  my  absence 
have  witnessed  it  all.  Those  who  have  read  "The 
Mysteries  of  Metropolisville  "  will  understand  my 
feelings  in  1855,  for  I,  of  course,  like  hundreds  of 
others,  had  sought  the  West  to  find  a  city  des- 
tined in  the  future  to  l)e  the  "great  business  cen- 
ter." You  certainly  will  remember  the  little 
towns  that  sprung  up  all  around,  and  that  in  a 
few  years,  like  Metropolisville,  in  Rice  county, 
were  compelled  to  yield  to  the  force  of  circum- 
stances, for  they  could  not  all  be  County  Seats, 
and  in  this  vitality  alone  seemed  centered.  I  had 
come  with  my  head  full  of  towns,  and  with  this 
all  absorbing  idea  began  hunting  immediately  for 
desirable  locations.  With  such  material  at  hand,  it 
took  me  but  a  short  time  to  find "  just  what  I 
wanted.  Having  made  all  arrangements  I  left, 
and  in  the  fall  returned  with  my  family  and  a 
gang  of  men,  and  began  at  once  the  erection  of 
the  old  saw-mill,  which  was,  by  the  way,  when 
completed,  the  finest  frame  building  ever  erected 
in  Minnesota.  About  this  time  St.  Nicholas  was 
founded,  under  the  chief  auspices  of  Jacob  Ly 
Brand,  as  doubtless  many  will  remember.  One 
day  I  went  and  looked  over  the  jsosition,  and 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  situation  of  St. 
Nicholas  was  in  every  way  equal  to  Albert  Lea,  and 
the  mill  power  was  ever  so  much  better  than  tbe 
one  I  was  improving.  I  therefore  made  a  propo- 
sition to  Ly  Brand  to  unite  town  interests  and  in- 
fluences, build  the  mill,  procure  the  County  Seat, 
and  make  the  future  metropolis  at  St.  Nicholas, 
instead  of  Albert  Lea.  My  proposition  was  re- 
ceived with  indignation  by  that  confident  individ- 
ual, who  informed  me  that  I  might  abandon  my 
town  if  I  chose  to  do  so,  at  any  rate  he  proposed 
to  have  both  mill  and  County  Seat  at  his  place, 
and  did  not  propose  to  have  any  partnership 
about  it,  either.  So  I  left  him  and  went  my  way. 
The  intervening  years  tell  the  story  with  its  re- 
sults.    Some  may  rem  >mber  tlie  dances  and  very 


good  entertainments  we  enjoyed  for  a  short  time 
at  this  point,  at  the  hotel,  which,  like  the  one  at 
Itasca,  the  old  settlers  will  all  remember,  has  long 
since  been  removed.  In  relation  to  Itasca,  it 
should  be  remembered  that  it  was  the  strongest 
opponent  in  the  County  Seat  contest,  and  it  was 
at  one  time  hard  to  tell  what  the  result  would  be. 
So  the  saw-mill  progressed.  I  still  have  in  my 
possession  the  old  day  book  used  in  the  transac- 
tion of  this  business,  and  I  prize  it  as  a  choice 
relic.     The  first  entry  is  as  follows : 

Albert  Lea,  Oct.  27,  1855. 
Lewis  Osgood,  Dr. 

To  cash  given  him  by  Willford  in  advance 

for  work  on  mill $30 .  00 

Saxon  C.  Roberts,  Dr. 

To  cash  for  work $6 .  00 

One  half  pound  tobacco 20 

One  box  caps 12  J^ 

One  comb 12J^ 

16.45 
These  were  the  first  book  entries  of  business 
done  here.      Two  years  later  this  entry  appears: 

Oct.  28,  1857. 
I.  T.  Adrianne,  Dr. 

To  goods  bought  of  A.  B.  Webber,  as  per 
bill !li!1.50 

Webber  was  our  first  Attorney,  and  poor  Adri- 
anne came  to  a  sad  end.  Under  the  same  date 
was  a  charge  to  the  printing  office  for  seventeen 
and  one  half  pounds  of  nails  at  10  cents  per 
pound,  $1.75.  The  book  runs  up  to  May,  1859, 
and  almost  the  last  charge  is : 

Town  of  Albert  Lea,  Dr. 

To  60  feet  of  plank $1.75 

Now,  as  I  fail  to  find  any  credit,  I  think  that 
the  town  still  owes  me  that  bill,  but  I  might  be 
induced  to  sign  a  receipt. 

On  the  fly  leaf  I  find  this  memorandum: 
"Swineford  and  Gray  arrived  in  Albert  Lea  on  the 
28th  of  March,  1857."  Albert  Lea  was  named  not 
long  after  I  arrived.  Merry,  WUlford,  myself, 
and  others  were  sitting  in  a  tent  one  evening,  and 
then  and  there  the  present  name  was  decided  up- 
on, and  the  handsome  li.ttle  city  with  its  peculiarly 
odd  name  has  attained  as  wide-spread  popularity 
as  any  place  of  its  size  in  the  country,  and  it  is 
justly  entitled  to  it.  The  principal  object  of  the 
meeting  in  the  tent  was  to  make  application  for  a 
Post-ofBce,  and  the  name  for  it  was  arrived  at  af- 
ter considerable  discussion,  when   at  my  sugges- 


278 


HISrORY  OF  FREKBOliN  CUUNTT. 


tion,  Albert  Lea  was  finally  chosen,  with  Mr. 
Merry  as  Postmaster.  How  many  of  us  will  re- 
member our  first  (lance  in  the  old  log  house,  with 
Charley  Colby  for  our  musician,  and  how  we  all 
enjoyed  it.  Calico  was  in  demand  then,  and  I 
venture  to  say  that  not  a  single  lady  complained 
of  some  awkward  booby's  treading  on  her  train. 
It  is  true  the  old  roughly  hewn  plank  floor  was 
not  as  smooth  as  the  waxed  affairs  over  which  the 
dancers  of  the  present  day  now  glide,  but  it  was 
the  best  the  country  afforded,  and  all  participat- 
ing had  the  good  sense  to  appreciate  the  situation 
and  find  hearty  enjoyment  in  the  afTairs,  as  they 
then  existed. 

So  also  we  remember  the  first  fourth  of  July 
celebration,  followed  by  the  dance  at  the  log 
house  now  standing  on  lot  four,  block  twelve.  In 
this  same  house  old  Uncle  McReynolds,  in  his 
plain,  earnest  manner  would  expound  to  us  the 
gospel,  and  always  found  an  attentive  and  apj)re- 
ciative  audience.  In  this  house  also  was  taught 
our  first  school,  and  I  doubt  not  that  many 
persons  who  have  come  to  man's  estate  in  these 
later  years,  have  children  as  old  as  they  them- 
selves were  when  they  attended  our  first  school  with 
Lucy  Parker  for  a  teacher.  So  will  many  re- 
member the  school  that  followed,  taught  in  Clark's 
old  log  store  room  on  Clark  street.  Certain  I  am, 
that  the  teacher  of  that  school,  if  present,  will  re- 
member it.     *     *     * 

On  the  occasion  of  oiir  first  celebration,  our 
first  liberty  pole  wsis  raised  near  where  Brown's 
bank  now  is,  and  a  view  of  it  was  obstructed  in 
no  direction  by  buildings  at  that  time.  During 
those  times  we  had  a  few  old-fashioned  camp, 
meetings  over  on  what  is  now  known  as  Ballard's 
Point,  and  the  number  that  attended  satisfied  the 
faithful  that  our  country  was  fast  peopling.     *     * 

Long  years  of  plenty  and  prosperity  could 
never  obliterate  from  the  minds  of  the  old  settlers 
of  Freeborn  county  the  days  when  hunger  and 
want  were  daily  in  sight.  No  money  to  buy  with 
and  nothing  to  buy  if  money  was  plenty.  Our 
only  possessions  were  health  and  energy,  with  a 
determination  to  find  in  the  end  better  days. 

How  we  all  looked  forward  to  the  completion  of 
the  saw-miU,  with  a  longing  intensified  by  in- 
adequate house  accommodations  and  the  excite- 
ment on  the  day  of  starting  was  intense.  After 
that  got  in  operation  it  was  found  necessary  to 
have  a   grinding    aj)paratus  also,    and   the    old 


iron  com  cracker  was  then  added.  How  quick- 
ly the  mill  sprung  into  popularity.  Grists  from 
all  parts  of  the  country  came  pouring  in,  and 
what  grists  they  were,  ranging  from  four  quarts 
to  two  bushels,  and  usually  far  from  first  quaUty, 
not  unfrequeutly  being  half  rotten.  I  well  re- 
member one  man  who  came  on  foot  fifteen  miles 
with  a  little  less  than  a  peck  of  corn  in  his  grist; 
to  this,  instead  of  taking  toll,  was  added  two 
(juarts  extra.  On  his  return  home  some  one  re- 
marked about  the  smallness  of  his  grist,  whereupon 
they  were  informed  that  Ruble  had  stolen  three- 
fourths  of  it  while  grinding.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  the  old  corn  cracker  is  entitled  to  member- 
ship in  the  old  settlers'  association. 

Not  a  few  will  remember  the  big  seine  knitted 
by  the  old  man  ^\'ard,  and  the  mighty  hauls,  we 
made  with  it  below  the  dam.  I  well  remember 
one  haul  made  by  us  that  filled  a  common  wagon 
box.  Suckers  were  largely  in  the  majority  sand- 
wiched thinly  with  pickerel.  Suckers  and  milk 
were  the  staples,  with  a  scanty  allowance  of  corn 
bread  for  desert.  Hard  fare  it  seems  now,  but 
providence  gave  us  an  appetite  to  enjoy  even  that, 
and  I  think  I  am  safe  in  saying  that  those  days 
witnessed  some  of  the  happiest  ones  in  the  history 
of  Freeborn  county. 

The  years  '58  and  '59  might  be  called  the 
"sucker  period."  When  I  came,  in  July,  1855, 
there  was  no  house  in  the  county.  Bill  Rice, 
Cottrell,  Gardner,  and  Hostetter  were  living  in 
their  wagons.  While  at  Freeborn  Lake  I  found 
Miller  and  Bickford  camping  out.  When  I  star- 
ted for  St.  Paul,  in  the  winter  of  1856-57,  to  do 
some  County  Seat  log  rolling,  which  was  not  al- 
together useless,  I  found  it  necessary  to  go 
down  to  Merry's  Ford  in  Iowa,  on  the  Cedar 
Kiver,  then  strike  the  Austin  road.  From  Austin 
I  went  toChatfield,  thence  up  to  Red  Wing,thence 
up  the  Mississippi  River  on  the  ice  to  St.  Paul. 
The  same  circuitous  route  was  followed  in  March, 
on  my  return.  A  few  days  later,  with  my  wife 
and  son  C.  N.,  then  a  lad  of  five  years,  I  went  to 
Geneva  around  by  the  Iowa  route,  and  brought 
in  E.  C.  Stacy,  S.  N.  Frisbie,  and  Wm.  Andrews, 
the  three  Commissioners  appointed  by  Governor 
Gorman  to  organize  Freeborn  county.  They  met 
in  the  old  log  house  situated  on  what  was  known 
for  years  as  the  "Island"  and  performed  the  work 
for  which  they  had  been  appointed,  and  the 
county  was  organized  with  your  humble  servant 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 


279 


as  the  first  sheriff  and  tax  collector.  The  bill  to 
organize  the  county  was  rolled  through  in  oppos. 
itiou  to  Morton  S.  Wilkinson,  Ramsey,  Emmett 
Smith,  Brisbin,  and  others,  and  perhaps  to  its 
early  passage  Freeborn  owes  much  of  its  advance- 
ment and  prosperity. 

Upon  my  arrival  last  month,  as  the  train  passed 
behind  the  woods  into  full  view  ot  our  little  city, 
f  could  scarcely  realize,  as  I  looked  upon  the 
church  spires  rising  above  the  town,  and  the 
other  many  evidences  of  a  healthy  growth  and 
prosperity,  that  this  was  the  same  place  I  had 
visited  twenty-tive  years  before,  and  found  with- 
out even  a  wagon  road  to  mark  a  degree  in  civil- 
ization. But  though  I  did  not  then  exactly  lo- 
cate a  railroad,  shortly  after,  when  our  town  had 
been  located,  with  a  Post-oflice  and  a  hotel,  I  be- 
gan to  feel  the  necessity  of  a  railroad,  and  the  idea 
settled  into  conviction,  that  at  some  future  day 
not  so  far  distant,  we  would  have  it,  and  I  am  go- 
ing to  do  myself  the  credit  to  say  that  in  that 
position  I  was  nearly  alone,  for  when  I  consulted 
A.  B.  Webber,  for  whose  opinions  we  entertained 
much  respect,  he  laughed  and  said,  "Why  Ruble, 
you  are  crazy  on  the  subject  of  All)ert  Lea,  and 
are  constantly  imagining  all  sorts  of  impossible 
things  about  it ;  you  will  never  live  to  see  a  railroad 
in  Albert  Lea.  But  you  see  Webber  was  mistaken, 
as  well  as  the  others  who,  becoming  dissatisfied, 
sold  their  property  at  a  sacrifice  and  left,  or  what 
was  worse,  went  away  at  a  period  when  they 
should  have  stayed,  leaving  property  here  to  the 
tender  manipulation  of  those  left  behind." 

After  some  general  reflections  Mr.  Ruble  closed 
his  admirable  letter  with  the  hope  that  the  meet- 
ing of  the  old  settlers  might  be  a  source  of  pleasure 
and  a  harbinger  of  many  more  equally  enjoyable 
in  the  years  to  come. 

GENERAL     BEMABKS. 

To  any  one  who  has  lived  in  an  old  community, 
there  is  something  of  surprise  and  admiration  in 
the  remarkable  transition  from  an  expanse  of  wild- 
ness,  solitude,  and  natural  helplessness,  to  a  living 
civilization;  from  barbarism  to  enlightenment,  as 
presented  in  this  region,  which,  within  the  remem- 
brance of  the  present  generation  has  sprung 
from  an  unproductive  domain  into  towns  and 
cities  equipped  and  enriched  with  all  that  makes 
life  desirable.  This  wonderful  change  has  been 
simply  marvelous. 

The  pioneers  of  this   whole  region   were  partic- 


ularly fortunate  in  their  contact  with  the  Indians. 
The  scenes  of  the  massacre,  which  began  with 
the  planting  of  the  English  colonies  in  Virginia 
and  Massachusetts,  and  moved  with  the  advancing 
civilization  in  a  crimson  line  along  the  frontier 
with  the  most  heart-rendering  atrocities,  seem  to 
have  stojiped  at  the  Mississippi,  although  the 
terrible  Sioux  were  reputed  second  to  no  others  in 
bloodthirstiness,  leaving  this  section  in  peace  and 
quietness,  to  crop  out,  however,  in  all  its  original 
fierceness  to  the  west  of  us  in  1862,  at  that  terri- 
ble Sioux  massacre  so  forcibly  depicted  in  the 
preceeding  pages  of  this  work. 

Although  the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife 
were  not  a  constant  menace  to  the  early  comers, 
it  must  not  be  imagined  that  there  was  not  toil, 
privation,  cold,  and  hunger  to  undergo,  for  there 
was  absolutely  nothing  in  these  wilds  of  Minne- 
sota, except  the  intrinsic  merit  of  the  location,  to 
attract  people  from  their  more  or  less  comfortable 
homes  in  the  East,  or  on  the  other  continent,  from 
whence  so  many  came.  Those  who  first  Rrrived 
were  inspired  with  hope,  which  indeed  "  springs 
entemal  in  the  liuman  hooiii; '  but  they  were  re- 
garded by  their  friends,  who  were  left  behind,  as 
adventui'ers,  soldiers  of  fortune,  who,  if  they  got 
through  alive  would  certainly  never  be  able  to  re- 
turn, as  they  would  surely  be  anxious  to  do,  un- 
less they  were  particularly  fortunate.  They  were 
a  sturdy  race,  who  realized  the  inequalities  of 
the  struggles  in  the  old  States  or  Countries, 
where  humanity  on  the  one  hand,  claiming  "the 
inaleinable  right  to  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit 
of  aappiness;"  and  on  the  other  hand  the  accum- 
ulations ot  labor  in  vast  aggregations,  in  sordidly 
avaricious  clutches,  hedged  in  with  traditional 
precedents  and  barriers,  with  every  facility  for  re- 
ceiving and  gathering  in,  but  with  few  and  small 
outlets  for  distribution,  and  they  resolved  to  es- 
tablish themselves  where  merit  would  not  be  dis- 
carded and  supplanted  by  the  antiquated,  but 
still  protent  relics  of  feudalism. 

The  men  who  come  here  to  establish  homes  for 
themselves,  their  families,  and  their  posterity, 
were  as  a  rule,  hard-working,  open-hearted,  clear- 
headed, and  sympathizing.  They  were  good 
neighbors,  and  so  good  neighborhoods  were 
created,  and  they  made  a  practical  illustration  of 
the  great  doctrine  of  the  brotherhood  of  man,  by 
actual  example  rather  than  by  quoting  creeds,  or 
conforming   to   outward  observances,  which  may 


280 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY 


or  may  not  spring  from  motives  of  purity.  With 
a  bearing  that  never  blanched  in  the  presence  of 
misfortune  or  danger,  however  appalling,  they 
were  nevertheless  tender,  kind,  and  considerate, 
when  confronted  by  disaster  and  adversity,  and  it 
is  certain  that  their  deficiencies  in  the  outward 
manifestations  of  piety,  were  more  than  compen- 
sated for  by  their  love  and  regard  for  the  claims  of 
humanity. 

We  who  enjoy  the  blessings  resulting  from  the 
efforts  of  these  hardy  pioneers,  many  of  whom 
are  around  us  in  actual  life,  would  be  less  than 
human  if  we  were  not  filled  with  gratitude  to 
these  early  settlers,  who  paved  the  way  and  made 
the  condition  of  things  we  find  a  reality.  The 
value  of  what  they  accomplished  cannot  be  over- 
estimated, and  it  should  be  constantly  remem- 
bered that  whatever  of  romance  attended  the 
early  colonists,  was  more  than  compensated  for 
by  hard  work. 

If  this  meed  of  praise  is  justly  due  the  men,  as 
it  assuredly  is,  what  shall  be  said  in  commenda- 
tion of  the  heroic  women,  who  learned  the  vicis- 
situdes of  frontier  life,  endured  the  absence  from 
home,  friends,  and  old  associations,  whose  tender 
ties,  that  only  a  woman's  heart  can  feel,  must  have 
wrung  all  hearts  as  they  were  severed.  The  de- 
votion that  would  lead  to  such  a  breaking  away 
to  follow  a  father,  a  husband,  or  a  son,  into  the 
trackless  waste  beyond  the  Mississippi,  where 
dark  and  gloomy  apprehensions  must  ha^•e  over- 
shadowed the  mind,  is  above  all  praise.  The 
nature  of  the  part  taken  by  the  noble  women  who 
first  came  to  this  uninhabited  region  cannot  be 
fully  appreciated.  Although  by  nature  and  edu- 
cation, liberal  if  not  lavish,  they  prRotioed  the 
most  rigid  economy,  and  secured  comforts  from 
the  most  meager  means.  They  often  at  crtical 
times  preserved  order,  reclaipiing  the  men  from 
utter  despair  during  gloomy  periods;  and  their 
constant  example  of  frugal  industry  and  cheerful- 
ness, continually  admonished  them  to  renewed 
exertions;  the  instincts  of  womanhood  intermitt- 
ingly  encouraging  integrity  and  manhood. 

As  to  the  effects  of  frontier  life,  socially  and 
morally,  upon  those  who  have  secured  homes 
here  in  the  West,  a  few  observations  may  not  be 
inappropriate.  During  the  past  generation  a 
noted  divine  in  the  East,  Dr.  Bushnell,  who  will 
be  remembered  by  those  who  came  from  there  in 
the  fifties,  preached  a  sermon  on  the  "  barbarous 


tendencies  of  civilization  in  the  West,"  and  on  this 
theme  the  reverend  gentleman  iiredicated  au  ur- 
gent and  almost  frantic  appeal  to  Christianity  to 
put  forth  renewed  and  strenuous  exertions  to  save 
this  region  from  a  relapse  into  barbarism.  This 
tendency,  it  was  urged,  must  result  from  the  dis- 
ruption of  social  and  religious  ties,  the  mingling 
of  heterogeneous  elements,  and  the  removal  of 
the  external  restraints  so  common,  and  supposed 
to  be  so  potent  in  older  communities.  It  is  evi- 
dent, however,  that  Dr.  liushnell  did  not  have  a 
sufficiently  broad  and  extended  view  of  the  sub- 
ject; for  the  arbitrament  of  time  has  shown  that 
his  apprehensions  were  entirely  groundless,  for  if 
he  had  even  carefully  surveyed  the  history  of  the 
past,  he  would  have  seen  that  in  a  nomadic  con- 
dition, which  emigration  temporarily  involves, 
there  is  never  any  real  progress  in  civilization  or 
refinement.  Institutions  for  the  improvement  and 
elevation  of  the  race  must  be  planted  deep  in  the 
soil  before  they  can  raise  their  battlements  in 
grandeur  and  majesty  toward  heaven,  and  bear 
fruit  for  the  enlightenment  of  the  nations.  The 
evils  of  which  Dr.  Bushnell  was  so  alarmed  were 
without  a  lasting  impression,  because  merely  tem- 
porary in  character.  The  planting  of  a  new 
colony  where  so  much  labor  is  imperative,  where 
everything  has  to  be  constructed,  involves  an 
obvious  increase  of  human  freedom,  which  is  some- 
times taken  advantage  of,  and  the  conventionali- 
ties of  society  are  necessarily  disregarded  to  a 
great  extent.  But  the  elements  composing  a  sin- 
cere regard  for  the  feelings  and  welfare  of  others, 
and  of  self  government,  everywhere  largely  pre- 
dominates; and  the  fusion  of  the  races  modifies  the 
asperities  and  the  idiosyncrasies  of  each,  and  cer- 
tainly will  in  due  time  create  a  composite  nation- 
ality, in  which  it  is  hoped  in  comformity  with  the 
spirit  of  this  remarkable  age,  will  produce  a 
nationality  or  a  race,  as  unlike  as  it  must  be 
superior  to  those  that  have  preceded  it.  Even 
now,  before  the  first  generation  has  passed  away, 
society  here  has  outgrown  the  irritation  of  the 
transplanting,  and  there  are  not  more  vicious 
elements  in  it,  if  as  many,  as  there  are  m  the  old 
communities,  as  the  criminal  statistics  abundantly 
show. 

In  a  large  majority  of  cases  the  men  and 
women  coming  here  had  at  first  to  struggle  to 
meet  the  physical  wants  of  themselves  and  little 
ones,  and  they  had  no   time,  even    if  they  had  an 


CENTENNIAL  HISTORY. 


281 


inclination,  to  make  protestations  involving  pos- 
tulates of  doctrinal  faith,  but  the  results  of  what- 
ever teaching  they  had  received  was  materialized 
in  honest  labor  for  the  good  of  the  whole  com- 
munity, and  in  special  acts  of  beneficence  whenever 
occasion  presented.  It  is  no  exaggeration  to  say 
that  what  has  been  accomplished  here  in  thirty 
years,  in  the  planting  of  educational  and  moral 
institutions,  has  been  almost  equal  to  what  has 
been  realized  in  New  England  in  two  hundred  and 
fifty  years. 

To  one  who  has  not  been  actually  engaged  in 
reclaiming  a  farm  from  a  state  of  nature,  and 
bringing  it  to  a  condition  that  will  yield  a  com- 
fortable support  tor  a  family,  it  is  difficult  to  con- 
ceive the  amount  of  toil  required,  which  is  often 
not  represented  by  the  difference  between  the 
government  price  of  the  land  and  its  market  value 
to-day.  And  as  time  goes  on  the  estimation  in 
which  the  settlers  who  formed  the  management  of 
this  northwestern  civilization  will  be  held,  will  be 
higher  and  higher;  and  the  generation  now  so 
rapidly  taking  their  places  should  appreciate  the 
presence  of  those  who  remain,  and  endeavor  to 
strew  with  flowers  the  pathways  that  are  shorten- 
ing so  certainly,  and  must  all  terminate  at  no  dis- 
tant day.  Let  kindness  and  consideration  wait 
upon  them  while  they  are  still  with  us,  and  not 
heedlessly  postpone  our  substantial  appreciation 
of  their  merits,  and  between  our  remembrances  of 
the  toil,  the  privations,  and  the  suffering  they  en- 
dured which  has  redounded  to  our  benefit,  until 
they  are  all  gone,  and  then  erect  cold  and  pas- 
sionless monuments  to  their  memory. 

"Be  grateful,  children,  to  your  sires: 

Light  up  affection's  fervent  fires, 

And  fan  them  with  your  love  and  care. 

Until  their  aged  hearts  grow  warm. 

Close  sheltered  from  want's  chilling  storm, 

And  heads  are  bowed  in  thankful  prayer." 


CHAPTER  XL VII. 

CENTENNIAL  HISTORY. 


The  centenial  history  of  the  county  is  printed 
entire  on  account  of  the  intrinsic  value  of  the 
material  it  contains  and  because  it  is  in  itself  a 
historical  document.  Without  doubt  there  are 
some  recapitulations  of  events  in  the  part  of  the 
work  recently  compiled,  and  it  is  possible  there 
may  be  discrepancy,  as  there  always  is   between 


eye  witnesses  of  any  event,  even  when  under  oath 
in  a  court  of  justice.  In  the  lists  of  county 
officers,  they  all  are  extended  to  the  present  time,  to 
prevent  repetition,  otherwise  the  article  is  intact. 


CENTENNIAL  HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


PBEPARED  BY  D.  G.  PAEKEK  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF 
THE  COMMITTEE  OF  ARRANGEMENTS,  FOB  DELIVERY 
AT  THS  CELEBRATION  IN  ALBERT  LEA,  JULY  4, 
1876. 

Mr.  Prexident  and  Fellow  Citkena  of  Fret-born 
County: — A  recommendation  having  been  adop- 
ted by  Congress,  that  the  people  make  this  Cen  - 
tenial  Anniversary  one  of  historic  interest,  the 
committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  general  man- 
agement of  your  local  celebration,  have  extended 
to  me  the  very  flattering  compliment  of  entrusting 
to  my  hands  the  delicate  duty  of  compiling  a 
brief  record  of  Freeborn  county.  While  appreci- 
ating the  courtesy,  and  feeling  grateful  for  the 
confidence  thus  reposed,  I  enter  upon  the  work 
with  hesitancy,  fully  conscious  of  the  responsibil- 
ity which  it  entails,  and  not  unmindful  of  the 
criticism  which  the  historian  is  likely  to  provoke. 

The  task  is  the  more  embarrassing  from  the 
fact  that  all  history  is  dry,  and  he  who  looks  for 
flower  of  romance  or  the  poetry  of  song  in  the 
musty  volumes  of  public  records,  has  read  history 
to  no  purpose. 

Nevertheless,  it  is  fitting  and  proper  that  the 
100th  anniversary  of  our  National  Independence 
should  be  invested  with  marks  of  special  recogni- 
tion, to  the  end  that  the  people  may  retrospect 
the  past;  post  their  growth  and  doings  to  the 
present,  and  so,  like  a  reckoning  upon  the  broad 
sea  of  life,  take  from  this  a  new  departure. 

EARLY    EXPLORATIONS. 

Until  the  year  1835,  the  region  now  embracing 
Freeborn  county,  was  comparatively  unknown. 
In  the  summer  of  that  year,  the  Government  fit- 
ted out  an  exploring  party,  consisting  of  164  men, 
under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Albert  Miller  Lea, 
with  instructions  to  make  a  triangular  march, 
from  Fort  Des  Moines,  northwest  to  Lake  Pepin, 
thence  southwesterly  to  the  Des  Moines  river, 
thence  following  the  stream  southward  to  the 
place  of  departure.  On  the  31st  of  July,  of  that 
year,  Lieut.  Lea  crossed  the  Turtle  River,  at  Mos- 


282 


r/LsTonr  of  FUKEmuN  county. 


cow,  and  on  the  following  day  passed  beyond  the 
western  line  of  our  county,  within  the  limits  of 
Aldeu  township. 

On  this  maroli  he  encamped  for  the  night  in 
Hayward,  rested  bis  command  the  next  afternoon 
on  the  east  bank  of  what  is  known  as  White's  Lake, 
and  made  copious  notes  of  the  conntry  along  the 
entire  route. 

The  solitude  of  this  untrodden  waste,  impressed 
itself  upon  him.  Sparkling  liikes  encircled  by 
gently  sloping  woodlands,  suggested  the  romance 
of  nature.  Smooth  prairies,  interspersed  with 
shady  groves,  rich  with  the  melody  of  feathered 
songsters,  was  a  charm  to  his  poetic  spirit.  Ever 
has  he  referred  to  this  lo.'ality,  as  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  he  has  ever  witnessed.  Afterwards  one 
Nicollet  mapped  out  this  section  of  country,  using 
Lt.  Lea's  notes  freely,  and  in  the  acknowledge- 
ment of  the  favor,  gave  the  name  of  that  brilliant 
officer  to  one  of  these  Elysian  gems. 

We  can  learn  of  no  other  white  man  visiting 
these  parts,  until  18-tl,  when  Henry  j\l.  Rice,  con- 
conducting  a  party  of  trappers,  encamped  upon 
the  shores  of  these  enchanting  waters,  spending 
here  a  pjrt  of  four  consecutive  years,  in  a  life  of 
daring  bravery,  startling  adventures,  and  rude  as- 
sociations. That  this  was  then,  as  now,  Ihe  para- 
dise of  the  sportsman,  is  attested  by  Mr.  K.,  who 
affirms  that  in  the  summer  of  1842  he  saw  over 
300  elk  in  one  day,  while  making  his  peregrin- 
ations around  these  lakes,  and  that  in  1843  he 
killed  two  of  these  Heet-footed  animals,  one  morn- 
ing before  breakfast. 

This  tract  of  country  was  embraced  within  a 
neutral  strip  of  territory,  lying  between  two  hos- 
tile bands  of  Indians,  and  was  frequently  made 
the  scalping  ground  of  both;  nor  were  they  par- 
ticular as  to  whose  hair  was  lifted,  provided  they 
could  exhibit  some  trophy  of  their  savage  propen- 
sity. Mr.  Rice  speaks  of  many  a  liair-breadth 
escape  on  the  part  of  himself  and  company,  during 
his  hazardous  adventures  in  this  wild  and  unfre- 
quented region. 

TERBITORIAL  ACTION. 

By  an  act  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  ap- 
proved February  2()th,  1855,  the  county  limits 
were  designated  by  boundary  lines,  and  the  name 
chosen.  It  covers  a  territory  of  30  miles  from 
east  to  west,  and  24  from  north  to  south,  embrac- 
ing 20  townships,  13  lakes,  more  or  less  important, 
and    a   tillable  area  of  about  40(i,0()0  acres.     A 


reasonably  temperate  climate,  and  an  unsurpassed 
richness  of  soil,  combine  to  make  it  one  of  the 
most  productive  regions  on  the  inhabitable  globe. 

It  was  named  in  honor  of  Wm.  Freeborn,  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Goodhue  county,  and  a  worthy 
member  of  the  early  Territorial  Legislature. 

By  a  subsequent  act  of  the  same  year,  the 
county  was  attached  to  Dodge  and  Goodhue  for 
Legislative  purposes,  which  constituted  the  Fourth 
Council  District. 

According  to  the  Land  Office  abstracts,  the 
first  entry  of  land  was  made  in  January  1855,  by 
Nelson  Everest,  and  thirty-four  of  the  first  con- 
veyances, by  deed,  were  recorded  in  Dodge 
county,  between  April  '56  and  March  '57,  thoi'gh 
I  find  nothing  in  the  general  laws  to  indicate  by 
what  authority  this  was  done.  In  February  of 
1859,  however,  these  records  were  transcribed 
and  brought  home  to  their  own  county. 

POLITICAL    HISTOBY. 

Although  the  county  limits  were  defined  at  so 
early  a  date;  it  had  no  political  organization  until 
March,  1857,  when  the  Territorial  Legislature 
made  provision  for  its  independent  government, 
authorizing  (tov.  (Jorman  to  carry  the  act  into 
ellect,  which  he  did  by  appointing  E.  C.  Stacy, 
S.  N.  Erisbie,  and  Wm.  Andrews,  as  temporary 
Commissioners. 

It  may  be  here  stated  that  the  county  was  or- 
ganized into  one  general  election  precinct,  by  au- 
thority of  the  State  Department,  in  the  fall  pre- 
vious, and  forty-four  votes  polled  in  the  election 
of  that  year;  the  same  being  held  at  the  house  o 
Wm.  Andrews,  in  Shell  Rock. 

The  Commissioners  referred  to  assembled  on 
the  3d  of  March,  1857,  and  proceeded  te  appoint 
the  various  County  Officers,  as  follows: 

Register  of  Deeds,  Samuel  M.  Thompson; 
Treasurer,  Thomas  C.  Thorne;  Sheriff,  Geo.  S. 
Ruble;  Probate  Judge,  E.  C.  Stacy;  Coroner,  A. 
H.  Bartlett;  Co.  Attoriiey,  J.  W.  Heath;  Sur- 
veyor, E.  P.  Skinner;  Justices,  Geo.  Watson,  I. 
P.  Linde,  Elias  Stanton,  Patrick  Fitzsimmons. 

These  appointments  took  effect  on  the  20th  of  the 
same  month,  except  that  of  Fitzsimmons,  who  re- 
ceived his  authority  afterwards.  In  April  follow- 
ing, Wm  Morin  was  appointed  Register  of  Deeds 
in  place  of  Mr.  Thompson,  who  declined  to  qual- 
ify. The  Coroner's  office  also  went  begging,  and 
was  tendered  in  succession  to  Geo.  Watson  and  C. 


CENTENNIAL  HISTORY. 


28  3 


S.  Tarbell,  after  Mr.  Bartlett  had  signified  his  un- 
willJDgness  to  serve. 

At  tbe  April  session,  the  Commissioners  author- 
ized the  clerk  to  procure  all  necessary  books  and 
the  Surveyor's  field  notes  of  the'public  surveys; 
but  as  there  were  no  taxes  assessed,  or  other  pub- 
lic revenue  to  draw  upon,  we  have  yet  to  learn 
which  one  of  these  generous  officers  donated  the 
money.  It  is  fair  to  presume  that  neither  of  them 
were  in  a  hurry  to  lay  his  purse  upon  the  public 
altar,  for  we  find  that  the  minutes  of  the  Board 
were  long  kept  upon  sheets  of  foolscap,  stitched 
together,  and  that  field  notes  were  not  obtained 
until  years  afterward.  It  may  also  be  presumed 
that  the  Commissioners  felt  the  weight  of  their 
great  responsibility,  for  it  appears  that  no  less 
than  seven  sessions  were  held  between  March, 
1857,  and  November  of  the  same  year. 

I  do  not  refer  to  this  sluringly.  Everything 
was  in  a  chaotic  state,  out  of  which  they  were  ex- 
pected to  bring  regularity  and  order.  There 
were  assessments  to  be  made,  districts  to  organ- 
ize, towns  to  officer,  precincts  to  form,  roads  to 
survey^in  short,  everything  to  be  done,  and  the 
obligation  resting  upon  themselves.  Between  the 
various  meetings  of  the  Board,  during  the  spring 
and  summer  of  1857,  there  were  eleven  voting 
precincts  organized  and  the  judges  duly  ap- 
pointed. 

The  first   general   election  was  held  in  October, 

1857,  at  which  646  votes  were  polled  in  the  county, 
and  the  following  officers  chosen:  Register  of 
Deeds,  Wm.  Morin;  Treasurer,  Henry  King; 
Sheriff,  J.  W.  Heath;  Probate  Judge,  A.  W. 
White;  Clerk  of  Court,  E.  P.  Skinner;  Surveyor, 
H.  D.  Brown;  Coroner,  A.  M.  Burnham;  Com- 
missioners, S.  N.  Frisbie,  Joseph  Rickard,  Peter 
Clauson.. 

The  Legislature  of  1857-58  changed  the  County 
Governments,  and  provided  for  what  is  known  as 
the  Supervisor  system,  by  which  each  organized 
town  was  represented  on  the  County  Board, 
through  its  chairman.  Several  of  the  towns  in 
this  county  being  either  unorganized  or  attached 
to  others  for  township  purposes,  necessarily  lim- 
ited the  representation,  so  that  the  first  Board 
under  the  Supervisor   system,  which  met  in  June, 

1858,  was  composed  of  ten  delegates,  as   follows: 
Shell  Rock,  William  Andrews;  Moscow,  Theop. 

Lowry;  Geneva,  E.  C.  Stacy;  Riceland,  Isaac 
Baker;  Hartland,  B.  J.   Boardman;  Freeborn,  C. 


D.  Giddings;  Albert  Lea,  A.  C.  Wedge;  Pickerel 
Lake,  A.  W.  White;  Manchester,  H.  W.  Allen; 
Nuuda,  Patrick  Fitzsimmons. 

Of  this  Board,  E.  C.  Stacy  was  elected 
Chairman. 

The  Supervisor  system  continued  tmtil  the  win- 
ter of  1860,  when  its  complicated  and  expensive 
character  induced  a  return  to  the  Commissioner 
plan,  and  in  June  following,  the  Board  elected 
under  this  law,  consisting  of  Wm.  N.  Goslee,  G. 
W.  Skinner,  and  Asa  Walker,  met  and  organized 
with  the  latter  as  Chairman. 

COnNTT    OFFICHSS. 

The  county  offices,  other  than  the  Commission- 
ers, have  been  filled  as  follows : 

Auditor.— Wra.  Morin,  from  1859  to  1861;  E. 
C.  Stacy,  from  1861  to  1865;  C.  C.  Colby,  from 
1865  to  1867;  E.  C.  Stacy,  from  1867  to  1869; 
Samuel  Bachelder,  from  1869  to  1877;  then  WU- 
liam  Lincoln  and  Giles  Q.  Slocum,  to  the  present 
time. 

Register  of  Deeds. — Wm.  Morin,  from  1857 
to  1862;  John  Wood,  from  1862  to  1872;  August 

Peterson,  from  1872  to ;  then  Ole   Simonson 

and  Gurs  Hanson,  to  the  present  time . 

It  will  bs  seen  from  this,  that  from  1859  to 
1861,  Mr.  Morin  performed  the  double  duty  of 
Register  of  Deeds  and  Auditor. 

Tke.\surer. — T.  C.  Thorne,  from  March,  1857 
to  1858:  Henry  King,  from  1858  to  1860;  Ole  I. 
Ellingson,  from  1860  to  1862;  J.  E.  Smith,  from 
1862  to  1866;  D.  G.  Parker,  from  1866  to  1868; 
Charles  Kittleson,  from  1868  to  1877;  since  then, 
Frank  W.  Barlow. 

Probate  Judge! — E.  C.  Stacy,  from  March, 
1857  to  1858;  A.  W.  White,  from  1858  to  1860; 
B.  J.  House,  from  1860  to  1862;  A.  H.  Bartlett, 
from  1862  to  1866;  B.  J.  House,  from  1866  to 
1870;  A.  M.  Tyrer,  from  1870  to  1872;  G.  Gul- 

brandson,  from  1872  to ;  and  then  James  H. 

Parker,  and  now  Ira  W.  Towne. 

Sheriff. — Geo.  S.  Ruble,  from  March,  1857  to 
1858;  John  W.  Heath,  from  1858  to  1860;  J.  A. 
Robson,  from  1860  to  1862;  R.  K.  Crum,  from 
1862  to  1864;  Leander  Cooley,  from  1864  to  1866; 
A.  W.  St.  John,  from  1866  to  October,  1867;  John 
Brownsill  from  October,  1867  to  1868;  E.  D. 
Porter  from  1868  to  1872;  T.  J.  Sheehan,  from 
1872  to  the  present  time. 

Clerk  of  the  Court. — A.  Armstrong,  from 
August,  1857  to  1858;  E.  P.   Skinner,  from  1858 


284 


HISTORY  (IF  FREE  BORN  COUNTY. 


to  1862;  H.  D.  Brown,  from  1862  to  October, 
1871:  John  Weed  from  October,  1871  to  1873;  A. 

W.  White,  from  1873  to ;  and  George  T.  (larJ- 

ner  to  the  present  time. 

CofNTT  Attorney. — J.  W.  Heath,  from  March, 
1857  to  1858. 

From  that  time  until  1860  the  office  was  not 
known  to  the  law,  it  having  lioen  abolished  by  the 
adoption  of  the  State  Constitution,  and  a  District 
Prosecuting  Attorney  substituted,  which  office 
was  held  by  Mr.  Perkins,  of  Faribault . 

In  1860,  the  office  having  again  been  provided 
for,  J.  U.  Perry  held,  by  appointment,  from  March 
until  December  of  that  year.  D.  (t.  Parker, 
from  December,  1860  to  December,  1862  ; 
A.  Armstrong,  from  1862  to  1865  ;  H.  B. 
Collins,  from  1865  to  1869  ;  J.  A.  Lovely,  from 
1869  to  1873;  A.  G.  Wedge,  from  1873  to  the 
election  of  John  A.  Lovely,  who  is  the  present  in- 
cnmbent. 

Court  Commissioner. — A.  W.  White  held  this 
in  connection  with  the  Probate  office,  from  Au- 
gust, 1858  to  1861;  J.  M.  Drake,  from  1861  to 
1862;  Samuel  Eaton,  from  1862  to  1874;  B.  H. 
Carter,  from  1874  to  1876;  R.  B.  Spicer,  from  Jan- 
uary, 1876  to  1878;  then  .John  Anderson,  and  now 
Herman  Blaekmer. 

Much  of  this  time,  the  office  existed  more  in 
name  than  in  fact. 

CoKONEK.— C.  S.  Tarbell,  from  April,  1857  to 
1858.  At  the  general  election  of  1857,  Dr.  A.  M. 
Buruham  was  chosen  to  this  office,  but  he  did  not 
qualify,  and  it  stood  vacant  for  a  ])eriod  of  ten 
years.  Geo.  S.  Ruble  was  elected  in  1861,  but  did 
not  serve;  Samuel  Eaton,  from  1868  to  1872;  W.  W. 
Cargill,  from  1872  to  1874;  N.  H.  Ellickson,  from 
1874  to  1876;  Dr.  John  Froshaug,  from  1876  to 
the  present  time. 

School  Superintendent. — Up  to  July,  1865, 
no  well  defined  management  of  schools  existed. 
In  speculating  upon  the  best  system,  the  Legisla- 
ture created  first  a  town  Superintendcy,  then  an 
Examiner  for  each  Commissioner  district,  and 
lastly  the  present  plan  of  one  general  Superin- 
tendent for  each  county.  Under  this,  S.  Baichel- 
der  was  appointed  July,  1865,  and  served  until 
1869.  E.  C.  Stacy,  from  1869  to  1870;  H.  Thurston, 
from  1870  to  the  election  of  Charles  W.  Levens, 
the  present  official. 

Surveyor. — E.  P.  Skinner,  from  March,  1857 
to  1858;  H.  D.   Brown,  from   18.-)8   to  1860;  C.  C. 


Colby  was  elected  to  this  office  in  the  fall  of  1859, 
and  for  the  two  subsequent  terms,  holding  until 
1865.  From  this  time  nobody  seems  to  have  aspired 
to  the  place  until  the  fall  of  1867,  when  Levi 
Pierce  was  invested  with  that  honor  and  held  un- 
til 1872.  W.  G.  Kellar,  from  1872  to  1874;  H. 
C.  Lacy,  from  1874  to  1876;  W.  G.  Kellar,  from 
1876  to  to  the  present  time. 

state  representation. 

Passing  from  our  county  politics,  I  will  next 
refer  to  our  legislative  representation  and  the  va- 
rious changes  of  district  boundary.  Your  atten- 
tion has  already  been  called  to  the  connection  of 
our  county  under  the  Territorial  Government,  and 
it  is  unnecessary  to  refer  to  it  again. 

In  the  early  part  of  1857,  Congress  passed  an 
act  authorizing  the  people  to  form  a  State  Consti- 
tution, and  in  .July  a  convention  was  held  at  Mau- 
torville,  to  nominate  delegates  to  the  district  and 
to  agree  upon  a  division  of  them  among  the  three 
counties.  From  some  cause,  Freeborn  was  not 
repre.sented  in  that  convention,  and  the  other  two 
magnanimously  awarded  to  her  one  out  of  the  six 
delegates  to  be  elected;  but  ever  true  to  her  local 
interest,  she  threw  off  on  Dodge,  defeating  Isaac 
Turtlott,  of  that  county,  thereby  securing  two 
representiitives  in  the  constitutional  convention, 
viz :  Geo.  Watson  and  E.  C.  Stacy. 

By  the  provision  of  the  Constitution  that  year 
adopted,  our  representative  boundary  was  changed, 
an<l  we  became  attached  to  Faribault  county,  the 
two  being  known  as  the  Fourteenth  Senatorial 
District,  entitled  to  one  Senator  and  three  Repre- 
sentatives, and  of  these  Freeborn  elected  the  Sen- 
ator, Dr.  Watson,  and  one  Representative,  A.  H. 
Bartlett,  as  the  first  delegation  under  this  appor- 
tionment. 

In  1860,  another  change  was  made,  connecting 
the  county  with  Steele  and  Waseca,  entitled  the 
Sixteenth  Senatorial  District,  which  was  awarded 
one  Senator  and  two  Representatives.  Under 
this  apportionment,  Geo.  Watson  was  sent  to  the 
Senate  while  J.  E.  Child,  of  Waseca,  and  W.  F. 
Pettit,  of  Steele,  were  honored  with  seats  in  the 
House,  as  the  first  Representatives. 

In  1871,  the  representation  of  the  State  was 
enlarged,  Freeborn  county  made  an  independent 
district  numbered  Five,  and  awarded  one  Senator 
and  two  Representatives,  which  still  continues  to 
be  the  status  of  the  county. 


CENTENNIAL  IHl^TOn  T. 


285 


A  view  of  our  representation  in  the  Legislature 
shows  the  following: 

Senators. — Dr.  Geo.  Watson,  from  1858  to 
1862;  A.  B.  Webber,  from  1862  to  1863;  M.  A. 
Daley,  of  Steele,  from  1863  to  1864.  This  latter 
filling  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  Mr.  Wabber's 
enlistment  in  the  army,  as  a  commissary  officer.  F. 
J.  Stevens,  of  Steele,  from  1864  to  1865;  B.  A. 
Lowell,  of  Waseca,  from  1865  to  1867;  Aug. 
Armstrong,  from  1867  to  1869;  J.  B.  Crocker,  of 
Steele,  from  1869  to  1871;  W.  C.  Young,  of 
Waseca,  from  1871  to  1872;  H.  D.  Brown,  from 
1872  to  1873;  T.  G.  Jonsrud,  from  1873  to  1875; 
T.  H.  Armstrong,  from  1875  to  the  pre.sent  time. 
It  will  be  noticed  that  a  number  of  these  served 
only  one  year,  which  is  accounted  for  by  entries 
into  the  Government  service  during  the  war,  or 
by  vacancies  occasioned  through  a  change  of  dis- 
trict. I  give  the  names  of  the  Senators  of  the 
counties  with  which  we  have  been  connected, 
because  we  had  an  equal  interest  in  their  repre- 
sentation, and  therefore  the  record  would  not  be 
complete  without  them. 

Repre.sentatives. — A.  H.  Bartlett,  from  1858 
to  1859;  T.  H.  Purdie,  from  1859  to  1860;  A.  B. 
Webber,  from  1860  to  1861.  It  may  be  remarked 
that  Mr.  Webber's  election  was  a  bestowment  of 
cheap  honor,  <ts  there  was  no  session  of  the  Leg- 
islature during  his  term.  J.  E.  Child,  of  Waseca, 
and  F.  W.  Pettit,  of  Steele,  from  1861  to  1862; 
H.  C.  Magoon,  of  Steele,  and  P.  0.  Bailey,  of 
Waseca,  from  1862  to  1863;  Asa  Walker,  from 
1863  to  1864;  J.  L.  Gibbs,  from  1864  to  1866; 
Aug.  Armstrong,  from  1866  to  1867;  J.  E.  Smith, 
from  1867  to  1869;  Aug.  Armstrong,  from  1869 
to  1870;  A.  C.  Wedge,  from  1870  to  1872;  E.  D. 
Rogers  and  Wm.  Wilson,  from  1872  to  1873;  J. 
W.  Devereaux  and  E.  D.  Rogers;  from  1873  to 
1874;  Even  Morgan  and  Warren  Buel,  from  1874 
to  1875;  H.  Tuuell  and  R.  Fitzgerald,  from  1875 
to  1876;  H.  Tunell  and  J.  L.  Gibbs  ,from  1876  to 
the  present  time.  This  covers  substantially  our 
political  history.  We  might  revive  the  memory 
of  some  stormy  conventions,  but  that  won  Id  be 
productive  of  no  good,  and  the  animosities  there 
engendered  may  well  be  allowed  to  die  with  tbe 
issues  which  inspired  them. 

FIVE  MILLION  LOAN. 

We  would  not  be  doing  justice  to  our  people, 
did  we  not  refer  to  their  noble  act  in  unitedly  op- 
posing what  was  known  as  the  Five  Million  Loan 


Bill,  under  which  the  State,  in  1858,  unwisely 
pledged  its  credit  to  the  railroad  companies,  and 
entailed  a  debt  which,  just  or  unjust,  threatens  a 
burdensome  taxation,  or  the  stigma  of  repudia- 
tion. To  the  credit  of  Freeborn  county,  be  it 
said  that  she  saw  the  danger,  and  opposed  the 
measure  by  a  negative  vote  of  455  to  18. 

We  have  yet  to  learn  what  became  of  those 
eiyldven.  If,  iudeed,  they  .still  survive,  there  are 
none  among  them  who  now  refer  with  any  degree 
of  pride  to  that  ill  conceived  ballot,  and  long 
before  this  would  gladly  have  obliterated  the 
record. 

We  will  next  call  in  review  our 

OODNTY  SEAT    CONTESTS. 

The  act  of  March,  1857,  organizing  the  county, 
authorized  the  commissioners  appointed  by  the 
Governor,  to  select  a  temporary  county  seat 
until  the  (juestion  should  be  determined  by  a  vote 
of  the  people.  Under  this  autliority,  the  Board, 
on  the  second  day  of  its  session,  March  4th,  1857, 
called  up  the  question,  and  Mr.  Frisbie  moved  to 
make  Bancroft  the  seat  of  honor.  Mr.  Stacy  pro- 
posed an  amendment  striking  out  Bancroft  and 
inserting  St.  Nicholas  ;  lost.  He  then  moved  to 
insert  Geneva,  which  was  also  defeated.  Mr. 
Andrews  then  moved  to  insert  Albert  Lea  in  place 
of  Bancroft,  and  this  carried  unanimously.  In 
this,  we  are  free  to  say  that  we  think  the  Commis- 
sioners acted  wisely  and  well;  but  it  will  always 
remain  a  mystery,  what  inspiring  light  concentra- 
ted them  so  suddenly  upon  a  point  which  seems 
to  have  escaped  their  notice  in  the  first  instance. 

On  the  19th  of  May  following,  a  special  session 
of  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  incorporating 
Bancroft,  and  a  proviso  was  sandwiched  into  the 
bill  making  that  town  the  county  seat.  The  bill 
passed  in  this  shape,  apparently  without  being 
understood  by  a  majority  of  those  who  voted  for 
it;  for  it  appears  that  the  members  having  leen 
apprised  of  what  they  had  done,  recalled  their 
their  votes  and  expunged  the  objectionable  pro- 
viso on  the  same  day. 

At  the  general  election  in  October  of  that  year 
the  question  was  submitted  to  the  people.  Four 
towns  entered  the  contest,  viz:  Shell  Rock,  Ban- 
croft, St.  Nicholas,  and  Albert  Lea,  which  resul- 
ted in  favor  of  tbe  later,  by  a  majority  of  165  over 
all,  on  a  total  vote  of  642. 

The  next  contest  was  in  1860.  In  September 
of    that    year,    a  petition  was   presented  to  the 


28H 


UfSTiiJiV  OF  FliKEBdliX  CdVMY. 


County  Board,  asking  for  another  vote.  A.  S. 
Everest  a})peareil  for  tlie  petitioners,  and  Aug. 
Armstrong  opposed  tlieir  prayer.  The  decision 
was  postponed  until  the  22(1  of  October,  at  which 
meeting  the  petition  was  granted,  and  a  vote  of 
the  people  followed.  Itasca  alone  entered  the 
arena  with  .\lbert  Lea,  resulting  again  in  favor  of 
the  latter,  by  198  majority,  on  a  total  vote  of 
770. 

Passing  from  this,  we  will  nest  notice  our 

JUDICIAL    RECORD. 

Under  the  Territoj-ial  Crovernniout,,  Freeborn 
county,  with  fifteen  others,  constituted  the  Third 
Judicial  District,  and  Judge  Flandreau,  after  ap- 
pointing Aug.  Armstrong  clerk,  which  he  did  in 
the  summer  of  1857,  advertised  to  hold  court  at 
Albert  Lea  in  October  following;  but  as  there  was 
no  business  at  that  time,  the  announcement  was 
only  formal,  and  no  court  was  in  fact  called. 

By  the  constitution  of  1857,  the  di.><trict  was 
changed  in  form  and  size,  so  that  Freeborn,  with 
eight  other  counties,  became  the  Fifth  Judicial 
District,  and  Hon.  N.  M.  Donaldson,  of  Owatonna, 
was  elected  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  presiding 
Judge.  In  the  fall  of  1871,  the  Hon.  Samuel 
Lord,  of  Mantorville,  was  elected  Judge  in  place 
of  Donaldson,  but  his  association  with  our  people 
was  of  short  duration,  for  in  1872  the  Legislature 
created  a  new  district  called  the  Tenth,  composed 
of  Freeborn  and  all  the  counties  in  the  southern 
tier,  east  of  it.  Over  this  District,  Hon.  Sherman 
Page,  of  Austin,  was  called  to  preside,  and  then 
J.  Q.  Farmer,  who  still  holds  that  position. 

Under  those  organizations,  courts  have  been 
held  twice  a  year  regularly,  with  one  or  two  ex- 
ceptions. 

Among  the  important  cases  disposed  of,  was  that 
of  Henry  Kregler,  who  was  charged  with  the 
murder  of  Nelson  Boughton,  near  the  State  line, 
in  September,  1859,  and  tried  in  Steele  county, 
under  change  of  venue,  in  January,  1801.  He 
was  convicted,  brought  back  to  this  county 
and  executed  at  Albert  Lea,  in  March  following, 
being  about  one  and  a  ludf  years  after  the  otfense 
was  committed. 

LOY.\LTV    AND    PATRIOTISM. 

No  county  in  the  State,  if  indeed  in  the  coun- 
try, has  displayed  a  greater  loyalty,  or  a  truer 
patriotism.  In  the  first  year  of  its  organization, 
when  settlement  was  in  disorder,   weakness,  and 


poverty,  the  people,  though  few  in  number,  did 
not  forget  the  noble  example  of  their  ancestry, 
and  on  the  first  return  of  this  Anniversary  of  their 
Nati.)nal  holiday,  the  4th  of  July,  1857.  they  as- 
sembled entmisse,  at  Shell  Bock,  to  celebrate  this 
time-honored  event.  At  that  celebration,  Samuel 
Batchelder  delivered  the  address,  being  tlie  first 
oration  ever  made  in  the  county.  From  that  year 
to  the  present,  nearly  every  return  of  the  day  has 
been  marked  by  some  appropriate  honor. 

At  the  first  call  for  troops  when  war  broke  out, 
men  left  thenr  farms,  their  shops,  their  stores,  and 
their  offices,  to  engage  in  the  defense  of  their 
common  country,  leaving  scarcely  any  but  old 
men  and  boys  to  care  for  and  defend  their  homes 
against  the  Indian  outbreak,  which  threatened 
the  entire  State. 

Two  companies,  made  up  almost  entirely  from 
this  county,  constituted  some  of  the  best  fighting 
stock  of  the  -ith  and  5th  Regiments  of  Infantry, 
while  the  third,  in  their  zeal  to  get  into  service, 
accepted  the  first  opening  and  joined  a  Wiscon- 
sin brigade. 

Other  detachments  of  men  connected  them- 
selves with  commands  in  this,  or  in  other  States, 
as  duty  dictated  or  fancy  led  them.  Although 
this  scattering  of  individuals  or  squads  renders  it 
difficult  to  determine  the  number  exactly,  a  rea- 
sonably correct  approximation  will  fix  it  aluiut 
400  persons,  which,  as  an  act  of  patriotism,  to 
fully  appreciate,  it  is  necessary  to  bear  in  mind 
our  sparse  settlement  and  limited  population. 

To  place  the  matter  in  a  still  clearer  light,  it  is 
only  necessary  to  state  that  the  quota  assigned  to 
the  ecuinty  at  the  last  call  for  troops  by  the  -Ad- 
jutant General  in  1864,  was  273,  and  that  we  had 
already  furnished -and  received  credit  for  292,  be- 
ing an  excess  over  all  demands  upon  us,  of  19  men, 
besides  an  estimate  of  100  who  are  known  to  have 
gone  into  commands  of  other  States,  for  which 
the  enlistment  officers  gave  us  no  credit.  I  sub- 
mit that  a  fairer  or  more  creditable  record  cannot 
•be  produced  by  any  county,  sharing  the  fortunes 
of  the  late  war.  Nor  were  the  ladies  less  true  to 
the  interests  of  their  country.  On  every  occasion 
which  presented  itself,  they  encouraged  enlist- 
ments, and  cheered  their  brothers  on  to  the  con- 
flict. The  silken  banner  carried  by  company  F, 
of  the  4th  Eegiment  throughnut  tlieir  hmg  and 
faitliful  services,  upon  which  is  inscribed  the 
memorable  name    of  manv  a  bloody  battle  field, 


CENTENNIAL  HISTORY. 


a87 


was  presented  by  these  noble  women,  as  the  a])- 
propriate  offering  of  anxious  and  sympathizing 
mothers,  wives,  and  sisters,  and  will  ever  be  sac- 
redly preserved  and  treasured  as  a  lasting  memo- 
rial of  their  patriotic  devotion. 

SCHOOLS  AND  CH0ROHBS. 

This  county  has  shared  its  full  benefit  of  the 
liberal  public  provision  made  for  fostering  the 
common  school  system.  Nor  have  the  people 
been  less  enterprising  in  their  etforts  to  encourage 
public  education.  In  fact,  the  greater  part  of 
our  taxation  has  been  for  the  erection  of  new 
schoolhouses,  and  the  employment  of  qualified 
teachers.  In  1858  there  were  but  two  school- 
houses  of  any  character  in  the  county.  There 
are  now  100  districts,  74  of  which  can  boast  of 
fine  frame  or  brick  houses,  whOe  in  nearly  all,  the 
buildings  are  good  and  substantial.  In  Albert 
Lea  there  is  a  graded  school  which  ranks  among 
the  best  in  the  State,  while  a  seminary  of  learning 
at  this  place  and  at  Alden  are  also  mantained 
a  part  of  the  time  by  private  contributions.  In 
addition  to  this,  there  is  a  charter  which  was 
early  granted  by  the  Legislature,  creating  a  Col- 
lege Board  at  Albert  Lea,  and  which  will  doubt- 
less be  revived  in  due  time.  The  first  enumera- 
tion was  made  in  January,  1858,  and  showed  a 
total  of  222  scholars.  The  last,  taken  in  the  fall 
of  1875,  gives  5,136,  being  an  increase,  in  17 
years,  of  4,914,  or  at  the  rate  of  about  eight  per 
cent,  per  annum. 

The  churches  are  well  represented  and  liberally 
sustained,  nearly  every  town  in  the  county  having 
one  or  more  organizations  for  public  worship. 
These  societies  do  a  creditable  mission  work,  and 
sustain  23  Sabbath  Schools  through  the  summer 
months,  while  about  half  of  them  are  continued 
the  year  through. 

SECRET  SOCIETIES. 

A  Masonic  Lodge,  nearly  as  old  as  the  county, 
is  established  at  Albert  Lea,  which  enjoys  a 
membership  in  good  standing  of  74  persons. 
Growing  out  of  this  is  a  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of 
15  members. 

Twenty-four  Granges,  with  a  membership  of 
about  960. 

One  division  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  having 
about  80  members. 

There  are  eight  Good  Templar's  lodges  in  the 
county,  with  an  aggregate  membership  of  over 
700.  " 


NEWSPAPERS. 

The  history  of  our  newspaper  interest  is  a 
checkered  one,  and  has  ofteu  been  referred  to. 
Of  the  five  that  have  had  an  existence,  two,  the 
first  and  tlie  last,  remain,  apparently  well  sup- 
ported, and  otfer  their  weekly  budgets  to  an 
appreciative  public. 

TAXATION. 

In  March,  1857,  the  first  board  of  Commis- 
sioners divided  the  county  into  three  assessment 
districts,  as  follows: 

The  first  was  compo.sed  of  Newry,  Geneva, 
Bath,  Hartland,  Freeborn,  and  Carlston,  over 
which  J.  M.  Drake  was  appointed  assessor. 

Second,  Moscow,  Kiceland,  Bancroft,  Manches- 
ter, Oakland,  London,  under  the  charge  of  John 
Dunning,  as  assessor. 

The  third  was  composed  of  Hayward,  Shell 
Rock,  Freeman,  Pickerel  Lake,  Nunda,  Alden, 
Mansfield,  and  Albert  Lea,  with  Walter  Scott,  as 
assessor. 

In  July  following  these  officers  completed  and 
returned  their  rolls,  the  aggregate  of  which 
footed  up,  $212,088.  Spon  this  was  levied  a  tax 
for  school,  county,  and  Territorial  purposes  of 
$4,449,  or  20^  mills  on  each  dollar  valuation. 

A  year  or  two  after  that,  each  organized  town 
became  a  district,  and  has  steadily  shown  an 
increase  of  wealth.  The  last  assessment  reported, 
that  of  1875,  aggregated  a  valuation,  of  .f  .3,183,822, 
with  a  tax  for  all  purposes  of  $65,602,  showing 
an  increase  of  property  at  the  rate  of  about  16 
per  cent,  per  annum,  and  a  marked  decrease  in 
the  rate  of  taxation,  when  we  consider  that  rail- 
roads, bridges,  and  other  matters,  have  increased 
the  objects  for  which  we  are  taxed. 

RAILROADS. 

In  1859,  the  Southern  Minnesota  railroad  was 
built  through  the  county,  in  a  westerly  direction, 
touching  the  towns  of  Moscow,  Oakland,  Hay- 
ward,  Albert  Lea,  Pickerel  Lake,  Alden,  and 
Carlston,  and  establishing,  theu  and  subsequently, 
four  stations,  viz;  Oakland,  Hayward,  Albert 
Lea,  and  Alden.  This  enterprise  has  had  a  marked 
influence  upon  the  property  and  growth  of  the 
county,  and  while  its  management  has  been  gener- 
ally satisfactory  to  our  people,  that  of  the  present 
period  is  so  in  the  highest  degree. 

Crossing  this  line  at  Albert  Lea,  is  another 
survey,  termed  the  North  and  South  Koad,  which 


288 


HIsrORV  Oh-  FliEEliOHN  Vol  NT Y. 


is  designed  to  connect  Minneapolis  with  St.  Louis, 
and  when  bniJt  will  touch  Shell  Rook.  Albert  Lea, 
Manchester,  and  Hartland.  Still  a  third  com- 
pany, under  the  auspices  of  the  Central  Railroad 
of  Minnesota,  acting  in  connection  with  the 
Burlington  &  Cedar  Rapids  Line,  have  already 
graded  from  Albert  Lea  to  a  point  near  the  State 
line,  and  it  is  only  a  question  of  time,  when  the 
iron  will  be  laid  thereon. 

COMMERCE. 

Another  evidenca  of  our  prosperity  as  a  coun- 
ty, may  be  seen  in  its  rapidly  increasing  jjroduc- 
tious. 

The  first  three  years  of  settlement,  say  from 
18.57  to  ISGO,  was  an  era  of  importation  of  food, 
and  marked  the  most  trying  times.  From  1860 
to  the  close  of  the  war,  little,  if  anything  was 
raised  beyond  home  needs  ;  so  that  really  the 
last  ten  years  cover  the  period  of  prosperity. 
How  rapidly  that  has  been,  is  seen  in  the  reports 
of  last  year,  which  show  that,  in  addition  to  feed- 
ing our  population,  we  exported  1,099,986  bushels 
of  wheat,  besides  a  fair  pioportion  of  other 
products.  The  freight  reports  of  our  station 
agents  show  that  these  exportations  are  increasing 
at    the  rate  of   about  20    per  cent,  per   annum. 

The  richness  of  this,  as  a  grazing  county,  was 
early  recognized  and  is  now  duly  appreciated.  The 
area  and  luxuriance  of  our  nutritious  grasses 
have  encouraged  our  people  to  deversify  their  in- 
dustry, and  to  make  stock  growing  not  only  one 
of  the  leading,  but  a  very  profitable  branch.  A 
number  of  buyers  make  this  a  purchasing  point, 
and  thousands  of  cattle  are  driven  to  the  Chicago 
and  other  markets  spring  and  fall.  Nor  do  our 
people  show  less  sagacity  in  the  improvement  of 
of  quality,  many  of  the  growers  already  dealing 
in  none  but  the  finest  strains  of  blood, 

Wool  is  becoming  a  highly  important  article  of 
export,  while  in  the  matter  of  dairying,  some 
estimate  may  be  formed  of  its  value  from  the  fact 
that  one  shipper,  at  Albert  Lea,  alone  sends  off 
about  200,000  pounds  of  butter  per  annum. 

POPULATION. 

A  census  of  the  county  taken  in  November, 
1857,  showed  the  population  to  be  2,486.  That 
of  1875,  the  last  whcih  has  been  taken,  aggregates 
our  population  at  13,171,  showing  a  gain  of 
about  47  per  cent,  in  every  five  years. 


TOWNSHIP    RECORDS. 

We  have  spent  too  much  time  in  reviewing  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  the  county  at  large,  to  justify  a 
critical  examination  of  township  organization  and 
early  settlement.  The  record,  however,  incomplete 
at  best,  could  not  be  satisfactorily  closed,  without 
presenting  a  few  of  the  prominent  facts  connected 
with  their  history. 

At  the  .Tanuary  session  of  the  County  Board, 
in  1858,  London,  Moscow,  Newry,  Carlston,  Rice- 
land,  Bath,  and  Manchester,  were  organized, 
though  most  of  them  under  other  names. 
Whether  any  official  action  was  ever  taken  in  re- 
gard to  Albert  Lea,  Nunda,  Shell  Rock,  and 
Geneva,  is  not  clear,  but  it  seems  that  their  politi- 
cal status  as  towns  was  recognized  even  previous 
to  this,  and  their  representatives  occupied  promi- 
nent places  in  the  councils  of  the  County  Board. 
Various  changes  were  made,  and  towns  organized 
from  this  time  until  January,  1866,  when  the  last 
one,  Mansfield,  assumed  an  independent  govern- 
ment. 

London  was  onganized  under  the  name  of 
Asher,  thus  conferring  an  honor  upon  one  of  her 
citizens  of  that  name,  now  deceased.  In  June, 
1858,  the  town  was  attached  to  Shell  Rock  for 
township  piirposes.  In  October  following,  it 
again  assumed  an  independent  organizBtion,  and 
changed  its  name  to  London,  The  first  election 
was  held  at  the  house  of  H.  B.  Riggs. 

Shell  Rock  occupies  a  high  post  of  honor  in 
many  of  the  events  of  our  early  settlement.  One 
of  the  first  Commissioners,  Wm.  Andrews,  was 
appointed  from  this  town,  and  he  became  the  first 
chairman  of  the  County  Board.  It  was  here  that 
the  first  schoolhouse  was  erected,  June,  1857,  in 
the  district  now  known  as  49.  The  building  was 
a  frame,  also  the  first  of  the  kind  put  up. 
Although  the  records  do  not  support  it,  it  is 
nevertheless  believed  that  the  first  title  to  land 
was  acquired  in  this  town,  by  Clark  Andrews, 
which  occurred  November  3,  1855.  We  have 
already  mentioned  the  fact  that  here  the  first  pat- 
riotic demonstration  was  made,  as  early  as  1857, 
and  we  may  add,  that  here  also,  the  first  suit  was 
tried,  being  a  case  of  one  Boulton  against  C.  T. 
Knapp,  before  justice  Andrews,  in  the  spring  of 
1857,  in  which  A.  H.  Bartlett  appeared  as  attor- 
ney for  both  parties,  and,  as  he  admits,  was  beaten 
at  last. 

As  alreadv  noticed.  Shell   Rock  was  the  scene 


CENTENNIAL  HISTORY. 


289 


of  the  first  election,  November  4tli,  1850,  when 
the  whole  county  constituted  b\it  one  precinct, 
and  44  votes  indicated  nearly  the  total  strength  of 
our  adult  male  population.  George  Gardner, 
William  and  Madison  Eice,  and  Gardner  Cottrell, 
were  the  first  settlers  and  date  their  entry  on  the 
9th  of  June,  1855. 

Fre3m:in,  after  its  organization,  was  divided; 
the  east  half  being  attached  to  Shell  Rock,  and 
the  west  half  to  Nuuda,  for  townshij)  purposes. 
It  was  named  in  honor  of  the  Freeman  family, 
who  were  the  first  to  move  into  the  central  por- 
tion of  the  town.  In  December,  1860,  it  was 
granted  a  separate  organization,  and  the  name 
changed  to  Green,  but  it  nevertheless  continued  to 
be  called  by  its  first  title  and  has  ever  been  known 
as  Freeman.  This  town  is  supposed  to  have  re- 
ceived the  first  settler  of  the  county,  in  the  per- 
son of  Ole  Olenhouse,  as  early  as  the  summer  of 
1854,  who,  also,  is  claimed  to  have  erected  the 
first  house,  in  the  same  season. 

Nunda  was  first  known  as  Bear  Lake,  but  was 
afterwards  changed  at  the  suggestion  of  Patrick 
Fitzsimmons,  who  was  anxious  to  honor  a  favorite 
town  in  McHenry  county,  111.  This  town  is 
watered  by  three  important  lakes.  Tlie  first 
settler  was  Anthony  Bright,  who  made  his  claim 
in  the  spring  of  1856. 

Twin  Lake  village,  in  the  northern  part,  is  a 
thriving  town,  having  a  mill,  store,  Post-office, 
hotel,  etc.  It  was  surveyed  iuto  lots  as  early  as 
1857.  The  long  legal  controversy  between  Wm. 
Banning  and  a  Mr.  Forbes,  growing  out  of  claims 
of  each  upon  the  millsite,  will  long  be  remembered 
by  some  of  the  old  settlers. 

Mansfield  was  early  attached  to  Nunda  for 
township  purposes,  and  was  the  last  in  the  county 
to  ask  for  a  separate  organization.  Its  name  was 
suggested  by  Geo.  S.  Kuble,  now  of  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.  John  and  Henry  Tuuell  entered  upon 
their  claims  in  June,  1856,  and  were  the  first 
settlers. 

Oakland  was  divided  in  Jan.,  1858,  and  the 
north  half  attached  to  Moscow,  while  the  south 
half  was  assigned  to  Loudon  for  township  pur- 
poses. In  June  following,  when  London  became 
attached  to  Shell  Rock,  the  County  Board  ordered 
that  the  whole  of  Oakland  be  attached  to  Moscow, 
then  known  as  Guildford.  In  September,  1858, 
the  town  was  granted  an  independent  orgauiza- 
19 


tion.  Its  large  area  of  oak  openings  suggested 
the  name. 

Hayward,  so  called  in  compliment  to  one  of 
her  citizens  of  that  name,  was,  in  January,  1858, 
divided  into  three  parts.  Tlie  northeast  quarter 
of  the  town  being  assigned  to  Riceland,  then 
known  as  Beardsley;  the  northwest  to  Albert 
Lea,  and  tlie  south  half  to  Shell  Rock.  In  Sep- 
tember following,  the  town  was  granted  a  separate 
organization.  At  a  subsequent  session  of  the 
County  Board,  the  name  was  changed  to  Doug- 
lass, in  honor  of  the  distinguished  Illinois  Senator, 
of  that  period.  At  the  same  meeting  the 
southern  tier  of  sections  was  set  off  to  Shell  Rock 
for  township  purpo.ses. 

In  September,  1859,  these  sections  were  set 
back  to  the  control  of  the  town,  and  the  name 
again  changed  from  Douglass  to  Hayward.  The 
first  settler  was  Wm.  Andrews,  who  located  in  the 
suminer  of  1855,  but  afterwards  moved  across  the 
line  into  Shell  Rock. 

Albert  Lea  is  the  shire  and  central  town.  It  is 
located  between  two  picturesque  lakes,  and  was 
named  in  honor  of  the  distinguished  explorer 
previousl-y  mentioned.  It  was  first  settled  in 
July,  1855,  by  Lorenzo  Merry,  who  took  the  first 
claim,  did  the  first  breaking,  erected  the  first 
house,  and  opened  the  first  hotel.  St.  Nicholas, 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  town,  was  at  one  time 
a  village  of  considerable  importance,  and  aspired 
to  the  county  teat.  Nothing  now  remains  of  the 
village,  and  the  land  has  been  converted  into  a 
stock  farm. 

The  report  of  the  Southern  Minnesota  Railroad 
Company  for  1875,  shows  that  the  revenue  of 
this  station,  as  well  as  the  amount  of  freight 
received  and  forwarded,  is  largely  in  excess  of  any 
other  town  upon  the  entire  line  of  the  road. 

Pickerel  Lake  was  attached  to  Albert  Lea  for 
township  purposes,  in  1858.  In  the  following 
year,  it  was  voted  a  separate  organization.  In 
October,  1860,  it  was  attached  to  Manchester  for 
election  purposes,  but  afterwards  became  a  part 
of  Albert  Lea,  and  remained  so  until  September, 
1865,  when  the  citizens  petitioned  for  an  inde- 
pendent government,  which  was  granted.  The 
name  of  the  fine  lake  within  its  borders,  first 
suggested  that  of  the  town.  Charles  and  William 
iWilder  and  A.  D.  Pinkerton  located  in  the  summer 
of  1855,  and  were  the  first  settlers. 

Alden  was  attached  to  Pickerel  Lake  for  town- 


290 


n  I  STORY  OF  FHEEnoUN  COUSTY. 


ship  purposes,  in  Jan.  1858,  but  in  October,  1860, 
it  was  detached,  and  miide  a  part  of  Oarlston. 
In  September  following  a  singular  entry  appears 
upon  the  record,  showing  that  the  Board  granted 
a  petition  to  detach  Alden  from  Albert  Lea,  and 
attach  it  to  Oarlston.  How  it  became  separated 
from  Oarlston,  after  its  connection  of  the  previous 
year,  or  how  it  became  part  of  Albert  Lea,  with 
Pickerel  Lake  intervening,  the  record  is  silent. 
In  the  ab.sence  of  furtlier  light,  we  presume  it  to 
be  an  error.  In  March,  1866,  the  town  was 
granted  a  separate  organization. 

The  village  of  Alden  is  located  upon  the 
Southern  Minnesota  Railroad,  ten  miles  west  of 
Albert  Lea,  and  is  second  in  size  in  the  county. 
The  station  reports  show,  also,  that  it  is  second  in 
importance  in  the  receipt  and  shipment  of  freights. 

Moscow  is  one  of  the  towns  of  distinguished 
prominence  in  the  settlement,  organization,  and 
early  political  history  of  the  county.  S.  N. 
Frisbie  was  one  of  the  three  first  Oommissioners. 
Dr.  Watson,  also  a  citizen  of  this  town,  was  not 
only  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  Oonstitutioual 
Convention  in  1857,  but  enjoyed  the  honor  of  a 
seat  in  the  State  Senate  for  the  first  three  terms. 
The  Rev.  S.  G.  Lowry,  also  of  this  town,  may  be 
regarded  as  the  pioneer  clergyman,  and  for  years 
answered  calls,  picking  his  trackless  way  to  all 
parts  of  the  county. 

A  heavy  body  of  timber,  on  section  seventeen, 
was  long  previous  known  as  the  Moscow  woods, 
and  this  suggested  to  the  early  settlers  the  name 
of  the  town,  which  so  continued  until  its  organiza- 
tion, when  it  took  the  name  of  Guildford,  but  in 
June,  1858,  it  was  again  changed  to  its  original 
title.  A  colony,  consisting  of  Thomas  R.  Morgan, 
Nathan  Hunt,  Robt.  Spear,  and  Thos.  Ellis, 
made  the  first  settlement,  on  the  30th  of  May, 
1855. 

Biceland  was  organized  under  the  name  of 
Beardsley,  in  honor  of  Sam.  Beardsley,  one  of  the 
first  settlers;  but  in  October,  185?,  it  was  changed 
to  its  present  name,  at  the  suggestion  of  Isaac 
Baker,  who  was  then  on  the  Oounty  Board. 
Shortly  after  settlement,  a  small  tract  was  survey- 
ed into  town  lots,  under  the  name  of  Fairfield,  but 
it  never  acquired  the  dignity  of  a  village.  Ole  0. 
Oleson  and  Ole  Hanson  located  in  August,  1856, 
and  were  the  first  settlers.  < 

Bancroft  village  had  its  origin  in  wliat  was 
known  as  the  St.   Paul  Land  Company,  of  which 


W.  N.  Oliver  was  agent.  Afterwards,  by  gener- 
al consent,  the  name  was  apjilied  to  the  whole 
township.  To  far  as  we  can  learn,  this  town  has 
the  honor  of  having  erected  the  second  school- 
house  in  the  county,  which  was  done  in  the  fall  of 
1857,  by  the'district  now  known  as  No.  20. 

The  village  of  Bancroft  was  a  sharp  rival  for 
the  county  seat  in  1857,  and  at  that  time  a  place 
of  considerable  importance,  having  a  newspaper, 
store,  saw-mill,  and  other  evidences  of  busy  life, 
all  of  which  has  since  disappeared. 

Manchester  was  first  known  by  the  name  of 
Oldbnrg,  but  was  christened  Buckeye  at  its  or- 
ganization. In  May,  1858,  it  was  changed  to 
Liberty.  Finally,  in  October  fallowing,  at  the 
suggestion  of  Mathias  Anderson,  it  was  changed 
to  Manchester,  in  honor  of  a  place  of  the  same 
name  in  Illinois,  where  Mr.  A.  had  previously  lived. 
S.  S.  Skilf  entered  this  town  in  June,  1856  as  the 
first  settler. 

Oarlston  was  organized  in  .Tanuary,  1858,  under 
the  name  of  Stanton,  out  of  respect  to  Elias  Stan- 
ton, who  had  already  suffered  amputation  on  ac- 
count of  frost-bitten  feet,  and  who  died  of  the 
same  in  the  spring  following.  After  its  organiza- 
tion it  was  attached  to  Freeborn  for  township 
purposes.  In  June,  1858,  the  name  was  changed 
to  Springfield,  and  in  October  following  to 
Groton.  In  September,  1859,  the  citizens  asked 
for  aseperate  organization,  which  was  granted, 
and  the  name  changed  to  Oarlston.  This  name 
was  finally  agreed  upon,  in  respect  to  the  memory 
of  a  distinguished  Swede  of  that  name,  who  set- 
tled in  that  town  in  an  early  day,  and  who  was 
drowned  in  Freeborn  lake.  Robert  H.  Miller 
was  the  first  settler,  and  located  in  August,  1855. 

Newry  was  first  named  Seward,  as  a  mark  of 
respect  to  the  distinguished  Senator  from  New 
York,  and  at  the  same  time,  January,  1858,  was 
attached  to  Geneva  for  township  purposes.  In 
October  following,  the  name  was  changed  to 
Union,  and  the  town  granted  a  soparat"?  organiza- 
tion. In  the  early  part  of  1859,  the  name  was 
again  changed  to  Dover,  but  from  some  cause 
this  proved  to  be  unsatisfactory  to  the  State 
Auditor,  and  upon  his  recommendation  another 
change  took  place,  which  resulted  in  adopting  the 
present  name. 

Geneva  was  among  the  prominent  towns  in  or- 
ganizing the  early  affairs  of  the  county.  E.  C. 
Stacy,  one   of  her  citizens,   was  among  the  three 


CENTENNIAL  HISTORY. 


291 


first  County  Commissioners,  and  by  tliem  was  ap- 
pointed tbe  first  Probate  Judge.  He  was  also 
elected  a  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion, to  which  we  have  already  referred.  It  was 
also  upon  his  suggestion  that  the  town  was  named 
Geneva,  in  remembrance  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  for 
which  pleasant  recollections  were  entertained. 
The  village  of  Geneva,  situated  upon  the  bank  of 
a  beautiful  lake  of  that  name,  is  a  town  of  consid- 
erable prominence.  Milton  Morey  was  the  first 
settler,  locating  in  the  fall  of  1855. 

Bath  was  first  organized  under  the  name  of 
Porter,  in  honor  of  E.  D.  Porter,  who 
settled  near  Clark's  Grove.  The  east  half 
of  the  town  was  attached  to  Geneva,  and  the 
the  west  half  to  Hartland  for  township  purposes, 
but  in  September,  1858,  assumed  an  independent 
organization,  and  the  name  changed  to  Bath,  at 
the  instance  of  F.  W.  Calkins,  who  was  desirous  of 
perpetuating  the  memory  of  the  town  in  which  he 
was  born.  Mr.  Calliins  was  the  first  settler  of 
Bath,  and  made  his  entry  in  the  spring  or  early 
summer  of  1857. 

While  the  town  of  Hartland  is  one  of  the  best 
agricultural  districts  in  the  county,  it  yields  but 
few  facts  concerning  early  history.  It  is  under- 
stood to  have  been  named  after  a  town  in  Wind- 
sor county,  Vermont,  and  was  first  settled  by  two 
brothers  by  the  name  of  Boardman,  in  the  fall  of 
1856.  One  of  these,  B.  J.  Boardman,  erected  the 
first  house,  and  at  one  time  represented  the  town 
on  the  County  Board. 

Freeborn  was  among  the  early  towns  organized, 
and  the  first  election  held  in  May,  1858.  The 
township  and  village,  as  well  as  the  lake  upon 
the  bank  of  which  the  village  is  located,  all  seem 
to  have  followed,  in  name,  that  of  the  county.  T. 
K.  Page  and  Wm.  Montgomery  were  the  first  set- 
tlers, and  entered  upon  their  claims  in  July,  1856. 
The  village  of  Freeborn  is  handsomely  located 
and  is  a  town  of  considerable  importance.  It  is  in 
this  town  that  the  first  entry  of  land  appears  on 
record,  by  Nelson  Everet,  as  previously  mention- 
ed, though  the  correctness  of  this  is  doubted. 

OBIGIN    OF    NAMES    OF    LAKES,   RIVERS,  AND    TIMBER. 

A  word  will  also  be  in  place  regarding  the 
origin  of  names  as  applied  to  lakes,  rivers,  etc. 
Bear  Lake  should  be  properly  known  as  Pickerel 
Lake.  The  story  is  this:  Buffalo  being  found  in 
this  section  as  late  as  1853,  a  party  consisting  of 
Joseph  Hewitt,  Joshua   Jackson,  and  Joseph  Kel- 


ley,  visited  the  region  of  Ntinda,  in  quest  of  that 
game,  in  the  summer  of  that  year.  Their  hunt 
was  rewarded  by  one  or  two  buffalo  calves,  and 
some  fine  pickerel  taken  from  that  lake,  which 
suggested  the  name,  as  mentioned. 

On  the  other  hand  Pickerel  Lake  should  be 
known  as  Bear  Lake.  Some  years  previous  to  set- 
tlement, the  Indians  killed  a  large  bear  near  that 
body  of  water,  and  ever  afterwards  called  it  Bear 
Lake.  In  1854,  one  Austin  Nichols,  who  had 
jjreviously  obtained  from  the  three  buffalo  hunt- 
ers glowing  accounts  of  their  beautiful  Pinkerel 
Lake,  made  a  tour  through  from  the  Cedar  to 
the  Blue  Earth  River,  and  struck  Bear  Lake  in 
his  route,  of  which  he  knew  nothing.  Supposing 
it  to  be  the  Pickerel  Lake  of  which  he  had  been 
told  of,  he  so  called  it,  and  his  acquaintances  set- 
tling in  soon  after,  accepted  his  impression  with- 
out further  inquiry.  A  year  later,  the  pioneers 
who  settled  Nunda,  knowing  that  their  northern 
neighbors  had  got  the  Pickerel,  supposed  of  course 
that  the  Bair  belonged  to  them,  and  so  the  acci- 
dental change  became  a  fixed  fact. 

Lake  Albert  Lea  was  originally  known  as  Fox 
Lake.  In  1835,  when  the  exploring  command  of 
Lieut.  Lea  approached  this  body  of  water  a  white 
fox  ran  past  the  head  of  the  column,  and  thus  un- 
consciously had  his  memory  perpetuated. 

White  Lake  was  first  known  as  Lake  Chapeau. 
From  the  bank  of  this,  where  Lieut.  Lea  rested 
his  command  a  few  hours,  the  lake  presents  the 
shape  of  a  French  military  hat,  and  this  suggest- 
ed the  name.  When  this  section  of  country  was 
afterwards  mapped  out,  Chapeau  was  dropped 
and  Albert  Lea  appliecl.  The  early  settlers 
knew  but  little  about  these  lakes,  and  took  it  for 
granted  that  the  large  one  bore  the  name  of  the 
distinguished  explorer,  and  thus  the  For  was 
finally  allowed  to  escape.  In  the  meantime,  Capt. 
A.  W.  White  settled  upon  the  bank  of  the  origi- 
nal Chapeau,  and  by  common  consent  his  name 
has  become  associated  with  that  lake. 

Turtle  Creek  is  said  to  have  been  so  named  in 
1854.  A  party  crossing  the  same  was  stepping 
from  one  stone  to  another,  when  one  of  the  num- 
ber suddenly  lost  his  footing — the  stone  as  he 
supposed  gracefully  sliding  from  under  him.  It 
proved  to  be  a  huge  turtle,  with  which  the  river 
then  abounded,  and  the  stream  was  ever  after- 
wards called  Turtle  River.  It  is  noted  in  Lieut. 
Lea's  minutes  as  Iowa  River. 


•292 


HISTOnr  OF  FnEEBUliN  f'lrxrv. 


Mule  Lakp  was  discovered  by  the  Boardmiiu 
brothers,  who,  as  we  have  already  said,  first  set- 
tled in  Hartland.  Their  entry  into  that  town  was 
with  a  nrnk'  team,  driven  across  the  country  from 
Geneva.  On  their  return  they  related  their  obser- 
vations, and  the  mules  were  at  bnce  dignified  in 
the  naminp;  of  the  lake. 

Some  years  j)revious  to  settlement,  the  heavy 
body  of  timber  which  covered  section  sev- 
enteen, in  Moscow,  was  set  on  fire  in  a  dry  season, 
creating  such  a  couHagration  as  to  suggest  scenes 
in  Russia  under  the  great  Napoleon.  From  thiit 
time  it  was  known  as  the  Moscow  timber,  and 
thus  the  name  of  the  town  had  its  origin. 

I  have  now  passed  in  review  the  salient  points  in 
the  history  of  our  county,  and  although  that  re- 
view has  been  necessarily  brief,  it  shows  a  record 
and  a  growth  of  which  any  people  may  feel  justly 
proud,  and  calculated  to  inspire  high  hopes  for 
future  prosperity.  Few  agricultural  regions  have 
ever  witnessed  a  more  rapid  advancement  in  jjop- 
ulition,  growth  of  products,  educational  endow- 
ments, and  general  material  wealth  ;  and  I  may 
add,  that  seldom  has  it  fallen  to  the  lot  of  man  to 
have  his  destiny  fixed  in  such  an  Eden  of  natural 
beauty. 

Looking  back  over  the  period  of  the  last  twenty 
years,  we  have  little  to  regret.  From  a  trackless 
and  uninhabited  region,  we  have  sprung  into  a 
community  of  15,000  souls,  teaming  with  a  busy 
life.  Vineyards  and  groves  rise  up  everywhere  to 
please  the  eye  and  gratify  the  taste,  while  thous- 
ands of  laughing  grain  fields  wave  their  golden 
treasures  to  triumph  to  make  glad  the  hearts  of 
the  husbandmen.  Log  cabins  yield  to  the  ad- 
vancing progress  of  wealth  and  civilization,  and 
in  their  places  rise  up  the  homes  of  greater  raa- 
tei'ial  comfort,  and  domestic  enjoyment;  the  rail 
pens  have  given  away  to  substantial  granaries, 
and  straw  stables  are  fast  making  room  for  spac- 
ious and  costly  bams. 

Schoolhouses  alVord  educational  facilities  at 
convenient  intervals,  while  the  green  foliage,  be- 
neath which  they  are  embowered,  offer  their  in- 
viting shade  to  thousands   of  promising  children. 

Sloughs,  inlets,  and  streams  have  lieen  substan- 
tially bridged,  while  long  rows  of  shade  trees 
mark  the  line  of  the  well-beaten  turnpikes. 

Railroads  and  grain  stations  remind  us  that  we 
have  already  passed  the  period  of  pioneer  life,  and 
that  we  are  entering  upon  an  area  full  of  inspiring 
liope  for  the  future. 


Looking  upon  our  material  prosijerity  for  the 
twenty  years  past,  we  may  well  encpiire  what  will 
be  the  condition  of  Freeborn  county  one  hundred 
years  hence.  I  will  not  undertake  the  specula- 
tion. None  of  us  will  be  living,  but  remember 
that  the  present  is  always  the  parent  of  the  future. 
As  the  twig  is  bent,  so  it  will  grow.  Our  influ- 
ence does  not  end  with  our  lives.  The  uncounted 
generations  to  come,  hold  us  largely  responsible 
for  their  mtellectual,  moral,  and  religions  charac- 
ter ;  for,  be  it  known,  that  whether  we  will  it  or 
not,  the  broad  or  restricted  philanthrojjhy  of  our 
own  lives  will  impress  itself  upon  all  the  distant 
future. 


CH.VPTER   XLVIII. 

THE    OlyD    settlers'    ASSOCIATION. 

As  a  continuation  of  the  early  history  of  the 
county,  quite  a  full  account  of  the  meetings  of  the 
Old  Settlei-s'  Association  is  given  here,  with 
very  full  reports  of  some  of  the  speeches  or  ad- 
dresses, which  are  rich  in  reminiscences  and 
so  well  presented  that  a  rewriting  could  not  im- 
prove them.  Coming  in  this  form,  it  slightly  in- 
terferes with  the  continuity  of  the  plan  of  the 
work,  but  this  is  fully  comijensateil  for  by  a  dis- 
ruption of  the  monotony  which  might  otherwise 
become  tedious  in  the  perusal. 

The  old  settlers  of  Freeborn  county  who  weie 
desirous  of  perpetuating  the  memory  of  the 
hardships,  the  trials,  troubles,  and  privations  on 
the  one  hand,  and  the  pleasures  and  triumphs  on 
the  other,  of  pioneer  times  and  frontier  life,  joined 
in  a  call  to  all  those  who  came  previous  to  1,S()(), 
to  meet  on  the  12th  of  ■Tuly,  1875,  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  an  Old  Settlers'  Association. 

In  response  to  this  call  a  meeting  was  held  at 
the  Court  House  on  the  day  mentioned,  at  two 
o'clock.  The  assembly  was  called  to  order  by  1). 
G.  Parker,  who  read  the  call  that  had  been  issued. 
On  motion  of  John  L.  Melder,  Mr.  Parker  was 
made  temporary  chairman.  On  motion  of  F. 
McCall,  FI.  T>.  Brown  was  appointed  secretary. 
On  motion  of  Isaac  Botsford,  the  following  com- 
mittee oa  resolutions  was  appointed  :  Henry 
Thurston,  F.  McCall,  and  H.  G.  Emmons;  on 
nominations,  Isaac  Botsford,  John  L.  Melder,  and 
Jason  Goward.     While  waiting  for  the  reports   of 


OLD  SETTLERS'  ASSOCIATION. 


293 


committees  Mr.  Melder,  who  was  the  original  mover 
in  the  matter,  was  called  upon  for  a  speech,  and 
responded  in  a  facetious  vein,  relating  amusing 
anecdotes.  Remarks  were  made  by  Father  Lowrj 
and  others. 

The  committee  appointed  for  the  purpose  re- 
ported a  constitution  which,  after  discussion  and 
amendment,  was  adopted.  Its  provisions  were 
that  any  old  settler  could  join  by  paying  a  nom- 
inal sum,  who  was  here  previous  to  January  1st, 

1859,  and  the  limitation  is  advanced  each  year  so 
that  any  one  who  has  been  a  resident  sixteen 
years  can  then  join  the  association. 

The  officers  elected  under  this  constitution 
were:  President,  D.  G.  Parker;  vice-Presidents, 
J.  L.  Melder,  H.  Biekford,  and  O.  C.  Goodnature; 
Secretary,  Henry  Thurston;  Treasurer,  H.  D. 
Brown;  Chaplain,  Rev.  S.  H.  Lowry;  Financial 
Committee,  Ole  Peterson.  J.  W.  Ayers,  and  the 
President,  Secretary,  and  Treasurer,  es-officios. 
The  constitution  was  then  signed  by  thirty-nine 
persons;  the  President  delivered  an  address  which 
was  requested  for  publication.  Previous  to  ad- 
journment, a  cordial  invitation  was  extended  to 
all  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  county  who 
were  old  settlers  to  become  members. 

The  second  meeting  was  hehl  on  Tuesday,  the 
2d  of  June,  1876,  at  the  Court  House  in  Albert 
Lea.  The  opportunity  was  given  for  joining  the 
society,  and  sixty-five  persons  signed  the  consti- 
tution, who  had  come  here  previous   to  January, 

1860.  Several  amendments  were  presented  and 
adopted,  the  most  important  of  which  was  the 
appointment  of  a  committee   on  obituary   notices. 

The  officers  elected  for  the  year  were:  Presi- 
dent, D.  G.  Parker;  vice-Presidents,  William  N. 
Goslee,  of  Loudon;  D.  R.  Young,  Shell  Rock;  N. 
I.  Lowthian,  Freeman;  H.  G.  Emmons,  Nunda; 
Henry  Tunell,  Mansfield;  C.  E.  Butler,  Oakland; 
Ender  Gulbrandson,  Hay  ward;  I.  Botsford,  Al- 
bert Lea;  J.  H.  Pace,  Moscow;  Lewis  Bill,  Rice- 
land;  William  H.  Long,  Bancroft;  E.  D.  Hop- 
kins. Manchester;  Asa  Walker,  Carlston;  C.  E. 
Johnson,  Newry;  J.  T.  Jones,  Geneva;  Richard 
Fitzpatrick,  Bath;  A.  S.  Purdie,  Hartland;  and 
Jason  Goward,  Freeborn;  Secretary,  H.  Thurs- 
ton; Treasurer,  H.  D.  Brown;  Chaplain,  S.  G. 
Lowry;  Finance  Committee,  Ole  Peterson,  J.  W. 
Ayers,  the  President,  Secretary,  and  Treasurer.  E. 
C.  Stacy  was  appointed  on  the  obituaries  for  the 
ensuing  year. 


Judge  Cooley,  of  Minneapolis,  delivered  the 
annual  address,  which  was  entertaining,  instruc- 
tive, and  satisfactory.  Judge  Stacy  read  the 
obituary  notices  of  those  who  had  moved  on  to  an 
unknown  frontier  during  the  year,  and  also  men- 
tioned some  of  the  old  settlers  who  had  gone  be- 
fore the  association  was  organized,  and  depicted 
the  valuable  services  they  had  rendered  while 
here.  H.  D.  Brown  read  a  j^oem  prepared  in 
another  part  of  the  State,  but  revised  to  suit  the 
the  conditions  here  presented. 

The  question  as  to  the  earliest  resident  arose, 
and  George  Gardner  and  H.  Biekford  claimed 
the  honor  of  being  the  oldest  continuous  settlers. 
Various  reminiscences  were  brought  out  as  to 
early  political  affairs;  how  majorities  were  rolled 
up;  how  men  got  elected  delegates  to  conven- 
tions, and  became  candidates  after  they  got 
there,  with  other  points  of  interest.  The  siipper 
was  at  the  Hall  House,  and  the  fare  was  in  strik- 
ing contrast  with  the  fare  in  the  fifties. 

The  third  meeting  was  on  the  13th  of  June, 
1877.  A  procession  was  formed  and  marched  to 
the  picnic  ground  in  Albert  Lea.  Prayer  was 
offered  by  Rev.  Walter  Scott,  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  the  county.  A  letter  was  read  from  A.  P. 
Swineford  regretting  his  inability  to  meet  his  old 
friends  this  year.  Twenty-seven  joined  the  asso- 
ciation. 

The  officers  chosen  this  year  were;  President, 
E.  C.  Stacy ;  Treasurer,  H.  D.  Brown ;  Secretary, 
Henry  Thurston;  and  a  Vice  President  from  each 
town  in  the  county.  The  finance  committee  with 
the  ex-officios  were  J.  L.  Melder  and  J.  W.  Ayers. 

A  paper  was  read  from  Col.  Albert  M.  Lea, 
giving  an  account  of  his  early  explorations  and 
relating  the  incidents  which  gave  his  name  to  one 
of  the  lakes  in  the  coijnty  and  subsequently  to 
the  county  seat.  A  large  portrait  of  the  Colonel 
was  also  shown  and  he  was  unanimously  elected 
an  honorary  member.  Walter  Scott  gave  an 
account  of  some  transactions  in  his  neighborhood 
in  1856  and  '57.  Other  stories  were  told,  and 
the  basket  dinner  was  eaten  with  enjoyment  by 
all.  Isaac  Botsford  was  appointed  to  look  after 
the  honored  dead  of  next  year.  I).  G.  Parker 
then  read  the  history  of  the  county  prepared  for 
this  centennial  year. 

The  fourth  annual  meeting  was  on  the  second 
Friday  in  June,  1878.  A  procession  headed  by 
the  Albert  Lea  Brass  Band  marched  to  the  picnic 


294 


HISTORY  OF  FRBEBOliN  COUNT 7. 


groand.  President  Stacy  presided,  and  the  ex- 
ercises commenced  by  singing  the  long  Doxology, 
"Praise  (rod  from  whom  all  blessingH  How,"  and 
a  song  by  the  Purdie  family.  Alfred  P.  Swine- 
fonl  was  then  introduced,  the  oldest  printer  in  the 
county,  who  was  guccessful  in  his  attempt  to  sat- 
isfy the  high  expectations  of  those  who  remember 
the  meteor-like  scintillations  of  the  "Southern 
Minnesota  Star"  during  the  first  county  election. 
It  is  presented  in  full: 

"If  I  have  any  apology  to  offer  for  having  once 
failed  to  keep  my  engagement  with  you,  and  finally 
having  come  so  far  only,  I  fear,  to  dissapoint 
those  who  may  have  Ijeen  led  to  expect  an  address 
worthy  of  the  name  and  of  the  occasion,  it  is  that 
in  the  first  instance  unexpected  business  compli- 
cations imperatively  demanded  my  personal  atten- 
tion at  the  time  I  had  fondly  hoped  to  be  with 
you;  and  I  hope  and  trust  that  the  lingering  de- 
sire that  I  have  long  felt  to  revisit  the  "scenes  of 
my  youth,"  will  be  accepted  as  a  suiBoient  apol- 
ogy for  my  presence  now.  For,  though  grown  to 
man's  estate  when,  a  little  more  than  twenty-one 
years  ago,  I  came  to  the  then  almost  absolutely 
vacant  site  of  your  beautiful,  thriving  young  city 
of  Albert  Lea,  I  was,  in  fact,  a  mere  boy  in  years 
as  well  as  in  experience  of  the  world  and  its  busi- 
ness affairs.  Coming  here,  as  I  now  have,  in  a 
palatial  railway  coach,  borne  along  in  ease  and 
comfort,  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles 
an  hour,  annihilating  the  distance  between  here 
and  the  Mississippi  in  less  time  than  used  to  be  re- 
quired to  work  up  sufficient  courage  to  attempt  the 
trip,  I  could  not  avoid,  as  I  came  along,  a  mental 
contrast  between  the  present  coming,  and  that  of 
twenty-one  years  agone.  Never,  while  life  lasts, 
shall  I  forget  that  first  trip! 

I  had  been  a  journeyman  printer  out  of  an  un- 
completed apprenticeship  with  the  last  governor 
of  the  Territory  of  Minnesota,  and  for  a  brief 
period  before  coming  here,  was  foreman  on  a  St. 
Paul  weekly  paper.  The  Railroad,  Real  Estate, 
and  Financial  Advertiser,  was  at  least  a  part  of  its 
title,  of  which  Charles  H.  Parker,  a  banker,  was 
publisher,  and  Joe  Wheelock  the  editor.  What- 
ever time  may  have  accomplished  for  him,  Joe 
was  then  a  dyspeptic,  peevish,  irascible  individual, 
though  a  most  vigorous,  caustic  writer.  The  pa- 
per invariably  came  out  late  on  the  day  of  pub- 
lication or  the  day  after,  for  the  reason  that  Whee- 
lock always  had  something  of  the  utmost  import- 


ance, at  the  very  last  moment,  which  must  go  in 
or  there  would  be  a  row,  and  there  generally  was 
one.  Joe  laid  the  blame  for  the  late  ajjpearance 
of  the  paper  on  the  foreman,  and  the  forernan  re- 
ciprocated his  gentle  insinuations  in  that  regard 
by  imputing  the  whole  of  it  to  the  editor.  Par- 
ker thought  somebody  lied;  Wheelock  felt  sure  of 
it,  and  the  foreman,  though  an  orphan  of  tender 
years,  was  certain  of  it,  and  that  it  wasn't  him, 
and  that  anybody  who  said  it  was,  was  a  horse- 
thief  and  a  liar,  and  hadn't  truth  enough  in  him 
to  make  an  ordinary  gas  meter.  Wheelock,  in  his 
virtuous  wrath,  produced  an  old  pepper-box  re- 
volver, and  with  the  most  horrid  oaths,  threatened 
to  fill  your  humble  orator  on  this  occasion,  as  full 
of  holes  as  the  useful  article  of  table  ware  from 
which  his  implement  of  war  took  its  name;  but 
he  didn't,  for  which  forbearence  on  his  part  I  have 
mentally  thanked  him  innumerable  times,  and 
here  and  now.  in  this  public  manner  I  most  cheer- 
fully and  magnanimously  forgive  him,  for  if  he 
had  shot  and  hadn't  told  a  whopper  about  it,  he 
would  have  saved  me  all  these  after  years  of  editor- 
ial drudgery,  and  you  this  infliction.  If  I  were  to 
meet  him  now,  I  really  believe  I  should  shake 
hands  with  him,  and  thank  him  most  cordially  for 
the  wrong  he  did  me  in  not  shooting,  though  I 
doubt  much  if  the  pistol  was  loaded,  or  if  he 
could  have  hit  the  gable  end  of  the  capitol  at 
arm's  length,  it  it  had  been  double-shotted.  How- 
ever, we  continued  together  a  few  weeks  longer, 
eyeing  each  other  askance,  instituting  and  pre- 
serving an  armed  truce,  as  it  were,  your  humble 
servant  all  the  time  anxious  to  get  away  from  the 
near  vicinity  of  that  pepper-box  revolver,  which 
he  knew  would  shoot  in  all  directions  if  it  went 
off  at  all,  and  I  have  no  doubt  Joe  was  equally 
anxious  to  have  him  do  so,  when  one  morninj;  an 
advertisement  appeared  in  one  of  the  daily  papers 
calling  for  a  priater  to  go  into  the  south  part  of 
the  Territory  to  establish  a  newspaper  in  a  new 
town  of  great  promise,  and  directed  applicants  to 
call  at  a  certain  room  in  the  then  leading  hotel  of 
St.  Paul.  Here  was  the  coveted  opportunity.  I 
thirsted  more  for  literary  and  editorial  fame  than 
for  a  personal  encounter  with  Wheelock  and  his 
treacherous  pepper-box,  which  I  was  assured  by 
those  who  ought  to  know,  scattered  fearfully.  I 
had,  by  dint  of  great  perseverance  and  the  prac- 
tice of  the  most  rigid  economy,  managed  to  save 
a  whole  week's  salary,  and  was  ready  to  venture  in 
search  of  other  fields,  "and  pastures  new."  I  did  not 


OLD  SETTLERS'  ASSOCIATION. 


295 


stand  on  the  order  of  my  calling  at  the  avertis- 
er's  room,  but  called  at  once,  and  there  I  met  for 
the  first  time,  the  founder  of  Albert  Lea,  rotund, 
jovial,  large-hearted  George  S.  Ruble,  who  had 
lately  succeeded  in  having  the  place  where 
he  knew  there  ought  to  be  a  town,  designated  as 
the  county  seat  of  the  newly  organized  county  of 
Freeborn.  I  had  heard  the  name  of  the  place 
before.  The  weekly  paper  to  which  I  have  refer- 
red kept  standing  on  its  fourth  page  a  large  map 
of  the  territory,  an  electrotype  plate,  into  which  I 
would  drill  a  hole  large  enough  to  permit  the  in- 
sertion of  a  small  letter  o  to  designate  the  sight, 
and  close  to  it  chisel  through  a  space  large  enough 
to  hold  the  name  of  any  new  town  the  proprietor 
of  which  was  willing  to  pay  for  its  insertion.  I 
had  only  the  week  before  put  Albert  Lea  on  the 
map,  and  I  remember  that  the  lake  was  not  large 
enough  to  hold  the  bold  faced  letters,  for  the  in- 
sertion of  which  I  presume  Ruble  paid  liberally. 
I  think  I  can  claim  the  honor  of  having  placed 
Albert  Lea  on  the  first  map  upon  which  it  ever 
appeared. 

I  found  some  difficulty  in  convincing  Ruble 
that  the  mole  under  my  right  optic  was  legitimate 
and  not  the  result  of  any  discretion  on  my  part; 
but  that  matter  finally  settled  to  his  satisfaction, 
the  negotiations  were  easily  concluded.  George 
agreed  to  endorse  notes  with  which  to  purchase 
an  outfit,  and  also  advanced  funds  with  which  to 
pay  necessary  expenses  to  Chicago.  He  also 
agreed  to  and  did,  deed  to  myself  and  N.  T, 
Gray,  who  was  desirous  of  embarking  with  me  in 
the  enterprise,  a  sufficient  number  of  lots  in  the 
new  town  to  have  made  me  a  richer  man  than  I  am 
to-day,  had  I  remained  here  an  1  waited  patiently 
for  the  coming  of  that  era  of  prosperity  which 
has  since  dawned  upon  you.  And  here  let  me  re- 
mark (in  a  parenthesis,  as  it  were,)  that  thoiigh  I 
came  here  and  went  away  again  as  poor  as  Job's 
turkey  gobbler,  I  have,  through  strict  integrity, 
untiring  toil  and  perseverance,  and  the  practice  of 
close  economy,  managed  to  hold  my  own  ever 
since.  However,  to  return  to  my  ower-true  narra- 
tive, Ruble  stipulated  as  a  sort  of  side  agreement, 
having  an  eye,  I  presume,  to  the  more  rapid 
growth  of  his  new  town,  that  I  should  get  mar- 
ried, which  stipulation  I  readily  accepted,  al- 
though I  was  not  certain  that  "  the  girl  I  left  be- 
hind me"  would  ratify  the  arrangement,  but  she 
did,  came  here  with  me  to  live,  and  regrets  that 


she  cannot  be  here  with  you  to-day;  the  best 
she  could  do,  under  the  circumstances,  was 
to  send  her  card  in  the  shape  of  her  daugh- 
ter, who  was  born  in  Minnesota,  shortly 
after  we  left  Freeborn  county.  But  I'm  afraid 
I'm  getting  the  story  mixed  up.  I  went  to  Chi- 
cago, traversing  the  Mississippi  most  of  the  way 
on  the  ice,  from  St.  Paul  to  Prairie  du  Chein, 
thence  by  stage  to  Boscobel,  then  the  western 
termmus  of  the  Milwaukee  &  Mississippi  Rail- 
road; thence  by  rail  to  Janesville,  then  again  by 
stage  to  a  connection  with  what  is  now  the  Madi- 
son division  of  the  Chicago  k  Northwestern  Rail- 
way,and  of  which  a  former  Albert  Lea  boy  is  Super- 
intendent. That  was  in  February,  1857.  Hav- 
ing purchased  a  hand  press,  type  enough  for  a 
six  column  paper,  and  some  job  type,  I  then 
went  up  to  Oshkosh  to  carry  out  the  stipulation 
referred  to,  and  early  in  March,  accompanied  by 
my  wife,  started  on  the  return  trip  to  Minnesota. 
Portage  City  was  then  the  terminas  of  the  old 
La  Crosse  <fc  Milwaukee  Railroad,  and  from  that 
point  we  had  to  travel  the  entire  distance  by 
stage,  over  the  devious  route,  through  Sparta, 
Black  River  Falls,  Eau  Claire,-River  Falls,  to  Pres- 
cott  and  Hastings,  in  doing  which  a  whole  week's 
time  was  consumed.  At  Hastings  I  was  joined 
by  my  partner,  Gray,  and  leaving  Mrs.  Swineford 
with  some  relatives,  we  set  out  by  stage  for  Albert 
Lea.  The  route  was  through  Northfield,  Fari- 
bault, Owatonna,  to  Austin,  where  the  stage  route, 
so  far  as  it  benefitted  us  was  at  an  end.  Stopping 
here  over  night,  we  were  fortumste  enough  to  fall 
in  with  Dorr  Stacy,  then  a  half  grown  lad,  who 
was  there  after  the  Geneva  mail,  which  was  car- 
ried semi -occasionally  by  Foot  &  Walker's  line, 
Dorr  being  horses,  driver,  and  all  hands.  Tak- 
ing the  mail  upon  his  back,  he  piloted  us  through 
to  his  father's,  that  being  recommended  to  us  as 
the  best  route,  the  road  to  Albert  Lea  not  being 
open.  An  all  day's  walk  brought  us  to  the  resi- 
dence of  your  honorable  President,  Judge  Stacy, 
and  I  am  postively  certain  that  never  before  or 
since  have  I  watched  with  such  an  absorbing  in- 
terest a  woman  engaged  in  the  arduous  task  of 
baking  griddle  cakes,  as  I  did  the  Judge's  estim- 
able wife  that  evening. 

The  next  morning,  bright  and  early,  we  set  out 
for  Albert  Lea,  whose  "tall  spires  and  turrets 
crowned  "  were  vividly  pictured  in  our  imagina- 
tions.    Picture  to  yourself  two  lone  sailors  adrift 


296 


n  I  STORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


in  an  open  boat  on  the  trackless  sea,  ■with  com- 
pass or  rudder,  and  you  have  a  true  representa- 
tion of  Gray  and  your  humble  servant,  as  they 
plodded  their  weary  way  over  the  trackless  prai- 
ries and  through  the  leafless  tress  of  the  oak 
openings  in  search  of  their  final  harbor  of  refuge. 
It  was  about  the  middle  of  March.  The  snow 
still  lay  on  the  ground  to  the  depth  of  a  foot  or 
more,  though  the  weather  was  mild  and  the  snow 
was  melting,  and  under  it  there  appeared  to  be 
an  equal  depth  of  water,  which  the  frost  pre- 
vented the  ground  from  absoibiug.  We  had 
started  on  the  road  jjointed  out  to  us,  but  it  had 
grown  fainter  and  fainter,  and  we  had  not  trav- 
eled an  hour  before  it  entirely  disajipeared.  Gray 
was  a  dogged  determiuud  sort  of  a  fellow,  and 
didn't  have  any  new  wife  to  grieve  over  bis  loss 
in  the  wilderness,  while  she  set  her  cap  for  an- 
other fellow,  and  I  was  determined,  too ,  that  mine 
should  not  ha^e  a  chance  to  laugh  at  me,  as  I 
knew  she  would  do  if  we  turned  back,  so  we 
struck  out  in  the  direction  we  thought  Albert 
Lea  ought  to  lie.  You  who  live  here  now  in  the 
enjoyment  of  all  the  ease  and  comfort  of  civilized 
life  in  your  cozy  and  elegant  homes,  embellished 
with  all  the  treasures  of  art,  if  you  came  at  a 
later  period,  can  have  little  appreciation  of  the 
feelings,  of  the  hopes  and  fears,  I  might  almost 
say,  of  the  sighs  and  tears,  of  those  two  forlorn 
weary  pilgrims,  as  they  plodded  their  slow  way 
along  in  search  of  the  spot  where  now  stands  the 
beautiful,  prosperous  capital  of  your  equally 
beautiful  aud  prosperous  country.  Over  the  hil- 
locks, through  the  sloughs,  which  toward  night- 
fall became,  to  us,  veritable  "sloughs  of  despond," 
the  feet  sinking  at  every  step  through  the  snow 
into  the  water  underneath,  leg-weary  and  sore,  it 
was  little  wonder  that  when  we  reached  Ruble's 
the  following  day,  we  were  not  only  lame  aud 
halt,  but  blind  as  well.  All  day  we  traveled  with- 
out meeting  a  single  person  or  seeing  a  human 
habitation  of  any  kind.  All  was  a  dreary,  bar- 
ren waste:  we  were  literally  afloat  on  the  wide 
and  seemingly  boundless  prairie,  without  compass 
and  "nary"  a  guide-board  to  direct  us  to  a  haven  of 
rest.  Just  at  dusk  we  came  upon  the  bank,  or 
low  marshy  shore,  rather,  of  a  lake;  and  were  hes- 
itating whether  to  go  around  or  attempt  to  cross 
it,  when  we  heard  the  welcome  report  of  a  gun, 
apparently  not  over  a  dozen  rods  ofi'  and  on  the 
other  side  of  a  low  ridge  or  hillock.     Talk  about 


the  music  of  the  bells,  or  of  the  horn  about  din- 
ner time!  If  that  gun  had  been  aimed  directly 
at  us  by  an  unseen  foe  or  assassin,  its  report' 
would  have  been  sweeter  music  by  far,  to  our  ears, 
than  that  of  the  laughter  of  the  bubbling  brook, 
or  of  a  wind  instrument  under  the  gentle  manip- 
ulation of  a  forty  lung  power  operator  of  the 
teutonic  persuasion.  We  were  about  used  up, 
despaired  indeed  of  ever  being  able  to  reach  a 
human  habitation,  and  King  Richard  the  three 
times,  never  wanted  somebody  to  bind  iip  his 
wounds  and  l)ritig  a  horse,  half  as  bad  as  we  did. 
Gray  prayed  accordingly,  and  I"m  afraid  I  pro- 
faned, and  used  cuss-words  all  that  memorable 
afternoon.  Gray  prayed  for  guidance  to  Albert 
Lea,  and  I  swore  I  did  not  believe  there  was  any 
such  place,  except  on  the  map,  tliat  it  was  a  myth, 
an  irjniix  futniis  luring  us  on  to  a  worse  fate  than 
that  of  the  babes  in  the  woods;  only  in  this  case 
it  was  babes  on  the  inhospitable  prairie,  for  I  was 
morally  certain  we  had  traveled  far  enough  to 
find  a  dozen  Albert  Leas,  had  they  been  as  big  as 
St.  Paul  or  New  York.  The  fact  was  we  were 
only  about  six  miles  on  a  straiglit  line  from  Ge- 
neva. With  difficulty  we  dragged  our  weary 
limbs  along  in  the  direction  from  whence  the  re- 
port of  the  gun  liad  come,  and  shortly  encount- 
ered a  solitary  indian  who  was  lying  low  for  wild 
geese,  and  by  signs  and  facial  gestures  made  him 
understand  that  we  were  lost,  and  didn't  feel  very 
well  ourselves,  when,  instead  of  taking  our  scalps, 
as  he  might  easily  have  done,  and  thus  forever 
extinguished  the  brilliancy  of  that  luminary,  the 
Southern  Minnesota  Star,  ere  yet  it  had  begun  to 
illuminate  the  darkened  earth,  led  us  to  a  house 
in  ii  clump  of  trees  not  half  a  mile  o  if,  owned  and 
occupied,  I  believe,  by  a  pioneer  named  Beards- 
ley.  It  was  a  primitive  residence  in  the  primeval 
forest,  as  it  were,  to  which  that  primitive  child  of 
nature,  Lo!  the  poor  Indian,  conducted  us,  but 
never  since,  even  in  the  palatial  hotels  of  Chicago 
or  any  of  the  great  cities,  have  I  feasted  more 
sumptuously  than  I  did  that  night  in  that  little 
log  cabin  by  the  lake,  on  a  bill  of  fare  which  con- 
sisted wholly  of  bread,  salt  pork,  starch  gravy, 
and  a  decoction  of  rye,  not  the  rye  that  comes 
from  the  still,  but  still  it  was  rye,  coffee;  nor  do  I 
think  I  ever  slumbered  more  sweetly  or  peacefully 
on  the  costliest  spring  bed  or  hair  mattress,  with 
snowy  sheets  and  embroidered  counterpoint,  than 
I  did  that  night  on  a  straw  tick,  spread  upon  the 


OLD  SETTLERS'  ASSOCIATION. 


297 


rough  floor  of  that  rude  log  hut.  The  nest  day 
we  made  our  grand  entree  into  Albert  Lea,  just 
in  time  to  break  bread  with  its  founder  at  his  m«r- 
idianal  meal,  and  sop  it  with  him  in  the  starch 
gravy,  in  the  preparation  of  which,  good,  kind- 
hearted,  eccentric  Mrs.  Riible  was  a  real  artist. 

You  who  liave  come  here  in  later  years  should 
have  se«u  Albert  Lea  then;  it  was  a  county  seat 
without  buildings,  and  literally  without  iuliabi- 
tants.  One  solitary  little  log  building,  occupied 
by  Clark  as  a  store  and  bachelor's  hall,  together 
with  Ruble's  log  house  on  the  isthmus,  and  Capt. 
Thome's  frame  shanty  on  his  addition  to  a  town 
that  had  no  existence  save  on  paper,  constituted 
the  whole  of  the  wealth,  and  contained  all  of  the 
inhabitants  of  your  now  handsome  full-fledged 
city  of  2,.500  people.  Coming  from  Austin  by 
the  shortest  route,  you  passed  a  single  frame 
house  on  the  way,  and  in  the  whole  county,  six 
months  later,  there  were  not  voters  enough  to 
elect  my  respected  friend  and  fellow  pioneer, 
Judge  Stacy,  and  your  humble  servant  to  the 
first  State  Legislature.  It  wasn't  our  fault,  how- 
ever; simply  a  lack  of  votes,  that  was  all — for 
even  at  this  late  day  I  am  conscious  of  the  fact 
that  we  were  both  willing,  if  not  anxious,  to  serve 
the  State  in  the  capacity  of  law  makers;  that  we 
were  abundantly  qualified  to  do  so  with  credit  to 
ourselves  and  profit  to  the  then  budding  young 
commonwealth,  nobody  seemed  to  have  a  doubt  — 
with  the  trifling  exeption  of  the  people  who  cast 
a  majority  of  the  ballots.  Judge  Stacy  had  been 
a  member  of  the  double  barreled  Constitutional 
Convention,  in  which  he  had  acquitted  himself 
well  and  ably.  I  was  an  editor,  and — I  was  aliout 
to  say,  a  lawyer — but  that  wouldn't  be  true;  I 
was  a  member  of  the  bar,  but  no  lawyer — and 
what  I  didn't  think  I  knew  about  the  aifairs  of 
State,  most  certainly  has  never  since  been  learned 
by  any  one.  And  right  here  I  want  to  thank 
any  and  all  old  settlers  who  may  be  here  present, 
who  conti'ibvited  to  the  result  of  that  first  general 
election,  and  especially  my  old  friend  and  suc- 
cessful competitor  for  legislative  honors,  for  laying 
me  out  on  that  occasion  colder  than  a  wrought 
iron  wedge  in  January.  Had  they  endorsed  my 
pretensions,  I  now  know  that  it  would  have  been 
the  worse  for  me,  and  most  probably  for  them — 
for  that  legislature  did  the  five  million  loan 
business,  which  certainly  has  not  redounded  to 
the  credit  of  the  State,   and  it  is  quite  probable 


that  had  I  been  a  member  I  should  have  voted  for 
it,  or,  who  knows"?  I  might  have  gone  on  from 
bad  to  worse  until  I  lauded  in  Congress  or  the 
penitentiary,  it  wouldn't  have  made  much  difference 
which — for,  while  there  may  not  be  any  persons 
in  our  penitentiaries  who  ought  to  be  in  Congress, 
it  is  morally  certain  that  a  great  many  members 
of  Congress  are  badly  lied  about,  or  else  they 
ought  to  be  in  the  penitentiary.  The  bare  possi- 
bility of  what  might  have  followed  in  the  wake  of 
a  different  result  in  the  first  general  election  in 
Freeborn  county,  is,  even  at  this  distant  day, 
fearful  to  contemplate.  For,  I  have  held  not  a 
few  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility  since  that 
time,  and  have  learned  to  rate  the  honor  which 
an  election  or  an  appointment  to  official  position 
is  supposed  to  confer,  at  its  real  value.  I  have 
come  to  believe  that  in  these  degenerate  days, 
with  the  ballot  in  the  hands  of  the  ignorant,  the 
sordid,  and  the  vicious  elements  of  the  country, 
who  are  either  boiTght  or  driven  to  the  polls, 
when  legislators  are  bought  and  sold  like  sheep 
in  the  shambles,  and  ofiices  of  the  highest  trust 
and  importance  are  made  objects  of  barter  and  of 
sale  to  the  highest  bidders,  when  corruption 
rankles  in  every  vein  and  has  become  a  festering 
sore  in  the  body  politic,  I  have  come  to  believe 
that  at  such  a  time  and  in  such  a  generation  the 
post  of  highest  honor  is,  indeed,  the  private  sta- 
tion. But  were  it  otherwise,  the  holding  of 
official  position  ought  to  be  the  highest  ambition 
of  the  true  American  citizen.  The  man  who  has 
sufficient  ability  to  discharge  with  promptness 
and  efficiency,  the  duties  of  any  office  to  which  he 
may  aspire,  ought  to  be,  and  in  ninety-nine  cases 
out  of  a  hundred  is,  able  to  make  more  money  and 
live  more  comfortably,  in  the  pursuit  of  some 
legitimate  business,  and  if  he  isn't  able  to  do  so, 
he  isn't  fit  to  hold  office.  The  man  who  seeks  an 
office  is,  most  generally,  the  one  above  all  others 
who  shouldn't  have  it;  and  there  is  no  honor 
attached  to  the  incumbency  of  an  office  which 
does  not  come  to  the  holder  as  the  free,  unsought 
offering  of  an  intelligent  people.  It's  a  funny 
thing  though,  this  running  for  office,  almost 
always.  Two  years  ago  I  stumped  the  Congres- 
sional district  in  which  I  live  in  behalf  of  my 
party  candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  a  good, 
honest  fellow,  not  much  of  a  talker  himself,  but 
unfortunately  had  a  nasal  protuberance  of  un- 
usual size  and  lustre,   from  the  end  of  which  a 


298 


IIISTORT  OF  FREEBORIT  COUNTY. 


wart  had  been  amputated  by  a  rebel  bullet,  giviog 
it  the  appearance  of  having  been  through  several 
dog  fights  and  as  many  Indian  wars.  At  every 
meeting  I  w;i8  compelled  to  explain,  first  of  all, 
that  this  black  eye  of  mine  was  perfectly  legiti- 
mate, and  not  the  logical  result  of  having  called 
the  wrong  man  a  liar,  and  that  my  friend,  the 
candidate's  olfactory  organ  hadn't  really  been 
mutilated  in  a  dog  or  barrow  fight,  but  that  it 
had  been  shorn  of  a  part  of  its  original  majesty 
by  a  minnie  ball  while  he  was  leading  the  advance 
of  a  well  conducted  retreat,  in  tlie  cause  of  his 
country,  during  the  rebellion;  and  though  I 
pledged  my  sacred  honor,  and  my  inaleinable 
right  to  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness, 
for  the  truth  of  both  statements,  those  Michigan- 
ders  gently  waved  their  massive  auriculars,  smiled 
a  sweet  smile  of  incredulity,  and  then  went  to 
the  polls  and  elected  the  other  candidate.  Those 
of  you  who  know  my  politics,  however,  and  sym- 
pathise with  them  will  appreciate  the  remark 
when  I  say  that  Michigan  has  a  jiainful  habit  of 
always  electing  the  wrong  man.  Now,  my  party 
want  me  to  stand  for  Congress,  but  I  won't  even 
"lay"  for  it;  I  haven't  one-twentieth  part  the  de- 
sire to  go  to  Congress,  as  I  once  had  to  represent 
your  county  in  the  State  legislature;  and  I  have 
no  more  desire  to  meet  and  shoot  off  epithets  at 
those  Confederate  brigadiers  now,  than  I  was 
anxious  to  go  down  and  shoot  bullets  at  them  in 
1863^. 

But  I'm  afraid  I'm  getting  this  story  badly 
mixed  up.  I  wanted  to  tell  you  something  about 
the  early  history  of  Albert  Lea  and  Freeborn 
county,  Init  I've  wandered  so  far  from  the  subject 
and  the  early  history  was  made  so  long  ago,  that 
it's  hard  to  get  back  to  it.  I  believe  I  was  telling 
you  what  constituted  the  wealth  and  population 
of  Albert  Lea  in  March,  1857.  It  was  Yankee 
Doodle  who  couldn't  see  a  traditional  town  be- 
cause there  were  so  many  houses;  but  that  wasn't 
the  case  with  the  founders  of  your  first  local  news- 
paper; there  wasn't  any  houses  when  they  came 
to  your  town,  to  obstruct  the  vision,  or  mar  the 
great  natural  beauty  of  the  site  ujxm  which  it  has 
since  been  built,  and  if  there  had  been,  it  would 
have  made  no  material  difference,  for  they  hadn't 
been  an  hour  at  Ruble's  before  they  were  both  as 
blind  as  herrings — herrings  that  are  red — and 
didn't  take  any  pleasure  in  viewing  the  landscape 
o'er,  at  least  to  not  any  considerable  extent,  until 


after  a  period  of  four  or  five  days  had  elapsed.  It 
was  what  is  known  as  a  snow  blindness,  and  just 
as  effectual  for  the  time  being  as  though  the  eye 
had  been  put  out  by  an  explosion  of  nitro-glycer- 
ine.  Kuble  was  then  busy  completing  his  mill, 
but  when  it  was  about  finished,  the  spring  rains 
united  with  the  melting  snow  in  raising  a  Hood 
which  carried  away  part  of  the  dam.  and  he  found 
himself  in  possession  of  "a  mill  by  a  dam  site,  but 
no  dam  by  the  mill  site,"  and  we  all  turned  out 
and  helped  make  the  necessary  repairs.  When  he 
finally  got  the  mill  started,  the  first  cut  of  lumber 
was  used  for  the  erection  of  the  printing  olKce, 
which  was,  if  my  memory  is  not  at  fault,  the  first 
firame  building  on  the  original  townsite.  In  the 
meantime  I  had  gone  back  to  Hastings  after  my 
wife,  and  returning,  again  commenced  the  erection 
of  the  second  frame  building,  designed  for  a 
dwelling.  It  was  a  princely  mansion,  made  of 
rough  boards  set  up  on  end,  and  upon  which, 
although  I  was  no  carpenter,  I  did  the  most  of  the 
work.  In  it  my  wife  and  I  commenced  house- 
keeping as  soon  as  it  was  enclosed  and  roofed 
over  with  slabs  instead  of  shingles;  well  do  I  re- 
member the  primitive  cupboard  with  which  we 
commenced  hfe;  it  was  made  out  of  a  large  dry 
goods  box  set  on  end,  while  the  graceful  festoons 
in  which  my  wife  arranged  the  quilts  and  cover- 
lets which  were  made  to  do  duty  as  doors  and 
windows,  will  never  be  forgotten.  At  that  time, 
I  verily  believe  that  there  wasn't  such  a  thing  as 
a  carpet  in  the  settlement,  nor  any  but  the  rudest 
home  made  furniture.  And  right  here  I  desire  to 
relieve  the  tedious  narrative  with  the  relation  of 
an  incident  which  occured  about  that  time.  When 
I  went  back  to  Hastings  after  my  wife,  Ruble 
armed  me  with  a  well  executed  plat  of  the  embryo 
city,  and  a  power  of  attorney  constituting  me  an 
agent  for  the  sale  of  lots.  While  at  Hastings  I 
fell  in  with  a  Boston  capitalist  named  Stowell,  to 
whom  I  sold  two  or  three  lots, which,  judging  from 
the  plat  and  site  designated  for  the  printing 
office,  were  quite  eligibly  located.  Stowell  was  a 
rather  convivial  sort  of  a  fellow,  and  had  plenty 
of  money  which  he  was  investing  in  wild  lands 
and  town  lots  in  what  he  considered  the  best  local- 
ities. The  town  plat  of  Albert  Lea  had  been  sur- 
veyed in  the  winter,  and  in  order  to  preserve  the 
symmetry  of  form  which  would  be  most  2:)leasing 
to  the  eye  when  it  was  placed  on  paper,  a  corner 
of  the  lake  was  taken  in.     I  was  not  aware  of  the 


OLD  SETTLERS'  ASSOCIATION. 


299 


fact  at  the  time,   and  the  lots  I  sold  to  Stowell, 
happened  to  be  that  particular  part  of  the  plat. 
I  had  been  back  from  Hastings  only  a  few  days 
when  Stowell  put  in  an   appearance.     I  had  said 
so  much  praise  of  the  new  town,  pictured  in  glow- 
ing colors  the   great  natural  beauty  of  the  loca- 
tion, that  after  buying  the  lots,  he  couldn't  resist 
the  temptation  to  come  and  see  for   himself.     It 
was  a  very    wet  season;  the  river  and  lakes   had 
over-tlown  their  banks,   every  slough  was  a  lake 
in  itself,  and  how  the  fellow  got  here  when  he  did 
was  a  mystery.     He  said  he  swam   most  of  the 
way,  and  I  was  inclined  to  believe  him,   for  I  re- 
membered   that    shortly    afterwards    I  went   on 
horse-back  to  Geneva  after  a  cow  I  had  purchased 
'rom  Mr.  Robson  or  John  Heath,  I  don't  remem- 
ber which,   and  I  had  a  terrible  time  of  it.     The 
horse  was   a  blooded  animal;  I   don't  remember 
exactly  whether  he  was  sired  by  old  Duroc,  Ham- 
bletonian,  or  Lucifer,  but  I  do  think  he  must  have 
been,  as  Mark  Twain  would  say,  damned  by  every - 
bjly  who  ever  rode  him.     I  started   ti  drive  the 
cow  home,  and  whenever  I   came  to    a  slough,  I 
would  drive  her  in  and  crack  the   whip  at  her  till 
she  got  across,  and  then  I  would  get  off  the  horse 
start  him  in,    and  hang  on  to  his  tail  so  as  to  be 
ready  to   pull  him   out    in    case  he    got  mired. 
Sometimes   before   I   could    get    across,  the  cow 
would  start  back  again,  higher  up  or  lower  down, 
and  then  the  horse  and  I  would  have  to  follow 
suit.     When  I  finally  got  that  cow  home,  she  was 
blind  of  one  eye,  and  couldn't  see  out  of  the  other, 
had  lost  a   horn,  and  had  but  a  part  of  a  tail  to 
tell  the  story  of  her  own  muley-ishness,  and  man's 
inhumanity.     But  here  again  I've  got  two  stories 
mixed.     Before  I  got   on  the  last  tangent    I  was 
about  to  say   that  after  Stowell  had  been  here  a 
day  or  two,  he  came  to  me  and  wanted  to  know  if 
I  had  a  boat  or  canoe,  I  told  him  my  partner  had 
a  cauoe,  and  if  he  wanted  to  go  duck  shooting,  I 
would  get  it  and  go  with  him.     "Duck  shooting 
be — blessed!"  said   he,  "I   want  to   go   out    and 
look  at  those  d-ashed  lots  you  sold  me,  that's  all!" 
I  went  with  him  to  Mr.   Ruble,  who  very   readily 
and  willingly  consented  to  make  a   fair  exchange 
with  him,   gave  him  the  same  number  of  lots  on 
terra  firma,  and  he   went  away  satisfied.     I   did 
not  see  him  again  till  the  latter  part  of  summer, 
and  from  what  then  occurred  I  was  led  to  believe 
that  I  was  not  the  only  person  from  whom  he  had 
bought  water  lots.     I  then  met  him  at  the  Mer- 


chant's Hotel,  St.  Paul,  not  exactly  in  a  beastly- 
state  of  sobriety,  but  a  trifle  the  worse  for  liquor. 
Being  obliged  to  remain  over  Sunday,  myself  and 
a  friend  or  two  conchided  to  attend  divine  service, 
just  as  we  were  leaving  the  hotel,  Stowell  accos- 
ted us  with  an  inquiry  as  to  where  we  were  going. 
He  had  been  imbibing  rather  freely  during  the 
previous  night,  and  had  more  liquor  aboard  than 
one  man  ought  to  try  to  carry — unless  he  has  a 
jug  in  which  to  put  at  least  a  part  of  it.  Being 
told  that  we  were  going  to  church,  ne  said,  "thash 
all  right  (hie)  boys,  guesh  I'll  go  too,"  and  it  was 
impossible  to  get  away  from  him,  though  we 
walked  fast  and  left  him  following  some  distance 
behind.  Reaching  the  church  we  entered  and 
were  shown  a  seat  well  up  in  front  by  the  usher; 
just  as  we  were  sitting  down  Stowell  stepped  in- 
side the  door,  and  the  minister  began  lining  out 
that  old  familiar  hymn : 

"There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight 
Where  saints  immortal  dwell," 

when  he  was  interrupted  and  the  congregation 
horrified  by  the  emphatic  exclamation  from  Stow- 
ell— "Yes,  thash's  another  Minnesota  story,  sell 
wile  lan's  and  water  lots!"  It  is  needless  to  remark 
that  our  friend  Stowell  didn't  remain  to  hear  the 
sermon,  but  was  unceremoniously  ushered  out, 
and  I  have  never  heard  of  him  from  that  day  to 
this.  The  story  went  the  rounds  of  the  papers  at 
the  time,  and  perhajis  some  of  you  may  remember 
having  read  it. 

I  will  not  dwell  upon  the  condition  of  afTairs  in 
Albert  Lea  and  Freeborn  county  at  the  time  I  left 
them,  after  a  two  years'  residence.  The  town  was 
a  mere  hamlet,  with  no  piiblic  buildings,  churches 
or  schools,  and  not  even  a  wagon  road  worthy  of 
the  name.  I  had  established  a  newspaper  accord- 
ing to  agreement  with  Mr.  Ruble,  and  did  all  I 
could,  considering  my  youth  and  inexperience,  to 
advertise  abroad  the  great  natural  advantages  and 
attractions  of  the  town  and  county;  but  looking 
back  through  the  vista  of  years,  I  must  say  that 
I'm  afraid  that  the  Southern  Minnesota  Star  illu- 
mined with  rather  a  pale,  flickering  light,  the  re- 
gions round  about;  certain  it  was  that  its  little 
light  was  soon  extinguished,  and  for  a  time  Free- 
born county  was  plunged  into  the  depths  of  a 
literary  darkness.  A  second  paper — The  Freeborn 
County  Eagle — was  started  after  the  lapse  of  a 
few  months,  and  soared  for  a  time  among  the  lit- 
erary clouds,  passing  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Bots- 


300 


niSTORT  OF  FREKBORN  GOUNTY. 


ford,  when  I  gave  it  up  and  left  the  county;  the 
StanJanl,  I  am  infornicil,  is  the  legitimate  ofTspring 
of  the  papers  I  founded  upon  the  sands  of  the 
desert,  as  it  were — two  dollars  a  year  strictly  in 
advance.  I  could  relate  many  incidents  that  oc- 
curred during  my  residence  here;  among  th® 
laughable  lawsuits,  the  fight  for  the  county  seat 
witli  Bancroft,  a  mythical  town  which  cotild  ihen 
only  be  found  with  the  aid  nf  a  mariner's  com- 
pass, though  it  had  a  larger  local  paper  than  Al- 
bert Laa — The  Bancroft  Pionaer — published  by 
D.  Blakely,  afterwards  Secretary  of  State;  of 
the  political  s(juat)bles;  the  coi;gratulations  ex- 
tended to  me  as  the  father  of  the  first  child  born 
on  the  original  town  site;  of  tiie  first  funeral;  but 
I  will  not  weary  your  patience  further  than  to  re- 
late one  anecdote  which  had  its  beginning  when  I 
was  an  apprentice  boy  with  old  Cxovernor  Sam. 
Medary  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  its  ending  after 
he  came  to  St  Paul  as  chief  executive  of  the  ter- 
ritory. As  a  boy  I  was  generally  credited  with 
being  able  to  concoct  and  execute  more  mischief 
in  an  hour  than  I  would  be  able  to  atone  for  in 
a  lifetime.  As  an  apprentice  with  the  governor; 
the  order  of  business  consisted  principally  in  be- 
ing discharged  one  day  and  hired  over  again  the 
next.  I  owed  my  frequent  dismissals  to  the 
pranks  I  played  on  the  Colonel,  as  he  was  then 
called,  and  my  reinstatement,  to  the  kind  interpo- 
sition of  his  good  wife,  with  whom,  notwithstand- 
ing my  mischievous  propensities,  I  was  something 
of  a  favorite.  I  slejjt  in  a  room  at  the  office,  and 
took  my  meals  at  the  Colonel's  house,  doing  the 
little  chores  morning  and  evening,  and  sometimes 
hoeing  up  early  corn,  cabbages,  and  potatoes  in 
the  garden.  I  had  played  many  tricks  on  the 
Colonel,  who  was  at  times,  terribly  profane,  but 
the  one  I  am  about  to  relate  broke  the  camel's 
back,  and  resulted  in  my  coming  west.  An  unruly 
cow  was  in  the  habit  of  breakfasting  on  the 
Colonel's  tender  young  cabbages,  and  that, 
coupled  with  the  fact  that  she  could  never  get  out 
the  same  way  she  got  in,  but  had  to  have  the 
gate  opened  for  her,  made  him  terribly  angry. 
In  a  room  in  the  printing  office  building  was 
stored  a  lot  of  old  tiint-lock  muskets  which  be- 
longed to  a  defunct  militia  company,  and  which 
myself  and  another  apprentice  used  to  fire  off,  one 
after  another,  from  the  top  of  the  building  at  an 
early  hour  in  the  morning  to  the  annoyance  of 
the  whole  town.     One  fine  summer  morning,  when 


the  cow  was  taking  her  regular  matutinal  meal, 
the  Colonel  ordered  me  to  go  to  the  office,  load 
the  musket  with  powder,  and  carry  it  to  the  house, 
so  that,  as  he  remarked,  he  could  "pepper  her 
cabbage  for  her."  I  went,  not  in  the  best  of 
humor  possible,  and  did  as  I  was  ordered.  I  put 
into  that  musket  powder  enongh  to  load  a  siege 
gun,  put  some  dry  paper  on  top  of  the  powder,  and 
rammed  upon  that  some  more  paper  which  was  not 
so  dry,  then  put  in  a  handful]  of  old  type  from 
the  printers'  "hell  box"  and  some  more  paper  on 
top  of  that.  Going  back  to  the  house,  I  found 
the  Colonel  waiting  impatiently  with  a  handful 
of  pe])per- berries,  which  I  put  into  the  musket 
with  some  more  jiaper  on  top,  in  the  meantime 
suggesting  that  the  gun  kicked,  and  he  had  bet- 
ter let  me  do  the  shooting,  though  I  wouldn't 
have  been  behind  that  musket  when  it  went  off  for 
the  best  dollar  of  the  daddies  that,  ever  came  from 
the  mint.  He  was  indignant,  and  proposed  to  do 
his  own  cow  killing — and  he  did.  That  cow  for 
the  first  time  went  out  of  the  garden  the  same  way 
she  got  in — over  the  fence — with  a  long  drawn 
out  bellow,  that  would  have  gone  to  the  heart  of 
a  less  wicked  boy  than  I  now  know  myself  to 
have  been — and  she  didn't  come  back  again  either 
— but  just  went  out  on  the  commons  and  died. 
When  the  roar  of  the  musket  had  died  away,  and 
the  cloud  of  smoke  began  to  soar  heavenward, 
the  Colonel  was  seen  trying  to  pick  himself  up 
from  between  two  rows  of  potatoes,  livid  with 
rage,  and — but  it  is  sufficient  to  say  he  paid  for 
the  cow,  and  I  took  Greeley's  advice,  and  came 
west,  after  a  few  years  bringing  up  at  Albert  Lea. 
In  the  fall  of  1857,  Judge  Stacy  and  myself  were 
delegates  to  the  first  Democratic  State  Convention, 
and  I  lost  no  time  after  reaching  St.  Paul  to  call 
on  the  Colonel,  who  was  then  governor.  I  had 
grown  from  a  boy  to  man's  estate,  and  was,  of 
course,  considerably  changed.  Without  telling 
my  name,  I  said  to  him  that  I  was  running  a  little 
paper  in  the  south  part  of  the  territory,  a 
delegate  to  the  convention,  and  had  called  to  see 
if  he  couldn't  give  me  an  appointment  to  help  me 
along,  if  it  was  nothing  more  than  that  of  notary 
public.  He  eyed  me  keenly  for  a  moment  and 
then  remarked,  'It  seems  to  me  I  ought  to  know 
you;  your  face  is  familiar,  and  yet  I  can't  exactly 
place  you.'  I  ventured  to  say  that  I  thought  he 
ought  to  remember  me,  'don't  you  remember 
Colonel  ' — 'Hold  on.  not  another  word!'  said  he,  'I 


OLD  SETTLERS'  ASSOC  I  AT  TON. 


301 


know  you  now!  You're  the  infernal  rascal  who 
loaded  that  musket!  Notary  public!  Why  God 
bless  me  Alfred,  I'd  make  you  president  if  I 
could.'  And  he  grasped  my  hand  and  shook  it 
as  cordially  and  heartily  as  he  could  have  done 
had  his  arm  never  been  partially  paralyzed  by  the 
rebound  of  a  musked  loaded  with  a  cannon 
charge. 

Up  to  the  time  I  left  here,  not  a  dollar's  worth 
of  farm  produce  had  been  exported  from  the 
county,  and  but  few  if  any  of  the  farmers  had 
grown  more  grain  than  would  suffice  for  planting 
the  following  year.  All  the  breadstuffs  consumed 
by  the  population  at  that  time  were  imported. 
There  was  no  flouring  mill,  and  I  do  not  think 
there  was  a  single  reaper  in  the  county,  though 
there  may  have  been  one  or  two.  Salt  pork  and 
starch  gravy  was  the  regular  bill  of  fare.  I  re- 
member the  first  summer  I  was  here  I  had  oc- 
casion to  go  to  Chatfield,  and  returning  on  foot, 
a  short  distance  this  side  of  that  place  I  saw  some 
pie-plant  growing  in  a  farmer's  garden,  a  package 
of  which  I  purchased  at  a  fabulous  price,  and 
carried  all  the  way  home  as  a  rare  and  not  easily 
obtained  luxury.  And  I  so  far  remember  those 
old  pioneer  days  that  sometimes  when  my  wife 
suggests  that  there  is  little  variety  in  our  table 
bill  of  fare,  and  she  would  like  a  change,  I  go 
down  town,  carry  up  a  piece  of  salt  pork  and  say 
to  her,  'there  my  dear;  a  little  salt  pork,  with 
starch  gravy,  n  la  Albert  Lea,  if  yoii  please;'  and 
we  enjoy  it  as  much  and  even  more  than  we  would 
have  relished  the  luxuries  which  were  not  attain- 
able in  those  piiineer  days. 

Now  I  am  told  that  Freeborn  county,  instead  of 
importing  its  breadstuffs,  exports  annually  wheat 
to  the  extent  of  over  a  million  and  a  quarter  of 
bushels,  and  other  farm  products  in  proportion. 
Most  heartily  do  I  congratulate  you.  people  of 
Freeborn  county,  and  the  old  settlers  particularly, 
upon  what  you  have  accomplished.  Where 
twenty  years  ago  was  a  dreary  waste  I  see  now  a 
most  beautiful  city,  with  costly  buildings,  elegant 
residences,  fine  hotels,  churches,  and  schools, 
thriving  villages,  and  on  every  hand  fields  of 
waving  grain,  lowing  herds,  and  unmistakable 
evidences  of  material  prosperity  and  wealth.  Your 
patient  perseverance  has  conquered  a  signal  suc- 
cess, of  which  you  are  in  every  way  worthy  and 
deserving.  May  you  continue  to  prosper,  and 
that  Heaven's  choicest  blessings  may  continue  to 


fall  upon  you  and  yours,  is  the  earnest  prayer  of 
one  who  has  oftimes  regretted  that  he  did  not  re- 
main to  share  the  trials  and  hardships  through 
which  you  have  passed  to  a  final  jiarticipation  in 
the  grand  triumph  you  have  achieved.  It  is  a 
beautiful  custom  you  have  inaugurated — this  re- 
union of  old  settlers  every  year,  when  you  meet 
like  old  soldiers,  fight  your  battles  over  again,  lay 
aside  the  cares  of  business,  and  forgetful  of  party 
strife  and  personal  bickerings,  cement  anew  the- 
bonds  of  friendship,  and  that  unity  of  sentiment 
and  endeavor  which  has  enabled  you  to  conquer 
all  obstacles  and  make  yours  the  garden  county 
of  the  garden  State  of  the  Union. 

If  I  attempted  to  say  to  you  all  I  would  like 
to  say  ou  this  occasion,  I  kqpw  I  should  tax  your 
patience.  I  apprehend  that  my  old  pioneer 
friends  wanted  to  see  me  more  than  they  wanted 
to  hear  rne  talk,  and  I  am  certain  that  I  desired 
to  see  them  once  more  before  joining  that  memor- 
able caravan  that  has  gone  before  :  and  I  want  to 
hear  some  of  them  talk  too,  I  see  about  me  some 
faces  that  were  familiar  twenty  years  ago  ;  but 
alas,  I  miss  from  among  you  many  who  shared 
with  us  the  trials  and  hardships,  the  hopes  and 
the  fears  of  that  early  period  in  the  history  of 
Freeborn  county.  They  have  passed  away  to  the 
silent  and  mysterious  future;  some  died  battling 
in  their  country's  cause,  others  surrounded  by 
their  families  in  the  homes  they  liad  builded  for 
themselves  in  the  wilderness,  which  they  and  you 
have  made  to  bloom  as  a  garden  and  blossom  as 
the  rose.  Of  my  old  friend  and  partner  I  have 
heard  Eothing  since  the  war,  in  which  he  was  a 
soldier,  either  from  choice  or  compulsion,  on  the 
Confederate  side.  I  miss  from  among  you  my  old 
and  valued  friend,  Armstrong,  who  died  in  the 
meridian  of  a  noble  manhood;  William  Andrews, 
the  good  Dr.  Blackmer,  and  others  I  might  name, 
friends  of  my  younger  years,  are  not  here  to  ex- 
tend, as  I  know  they  would,  if  living,  a  friendly, 
cordial  greeting.  It  may  be  tbat  my  old  friend 
and  partner  still  lives;  I  know  not;  but  it  is  more 
than  proable  that  he  lies  buried  in  an  unknown 
grave,  the  unwilling  victim  of  a  cruel  war.  If 
indeed  he  be  dead,  sing,  oh  ye  sirens,  your  saddest 
strains,  and  chant  ye  winds  and  birds  a  requiem 
over  his  tomb!  Does  he  rest  under  a  cairn  of 
pebbles  in  the  shadow  of  some  grand  old  south- 
ern sierra,  may  some  grieving  Oread  come  by 
night  to  drop  a   tear  of  pity  and  place  a  garland 


3U2 


insTOltV  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


ou  his  barren  ss^pvilcbre.  Nor  do  I  know  where 
the  others  sleep.  Wherever  it  be,  may  tlie  eve- 
ning dews  fall,  oh  so  gently,  and  the  Howers 
spread  sweet  perfume  around  ;  may  the  tall  trees 
make  mournful  music,  and  the  forest  songsters 
chant  their  evening  hymns  over  the  places  where 
they  rest.  And  whether  they  lie  in  the  vast  ocean, 
or  somewhere  in  the  broad  bosom  of  this  fair 
land  of  ours,  may  the  crimson  morning  dawn 
softly,  and  the  first  rays  of  God's  golden  sun- 
shine rest  long  and  lovingly  over  the  places  where 
they  sleep." 

Mr.  Botsford  i)reseuted  the  obituaries,  and  some 
touching  remarks  were  made  l)y  Father  Lowry 
in  relation  to  those  who  had  passed  away  during 
the  year.  The  song  "No  Night  There"  was  sung. 
Forty-four  joined  the  association  this  year.  A 
letter  from  Rev.  C.  L  Clausen  was  read  and  or- 
dered on  file.  Messrs.  Jones,  Goward,  Swineford, 
Botsford  and  others  related  stories  of  the  olden 
time.  Mr.  Parker  read  some  town  histories.  The 
assembly  was  dismissed  with  the  bene  diction  by 
Rev.  Father  McReynolds. 

The  Fifth  annual  reunion.  This  unusually  inter- 
esting aH'air  took  plaee  on  Tuesday,  the  IDth  of 
June,  1879,  at  the  Court  House.  At  half  past  ten 
the  procession  formed,  with  the  right  in  front  of 
the  building,  and  it  is  said  that  there  were  six 
hundred  teams  and  not  less  than  three  thousand 
five  hundred  jieople  present.  Headed  by  the  Al- 
bert Lea  Cornet  Band  it  marched  to  the  picnic 
grounds  where  ample  provision  had  been  made 
for  the  exercises.  After  music  by  the  band.  Pres- 
ident Stai'y  made  a  few  remarks  expressing  his 
satisfaction  at  seeing  so  many  familiar  faces,  and 
feelingly  alluded  to  those  who  had  gone  upon  the 
last  joxirney  of  this  life,  and  called  upon  the 
chaplain  to  invoke  the  divine  presence  in  prayer. 
Mr.  Lowry  came  forward  and  asked  the  audience 
to  join  in  singing,  "Praise  Crod  from  whom  all 
blessings  How."  He  then  ofl'ered  a  fervent  prayer, 
which  was  followed  by  the  song  "Wake  the  Song 
oE  .Tubilee,"  by  the  Purdie  family.  .Judge  Stacy  i 
then  introduced  Lieut  Governor  Wakefield,  who 
gave  a  most  admirable  address,  paying  a  high 
tribute  of  respect  to  the  early  public  meu  with 
whom  he  was  associated  in  the  early  legislation 
of  the  Territory  and  State,  and  especial  commen- 
dations were  jjreseuted  to  the  memory  of  Augus- 
tus Armstrong.  The  address  was  received  with 
great    ai)j)lause.        Then   came    the    lunches    and 


laughter,  with  jest  and  joke,  conversation,  cakes, 
cookie.s,  and  confectionery. 

It  was  the  largest  basket  pic-nic,  perhaps,  ever 
held  in  the  State,  certainly  in  southernMinnesota. 
At  half  past  one  o'clock  the  assembly  was  called 
to  order  by  the  president,  who  announced  that  the 
proudest  duty  which  had  devolved  upon  him  since 
his  connection  with  the  association,  was  the  intro- 
ducing of  Colonel  .\lbert  Miller  Lea,  who,  forty- 
four  years  ago,  conducted  a  military  expedition 
across  the  territory  which  now  constitutes  Free- 
born county,  and  who,  without  doubt,  passed 
within  one  hundred  feet  of  the  spot  where  he  now 
stands.  The  venerable  and  distinguished  man 
now  came  forward,  and  was  greeted  with  most 
hearty  applause,  and  when  it  had  subsided  he 
made  a  most  admirable  address,  which  is  preserv- 
ed in  the  archives  of  the  association. 

He  began  as  follows  :  "Mr.  President  and  old 
settlersof  Freeborn  county,  your  worthy  president 
has  told  you  who  I  am  and  why  I  am  here.  As 
I  am  expected  to  give  you  personal  reminiscences, 
I  must  necessarily  mingle  them  with  some  egotism 
and  so  I  shall  talk  with  you  as  familiarly  as  with 
old  friends.  There  is  not  a  face  in  all  this  large 
assembly  I  ever  saw  before  last  Saturday,  and  yet, 
I  venture  to  flatter  my.silf  that  there  is  not  a  heart 
among  you  that  does  not  throb  kindly  toward  the 
old  man  whom  you  have  so  generously  welcomed. 
After  many  solicitations,  repeated  from  year  to 
year,  and  after  disappointments  not  a  few,  at 
length,  last  Thursday  morning,  still  feeble  from 
recent  illness,  I  took  a  train  at  my  home  in  Cen- 
tral Taxes,  to  meet  you  here  to-day  in  this  genial 
reunion.  Traveling  continuously  over  a  tlious- 
and  miles,  across  eleven  degrees  of  latitude,  in 
sixty-two  hours  I  passed  through  five  States;  from 
green  com  and  melons  to  the  early  ripening 
berries;  from  the  land  of  cotton  to  the  land  of 
wheat.  The  glorious  visions  of  fertility  and  pros- 
perity have  dispelled  from  my  system  all  traces 
of  disease;  and  your  cordial  greetings  extended 
through  your  committee  even  beyonJ  the  limits 
of  your  State,  have  made  my  heart,  at  three  score 
and  eleven,  beat  as  warmly  as  when,  in  my 
younger  days,  it  was  stirred  by  the  lovely  scenes  of 
the  fair  country  which  you  have  since  come  to 
possess  and  enjoy,  and  still  more  to  beautify  and 
adorn." 

Most  of  the  historical  part  of  his  address  ap- 
pears  in   the   early  history  of   the  county.     His 


OLD  SErTLERS'  ASSOCIATION. 


303 


description  of  the  incident  connected  with  the 
giving  of  his  name  to  the  lake  is  worth  transcrib- 
ing here.  "I  was  brought  in  contact  with  J.  N. 
Nicollet,  then  engaged  in  mapping  the  surveys 
made  by  him  in  the  northern  basin  of  the 
Mississippi.  He  had  made  free  use  of  my 
map  in  filling  up  his  owa,  and  invited  me 
one  morning  to  breakfast  with  him  and 
to  inspect  his  work.  During  a  pleasant 
sitting  I  described  the  scene  of  that  beautiful 
lake.  He  drank  in  tbe  description  enthusiastical- 
ly, and  exclaimed  'Ah  zat  is  magniflque !  what 
you  call  him  ?  '  I  replied  'Lake  Chapeau'  'Ah, 
zat  is  not  ze  name,  it  is  Lake  Albert  Lea,'  and  he 
thus  wrote  it  on  the  map.  And  thus  originated 
the  name  of  the  lake,  that  of  the  township,  and  of 
this  beautiful  city." 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  address,  letters  were 
read  from  Henry  M.  Rice,  George  S.  Ruble,  then 
at  Lookout  Mountain,  Tennessee,  and  from 
Horace  Greene.  Thirty  three  new  members  join- 
ed the  association  this  year.  John  L.  Melder 
made  a  proposition  looking  toward  the  establish- 
ment of  an  old  settlers'  home  which  was  referred  to 
the  President,  Secretary,  and  Treasurer. 

The  officers  elected  for  the  year  were:  Presi- 
dent, A.  C.  Wedge;  Secretary,  Augustus  Peterson; 
Treasurer,  Samuel  Batchelder;  and  a  Vice-Presi- 
devt  for  each  town;  Financial  Committee,  H.  D. 
Brown,  Henry  Thurston,  with  the  three  executive 
officers. 

Committee  on  obituaries:  H.  Thurston.  This 
meeting  was  acknowledged  to  be  a  very  success- 
full  one. 

The  sixth  annual  reunion  was  on  the  8th  of 
July,  1880.  The  longest  procession  ever  seen  in 
this  city  started  from  in  front  of  the  Court  House 
at  the  appointed  time.  Two  brass  bands  furnish- 
ed the  music,  and  the  concourse  proceeded  to  the 
grove  north  of  Fountain  Lake,  where  a  varied 
programme  was  carried  out.  Twenty-six  joined 
the  association  this  year.  Hon.  M.  S.  Wilkinson 
was  the  orator  of  the  occasion,  and  quite  a  long 
historical  letter  was  read  from  George  S.  Ruble, 
the  substance  of  which  appears  in  our  sketch  of 
the  early  history  of  the  county. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  chosen  as  officers 
for  the  year:  President,  A.  C.  Wedge;  Secretary 
Augustus  Peterson:  Treasurer,  Samuel  Batchel- 
der; and  Obituarian,  H.  Thurston. 

Notices  of  the  honored   dead   were  then   read. 


The  occasion  was  one  of  enjoyment,  as  they  have 
ever  been  from  the  inception  of  the  society. 

The  seventh  annual  reunion  was  held  in  Albert 
Lea  on  the  14th  of  .Tune,  1881,  and  its  features 
were  not  unlike  those  of  previous  years.  The 
Fireman's  Band  furnished  the  music,  and  the  ex- 
ercises were  on  the  pic-nic  grounds  north  of  Foun- 
tain Lake.  The  Hon.  David  Blakely,  of  Minne- 
apolis, delivered  the  annual  address,  the  locally 
historic  part  of  which  is  here  given. 

The  officers  for  the  year  were:  President, 
Francis  Hall;  Secretary,  Isaac  Botsford;  Treas- 
urer, D.  G.  Parker;  Committee  on  Obituaries,  H. 
Thurston,  J.  Goward,  A.  H.  Bartlett,  J.  F.  Jones, 
and  S.  N.  Frisbie. 

There  was  singing  liy  the  Glee  Club,  and  short 
speeches  by  Judge  Stacy  and  Hon.  Mr.  Purdie. 

No  apology  is  deemed  necessary  that  so  miich 
space  is  given  to  the  Old  Settlers'  Association, 
and  to  the  addresses  that  were  made  from  time  to 
time,  because  it  is  from  just  such  sources  as  this 
that  the  present  and  the  future  historian  must 
gather  his  material,  and  where  we  have  found 
facts  to  record  in  the  transactions  of  the  associa- 
tion we  have  used  them  without  hesitation. 

Ilxtraois  from  the  Address  of  Ron.  David  Blakely : 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  Old  Set- 
tlers and  Old  Friends: — Twenty -four  years  ago 
this  coming  fall  there  might  have  been  seen  cours- 
ing over  the  jsrairie  a  few  miles  north  of  this  spot, 
a  solitary  prairie  schooner,  inhabited  by  a  brace 
of  gentlemen  of  whom  many  of  you  have  heard, 
but  few  have  ever  seen.  One  of  these  gentlemen, 
you  will  already  have  anticipated  me  in  guessing, 
was  the  pushing  and  energetic  business  agent  of 
the  town  of  Bancroft.  The  other  was  a  young, 
unsophisticated,  confiding  companion  of  his,  who, 
after  a  somewhat  checkered  career,  of  which  this 
was  the  anticipated  golden  beginning,  to-day, 
once  more  stands  before  you.  I  say  once  more, 
because  there  are  many  old  settlers  of  Freeborn 
county  within  the  sound  of  my  voice,  who  will 
recall  that  twenty -three  years,  not  far  from  this 
very  spot,  they  suffered  at  my  hands  an  afliiction 
akin  to  that  with  which  they  are  again  to-day 
threatened.  The  occasion  was  the  fourth  of  July, 
and  I  was  then,  as  I  chance  to  be  now,  the  honored 
orator  of  the  day.  I  say  they  suffered  on  that 
occasion;  and  say  it  advisedly,  because  many  of 
them  were  good,  sound  Democrats  then,  as  they 
are  good,  sound  Democrats  now;  and  I  was  a  red 


304 


IllsldliY  OF  FI!Ei:nni!N  coryTY 


hot  Republican  then,  and,  if  my  fjnml  old  liii-uds 
will  ])ardon  me  for  saying  it,  I  still  obstinately  con- 
tinue to  be.  Well,  those  times  were  times  that 
tried  men's  souls,  at  least  in  a  political  sense. 
They  were  the  times  of  the  Kansas -Nebraska 
struggle,  and  antedated  but  a  too  brief  period, 
the  raid  of  old  John  Brown  into  Virginia,  and  the 
doom  of  the  infamous  institution  of  slavery  con- 
sequent upon  the  mad  assault  upon  Sumter. 

But  to  resume:  As  the  solitary  prairie  schooner 
of  which  I  made  mention,  neared  the  fiourishi'ng 
town  of  Bancroft,  the  unsophisticated  but  confid- 
ing traveller  aforesaid,  might  have  been  observ- 
ed by  tlie  wayfarers  along  the  road,  if  there  had 
been  any  wayfarers  along  the  road,  or  if  indeed 
tliere  had  been  any  disceruable  road,  earnestly 
and  perseveriugly  peering  into  the  airy  labyrinths 
for  a  sight  of  the  town.  I  say  the  town,  because, 
having  been  pYevailed  upoii  by  the  seductive  en- 
ticements of  the  energetic  and  enterprising  busi- 
ness agent  aforesaid,  to  join  him  and  publish 
a  news]>aper  there,  and  having,  by  virtue  of  an 
exceedingly  deficient  education  in  western  town 
sites,  taken  it  for  granted  that  where  a  big  news- 
paper was  to  be  published,  there  must  necessarily 
be  a  big  town;  he  kept  straining  his  eyes  through 
the  hazy  October  atmo.sphere  tor  a  sight  of  the 
town.  Never  did  a  poor  Christian  gaze  with 
more  intense  longing  for  the  sight  of  the  golden 
gates  and  the  beautiful  temples  of  the  everlasting 
city  which  was  to  be  the  end  of  his  pilgrimage, 
than  I  through  the  curtains  of  that  old  prairie 
schooner  for  the  lefty  spires,  the  imposing  edifices, 
and  the  smoke  of  a  thousand  manufactories  that 
I  proudly  expected  to  see  ascend  to  heaven  from 
the  noisy  and  |)opulous  mart  which  I  was  soon  to 
gratify  and  surprise  by  the  publication  of  my  new, 
and  as  a  matter  of  course,  my  "able"  newspaper. 

I  have  often  reflected  upon  the  peculiar  vealy 
character  of  the  verdancy  which  distinguished 
this  peculiar  episode  in  my  career.  The  limit  of 
my  western  pioneering  had  been  the  city  of 
Chicago,  where,  fresh  from  my  eastern  home  and 
just  forsaken  text  books,  I  was  looking  for  a  very 
small  opening  for  a  large  young  man.  It  was  at 
this  critical  juncture  that  my  friend,  the  energetic 
business  agent  of  Bancroft,  discovered  me.  We 
had  been  old  friends  in  early  years,  for  he  was  a 
Vermonter  too,  and  well  knew  that  I  had  been 
educated  a  printer  before  I  entered  the  Univer- 
sity. 


Naturally  enough,  lie  convinced  me  that  I  was 
just  tlie  talented  youth  for  the  opening  that  a 
beneficent  providence  had  placed  at  his  disposal. 
He  was,  he  said,  in  Chicago  to  purchase  a  news- 
paper outfit  for  a  Minne.sota  town  in  which  he  had 
settled;  and  the  landed  interests  of  whose  pro" 
prietors  he  happened  to  be  agent.  Then-follow- 
ed a  list  of  these  landed  proprietors  and  a  titled 
list  it  was. 

It  contained  the  names  of  the  Governor  of  the 
territory,  of  the  Chief  of  .Justice,  of  Generals  and 
Colonels,  and  bankers  and  capitalists,  until  my 
imagination  peopled  its  streets  with  dignitaries, 
and  its  squares  with  sky  reaching  edifices:  and  so 
much  a  matter  of  cour.se  did  I  take  this  condition 
of  things  to  be.  that  it  never  entered  my  head  to 
inquire  into  the  actual  facts.  It  is  not  strange 
then,  that  on  the  memorable  day  referred  to  I 
was  still  gazing  anxiously  into  the  distance 
for  a  sight  of  the  spires  of  my  anticipated  Arcadia, 
when  the  schooner  brought  up  by  the  side  of  a 
freshly  built  board  shanty,  and  my  friend,  the 
agent,  announced  with  a  gravity  that  would  have 
become  one  of  Kip  Van  Winkle's  ghostly  moun- 
tain boblins,  that  we  had  arrived.  Shades  of 
Chuzz  Crvit!  I  exclaimed,  am  I  too  the  victim  of 
a  town  site  demon,  and  is  this  the  Eden  of  the  con- 
spiracy '? 

'Oh,  no,'  replied  he  with  a  calmness  which 
would  have  done  honor  to  the  referee  of  a  cook- 
fight,  'this  is  no  Eden,  although  if  Eden  equalled 
it  in  loveliness,  you  will  admit  it  was  a  sad  day  for 
our  luckless  jmcestors  when  they  wore  expelled 
from  it.    No,   this  not   Eden,  but  Bancroft!' 

Bancroft !  ejaculated  I  with  mingled  scorn  and 
indignation,  then  where  is  the  town? 

'Why  this  is  the  town,  or  rather,  the  town  site!' 

Oh,  town  site!  town  site!  and  sure  enough 
it  was  a  town  "site",  but  in  all  the  wide  expanse 
of  prairie  and  openings  there  was  never  a  sight 
of  a  town. 

A  single  board  shanty,  a  screaming  steam  saw- 
mill, and  a  grass  covered  prairie  stretching  away 
for  miles,  constituted  the  sad  realization  of  my 
pictured  spires,  my  sky-reaching  edifices,  and  my 
great  metropolitan  squares  peopled  with  Gover- 
nors, poety,  brave  men,  and  beautiful  women ! 

But  the  enthusiasm  of  youtli  is  not  easily 
dampened.  My  printing  establishment  was  on 
the  way,  it  had  already  been  loaded  upon  the  me- 
andering ox-cart,  wliich  was  thin  the  distinguish- 


OLD  SETTLERS'  ASSOCIATION. 


305 


ing  avenue  of  freight  transportation  between  the 
river  and  these  sequestered  parts.  My  friend,  the 
agent,  had  a  pushing  and  active  spirit ;  he  assured 
me  that  out  here  in  the  far  West,  towns  and  villa- 
ger sprang  up  like  mushrooms  in  the  night;  that 
the  saw-mill  which  I  saw  whirring  and  whizzing 
before  me,  was  already  cutting  up  and  forming 
the  material  which  was  to  enter  into  the  construc- 
tion of  my  printing  office,  several  stores,  dwell- 
ings, and  buildings  of  divers  and  sundry  uses, 
purposes,  and  ends;  and  he  whispered  into  my  of 
quickly  reassured  year  as  a  matter  of  sacred  confi- 
dence, but  with  the  air  and  manner  of  a  man  who 
knew  whereof  he  spoke,  that  Bancroft  was  to  be 
the  future  county  seat  of  the  county;  that  the 
insignificant  collection  of  board  tenements  and 
tumble  down  mill,  known  as  George  Ruble's  at 
Albert  Lea,  would  soon  be  transformed  into  rook- 
eries for  fowls,  while  the  people  would  hock  to  the 
future  metropolis,  the  procession  headed  by  Mo- 
rin,  the  Register  of  Deeds  of  this  county,  and  by 
Swineford,  the  flamboy  and  editor  of  the  weekly 
concern  which  my  able  metropolitan  journal 
would  very  speedily  swallow  up  and  supplant. 
Moreover,  while  the  Governor,  the  Chief  Justice, 
the  Generals,  the  Colonels,  the  bankers,  and  the 
capitalists  were  not  actual  residents  of  Bancroft, 
and  possibly  never  would  be,  they  were  in  a  posi- 
tion of  influence  which  would  insure  tor  the  town 
a  mighty  future.  Indeed,  it  was  not  too  sweet  to 
anticipate  that  the  dome  of  the  State  Capitol 
would  some  day  glisten  in  the  sun  from  the  spot 
where  we  stood.  To  cap  the  climax  I  was  pre- 
sented with  a  deed  to  twenty  of  the  lots  of  the 
town,  and  thus,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  trans- 
formed from  a  seedy  stripling  in  search  of  an 
opening,  to  a  bloated  town  proprietor  already  en- 
tered into  the  possession  of  his  wealth.  My 
friends,  it  was  enough !  From  that  hour  I  was  a 
convert  to  the  colossal  possibilities  of  the  future 
town  and  seat  of  the  county,  and  the  vindoubted 
final  Capital  of  the  State.  From  that  hour  I  was 
the  zealous  heutenant  and  coadjutor  of  as  san- 
guine a  townsite  devotee  as  ever  builded  from  a  rosy 
imagination  a  magnificent  castle  in  Spain.  From 
that  hour  the  whirring  and  whizzing  steam  mill 
redoubled  its  efforts  ;  the  lumber  for  my  printing 
office,  for  the  first  store,  tor  the  biggest  dwelling 
house  in  the  county,  to  be  occupied  by  the  busi- 
ness agent,  his  family  and  guests,  was  soon  on  the 
ground,  and  by  the  time  the  meandering  ox -carts 
20 


arrived  from  the  river  laden  with  my  precious 
newspaper  material,  the  roomiest  office  in  the 
county  awaited  its  reception.  I  set  to  work  and 
put  it  in  order.  The  election  which  was  to  trans- 
fer its  county  seat  from  Albert  Lea  to  Bancroft 
was  close  at  hand.  At  most  I  could  issue  but  one 
copy  of  the  new  and  "able"  paper  before  the  vot- 
ers would  decide  the  argument.  I  put  my 
whole  heart  and  soul  into  the  event.  I  wrote 
nights  and  put  the  heated  fulmination  of  my 
goose-qiiill  in  type  daytimes,  I  scarcely  ate  or 
slept.  I  had  no  experienced  help,  and  feeling 
that  the  eyes  of  the  people  of  the  county,  if  not 
the  whole  world  were  upon  me,  and  that  the  issue 
of  the  appeal  was  in  my  keeping,  I  endeavored  to 
be  equal  to  the  crisis.  But  alas,  the  fates  were 
against  me.  For  one  man  to  lay  the  cases,  to  put 
up  the  press,  to  write  editorials,  to  perambiilate  the 
town  and  record  the  vast  variety  of  local  events, 
to  receive  and  arrange  the  news  and  the  commer- 
cial departments,  and  above  all,  to  set  up  and 
classify  the  great  crush  of  advertisements  that 
crowded  the  columns  of  a  newspaper  published  in 
a  town  of  upwards  of  twenty  thousand,  or,  I 
should  rather  say,  upwards  of  twenty  inhabitants, 
was  too  much !  My  first  paper  did  not  appear 
imtil  the  very  dawn  of  election  day,  too  late  to 
reach  the  rural  districts — too  late  to  influence,  to 
persuade,to  electrify  the  people,  too  late  to  frustrate 
the  damnable  plot  concocted  by  tht  Rubles,  the 
Morins,  the  Wedges,  the  Armstrongs,  of  this  city, 
and  the  wily  Stacys,  the  sly  Frisbies,  and  the  fes- 
tive Bartletts  of  the  county !  Too  late  to  secure 
the  fondly  anticipated  transfer  of  the  county  seat 
from  Albert  Lea  to  Bancroft — too  late  to  lay  the 
foundation  of  a  mighty  emporium — too  late  to 
command  the  future  location  of  the  Capital  of  the 
State,  and  possibly  of  the  nation — too  late  to  e"?- 
tablish  at  the  final  hub  of  the  Universe,  a  newspaper 
that  should  be  read  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
globe. 

But  the  fire  of  youth  is  not  to  be  burned  out  at 
a  single  conflagration,  and  Agent  Oliver  and  I 
were  not  long  in  finding  compensations  for  our 
sorry  disaster.  During  the  progress  of  the  cam- 
paign the  town  had  trebled  in  growth.  That  is, 
where  at  the  outset  had  been  but  a  single  board 
shanty,  there  were  now  two  or  three  quite  respec- 
table buildings;  and  it  must  be  admitted  that 
any  town  whose  buildings  double  and  treble  in  a 
month,    is  an  amazingly   flourishing  town.     We 


306 


HISTORY  OF  VREKBOHN  COUNTY. 


soon  rejoiced  in  the  possession  of  the  largest  store 
and  finest  private  mansion — that  of  Agent  Oliver 
— in  the  county,  and  mv  newspaper — well,  modes- 
ty forbids  my  dwelling  on  the  merits  of  that  his- 
torical shee  t.         *  *  *  * 

The  musical  critic  of  the  paper  had  little  to  con- 
tribute, although  the  town  was  really  distinguish- 
ed for  its  talent  in  this  direction.  Agent  Oliver 
and  wife  were  cultured  New  Englanders-  he  a 
superior  pianist  and  organist,  and  she  a  soprano 
whose  rare  voice  has  since  made  her  one  of  the 
finest  concert  singers  in  the  country,  and  long  a 
favored  occupant  of  the  first  choir  in  New  York. 
Then  Mr.  Charles  Etheridge,  at  that  time  a  skil- 
ful contracting  carpenter,  who  erected  the  build- 
ings on  the  town  site,  but  who  afterwards  became 
a  St.  Paul  insurance  agent,  and  acquired  sudden 
wealth  by  decamping  with  the  money  of  his  com- 
panies, and  who  thus  proved  the  only  successful 
financier  ever  conndcted  with  Bancroft  history — 
was  the  base,  and  I  the  warbling  tenor.  The  or- 
ganization constituted  the  only  opera  the  town 
ever  boasted. 

The  religious  editor  of  the  "  Bancroft  Pioneer  " 
also  found  his  occupation  gone.  This,  I  say,  was 
a  lamentable  fact,  because  I  am  satisfied  that  if 
there  had  been  religious  services  at  Bancroft  and 
Albert  Lea  in  those  days,  and  Morin  and  Ruble 
and  Wedge  and  Stacy — let  me  never  forget  Stacy's 
finger  in  that  unholy  pie — and  Colby  and  Ly- 
brand  and  Bartlett  and  Frisbie  and  many  other 
wicked  conspirators  had  attended  divine  service 
on  the  memorable  Sabbath  before  the  county 
seat  election  was  held,  instead  of  being  scattered 
about  the  county  plotting  the  overthrow  of  Ban- 
croft, there  is  not  a  peg  on  which  to  hang  the 
shadow  of  a  doubt  that  Bancroft  would  to-day 
have  been  the  county  seat  of  this  beautiful 
county;  and  the  sjrot  whereon  we  stand,  by  an  in- 
stance of  rare  poetic  justice,  would  have  been  the 
site  of  the  handsomest  and  most  productive  poor 
farm  that  ever  fructified  under  the  rays  of  a  quick- 
ening June  sun!  I  do  not  add,  old  settlers  and  old 
friends,  I  considerately  and  purposely  do  not  add, 
that  the  wicked  conspirators  who  plotted  against 
Bancroft  on  that  memorable  "  Sunday  "  above  re- 
ferred to,  would  to-day  have  been  tilling  the  soil 
on  the  county's  farm  on  this  spot;  but  there  is  no 
law  against  your  drawing  whatever  inference  the 
circumstances  warrant.  But,  to  resume;  while 
the  religious  editor  of  the  Bancroft  Pioneer,  owing 


to  circumstances  beyond  his  control,  had  little  to 
interfere  with  his  main  occupation,  I  will  not  say 
of  playing  poker,  the  interviewing  Jiinil.  who 
had  then  not  become  a  regular  adjunct  of  the 
weekly  press,  had  quite  as  little.  The  truth  is, 
the  streets  and  offices  did  not  swarm  with  peojile 
to  interview.  The  town  was  full  of  office-holders, 
however.  If  my  memory  is  not  at  fault,  erei-y 
regular  citizen  played  that  beautiful  role.  Agent 
Oliver  was  Postmaster,  genial  Mose  Comfort,  the 
clerk  in  the  store,  was  his  deputy,  and  I,  bv  a 
rare  instance  of  misplaced  confidence,  had  become 
a  school  trustee.  Shortly  after,  by  a  promotion, 
the  suddenness  of  which  almost  turned  my  head, 
I  was  elected  to  the  office  of  town  Supervisor, 
and  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board,  demcm- 
strated  my  utter  incapacity  for  the  place  by  vot- 
ing for  Stacy  for  Chairman  of  the  County  Board. 
But  this  was  a  youthful  indiscretion  for  which  I 
ought  not  to  be  held  to  strict  account.  Bear  in 
mind  the  letter  by  which  a  depraved  son  beguiled 
his  father  into  following  him  to  Minnesota,  when  he 
j  wrote  that  "mighty  mean  men  get  oflioes  out  West." 
Offices  were  plenty  in  those  days.  There  was  a  Su- 
pervisor to  every  town,  and  it  often  happened  to 
youthful  counties  that  there  were  more  in  the 
Board  than  outside  of  it.  Don't  wonder,  then, 
that  Stacy  was  honored,  but  rather  accuse  your- 
selves, for  you  subsequently  promoted  him  to 
higher  tnists,  which,  it  seems,  he  never  betrayed, 
a  fact  which,  considering  the  past,  he  played  in 
destroying  the  prospects  of  the  town  of  Bancroft, 
is  a  cause  of  never  ending  amazement. 

It  was  not  long  liefore  overtures  were  made  me 
to  abandon  the  town  of  my  first  love  and  earliest 
adventures,  and  cast,  my  fortunes  with  those  of 
the  flushed  adventurers  who  were  already  enjoy- 
ing the  results  of  their  successful  conspiracy.  I 
resisted  these  bland  enticementsf  however,  until 
resistance  ceased  longer  to  be  a  virtue;  I  stuck  to 
the  town  of  Bau'roft  as  long  as  a  single  sub- 
scriber remained  ui)on  its  site,  of  tlie  three  which 
it  originally  contained.  But  when  the  store  was 
closed,  and  Comfort  departed,  and  Agent  Oliver 
struck  his  colors,  and  I  watched  the  schooner 
which  bore  him  and  his  away  from  the  town,  un- 
til it  disappeared  among  the  oak  openings  in  the 
distance,  I  felt 

'like  one 

Who  treadM  above 
Bonip  biiiKiuet-hall  deserted; 

Whose  i^arl.ands  dead, 

Whose  lif^lits  are  Hed, 
Aiici  all  hut  me  departed.* 


OLD  SETTLERS'  ASSOC  TAT  I  ON. 


307 


The  eighth  annual  reunion  occurred  on  the  15th 
of  September,  1882,  in  the  grove  north  of  the  lake. 
The  usual  procession  was  formed  at  lialf  past  ten 
o'clock,  made  up  of  country  delegations  and  city 
residents,  with  martial  music,  and  proceeded  to 
the  pic-nic  grounds.  The  day  was  most  delight- 
ful and  there  was  a  laige  concourse  of  old  and 
young  settlers,  and  it  should  be  said  that  they 
made  a  remarkable  good  appearance,  comparing 
favorably  with  any  like  number  that  can  any- 
where be  found. 

At  the  meeting  Mr.  Botsford  presided,  and  the 
announcement  was  made  that  any  persons  who 
were  here  previous  to  the  1st  of  January,  1866,  were 
entitled  lo  membership,  and  quite  a  list  was  added. 

Hon.  A.  H.  Bartlett  delivered  the  annual  ad- 
dress, which  was  replete  with  reminiscences  relat- 
ing to  the  early  history  of  the  county,  and  which 
has  been  largely  drawn  upoa  to  make  ijp  our 
portrayal  of  the  first  settlement. 

The  Purdie  family  were  present,  as  they  have 
been  at  every  meeting  since  the  orgnnization  of 
the  society,  and  enlivened  the  occasion  with  their 
songs,  which  were  well  rendered. 

Mr.  Prisbie,  in  an  extemporaneous  way,  gave 
an  account  of  the  organization  of  the  county. 
Miss  Maggie  Purdie  gave  a  recitation  "A  fiend 
and  a  man."  Col.  T.  J.  Sheehan  being  called 
upon  made  some  comparisons  between  "Now,  and 
then."  And  gave  a  list  of  the  men  from  Freeborn 
county  who  defended  Fort  Ridgely  in  August, 
1862. 

So  much  of  his  speech  as  relates  to  the  growth 
and  prosperity  of  the  county  is  reproduced  here: 
"I  will  call  your  attention  to  the  material  increase 
of  wealth  of  Freeborn  county  during  the  little 
over  a  quartee  of  a  century  that  it  has  been  or- 
ganized, and  I  think  you  will  see  that  we  are  the 
most  prosperous  county  for  the  number  of  inhab- 
itants in  the  State.  In  1857,  the  date  of  the  or- 
ganization of  the  county,  the  amount  of  real  and 
personal  assessments  covered  only  a  few  thousand 
dollars;  I  cannot  give  the  exact  sum,  but  it  was 
less  than  many  of  you  are  worth  to-day.  Year  by 
year  its  resources  increased,  until  in  the  year 
1864,  I  find  we  had  an  assessed  valuation  all  told, 
of  $920,687.  The  county  has  gradually  increased 
in  wealth  from  that  time,  and  in  this  year  of  our 
Lord,  1882,  it  reaches  the  magnificent  snm  of 
$5,210,311 — assessor's  measure,  with  the  possibil- 
ities within  our  reach,  during  the  next  quarter  of 


a  century,  of  making  it  150,000,000.  The  increas- 
ing population  and  the  consequent  occupancy  and 
improvement  of  new  lands,  the  excellent  railroad 
facilities  bringing  the  northern,  southern,  east- 
ern, and  western  markets  to  our  very  doors,  solici- 
ting your  produce  for  other  lands,  and  your  own 
indomitable  perseverance  and  hard  work  makes  it 
highly  profitable  that  millions  upon  millions  will 
be  added  to  its  wealth  as  the  succeeding  years 
roll  by.  The  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul, 
the  Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis,  the  Burlington, 
Cedar  Rapids  &  Northern,  and  the  Albert  Lea  and 
Fort  Dodge  railways  meet  here  at  our  county 
seat  and  make  the  heart  of  our  county  the  third 
largest  railroad  center  in  the  State.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  city  of  Albert  Lea  is  about  2,500  and 
of  the  entire  county  over  18,000.  The  business 
of  the  county  I  believe  has  always  been  transac- 
ted honorably  and  uprightly  by  its  officers,  and 
its  expenditures  have  been  considerably  less  than 
those  of  its  neighbors,  as  is  shown  year  by  year 
ia  the  annual  appropriations  tor  the  necessary  ex- 
penses of  its  government.  I  will  now  allude  to  a 
less  agreeable  history  of  our  county,  to  show  you 
how  willing  our  people  are  to  pay  their  debts, 
when  circumstances  permit  them  to  do  so.  For  a 
few  years  following  the  war,  there  was  a  season  of 
prosperity  which  stimulated  our  people  with  a 
laudable  ambition  for  great  accomplighments,  and 
for  a  few  years  they  rolled  along  ujjon  a  wave  of 
plenty;  but  suddenly  there  swept  over  the  land  a 
cloud  of  adversity,  and  many  felt  the  iron  chains 
of  debts  incurred  in  the  purchase  of  lands  and 
Qiachinery,  pressing  hard  and  close  upon  them 
with  a  tyrant's  power,  and  although  they  strug- 
gled long  and  honorably  to  meet  its  just  de- 
mands, the  continuing  hard  times,  short  crops, 
low  prices  and  accumulating  interest,  were  an 
army  they  could  not  withstand,  and  they  sank 
beneath  its  overpowering  weight.  Honest  men 
they  were,  and  true,  but  they  could  not  surmount 
impossibilities.  The  ravages  of  the  creditor  com- 
menced, and  the  iron  hand  of  the  law  was  called 
upon  to  enforce  his  relentless  demands.  In  1876 
there  were  125  executions  levied  by  the  sheriff 
and  his  deputies;  in  1877  there  were  98,  of  which 
nearly  all  were  paid;  in  1878  there  were  54;  and 
since  that  time  there  has  been  a  gradual  decrease 
until  the  present  year,  during  which  I  am  sure 
you  will  all  rejoice  with  me  to  learn  there  has 
been  but  four,  and  two  of  those  have  been  settled. 


308 


UISTOUY  0/'  FliKl-:BORN  COiryrY. 


The  good  behavior  of  our  people  is  attested  by 
the  fact  that  there  is  not  one  person  confined  in 
the  county  jail  at  the  present  time.  'Tis  true  at 
times  it  is  filled  to  overflowing,  but  I  am  gratified 
to  1)0  able  to  say  to  you  tliat  its  ofcupauts  are  for 
the  most  part  transient  criminals  representing  a 
dangerous  class  of  society,  and  but  rarely  one  of 
our  own  citizens.  Whoever  they  are,  I  say  to  you 
proudly  as  your  Sheriff,  that  they  are  never  the 
early  settlers  of  Freeborn  couuty,  and  at  the  risk 
of  being  accused  of  flattery  I  will  add  that  it  is 
largely  due  to  the  high  order  of  intelligence  you 
possessed,  your  virtuous  teachings,  and  the  excel- 
lent examples  you  set  before  the  new  and  rising 
generations." 

Dr.  Ballard  recited  a  poem,  which  was  inimita- 
ble in  its  way,  and  described  the  celebrated  horse 
race,  upon  the  result  of  which  all  Biincroft  and 
Albert  Lea  staked  everything  movable  that  tljey 
possessed,  each  with  the  idea  that  it  was  a  sure 
tiling;  but  the  Bancroftites  were,  to  use  a  sport- 
ing phrase,  "  beautifully  scooped." 

The  obituaries  were  read  by  several  gentleman, 
and  there  were  other  recitations  and  remarks.  Of 
course  there  was  a  recess  of  an  hour  to  go  through 
the  baskets  that  were  laden  with  good  things. 
This  was  voted  on  all  hands  as  being  one  of  the 
most  interesting  reunions  yet  held,  and  it  is 
likely  that  September  will  in  future  be  the  month 
for  the  old  settler's  reunion.  The  officers  for  188.3 
are:  President,  I.  Botsford;  Secretary,  H.  D. 
Brown ;  Treasurer,  Gilbert  Gulbrandson,  and  a  list 
of  vice  Presidents. 

Necrology. — Here  is  an  imperfect  list  of  old 
settlers  who  have  been  transferred  to  "thiit  bourne 
from  which  no  traveler  returns:"  Elias  Stanton, 
L.  C.  Carlstou,  William  Andrews,  Peter  Beighley, 
Rev.  Theop.  Lowry,  James  A.  Robson,  David 
Southwick,  S(|uire  Dunn,  Patrick  Fitzsimons, 
Howell  Davis,  Gardner  Cottrell,  A.  Armstrong, 
William  White,  Luther  Parker,  II.  B.  Riggs,  Par- 
don Greene,  Lydia  Barber,  John  Colby,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Beighley,  Joseph  Lang,  George  Boulton, 
Harvey  B.  Earle,  Warner  Barber,  Mr.  Baxter, 
Mrs.  T.  J.  Jordon,  Mrs.  William  Beighley,  Mrs. 
Jennette  Smith,  Mrs.  W.  R.  Scjuires,  David  M. 
Farr,  Emery  Davis,  Nathan  Bullock,  Mrs.  J.  M. 
Melander,  Mrs.  M.  C.  Wallace,  B.  J.  House,  Ezra 
Stearns,  Israel  N.  Pace,  Frederick  H.  White,  Geo. 
Carpenter,  Henry  Schmidt,  Henry  Weiser, 
Mary    Knapp,    E.     S.     Smith,     Harold    Ander- 


son Jr.,  John  S.  Corning,  J.  S.  Harris,  X.  H. 
EUikson,  Hiram  E.  Jones,  Amanda  Woodrufi", 
Eliab  Eggleston,  Dr.  Franklin  Blackmer,  J.  Mar- 
vin, J.  W.  Burdick,  Fred.  S.  Woodward,  Thomas 
Morrison,  William  Hare,  Mrs.  William  White, 
Rev.  Walter  Scott,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Williams,  Jere- 
miah Ward,  Eric  Ericks.>u,  Ole  Oleson  Fossom, 
Hiram  J,  Rice,  William  McKune,  Hiram  Thomas, 
Mrs.  Vanderwalker. 

MEMBERS  OF   THE  OLD  SETTLERS    .\SS()(l.vrK)X  WITH 
THE  RECORDED  D.\TE  OF  THEIR  COMIXc;. 

18.54.— E.  0.  Stacy,  Mrs.  E.  C.  Stacy. 

18.55. — John  Colby,  Hanibal  Bickfor.l,  (rcorge 
Gardner,  Margaret  Gardner,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac 
Botsford,  Charles  Peterson,  T.  R.  Morgan,  Christo- 
pher Michelsou,  M.L.  Frost,  Oliver  Andrews,  Mrs. 
Oliver  Andrews,  E 1.  Hostetter,  George  S.   Ruble, 

1856. — .Tohn  L.  Melder,  Samuel  Batchelder, 
Frank  Ross,  C.  Narveson,  J.  W.  Ayers,  Charles 
C.  Ayers,  William  Beighley,  J.  E.  Simans,  D.  R. 
Young,  Mrs.  Addie  A.  Batchelder,  J.  H.  Heath, 
William  Pace,  F.  McCall,  Mrs.  F.  McCall,  William 
Freeman,  Witling  Wordsworth,  Mrs.  Willing 
Wordsworth,  Ole  Peterson,  (Hlbert  Gulbrandson, 
A.  W.  White,  A.  M.  Burnham,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Melder, 
Mrs.  Mary  B.  Ayers,  J.  F.  Jones,  Mrs.  J.  F.  Jones, 
P.  E.  Pace,  John  Murtangh.  John  W.  Murtougli, 
Mrs,  J.  W.  Murtiiugh,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simans,  San- 
iel  Prescott,  M.  V.  KsUar,  Jacob  Beighley,  Mrs. 
Jacob  Beighley,  Ole  C.  Oleson,  Hans  Gulbrand- 
son, John  G.  Godley,  H.  Peek,  R.  P.  Gibson,  N. 
S.  Hardy,  Mrs  Aug.  Peterson,  John  Freeman,  k. 
C.  Trow,  Henry  Loomis,  Mary  Loomis,  William 
Morin,  Nancy  Frost,  J.  Stage,  Mrs.  John  Stage, 
E.  D.  Hopkins,  S.  P.  Beighley,  J.  B.  Gordon,  T.  J. 
Gordon  D.G.  Parker,  Charles  C.  Ayers,  E.D. Porter. 
S.  G.  Lowry,  C.  O.  Baarness,  S.  N.  Frisbie,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Town,  Mrs.  Mary  Vinelaud,  Ed.  Skinner, 
Frank  Merchant,  Anna  Merchant,  E.  Eggleson,  J. 
M.  Boulton,  J.  C,  Frost,  Philip  Herman,  Mary 
English,  Charley  Thompson,  Hauua  O'Connor. 

1857.— L.  R.  Luce,  Ricliard  Fitzgerald,  N.  C. 
Lowthian,  Henry  Thurston,  C.  J.  Grandy,  Mrs.  C. 
J.  Grandy,  Herman  Blackmer,  Prank  Barlow,  A. 
C.  Wedge,  Mrs  A.  C.  Wedge,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Heath, 
William  H.  Long,  H.  Eustrin.  B.  Schodd,  .Tames 
Lair,  Mrs.  James  Lair,  H.  D.  Brown,  David  Hor- 
ning, Mrs.  D.  R.  Young,  Mrs.  N.  I.  Lowthian, 
Alfred  Lowry,  F.  W.  Purdie:  H.  C.  Lacy,  Matli- 
ias  Anderson,  Timothy  J.  Shohan,  John  N.  Wol- 
hunter,  Mrs.  S.   (r.    Lowry,  A.  K.  Norton,  Charles 


JUDICIAL. 


309 


Norton,  Mrs.  Charles  Norton,  James  Long,  Mrs. 
James  Long,  Joseph  France,  S.  B.  Smith,  W.  J. 
Horning,  John  Wood,  Daniel  Dills,  W.  H.  Long, 
Mrs.  W.  H.  Long,  Michael  Sheehan,  John  A. 
Sohoen,  Mrs  John  A.  Schoen,  P.  A.  Black- 
mer,  John  Beighley,  John  Slater,  N.  H. 
EUicksou,  M.  O.  Whitney,  George  Hyatt,  E.  M. 
EUingson,  Willard  0.  Marvin,  Mrs.  Willard  C. 
Marvin,  Reuben  Williams,  Mrs.  Willard  Eaton, 
Samuel  Eaton,  Henry  Emmons,  C.  Kittleson,  A. 
J.  Anderson,  Ole  Narveson,  N.  0.  Narveson,  Sam- 
uel W.  Horning,  George  McCoUey,  J.  Walaski, 
William  Baker,  Mrs.  William  Baker,  H.  A.  House, 
William  P.  Spooner,  Jacob  Baker,  William  L. 
Lowry,  Asaph  V.  Thomas,  L.  J.  Thomas,  Lewis 
Marpie. 

1858. — Jason  Goward,  August  Peterson,  Ole 
Narveson,  Rebecca  A.  Dills,  Chester  Holcomb, 
Mrs.  Chester  Holcomb,  D.  C.  Calvin,  William 
English,  Francis  Hall,  Mrs.  Jason  Goward,  B. 
J.  House,  O.  F.  Peck,  Mrs.  O.  F.  Peck,  N.  T. 
Sanbury,Mrs.N.  T.  Sanbury,  Mrs.  C.  Boven,  H.  L. 
Webster,  George  B.  Chamberlain,  Mrs.  George  B. 
Chamberlain,  Mary  J.  Horning,  David  Horning, 
John  Johnson,  William  Norton,  Milton  Hewett, 
Charles  Dunbar,  Ole  J.  Jordahl,  Mrs.  David  Ool- 
vin,  Mrs.  Emma  Ward. 

1859.— W.  S.  Hand,  Mrs.  W.  S.  Hand,  Josiah 
Jones,  Mrs.  Josiah  Jones,  Maurice  Russenger, 
Mrs.  Eugene  Walker,  C.  M.  Hewett,  Mrs.  C.  M. 
Hewett,  Simeon  Jones,  Mrs.  Simeon  Jones,  Mrs. 
Martha  L.  Thurston,  Mrs.  Sarah  W.  Edwards, 
William  Feuliolt,  R.  H.  Boven,  Mrs.  E.  Wane- 
maker,  Asa  Walker,  Harriet  J.  Harden,  Ole  Narve- 
son, J.  Dunbar,  John  C.  Ross,  H.  N.  Ostrander, 
Freeman  Briggs. 

I860.— Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Riggs,  Charles  G.  Bick- 
ford,  F.  W.  Drake,  Gunwold  Johnsand,  Jacob 
Larson. 

1861.— E.  F.  Leonard,  G.  W.  Bark,  John  Mur- 
phy, Mrs.  Daniel  W.  Horning,  Charles  Mann, 
Susan  Bartlett. 

1862.— S.  S.  Challis,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Challis. 

1864. — Ira  A.  Town,  Edmund  Town,  James  H. 
Chamberlain. 

It  seems  unfortunate,  and  it  is  a  source  of  an- 
noyance to  us,  that  the  record  of  those  who 
joined  in  1880  and  in  1881  has  not  been  preserved, 
and  so  our  list  is  incomplete.  In  1882,  the  date 
of  the  coming  of  a  number  was  omitted;  the 
names  of  those  who  joined  are  here  given: 


R.  C.  Spear,  John  Smith,  G.  H.  Prescott,  Mrs. 
G.  H.  Prescott,  Mrs.  James  Whittemore,  W.  G. 
BarneS;  all  of  whom  came  in  May,  1857. 
Miss  Grace  Prescott,  Miss  Emma  Frost,  H. 
Loomis,  Mrs.  H.  Loomis,  Henry  Blackmer,  Mrs. 
Henry  Blackmer,  M.  M.  Luce,  Mrs.  M.  W. 
O'Connor,  O.  0.  C.  Howe,  Mrs.  O.  C.  0.  Howe, 
Fred  Fink,  Henry  Schneider,  E.  Budlong,  Mrs. 
E.  Burlong,  R.  Tykeson,  Alex.  Peterson,  Mrs. 
Alex.  Peterson,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Lovely,  Stephen  Kel- 
ley,  Samuel  Thompson,  A  H.  Bartlett,  Mrs.  A.  H. 
Bartlett. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

JUDICIAIi — COUNTY       OOVEKNMENT fiOUNTY        SEAT 

CONTEST EDUCATIONAL — PATRON.S    OF    HUSBAND- 
RY— RAIIiBOADS AGRICULTURAL  STATISTICS. 

Freeborn  county  was  in  the  fifth  judicial  district 
of  Minnesota  under  the  first  organization.  In  1857, 
the  Clerk  of  the  Court  having  been  appointed, 
business  was  commenced  by  him,  attending  to 
the  regular  routine  work.  The  first  case  recorded 
was  that  of  J.  S.  Corning  against  James  M. 
Young,  for  the  recovery  of  one  hundred  and  thirty 
one  dollars  due  on  a  note.  An  attachment  was 
made,  no  answer  filed;  so  judgement  was  entered. 
The  date  of  this  case  was  the  27th  of  November. 
Up  to  the  time  when  the  first  circuit  court  was 
opened  there  were  twenty-seven  cases. 

This  court  was  held  on  the  27th  of  September, 
1858,  and  at  this  session  Alfred  P.  Swinetord  was 
admitted  to  practice  at  the  bar.  J.  W.  Perry  was 
also  admitted  as  an  attorney.  A  oommitte  was 
also  appointed  to  examine  W.  D.  Chilson  and 
John  W.  Heath  with  a  view  to  their  admission  as 
attorneys.  A.  B.  Webber,  Augustus  Armstrong, 
and  J.  W.  Perry  were  the  committee,  who  repor- 
ted favorably,  and  the  candidates  were  admitted. 

The  lawyers  who  appear  at  this  early  day  were, 
A.  Armstrong,  D.  G.  Parker,  A.  B.  Webber.  J.  W. 
Perry,  and  A.  P.  Swineford. 

The  grand  jury  was  called  and  eighteen  answer- 
ed to  their  names.  Two  indictments  were  found 
against  William  L.  Gray  for  "unlawful  traffick- 
ing in  spirituous  liquors,  and  for  keeping  a 
gambling  house."  He  was  brought  in  on  a 
bench  warrant  and  pleaded  not  guilty,  and  was 
put  under  bonds  in  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dol- 
lars for  his  appearance. 


310 


HISTOBF  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


The  calendar  being  called,  the  following  cases 
appeared  ready  for  trial:  Asa  BuUard  irmus  John 
T.  Asher;  Hagan  Mathews  vergm  Hans  Johnson: 
Ola  Gruberson  versus  Lara  Evenson,  which  were 
duly  disposed  of. 

The  names  of  the  judges  who  have  set  on  this 
bench,  and  that  of  the  clerks,  will  be  found  in  the 
Centennial  History  by  Mr.  Parker,  which  has 
been  brought  down  to  1882. 

It  seems  that  no  record  of  the  earliest  marriages 
was  preserved,  until  the  county  was  organized. 
The  first  mentioned  was  that  of  Mr.  Henry  Snyder 
and  Miss  Mary  Fink,  on  the  25th  of  June,  1857, 
by  William  Anderson,  Justice  of  the  Peace.  The 
next  is  that  of  William  Andrews  himself  to  Miss 
Mary  Leonard,  by  tlie  redoubtable  J.  Clark,  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace.  The  third  and  last  one  this 
year  was  Mr.  Oscar  Miller  and  Miss  Betsey  M. 
BuUock;  the  magistrate  was  George  Watson,  and 
the  witnesses  were  H.  B.  Earle  and  Daniel  Gates. 
These  were  all  those  reported  in  1857. 

The  number  of  cases  of  record  up  to  the  second 
term  of  the  court  was  sixty-one.  This  term  com- 
menced on  the  25th  of  September,  1859. 

At  this  session  the  case  of  Henry  Kreigler,  ac- 
cused of  wilful-murder,  and  which  is  mentioned 
elsewliere,  was  brought  up.  J.  M.  Perry  was  ap- 
pointed to  assist  the  prosecuting  attorney.  The 
case  was  transferred  to  Steele  county,  as  it  was 
declared  impossible  to  secure  an  impartial  trial 
here,  on  aecouut  of  prejudice, 

E.  C.  Stacy  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the 
courts  of  the  State  at  this  term.  There  were  some 
cases  of  absorbing  interest  at  the  time,  in  a  local 
way,  but  none  of  general  importance. 

The  first  deed  spiead  on  the  records  was  that  of 
William  ,Rice  and  wife  to  Uriah  Grover.  The 
second  to  be  recorded  was  that  of  Uriah  Grover 
and  wife  to  Elihu  C.  and  Anthony  C.  Trow,  a 
piece  of  land  in  consideration  of  .f  100  in  township 
102,  range  20.  John  S.  Corning  was  the  magis- 
trate. The  next  was  William  Rice  and  wife  to 
Uriah  Grover,  September  1st,  1856.  Charles  T. 
Knapp  and  wife  to  E.  C.  and  A.  C.  Trow  on  the 
22d  of  October,  of  the  same  year.  This  year  there 
were  but  three  recorded,  but  several  came  in  later 
which  had  been  executed  during  the  year. 

The  first  recorded  in  1857  was  that  of  G«orge 
W.  Beighley  and  wife,  to  S.  Batchelder  and  C.  C. 
Colby. 

The  mortgage    book  commences  on  the  9th  of 


November,  1856,  and  (he  first  one  that  appears 
was  Welcome  S.  Bacon,  to  Elbridge  G.  Potter,  to 
secure  the  payment  of  13000,  a  tract  of  land; 
and  this  seems  to  have  been  the  only  one  this 
year.  The  next  year  a  mortgage  was  exe- 
cuted and  recorded  on  the  3d  of  March,  by  L.  T. 
Carlson  to  C.  A.  Luudrone,  and  was  the  only  one 
recorded  that  year. 

Since  that  time  the  deeds  and  mortgages  have 
accumulated-  to  till  thirty-two  volumns  of  deeds 
and  twenty -six  of  mortgages.  The  books  are  640 
pages,  and  average  a  little  less  than  one  deed  for  a 
page;  so  it  can  be  seen  that  the  transfer  of  real 
property  has  been  lively  in  the  county  since  its 
organization. 

.  The  Board  of  County  Commissioners  met  on 
the  3d  of  March,  1857,  for  the  purpose  of  organi- 
zation. It  consisted  of  William  Andrews,  E.  C. 
Stacy,  and  S.  N.  Frisbie.  William  Andrews  was 
chosen  Chairman.  On  motion  of  Mr.  Frisbie,  E. 
C.  Stacy  was  chosen  Judge  of  Probate. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  on  the  4th,  the  County 
Officers  were  appointed  as  follows:  Sheriff, 
George  S.  Kuble,  of  Albert  Lea;  Surveyor,  Ed- 
ward P.  Skinner,  of  Shell  Rock  City;  Conmer,  A. 
H.  Bartlett.of  Shell  Rook  City;  District  Attorney, 
John  W.  Heath,  of  Geneva.  The  county  was  di- 
vided into  three  assessor's  districts,  and  the  fol- 
lowing assessors  appointed:  James  M.  Drake, 
John  Duncing,  and  Walter  Scott;  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  Isaac  P.  Lynde  and  Joseph  Watson;  Con- 
stables, George  Deermau,  William  A.  Hoag,  and 
Walter  Stoll.  At  this  meeting  a  county  seal  was 
adopted,  and  the  time  for  entering  upon  the 
duties  by  the  several  officers  appointed  was 
placed  on  the  20th  inst. 

The  location  of  the  county  seat  came  up  for 
careful  consideration.  Mr.  Frisbie  moved  that 
the  temporary  county  seat  be  Bancroft;  Mr.  Stacy 
moved  to  strike  out  Bancroft  and  insert  Saint 
Nicholas,  which  motion  was  lost.  Mr.  Stacy 
moved  to  strike  out  the  word  Bancroft  and  insert 
Geneva,  which  was  not  agreed  to.  Mr.  Andrews 
moved  to  strike  out  the  word  Bancn)ft  and  insert 
Albert  Lea,  which  was  carried  by  a  unanimous 
vote. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  instructing  the  Con- 
stables, Justices,  and  School  Trustees,  to  be  vigi- 
lant in  protecting  the  school  lauds  from  trespass. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  on  the  5th,  among 
other  items  of  business,  L.   T.    Carlson  was  ap- 


COUNTY  GOVERNMENT. 


311 


pointed  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  Elias  Stanton 
Constable.  At  these  meetings  William  Morin  was 
deputy  clerk. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board  was  on  the  6th 
of  April,  1857,  and  then  the  interminable  road 
business  began.  The  first  road  laid  out  as  a 
county  road  was  described  as  follows :  "Commenc- 
ing on  the  section  line  between  thirty-two  and 
thirty-three  in  town  101,  range  20,  running  north 
as  near  said  section  line  as  the  surface  of  the 
the  ground  will  admit,  through  towns  101,  102, 
and  103,  thence  in  a  northerly  direction  to  the 
town  of  Geneva,  thence  north  to  the  county  line." 

Clark  Andrews,  of  Shell  Rock,  and  George  P. 
Hoops  were  appointed  viewers  of  the  route. 

The  next  road  was  in  response  to  a  petition,  and 
commenced  at  St.  Nicholas,  crossing  the  Shell 
Eock  Kiver  in  section  thirty  and  running  south- 
east to  the  south  line  of  town  102,  about  120 
rods  west  of  Oliver  Andrew's  house,  then  east  on 
said  town  line  about  two  miles,  thence  southeaster- 
ly to  the  vicinity  of  John  T.  Asher's  place,  thence 
down  the  west  bank  of  Woodbury  Creek  to  the 
county  line.  Oliver  Andrews,  of  Shell  Rock,  and 
John  T.  Asher,  of  Burr  Oaks,  were  viewers  of  this 
road.  At  this  meeting  the  appointments  of  L.  T. 
Carlson  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  Elias  Stanton 
as  Constable,  was  rescinded  for  non-compliance 
with  the  statute;  and  Elias  Stanton  was  appoin- 
ted Justice,  and  Charles  Giddings,  Constable. 
Election  precincts  were  arranged,  several  other 
roads  projected,  and  school  districts  were  estab- 
lished. About  fifteen  road  districts  were  disigna- 
ted.  These  matters  consumed  much  time  but  the 
management  of  the  interests  of  the  county  seem 
to  have  been  judicious.  This  session  of  the 
board  continued  until  the  10th,  and  among  other 
things  done,  the  surveyor  was  authorized  to  pro- 
cure from  the  United  States  Surveyors  the  field 
notes  relating  to  the  county. 

The  third  session  of  the  board  was  on  the  18th 
of  May,  1857,  and  continued  three  days.  Wel- 
come S.  Bacon  was  appointed  Assessor  of  the  first 
precinct,  vice  Erastus  D.  Porter  — not  qualified. 
C.  S.  Tarbel  was  appointed  Coroner  in  place  ef 
George  Watson,  who  declined  to  qualify.  Lafay- 
ette Scott  was  appointed  Justice  and  Daniel 
Davis,  Constable.  At  this  session  the  table  was 
loaded  with  road  petitions,  which  were  given  re- 
spectful consideration. 

The  fourth  session  of  the  board  was  on  the  6th 


of  July,  and  they  proceeded  to  wrestle  with  the 
large  number  of  yeomanry  of  the  county  of  Free- 
born, who  considered  that  the  welfare  of  the 
country  and  the  perpetuity  of  republican  insti- 
tutions depended  upon  their  having  a  road  right 
by  their  doors. 

The  assessment  rolls  were  brought  in  at  this 
meeting,  and  the  footings  were  as  follows: 

District  No.  1.— Real 131,295 

Personal 20,590 

District  No.  2.— Real 28,066 

Personal 35,840 

District  No.  3.— Real 53,553 

Personal 40,665 

$210,088 

A  tax  of  three  mills  on  the  dollar  was  assessed 
for  road  purposes,  and  two  and  one  half  mills  for 
school  jjurposes.  At  this  meeting  the  county  or- 
ders appear  for  the  first  time  and  they  aggregated 
$549.19.  The  total  county  tax  for  all  purposes 
footed  up  twenty  and  one  half  mills  on  a  dol- 
lar, making  the  sum  of  .S4,347.80,  to  which  ten 
per  cent  was  added,  making  $444.65  to  be  col- 
lected. 

The  fifth  session  of  the  county  board  was  on 
the  9th  of  September  of  the  same  year.  The 
clerk  of  the  district  coart  was  instructed  to  in- 
form Judge  Flandreau  that  it  is  not  the  wish  of 
the  County  Commissioners  that  a  court  should  be 
held  here  in  October  of  this  year.  Routine  busi- 
ness claimed  especial  attention. 

The  sixth  session  was  on  the  5th  of  October. 
Bills  by  this  time  got  up  to  $1,556,44,  and  noth- 
ing remarkable  was  done. 

The  election  as  to  the  location  of  the  county 
seat  was  held  on  the  13th  of  October,  1857.  The 
result  of  the  balloting,  as  returned  by  the  board 
of  canvassers,  William  Andrews,  George  Watson, 
and  William  Morin,  was  as  follows : 

Votes. 

Albert  Lea 403 

Bancroft 199 

Saint  Nicholas -. .    29 

Shell  Rock 10 

Freeborn 1 

So  this  question  was  settled  with  such  a  round 
majority  that  there  has  been  no  change  since. 

William  Morin  was  the  first  Register  of  Deeds, 
and  was  also  clerk  of  the  board  of  County  Com- 
missioners. 


312 


BISTORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


1858.  Tbe  new  board  convened  on  the  4th  of 
January,  and  consisted  of  S.  N.  Frisbie,  Joseph 
Reikhard.  and  Peter  Clausen.  S.  N.  Frisbie  was 
elected  ohairman.  Auiliting  bills  was  the  great 
business  of  the  board  during  the  first  day's  ses- 
sion. The  next  day,  among  other  things.  Swine- 
ford  &  (iray  were  made  ooiiuty  printers.  J.  M. 
Palmer  and  Thomas  W.  Pnrdie  were  appointed 
road  commissioners.  Grand  and  pettit  jurors 
were  drawn.  The  report  from  the  schools  revealed 
222  scholars  in  the  county,  in  nine  districts,  but 
there  must  have  been  sixteen  at  least  at  that 
time,  as  that  was  the  number  of  one  of  the  dis- 
tricts. The  amount  of  school  tax  was  $5,322, 
which  gave  to  $2.38  to  each  scholar.  The  Ter- 
ritorial tax  assessed  was  S212.08. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  1st  of  February,  18.58, 
the  resolution  giving  the  county  printing  to 
Swineford  .t  Gray  was  rescinded,  and  it  was  given 
to  David  Blakely  of  the  Bancroft  Pioneer.  The 
next  day  an  offer  was  made,  by  the  deposed  firm 
to  do  all  the  county  jirinting  for  six  months  free; 
but  it  was  not  agreed  to.  At  the  meeting  in 
April,  the  board  proceeded  to  organize  the  coimty 
into  towns,  iu  accordance  with  an  act  of  the  Leg- 
islature, and  the  following  names  were  proposed; 
Asher,  Oakland,  (ruildford,  Seward,Geneva,Beards- 
ley,  Hayward,  Shell  Rock,  Freeman,  Albert  Lea 
Bancroft,  Porter,  Hartland,Buckeye,Pickerel  Lake, 
Nunda,  Mansfield,  Alden,  Stanton,  and  Freeborn. 
A  vote  of  the  town  on  the  11th  of  May  changed 
Buckeye  to  Liberty.  Most  of  the  towns  were 
coupled  together   in   pairs  for  township  purposes. 

On  the  9th  of  June  a  petition  to  change  the 
name  of  Stanton  to  Springfield  was  favorably 
considered,  and  Guildford  was  changed  to  Moscow. 

The  town  meetings  for  organization  and  elec- 
tion of  officers  was  held  on  the  11th  of  May,  and 
some  of  the  election  officers  presented  their  bills 
to  the  county,  but  they  were  promptly  rejected. 

In  September  a  communication  was  received 
fr  im  the  State  Auditor  requiring  the  name  of  the 
tiwn  of  Liberty  to  be  changed,  as  there  was  a 
to.vnship  with  a  prior  claim  to  this  cognomen. 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  State 
law,  after  the  organization  of  the  State,  the  board 
of  County  Commissioners  was  superseded  by  a 
board  of  Supervisors,  and  in  this  county  the  first 
board  consisted  of:  Theop.  Lowry,  William 
Andrews,  A.  C.  Wedge,  D.  Blakely,  B.  S.  Board- 
man,  Mathias  Anderson,  A.  W.    White,    Patrick 


Fitzsimmons,  H.  W.  Allen,  and  E.  0.  Stacy,  the 
latter  being  chairman. 

William  Morin  was  the  first  County  Auditor, 
and  also  recorder  for  the  county  board. 

1859. — The  board  met  in  annual  session  on 
the  13th  of  September.  The  members  were  as 
follows:  William  H.  Goslee,  Asa  Bullock. 
Theop.  Lowry,  Michael  Brennan,  Edwin  C. 
Stacy,  Isaac  Baker,  I.  W.  Devereux,  A.  C.  Wedge, 
N.  H.  EUickson,  Horace  Greene,  Mathias  Ander- 
son, Patrick  Fitzsimons,  and  E.  D.  Roger.s. 
Edwin  C.  Stacy  was  elected  temporary  chairman, 
and  Theop.  Lowry,  permanent  chairman. 

About  this  time  the  towns  began  to  be  detached 
from  their  partners  to  set  up  for  themselves. 

1860.  The  bond  of  the  Treasurer  was  fixed  at 
•S13,000.  The  compensation  of  the  clerks  and 
judges  of  elections  was  fixed  at  S2  a  day,  and  ten 
cents  a  mile  one  way,  making  returns. 

The  School  fund  for  the  year  1859  footed  up 
.1983.10,  with  793  children  of  school  age. 

Ole  S.  Ellingson  was  the  Second  County  Treas- 
urer. 

A  committe  reported  the  expense  of  the  district 
court  to  be  as  follows: 

September  term,  1858 $248.48 

April,  1859, 75.85 

September,  1859 199.10 

At  a  meeting  in  January  it  was  moved  that  a 
jail  to  hold  six  persons  be  built,  not  to  exceed  a 
cost  of  S500,  which  motion  was  not  agreed  to. 

The  board  gave  specific  instructions  to  asses- 
sors as  to  their  methods  of  jirocedure  to  secure 
uniformity  and  accuracy. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  1860,  the  Treasurer 
had  on  hand  funds  to  the  amount  of  $4,115.26. 
The  whole  amount  of  county  orders  issued  up  to 
that  date  was  .'i!8,364.18. 

At  a  meeting  on  the  18th  of  September  a  peti- 
tion was  presented  to  allow  the  people  of  the 
county  to  vote  on  the  question  of  removing  the 
county  seat  to  Itaska.  But,  as  a  question  as  to 
the  legality  of  the  election  already  held  on  that 
subject  was  already  in  the  courts  for  adjudication, 
it  was  laid  on  the  table.  Several  propositions  were 
received  making  generous  offers  to  the  county  in 
consideration  of  having  the  county  seat  iu  some 
specified  locality,  and  the  one  of  Albert  Lea  was 
entertained.  A  more  full  account  is  given  of  this 
business  in  the  article  on  the  contest  for  the 
county  seat. 


COUNTY  GOVBRNMBNT. 


313 


On  the  20th  of  October  the  petition  in  relation 
to  the  vote  on  county  seat,  in  obedience  to  the 
order  of  Judge  Atwater,  was  favorably  considered 
and  the  order  issued.  At  the  same  meeting  the 
town  of  Pickerel  Lake  was  attached  to  Manches- 
ter for  election  purposes,  and  Alden  to  Carlston. 
A  petition  of  citizens  of  the  town  of  Freeman  ask- 
ing to  hav'e  township  101,  range  21,  organized  for 
town  purjjoses  under  the  name  of  Green,  was 
granted  and  the  5th  of  January  fixed  as  the  day 
of  holding  the  first  town  meeting. 

1861. — Tlie  Board  got  together  on  the  1st  of 
January.  James  E.  Smith  was  elected  chaiaman. 
At  the  meeting  the  next  day  the  bills  of  D.  G. 
Parker  as  Attorney  for  the  State  in  the  Kreigler 
murder  case,  and  of  Augustus  Armstrong  the 
prisoner's  counsel,  were  allowed  at  S120  each. 
Numerous  other  bills  for  witness  fees  in  the  same 
ease  were  presented,  and  the  District  Attorney  was 
requested  to  furnish  his  opinion  as  to  the  liability 
of  the  county.  The  bill  of  James  A.  Robson,  the 
Sheriff  in  this  case,  footed  up  to  $207.50.  On  the 
9th  of  April  the  bill  of  expense  in  this  expensive 
trial,  presented  by  Steele  county  was  #1,125.09. 

The  cost  of  printing  the  delinquent  tax  roll  was 
$300,  done  by  A.  D.  Clark,  who  agreed  to  com- 
plete the  year's  printing  free. 

In  April  the  salary  of  the  Auditor  was  fixed  at 
•1800  per  annum,  and  that  of  the  County  Attorney 
at  SI  50.  Up  to  this  time  the  expense  of  the 
Kreigler  trial,  exclusive  of  the  Steele  county  bills, 
was  $888.17. 

At  the  September  meeting  the  bill  of  F.  O. 
Perkins  for  professional  services  in  defending 
Henry  Kreigler,  to  the  amount  of  .$200,  was  laid 
over  for  further  consideration,  and  at  a  regular 
meeting  in  October  the  account  was  allowed  at 
$75.00.  Up  to  the  first  of  January,  1862,  the 
bills  audited  in  the  Kreigler  case  amounted  to 
.fl,579.29- 

1862. — Asa  Bullock  was  chosen  chairman  of  the 
board.  Nothing  of  especal  note  occured  this  year, 
routine  work  taking  up  most  of  the  time. 

1863. — Asa  Bullock  was  chairman  this  year. 
At  a  meeting  in  July  it  was  resolved  that  the  law 
licensing  dogs  and  for  the  protection  of  sheep  be 
complied  with  in  thi.s  county. 

The  State  law  requiring  the  militia  to  be  organ- 
ized by  districts  was  complied  with  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, and  elections  ordered  for  the  18th  of  July. 
This  movement  was  not  a  phenomenal  success,  al- 


though it  may  have  served  to  keep  up  an  interest 
in  military  affairs. 

In  November  the  question  of  building  fire  jiroof 
county  offices  was  introduced. 

1864. — C.  H.  Mclntyre  was  chairman.  In 
March  a  committee  consisting  of  William  Morin, 
Frank  Hall,  and  Augustus  Armstrong  submitted 
plans  and  estimates  for  the  construction  of  a  fire- 
proof building  for  offices  and  court  room,  as  fol- 
lows: 

Brick  at  .$6 .$1,320.00 

Fire  proof  roof 300.00 

Laying  brick  and  furnishing  lime 550.00 

Eight  thousand  feet  of  lumber  at  .$20. . .       160.00 
Doors,  nails,  sash,  glass,  and  putty. .  . .       400.00 

Carpenter  work 300.00 

Plastering  and  lime 300.00 

$3,330.00 

Various  petitions  were  presented  against  the 
issue  of  bonds  for  county  buildings.  A  resolu- 
tion, however,  was  adopted  to  issue  and  appro- 
priate bonds  to  the  amount  of  two  thousand 
dollars  toward  erecting  fire-proof  buildings  for 
the  county  offices,  with  the  understanding  that 
Albert  Lea  shall  apj^ropriate  one  thousand  dol- 
lars to  add  a  suitable  hall  for  court  purposes. 
Messrs.  Hall,  Morin,  and  Armstrong  were  ap- 
pointed commissioners  to  sell  the  bonds  and  to 
erect  the  building. 

Two  parties  who  were  reported  as  selling 
spirituous  liquors  without  a  license,  it  was  or- 
dered should  be  prosecuted.  In  July  George  S. 
Ruble  was  appointed  Overseer  of  the  poor. 

The  first  bond  of  $1,500,  was  issued,  and  cashed 
by  Joseph  Hall.  It  bore  10  per  cent,  interest 
and  -was  dated  the  16th  of  March,  1864.  The 
location  of  the  Court  House  was  agreed  upon, 
provided  a  strip  six  rods  wide  and  exti  nding  to 
the  next  street  south  could  be  secured  free  of 
cost.  On  the  6th  of  September  Mr.  Asa  Bullock, 
a  member  of  the  board,  having  ilied,  suitable  res- 
olutions were  engrossed,  presented  to  his  family, 
and  spread  upon  the  records. 

1865. — The  first  record  with  any  reference  to  the 
war  was  on  the  6th  of  September,  when  assistance 
was  voted  to  several  families  of  soldiers  at  the 
front,  which  will  be  mentioned  more  fully  in  the 
war  history  of  the  county.  On  the  8th  of  Sep- 
tember the  tax  on  the  property  of  the  county  was 
ordered  assessed  as  follows: 


314 


UISTOHT  OF  FRBEBOltN^  COUNTT. 


State  tax 3J  millB. 

Interest  on  State  debt, 1        " 

Sinking  fund, 1       " 

County    purposes, 4       " 

Poor   tax, 1       " 

Special  for  county  building, '2J      " 

Tlie  cost  of  printing  the  delinquent  tax 
list  audited  and  allowed  at  the  April  meeting  was 
$323.85.  In  June  action  was  taken  in  regard  to 
vacating  the  town  site  of  Bancroft.  The  lots  in 
the  village  of  Itaska,  delinquent  since  1863,  were 
ordered  sold.  On  the  22d  of  June  James  F. 
Jones,  Asa  Walker,  and  E.  P.  Skinner  were  added 
to  the  building  committee.  The  Court  House 
was  going  up,  and  provisions  were  made  to  pay 
the  bills  as  they  occurred. 

18G6. — The  new  board  organized  on  the  2d  of 
January.  Clark  Andrews  was  chairman.  On  the 
3d  of  January  the  town  of  !Mansfield  was  organ- 
ized. In  March  tlie  town  of  Alden  was  organized. 
On  the  6th  of  Se]jtember  the  county  board  ap- 
pointed Samuel  Batchelder  as  Superintendent  of 
Schools  at  a  compensation  of  $2.50  per  day. 

1867. — The  annual  meeting  of  the  board  this 
year  was  on  the  1st  of  January.  William  White 
was  made  chairman.  The  salary  of  the  County 
Superintendent  was  adjusted  at  S300  per  year. 

On  the  14th  of  March  the  following  appears  on 
the  records:  Whereas,  the  two  churches  holding 
divine  service  in  Albert  Lea  have  got  at  logger- 
heads in  relation  to  occupying  the  Court  House 
for  meetings,  and  submitted  the  matter  to  the 
board,  both  churches  being  ably  represented  by 
Capt.  Hagaman  on  the  one  side  and  Colonel  Eaton 
on  the  other,  therefore, 

Re.iohiil,  That  the  Congregationalists  be  al- 
lowed to  use  the  Court  rot)m  in  the  forenoon  of  the 
next  Sunday,  and  the  Baptists  the  Sunday  follow- 
ing, and  so  on  alternately,  reserving  the  use  of 
the  room  for  other  denominations  in  the  afternoon. 

In  September,  1867,  Sheriff  St.  John  having 
removed  from  the  county,  -Tohn  Brownsill  was  ap- 
pointed to  fill  the  vacancy.  The  county  at  this 
time  was  divided  into  five  commissioner  districts. 

1868. — The  board  of  County  Commissioners 
met  on  the  lt\^  of  January  and  consisted  of  Mons 
Grinager  of  the  first  district;  Stephen  N.  Frisbie, 
of  the  second  district;  Henry  N.  Ostrander  of  the 
third;  Jedediah  W.  Devereux  of  the  fourth,  and 
William  H.  Moore  of  the  fifth. 


J.  W.  Devereux  was  elected  chairman  for  the 
ensuing  year. 

At  this  time  the  license  had  got  up  to  $100  per 
annum. 

In  March  the  Court  House  was  insured  for 
.•?2,500. 

Nothing  of  a  startling  character  occnred  during 
this  year  in  connection  with  the  board. 

1869. — J.  W.  Devereux  was  re-elected  chair- 
man. The  other  commissioners  were  Mons  (Irin- 
ager,  S.  N.  Frisbie,  H.  N.  Ostracder,  and  W.  H 
Moore. 

On  the  8th  of  January  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  attend  to  the  planting  of  trees  in  the 
Court  House  grounds,  and  otherwise  improving 
the  appearance  of  the  location. 

The  town  site  of  Bancroft  village  was  on  the 
floor  this  year,  and  the  County  Attorney  was  in- 
structed to  perfect  the  title  of  the  county  in  the 
property. 

1870. — The  board  this  year  consisted  of  J.  W. 
Devereux,  chairman;  William  H.  Mooro,  Mons 
Grinager,  Adam   Cliristie,   and   H.   N.  Ostrander. 

This  year  was  uneventful  as  regards  the  county 
government.  There  were  various  road  matters  to 
receive  attention,  Sunday  School  districts  to  be 
rearranged,  certain  railroad  lands  to  be  assessed, 
taxable  property  to  be  equalized,  bills  to  be  audi- 
ted, and  all  the  routine  work  of  such  a  board  to 
receive  careful  supervision.  In  the  winter  of  this 
year  the  law  in  relation  to  agricultural  statistics 
had  to  be  enforced. 

1871. — The  board  this  year  was  made  up  of  J. 
W.  Devereux,  Chairman,  Henry  G.  Emmons,  H. 
N.  Ostrander,  Mons  Grinager,  and  Adam  Christie. 

On  the  (ith  of  January  the  board  considered  the 
advisability  of  constructing  a  fireproof  vault  in 
tilt  Court  House,  and  in  March  Mons  Grinager 
and  J.  W.  Devereux  were  appointed  a  committee 
on  the  subject. 

During  this  year  the  County  Surveyor  made  a 
record  of  the  county  roads,  which  were  fully  de- 
scribed and  engrossed  on  the  county  records. 

1872. — Mr.  Devereux  was  chairman  of  the 
board  again  this  year. 

The  Court  House  was  repaired,  including  light- 
ning rods,  to  the  extent  of  §3,140.84.  Kegular 
business  requiring  the  consideration  of  the  board 
took  up  the  time  at  the  various  sessions. 

1873. — The  County  Commissioners  met  on  the 
7th  of  Januarv  in  annual   session.     The  members 


COUNTY  GOVERNMENT. 


315 


were:  H.  G.  Emmons,  James  Thoreson,  Hans 
Christopherson  and  Halver  Thompson.  On  the 
organization  Mr.  Devereux  was  elected  chairman. 

1874. — The  board  met  at  the  regular  session  in 
January.  The  members  were:  H.  G.  Emmons, 
chairman,  H.  Christopherson,  W.  C.  Lincoln,  Hal- 
ver Thompson,  and  .James  Thoreson. 

An  abstract  of  the  business  for  the  year  woTild 
read:  Bills,  school  district  changed,  road  peti- 
tion rejected,  poor  fund  expenditures,  change  of 
county  road,  bills.  Sheriff's  fees,  petition  for  new 
district,  equalization,  taxes  abated,  bills,  &c.,  &c. 

1875. — The  board  has  been  of  rather  a  conser- 
vative tendency,  and  have  as  a  rule  been  contin- 
ued in  oiBce  for  long  terms,  and  the  character  of 
the  functions  have  been  more  of  an  executive  than 
of  a  legislative  kind,  so  it  seems  unnecessary  to 
go  over  the  ground  to  furnish  a  detailed  sketch  of 
the  transactions  from  year  to  year.  Items  relat- 
ing to  the  early  period  of  course  have  been  given 
in  detail. 

1876. — The  board  this  centennial  year  consisted 
of:  H.  G.  Emmons,  chairman,  W.  0.  Lincoln, 
James  Thoreson,  W.   N.  Goslee,  and   Ole  Hanson. 

1877. — Two  new  members  appeared  this  year, 
the  jjersonnel  of  the  board  being,  William  N. 
Goslee,  James  Thoreson,  John  M.  Geisler,  Ole 
Hanson,  and  W.  W.  Johnson. 

In  relation  to  taxation,  its  collection  and  dis- 
bursement, which  embraces  the  great  bulk  of 
county  business,  it  would  make  this  work  objec- 
tionably statistical  to  particularize  from  year  to 
year,  but  to  furnish  an  insight  into  the  question, 
which  is  so  interesting,  as  to  "how  the  money 
goes,"  an  extract  from  the  minutes  of  the  board 
will  be  made. 

The  board  directed  the  following  taxes  to  be 
levied  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  year  1878: 

State  taxes  in  such  sum  or  rate  as  the  State 
Auditor  may  direct. 

School  tax  one  mill. 

Special  county  tax  for  jail,  $3000. 

CoTiuty  tax  of  $20,000  based  on  the  following 
estimate : 

Auditor's  salary $1,500 

Auditor's  clerk 880 

Treasurer 1,500 

Superintendent 1,000 

County  Attorney 800 

Judge  of  Probate 800 

County  Commissioners 400 


Jailor  fees 480 

Sheriff  and  Deputies 2,500 

Coroner's  fees 100 

Tree   bounty 20 

Gopher  bounty 500 

Judge  of  Probate  orders 150 

Watching  jail 300 

Board  of  prisoners 400 

Constable  fees 170 

CMerk  of  Court  and  Justices 1,000 

Juror  fees  Justice  Court 100 

Witnesses  Justice   Court 200 

Grand   Jurors 600 

Petit   Jurors 1,000 

Witness   fees 400 

Court  House  repairs,  &c 800 

Printing  blank  books,   stationery,    steno- 
grapher, &c 1,500 

Articles   tar  jail,   express,  postage,  insur- 
ance, &o 600 

Births  and  Deaths 200 

Election  returns 100 

Outstanding  orders 2,000 

Total $20,000 

1878. — J.  M.  Geisler  was  chairman  of  the  board 
this  year,  with  W.  W.  Johnson,  W.  N.  Goslee,  E. 
Fitzgerald,  and  J.  A.  Rodsater. 

There  was  some  action  taken  resulting  from  the 
fact  that  Mr.  Batohelder,  who  had  been  County 
Auditor,  had  drawn  his  salary  from  a  computa- 
tion made  by  the  valuation  of  the  property  of  the 
county  for  the  current  year,  instead  of  the  year 
previous  as  the  law  j^rovided.  This  made  a  differ- 
ence of  .f777.08  in  the  compensation  for  three 
years  in  which  it  was  so  calculated,  and  he  was  re- 
quired to  return  that  amount.  It  is  known  that 
Mr.  Batchelder  worked  night  and  day,  almost,  in 
his  office,  doing  what  may  be  called  extra  work, 
and  was  allowed  $1,000  a  year  for  clerk  hire,  hav- 
ing a  clerk  at  a  low  price,  and  a  part  of  this  was 
also  demanded,  but  a  decision  of  Judge  Berry 
was  in  his  interest  and  the  claim  was  not  pushed. 
The  overdraft  was,  as  believed  by  his  friends,  the 
result  of  an  inadvertence,  as  no  one  could  suppose 
anything  but  honesty  and  integrity  would  actuate 
the  Auditor. 

1879. — This  was  another  uneventful  year  with 
the  county  board,  which  consisted  of  John  M. 
Geisler,  chairman;  W.  W.  Johnson,  W.  N.  Gos- 
lee, R.  Fitzgerald,  I.  A.  Rodsater. 


316 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUXTF. 


Charles  Kittleson,  the  County  Treasurer,  re- 
signed in  Deoember,  and  Frank  W.  Barlow  was 
appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

18H0. — This  year  E.  Fitzgerald  was  chairman 
of  the  lK)ard,  with  W.  N.  Goslee,  I.  A.  Rodsater, 
J.  M.  Geissler,  and  C.  W.  Ballard. 

1881. — The  board  this  year  was  I.  A.  Bodsater, 
chairman;  J.  M.  Geissler,  W.  N.  Goslee,  D.  N. 
Gates,  and  E.  C.  Johnson. 

1882. — The  present  board  consists  of  D.  N. 
Gates,  chairman,  I.  A  Rodsater,  J.  M.  Geissler,  E. 
C.  Johnson,  and  Michael  O'Leary. 

The  county  tax  assessed  this  year  was  S22,000, 
with  one  mill  for  school  tax. 

A  few  itams  in  this  sketch  are  duplicate  state- 
ments made  by  Mr.  Parker  in  his  Centennial  His- 
tory, while  some  things  that  are  omitted  here 
will  be  found  tliere. 

THE   COUNTY    SEAT    CONTEST. 

The  county  seat  was  fixed  by  the  County  Com- 
missioners appointed  by  the  Governor,  and  in  ac- 
cordance with  what  has  been  done  all  over  the 
State,  those  interested  in  keeping  the  county  seat 
procured  the  passage  of  a  general  act,  prohibit- 
ing any  action  looking  to  a  change  of  location 
within  three  years  after  its  establishment.  In  1860, 
the  contest  here  was  re-opened,  but  the  County 
Commissioners  declined  to  order  an  election.  The 
Itasca  people  procured  a  mandamus  through  Mr. 
Everett,  a  lawyer  in  Austin,  requiring  an  election 
to  be  ordered. 

Itasca  was  at  this  time  a  flourishing  place,  with 
its  hotel,  blacksmith  shop,  shoemaker's  shop,  and 
twelve  or  fifteen  houses  all  told,  and  a  newspaper, 
printed  in  the  octagon  house  which  still  stands. 
Its  location  was  on  a  beautiful  prairie  which  had 
been  named  by  the  first  explorers,  "Paradise 
Prairie,"  which  is  on  a  plateau  overlooking  the 
surroimding  country,  affording  a  view  of  Albert 
Lea  City  and  of  the  lake  beyond. 

The  adherents  to  the  claims  of  Itasca  declare 
that  they  went  into  the  fight  on  its  merits  and  on 
the  8(]uare,  but  that  they  were  counted  out;  that  a 
.precinct  was  established  with  headquarters  on  a 
stump  in  the  township  of  Pickerel  Lake,  that  John 
Ruble  and  Charley  Norton  were  judges  of  the 
election,  and.  they  returned  240  votes,  solid  for 
Itasca.  It  is  claimed  that  compliance  with  a  de- 
mand to  produce  the  voting  list  would  have  been 
impo.saibIe. 

The  history  of  this  Court  House  struggle,  if  it 


was  told  in  all  its  details,  would  reveal  a  species 
of  which,  while  having  analagons  counterjiarts  in 
other  more  important  contests,  was  nevertheless 
an  indigenous  production  of  Freeborn  county 
soil,  and  displayed  some  peculiarities  of  political 
guerrilla  warfare  which  might  might  have  been 
disagreeable  to  the  jiarticipant*;,  if  published  and 
believed  at  the  time.  But  now,  such  a  length  of 
time  having  elapsed,  and  most  of  the  participants 
having  interests  in  the  successful  towns  in  this 
eventful  struggle,  they  freely  talk  it  over  and  re- 
late to  each  other  the  various  methods  which  were 
resorted  to  iu  securing  the  several  advantages 
which  finally  settled  the  contest.  It  is  not  possi- 
ble, even  if  it  were  desirable,  to  give  a  detailed 
account  of  all  the  incidents  connected  with  this 
conflict,  but  enough  will  be  presented  to  give  a 
good  idea  of  some  of  the  courses  pursued  by  the 
contending  parties. 

In  those  times  the  community  was  manouvering 
as  to  whether  law  and  order  predominated,  or 
mere  force,  with  a  predomination  in  favor  of  the 
latter.  The  men  at  Albert  Lea  had  made  up 
their  minds  to  retain  the  county  seat  at  all  haz- 
ards, and  to-day  they  claim  that  whatever  might 
have  happened  at  the  polls  would  not  have 
changed  the  result.  To  show  the  methods  em- 
l)loyed  to  des^foy  Itasca,  and  blot  it  out  of  exist- 
ence, a  single  instance  will  be  mentioned.  A 
Presbyterian  clergyman,  by  the  name  of  Mercer, 
came  here  and  was  enthusiastic  in  his  ideas  as  to 
building  up  iiistitutiims  iu  his  denominational  in- 
terest in  this  new  country,  and  so  advantage  was 
taken  of  his  propagating  spirit,  and  it  was  sug- 
gested that  Itasca  would  be  a  tine  suburban  local- 
ity for  such  a  school  as  he  jjroposed  to  establish, 
and  he  went  up  and  purchased  the  hotel  of  Dr. 
Burnham,  who  was  delighted  with  the  idea  and 
anxious  to  do  what  he  could  to  aid  in  the  work. 
So  the  transfer  was  made,  the  Albert  Lea  pro- 
prietors paying  for  it.  and  it  was  then  torn  down 
and  removed  to  the  county  seat;  the  scheme  hav- 
ing served  its  purpose,  no  more  money  was  ad- 
vanced in  the  interest  of  the  school,  and  the  poor 
man  who  had  been  used  by  the  ring,  was  frozen 
out,  and  sadly  wended  his  way  to  some  more 
promising  locality. 

The  newspaper  was  fitted  out  by  Dr.  Burnham 
and  D.  F.  Blackmer,  Dr.  Burnham  having  bought 
material,  including  press  and  fifty-two  fonts  of 
type,  at  Zumbrota.     When    the  county  seat  busi- 


COUNTY  SEAT  CONTEST. 


317 


ness  had  collapsed,  so  far  as  Itasca  was  con- 
cerned, Mr.  Botsford  and  young  Blaekmer  took 
the  material  to  Blue  Earth  City,  established  a  pa- 
per there,  and  run  it  until  during  the  war,  when 
one  night  Dr.  Burnham  was  called  up  by  a  man 
who  had  some  business  with  him.  It  proved  to 
be  Botsford,  who  had  come  to  pay  the  S600  for 
the  press  and  type,  for  which  no  security  had 
been  taken.  This  act  should  be  particularly  em- 
phasized in  the  history  of  those  times,  where 
even  legal  obligations  were   not  always  observed. 

They  all  worked  together  in  Albert  Lea,  it 
only  required  a  suggestion  of  some  plan  which 
would  redound  to  their  benefit  to  have  it  instantly 
acted  upon.  The  proprietors  of  Itasca  were 
ecpially  on  the  elert  in  relation  to  Bancroft,  and 
the  Doctor  bought  up  the  buildings  in  that  town 
and  removed  them  to  Itasca.  The  printing 
office  is  now  a  part  of  the  house  of  E.  K.  Pickett, 
which  is  located  on  the  site  of  that  embryotic 
city. 

While  the  county  seat  question  was  being  agi- 
tated, in  1860,  the  leading  citizens  of  Itasca,  to 
secure  if  possible  the  county  seat  there,  executed 
a  bond  in  the  penal  sum  of  S6,00(>,  pledging 
themselves  to  build  a  Court  House  according  to 
certain  plans  and  specifications,  within  two  years, 
and  also  to  furnish  suitable  offices  for  county 
purposes,  including  the  building  then  there, 
24  X  50  feet,*and  two  stories  high.  The  building 
was  to  be  of  brick,  two  stories  high,  in  the  octa- 
gon form,  forty-eight  feet  or  more  in  diameter. 

The  plan  was  a  good  one,  giving  good,  large 
sized  offices,  jail  room,  and  a  court  room  twenty- 
four  by  twenty-eight  feet,  with  suitable  jury 
rooms.  The  parties  who  executed  this  bond  were : 
A.  M.  Burnham,  C.  C.  Colby,  J.  G.  Sanborn,  E. 
J.  Franklin,  E.  D.  Hopkins,  Samuel  Batchelder, 
Charles  Dunbar,  J.  Dunbar,  J.  Colby,  J.  D. 
Adams,  and  J.  S.  Longworth. 

This  was  signed  in  the  presence  of  Isaac  Bots- 
ford and  Hannibal  Bickford,  and  certified  to  by 
Ole  J.  Ellingson,  clerk,  per  Samuel  Eaton,  deputy. 

The  citizens  of  Alliert  Lea,  not  to  be  outdone 
by  the  liberality  of  other  aspiring  places,  agreed 
to  furnish  offices  for  the  county  officers  and  a  jail 
for  three  years,  free  of  cost  to  the  county,  and  the 
following  named  gentlemen  executed  a  bond  in 
the  penal  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  for  the 
faithful  execution  of  this  promise :  A.  B.  Webber, 
George   S.  Ruble,  William  Morin,  A.   C.  Wedge, 


James  A.  Eobson,  Samuel  Eaton,  John  Brownsill, 
A.  Armstrong,  and  H.  D.  Brown;  which  proposi- 
tion was  formally  accepted. 

A  brief  recapitulation  of  all  the  stories  told  in 
relation  to  that  contest,  which,  after  considerable 
legal  quibbling,  was  set  for  the  6th  of  November, 
the  day  on  which  Abraham  Lincoln  was  elected 
president  of  the  United  States,  and  Albert  Lea 
carried  off  the  prize,  and  to-day  there  are  really 
few,  if  any,  who  regret  the  result  of  the  struggle. 
The  several  horse  races  which  are  briefly  alluded 
to  in  the  "events,"  are  connected  in  the  old  set- 
tlers' mind  with  this  contest,  and  at  the  old  set- 
tlers' reunion  in  September,  1882,  Dr.  Ballard,  the 
Mayor  of  the  City,  read  a  humorous  poem  largely 
devoted  to  the  details  of  that  memorable  race, 
just  a  sample  of  which    is  spread  on  these  pages. 

"So,  conning  o'er  the  aspects  of  the  case. 
They  came  unanimously  to  this  conclusion: 
That  public  morals  reguired  another  race; 
Advantage  should  be  taken  of  the  delusion 
That  Sheriff  Heath's  Red  Tom  could  always  win. 
By  beating  him  they'd  bring  to  dire  confusion 
The  fcjlks  in  Albert  Lea;  'twould  be  no  sin. 
They  said,  to  cheat  those  sinners, 
Especially  if  Itasca's  men  were  winners. 
They'd  buy  Old  Fly,  a  mare  of  reputation. 
Whose  four  white  feet  for  years  had  earned  the  fame 
Of  being  the  fleetest  feet  in  all  creation. 
They'd  paint  those  feet,  and  then  they'd  change  her  name. 
And  shave  her  tail,  and  otherwise  adorn  her 
Until  she  looked  like  misery's  last  mourner. 
And  then  they'd  challenge  Heath's  Red  Tom  to  run, 
And  banter  .\lbert  Lea  to  betting  high ; 
They'd  let  the  country  people  in  the  fun. 
And  take  with  them  all  bets  against  Old  Fly. 
They'd  win  that  race  in  just  ii  half  mile  h  -at — 
They'd  bankrupt  Albert  Lea,  and  with  the  money 
Buy  votes  enough  to  win  the  county  seat. 
********* 
"To  make  a  long  story  short,  and  the  list  quite  complete, 
People  bet  all  they  had  on  this  half-mile  heat. 
People  in  town  and  out,  and  all  over  the  c<  unty; 
Old  soldiers  put  up  the  last  cent  of  their  bounty, 
Boys,  women,  and  girls,  they  all  took  a  hand. 
And  tremendous  excitement  reigned  over  the  land. 
The  day  was  appointed,  the  place  had  been  named. 
The  hour  was  set — through  the  county  it  flamed 
In  staring  great  hand-bills  of  all  colors  and  sizes, 
Inviting  the  people  to  come  and  win  prizes." 

According  to  the  legend  the  Albert  Lea  horse, 
which  had  been  secretly  tested  one  night  with  the- 
Itasca  animal,  won  the  race  and  threw  confusion 
into  the  Itasca  camp,  won  all  their  money  and 
most  of  their  valuables,  and  effectually  destroyed 
their  ability  to  carry  on  the  contest  for  the  county 
seat,  because  they  were  thus  deprived  of  the 
means  to  buy  xotes.  Of  course  this  is  what  the 
exultant  ones  told,  and  perhaps  believed.      But 


318 


UlSTOliY  OP  FREEBORN  COUNT r. 


euough  has  been  said  to  give  an  idea  for  all  com- 
ing time  that  this  was  one  of  the  great  con- 
tests of  the  period. 

"Of  all  the  words  of  ton<jue  or  pen, 
Tlie  saddest  is,  it  mijrht  have  been." 

EDrc.VTIONAL. 

The  school  district  system  of  the  county,  like 
all  other  valuable  institutions,  has  been  a  matter 
of  growth  from  the  smallest  beginnings:  and 
while  it  is  jjroposed  to  give  a  local  sketch  of  each 
school  in  the  county  in  connection  with  the  town 
where  it  is  situated,  yet,  the  difficulties,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  record  knowledge,  in  obtaining  the  dates 
of  the  organization  and  of  other  events  ,are  much 
greater  than  would  be  supj)0sed,  when  we  remem- 
ber that  mo.st  of  the  men  who  helped  create  and 
sustain  these  schools  are  still  alive. 

The  date  of  the  organization  of  most  of  the 
districts,  especially  the  earlier  ones,  will  be  pre- 
sented heer. 

District  No.  1  was  organized  on  the  (5th  of 
April,  1857,  on  tlie  petition  of  R.  K.  Cream  and 
others,  and  embraced  thirty-three,  thirty-four, 
thirty-five,  twenty-eight,  and  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  section  twenty-seven  in  township  103,  range 
19,  which  is  the  present  town  of  Moscow.  This 
was  in  Mr.  Prisbie'.s  district,  on  whose  motion  the 
praver  of  the  petitioners  was  granted.  Tliis  was 
the  initial  district. 

District  No.  2.  The  second  district  to  see  it- 
self in  form,  was  organized  on  the  8th  of  April, 
the  same  year,  and  was  in  answer  to  a  petition  of 
George  Watson  and  others,  and  comprised  sec- 
tions nineteen,  twenty,  twenty-nine,  thirty,  thirty- 
one,  and  thirty-two  in  the  same  townshijj. 

Distri^'t  No.  3.  The  boundaries  of  this  district 
are  elaborately  described  iu  the  records,  but  the 
township  is  omitted,  so  that  if  anyone  knows 
where  it  is  it  is  all  right,  and  to  those  who  don't 
know,  it  does  not  perliaps  matter  where  it  was. 
This  was  on  the  same  date  as  t!ie  last  one.  The 
petitioner  was  Daviil  M.  Farr. 

District  No.  4  was  on  the  petition  of  Watson 
H.  Brown,  and  was  constitiited  a  district  at  that 
first  sessicm  of  the  board.  It  was  at  Shell  Kock. 
It  is  evident  that  a  reiteration  of  the  sectional 
boundaries  of  all  the  districts  would  be  burden- 
some, as  well  in  the  preparation  as  in  the  reading 
so  it  will  lie  sufficient  that  the  date  and  the  town- 
ship be  indicated. 

District  No.  5  was  formed  on  the  8th  of  April  on 


the  petition  of  H.  Bartlett.  and  was  in  Shell  Rock 
aud  Hay  ward. 

District  No.  fi.  George  P.  Hoops  asked  to  have 
this  district  set  apart,  and  it  emliraced  some  sec- 
tions in  Hay  ward  and  in  Albert  Lea. 

District  No.  7.  A.  P.  Swineford  petitioned  for 
a  school  district  in  Bancroft,  which  was  favor- 
ably acted  upon.  These  embraced  the  school  dis- 
tricts projected  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  county 
board. 

District  No.  8.  The  petition  of  Isaac  Vander- 
maker  and  others  was  favorably  considered  on  the 
6th  of  July.  It  was  located  in  Newry  and 
Moscow. 

District  No.  9.  On  the  7th  of  Septemer  this 
came  into  existence,  in  response  to  a  request  from 
D.  Prescott,  and  was  in  Bancroft. 

District  No.  1.5.  This  is  the  next  on  the  list; 
what  became  of  the  missing  numbers  is  among 
the  problems,  such  as  the  lost  tribes  of  Israel,  but 
it  is  quite  certain  that  enough  others  will  turn  up 
before  we  get  through  with  them,  to  com]>ensate 
for  their  absence.  O.  C.  Colby  was  tlie  petitioner 
in  this  case,  with  others,  and  included  Albert  Lea, 
Bancroft,  and  Manchester,  each  in  part.  This  was 
on  the  9th  of  September,  1857. 

District  No.  16  was  also  brought  into  existence 
on  the  9th  of  September.  E.  O.  Dunn  headed  the 
petition,  and  it  took  in  sections  of  Carlston  and 
Freeborn. 

District  No.  10.  On  the  5th  of  October  this 
district  comes  in  view  like  a  lost  child,  and  was 
located  in  Moscow.  J.  M.  Stage  was  the  appli- 
cant, with  others. 

District  No.  11  was  in  Bath  and  Geneva,  with 
Isaac  P.  Lynde  as  the  head  petitioner. 

District  No.  12.  On  the  7th  of  October  this 
was  instituted,  and  its  habitation  was  in  Moscow. 

District  No.  13.  ,Tohn  W.  Ayers  and  others 
asked  for  a  new  school  in  Freeborn  and  the  pray- 
er was  granted. 

District  No.  14.  Daniel  Ingraham  respectfully 
requested  the  honorable  body  to  organize  a  new 
district  in  Oakland,  and  it  was  done  on  the  16tli 
of  November,  1S57. 

District  No.  17.  Having  gathered  up  the 
straggling  districts  the  regular  sequence  will  be 
taken  up.  David  Blakely  and  others  wanted  a 
district  in  Bancroft,  embracing  nearly  two  thirds 
of  tlie  township,  aud  tlie  Ji(U  thus  went  forth  on 
the  Ist  of  February,  1858. 


EDUCATION^iL. 


319 


It  appears  that  during  the  year  1857  there  were 
sixteen  districts  formed  iu  the  county,  some  of  the 
townshijjs  having  several,  and  others  none.  But 
in  almost  every  settlement  there  were  schools  sus- 
tained in  a  private  way.  In  April,  1858,  school 
districts  from  No.  18  to  25  inclusive,  were  author- 
ized, and  they  were  located  as  follows:  No.  18  iu 
Manchester  and  Carlston;  No.  19  iu  Pickerel  Lake 
and  Nunda;  No.  20  in  Nunda  and  Freeman;  No. 
21  in  Nunda.  No.  22  in  Bancroft;  No.  23  in  south 
half  of  Shell  Rock :  No.  24  in  Rioeland  and  Ban- 
croft; No.  25  in  Pickerel  Lake. 

District  No.  26.  This  was  set  apart  in  Septem- 
ber, 1858,  in  the  town  of  Hartland,  and  included 
the  whole  township.  Additions  were  made  to 
district  No.  3  in  the  same  month. 

District  No.  27  was  organized  in  October,  and 
was  in  Freeborn. 

District  No.  28  was  organized  at  the  same  ses- 
sion, and  was  in  Hartland. 

District  No.  29  was  instituted  on  the  same  date 
in  Hay  ward. 

District  No.  30  started  with  a  like  date  in  Lon- 
don. 

District  No.  31  was  organized  at  the  same  time 
in  Geneva. 

The  School  fund  available  in  October,  1858'  was 
as  follows: 

From  the  county «391.i3 

From  fines, 7.53 

Total il!398.96 

To  each  pupil $1.70 

District  No.  32.  This  was  organized  in  the  fall 
of  1858,  in  the  towns  then  called  Liberty  and 
Springfield. 

District  No.  33  was  organized  with  others  up  to 
and  including  No.  37,  on  the  5th  of  January,  1859, 
and  their  locations  were  in  Freeman,  Manchester, 
Carlston,  Bancroft  ,and  Geneva.  In  September 
the  districts  were  organized  up  to  45,  which  in- 
cludes the  whole  number  at  that  time  in  the 
county. 

An  act  of  the  legislature  about  this  time  under- 
took to  revolutionize  the  county  school  system 
by  making  each  town  a  school  district  to  be  sub- 
divided according  to  the  requirements  of  each 
case.  So  then  each  town  would  begin  No.  1,  No. 
2,  and  so  on.  But  this  was  soon  repealed  and  the 
county  schools  placed  under  a  superintendent,  and 
the  system  as  it  is  now  firmly  established.  A  new 
numbering  also  took  place,  so  that  the  districts 


cannot  now  be  identified  by  their  original  num- 
bers, but  the  order  in  which  the  schools  were 
started  can  be  seen. 

To  furnish  a  complete  idea  of  the  schools  in 
this  county  at  this  time,  it  has  been  concluded 
that  a  full  copy  of  the  admirable  report  of  Super- 
intendent Levens  should  be  transcribed.  That 
this  includes  various  suggestions  as  to  what  ought 
to  be  done  does  not  mitigate  against  its  value  in 
a  historical  work,  and  it  gives  the  pevsoaiiel  of  the 
teacher-s  of  the  last  session  of  each  school,  as  well 
as  the  names  of  the  clerks  of  the  school  districts. 

Eeport  of  the  Schools  or  Freeborn  County, 
FOR  THE  Winter  Term  of  1881-82. — The  follow- 
ing facts,  relating  chiefly  to  the  important  matter 
of  attendance,  are  compiled  from  teachers'  reports 
of  the  winter  schools. 

Six  Districts— 29,  58,  69,  85,  86,  and  111,  had 
no  winter  term. 

Si.x  Districts— 25.  50,  66,  95,  105,  and  108,  re- 
port no  tardiness. 

Fourteen  schools  made  no  report  as  to  tardiness 
— whether,  because,  they  thought  it  of  no  im- 
portance, or  too  much  trouble,  or  because  they 
had  too  many  cases,  or  had  none,  is  not  certain. 
It  is  a  fact,  however,  that  should  be  recognized  by 
teachers,  that  punctuality  and  regular  attendance 
go  together,  and  that  the  hahit  of  promptness  and 
punctuality  acquired  and  practiced  in  school  is  an 
important  element  of  future  success  in  life. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

•6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 


Angus  McGinnis 98 

Ellen  A.  O'Leary 60 

Mrs.  ,T.  M.  Tracy 60 

JohuL.  Gibbs." TO 

Betsey  C.  Thompson 70 

James  McClure (iO 

Sarah  C.  Burke 80 

Ellen  M.  McClelland 80 

Oluf  Hottaud 80 

Killia  Drake 60 

Jennie  E.  H.irrison 60 

S.  J.  Fuller 60 


Geo.  P.  Latin 

O.  H.  Smeby 

Maegie  E.  Purdie 
Geo.  M.  Miller... 

Z.  A.  Kansom 

H.  R.  FoBsum 

L.  J.  Aga 

Eva  B.  Loomis . . . . 


7i) 
60 
60 
65 
60 
60 
60 
80 


36 

17 
17 
54 
45 
25 
53 
26 
40 
30 
8 
28 
50 
18 
20 
26 
28 
35 
31 
32 


320 


HISTORY  OF  FREE  BORN  COUNTY. 


21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

2H 

29 

30 

:« 

32 

:« 

34 

85 

3G 

37 

3« 

39 

40 

41 

42 

43 

44 

45 

46 

47 

48 

49 

50 

51 

52 

53 

54 

55 

56 

57 

58 

59 

61) 

61 

62 

63 

(U 

65 

66 

67 

68 

69 

70 

71 

72 

73 

74 

75 

76 

77 

78 

79 

80 

81 

82 


H.  R.  Fossum 

Charles  Horning 

Elmer  C.  Webster 

Annie  English 

(irace  Slater 

Arthur  Trow 

O.  K.  Fiskerback 

Mary  .Torch  m 

No  Winter  School 

Mary  Brown 

John  J.  iMorrisou 

Win.  A.  Norris 

Charles  N.  Hatch 

Chas.  E.  Biullong 

John  W.  GiUard 

Viola  N.  Palmer 

George  Hurd 

Albert  Lea  Reports  Annually 

Emma  Ruble 

Lenuie  Patrick 

Mary  A.  Quinn 

Charles  J.  Dudley 

Rosa  Sutton 

John  Siverson 

Leda  M.  Hewitt 

Frank  H.  Palmer 

Lizzie  Wadsworth  

L.  T.  Lawrence 

Glenville,  Reports  Annually . . 

Mary  Fisk 

Belle  Cheadle 

D.S.  Pahner 

Eva  E.  Gibson 

J.  E.  Nelson 

Cora  A.  Norton 

M.  P.  Howe 

Hannah  Daniels 

No  Winter  Term 

E.  E.  (ieesey 

Ellen  Hare 

S.  E.  Walker 

Frank  E.  Phipps 

Ida  M.  Taylor 

Emily  Wood 

John  D.  Herman 

John  J.  (^uam 

Emma  Allen 

Martha  Palmer 

No  Winter  Term 

Dora  E.  Chamberlain 

John  1).  Murphy 

Emma   A.  Ames 

Mary  O'Leary 

Viola  A.  Marvin 

John    W  Booen 

Arthur  Bndlong 

Betsie  Miller 

Robert  H.  Graham   

T.  K.  Haugen 

J.  H.  Ransom 

Heur^V  A.  Davis 

Mettle  Ostrander 


60  34 

80  53 

60  43 

60  45 

60  I  15 

77  i2 

60  37 

54  '  47 


79 
60 
60 


12 
43 
26 


60 
70 
60 


70 
39 


60  12 
60     32 

60 

60  1  24 

80  I  13 
60  I  37 
80  I  2(i 
60  I  26 
60     48 


23 
22 
31 


80  46 
80     38 

80  '  42 
60  I  17 
80  I  31 
60     18 


22 
15 


60  22 

60  23 

78  29 

80  40 

50  I  18 

80  37 


60 

22 

60 

37 

80 

20 

80 

18 

65 

17 

80 

32 

60 

19 

60 

34 

60 

24 

59 

45 

60 

38 

80 

24 

79 

32 

80 

44 

59 

17 

80 

33 

60 

37 

83 

84 

85 

86 

87 

88 

89 

90 

91 

92 

93 

!I4 

".15 

96 

97 

98 

9S) 

100 

101 

102 

103 

104 

105 

106 

107 

1('8 

109 

110 

111 


Gordon  Mayland . 

Emil  Hanson 

No  Winter  Term. 

No  Winter  Term . . 

Olive   S.  Austin. . . 

R.  E.  English 

Orpha  J.  Skinner. . 

Clara  Pierce 

O.  H   Smeby. 


60 
60 


o 


80 

60 

'  60 

80 

60 

Annie  Fitzgerald 100 

L.  W.  Bassett 120 

Ellen  Meadowcioft 80 

Rose  Harris 60 

Lora   Vaughn 1  60 

John  M.Tracy :  80 

Maggie  .1.  Davis 80 

Olive  Skinner 80 

Charles  Young 60 

Netta  E.  Scott 60 

John  K.  Richards 60 

James  St.  .John ,  60 

Francis  Murphy 80 

Ashley  Narvey 40 

Lydia"  Purcell' 57 

Ella  Slater 50 

John  .T.  Quam ,  60 

R.  F.  Challis ;  79 

Lettie   P.  English 40 

No  Winter  Term 


20 
4(! 


23 

41 
29 
43 

.3!! 

26 
57 
23 
15 
17 
21 
37 
18 
15 
16 
20 
16 
26 
l!t 
43 
29 
23 
50 
14 


Averages . 


68  I  29 


The  average  number  of  visitors  to  each  school 
— 26 — so  far  as  it  has  any  significance,  would 
seem  to  indicate  a  fair  amount  of  interest  on  the 
part  of  parents,  though  two  schools  report  only 
one  visitor. 

The  actual  attendance  is  shown  to  be  only  62 
per  cent,  of  the  total  enrollment.  This  means  that 
all  the  scholars  enrolled  were  absent  on  an  aver- 
age, over  one  day  out  of  every  three,  during  the 
term.  The  figures  show  a  direct  loss  of  38  per 
cent,  of  school.  But  the  real  loss  was  much  greater. 
No  scholar  absent  one  day  and  present  two,  can 
get  any  thing  like  the  full  value  of  these  two. 
Irregular  attendance  retards  the  whole  work  of 
the  school.  Hence  this  38  per  cent  of  absence 
greatly  lessons  the  value  of  the  remaining  62  per 
cent,  of  attoudance.  If  we  also  consider  the  num- 
ber not  enrolled  at  all,  but  who  might  and  should 
have  been,  there  was  an  actual  loss,  at  the  lowest 
estimate,  of  more  than  one-half  of  the  cost  of  the 
schools  in  the  matter  of  attendance  alone,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  (piality  of  teachers'  work  or  of  any 


EDUCATIONAL. 


321 


other  deficiencies.  Good  attendance  is  absolutely 
essential  to  a  good  school.  Many  parents  do  not 
appreciate  this  fact.  Teachers  who  do,  and  are 
thoroughly  in  earnest  about  it,  can  make  their  in- 
fluence felt  among  parents  as  well  as  scholars. 
Last  week  I  visited  two  schools,  in  each  of  which 
only  three  scholars  were  present.  The  most  ot 
the  absent  ones  were  probably  plantinp;  com. 
Though  often  convenient,  it  is  not  profitable  in 
the  end,  to  interrupt  a  child's  attendance  at  school 
for  a  little  work  at  home,  if  it  can  possibly  be 
avoided. 

TO    TE.iCHERS. 

I  respectfully  submit  to  your  consideration  the 
following  simple  outline  of  a  "  Course  of  Study," 
and  "  Program  of  Recitations,"  in  the  hope  that 
they  may  aid  in  securing  more  systematic  and 
efficient  work  in  our  schools. 

Any  course  of  study  for  country  schools  must, 
of  necessity,  ignore  the  element  of  time;  hence, 
only  the  studies  themselves  and  the  proper  order 
in  which  they  should  be  taken  up  by  the  different 
grades  are  here  given. 

For  convenience  and  simplicity  the  grades  are 
made  and  named  to  correspond  to  the  different 
numbers  of  the  series  of  readers:  1st  Reader,  or 
1st  Grade;  2d  Reader  or  2d  Grade,  up  to  and  in- 
cluding the  5th  Reader,  making  five  grades. 

The  studies  of  the  different  grades  should  be  as 
follows: 

Ist  GBADE — 1st  Reader  and  Spelling,  Writing, 
Oral  Number  Lessons. 

2d  GKADE— Second  Reader  and  SjJelling,  Writ- 
ing, Oral  Arithmetic,  Oral  Geography. 

3d  GRADE — 3d  Reader,  Spelling,  Writing,  Pri- 
mary Arithmetic,  Primary  Geography. 

4th  GRADE — 4th  Reader,  Spelling,  Writing, 
Practical  Arithmetic,  Language  Lessons,  Interme- 
diate Geography. 

4th  GRADE — 5th  Reader  or  History,  Spelling, 
Writing,  Practical  Arithmetic,  Grammar,  Physiol- 
ogy- 

[a).  Ist  and  2d  Grades  spell  iu  connection  with 
each  reading  exercise  the  words  of  the  lesson,  and 
and  write  reading  lessons  on  slates. 

(6.)  "Oral  Number  Lessons"  includes  the  de- 
velopment of  the  idea  of  numbers  and  their  com- 
binations by  the  use  of  objects,  counting  and  such 
simple  exercises  in  notation,  numeratioi',  and  such 
21 


elementary  operations  as  are  adapted  to  the  capac- 
ity of  pupils  of  the  first  Grade. 

(c)  "Oral  Arithmetic"  means  such  oral  instruc- 
tion and  practice  in  slate  work  as  will  enable  pu- 
pils of  the  2d  Grade  completing  the  2d  Reader,  to 
perform  promptly  and  correctly,  simple  examples 
in  Addition,  Subtraction,  Multiplication,  and  Divi- 
sion, and  the  knowledge  of  the  tables  requisite 
therefor. 

(rf. )  Much  extra  slate  work  should  be  given 
the  3rd  Grade,  in  connection  with  the  Primary 
Arithmetic,  to  prepare  them  to  take  the  Practical 
Arithmetic  when  they  take  the  4th  Reader. 

(e.)  "Language  Lessons"  for  the  4th  Grade, 
means  the  State  text  book,  so  named.  But  the 
greatest  attention  should  be  given  from  the  first, 
through  all  grades,  and  in  connection  with  all 
school  exercises,  to  give  practical  instruction  and 
drill  in  language.  To  teach  correctly  the  elements 
of  redding,  talking,  and  writing  the  English  lan- 
guage, is  the  most  important  business  of  a  school. 

While  it  is  desirable  that  all  the  pupils  of  each 
grade  be  together  iu  all  the  studies  ot  that  grade, 
yet,  owing  to  irregularity  of  classification  in  the 
past,  and  to  various  other  causes,  this  will  not  in 
all  cases  be  possible.  A  5th  Grade  pupil  in  other 
branches,  but  who  has  never  studied  Geography, 
will  have  to  be  in  the  3rd  Grade  in  that  branch. 
Similar  cases  will  occur  in  other  branches,  But  no 
effort  should  be  spared  to  secure  regular  grading 
when  possible,  always  using  common  sense  and 
judgment  in  regard  to  exceptional  cases. 

The  following  "Program  of  Daily  Exercises" 
is  presented,  not  as  the  best  that  can  be  made  for 
all  schools,  but  as  one  which,  with  slight  changes, 
can  be  used  to  advantage  in  all  schools,  and 
especially  in  those  attempting  to  conform  to  this 
plan  of  grading: 

rORENOON. 


Hour 

Grade 

9:(I0 

All... 

9:05 

1 

9 :15 

2 

0 :30 

3 

!l:4.-. 

4 

10:05 

5 

10:30 

10:45 

1 

10:,55 

2 

11 :05 

3 

11:20 

4 

11:40 

5 

Exercises 

Opening  exei'cises 

Oral  Number  Lesson . . . . 
2d  Reader  and  Spelling . . 

3d  Reader 

4th  Reader 

A"  Practical  Arithmetic 

RECESS. 

1st  Reader  and  Spelling . 

Oral  Geography 

Primary   Arithmetic 

B"  Practical  Arithmetic. 
"A"  Grammar 


Time 


05 
10 
15 
15 
20 
25 
15 
10 
10 
15 
20 
20 


322 


HISTOIiT  OF  FllBEBOnN  COUNTY. 


AFTERNOON. 


Hour  Grade 


1:00 
1:10 
1:25 
1:40 
2:00 
2:10 
2:30 
2:45 
2:55 
3:10 
8:30 
3:45 


] 

2 

4 

5 
3&4 
All.. 


] 

2 

4 

3 

4&5 


Exercises. 


Ist  Reader  and  Spelling. 
2d  Reader  and   Spelling. 

"A"  (leography 

History 

"B"  Spelling 

Writing 

BECESS. 

Ist  Reader  and  Spelling. 

Oral  Arithmetic 

Language  Lessons 

Primary  Geography 

"A"  Spelling 


Time 

10 
15 
15 
20 
10 
20 
15 
10 
15 
20 
15 
15 


This  program  is  intended  to  be  the  best  pos- 
sible arrangement  of  the  greatest  possible  num- 
ber of  daily  exercises — 22.  The  number  s/ioukl 
not  and  am  not  be  increased.  If  it  is  absolutely 
necoessary  to  introduce  additional  recitations  in 
other  branches,  they  must  take  the  place  of  some 
of  these,  on  alternate  days,  as  Algel)ra  one  day 
and  A  Arithmetic  the  nest;  or  the  5th  Reader 
alternate  with  the  4th  Reader; or  Physiology  with 
History  or  A  Geography.  lu  many  schools, 
especially  during  the  summer  term,  all  the  classes 
found  on  this  program  will  not  be  formed. 
The  time  thus  gained  can  be  divided  among 
the  other  classes  most  needing  it. 

Thy  3rd  grade  and  the  pnon'sl  in  the  4tL  can 
form  the  "B"  spelling  class;  the  5th  grade  and 
the  liesi  in  the  4th,  the  "A"  spelling  class.  In 
some  cases  doubtless  the  4th  and  5th  grades  can 
belong  to  the  same  class,  as  in  Physiology — a 
study  that  should  be  introduced  whenever  possi- 
ble—a^i«flys  in  preference  to  Algebra  or  the  5th 
Reader.  If  history  is  substituted  for  the  5th 
Reader,  as  a  reading  exercise,  it  should  be  studied 
as  well  as  ivad. 

In  changing  this  program  to  adopt  it  to  the 
circumstances  of  yonr  school,  remember  that  the 
objects  to  be  secured  are :(1.)  The  distribution  of 
the  recitations  of  each  pupil  throughout  the  en- 
tire day,  with  time  for  study  between — thus  mak- 
ing it  also  a  studi/  program.  (2.)  A  proper 
amount  of  time  to  each  recitation,  taking  into  ac- 
count the  subject,  the  number  in  the  class,  and 
their  age.  (3.)  Plenty  of  time  for  the  Ultle  ones 
the  oldest  ones  can  learn  without  any  teacher. 
(4.  )  A  just  division  of  the  time  among  the 
different  hninches — Reading,  95  minutes;  Writ 
ing,  20;  Arithmetic,  85;  Grammar,  40;  Geogra 
phy,  40;  History,  20;  Spelling,  25.  (5.)  As  few 
as  18  daily  recitations,  it  possible. 


If,  by  the  approval  of  school  officers  and  parents 
and  the  co-operation  of  teachers,  this  attempt  at 
partial  grading  proves  reasonably  successful, 
blanks  will  be  jjrovided  in  which  to  record  the 
classification  of  the  school  at  the  clo.se  of  the  term, 
and  showing  the  progress  of  each  class  and  pupil. 
Such  a  record,  left  with  the  register  in  the  care  of 
the  clerk  of  the  district,  will  be  of  great  use  to  the 
next  teacher  in  organizing  the  next  term  of 
school. 

Teachers  should  preserve  this  circular  for  refer- 
ence and  further  use. 

C.'  W.LEVENS. 
Co.  Supt.  of  Schools. 

SCHOOL    DISTRICT    CLEBKS. 

Below  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  school  dis- 
trict clerks  c>f  the  110  districts  of  Freeborn  county, 
together  with  the  Post-office  address  of  each  clerk, 


as  appears  uu  the  records  in 

the  County  Audito 

office: 

X-).  Di. 

.       Glerk. 

P.  0.  Address. 

1 

Ben  Benson, 

Blooming  Prairie. 

2 

(iarrett  Barry, 

Blooming  Prairie. 

3 

Wm.  Lehy, 

Geneva. 

4 

W.  H.  Twiford, 

Geneva. 

5 

E.  C.  Johnson, 

Albert  Lea. 

6 

John  Lightly, 

Oakland. 

7 

R.  Fitzgerald, 

Albert  Lea. 

8 

F.  E.  Phipps, 

Hartland. 

9 

Thos.  Donovan, 

Hartland. 

10 

John  Ingebrigston, 

Hartland  . 

11 

C.  C.  Ayers, 

Trentt)n. 

12 

S.  J.  Fuller, 

Freeborn. 

1      13 

Wilbur  Fisk, 

Freeborn. 

14 

C.  G.  Johnsrud, 

Albert  Lea. 

i     15 

L.  W.  Gilmore, 

Alden. 

16 

Josiah  Jones, 

Alden. 

17 

L.  C.  Larken, 

Alden. 

18 

Bennett  Asleson, 

Manchester. 

19 

Paul  J.  Spilde, 

Manchester. 

20 

Wm.  H.  Long, 

Albert  Lea. 

;     21 

H.  Christopherson, 

Hartland. 

22 

R.  Kelly, 

Albert  Lea. 

23 

H.  S.  Olson, 

Clark's  Grove. 

24 

August  C.  Arneson 

Albert  Lea. 

25 

Ole  Henry, 

Albert  Lea.* 

26 

W.  H.  Baker, 

Albert  Lea. 

27 

Ole  A.  Lee, 

Hay  ward. 

28 

Asa  Rowley, 

Oakland. 

29 

V.  P.  Lewis, 

Moscow. 

30 

J.  E.  Johnson, 

Austin. 

PATRONS  OF  HU8BANDKY. 


323 


No. 

Did.      Clerk: 

P.  0.  Address. 

No.  DM.       Clerk. 

P.  0.  Address. 

31 

S.  N.  Frisbie, 

Oakland. 

81 

A.  H.  Stevens, 

Alden. 

32 

J.  M.  Piircell, 

Austin. 

82 

N.  P.  Peterson, 

Bath. 

33 

Abram  Young, 

Oakland. 

83 

O.  R.  Johnson, 

Hayward. 

84 

Stener  O.  Lee, 

Norman,  Iowa. 

34 

A.  P.  Hanson, 

Hayward. 

85 

Wm.  Beede, 

Hartland. 

35 

Thos.  Wiley, 

Glenville. 

86 

Nels  N.  Loftus, 

Norman,  Iowa. 

36 

A.  L.  Jackson, 

Hayward. 

87 

Henry  Tunell, 

Mansfield. 

37 

John  Murphy, 

Albert  Lea. 

88 

Ole  Jenson, 

Clark's  Grove. 

38 

W.  C.  McAdam, 

Albert  Lea. 

89 

H.  Babbitt, 

Alden. 

39 

W.  C.  Norton, 

Albert  Lea. 

90 

John  Sheehan, 

Hartland. 

40 

J.  W.  Peck, 

Alden. 

91 

H.  0.  Fodness, 

Hayward. 

41 

George  La  Valley, 

Alden. 

92 

Albert  Mattick, 

Mansfield. 

42 

R.  A.  White, 

Nunda. 

93 

Thos.  W.  Wilson, 

Alden. 

43 

Alfred  Emery, 

Nunda. 

94 

Edward  Thomas, 

Austin. 

44 

L.  H.  Emmons, 

Norman,  Iowa. 

95 

A.  F.  Myatt, 

Moscow. 

45 

P.  Kelly, 

Nunda. 

96 

Michael  Murphy, 

Austin. 

46 

Eriok  Lee, 

Albert  Lea. 

97 

Michael  Fenton, 

Geneva. 

47 

E.  K.  Flaskerud, 

Albert  Lea- 

98 

R.  D.  Burdick, 

New  Richland. 

48 

0.  0.  Opdahl, 

Albert  Lea. 

90 

Loren  Fessenden, 

Alden. 

49 

F.  F.  Carter, 

Glenville. 

100 

P.  H.  Nelson, 

Glenville. 

50 

J.  W.  Abbott, 

Gordonsville. 

101 

H.  J.  Pickard, 

Freeborn. 

51 

J.  W.  Manning, 

London. 

102 

George  Widman, 

Albert  Lea. 

52 

Wm.  Flatt, 

Glenville. 

103 

John  Sullivan, 

Hartland. 

53 

E.  K.  Pickett, 

Albert  Lea. 

104 

W.  H.  Stewart, 

Gordonsville. 

54 

John  Murtaugh, 

Albert  Lea. 

105 

Ole  N.  Greshen, 

Norman,  Iowa. 

55 

0.  J.  Taylor, 

Albert  Lea. 

106 

Andrew  O'Leary, 

Blooming  Prairie. 

56 

Robert  Hanf, 

Armstrong. 

107 

Ole  A.  Hammer, 

Albert  Lea. 

57 

Wm.  Schneider, 

Albert  Lea. 

108 

J.  A.  Larson, 

Norman,  Iowa. 

58 

A.  Bottleson, 

Albert  Lea. 

109 

E.  A.  Wicks, 

Hartland. 

59 

C.  A.  Conklin, 

Gordonsville. 

110 

Ole  I.  Elliugson. 

Albert  Lea. 

60 

H.  C.  Nelson, 

Hayward. 

61 

J.  L.  Garlock, 

Alden. 

THE  PATRONS  OF 

HUSBANDRY. 

62 

H.  H.  Hanson, 

Hartland. 

This 

is  a  fraternal  order, 

instituted  in  the  inter- 

63 

H.  0.  Randall, 

Freeborn. 

est  of 

the  farmer,  with  a  ri 

tual  in  some  of  its  par- 

64 

Andrew  Jenson, 

Bath. 

ticulars  bordering  on  the  mythological. 

65 

L.  J.  Hagen, 

Glenville. 

Its 

origin   was   in  Washington,   D.  C,  in  the 

66 

EUing  Isaackson, 

Albert  Lea. 

year  1867,  so  that  it  does  not,  like  Masonry,  ante- 

67 

J.  E.  N.  Backus, 

Alden. 

date  the  Christian  era  by 

four  thousand  years,  or 

68 

J.  C.  Ross, 

Albert  Lea. 

like  the    Knights  of    Carthage,    go    back    nine 

69 

Lewis  Yost, 

Armstrong. 

thousand    years    before    the    Christian    era.     It 

70 

E.  A.  Skiff, 

Alden. 

claimed  to  be  what  it  was. 

a  modern  institution, 

71 

H.  N.  Lane, 

Glenville. 

and  it  had  a  rapid  growth 

and  swept  through  the 

72 

Ole  G.  Anderson, 

Lansing. 

country  attaining  its  growth  and  maturity  in  per- 

73 

Pat  Jordan, 

Moscow. 

haps  less  than  ten  years. 

74 

John  Kraushaar, 

Mansfield. 

In  obedience  to  the   great  law  of  growth,  ma- 

75 

R.  W.  Hatch, 

Oakland. 

turity, 

old  age,    and   death 

,  which  prevails  in  all 

76 

John  Donahue, 

Nunda. 

living 

animated   creation. 

it   has  already    passed 

77 

D.  S.  Hoyt, 

Gordonsville. 

into  a 

condition  of    senil 

ity,    and  while   at  this 

78 

G.  Ryan, 

Moscow. 

point  1 

ts    vitality  may    be 

equal    to  that   in  any 

79 

0.  0.  Johnson, 

Blooming  Prairie. 

other  locality,  it  must  at  no  distant  day  reach  the 

80 

N.  R.  Norton, 

Alden. 

final  stage  depicted  by  the 

great  English  poet : 

324 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


"To-day  he  puts  forth  the  tender  leaves  of  hope, 
to-morrow  bears  his  blushing  honors  thick  upon 
him,  the  next  day  comes  a  frost,  and  when  he 
thinks  his  greatness  still  aspiring,  lie  falls  like 
autumn  leaves  to  enrich  our  mother  earth." 

A  man  who  lives  a  tew  brief  years  on  this 
earth  and  then  passes  away,  may  be  of  tlie  great- 
est use  if  all  oi)portunities  are  improved,  and  the 
world  iu  each  case  should  be  the  better  for  any- 
one's having  lived  in  it.  So  with  the  Grange,  for 
while  no  one  could  be  made  over  by  joining  it, 
the  teachings  and  tendency  of  the  order  was  in 
the  direction  of  an  enlargement  of  ideas  and  an 
elevation  of  purposes  among  those  who  came 
under  its  benign  indaence.  The  Cxrange  will  l)e 
remembered  for  the  good  it  has  done. 

Fkeeborn  County  Gb.utge. — This  institution 
was  organized  on  the  1st  of  February,  1876.  the 
Centennial  year,  with  the  following  list  of  offic'ers  : 

J.  F.  Hall,  Master;  (reorge  R.  Prescott,  Over- 
seer; E.  K.  Pickett,  Lecturer;  N.  I.  Laflin,  St  'w- 
ard;  C.  E.  Budlong,  Assistant;  Loreu  Marlett, 
Treasurer;  William  Moriu,  Secretary;  A.  J.  Lu- 
ther, Gate-Keeper;  Mrs.  A.  H.  Bartlett,  Ceres; 
Mrs.  David  Gibson,  Pomona;  Mrs.  O.  G.  Taylor, 
Flores;  Mrs.  D.  Culman,  Lady  Assistant  Stew- 
ard. 

As  a  matter  of  fact  there  are  few  counties 
where  the  grange  has  secured  a  more  permanent 
foothold  than  in  Freeborn  county,  for  here  it  has 
not  been  permitted  to  lapse. 

As  revealing  the  aimsjandjobjects  of  the  patrons 
of  husbandry,  the  following  papers  are  printed : 

SUPPLEMENT.M.    ReCOUT    OF    THE  COMMITTEE  ON 

REOUG.vmzATroN  Appointed  by  the  Freebokn 
County  Gh.ajnge. — In  addition  to  those  sugges- 
tions which  relate  solely  to  the  reorganization  of 
the  Grange,  your  committee  would  recommend  the 
establishment  of  local  citizen's  associations,  whose 
members  shall  be  pledged  to  vote  only  for  men 
who  can  be  relied  upon  to  use  the  powers  confer- 
red upon  them  in  procuring  such  legislation  as 
will  secure  to  individual  shippers  of  produce,  fuel, 
lumber,  or  merchandise,  the  same  rates  for  freight 
and  equal  facilities  for  transportation  from  rail- 
road companies  with  those  accorded  to  associa- 
tions, corporations,  and  rings,  whose  present 
exclusive  privileges  are  detrimental  to  and  often 
destructive  of  individual  enterprise  and  healthy 
competition,  and  wherever  these  are  destroyed  the 
community  is  at  the  mercy  of  monopolists.     This 


favoritism  shown  to  these  corporations  and  associ- 
ations by  some  of  the  railway  companies  of  the 
State,  in  granting  them  reduction  on  freights,  or 
special  facilities  for  ship])ing  the  commodities  in 
which  they  deal,  is  too  pernicious  in  its  results  to 
be  permitted  to  go  on  unchecked;  it  is  rapidly 
securing  to  capitalists  and  monopolists  the  busi- 
ness of  the  country,  and  enables  them  at  their  will 
to  depress  or  inflate  prices  which  should  be  left 
only  to  the  natural  gradations  resulting  from  the 
laws  of  supply  and  demand. 

Nothing  can  be  more  detrimental  to  the  devel- 
opment of  a  new  State  than  a  system  which  creates 
and  fosters  monopolies.  It  crushes  out  the  enter- 
prises of  indiviihials  having  but  limited  capital;  it 
prevents  that  healthy  growth  of  competition  which 
builds  up  our  towns  and  cities,  as  well  as  our  agri- 
cultural interests,  and  which  constitutes  the  only 
safe  basis  for  a  rajjid  and  permanent  development, 
and  all  past  experience  has  taught  us  that  as  fast 
as  monopolies  are  established  and  individual  enter- 
prise is  repressed,  our  farmers,  merchants,  manu- 
facturers, and  citizens  generally  are  tiio  often 
forced  to  sell  their  produce  for  less  than  its  actual 
value,  and  as  often  compelled  to  pay  more  for  the 
necessaries  of  life  than  would  be  the  case  if  freights 
and  facilities  for  transportation  were  furnished  to 
all  upon  ecjual  terms,  and  a  healthy  competition 
thereby  established. 

The  recent  heavy  losses  entailed  upon  the  farm- 
ers by  the  sudden  and  arbitrary  change  in  the 
established  grades  of  wheat  by  a  few  capitaists  act- 
ing* in  the  interest,  or  ostensibly,  of  the  millers  of 
the  central  portion  of  the  State,  is  but  another 
evidence  of  the  necessity  of  compelling,  by  legal 
enactment,  where  such  can  be  safely  devised,  the 
adoption  of  a  policy  less  grasping  in  its  selfishness, 
and  more  in  accord  with  the  spirit  of  justice.  It 
is  an  insult  to  your  intelligence  to  assert  that  the 
grade  of  wheat  cannot  be  safely  and  justly  estab- 
by  legal  enactment,  while  whi.sky  is,  and  has  been 
so  graded  for  years.  Had  the  grain  producers  of 
the  State  ccmibined  to  establish  the  grade  of  wheat 
for  their  own  jjrotit  and  without  regard  to  the 
rights  or  interests  of  the  millers,  we  may  safely 
conclude  that  the  Millers'  Association  would  not 
have  hesitated  long  in  applying  to  the  lawmaking 
power  for  relief  and  protection  from  unjust  dis- 
crimination. The  Millers'  Association  has  assumed, 
arbitrarily,  to  establish  the  grade  to  suit  them- 
selves, by  combining  with   foreign   buyers;    and 


PATRONS  OF  UUSBANDRT. 


326 


with  the  railway  companies  they  have  been  ena- 
bled to  enforce  their  grade  upon  the  farmers.  They 
could  not  be  expected  to  exercise  such  a  power 
impartially,  representing  as  they  do  only  one  of 
the  parties  in  interest.  They  have  assumed  to 
exercise  it,  nevertheless,  and  the  results  have  been 
felt  by  our  farmers  most  oppx'essively.  Having 
done  this  once  they  may  be  relied  npon  to  do  it  as 
often  as  may  suit  their  convenience,  and  with  the 
same  slight  regard  for  justice  or  the  interests  of 
others,  unless  checked  by  the  law-making  power. 
We  must  firmly,  though  temperately,  demand  of 
our  law-makers  that  they  exercise  their  un- 
doubted authority  to  settle  by  legal  enactment, 
and  in  a  spirit  of  equity  and  justice  to  all  j^arties 
in  interest,  this  question  which  one  party  without 
legal  authority  has  assumed  to  settle  with  such 
gross  and  selfish  injustice,  and  if  it  should  pi-ove 
necessary  to  curb  the  powers  of  our  railway  cor- 
porations in  order  to  prevent  them  from  aiding 
and  abetting  this  or  similar  arbitrary  and  unjust 
schemes,  then  this  also  must  be  required. 

In  bringing  your  case  before  the  people  your 
committee  would  most  earnestly  press  upon  you 
the  importance  of  couching  your  demands  in  tem- 
perate and  moderate  language.  In  appealing  to 
the  people  for  justice,  see  that  you  are  guilty  of 
no  injustice.  In  securing  protection,  see  to  it  that 
you  do  not  become  ojjpressors.  In  placing  your 
own  wrongs  before  the  public,  endeavor  most  sed- 
ulously to  avoid  wronging  others.  Under  all 
circumstances  let  your  conduct  and  language  be 
such  as  will  convince  your  opponents  that,  wljile 
you  fully  appreciate  your  position  as  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  leading  industry  and  interest  of 
Minnesota,  you  recognize  the  railroad,  milling, 
and  manufacturing  interests  of  the  State  as  only 
subordinate  to  the  agricultural  interests  in  a 
pecuniary  sense:  that  your  several  interests  are 
so  inextricably  interwoven  that  one  cannot  be 
injured  without  ultimately  reflecting  injury  upon 
all,  and  that  your  sole  purpose  is  to  procure  such 
legislation  as  will  secure  to  each  and  every  citizen 
protection  against  the  oppressions  that  inevitably 
result  from  the  unjust  discriminations  of  which 
you  complain. 

The  constitutions  of  the  State  and  of  the  United 
States  guarantee  to  every  citizen  equal  rights 
before  the  law.  The  policy  and  the  management 
of  our  corporations,  whose  chartered  existence  is 
by  the  power  of  the  law,  must  be  made  to  conform 


to  the  principles  of  the  constitution.  These  prin- 
I  ciples  must  be  enforced  against  all  who  would 
oppress.  The  hardships  and  injustice  of  the  past, 
I  forecasting  as  they  do  an  ominous  future,  if  these 
abuses  are  allowed  to  grow,  seem  imperatively  to 
demand  prompt  aud  determined  action  in  securing 
our  inalienable  rights  of  equality  and  justice 
before  the  law,  and  from  all  the  creatures  of  the 
law. 

The  combined  interests  of  every  right  minded 
citizen  demand  with  a  force  equally  imperative 
that  the  forms  we  would  inaugu.iate  should  not 
be  dwarfed  or  restricted  by  the  narrowed  inter- 
ests, or  weakened  by  the  advocacy  of  a  single 
class  or  calling.  "Equal  Eights"  for  the  few, 
too  often  degenerate  into  oppression  for  the 
many.  Demands  for  "equal  rights  and  exact 
justice  to  all,"  have  never  yet  in  this  land  been 
successfully  resisted,  nor  will  they  ever  be  opposed, 
save  by  those  whose  selfishness  or  avarice  is 
greater  than  their  patriotism. 

The  wide-spread  corruption  and  extravagance, 
and  the  too  common  incompetence  of  public 
officials,  are  also  common  evils  which  call  for 
immediate  remedy,  and  hei-e  also  your  interests 
as  a  class  and  as  individuals  are  identical  with 
those  of  every  citizen  who  does  not  live  by  dis- 
honest means. 

Your  committee,  while  convinced  of  the  necessity 
of  your  united  action  in  support  of  these  reforms, 
is  deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of  your 
moving  in  the  matter,  controlled  only  by  the 
broadest  and  most  liberal  views.  In  seeking 
public  reform  neither  class  associations  nor  secret 
societies  can  ever  hope  succeasfully  to  lead  ;  it 
matters  not  what  the  class  may  be,  whether  far- 
mers, artisans,  mechanics,  manufacturers,  or  an 
aristocracy  either  of  descent  or  wealth,  the  legis- 
lation moulded  by  a  class  will  surely  end  in 
arrogating  to  the  class  in  power,  privileges  or 
immunities  that  will  be  but  public  robberies  or 
public  oppressions. 

Bear  also  in  mind  that  however  pure  and  noble 
may  be  the  object  sought  to  be  attained  by  a 
secret  association,  those  who  are  not  admitted  to 
its  conclaves  are  necessarily  ignorant  of  their 
motives,  and  ignorance  begets  distrust  and  sus- 
picion. The  American  peojjle  are  wisely  jealous 
of  secret  associations  when  they  discover  them 
endeavoring  to  secure  political  power  or  special 
legislation.     A  natural  good  sense,  love  of  liberty 


326 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY 


and  justice,  a  desire  to  do  what  is  right  and  fair 
for  all,  characterizes  our  citizens,  both  native  and 
foreign,  and  constitutes  them  a  safe  tribunal 
for  appeal  where  public  benefits  or  reforms  are 
desired.  If  these  premises  are  correct,  it  follows 
that  political  success  through  the  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry cannot  be  expected,  and  ought  not  to  be 
desired.  Neither  would  it  bo  wise  to  act  solely  as 
farmers.  These  (juestions  appeal  to  your  citizen- 
ship for  solution,  and  you  can  never  hope  success- 
fully to  accomplish  their  settelment,  except  by 
your  joint  action  as  citizens,  with  citizens  of  all 
classes  and  nationalities,  using  the  organizing  and 
harmonizing  powers  of  the  order  to  aid  the  cit- 
izens' organizations  in  working  for  the  public 
good. 

The  members  of  the  Grange  should  never  lose 
sight  of  the  great  fact  that  the  prosperity  of  a 
nation  must  be  dependent  upon,  and  indeed  con- 
sists in  the  prosperity  of  her  citizens  as  a  whole, 
and  not  in  the  prosperity  of  a  single  class,  not 
even  when  that  class  constitutes  a  majority  of  the 
people.  As  a  rule,  the  greater  the  variety  of 
industries,  the  greater  and  more  enduring  the 
prosperity.  Above  all  things  you  especially 
should  bear  in  mind  that  the  sucesss  of  the  pro- 
ducer is  proportioned  to  the  number  of  consum- 
ers, and  the  nearer  the  consumers  are  to  the  pro- 
ducers the  greater  the  profit.  Your  financial 
interests  are  enhanced  by  the  building  up  of  home  • 
markets  and  local  interest,  mechanical,  manufac- 
turing, and  commercial,  should  be  encouraged  by 
you,  for  these  increase  the  consumption  and  price 
of  your  products,  and  decrease  the  cost  of  your 
supplies.  The  ignoring  of  a  wise  and  generous 
policy  in  this  direction  at  a  time  when  the  inex- 
perience of  the  Grange  led  to  its  capture  by  dem- 
agogues, arrayed  against  you  all  other  classes  of 
your  fellow-citizens.  For  the  future  we  must  ad- 
vise with  them,  act  with,  and,  more  important  still, 
for  them  and  their  interests,  conjointly  with  our 
own,  ever  exercising  the  greatest  prudence  and 
caution  in  the  establisliraent  of  our  own  rights, 
that  we  do  not  trespass  upon  the  rights  of  others, 
and  trusting  implicitly,  as  we  assuredly  may,  that 
in  working  for  tlie  general  good,  we  cannot  fail 
to  reap  our  share  of  the  general  prosperity.  It 
would  be  unpatriotic  to  work  for  less,  it  \\ould  be 
extremely  selfish  to  strive  for  more. 

Chas.  W.  Ballard, 

W.  G.  Barnes,  i  p 

Geo.  H.  Phescott, 

B.  W.  Pritchabd, 


The  following  song,  by  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Tucker, 
of  Omro,  Wis.,  received  the  prize  from  thn  Na- 
tional Grange  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  as  being 
the  best  song  for  the  order.  Mrs.  Tucker  liad 
many  able  competitors,  and  the  decisicjn  in  her 
favor  was  made  by  Mr.  Alden,  of  Harper's  Maga- 
zine. We  give  the  song  for  the  benefit  of  our 
many  Grange  readers: 

'*  'Tie  ours  to  guard  a  sacred  trust, 

We  shape  a  heaven-born  plan; 
The  noble  purpose,  wise  and  jast, 

To  aid  our  fellow  man. 
From  Maine  to  California's  slope, 

Uesounds  the  reaper's  song  ; 
"  We  come  to  build  the  nation's  hope, 

To  slay  the  giant  Wrong." 

Too  long  have  Avarice  and  Greed. 

With  coffers  miming  o'er, 
Brought  sorrow,  and  distress  and  need 

To  Labor's  humble  door. 
From  Maine  to  California's  slope, 

Resounds  the  reaper's  song; 
"  We  come  to  build  the  nation's  hope, 

To  slay  the  giant  Wrong." 

A  royal  road  to  place  and  power 

Have  rank  and  title  been; 
We  herald  the  auspicious  hour, 

When  honest  Worth  may  win. 
From  Maine  to  California's  slope, 

Kcsounds  the  reaper's  song; 
"  We  come  to  build  the  nation's  hope. 

To  slay  the  giant  Wrong." 
Let  every  heart  and  hand  unite 

In  the  benignant  plan; 
The  noble  purpose  just  and  right. 

To  aid  our  follow  man. 
From  Maine  to  California's  slope, 

Resounds  the  reaper's  song; 
"  We  come  to  build  the  nation's  hope. 

To  slay  the  giant  Wrong."  " 

Accounts  of  township  Granges  appear  in  their 
proper  places. 

In  the  summer  of  188'2,  a  pic-nic  was  held  at 
Itasca  of  which  here  is  the  newspaper  account: 
.  "The  Countv  Grange  Feast. — A  very  pleasant 
and  enjoyable  time  was  spent  at  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dominick's  residence — on  Dr.  Burnham's  farm — 
last  Tuesday  by  the  Grangers  of  the  county. 
Nearly  every  Grange  in  the  county  was  represen- 
ted, even  though  the  weather  was  thratening  and 
farmers  generally  busy  haying.  The  session  of  the 
county  grange  was  held  in  the  forenoon  when  the  . 
business  thereof  was  transacted.  At  one  o'clock 
those  present  sat  down  to  a  sumptuous  feast,  the 
long  table  under  a  lot  of  magnificent  trees,  so  in- 
vitingly spread  with  good  things  of  this  world, 
which  had  been  prepared  by  the  thrifty  wives  and 
daughters  of  the  members  of  the  grange,  was 
greatly  relished  and  enjoyed  by  the  participators. 


RAILROADS. 


327 


The  merry  laugh  and  cheery  couversation  of  the 
PatroDS  as  they  feasted  on  the  bounties  of  Provi- 
dence, was  refreshing  and  did  one's  soul  good 
to  behold. 

After  dinner  speech  making  was  in  order. 
Various  subjects  having  been  assigned  to  a  num- 
ber of  enterprising  Patrons  for  discussion.  First 
on  the  list  being  "Onion  Culture,"  which  was  well 
handled  by  Mr.  Daniel  Prescott,  of  Oak  Hill 
Grange,  who  has  had  long  experience  in  raising 
onions,  and  the  many  valuable  suggestions  of  the 
aged  gentleman  will  no  doubt  be  of  profit  to  his 
listeners. 

"Potatoe  Culture,"  by  W.  G.  Barnes  of  Shell 
Rock,  was  the  next  subject,  which  proved  an  in- 
teresting theme  for  discussion.  Mr.  Barnes  has 
ten  acres  of  potatoes  and  related  his  mode  of 
planting,  cultivating,  and  care  of  the  same. 
Senator  Johnson,  G.  H.  Prescott,  and  others  also 
spoke  on  this  subject,  giving  valuable  hints. 

J.  C.  Frost,  of  Oak  Hill  Grange,  handled  the 
subject  of  "Market  Gardening  and  Strawberry 
Culture"  in  a  manner  that  elicited  much  interest 
that  will  be  valuable  to  all  his  hearers.  Mr. 
Frost  has  been  remarkably  successful  in  both  the 
above  branches  of  agriculture,  and  spoke  from 
actual  experience. 

E.  K.  Pickett,  of  Itasca,  handled  the  subject  of 
the  "Grange  on  Politics,"  without  gloves,  giving 
his  views  straight  from  the  shoulder.  Above  all 
things,  said  Mr.  Pickett,  we  should  notbe  bound 
to  any  party  with  such  strong  ties  that  should 
prevent  us  from  voting  for  the  best  men — regard- 
less of  party  Mr.  Pickett  is  an  independent 
thinker  and  holds  radical  views  on  most  all  sub- 
jects, and  is  disposed  to  look  upon  the  present 
management  of  governmental  affairs  with  dis- 
trust. Although  we  differ  with  Mr.  Pickett  in 
many  of  his  views,  yet  we  give  him  credit  for  be- 
ing honest,  admiring  his  frankness  and  out- 
spoken sentiments.  Dr.  Ballard  gave  a  very  in- 
teresting account  of  the  condition  of  the  agricul- 
tural classes  in  England,  and  observations  of 
his  trip  through  that  country.  Judge  Bartlett, 
Rev.  Mr.  Gowdy,  Dr.  Burnham,  and  others  made 
short  speeches  and  everything  passed  off  very 
pleasantly,  the  meeting  closing  with  singing,  after 
which  the  Patrons  dispersed  and  started  for  their 
various  homes,  feeling  that  it  had  been  good  to 
be  there.  The  next  general  meeting  of  the 
Grange  will  be  held  the  fore  part  of  October,  due 
notice  of  which  will  be  given  hereafter." 


RAILROADS. 

TThe  county  may  be  said  to  be  well  supplied 
with  railroads,  as  there  is  an  east  and  west  line, 
a  north  and  south  line,  and  a  line  running  from 
Albert  Lea  in  a  southwest  direction.  The  South- 
ern Minnesota  road,  which  is  so  intimately  con- 
nected with  this  region  in  its  earlier  history,  and 
which  was  the  first  to  open  up  the  county  to 
steam  transportation,  will  be  more  fully  sketched 
than  the  others,  which  have  been  constructed 
since  railroad  building  was  much  easier  than  for- 
merly. 

The  Southern  Minijesota  Railroad. — This 
trunk  line  started  as  the  Root  River  Valley  road, 
finally  assumed  its  present  name,  and  is  now  a 
division  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
railway  company's  system  of  roads,  which  is  said 
to  have  the  largest  number  of  miles  of  any  road 
in  America  under  one  management. 

It  has  its  eastern  terminus  at  La  Crosse,  and 
entering  Fillmore  county  at  Rushford,  follows  the 
Root  River  as  far  as  Lanesboro.  Here  it  extends 
toward  the  west  with  a  southern  deflection,  and 
leaves  the  county  near  the  center  of  the  western 
boundary.  It  has  stations  at  convenient  distances 
along  the  route.  The  early  history  of  this  enter- 
prise is  one  crowded  with  vicissitudes. 

Soon  after  Brownsville,  in  Houston  county,  was 
settled,  a  charter  was  obtained  with  the  mouth- 
filling  title  of  "  Mississippi  k  Missouri  Railroad 
Company."  That  road  was  to  start  up  the  Wild- 
cat Valley,  and  it  proved  to  be  a  "wild  cat" 
scheme,  coming  into  the  world  in  a  still-born  con- 
dition. 

The  Root  River  Valley  Railroad  Company  was 
organized  under  territorial  auspices,  Clark  W. 
Thompson,  of  Hokah,  T.  B.  Twiford,  of  Chat- 
field,  and  T.  B.  Stoddard,  of  La  Crosse,  and  tlieir 
associates,  whoever  they  were,  kept  the  breath  of 
life  in  this  corporation  for  several  years. 

On  the  3rd  of  November,  1856,  it  having  got  to 
be  the  "Root  River  and  Southern  Minnesota  Com- 
pany," the  officers  met  at  their  usual  headquarters 
in  Chatfield,  and  the  places  of  directors  whose 
terms  of  office  had  expired  were  filled;  the  board 
then  stood  as  follows :  Clark'W.  Thompson,  Presi- 
dent; C  A  Stevens,  Vice-President;  H.  L.  Edwards, 
Secretary;  T.  B.  Twiford,  Treasurer,  H.  W.  Hol- 
ley.  Chief  Engineer.  The  Executive  Committee 
were  T.  B.  Twiford,  Edward  Thompson,  T.  B. 
Stoddard,  William  B.  Gere,   and  T.   J.   Stafford. 


328 


UISTORT  OF  FliE'EBORX  COUNTY. 


Soon  after  this  a  survey  was  wade  by  the  chief 
engineer,  H.  W.  Holley,  from  the^Mississippi  River 
to  Hokah. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  1856,  a  piiblic  meet- 
ing of  those  favorable  to  the  construction  of  the 
road  was  held  in  Chatfield.  The  meeting  was 
called  to  order  by  Wm.  B.  Gere,  who  stated  the 
objects  of  the  meeting,  and  gave  a  brief  history  of 
the  enterprise,  stating  that  it  was  chartered  in 
1854,  and  that  S50,000  had  been  subscribed  to  the 
stock.  G.  W.  Willis  was  ajipointed  chairman  of 
the  meeting,  and  Edward  Dexter  was  selected  for 
Secretary.  Earnest  speeches  were  made  by 
several  gentlemen.  A  committee  was  appointed 
to  solicit  subscriptions  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
an  agent  to  Washington,  to  secure,  if  possible, 
congressional  aid  in  the  form  of  a  land  grant.  It 
was  understood  that  this  committee  succeeded  in 
raising  about  .$1,300  in  Chatfield,  and  James  M. 
Cavanaugh,  afterwards  member  of  Congress,  was 
appointed  to  proceed  to  Washington  and  look 
after  a  land  grant.  The  thanks  of  the  meeting 
were  voted  to  Col,  Thomas  B.  Stoddard  of  La 
Crosse,  for  his  untiring  energy  in  the  service  of 
the  enterprise. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  what  service  was  done  by 
Chatfield  during  the  struggling  infancy  and 
weakness  of  this  corporation,  and  how  remorse- 
lessly it  was  passed  by  when  the  company  had 
secured  strength  and  power.  Ingratitude  is  the 
most  despicable  sin  that  exists.  The  land  grant 
passed  Congress,  and  became  a  law  on  the  last 
day  of  President  Pierce's  administration,  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1857,  and  was  among  the  last  bills 
signed  by  the  New  Hampshire  President.  As 
there  were  other  similar  land  grants  for  roads  in 
various  parts  of  the  territory,  an  extra  session  of 
the  Legislature  was  called  by  Governor  Gorman, 
to  meet  on  the  10th  of  May,  1857,  to  pass  the  ap- 
propriate acts  on  the  subject. 

On  the  3d  of  April  the  railroad  company  had  a 
meeting  at  La  Crescent,  and  a  survey  by  the 
Chief  Engineer,  Mr.  Holley,  was  ordered  to  be 
made  at  once,  to  begin  at  or  near  St.  Peter,  and 
to  run  thence  east  to  LaCrosse.  The  party  accor- 
dingly started  to  make  this  survey  from  Chatfield 
to  St.  Peter,  on  the  6th  of  April,  1857.  At  the 
meeting  of  the  Legislature  it  granted  to  the 
Southern  Minnesota  Railroad  Company  the  land 
pertaining  to  the  line  from  LaCrescent  to  Rochetf-   I 


ter,  also  from  St.  Paul  up  the  Minnesota  valley  to 
the  Iowa  State  Line. 

The  survey  from  St.  Peter  to  LaCrescent  was 
completed  early  in  June,  but  in  the  meantime  a 
transfer  of  the  stock  of  the  company  had  been 
made  by  the  directors  to  a  Wisconsin  company, 
the  Milwaukee  and  LaCrosse,  which  continued 
the  survey,  but  did  nothing  whatever  in  the  way 
of  grading.  And  thus  it  remained,  until  in  1858. 
The  five  million  loan  bill  became  a  law,  and  then 
the  company  graciously  graded  twenty  miles, 
from  La  Crescent  to  Houston,  and  there  it  stop- 
ped. 

In  1859,  there  was  a  kind  of  a  supplementary 
collapse,  and  various  roads  went  into  bankruptcy, 
this  among  the  others.  About  this  time  there 
was  an  atempt  to  float  some  railroad  currency,  but 
it  was  not  a  brilliant  success. 

In  1869,  C.  D.  Sherwood,  Clark  W.  Thompson, 
H .  W.  Holley,  Dr.  L.  Miller,  Hiram  Walker,  and 
their  associates,  reorganized  the  company  and  ob- 
tained from  the  Legislature  of  the  State  the  fran- 
chises and  lands  of  the  old  company,  upon  the 
condition  that  ten  miles  should  be  completed  in 
one  year.  But  the  time  elapsed  and  the  ten 
miles  did  not  materialize,  and  the  next  year  the 
Legislatare  kindly  gave  the  company  another 
year,  and  this  time  it  succeeded  in  making  the 
trip,  and  having  the  requisite  ten  miles  in  run- 
ning condition  by  the  25th  of  December,  1866. 
During  the  previous  winter  an  effort  had  been 
made  to  secure  an  additional  grant  of  land  from 
Houston  to  the  western  boundary  of  the  State, 
which  was  successful,  and  this  aid  was  secured  on 
the  4th  of  July,  1866. 

From  this  time  the  progress  of  the  road  was 
rapid.  As  alwve  stated,  the  road  to  Houston  was 
opened  and  running  in  1866;  to  Rushford  and 
Lanesboro  in  1868;  from  Ramsey  to  Wells  in 
1869;  and  from  Lanesboro  the  road  was  pushed 
on  to  Ramsey  in  1870,  the  total  distance  being  167 
miles.  It  wiU  thus  be  seen  that  the  road  was 
finally  constructed  and  put  in  operation  by  prac- 
tically the  same  men  who  conceived  the  project 
in  territorial  days,  and  obtained,  through  their 
ell'orta,  the  donations  that  made  its  success  possi- 
ble, and  without  which  it  might  never  have  been 
built.  As  to  the  personnel  of  the  early  and  the 
later  management;  Col.  T.  B.  Stoddard,  of  La 
Crosse;  C.  W.  Thompson,  of  Hokah,  and  his 
brother,  Edward  Thompson,    of  tlie  same   place; 


STATISTICS. 


329 


and  Hon.  H.  W.  HoUey,  the  Chief  Engineer,  of 
Fillmore  county,  who  were  on  the  board  of  direc- 
tors in  1856,  stuck  to  its  varying  fortunes  and 
destinies  through  good  and  evil  report  till  in  1870, 
the  first  division  from  La  Crosse  to  Winnebago 
City  was  completed. 

As  to  the  last  land  grant  from  Congress  in 
1866,  without  which  the  road  could  not,  or  would 
not  have  been  extended  west  of  Houston,  perhaps 
the  most  credit  should  be  given  to  Charles  D. 
Sherwood,  Dr.  Luke  Miller,  C.  G.  Wyckoff,  and 
D.  B.  Sprague,  who  joined  their  fortunes  with  the 
enterprise  at  these  organization  in  1865. 

In  relation  to  the  route  of  the  road  west  of 
Lancsboro,  where  it  leaves  the  Koot  River  Valley, 
the  inside  history  would  be  remarkably  rich  read- 
ing if  faithfully  portrayed.  Chatfield  being  on 
the  main  stream,  had  no  shadow  of  doubt  as  to 
its  going  there.  Preston,  the  county  seat,  confi- 
dently expected  the  road.  Either  way  would 
have  avoided  the  terrible  grade  west  of  Laues- 
boro,  which  will  forever  require  a  "  Pusher "  to 
overcome.  But  in  view  of  "  other  hearts  that 
would  bleed,"  the  story  perhaps  better  be  left  un- 
told in  this  volume.  It  is  not  unlikely,  at  some 
time  not  very  distant,  when  this  road  shall  become 
a  part  of  the  "Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  In- 
ternational line  to  the  Pacific,"  that  the  bed  of  the 
road  may  be  changed  to  follow  one  of  the 
branches  of  the  Root  River  from  Lanesboro. 

STATISTICS. 

Chop  Reports. — The  returns  made  by  the 
Marshals  who  gathered  the  statistics  from  the 
farmers  for  the  United  States  census  bureau,  do 
not  in  all  respects  coincide  with  those  taken  by 
the  State.  They  are,  however,  as  reliable  as  can 
be  secured.  The  acreage  and  crop  of  the  four 
leading  cereals  of  the  county  for  188(1  was  as  fol- 
lows: 

Acreage.       Bushels. 

Wheat 103,783     1,148,879 

Oats 20,415         717,030 

Corn 14,587        582,514 

Barley 3,015  72,647 

Freeborn  county  is  one  of  the  thirteen  in  Min- 
nesota that  produces  more  than  a  million  bushels 
of  wheat  annually,  being  the  second  on  the  list; 
Goodhue  county  raising  2,740,962  and  Freeborn 
1,444,527  bushels.  As  to  the  average  yield  in  the 
several  counties.  Otter  Tail   takes  the  lead  with 


17.68  bushels  to  the  acre,  then  Polk  with  16.40, 
Rice  15.25,  Stearns  14.73,  Waseca,  14.45,  Goodhue 
14.42,  Blue  Earth  13.43,  and  Freeborn  12.96. 
The  lowest  on  the  list  being  Fillmore  county, 
which  has  run  down  to  7.76.  In  1881,  as  com- 
pared with  the  previous  year,  there  was  a  decrease 
in  acreage  of  5,637  acres. 

Rye;  only  117  acres  was  given  to  this  crop,  and 
2,977  bushels  produced. 

Buckwheat;   32  acres  and  372  bushels. 

Potatoes;  1,04"  acres  and  111,111  bushels,  or 
93.83  buehels  per  acre. 

Beans;  10  acres,  165  bushels. 

Sxigar  cane;  102  acres;  9,874  gallons  of  syrup; 
an  average  of  96.80  per  acre.  Cultivated  hay, 
1,479  acres,  2,087  tons. 

The  above  are  the  principal  crops  raised  in  the 
county. 

Whole  number  of  farms  of  the  various  sizes, 
1,838. 

Whole  number  of  acres,  158,038. 

Apple  trees  in  Freeborn  county.  The  number 
growing  in  1881  was  28,983,  with  6,117  bearing 
trees,  producing  about  2,298  bushels. 

Grapes.  The  numbes  of  grape  vines  in  bear- 
in  the  county  was  442.  Showing  that  little  at- 
tention is  paid  to  this  fruit. 

Tobacco.  A  small  amount  of  this  leaf  is  pro- 
duced each  year,  a  few  hundred  pounds. 

Honey.  The  reports  give  about  3,000  pounds 
a  year. 

Milch  cows.  The  number  of  cows  must  be  con- 
stantly increasing;  at  present  there  are  upwards 
of  7,000,  producing  545,116  pounds  of  butter  and 
16,450  pounds  of  cheese. 

Sheep  and  wool.  Number  of  sheep  sheared, 
4,652;  pounds  of  wool  produced,  17,308. 

Horses.     All  ages,  7,638. 

Cows.  All  ages,  8,100;  all  other  cattle,  631; 
total  cattle,  all  ages,  16,186, 

Mules,  211. 

Hogs,  6,896. 

Total  valuation  of  personal  property  in  the 
county,  $1,144,666. 

County  valuation: 

1860 .1;384,729 

1861 469,639 

1862 428,904 

1868 483,781 

1864 711,310 

1865 780,640 

1866 973,831 


330 


nrsTOIiY  OF  FB3EB0BN  COUNTY. 


Productions  of  Freeborn  county  during  the 
year  18C'J : 

Bushels. 

Wheat 334,049 

Corn 160,698 

Oats 200,000 

Barley 2,124 

Potatoes 72,621 

Sorghum,  gallons 10,890 

Hay,  tons 25,859 

Wool,  pounds 12,140 

Butter,  pounds 173,370 

Assessors'  RETriiNS  for  1882. — A  glance 
over  the  assessors  returns  of  Freeborn  county, 
for  the  year  1882,  gives  some  interesting  figures  in 
regard  to  the  wealth  in  the  ditferent  towns  iu  the 
county,  both  personal  and  real.  The  total  valua- 
tion for  the  year  named,  as  returned  by  the  assess- 
ors, is  as  follows: 

Real  Personal 

London Sl(i5,682  $34,523 

Shell    Rock 191,281  75,904 

Freeman 108,311  33,930 

Nunda 134,846  44,391 

Mansfield 141,443  39,866 

Oakland 1 59,717  49,063 

Hayward 142,646  39,388 

Albert  Lea 1C9,9H0  50,472 

Pickerel  Lake 128,912  37,308 

Alden 153,460  36,588 

Moscow 163,137  36,733 

Riceland 153,176  49,772 

Bancroft 226,886  67,510 

Manchester 168,672  45,807 

Carlston    154,125  38,640 

Newry 114,871  43,766 

Geneva 108,461  30,453 

Bath 145,596  32,407 

Hartland 131,127  48,371 

Freeborn 97,993  38,941 

Albert  Lea  City 408,604  143,291 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  town  of  Shell  Rock  leads 
in  personal  property,  while  Bancroft  surpasses  all 
others  iu  real  estate.  Freeborn  has  the  lowest  val- 
uation on  real  property,  and  Geneva  would  go  to 
the  bottom  of  the  column  in  the  worth  of  its  per- 
gonal property. 

From  the  crop  statistics  w(>  find  the  following, 
which  will  be  of  interest  to  our  readers  : 


1881 


1882 
31,989 
7,771 


Apple  trees,  growing 28,540 

Apple  trees,  bearing 6,902 

Apples,  Inishels 3.293  

Grape  Vines,  No 663  643 

Grapes,  pounds.- 1,565  .... 

Tobacco,  pounds 541  .... 

Sheep,  No 3,767  4,267 

Wool,  pounds 17,866  18,594 

Cows,  No 7.042  6,623 

Butter,  pounds 518,329  

Cheese,  pounds 23,780  

Bees,  hives 82  .... 

Honey,  pounds 556  .... 

Those  places  in  the  1882  column  in  which  a 
dasli  is  placed  could  not  be  returned  by  the 
assessor,  as  in  most  cases  the  crop  is  yet  growing, 

RETURNS  FOR  1881-82. 

1881.  1882. 

Wheat,    acres 72,537  62,727 

Wheat,    bushel- 835,937      

OatS;  acres 16,025  17,427 

Oats,  bushels 514,591       

Corn,  acres 14,449  22,132 

Corn,  bushels 522,072      

Potatoes,  acres 1,048  1,438 

Potatoes  bushels 109,1 24      

Barley,  acres 2,398  3,992 

Barley,  bushels 54,765      

Flax,  acres 738  779 

Tame  hay,  acres 1,528  2,502 

Total    acreage 109,348  110,776 

Timothy,    bushels 927        

Clover,    bushels 42        

Apple  trees 20,660  31,839 

Apples,   bushels 3,273      

Sheep 3,767  4,269 

Wool,  pounds 17,866  18,.594 

Cows 7,042  6,023 

Butter,  pounds 58,339  6,623 

Cheese 23.780      

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  that  there  is  a 
marked  increase  in  the  acreage  of  all  products 
except  wheat,  which  shows  a  great  falling  olV. 

TAXES. 

The  following  is  the  amount  of  county  and  state 
taxes,  and  penalty  and  interest,  collected  from 
March  Ist  to  June  1st,  1882: 

County  taxes $13,471  68 

Penalty  and  interest 95  56 

State  faxes 4,731   71 

Total .'S18,298  94 


STATISTICS. 


331 


AMOUNT    DUE  EACH    TOWN. 

London «     348  17 

Shell  Rock 1,125  69 

Preemiin    423  63 

Nunda 361  21 

Mansfield 236  50 

Oakland 133  60 

Hayward 262  34 

Albert  Lea 1,584  35 

Pickerel   Lake 677  21 

Alden 1,337  75 

Moscow 198  42 

Riceland 324  31 

Bancroft 323  03 

Manchester 244  80 

Carlston    461  21 

Newry 18  89 

Geneva 297  53 

Bath 215  67 

Hartland 658  20 

Freeborn 281  92 

City  of  Albert   Lea 4,272  36 

Total $13,786  80 

Less  E.  R.  interest 4,373  31 

Leaves  to  credit  of  towns $9,413  49 

POPULATION     IN    1880. 

Albert  Lea  City 1,966 

Albert  Lea  Township 878 

Alden  TownshijJ 474 

Alden  village 285 

Bancroft 959 

Bath ...  919 

Carlston 500 

Freeborn 414 

Freeborn  village 72 

Fraeman 772 

Geneva 454 

Hartland 699 

Hayward 659 

London 614 

Manchester 784 

Mansfield 552 

Moscow 650 

Newry 737 

Nunda 776 

Oakland 629 

Pickerel  Lake 530 

Riceland 783 

Shell  Rock 1,013 

Total 16,069 


The  population  is  thus  divided: 

Male 8,528 

Female 7,542 

Natives 10,193 

Foreign 5,876 

White 16,058 

Colored 11 

A  comparison  with  other  census  years  makes 
this  showing: 

1860 3,369 

1865 5,688 

1870 10,578 

1875 13,189 

1880 16,069 

The  greatest  increase  in  any  semi-decade  was 
between  the  close  of  the  war  and  1870.  As  to 
the  growth  of  the  capital  of  the  county,  this  is 
the  record: 

1860,  the  whole  town  had 262 

1870 1,167 

1875 1,897 

1880,  iur^hiding  the  town 2.844 

Albert  Lea  is  the  twenty-first  city  in  the  State, 
in  point  of  population.  But  it  may  be  a  conso- 
lation to  know  that  there  are  twenty  cities  yet 
smaller,  that  have  a  population  of  not  less  than 
1,000. 

Taxes  in  Freeborn  county  in  1880 : 

State  tax .f         9,433.18 

School  tax 26,142.32 

County  tax 17,252.96 

Town   tax 3,481.50 

All  other  taxes 19,837.10 

Valuation  of  the  county  in  1880.  .  .  5,229,134.00 
Valuation  of  the  county  in  1881 . .  .  5,238,555.00 
Valuation  of  county  seat  in  1880.  .  494,955.00 
Valuation  of  county  seat  in  1881.  .       495,021.00 

The  Internal  Revenue,  collected  in  the  first 
district,  in  which  Freeborn  county  is  situated. 
The  office  is  at  Albert  Lea,  and  Dr.  A.  C.  Wedge 
is  the  collector.     The  report  is  for  the  year  1881 : 

Collection  on  lists .f  7,829.71 

Spirit  stamps 110.70 

Tobacco  and  cigars 24,183.92 

Beer  stamps 42,162.64 

Special  tax  stamps 40,342.87 

Making  a  grand  total  of .$114,729.84 

For  the  year  ending  June  30,  1882 : 
Amount  collected  from   the    sale   of 
beer  stamps *  43,854.95 


332 


11 1  STOUT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


Amount  collected  from    the   sale   of 

cigars  and  tobacco 27,669  62 

Amount  collected    from     the   sale    fif 

special    tax 41,660.18 

Amount    collected    from    hanks    and 

bankers 11,419.47 

Amount  collected  from  sale  of   check 

and  adhesive   stamps 765.19 

Amount  collected  from  penalties,  costs, 

etc 4.58.18 

Total  coUeotions  for  the  year S125,836.59 

This  is  an  increase  over  the  collections  for  the 
year  ended  June  30.  1881,  of  about  .$9,000.  Of 
the  tax-payers  of  the  district  tliere  are;  Brewers 
29;  cigar  manufacturers  23,  tobacco  manufactur- 
ers 21,  rectifiers  1,  wholesale  liquor  dealers  3, 
wholesale  dealers  in  malt  liquor  3,  retail  hquor 
dealers  86,  dealers?  in  macufactured  toliacco  2,088. 

Meteorological.. — It  is  difficult  to  convey  an 
idea  of  the  character  of  the  average  weather  of 
any  locality  without  burdening  pages  with  baro- 
metrical and  theometrical  statistics,  But  a  few 
general  points  which  may  serve  to  give  an  imper- 
fect impression  of  what  one  has  to  encounter  in 
this  section  will  be  presented.  The  highest  range 
of  the  thermometer  and  the  lowest  in  each  month 
for  the  year  1881  was  as  follows; 

HIGHEST       LOWEST- 

January 35.  .25 

February 38.  .09 

March 51.  9. 

April 78.  10. 

May 85.  36. 

June 92.  50. 

July 91.  55. 

August 96.  52. 

September 91.  40. 

October 71.  30. 

November 57.  02. 

December 52.  00. 

This  gives  an  annual  mean  temperature  of  4&.08, 
which,  if  correct,  for  a  series  of  years,  gives  an 
idea  of  the  temperature  of  water  from  tlie  earth  a 
a  depth  of  forty  feet,  where  it  is  not  affected  by 
atmospherical  influences.  The  amount  of  rainfall 
for  the  year  was  39.16  inches.  The  number  of 
days  on  which  rain  or  snow  fell  was  167,  which 
was  above  the  average. 

The  autumn  months  in  Minnesota  are  described 
as   the   most  charming    months  of  all    the    year. 


"  when  the  golden  grain  is  gathered  by  the  far- 
mer, when  his  hay  in  the  stack  has  been  heaped 
high  in  the  sweet  scented  fields,  and  the  horny- 
handed  granger  has  nothing  to  do  but  sit  on  the 
fence  in  the  shade  and  shake  hands  with  the  polit- 
ical candidates  as  they  pass  along  in  a  soothingly 
sweet  scented  smiling  procession." 

FREEBORN   COUNTY  BIIiLE  SOCIETY. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  was  held 
according  to  appointment,  at  the  M.  E.  Church, 
on  the  28th  day  of  May.  1882,  at  which  time  the 
foliowiug  officers  were  elected:  President,  Isaac 
Botsford;  Vice-President,  Rev.  N.  F.  Hoyt;  Sec- 
retary, W.  C.  MoAdams;  Treasurer,  D.  K.  P. 
Hibbs;  Executive  Committee,  B.  F.  Sulzer,  Kev. 
R.  B.  Abbott,  and  Rev.  N.  F.  Hoyt. 

A  collection  of  $22.75  was  taken  during  the 
day  for  the  benefit  of  the  society,  of  which  .?15,- 
60  was  given  in  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the 
forenoon,  '  and  Si7.15  at  the  meeting  in  the 
evening. 

The  following  is  an  abstract  of  the  Secretary's 
rejiort  of  the  affairs  of  the  Society  for  the  year 
ending  May  28th,  viz: 

The  Bibles  on  hand  at  date  of  anuu:^l 

meeting.  May  3Uth.  1881 S10d,07 

Bibles  and  Testaments  since  received . . .         34.70 

.      Total »137.77 

Bibles  sold  during  the  year $  35.24 

Discount  on  Testaments  "marked  down"  2.35 
Bibles  turned  over  to  Sulzer  "damaged" 

for  distribution 3.10 

Shortage  on  invoice  and  lost  in  money. .  8.33 
Bibles  delivered  on  life  membership  cer- 
tificates    1.60 

Bibles  on  hand 87.15 

Total *137.77 

Caah  on  har  d  at  date  of  last  annual  meet- 
ing   S  29.13 

Amount  collected  at  anniversary 20.87 

Amount  received  on  sale  of  Bibles 35.24 

Total - *  85.24 

By  donation  to  American  Bible  Society 

per  vote  of  annual   meeting f  "^0.87 

By  amount  paid  American  Bible  Society 

"junel '..  29.13 

By  amount  allowed  in  exchange  of  Bibles 

and  for  freight  on  Bibles 1.12 

By  amount  ])aid  for  moving  book? 3.") 

By  (commission  on  sales  3.."j2 


WAR  RECORD. 


333 


By  expenses '  125 

Cash  on  hand 2!).00 

Total «85.24 

Account    with   American  Bible   Society 
June  30,  1881.     Bibles  and  Testaments 

received $  34:.70 

June  21,  1881.    Cash 29.13 

Due  American  Bible  Society. $  5.57 

PRESENT   CONDITION. 

Books  on  hand $  87.15 

Casu  from  last  year 29.00 

Cash  collection 22.75 

Total  amount  cash .S51.75 

Less  indebtedness 5.57 

Balance SIG.IS 


CHAPTER  L. 


FREEBOHN  COUNTY  IN  THE  WAR    OF  THE    REBELLION 

THE    INDIAN    OUTBREAK. 

WHO    PARTICIPATED. 


-NAMES  OE    SOLDIERS 


When  the  war  had  been  actually  proclaimed, 
and  the  people  began  to  realize  that  most  of  tbe 
southern  States,  were  actually  in  rebellion  against 
the  government,  there  was  no  hesitation  in  actu- 
ally starting  the  work  to  meet  the  demand  for 
men  with  which  to  create  an  army.  The  State  at 
this  time  was  only  three  years  old,  and  this 
county  had  been  settled  but  about  five  or  six 
years,  and  few  of  the  people  had  got  out  of  their 
primitive  shanties,  and  it  will  ever  be  a  matter  of 
profound  astonishment  how  so  many  men  were 
found  to  thus  take  their  lives  in  their  hands  and 
go  to  the  front  to  assist  in  forming  the  walls  of  steel 
to  repel  the  enemies  of  the  American  Union. 

Many  of  the  people  of  the  county  were  born  in 
the  old  world,  but  they  had  been  educated  with 
faith  in  the  New,  and  only  those  who  have  been 
through  a  like  ordeal  can  understand  the  bitter 
experience  of  most  of  them  in  procuring  means 
to  tear  themselves  away  from  old  companions  to 
come  to  this  land  of  the  free,  and  the  home  of  the 
brave;  but  having  come,  and  began  to  taste  the 
fruits  of  their  own  labor,  witb  no  grasping  laud- 
lord  to  secure  the  usufruct  of  the  laud  and  I'eap 
the  reward  of  toil,  they  were  alarmed  when  these 
new  found  rights  and  privileges  were  thus  jeo- 
pardized. And  with  the  true  instincts  of  freedom 
and  manhood,  in   response  to  an  intelligent  inter- 


pretation of  the  laws  of  self  preservation,  and  in 
a  spirit  meriting  the  highest  commendation,  they 
enlisted  to  protect  their  adopted  country.  Their 
heroism,  valor,  and  devotion,  on  many  a  well 
fought  field,  atte.st  their  title  to  the  proud  appel- 
ation  of  American  citizens,  and  as  time  goes  on 
their  names  will  be  more  and  more  tenderly  re- 
garded, and  their  deeds  will  be  recounted  with 
greater  and  greater  reverence,  and  will  be  poin- 
ted at  with  pride  by  coming  generations,  as 
worthy  of  emulation. 

That  such  a  young  county  should  be  able  to 
fill  its  quota  as  against  older  communities,  before 
the  land  itself  was  subjugated,  or  the  people  had 
provided  the  comforts  of  home  for  themselves,  will 
ever  excite  the  liveliest  satisfaction  in  the  hearts 
the  people  of  the  nation. 

The  usual  scenes  transpiring  all  over  the  coun- 
try were  occurring  here,  in  a  form  of  course 
modified  by  the  circumstances.  Knots  of  men  in 
earnest  conversation,  men  reading  aloud  the  latest 
news  to  interested  groups,  public  meetings,  and 
anon,  the  shrill,  ear-piercing  fife,  and  the  roll  of 
the  martial  drum,  were  heard  in  these  western 
wilds,  and  finally,  the  tramp  of  the  citizen  sol- 
diery with  the  sharp  command,  giving  a  realiza- 
tion of  war's  wrinkled  front,  was  actually  abroad 
in  the  land. 

One  of  the  first  meetings  called  was  in  Shell 
Rock  on  the  1st  of  May,  18(il.  Manly  C.  Isham 
was  chosen  chairman,  and  H.  L.  Dow  was  ap- 
pointed secretary.  Rousing  speeches  were  made 
and  war  committees  appointed,  as  follows: 

Daniel  Giflard,  Orlando  McFall,  Manly  C. 
Isham,  Luther  Phelps,  George  Gardner,  J.  A. 
Knapp  and  others. 

On  the  11th  of  May,  the  people  of  Albert  Lea 
met  and  raised  a  liberty  pole,  ayd  then  repaired 
to  the  Webber  House  and  held  a  mass  meeting. 
E.  K.  Pickett  was  chairman,  and  William  Morin 
was  secretary.  It  was  resolved  to  form  a  rifle 
company,  and  a  committee  on  resolutions  was  ap- 
pointed as  follows:  E.  C.  Stacy,  E.  P.  Skinner, 
and  A.  W.  White.  E.  K.  Pickett,  Samuel  Eaton, 
H.  D.  Brown,  Benjamin  Frost,  D.  G.  Parker  and 
others,  made  patriotic  addresses,  and  forty -six  per- 
sons were  enrolled. 

"Be  but  the  foe  arrayed. 
And  war's  wild  trumpet  blown, 
Cold  is  the  heart  that   has  not  made 
His  country's  cause  his  own," 

was  the  sentiment  aroused  at  this  meeting. 


334 


UlUTOHY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


Arrangements  were  maile  to  hold  meetings  all 
over  the  county,  in  each  prominent  place;  Shell 
Rock,  Nunda,  Freeborn,  Moscow,  and  other 
points.  At  these  four  places  two  men  were  to  go 
to  each,  and  for  the  four  men  each  had  two  meet- 
ings. These  speakers  were  two  Democrats  and 
two  Republicans,  but  some  of  them  weakened 
when  the  supreme  moment  came,  and  as  a  matter 
of  fact  E.  C.  Htaoy  went  tlirough  the  campaign 
without  faltering,  and  did  good  service  in  firing 
up  the  northern  heart.  The  story  is  told  that  at 
one  of  these  meetings,  at  a  large  schoolhouse,  he 
got  warmed  up  and  was  pacing  the  tlot)r  and  ges- 
tulating  with  frenzied  olo([uence,  when  he  be- 
came conscious  of  a  boisterous  uproar  in  the  au- 
dience, and  on  turning  he  saw  a  man  who  had 
been  carried  away  by  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
moment,  following  him  as  he  walked,  and  in  fran- 
tic imitation  of  the  speaker,  reasserting  his  postu- 
lates! And  the  story  may  as  well  be  told  here, 
that  only  a  few  years  ago  the  judge,  who  was 
counsel  in  a  case  in  town,  made  an  elocpient  plea 
for  his  client,  and  a  German  who  was  on  the  jury 
was  visibly  affected  by  it,  who,  on  being  ques- 
tioned about  it  afterwards,  said  "Oh  yes,  be  made 
that  same  speech  when  raising  troops  for  the  war." 

At  these  war  meetings  the  girls  would  sing  pa- 
triotic songs  and  the  recruiting  books  would  be 
opened.  The  second  meeting  in  Albert  Lea  was 
in  the  Webber  House  and  was  well  attended. 

Judge  Stacy  went  in  person  with  two  com- 
panies of  the  Fourth  regiment  to  Fort  Snelling. 

Our  sketches  of  war  incidents  must  necessarily 
be  desidtory  and  disconnected,  owin  g  to  the 
incompleteness  of  the  record. 

Capt.  Lewis  McKune  was  killed  at  Bull  Run, 
and  the  people  began  to  realize  that  putting  down 
the  rebellion  was  no  holiday  aflfair  ;  and  that  no 
three  months,  as  at  first  supposed,  would  close,  the 
war. 

In  the  summer  of  IHfil,  Sergeant  J.  E.  Hall  of 
Co.  K,  which  was  stationed  ot  Fort  Snelling,  was 
here  on  recruiting  service.    . 

The  quota  of  the  State  in  September  was  3,950. 

In  December,  the  ladies  of  Freeborn  County 
had  manufactured  in  an  eastern  city,  a  regulation 
flag  of  fine  material  and  best  workmanship.  A 
delegation  carried  it  to  Fort  Snelling,  and  in  their 
behalf  Frank  Hall,  of  Albert  Lea,  with  pertinent 
and  patriotic  words,  ])resented  it  to  Co.  F,  of  the 
Fifth  Regiment  Minnesota  Volunteers,  which  was 


composed  of  Freeborn  county  men.  It  was  gal- 
lantly received  in  behalf  of  the  company  by  (^lap- 
tain  White,  who  acknowledged  its  protecting  folds 
the  harbinger  of  victory,  and  assured  the  fair 
donors  that  it  should  ever  be  borne  aloft  "until 
the  last  armed  foe  expires,"  and  "that  when  sad  and 
dispirited,  the  sight  of  this  banner,  and  the 
rememlirance  of  the  fair  donors,  would  rally  their 
latent  energies,  and  again  their  drooping  spirits 
shoiild  revive  and  new  courage  inspire  their 
hearts."  As  a  matter  of  history  the  folds  of 
this  flag  were  never  sullied  by  those  who  fought 
under  its  protecting  care. 

Lieutenant  William  F.  Wheeler,  of  Company  F, 
Fourth  Regiment  was  presented  with  a  service, 
sword,  and  belt  by  his  fellow  citizens. 

In  addition  to  those  who  enlisted  in  Minnesota 
Regiments  in  1861,  there  were  46  Norwegians 
who  went  to  Wisconsin  to  go  into  a  regiment  of 
their  own  nationality  there.  In  order  to  get,  if 
possible,  these  names,  a  letter  was  directed  to 
Chandler  P.  Chapman,  the  assistant  Adjutant  Gen- 
eral of  Wisconsin,  who,  in  leply  submitted  the 
names  found  in  the  list  of  soldiers  credited  from 
Freeborn  county  as  far  as  they  were  recorded. 
He  mentions  that  it  is  not  unlikely  that  others 
may  have  gone  into  other  regiments. 

Company  C  was  organized  by  Captain  Frank 
Hall,  at  Fort  Snelling,  in  March,  1862,  and  was 
reorganized  as  a  veteran  regiment  in  March,  1864, 
at  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  and  mustered  out  at 
Demopolis,  Alabama,  on  the  6th  of  September, 
1865,  having  participated  in  most,  if  cot  all,  the 
battles  of  the  Southwest.  Captain  Hall  was 
promoted  to  Major  of  the  Fifth  Regiment  on  the 
31st  of  August,  1862. 

The  first  Company  raised  in  the  county  of  Free- 
born was  by  Captain  A.  W.  White. 

Here  is  a  recruiting  notice  that  will  be  read  with 
interest: 
"    A    TTENTION! 

FIVE  HUNDRED   RECRUITS  WANTED 

— FOB    THE 

FIFTH    REGIMENT,    MINNESOTA  VOLUN- 
TEERS. 


To  all  Recruits  enlisted  by  recruiting  Officers, 
to  serve  for  three  years,  or  the  war,  in  old  regi- 
ments noworganized, whose  term  of  service  expired 


WAR  RECORD. 


335 


in   1864  or  1865,  there  will  be  paid    one  month's 
pay    in    advance,  and  in  addition  a  bounty   and 
premium  amouutinp;  to  $302  as  follows: 
On  being  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service,  under  this  authority  and    Ije- 
tore  leaving  the  recruiting   station  or 
depot  to  join  his  company  or  regiment, 
shall  receive  one  month's  advance  pay  $13  00 

First  installment  of  bounty 60  00 

Premium 2  00 


Total  pay  before  joining  the  Begiment .  . .  $10  00 

At  the  first  regular  pay  day,  or  two  months 
after  mustering,  an  additional  install- 
ment will  be  paid 40  00 

At  the  first  regular  pay  day,  after  six 
months'  service,  an  additional  install- 
ment of  bounty  will   be  paid 40  00 

At  the  first  regular  pay  day,  after  the  end  of 
the  first  year's  service,  au  additional 
installment  of  bounty  will    be   paid..    40  00 

At  the  first  regular  pay  day  after  eighteen 
month's  service,  an  additional  install- 
ment of  bounty  will  be  paid 40  00 

At  the  first  regular  pay  day  after  two 
year's  services,  an  additional  install- 
ment of  bounty  will  be  paid 40  00 

At  the  expiration  of  three  years'  service,  or 
to  any  soldier  enlisting  under  this 
authority,  who  may  be  honorably  dis- 
charged after  two  years'  service,  the 
remainder  of  the  bounty  will  be  paid .   40  00 

II.  If  the  government  shall  not  require  these 
troops  for  the  fiiU  period  of  three  years,  and  they 
be  mustered  honorably  out  of  the  service  before 
the  expiration  of  their  term  of  enlistment,  they 
shall  receive,  on  being  mustered  out,  the  whole 
amount  of  bounty  remaining  unpaid,  the  same  as 
if  the  full  term  had  been  served. 

III.  The  legal  heirs  of  soldiers  who  die  in  the 
service  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  the  whole 
bounty  remaining  unpaid  at  time  of  the  soldier's 
death. 

To  persons  desirous  of  entering  the  United 
States'  service,  this  fine  Regiment  now  offers  an 
opportunity.  The  advantages  of  entering  an  old 
and  well  drilled  regiment,  are  too  well  known  to 
be  enumerated.  The  wishes  of  persons  enlisting, 
who  have  friends  or  relatives  in  the  regiment,  will 
be  regarded  as  to  the  companies  to  which  they 
wish  to  be  assigned. 


The  present  presents  a  most  favorable  oppor- 
tunity to  any  man  who  contemplates  joming  the 
service,  especially  those  liable  to  draft  should  at 
once  join  this  brave  regiment  that  has  already 
earned  lasting  honor  by  its  courage  and  valor. 
Capt.  T.  J.  Sheeiian, 
Recruiting  officer,  5th  Minn. 

Volunteers  will  report  to  me  at  A.  Armstrong's 
office  at  Albert  Lea,  Freeborn  Co." 

As  far  as  the  county  was  concerned,  the  gov- 
ernment left  recruiting  affairs  to  individual  exer- 
tion and  town  action.  In  the  county  records  no 
mention  is  made  relating  to  the  rebellion  until 
Septemljer,  when  George  S.  Ruble  was  authorized 
to  appropriate  the  sum  of  fifty -five  dollars  for  the 
benefit  of  the  family  of  George  Conrad  of  the  Sec- 
ond Minnesota  Cavalry,  and  forty  dollars  for  the 
benefit  of  the  widow  of  George  W.  Gilo,  late  of 
company  F,  Fourth  Cavalry.  Wannemaker's 
widow,  late  of  company  E,  Tenth  regiment,  was 
also  furnished  a  small  sum,  and  other  sums  for  like 
purposes  were  also  appropriated  at  this  time. 

At  the  anniial  meeting  in  January,  1865,  a  peti- 
tion was  presented  from  E.  P.  Hathaway  and  oth- 
ers, asking  the  Board  to  vote  a  bounty  of  $300  to 
pay  volunteers  to  help  fill  the  quota,  but  it  was 
rejected.  A  petition  of  citizens  of  Moscow  to  the 
same  effect  met  a  like  fate. 

In  this  war  sketch  it  must  be  recorded  as  to 
how  some  of  the  soldiers'  families  lived  during 
their  absence  at  the  front.  While  Major  Hall  was 
in  the  army  Mr.  C.  M.  Hewitt  managed  his  store 

,  and  did  an  enormous  business.  All  the  soldiers' 
wives  bought  their  goods  there,  and  those  who 
were  in  Hall's  command  would  remunerate  him 
at  the  pay  table  when  the  paymaster  came  around. 
On  ths  1st  of  February,  1864,  the  quota  of  Free- 
born county  stood  as  follows:  Whole  number 
demanded,  273;  number  actually  furnished,  292; 
making  nineteen  more  than  the  regular  quota. 
In  November   the   impending    draft    was    sus- 

i   pended  until  the  5th  of  January,  1864. 

;  The  following  from  a  paper  at  that  date  will 
show  what  occupied  the  attention  of  the  journals 
of  the  day,  and  how  things  were  accomplished. 

"THE    DRAFT    POSTPONED. 

The  result  of  Gov.  Swift's  visit  to  Washington 
was  made  manifest  in  the  following  telegrams 
received  at  St.  Paul  on  the  6th,  which  will  be 
received  with  general  satisfaction  throughout  the 
State : 


336 


II [STORY  OF  FRBEBORN  COUNT V. 


"Washington,  Nov.  7,  11  p.  m. 
Capt.  T.  M.  Saunders,  A.  A.  P.  M. 

The  quota  for  Minnesota  has  been  so  m\ich 
reduced  by  former  excess  of  volunteers  since  the 
draft  was  ordered,  that  no  draft  will  be  made  in 
that  State  before  the  fifth  day  of  January,  1864, 
and  only  then  in  case  she  fails  to  raise  her  quota 
of  300,000  volunteers  called  for  by  the  President. 

(Signed  I  James  B.  Fry, 

Provost  Marshal  General." 

The  following  also  to  Captain  Saunders: 
"W.iSHlNGTON,  Nov.  7,  11:40  A.  M. 

Capt.  T.  M.  Saunders. — If  a  State  furnishes  her 
full  (|uota  of  volunteers  under  the  President's  call 
of  October  17th,  1863,  for  three  hundred  thousand, 
the  draft  ordered  for  the  first  of  January,  1864 
will  not  take  place  in  that  State. 

James  B.  Fry," 

A  few  other  specimens  of  the  prevailing  litera- 
ture of  the  day  will  be  appended  for  the  sake  of 
the  information  they  contain. 

The  detail  for  men  was  from  the  congressional 
districts  and  Freeborn  was  in  the  first. 

THE    QUOTAS. 

"The  Pros'ost  Marshal  of  this  District  has  com- 
])leted  the  enumeration  of  the  township  sub-dis- 
trict in  this  Congressional  District,  carried  out  the 
number  of  men  enrolled  in  the  first  and  second 
classes  respectively,  and  forwarded  the"  same  to 
the  War  Department. 

In  this  district  there  are  243  sub-districts  dis- 
tributed among  the  counties  as  follows,  and  num- 
bered from  No.  1,  in  Houston  Co.,  to  No.  243  in 
Watonwan  Co.,  in  the  following  order: 

Houston  Co.,  17  sub-districts;  Fillmore,  24; 
Mower,  14;  Freeborn,  18;  Martin,  3;  Faribault, 
10:  AVinoua,  22;  Olmsted,  li»;  Dodge,  10;  Steele, 
12;  Waseca,  10;  Blue  Earth,  IG;  Rice,  15;  Le- 
Sueur,  15;  Nicollet,  9;  Brown,  6;  Scott,  12;  Sib- 
ley, 9;  Renville,  1;  Watonwan,  1. 

As  we  understand  the  matter,  the  Provost  Mar- 
shal General  requires  1,425  men  from  this  dis- 
trict, giving  the  Adjutant  General  the  appoint- 
ment of  these  men  among  these  243  township  sub- 
districts,  each  of  wliich  must  raise  its  quota  inde- 
pendent of  any  other  sub-district.  The  Adjutant 
(leneral  has  furnished  a  table  given  by  us  last 
week,  showing  the  aggregate  quotas  of  the  coun- 
ties in  this  district.  Each  township  in  these 
counties  must  furnish   the  proportionate  number 


of  men  that  the  enrolled  inilitia  of  that  town  bears 
to  the  whole  number  of  enrolled  militia  of  the 
county. 

Congress  has  adjourned  until  the  5th  of  Jan- 
uary without  coming  to  any  definite  conclusion 
on  the  i)roposed  amendments  to  the  enrollment 
Act.  The  Senate  Military  Committee  proposes  to 
strike  out  the  word  300  and  insert  no  amount  in 
its  stead,  but  let  each  drafted  man  make  the  best 
terms  to  procure  a  substitute  or  ajipear  in  person; 
also,  any  man  enrolled  may  furnish  an  acce]itable 
substitute,  which  will  relieve  him  from  military 
duty  during  the  time  his  substitute  has  accepted 
to  serve,  The  committee  are  unanimous  in  rec- 
ommending that  there  be  but  ane  class  of  militia 
— the  2d  will,  without  doubt  (and  very  justly, 
too,)  take  rank  with  their  juniors,  alike  improve 
the  present  condition  of  both  by  arousing  the 
one  from  apathy,  and  encourage  the  other  by  re- 
lieving it  of  tlie  whole  burthen  so  generously  be- 
stowed on  it  by  a  Congress  composed  abnost 
wholly  of  class  No.  2." 

It  need  nt)t  be  disguised  that  there  were  some 
who  were  more  anxioiis  to  fill  the  quota  than  to  re- 
cruit our  armies  in  the  field. 

"Governor  Swift,  sometime  since,  applied  for 
permission  to  apportion  our  quota  by  town- 
ships and  wards,  and  on  Wednesday  receiving  the 
following  dtspatch,  granting  his  request: 

•Washington,  Dec.  22. 
To  His  Excellency  H.  A.  Swift,  Governor  of  Min- 
nesota : 

Yon  are  authorized  to  apportion  your  quota  of 
the  three  hundred  thousand  volunteers  among  the 
several  towns  or  subdivisions  of  your  State  as  you 
may  find  ])roi)er.  The  whole  quota  of  the  State, 
must,  however,  be  distril)uted. 

JAME.S  B.  Fry,  P.  M.  G.' 

"The  War  Department  has  notified  the  Gover- 
nor that  the  names  of  volunteers  must  be  certified 
to  by  the  mustering  officer  before  they  are  for- 
warded to  Washington,  and  in  order  to  assure  the 
credit  due  wards  and  townships,  this  officer  must 
certify  the  towns,  wards,  and  counties  from  which 
the  recruits  were  enlisted.  It  is  therefore  not  only 
necessary  that  our  wards  should  ascertain  the 
number  of  men  they  have  sent,  but  they  should 
also  see  that  they  are  credited  to  the  proper  wards 
on  the  mustering  officer's  books." 

"Marshal's  Notice. — We  call  attention  to  the 
notice  of  Capt.  See,  Provost  Marshal  for  this  Con- 


WAR  RECORD. 


337 


gressioiial  District,  which  is  publishefl  in  to-day's 
paper,  by  which  it  will  be  seen  that  the  time  for 
hearing  claims  for  exemption  from  military  duty 
is  extended  to  the  5th  of  January  next.  All 
wishing  to  avail  themselves  of  this  opportunity 
can  now  proceed  to  the  'Captain's  office'  at  Roch- 
ester and  have  their  cases  duly  passed  upon;  none 
need  be  bashful  who  have  proper  cause ;  the  sooner 
such  names  are  stricken  from  the  rolls  the  better 
it  will  be  tor  all  concerned." 

"Military  Appointments. — Col.  A.  D.  Nelson 
resigned  his  commission  yesterday  as  Colonel  of 
the  Sixth  Regiment." 

"Lieutenant  Colonel  Crooks,  of  the  Seventh 
Regiment,  was  appointed  Colonel  of  the  Sixth, 
vice  Nelson,  resigned." 

"Captain  Samuel  McPhail,  of  Houston  county, 
was  appointed  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  Seventh 
Regiment,  vice  Crooks,  promoted.  Lieutenant 
Colonel  McPhail  joins  the  Indian  expedition  as 
commander  of  the  irregular  cavalry." 

"Lieutenant  Colonel  Averil],  of  the  Sixth  Reg- 
iment, reported  for  duty  yesterday.  He  left  for 
Lake  City,  and  will  take  a  volunteer  cavalry  force 
to  the  Indian  country  from  that  locality." 

"Hardee  Revised. — Captain  Saunders  has  re- 
ceived a  copy  of  Hardee's  Tactics  revised  and 
amended,  which  can  be  seen  and  examined  by 
military  men  on  calling  at  his  office.  All  officers 
should  have  a  copy  before  entering  the  field.  Capt. 
S.  is  a  perfect  military  scholar,  and  is  willing  to 
give  all  the  necessary  instructions  concerning  the 
new  work  to  all  officers  who  have  had  no  exper- 
ience in  military  matters." 

"Help  from  Wisconsin. — A  dispatch  was  re- 
ceived yesterday  from  Governor  Solomon,  stating 
that  he  had  shipped  several  hundred  thousand 
rounds  of  cartridges  to  Minnesota,  in  answer  to 
the  request  of  Governor  Ramsey." 

"More  Cavalry  Needed. — More  mounted  men 
are  wanted  on  the  frontier. 

Let  every  man  that  can  obtain  a  horse,  arms 
and  equipments,  hasten  to  the  assistance  of  the 
settlers  on  the  frontier.  There  will  be  work  for 
all  to  do. 

Our  people  must  not  think  the  emergency  is 
past." 

"Third    Regiment   Coming  Home. — Governor 

Ramsey  has  telegraphed  to  the  War  Department, 

asking  that  the  Third  Regiment  might  be  sent  to 

Minnesota  for  the  protection  of  the  frontier.  Yes- 

22 


terday  the  Governor  received  a  dispatch  from 
General  Halleck,  stating  that  his  request  would 
be  granted.  This  regiment  may  be  expected 
home  this  week,  when  it  will  be  reorganized  and 
sent  to  the  frontier." 

These  items  are  copied  at  random  from  the 
newspapers  of  the  day,  and  the  war  news  so  filled 
them  that  there  is  no  wonder  that  the  little  girl 
should  ask  her  mother  after  the  close  of  the  war 
what  they  would  fill  the  papers  with  now  ? 

With  the  war  came  a  new  form  of  taxation. 
Excise  duty,  or  any  form  of  government  control 
of  manufacturing  or  industrial  interests  were  be- 
fore unknown.  Now  most  kinds  of  business  and 
professional  men  were  subject  to  a  special  tax  in 
the  form  of  a  license,  and  personal  incomes  be- 
yond a  certain  sum  had  to  contribute  a  certain 
per  cent,  and  notices  like  this  were  common. 

"Internal  Revenue. — Attention  is  again  call- 
ed to  the  notice  of  the  Collector  of  Internal  Rev- 
enue, which  is  published  in  to-day's  paper,  all  as- 
sessments for  the  current  year  are  requested  to  be 
paid  Viefore  the  31st  day  of  December.  If  not  so 
paid  2  per  cent  per  month  will  be  added  thereto." 

On  the  15th  of  April,  1861,  President  Lincoln 
called  for  75,000  troops,  and  to  keep  up  the  delu- 
sion which  was  generally  entertained  by  the  South 
as  to  the  superiority  of  Southern  over  Northern 
men,  Jefferson  Davis  the  next  day  called  for 
32,000. 

On  the  10th  of  July,  1861,  President  Lincoln 
called  for  500,000  volunteers,  and,  according  to 
the  Adjutant  General's  report,  the  whole  number 
enlisted  before  the  close  of  the  war,  including 
officers,  was  2,157,047  white  men,  and  178,895 
colored. 

In  the  winter  of  1863-64  it  became  evident  that 
the  war  could  not  be  brought  to  a  close  before 
the  term  of  enlistment  of  the  great  bulk  of  the 
army  would  expire,  and  so  inducements  of  an 
extraordinary  character  were  held  out  for  the 
members  of  the  various  regiments  in  the  field  to 
re-enlist,  including  bounties  of  several  hundred 
dollars  and  a  promise  of  a  visit  home,  and  where 
whole  regiments  or  companies  re-enlisted,they  came 
home  with  their  officers  in  an  organized  form,  and 
as  they  returned  they  were  handsomely  received. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1864,  the  members  of  Co. 
F,  of  the  4th  Minnesota  Regiment  Veteran  Volun- 
teers were  tendered  a  reception  by  the  citizens  of 
Albert  Lea.     The  affair  was  a  cordial  outgrowth 


338 


HISTORY  OF  FLiEUBORN  COUNl'T. 


of  the  feeling  of  gratitude  which  filletl  all  hearts 
toward  the  noble  men  who  had  stood  between 
them  and  desolation.  Among  the  veterans  present 
are  remembered:  J.  Fredenburg,  B.  J.  House, 
John  Cottrell,  F.  E.  Drake,  George  C.  Snyder, 
Alfred  Taylor,'  Henry  McGraw,  Phineas  Taylor, 
William  Fenholt,  Henry  Woodruff,  A.  Wishman, 
Henry  Honse,  O.  Perkins,  Turner  Shaw,  Alfred  J. 
Knapp,  Jacob  Frost,  Ira  Lovell,  Andrew  Anderson, 
W.  Peterson,  Harrison  Bullock,  and  others.  There 
was  a  dinner  at  the  Webber  House,  with  68  plates. 
Speeches  were  made  by  A.  Armstrong,  J.  L.  Gibbs, 
George  W.  Skinner,  and  E.  C.  Stacy.  In  the 
evening  the  festivities  were  closed  by  a  grand 
ball. 

When  this  Fourth  regiment  returned  South  it 
stopped  several  days  in  La  Crosse  to  consolidate 
and  secure  transportation,  and  the  officers  and 
men  were  highly  commended  for  their  soldierly 
bearing  and  gentlemanly  deportment. 

Dr.  Wedge,  Dr.  Burnham,  and  Captain  Ruble 
used  to  keep  the  home  papers  well  supplied  with 
papers  from  the  South  when  they  could  get  hold 
of  them. 

On  the  hi\x  of  January,  1804,  when  the  draft  in 
the  State  was  ordered,  Freel)orn  county  had  sent 
302  men  into  the  army,  and  there  were  seventeen 
mere  wanted.  The  total  requisition  upon  the  State 
had  been  2,939;  of  these,  1,515  belonged  to  the 
First  Congressional  District,  and  1,424  to  the 
Second.  The  draft  was  to  be  made  up  in  this 
way;  all  the  men  of  military  age  in  each  town 
were  enrolled,  and  each  one  could  appear  before  a 
medical  board  connected  with  the  Provost  Mar- 
shal's office,  and  if  he  could  show  a  disability  his 
name  would  be  stricken  from  the  roll,  and  the 
prizes  in  this  lottery,  where  the  blanks  were  so 
distressingly  few,  would  be  drawn  from  the  reduced 
list.  But  the  malingering  in  various  parts  of  the 
district  became  so  extensive  that  the  exemptions 
were  set  aside  by  a  general  order  from  the  depart- 
ment. 

In  May,  1864,  the  district  being  behind  in  its 
quota,  the  draft  was  ordered  for  certain;  but  few, 
however,  were  required  to  be  taken  from  the 
county,  as  the  quota  was  well  nigh  filled. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  1864,  the  amount  paid  in 
the  first  congressional  district  for  commutation 
was  by  341  men,  who  contributad  an  aggregate 
of  S;i02,300. 

The  operation  of  the  draft  called  forth  consid- 


erable feeling,  as  with  improper  exemptions  and 
various  causes,  there  were  great  inequalities.  Anv 
man  who  had  drawn  a  prize  from  the  conscription 
list  could  hire  a  substitute,  as  many  did,  or  pay  a 
commutation  of  s3()0. 

The  Sanitary  and  Christian  commission  must 
not  be  omitted,  hiit  on  account  of  the  burning  of 
the  Standard  office  with  the  files  of  papers,  in  the 
spring  of  1882,  we  are  unable  to  furnish  full  ac- 
counts of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Societies  and  other 
auxiliaries  that  were  engaged  in  this  work. 

Most  of  the  regiments  in  which  were  Freeborn 
men,  re-enlisted  in  the  winter  of  1864,  with  a  \-iew 
of  seeing  the  end  of  the  rebellion,  and  of  course 
receiving  the  large  bounties  which  were  offered. 
The  privilege  of  wearing  chevrons  on  their  arms 
as  veteran  badges  also  might  have  had  some  in- 
fluence. 

The  Freeborn  county  men  who  were  in  the 
Fifth  Regiment  were  in  the  following  battles: 
Fort  Ridgely ;  Jackson,  Miss. ;  Vicksburg ;  Rich- 
mond, La.;  Fort  DeRussy:  Henderson  Hill, 
Campti,  La.;  Pleasant  Hill;  Cloutersville,  La.: 
Mansura  Bayou;  De  Glaize;  Lake  Chicott,  Tup- 
elo, Abbeyville;  Nashville. 

INDIAN  OUTBKE.Ui  OF  1862. 

Although  there  is  a  good  history  of  the  terri- 
ble scenes  oonnected  with  the  Indian  outbreak  of 
August,  181)2,  in  the  earlier  pages  of  this  work, 
yet,  as  many  of  the  chief  actors,  particularly 
those  who  defended  Fort  Ridgely,  were  and  still 
are  residents  of  Freeborn  county.  It  is  deemed 
proper  to  present  some  facts  not  recorded  there, 
and  to  indicate  the  special  part  taken  by  these 
heroic  men. 

Lieutenant  Timothy  J.  Sheehan,  the  present 
Sheriff'  of  Freeborn  county,  was  in  command  of 
Company  C,  Fifth  Regiment  Blinnesota  Volun- 
teers, and  kept  a  record  of  each  day's  doings,  of 
all  the  orders  received  and  issued,  and  from  these 
uotes  we  here  ])resent  a  remime  of  the  movements 
of  this  Company  from  the  time  when  it  left  Fort 
Ripley,  where  it  was  stationed  at  the  time  of  tlir 
outbreak. 

"SPECIAL  OBDEK  NO.  30. 

H.  D.,  Ft.  Ridgely,  June  18,  1862. 
First   Lieut.   T.   J.  Sheehan,    of    Co.  C,    Fifth 
Reg.,  Minn.  Vols.,  will   proceed  with   50  men   to 
Fort  Kidgelv,  and   there  report  to  Capt.  Marsh, 
commanding  post,  for  further  orders. 

Capt.  Francis  Hall,  Comd'g  Post." 


WAIi  BEGOBD. 


339 


"The  detachment  started  promptly  on  the  19th, 
and  marched  18  miles;  on  the  20th,  marched  20 
miles;  on  the  21st,  camped  at  Clear  Lake  after  a 
march  of  18  miles.  Reached  Elk  Kiver  on  the 
22d,  after  a  march  of  21  miles,  and  attended 
preaching.  Marched  21  miles  on  the  23d,  and 
camped  at  Industriana.  On  tlie  24th,  marched 
20  miles  and  camped  on  the  prairie;  made  20 
miles  on  the  25th;  day  warm;  all  the  boys  feel- 
ing wall,  and  so  en  to  the  28th,  when  they  ar- 
rived at  PortRidgely  and  were  warmly  welcomed." 

The  next  day,  the  29th  of  June,  Lieut.  Sheehan 
was  ordered  by  Captain  Marsh,  to  take  fifty  men 
of  Co.  C,  and  .51  men  of  Co.  B,  and  proceed  by 
the  most  expeditious  route  to  the  Yellow  Medicine 
Agency,  and  report  to  Maj.  Thomas  Galbraith, 
the  Sioux  agent,  to  protect  the  United  States  prop- 
erty during  the  annuity  payments. 

"Arrived  on  the  2d  of  July  and  went  into  camp 
on  a  knoll  about  25  rods  from  the  Government 
warehouse.  On  the  4th  of  July  they  had  a  cele- 
bration ;  used  up  a  keg  of  powder  in  practice  on 
a  howitzer.  There  were  thousands  of  Indians 
about,  including  the  Yauktons  and  Cutheads,  who 
were  not  entitled  to  pay,  but  it  was  feared 
would  make  trouble.  They  had  hi  Jeous  begging 
and  buffalo  dances.  On  the  14th  of  July 
I  estimated  that  there  were  6,700  Indians 
camped  near  there  ;  they  were  in  a  starving  con- 
dition, and  were  constantly  prowling  around,  beg- 
ging. Went  with  Lieut.  Gere  to  talk  with  the 
agent  about  issuing  provisions  to  the  Indians. 
He  said  that  he  would  soon  count  them  and  issue 
rations,  and  send  them  back  to  look  after  their 
crops,  to  stay  until  he  could  send  for  them  to 
receive  their  pay." 

"On  the  23d  of  July  some  Chippewas  killed 
two  Sioux  belonging  to  Red  Iron's  band,  within 
eighteen  miles  of  the  whole  Sioux  Nation.  In 
scalping  them  their  heads  were  completely 
skinned.  The  next  day,  the  Sioux,  about  1,500 
strong,  started  for  the  Chippewas,  mounted  and  on 
foot,  with  guns  and  ammunition,  bows  and  arrows, 
all  in  full  war  paint.  About  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  they  returned,  dejected  and  irritable." 

"On  the  26th  the  men  were  counted  and  furn- 
ished crackers  by  the  barrel,  which  would  be  emp- 
tied on  the  ground  by  the  soldiers,  and  there  was 
a  grand  scramble  for  them,  men  tumbling  over 
each  other,  but  the  soldiers  kept  them  within  due 
bounds.      It  took  forty  barrels  of    water  to   go 


I 


round,  and  when  their  stomachs  had  become  dis- 
tended, they  sat  down  on  the  grass  in  groups,  and 
smoked  and  enjoyed  themselves.  The  Indians 
not  entitled  to  rations,  were  kept  out  of  the 
ring." 

On  the  27th  of  July,  Lieut.  Sheehan  was 
requested  to  take  a  small  detachment  of  his  men 
and  go  toward  the  source  of  the  Yellow  Medicine, 
in  pursuit  of  Inkpoduta  and  his  followers,  and 
to  capture  and  bring  them  in,  alive  if  possible. 

On  the  28th  they  started  with  a  party  of  relia- 
ble citizens  to  assist  in  the  enterprise,  and  a  single 
Indian  guide,  Wausue,  who  was  a  civilized  mem- 
ber of  Mr.  Riggs'  church.  Traveled  40  miles  that 
day,  as  they  were  all  well  mounted.  On  the  29th 
they  made  35  miles  and  encamped  at  Ash  Creek. 
The  march  on  the  30th  was  due  west  and  then 
north,  and  they  saw  "Medicine  Sticks"  planted 
along  ,  showing  that  they  were  on  the  trail.  The 
next  day,  being  fatigued  and  the  horses  tired,  they 
laid  over  in  camp. 

On  the  1st  of  August  the  commmand  moved 
toward  "Hole  in  the  mountain."  On  the  2d 
started  on  the  return  march  and  arrived  on  the  3d. 

On  the  4th  were  the  first  hostile  demonstrations. 
At  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  about  1,500  red 
men  surrounded  the  camp  and  eommencad  firing 
their  guns,  and  a  party  broke  open  the  warehouse 
and  began  take  out  flour,  being  protected  by 
about  400  braves.  Lieut.  Sheehan  took  25  sol- 
diers and  got  into  the  warehouse,  marching 
through  a  large  body  of  Indian  warriors.  Gor- 
man and  Fadden,  two  of  the  agent's  employes 
came  out  to  assist  in  quelling  the  riot. 

When  quiet  was  restored,  Sheehan  got  permis- 
sion of  the  agent  to  council  with  the  Indians,  and 
the  government  interpreter  was  sent  out  for  that 
purpose.  The  leader  of  the  band  made  this 
speech  :  "We  are  the  braves,  we  have  sold  our 
land  to  the  Great  Father,  and  we  think  he  intends 
to  give  us  what  he  has  promised  us,  but  we  can't 
get  it  ;  we  are  starving,  and  must  have  something 
to  eat." 

They  were  told  that  they  should  have  asked  the 
agent  for  food  before  breaking  open  the  store- 
house. That  if  the  Great  Father  knew  what  they 
had  done,  he  would  be  very  angry. 

The  red  man  answered,  "Almost  every  day  we 
have  asked  him,  but  he  gives  us  nothing.  Last 
night  at  our  coimcil  fire  we  all  said,  we  must  have 
bread.     We  want  you  to  ask  him  for  us  for  some- 


340 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  G0UNT7. 


thing  to  eat.  We  know  that  our  Great  Father 
would  be  mad  if  we  kill  the  soldiers." 

They  were  asked,  "if  they  got  a  good  issue  of 
provisions  to-morrow,  if  they  would  at  once  retire  ?" 
to  which  they  consented. 

Major  Galbraith  then  issued  an  order  to  Lieut. 
Sheehan  to  direct  the  interpreter  to  order  the 
Indians  to  meet  him  in  council  on  the  morrow,  and 
to  accept  the  food  he  would  distribute.  Major 
Galbraith  also  ordered  the  tlour  to  be  re-convejed 
into  the  warehouse,  but  the  immense  horde  of 
savages  prevented  this,  and  a  liberal  issue  was 
made  under  the  urgent  advioe  of  Lieut.  Sheehan, 
and  they  retired  fully  satisfied  that  they  had  car- 
ried their  point. 

On  Tuesday,  August  5th,  two  Indians  who  were 
identified  as  being  concerned  in  the  acts  of  vio- 
lence the  day  before,  were  arrested  and  locked  up 
by  order  of  the  Agent,  who  started  a  team  off  with 
his  family,  which  was  driven  bad.,  and  the  threat 
made  that  they  could  not  go  off  imtil  the  men 
were  released,  which  he  directed  to  be  done.  Word 
was  sent  to  Capt.  Marsh  at  Fort  Kidgely  as  to  the 
trouble  at  Yellow  Medicine,  and  the  Captain 
promptly  ordered  the  provisions  and  clothing  to 
be  issued  at  once,  coming  himself  on  the  6tb,  and 
the  issue  was  made  the  next  day. 

On  the  10th  of  August,  as  there  was  no  prospect 
of  an  immediate  payment  of  the  annuities,  the 
command  prepared  to  return  to  the  Fort,  and  took 
up  the  line  of  March  the  next  day,  going  25  miles 
and  bivouacking  at  Redwood. 

The  next  day  they  arrived  at  Fort  Ridgely; 
halting  near  the  Fort,  they  were  met  by  music, 
and  marched  inside  in  good  order. 

The^-  spent  a  few  days  in  preparation,  and  on 
the  17th  of  August  received  orders  to  proceed  to 
Fort  Ripley.  Started  at  7  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  marched  23  miles,  and  went  into  bivouac  at 
Cumming"sFarm.  The  next  day  they  got  as  far  as 
apoint  between  New  Auburn  and  Glencoe,  and  after 
being  in  camp  half  an  hour,  Corporal  McLean  of 
Co.  B,  dashed  into  their  midst  with  the  following 
order : 

"HE.\l)ylAliTEIiS  FoKT  KiDGELT,    / 

August  18th,   lSfi2.  i 

Lieut.  Sheehan; 

It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  you  should  return 
with  your  command  immediately  to  this  post.  The 
Indians  are  raising  hell  at  the  lower  agency. 
Beturn  as  soon  as  possible. 

JoH.N  S.  Maush, 
Captain  Commanding  Post." 


Lieut.  Sheehan  started  to  return  at  once,  and 
on  the  way  met  a  second  dispatch,  urging 
haste;  kept  up  the  march  and  arrived  the  next 
morning,  having  made  a  forced  march  of  42 
miles  in  nine  and  one-half  hours.  On  the  way. 
they  came  across  families  fleeing  from  the  mur- 
derous tomahawk  and  scalping  knife. 

On  August  li)th,  the  day  of  arrival,  Lieut. 
Sheehan  took  command,  Capt.  Marsh  having  been 
shot,  and  all  the  available  men  who  had  Hocked  in 
from  the  country  around  were  armed  and  placed 
under  discipline.  The  Indians  who  were  seen 
approaching  were  shelled  and  kept  from  advanc- 
ing. The  siege  actually  commenced  on  the  20th, 
and  an  account  of  it  will  not  be  repeated  here,  as 
it  appears  in  the  history  of  the  Sioux  Massacre. 
.'Vmong  the  civilians  who  were  present  were  Mr. 
G.  C.  Wyckoff,  Clark  W.  Thompson's  Secretary, 
who  was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  at  the 
time;  J.  C.  Ramsey,  brother  of  the  Governor;  A.  J. 
VanVorhes, editor  of  the  "Stillwater  Messenger;" 
and  Maj.  E.A.C.  Hatch.  This  party  brought  $108,- 
000  in  gold,  and  came  in  to  assist  in  its  payment, 
and  they  rendered  valuable  assistance.  It  may  be 
mentioned  that  the  gold  was  turned  over  to  Lieut. 
Sheehan,  and  buried  within  the  inclosure,  and  a 
dispatch  sent  to  Mr.  Thompson,  indicating  where 
it  was,  that  in  case  of  the  massacre  of  the  inmates 
of  the  fort,  it  could  afterward  be  found.  In  due 
time  it  was  turned  over  to  Mr.  Thompson  and  a 
receipt  taken. 

On  the  2d  of  September  a  detachment  was  sent  to 
reinforce  Capt.  <Trant,  under  command  of  Colonel 
McPhail.  About  1(3  miles  from  camp  they  met  a 
large  force  of  Indians,  and  Lieut.  Sheehan  was 
ordered  to  return  to  Fort  Kidgely  to  report  to 
Col.  Sibley.  The  Indians  saw  him  start  and 
chased  him  about  seven  miles,  tiring  sct)res  of 
shots,  but  he  got  through  safely. 

Lieut.  Sheehan's  report  continues  until  the  Dlst 
of  October,  when  the  companies  of  the  .'ith,  were 
ordered  to  join  the  regiment.  There  was  rejoic- 
ing as  these  men  who  had  been  ba])tized  with 
blood  in  the  Indian  war,  were  anxious  to  try  their 
hands  in  fighting  Rebels. 

On  the  26th  of  September,  1862,  Lieut.  Shee- 
han was  promoted  to  Captain  of  the  company  he 
so  gallantly  led  in  the  terrible  seven  days  of  peril 
at  Fort  Ridgely. 

To  furnish  an  idea  of  how  completely  the  pub- 
lic mind   was  absorbed  by    these  blood-curdling 


WAR  RECORD. 


341 


events,  an  extract  from  the  "Pioneer  Democrat"  of 
St.  Paul  of  the  24th  of  August,  1862,  is  presen- 
ted, including  the  head  lines  which  were  display- 
ed in  "Chicago  Times"  style. 

"THE  INDIAN  WAR. 


THE    LATEST    NEWS DISPATCH    FROM  LIEUT.    SHEE- 

HAN — FOKT     ATTACKED    EVBBY    HOUR 

CANNOT  HOLD  OUT  MUCH  LONGER. 


THE  LITTLE     BAND  ALMOST   EXHAUSTED INTEREST- 
ING ACCOUNT  OF  THE  INDIAN  ATTACK  ON 
THE  FORT. 


GALL.4NTRY  OF  LT.  SHEEHAN THE    RED    SKINS    RE- 
PULSED  NAMES    OF  THE  KILLED  AND 

WOUNDED. 


LATER      FROM      NEW    ULM — DISP.iTCH      FROM    JUDGE 

FLANDRAU LETTER    FROM   MR.  MTRICK 

FROM  GOV.  SIBLET's  COMMAND. 


LIEUT.     SHEEHAN  S    DISPATCH. 


Fort  Ridglet,  Aug.  21,  2  p.  Ji. 
Gov.  Alexander  Ramsey: 

We  can  hold  this  place  but  little  longer,  unless 
reinforced.  We  are  being  attacked  almost  every 
hour,  and  unless  assistance  is  rendered  we  cannot 
hold  out  much  longer.  Our  little  band  is  becom- 
ing exhausted  and  decimated.  We  had  hoped  to 
be  reinforced  to-day,  but  as  yet  can  hear  of  none 
coming. 

T.  J.  Sheehan, 
Co.  C,  Fifth  Regiment  Minnesota  Vols., 
Commanding  Post. 

LETTER  FROM  A.  J.  VAN  VORHES,  ESQ. 

Fort  Ridgelt,  Aug,  21,  1862,  a.  m. 
T(i  the  Editors  of  tlie  Pioiurr  and  Democrat: 

On  yesterday  I  sent  you  by  messenger,  a  full  ac- 
count of  affairs  at  this  place  and  vicinity ;  but 
fearing  the  messenger  was  cut  off,  who  also  bore 
important  dispatches  to  headquarters,  I  will  brief- 
ly recapitulate  before  proceeding  to  detail  the  im- 
portant events  of  yesterday  afternoon. 


I  need  not  detail  the  horrible  butcheries  at  the 
Upper  and  Lower  Sioux  Agencies,  at  New  Ulm, 
and  throughout  this  entire  region,  as  you  have  al- 
ready been  advised  of  the  terrible  details. 

*  *  *  ^  * 

By  his  energy,  Lieut.  Sheehan  inspired  all 
(vith  hope  and  confidence  that  the  possition  could 
be  held  until  reinforced  from  Fort  Snelling. 
Every  thing  the  hurry  and  exigencies  of  the  time 
could  suggest,  seemed  to  have  been  done  to  meet 
the  emergency.  Small  squads  of  Indians  contin- 
ued to  prowl  about  in  the  distance,  but  were  usu- 
ally shelled  away  by  the  accurate  shots  of  Sergeant 
Jones,  the  old  and  experienced  artillerist  at  this 
post." 

Mr.  Van  Vorhes  desei'ibes  the  events  of  the 
siege  up  to  that  time.  The  letters  alluded  to  from 
Judge  Flandrau  and  others  were  from  the  seat  of 
war  and  of  absorbing  interest  at  that  time. 

In  order  to  obtain  a  list  of  the  men  who  were 
under  Col.  Sheehan 's  command,  and  who  are  the 
the  heroes  of  that  obstinately  defended  fort,  a  let- 
ter was  sent  to  him  by  the  compilers  of  this  work, 
to  which  he  replied  as  follows: 

"Albert  Lea,  Minn.,  August  4,  1882. 

Oentlemeii : — Your  kind  note  is  received  and  I  at 
once  hasten  to  comply  with  your  request,  and  en- 
close the  roster  of  the  men  who  were  in  the  fort 
with  me  on  that  memorable  occasion,  and  to  whom 
the  country  is  indebted  for  a  successful  resist- 
ance to  the  murderous,  inhuman  savages,  who 
were  thirsting  for  the  heart's  blood  of  every  in- 
mate of  that  devoted  post. 

I  have  often  thought  that  the  difficulties  at- 
tending the  defence  of  that  agency  were  unappre- 
ciated, because  calling  it  a  fort  was  a  misnomer. 
The  idea  usually  conveyed  by  this  word  invblves 
a  rampart,  breastworks,  a  stockade,  with  perhaps 
a  ditch,  and  a  chevaut,  de  frise,  or  at  least  an  en- 
closure, but  here  there  was  a  mere  group  of  build- 
ings, which,  of  course,  afforded  shelter  to  a  cer- 
tain extent,  and  it  is  a  fact  that  if  the  unnumber- 
ed hordes  of  assailants  had  displayed  one  half  the 
courage  exhibited  by  the  fearless  defenders  of  the 
place,  they  could  have  carried  it  at  any  time  dur- 
in;,  the  fight.  On  one  side  was  a  level  plateau, 
on  the  other  sides  were  deep  ravines,  most  admir- 
ably adapted  to  the  skulking  habits  of  the  blood- 
thirsty foe,  and  when  about  to  make  a  rush  to 
carry  the  place,  they  would  mass  a  lot  of  war- 
riors on  the  plain,  who,  with   demoniac  yells  and 


342 


niSTORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUJSTY 


frantic  gestures,  would  make  a  feint  of  charging 
from  that  side,  while  the  real  attacking  party 
would  skulk  up  through  the  ravines  and  make  a 
desperate  rush  to  get  inside  of  tlie  temporary  ob- 
structions we  had  piled  up  in  the  form  of  forage 
and  provisions.  They  confidently  expected  to  set 
the  buildings  on  fire  by  arrows  armed  with  ig- 
nited punk.  To  prevent  this  we  cut  scuttles 
through  the  roofs,  and  with  water  would  extin- 
guish each  arrow  as  it  fell,  but  as  the  supply  of 
water  was  sixty  rods  away,  and  was  cut  off  by  the 
the  wily  savages,  we  foresaw  that  unless  relief 
came  sooner  than  we  had  reason  to  expect,  we 
would  be  out  of  water.  So  at  night  pieces  of 
scantling  were  placed  on  the  roofs  at  suitable  in- 
tervals, in  a  longitudinal  way,  and  buckets  of 
sand  drawn  up  aud  spread  to  present  an  incom- 
bustible covering. 

There  was  plenty  of  ammunition  for  the  field 
pieces,  but  that  for  the  musketry  ran  short, 
and  we  broke  up  the  case-shot  and  used  the  pow- 
der to  make  cartridges,  which  was  done  by  Mrs. 
Dr.  Muller,  Mrs.  Reynolds,  Mrs.  Cummings  and 
others,  who  worked  night  and  day.  It  should  be 
stated  as  a  remarkable  fact,  that  among  all  the 
sick  and  wounded  who  sought  shelter  in  the  fort, 
and  who  were  under  Dr.  Muller's  care,  that  only 
died,  and  that  among  the  other  skillful  surgical 
operations,  the  Doctor  disarticulated  a  rib  aud  re- 
moved an  arrow  from  a  man's  lung,  and  he  recov- 
ered. 

There  wt^re  not  arms  enough  to  put  iu  tlio 
hands  of  all  the  able-bodied  citizens,  but  when  a 
man  fell  his  weapon  was  given  to  another. 

On  arriving  at  the  post  after  that  fatiguing 
march  of  forty-two  hours,  wliich  was  accomjilish- 
ed  by  the  men  taking  off  their  stockings  and 
shoes,  and  depositing  everything  except  their 
gun  and  twenty  rounds  of  ammimition,  in  the  sin- 
gle mule  team  we  had  along,  and  then,  to  use  an 
unmilitary  phrase,  striking  a  "dog  trot,"  over 
hill  and  vale  with  the  briefest  breathing  spells. 
We  found  the  little  garrison  surrounded  with  five 
hundred  men,  women,  and  children,  in  an  alarm- 
ing condition  of  panic,  weeping  and  howliug  as 
though  the  scalping-knife  was  actually  iu  their 
hair. 

The  soldiers  and  citizens  saw  the  necessity  for 
strict  subordination,  and  tlieir  co-operation  was 
efficient  beyond  all  praise,  and  I  wish  you  would 
particulariy  emphasize  the  value  of   the  services 


rendered  by  Mr.  0.  G.  Wyckoff.  Mr.  A.  J.  Van 
Vorhes,  Mr.  J.  C.  Kamsey,  and  Major  Hatch,who8e 
counsel,  advice,  and  support  in  that  trying  time 
lias  led  me  to  regard  them  as  God's  nobltmen. 

I  should  have  mentioned  above  that  when  it 
rained,  as  it  did  in  a  copious  way  during  the 
siege,  every  available  barrel  and  vessel  was  used 
to  catch  water,  and  so  we  were  thus  providentially 
saved  from  perishing  of  thirst. 

The  six  lialf-breeds  who  deserted  the  night 
before  the  principal  iirst  attack,  had  stuffed  the 
cannon  with  rags,  which  was  not  discovered  until 
the  attempt  was  made  to  discharge  them,  and  this 
well  nigh  created  a  panic  which  would  have  been 
immediately  fatal,  but  jjnmipt  and  energetic 
measures  soon  drew  the  obstructing  charges,  and 
their  belching  forth  of  shot  and  shell  was  the 
sweetest  kind  of  music  to  us.  but  it  was  death  and 
dismay  to  the  dastardly  devils  who  were  after  our 
scalps. 

I  need  not  say  that  I  rejoice  at  the  opportunity 
to  furnish  the  names  of  the  men  who  defended 
those  helpless  women  and  children  during  those 
seven  horrible  days  and  sleepless  nights,  which, 
even  now,  can  hardly  be  recalled  without  a  shud- 
der; for  if  there  had  been  any  blanching  in  the 
presence  of  the  overhanging  doom,  or  any  falter- 
ing iu  the  execution  of  the  commands  that  every 
moment  made  imperative,  not  a  living  soul  would 
have  remained  to  tell  the  tale  of  the  hideous 
butchery  that  would  have  followed. 

On  the  intli  of  August  the  following  men  were 
at  Fort  Kidgely,  members  of  Company  B.  Fifth 
Regiment,  2d  Lieut.  Thomas  P.  Gere  com- 
manding : 

Privates  Ellis,  Pfremer,  McAllister,  Smith,  Cul- 
ver, Annies,  Atkins,  Boyer,  Chase,  Elphee,  French, 
Good,  Ives,  Lester,  Lindsey,  Martin,  Magill,  Pray, 
Perrington,  Rufridge,  Robinson,  Scripture,  Spor- 
nity.  Farmer,  Taylor.  Underwood.  Williamson, 
Wilson,Wall,  Sergt.  .Tones,  aud  Sutler  Randall;  of 
whom  six  were  sick,  and  three  hospital  attendants. 

At  dark  that  night  the  following  returned,  hav- 
ing escaped  from  the  ambuscade  at  Lower  Agency 
Ferry,  but  were  not  effective  that  night:  Sergt. 
Bishop,  Corporals  Winslow,  Huntley,  and  Hawley, 
Privates  Brennan,  Carr,  Dunn,  Hutchinson,  Mc- 
Gowan,  Rebenski,  Steward,  Seriling,  Svendson 
(  wounded  i,  VanBui'en,  and  Miirray. 

There  came  iu  about  midnight,  Privates  Foster, 
Parsley,  and  Gardner. 


WAM  RECORD. 


343 


Detachments  of  Co.  C.  of  the  Fifth  Minnesota 
Infantry  who  were  at  Fort  Ridgely: 

OFFICERS. 

T.  J.  Sheehan,  F.  A.  Blackmer, 

John  P.  Hicks,  M.  A.  Chamberlain, 

PRIVATES. 

J.  C.  Butler,  John  C.  Eoss, 

Dennis  Porter,  Edward  D.  Brooks, 

Joel  Bullock,  James  M.  Brown, 

S.  P.  Beighley,  Z.  Chute, 

S.  Cook,  Charles  E.  Chapel, 

Charles  H.  Dills,  S.  W.  Dogan, 

Daniel  Dills,  L.  H.  Decker. 

Lyman  A.  Eggleston,       Halver  Elefson, 
Martin  Ellingson,  Charles  J.  Grandy, 

Mark  M.  Greer,  Andrew  Gilbrandson, 

Jerome  P.  Green,  A.  E.  Grout, 

Jas  Honan,  Philo  Henry, 

Charles  Dills,  D.  M.  Hunt, 

Lyman  C.  Jones,  A.  J.  Luther, 

F.  M.  McEeynolds,  Dennis  Moreau, 

Orlando  McFall,  J.  H.  Meade, 

John  D.  Miller,  Peter  Nisson, 

John  McCall,  Andrew  Peterson, 

Ed  Roth,  C.  O.  Eussell, 

Charles  A.  Eose,  B.  F.  Eoss, 

Walter  S.  Eussell,  J.  M.  Rice, 

Isaac  Shortledge,  Josiah  Weekley, 

Geo.  Wiggins,  James  M.  T.  Bright, 

N.  J.  Lowthiau. 

On  Tuesday  morning  I  arrived  with  my  com- 
mand bringing  with  me  51  men,  above  named, 
Corpl.  McLean  included. 

On  Tuesday  p.  m.,  there  joined  from  detached 
service  at  St.  Peter:  1st  Lieut.  N.  K.  Culver,  A.  A. 
Q.  M.;  Sergt.  J.  G.  McGrew;  Wagoner,  Hoyt; 
Privates,  Baker,  Farrver,  Nehrhood,  Wait. 

Tuesday  night  there  came  in  wounded  from 
the  ferry:  Privates  Blodget  (shot  through  the 
bowels,)  and  Sutherland,  (shot  through  the 
lungs. 

Wednesday  morning  other  men  from  the  ferry 
arrived.  Private  Eose  escaped  across  the  country 
to  Henderson.  Therefore,  at  the  time  of  the  at- 
tack on  Fort  Ridgely  on  Wedesday,  August  20th, 
my  command  consisted  of  Company  B,  60  men, 
51  effective;  Company  C,  50  men,  all  effective; 
Renville  Rangers  and  citizens,  50  men;  Orderly 
I  Sergt.,  1  man ;  Sutler,  1  man.  Total  effective  men 
first  days  fight,  August  20th,  153  men  under 
arms. 


Three  soldiers  were  killed  and  thirteen  wound- 
ed. Four  citizens  were  killed  and  twenty-six 
wounded  during  the  seige  from  the  20th  to  the 
28th. 

Of  seven  men  who  volunteered,  one  after  another, 
to  carry  dispatches  to  St.  Peter,  only  John  Mc- 
Call and  Antoine  Frenien,  a  half  breed,  got 
through  alive. 

Most  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 
Lieut.  T.  J.  Sheehan. 
Late  Col.  5th  Minn.  Infantry." 

That  it  may  be  seen  that  Mr.  Sheehan's  services 
were  appreciated  after  joining  his  regiment  at 
the  front,  where  he  served  until  the  end  of  the 
war,  being  at  the  close  commissioned  Lieutenant 
Colonel.  We  clip  from  the  Pioneer  Press  of  the 
16th  of  November,  1865,  the  following  item: 

"A  Handsome  Gift. — We  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  yesterday  a  beautiful  gold  badge  of  the 
16th  A.  C.  suspended  from  a  gold  shield  of  a  U. 
S.  Double  Eagle,  to  which  is  attached  a  handsome 
gold  safety  chain  and  pin. 

Upon  the  polished  surface  of  the  shield  and 
badge  is  engraved  the  following,  which  speaks 
the  object  of  the  donors.  Col.  Houston  and  others 
of  the  5th  Minn.  In'.'antry : 

'  Presented  to  Lieut.  Col.  T.  J.  Sheehan,  Fifth 
regiment  Minnesota  V.  V.  Infantry,  for  services 
rendered  during  the  rebellion,  from  October  18th, 
1861,  to  September  5th,  1865;  Fort  Ridgely, 
Minnesota,  August  20th  and  22d,  1862;  Jackson, 
Mississippi,  May  Hth,  1863;  Siege  and  assault  of 
Vicksburg,  from  May  18th  to  July  4th,  1863; 
Tupelo,  Mississippi,  July  14th  and  15th,  1864; 
Abbey ville,  Mississippi,  August  13th,  1864;  Cam- 
paign against  Price  in  Arkansas,  fall  of  1864; 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  December  15th  and  16th, 
1864;  Siege  and  capture  of  Spanish  Fort,  Ala- 
bama, from  March  27th,  1865 — captured  April 
9th,  1865.' 

Such  a  gift  is  felt  by  the  soldier  to  be  priceless. 
Colonel  Sheehan  will  wear  this  with  pride,  in 
those  halcyon  days  which  we  trust  will  accompany 
him  to  a  ripe  old  age." 

So  far  as  these  gallant  men  are  concerned, 
whatever  they  may  have  been  since,  or  whatever 
they  are  now,  or  however  regarded  by  their  fel- 
low citzens,  it  can  be  said  of  them  as  Daniel  Web- 
ster said  of  Massachuetts,  "  the  past  at  least  is  se- 
cure; there  is  Concord,  Lexington,  and  Bunker 
Hill,  and  there  they  will  remain   forever."     There 


344 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


is  FortKipley,  Yellow  Medicine,  and  Fort  Kidgely, 
and  there  they  will  remain  forever;  and  the  deeds 
of  this  heroic  land  shall  be  inscribed  on  the  indel- 
ible roll  of  fame. 

The  following  are  names  of  Freeborn  county 
men  who  enlisted  in  the  15th  Wisconsin  regiment, 
which  was  made  up  of  Norwegians,  and  which  has 
been  kindly  furnished  us  by  the  Adjutant  General 
of  that  State: 

Captain  Mons  Grinager,  2d  Lt.  Glaus   Solberg, 
Ist  Lt.  Ole  Peterson,        Sergt.  Tosten  Erickson, 
2d  Lt.  Elleud  Erickson,  Corp.  N.  Pederson, 
Sergt.  Jens  Jacobson,       Corp.  Ole  N.  Danenen. 

PRIVATES. 


Engrebet  Amundson, 
Ole  Everson, 
Lars  Halverson, 
Ole  T.  Jenson, 
Jens  Jenson, 
Iver  Jacobson, 
Nils  Nilson, 
Knud  Olson, 
Jacob  Olson, 
Lars  Sebjornson, 
Peter  Peterson. 


Halver  Aslakson, 
Peder  Bjuth, 
Christian  Gulbrandson, 
Peder  Hulgerson, 
Lars  Jargenson, 
Christopher  Johnson, 
Andreas  Madison, 
GuUbrand  Olson, 
Helge  Olson, 
Huagen  Pederson, 
Iver  Olson, 
Rolof  Tykson, 

From  the  Adjutant  General's  report  we  are  en- 
abled to  obtain  the  following  list  of  volunteers, 
who  enlisted  from  Freeborn  county  during  the 
Eebellion,  which  will  serve  to  some  extent,  as  a 
recapitulation  of  the  different  lists  already  pre- 
sented. There  is  no  doubt  that  many  are  ex- 
cluded from  the  list  by  incorrect  registering, 
being  credited  to  other  counties,  and  other  causes. 

SECOND     REGIMENT     INTANTET,     OOMPANI     A. PRI- 
VATE. 

Wesley  Rogers. 

COMPANT    K. PRIVATE.S. 

Charles  Gahagen. 

Warren  Osborne;  promoted  Corporal  and  Ser- 
geant. 

THIRD  REGIMENT  INFANTRY. 

Albert  C.  Wedge,  Assistant  Surgeon;  promoted 
Surgeon. 

COMPANY    D. 

Hendrick  Peterson,  Corporal;  promoted  Ser- 
geant. 

Hans  Enstrom,  Second  Lieutenant;  promoted 
First  Lieutenant  and  Captain. 


COMPANY    K. PRIVATE. 

Benjamin  H.  Langworthy. 

FOURTH    REGIMENT    INFANTRY,    COMPANY    F. 

Asa  W.  White,  Captain. 

Adrian  K.  Norton,  First  Sergeant;  promoted 
First  Lieutenant  and  Captain. 

Osborne  J.  Wheeler,  Sergeant. 

Hannibal  Bickford,  Sergeant. 

Reuben  Williams,  Sergeant. 

Frank  B.  Fobes,  Sergeant;  promoted  Second 
Lieutenant. 

Loren  Blackmer,  Corporal. 

Justice  C.  Stearns,  Corporal. 

Enoch  Croy,  Corporal. 

Jeremiah  Fredenburg,  Corporal. 

Richard  A.  White,  Corporal. 

Perry  H.  Jewett,  Corporal. 

Erastus  D.  Porter,  Corporal. 

Henry  House,  Musician. 

John  Pease,  Musician. 

John  Cottrell,  Wagoner. 


Charles  J.  Allen, 
Charles  Bromwicb, 
Benjamin  B.  Baker, 
George  Callahan, 
Almon  H.  Cottrell, 
Horace  L.  Dow, 
Lucas  Eckhart, 
John  Eichler, 
Elias  B.  Farr, 
William  Fenholt, 
William  S.  Hand, 
Benjamin  J.  House, 
Chester  Holcombe, 
John  D.  Hochstrasser, 
Milton  M.  Luce, 
William  H.  Lovell, 
Hiram  M.  Luce, 
Alexander  Morrell^ 
Charles  Parvin, 
Ira  O.  Russell, 
George  C.  Snyder, 
James  Shields, 
Hollis  E.  Sargent, 
Still  man  Sanders, 
Alfred  L.  Taylor, 


Joseph  W.  Burdick, 

Robert  W.  Bebee. 

Harrison  Buckley, 

Jacob  Croy, 

Frederick  L.  Cutler, 

Francis  E.  Drake, 

Ole  J.  Ellingson, 

Jacob  C.  Frost, 

Mohlon  Frost, 

George  W.  Gile, 
Benjdmin  H.  Hathaway, 

Barhart  Habercrom, 
William  Hanson, 
Joseph  A.  Knapp, 
Luther  I.  Lovell, 
Henry  R.  Loomis, 
Joseph  Meyers, 
Orville  F.  Peck, 
William  C.  Peck, 
John  Ryan, 
Martin  L.  Seoville, 
Nicholas  J.  Sandborg, 
Thomas  Smith, 
Phineas  R.  Taylor, 


COMPANY    K — PRIVATE. 

Nathan  Thomas. 


WAli  RECORD. 


345 


FIFTH  REGIMENT  INFANTRY COM  P ANY  C. 

Francis  Hall,  Captain;  promoted  Major. 

Timothy  J.  Sheehan,  First  Lieut.;  promoted 
Captain. 

Frank  B.  Fobes,  Second  Lieutenant;  promoted 
First  Lieutenant. 

Horatio  D.  Brown,  First  Sergeant;  promoted 
Second  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  of  Eleventh 
Kegiment. 

John  P.  Hicks,  Sergeant. 

Dorr  K.  Stacy,  Sergeant;  promoted  First  Lieu- 
tenant. 

Manhard  A.  Chamberlain,  Sergeant. 

Dwight  E.  Brooks,  Corporal. 

Horace  M.  Beach,  Corporal;  promoted  Ser- 
geant. 

John  C.  Ross,  Corporal;  promoted  Sergeant. 

Wm.  Young,  Corporal;  promoted  Sergeant. 

John  S.  Godley,  Corporal;   promoted  Sergeant. 

Wm.  Thompson,  Corporal. 

Aaron  Canfield,  Musician. 

Nathan  E.  Babcock,  Musician. 

John  McCall,  Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 


David  Ames, 
Leonard  R.  Beighley, 
Simeon  Beighley, 
Charles  H.  Dills, 
Daniel  DOls, 
Lyman  A.  Eggleston, 
Charles  J.  Grandy, 
Jerome  P.  Green, 
Philo  Henry. 
William  J.  Horning, 
Lyman  C.  Jones, 
Isaac  Kendall, 
Andrew  J.  Luther, 
Frank  M.  McReynolds, 
Terrence  McMahan, 
Peter  Nillson, 
Loriston  C.  Roberts, 
Benjamin  F.  Ross, 
James  M.  Rice, 
Ole  Oleson  Stugo, 
Andrew  W.  St.  John, 
Josiah  Weakley, 
George  H.  Wiggins, 
Stephen  L.  Beardsley, 
L.  W.  Grandy. 

OOMPANY 

Napoleon  Hard. 


Edward  D.  Brooks, 
Joel  L.  Bullock, 
David  Crawford, 
Charles  Dills, 
Samuel  W.  Dogan, 
Martin  Ellingson, 
Andrew  Gilbrandson, 
James  Honan, 
Nathan  A.  Hunt, 
Richard  O.  Hitchcock, 
Curtis  B.  Kellar, 
Wm.  F.  Lawrence, 
Nicholas  Lowthian, 
John  Melchy, 
John.  B.  Miller, 
Andrew  Peterson, 
Charles  O.  Russell, 
Walter  S.  Russell, 
Isaac  Shodridge, 
Aven  Oleson  Stugo, 
John  Smith, 
Oliver  P.  Williams, 
James  Youugs,  Jr., 
John  Reed, 

D — PRIVATE. 


OOMPANY  F. 

Charles  H.  Boswick,  Wagoner. 


TENTH  REGIMENT  INFANTRY'. 

Alfred  H.  Burnham,  Assistant  Surgeon. 
Louis  Proebsting,  Hospital  Steward;  promoted 
Assistant  Surgeon. 


COMPANY  E. 

James  A.  Robson,  Captain. 

John  W.  Heath,  First  Lieutenant;  promoted 
Captain. 

Charles  Kittleson,  Second  Lieutenant;  promoted 
First  Lieutenant. 

Eli  Ash,  First  Sergeant;  promoted  Seccmd 
Lieutenant  and  First  Lieutenant  Company  G. 

Eli  K.  Pickett,  Sergeant;  promoted  Secopd 
Lieutenant  Company  I. 

George  H.  Partridge,  Sergeant. 

Wm.  H.  Lowe,  Sergeant. 

James  L.  Cook,  Sergeant. 

George  Osborn,  Corporal. 

John  G.  Dunning,  Corporal. 

Henry  D.  Burlingame,  Corporal;  promoted 
Sergeant. 

Jedediah  W.  Devereux,  Corporal. 

Rufus  Kelly,  Corporal. 

Alva  S.  Stei'us,  Corporal. 

Christian  AlspaTigh,  Corporal. 

Lars  Wicks,  Corporal. 

John  L.  Scoville,   Musician. 

Peter  E.  Olson,  Musician. 

Asa  Hurd,  Wagoner. 

Daniel  Anderson,  Private;  promoted  Corporal. 

Andrew  Black,  Private;  promoted  Hospital 
Steward. 

Cyrus  E.  Bullock,  Private;  promoted  Corporal. 

Patrick  Morin,  Private;  promoted  Corporal. 

Loren  S.  Meeker,  Private;  promoted  Com.  Ser- 
geant 

Hiram  J.  Rice,  Private;  promoted  Corporal. 

PRIVATES. 

Andrew  Anderson, 
Stengrew  Benson, 
Samuel  E.  Bullock, 
Edwin  Brownesville, 
Rodney  M.  Campbell, 
Dan.  E.  Cozzen, 


Andrew  Anderson, 
Gilbert  G.  Barden, 
James  Bowen, 
Henry  O.  Bartlett, 
W.  G.  Carpenter, 
Fred.  Chamberlain, 


George  H.  Chandler,        Samuel  Clark, 


Russel  B.  Davis, 


Francis  W.  Davis, 


Matthew  L.  Dearraan,    .John  Edson, 
William  E.  Everett,         Engeret  Erickson, 


346 


muTOHY  OF  FREEBORN  COUyXY. 


George  W.  Gates, 
Thomas  Iverson, 
Henry  Johnson, 
John  C.  Kaiser, 
Fritz  Maixner, 
Elijah  W.  Owen, 
Benjamin  I'ark, 
Cyrus  S.  Prescott, 
Charles  Peterson, 
Robert  H.  Reynolds, 
Jacob  Stewart. 
Peter  P.  Shoyer, 
Leander  J.  Thomas, 
Patrick  Tausty, 
Reuben  Wilsey, 


Lorenzo  Dow  Godberg, 

Ole  Iverson, 

Erick  C.  Johnson, 

James  Lair, 

Christopher  Mickleson, 

Israel  H.  Pace, 

Isaac  Perry, 

John  Peterson, 

John  L.  Reynolds, 

James  C.  Seely, 
James  A.  Smith, 

Henry  Smith, 
Joseph  S.  Trigg, 
Samuel  Wannemaker. 
Asa  Ward. 


FIRST  BATT.ILION  INFANTRY 
COMPANY  F. 

Clark  -Andrews.  Second  Lieutenant. 

FIRST  REGIMENT  HEAVY  ARTILLERY. 


John  Blvthe. 


COMPANY  B.  PBIVATE. 


COMPANY  C. 


George  S.  Ruble,  Sr.  First  Lieutenant. 
Jonas  C.  Bane,  Sergeant. 
Hannibal  Bickl'ord,  Sergeant. 


John  L.  Bliss, 
Henry  Lawrence, 
Oliver  Andrews. 


John  Buckley, 
Louis  Mar])ie, 


FIRST    REGIMENT  MOUNTED    RANGERS. 
COMPANY  H. 

George  S.  Ruble,  Captain. 
Adolph  Walter,  Sergeant. 
Charles  T.  D.  Marlett,  Corporal. 
Charles  R.  Rickercker,  Teamster. 
John  Van  Antwerp,  Blacksmith. 
David  T.  Colvin,  Wagoner. 


John  M.  Ames, 
Frank  D.  Hardy, 
Matthew  Hogan, 
James  F.  Nadeau, 
Micliael  Sheehau, 
Abram  L.  Van  Asdal, 
Jesse  Wheeler, 
Ed.  A.  Wright. 


Pat.  Bannon, 
Harvey  Hill, 
James  Morrison, 
M.  W.  Perry, 
David  Tubbs. 
Amherst  D.  Wait, 
Leroy  B.  Woodruff, 


COMPANY    M — PRIV.^TES. 

Martin  O.  Guudersijn,     Egbert  Hanson. 
John  Johnson. 

.SECOND     REGIMENT,    CAVALRY. 
C'OMPANY      A — PRIVATE. 

Woodworth  Lee. 

COMPANY      B. 

WilUiani  M.  Catherwood,  Com.  Sergeant. 

PRIVATES. 


Clraence  H.  Shafner, 
James  F.  Spafford, 


Julian  F.  Shafner 
Alma  B.  Sija. 


COMPANY  c. 

Frederick  L.  Cutler,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Adelbert  E.  Pettingill,  Commodore  Sergeant. 
Charles  E.  Fitzsimmons,  Sergeant. 
George  P-  Conrad,  Cor]H)ral. 
Aaron  A.  Webster,  Corporal. 
Robert  G.  Spear,  Blacksmith. 
John  H.  Rich,  Wagoner. 


William  H.  H.  Buckley,    Orson    Buckley, 


Augustus  Bremer, 
Frank  Barber, 
David  L.  Courtier, 
Alfred  Holland, 
Jacob  Larson, 
Joseph  F.  Parcher, 
Charles  Stocklale, 
John  Tracy, 
Henry  Wiseman. 


Ashbel  H.  Barnhart, 
William  Clark, 
James  E  Ford, 
William  R.   Herrington, 

John  Levenick, 

Edwin  W.  Parshall. 

Henry  L.  Slaveu, 

Henry  Wyent, 


INDEPENDENT     BATTALION    (CAVALRY. 
COMPANY       B PRIVATES. 

Charles  Hntchins,  Elias  Hoyt. 

FIRST    BATTERY    LIGHT    ARTTLLERX. 
PRIV.\TE. 

Homer  W.   Dorman, 

.SE<'OND    BATTERY,  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Henry  A.  Symonds,  Corporal. 
Edward  D.  Rogers,  Artificer. 


Carlos  Dimiok, 


PRIVATF-S. 

William  M.  Preston. 


E  VENTS  OF  INTEREST. 


347 


CHAPTER  LI. 

EVENTS  OF  INTEREST,  CHRONOLOaiCALLY  ARRANGED- 

These  items  commence  in  1857,  at  a  time  when 
the  county  was  fast  tilling  up,  and  after  the  very 
earliest  events,  which  have  elsewhere  been  record- 
ed, occurred.  There  is  no  pretense  that  every- 
thing wliich  it  may  be  valuable  to  rescue  from  ob- 
livion has  been  caught  iu  this  gathering  seine, 
but  enough  to  disclose  the  drift  of  affairs  while 
this  region  was  filling,  and  to  give  an  idea  of  what 
the  people  were  interested  in,  and  of  the  vicissi- 
tudes to  which  they  were  subjected. 

THE    YEAR    18.57. 

The  school  district  in  Albert  Lea  was  No.  7  at 
this  time,  and  measures  were  taken  to  build  a 
schoolhouse,  and  a  tax  of  S-tOO  was  levied. 

Early  this  year  Newcomb  &  Barnes  began  mer- 
chandizing. Woodruff  &  Eaton  also  appeared,  as 
well  as  Mr.  E,  Follett. 

This  summer  Mr.  H.  T.  Smith  got  a  shingle 
machine  in  operation. 

The  Albert  Lea  drug  store  was  started  by  A.  C. 
Wedge. 

Alf.  P.  Swineford  was  a  dealer  in  real  estate,  as 
well  as  editor  of  the  newspaper. 

Col.  Samuel  Eaton  did  an  insurance,  pension, 
and  bounty  land  business. 

In  .July,  A.  B.  Webber,  of  Decorah,  came  and 
began  the  practice  of  law. 

About  the  third  number  of  the  "Southern  Min- 
nesota Star,"  which  was  started  iu  .Tidy,  contained 
the  names  of  sixty-one  subscribers  who  had  paid 
in  advance.     The  list  began  in  this  way: 

George  S.  Ruble $38.50 

Thomas  C.  Thorne 20.00 

J.H.Snyder 10.00 

David  Hurd 10 .  00 

and  so  on  down  to  $1.00. 

At  this  time  there  were  two  mails  a  week  from 
Red  Wing,  carried  by  Hancock  &  Co. 

The  building  iu  Albert  Lea,  was  so  extensive 
this  year,  that  all  the  lumber  the  saw-mill  could 
turn  out  was  used  up,  and  the  supply  at  St.  Nich- 
olas was  exhausted. 

The  "Southern  Minnesota  Star"  was  so  busy 
printing  election  tickets  in  October,  that  on  one 
week  only  a  jjage  of  a  half  sheet  was  sent  out. 

In  October,  there  were  four  stage  lines  running 


into  Albert  Lea;  from  Mankato,  Mitchell,  Winona, 
and  Red  Wing. 

In  November  wheat  was  selling  for  forty-five 
cents  a  bushel,  and  flour  was  nine  dollars  a  barrel. 

The  grand  opening  of  the  Webber  House,  which 
had  been  built  by  Mr.  Webber,  was  on  the  24th 
of  November.  A  Ball,  a  Supper,  and  other  fes- 
tivities marked  the  occasion. 

The  total  population  of  the  counfy,  enumerated 
in  November,  was  2,486,  which  was  disappointing 
to  the  sanguine  ones;  Albert  Lea  had  285. 

Late  in  November  Elias  Stanton,  of  Freeborn 
City,  froze  both  feet  by  getting  them  wet  in  a 
slough ;  his  oxen  also  froze  to  death,  and  he  sub- 
sequently died  of  his  injuries. 

Fritz  Ewald  started  a  sash  and  door  shop  in 
November. 

The  ''Bancroft  Pioneer"  flashed  upon  a  bewil- 
dered world  aliout  this  time. 

In  December,  Col.  Eaton  fitted  up  the  Post- 
office  with  boxes. 

On  the  26th  of  December  a  lyeeum  was  orga- 
nized in  Dr.  Wedge's  office,  under  the  inspiring 
name  of  "Albert  Lea  Senate." 

THE    YEAR    1858. 

In  January  the  people  of  the  shire  town  con- 
gratulated themselves  that  they  were  to  have  reg- 
ular preaching  every  Sunday.  Rev.  Mr.  Lowry 
and  Rev.  Mr.  McReynolds  officiating  alternately. 

In  February  the  necessity  of  a  bridge  across 
the  river  at  the  foot  of  the  lake  became  apparent, 
and  measures  were  adopted  to  have  one  built. 

In  February  the  first  funeral  procession  ever 
seen  at  the  county  seat  was  that  of  Elias  Stanton. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year  civilization  had  made 
such  progress  that  a  race  course  was  talked  of. 

On  the  15th  of  April,  the  question  as  to  issuing 
the  five  million  bond  loan  was  voted  upon,  and 
this  county  voted  against  it. 

Walker's  new  line  of  stages  was  put  on  in  Ajjril, 
between  Hastings  and  Chatfleld,  Austin,  and  Al- 
bert Lea. 

On  the  6th  of  April  a  public  meeting  was  held 
at  Albert  Lea,  to  consider  the  bond  question. 
David  Blakely  called  the  meeting  to  order;  E.  P, 
Skinner  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  John  Wood 
was  appointed  secretary.  The  meeting  was  ad- 
dressed by  A.  H.  Bartlett,  Mr.  Blakely,  Dr.  Tar- 
bell,  and  others,  and  the  .sentiment  of  the  meeting 


348 


niSTORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


was  unanimous  against  the  pro])ositioD.  Mr. 
Bartlett  atumiJed  the  county  in  opposition  to  the 
scheme,  and  the  only  town  he  did  not  visit  gave 
seventeen  of  the  twenty-seven  votes  in  the  county 
in  its  favor. 

On  the  Ist  of  May  the  '-Star"  had  a  map  of 
Freeborn  county  on  its  first  page,  and  it  occasion- 
ally appeared  for  some  time  thereafter. 

Albert  Lea  began  to  flourish  as  a  sea-port  in 
the  spring  of  this  year,  when  the  brig  Itasca. 
Captain  Franklin,  of  Shell  Rock,  arrived,  loaded 
with  shingles.  The  people  began  to  use  nautical 
terms  and  to  hitch  their  trousers  as  though  they 
Iiad  just  come  ashore. 

THE  TEAR  1859. 

On  the  Gtli  of  May  the  first  and  only  deliberate 
murder  ever  committed  in  the  county,  was  by 
Henry  Kreigler,  causing  the  death  of  Nelson 
Boughton  in  the  town  of  Nuuda.  It  appears  that 
Kreigler  whipped  his  wife,  and  she  fled  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Boughton  with  her  child,  and  was 
protected  by  him;  and  Kreigler  came  over  and 
made  an  assault,  fatally  stabbing  him  in  the  back 
with  a  long  knife,  penetrating  the  heart  and  pro- 
ducing instant  death. 

The  murderer  was  arrested  and  sent  to  Faribault 
jail  for  safe  keeping.  The  defence  secured  a 
change  of  venue  to  Steele  county,  and  he  was  tried 
at  Owatonna.  The  prosecution  was  con  lucted  by 
D.  G.  Parker,  County  Attorney,  assisted  by  Gor- 
don E.  Cole,  Attorney  General;  and  he  was  ably 
defended  by  Hon.  A.  Armstrong  and  Hon.  O.  F. 
Perkins. 

The  trial  lasted  thirty  days,  a  large  number  of 
witnesses  were  called,  and  the  costs  were  piled  up 
so  that  the  county  was  well  uigli  bankrupt,  its 
orders  going  for  20  cents  on  the  dollar.  The  cul- 
prit was  remanded  back  to  the  county  for 
execution,  which  took  place  on  the  first  day  of 
March,  1861,  at  a  point  just  east  of  Broadway, 
not  far  from  the  jilace  where  the  railroad  crosses 
the  street.  Here,  in  that  amphitheatre  formed  by 
the  surrounding  hills,  a  gibbet  had  been  erected 
in  the  form  of  a  post  with  a  projecting  arm,  from 
which  a  pendant  rope  was  connected  by  pullies  to 
a  huge  log,  as  the  engine  of  death.  The  legal 
strangulation  was  witnessed  by  several  thousand 
people,  being  conducted  by  the  Sheriff,  James 
Robson.  Rev.  Mr.  Storey,  who  was  then  here, 
asked  the  condemn(  d  man  if  he  desired  prayer,  to 
which  he  replied  that  he  l.,id  no  money  to  pay  for 


I 


it;  but  the  minister  fervently  prayed  nevertheless. 
It  seems  that  the  criminal  did  not  realize  that  he 
was  after  all  to  be  actually  hung,  and  when  the 
fatal  cord  was  applied  to  his  neck,  and  the  dismal 
black  cap  drawn  over  his  head,  he  completely 
broke  down,  and  as  the  newspapers  at  the  time 
related,  "bawled  like  a  calf."  All  being  ready, 
the  stick  of  timber  was  dropped  and  the  victim 
was  jerked  from  his  footing,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
his  earthly  caretr  was  thus  ingloriously  ended. 
It  is  said  that  this  was  the  only  white  man  ever 
legally  executed  in  Minnesota. 

The  remains  were  buried  in  -an  old  cemetery  on 
the  Austin  road,  but  the  belief  existed  rather 
extensively  at  the  time,  that  two  enterprising  phy- 
sicians who  resided  here  had  resurrected  the 
remains  for  anatomical  and  physiological  pur- 
poses. But  no  one  took  pains  to  verify  the 
surmise,  or  to  disprove  it.  A  few  years  ago,  how- 
ever, the  cemetery  having  been  applied  to  other 
uses,  the  bones  were  disinterred,  and  fully  identi- 
fied by  the  manacles  which  were  rusting  around 
the  bones  of  his  Heshless  wrists. 

On  the  12th  of  February  Mr.  Swineford  having 
gone  to  LaCrescent  to  battle  against  LaCrosse, 
Mr.  Isaac  Botsford  secured  an  interest  in  the 
"Star." 

In  September  an  early  frost  caught  many  late 
crops  in  its  withering  embrace. 

This  was  the  season  when  the  horse  racing 
mania  was  upon  the  community,  and  one  of  the 
first  recorded  was  between  a  horse  owned  by  F.  L. 
Cutler  and  one  owned  by  F.  Lamb,  for  $100  a 
side.  Then  came  a  race  between  Botsford's  Ijlack 
gelding.  Crazy  Frank,  and  Dr.  Wedge's  horse 
Selam,  in  which  Crazy  Frank  won  and  Botsford 
raked  in  iJ-lO. 

THE  YEAR    1860. 

The  newspaper,  which  had  become  the  "Eagle," 
screamed  for  the  last  time  on  the  17th  of  March, 
and  the  "Standard"  was  lifted  up  on  the  26th  of 
May  by  Ruble  and  Hooker,  with  the  latter  as 
editor. 

In  July  the  Webber  House  was  leased  to  J.  A. 
Robson,  of  Geneva. 

During  this  summer  Morin,  Wedge,  and  Hall 
got  a  new  steam  saw-mill  in  motion. 

Another  horse  race  was  run  between  George  S. 
Ruble's  Sleepy  Kate,  and  F.  L.  Cutler's  Bay  Lady. 
Sleepy  Kate  was  declared  the  winner. 


EVENTS  OP  INTEREST. 


349 


The  second  fair  of  the  Agricultural  Society  was 
held  at  Albert  Lea  on  the  10th  and  11th  of 
October. 

In  the  early  fall  of  this  year,  a  laud  sale  had 
been  ordered  by  the  departmnnt,  and  the  people, 
who  were  mostly  living  on  government  land,  did 
not  feel  able  to  pay  for  it  at  that  time,  so  a  meet- 
ing was  held  at  the  cradle  of  Freeborn  county 
liberty,  the  Weliber  House.  A.  B.  Webber  was 
Chairman,  and  C.  H.  Bostwick,  Secretary.  Col.  G. 
W.  Skinner,  who  had  been  appointed  to  secure 
co-operation  in  procuring  the  postponement  of 
the  land  sale,  reported  what  had  been  accom- 
plished. Stacy,  Hoops,  Rickard,  Ash,  Webber, 
with  others,  addressed  the  meeting,  and  Mr.  Skin- 
ner was  sent  to  Washington  to  use  his  intiuenoe 
in  the  matter,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  se- 
cure funds  to  pay  the  expenses.  A  meeting  had 
been  previously  held  in  Porter,  at  the  house  of  F. 
W.  Calkins,  and  .J.  M.  Drake  prepared  that  safety 
value  of  American  feeling,  the  resolutions.  The 
county  seat  election  was  fixed  for  the  day  of  the 
general  election,  on  the  6th  of  November. 

Col.  Skinner  returned,  and  on  the  25th  of  Octo- 
ber another  meeting  took  place  at  the  Webber 
House;  S.  G.  Lowry  in  the  chair,  and  E.  C.  Stacy 
as  Secretary.  The  Colonel  reported  that  although 
there  was  to  be  no  postponement  of  the  sale,  he 
had  obtained  concessions  which  practically  gave 
the  settlers  what  they  wanted,  it  as  was  provided 
that  no  speculators  should  bid  or  locate  land  war- 
rants on  lands  actually  occupied,  and  the  follow- 
ing gentlemen  were  designated  te  see  the  idea 
carried  out:  A.  B.  Webber,  of  Albert  Lea;  H. 
Melder,  Carlston;  C.  Fitzsimmons,  Nunda;  Eli 
Ash,  Bancroft;  J.  C.  Seeley,  Hartland;  J.  W 
Burdiok,  Geneva:  E.  Croy,  Eiceland;  A.  M. 
Young,  Shell  Rock;  George  Callahan,  London; 
C.  Bullock,  Oakland;  and  D.  Gates,  Moscow. 

In  December  of  this  year,  the  trial  of  Kreigler 
for  murder,  in  Sttele  county,  almost  depopu- 
lated this  region,  so  many  were  summoned  as  wit- 
nesses; even  the  mail  carriers'  duties  were  in- 
terrupted. 

THE  TEAR  1861. 

Wheat  was  reported  as  selling  in  Milwaukee  for 
79  cents  a  bushel. 

Henry  Kreigler  was  executed  on  the  first  of 
March,  at  Alliert  Lea. 

Ruble's  mill  was  wrecked  and   the  dam  washed 


away  by  a  freshet  in    April.     This  was    the  only 
water  privilege  in  Albert  Lea. 

In  May,  the  Standard  proudly  came  out  with  a 
new  dress,  as  if  "  bound  to  dress  well  if  it  did 
not  lay  up  a  cent." 

In  April  a  military  company  was  formed  at  the 
county  seat. 

On  the  1st  of  August,  A.  B.  Webber  having 
bought  the  Standard,  issued  his  first  number. 

In  October  the  butchers  in    Albert  Lea  offered 
two  cents  a  pound  for  cattle  weighing  eleven  hnn 
dred  pounds  or  more. 

THE  TEAR  1862. 

An  auti  cattle  and  horse  thief  society  was  or- 
ganized early  in  1862,  with  the  following  officers: 
President,  Joshua  Dunbar;  Vice-President,  J.  M. 
Drake;  Secretary,  William  Morin;  Treasurer,  A. 
Armstrong;  Finance  Committee,  George  S.  Ruble, 
E.  P.  Skinner,  and  James  F.  Jones;  Vigilance 
Committee,  E.  C.  Stacy,  A.  B.  Webber,  John  B. 
BrowDsill,  and  L.  T.  Scott. 

In  1862,  Hannibal  Bickford,  who  was  a  soldier 
in  the  army,  lay  sick  in  a  hospital  in  St.  Louis, 
and  his  death  daily  expected.  His  wife  started 
for  that  city  intending  to  bring  back  his  remains, 
but  on  reaching  his  hospital  she  found  him  actu- 
ally recovering,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  considered 
able  to  travel,  the  two  started  for  home  on  the 
steamer  Denmark,  and  while  she  was  laying  at 
the  wharf  their  attention  was  called  to  a  little  girl 
who  was  in  a  pitiable  condition.  An  investiga- 
tion showed  tkat  the  father  of  the  little  girl  was  a 
union  soldier,  and  having  taken  sick  his  wife 
went  to  his  relief  with  the  little  girl.  She  too 
sickened  and  both  died,  and  an  old  tarmagant  of 
an  aunt  had  her  in  charge  to  carry  home,  and  she 
had  shamefully  abused  the  little  waif.  The  in- 
dignation of  the  Captain  and  all  on  board  was 
aroused,  and  they  resolved  to  rescue  the  mother- 
less little  one  from  her  heartless  relative.  The 
woman  was  willing  to  be  relieved  of  what  she  con- 
sidered a  burdensome  charge,  so  she  was  turned 
over  to  Mr.  and  Mrs  Bickford.  the  Captain  bestow- 
ing the  name  of  Denmark  Bickford  upon  her.  She 
was  adopted  and  came  home  with  them  to  this  coun- 
try, and  grew  up  to  be  a  fine  young  woman,  and 
a  few  years  ago  was  married  to  Henry  White,  now 
living  at  Jackson,  Heron  Lake.  Since  the  mar- 
riage   an  advertisement  appeared  in   the    "Inter 


350 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY 


Louis  ami  seeking  to  find  the  lost  one.  Of  course 
there  was  back  pay,  pension,  and  perhaps  other 
money  due.  Less  romantic  incidents  than  this 
have  furnished  the  groundwork  for  raauy  a  thrill- 
ing story. 

THf,  VEAR  1864. 

In  February  a  dam  was  built  at  Shell  Hock  by 
Kuble  and  Tanner. 

The  directors  of  the  Southern  Minnesota  rail- 
road for  this  year  were:  E.  B.  Stoddard,  C.  D. 
Sherwood,  Luke  Miller,  H.  W.  ifolley,  D.  B. 
Sprague,  and  William  Moriu. 

lu  April  the  contract  for  making  the  brick  for 
the  Court  House  was  let  to  H.  M.  Manley  at  $6 
per  thousand. 

THE  YEAR  1860. 

On  the  1-ttli  of  February  Mrs  Charles  -Anderson, 
living  in  the  town  of  Bancroft,  went  out  to  the 
barn  to  milk  in  a  blinding  snow  storm,  and  not- 
withstanding the  house  and  barn  were  in  an  en- 
closure which  she  had  to  climb  over,  she  lost  her 
way  and  was  found  the  next  morning  two 
miles  away  from  home,  stark  and  cold  in  the  icy 
embrace  of  death. 

This  year  a  daily  mail  was  ordered  through 
from  LaCroBse  to  Winnebago  City.  J.  C.  Bur- 
bauk  k  Co.  "(vere  contractors.  The  service  com- 
menced on  the  1st  of  July. 

During  the  summer  there  was  an  average  of 
twenty  wagons  a  day  passing  through  Albert  Lea 
with  emigrants. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year  there  was  talk  of  or- 
ganizing au  agricultural  society. 

Wheat  in  July  was  selling  in  Milwaukee  for 
«2.04ia  per  bushel. 

On  the  10th  of  July  the  hotel  liarn  in  Albert 
Lea  was  burned. 

F.  Hall  started  his  Houriug  mill  in  August, 
with  a  single  run  of  stones  operated  by  water  un- 
der a  head  of  eighteen  and  one  half  feet. 

In  November  two  jiersons  were  drowned  in 
Nunda;  Willard  Parshall  and  Thomas  J.  Stock- 
dale. 

On  tho  l.")th  of  December  a  cemetery  associa- 
tion was  formed  in  Albert  Lea;  Luther  Parker 
was  Chairman,  and  S.  S.  Luther,  H.  I).  Brown, 
and  1).  G.  Parker,  were  trustees. 

THE  VEAK  18C7. 

By  a  general  order  promulgated    on  the    Ist  (if 


March,  the  merchants  of  Albert  Lea  adopted  the 
cash  system. 

The  school  fund  fur  the  county  this  year  was 
S64fi.()-1. 

At  the  cemetery  meeting  in  .Vpril,  E.  C.  Stacy 
was  Chairman;  H.  D.  Brown,  Secretary;  the 
Trnstees  apjjointed  were  William  Morin,  S.  S. 
Luther,  and  S.  Eaton.  It  was  resolved  to  ask 
the  town  to  subscribe  $500. 

During  this  year  there  were  a  large  number  of 
railroad  projects  brought  out,  with  Albert  Lea  as 
a  focal  point. 

In  May  the  .'Vlbert  Lea  Musical  and  Theatrical 
Association  was  organized.  President  and  Gen- 
eral Manager,  F.  B.  Fobes;  Vice-President,  P_ 
W.  Dickinson;  Secretary,  S.  S.  Edwards;  Treas- 
urer, A.  W.  St.  John;  Musical  Director,  D.  G. 
Parker.  On  the  18th  of  June  the  Association 
gave  its  initial  entertainment,  "  Box  &  Cox;  mar- 
ried and  settled." 

The  4th  of  July  was  celebrated  with  more  than 
usual  display.  A  basket  pic-nic  with  a  barbe- 
cued ox  as  an  auxiliary  was  thrown  in.  Thirteen 
guns  were  fired  at  sunrise  and  thirty-eight  at 
noon.  The  procession  made  a  grand  display. 
Thirty-eight  beautiful  girls  represented  the  States 
of  the  Uni<m,  and  the  various  societies  marched 
with  martial  music  to  Thomas"  Ptiint.  Rev.  S.  G. 
Lowry  was  the  President  of  the  day.  The  decla- 
ration of  independence  was  readliy  H.  D.  Brown. 
The  orator  of  the  day  was  Hon.  A.  Armstrong. 
In  the  evening  there  was  a  grand  ball  at  W.  J. 
Martin's,  and  a  performance  at  the  Court  House, 
which  included  "Slasher  &  Crasher,"  and  several 
tableaux  representing  the  "  Gipsey  Camp,"  and 
"Pocahontas saving  the  life  of  Ca])t.  Smith.'' 

Mr,  Stage,  on  the  fith  of  August,  lost  a  tin  and 
hardware  shop  in  Albert  Lea  l)y  fire,  entailing  a 
lo.ss  of  .S1500. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  Hon.  William  F. 
Stearns,  of  Chicago,  who  was  stopping  at  Albert 
Lea  to  transact  some  business,  was  seized  with 
hallucinations  that  parties  were  on  his  track  to 
torture  him,  and  he  committed  suicide.  He  was 
an  attorney,  and  a  man  highly  respected. 

At  Twin  Lakes,  on  the  21st  of  September,  Peter 
Peterson  fell  from  a  stack  of  hay,  so  injuring  him 
that  he  died  within  four  hours. 

THE  YEAR  1868. 

In  January,  Mr.  A.  B.    Davis,  an  early   jiioneer 


E  VENTS  OF  INTEREST. 


35  J 


in  the  staging  business,  bought  an  interest  in 
the  Austin  &  Winnebago  City  line. 

Some  time  in  tlie  month  of  January,  James 
Buchanan,  of  Hhell  Rock,  shuffled  otf  this  mor- 
tal coil  through  the  medium  of  fifty  cents  worth 
of  morphine.  He  was  about  forty-five  years  of 
age  and  had  been  in  Arizona. 

In  August,  Nathaniel  Stacy,  father  of  Judge 
Stacy,  died.  He  liad  been  a  Mason  for  more  than 
sixty  years,  and  was  buried  with  funeral  rites,  in 
accordance  with  the  land-marks  of  that  aucient 
order. 

Samuel  Wedge,  who  was  66  years  of  age,  paid 
the  debt  of  mortality  on  the  19th  of  September. 

This  season  Albert  Lea  became  a  money  order 
office. 

In  the  fall  of  this  year,  Clark  W.  Thompson,  of 
the  Southern  Minnesota  railroad,  proposed  to 
have  the  towns  issue  bonds  to  assist  in  building 
the  line. 

THE    YEAR    1869. 

Early  in  1869,  the  patrons  of  husbandry  came 
into  notice  in  Freeborn  county. 

In  April  the  hopes  of  the  people  were  carried 
up  several  degrees  by  the  statement  that  the  rail- 
road engineers  were  between  Austin  and  Albert 
Lea. 

During  April  bonds  were  issued  to  the  amount 
of  $12,50(1  to  assist  in  building  a  schoolhouse  in 
Albert  Lea. 

The  engineers  reached  Albert  Lea  on  the  17th 
of  April. 

In  April  Albert  Lea  was  honored  by  tKe  ap- 
poimtment  of  A.  Armstrong  as  United  States 
Marshal  for  Minnesota. 

In  the  spring  of  1869,  pigeons  were  so  plenti- 
ful in  the  region  of  Albert  Lea,  that  like  clouds 
they  darkened  the  sun. 

In  the  town  of  Bath  on  the  7th  of  May,  a  Dane 
by  the  name  of  Christen  Rassmuson,  disappoint- 
ed in  love,  and  climbing  into  the  branches  of  a 
tree,  tied  a  cord  around  his  neck  and  the  other 
end  to  a  limb,  with  a  razor  cut  his  throat  in  a 
ghastly  manner,  and  jumped  from  his  perch,  to 
leave  his  sanguinary  looking  corpse  to  horrify  the 
first  person  who  happened  near. 

The  tide  of  emigration  in  May  was  at  its  flood. 
Prairie  schooners  by  the  score  were  floating  along 
through  town,  and  day  after  day   their  white  can- 


vass might  be  seen  surrounded  by  herds  of  cattle, 
as  they  wended  their  way  toward  the  setting  sun, 
which  presaged  a  rising  orb  to  all  their  liopes. 

The  sui-veyors  of  the  railroad,  during  May,  had 
their  headquarters  at  Albert  Lea. 

The  contractors  between  Austin  and  .\lbert  Lea 
were  Allen  &  Stewart. 

The  flag,  which  it  will  be  remembered  was  pre- 
sented to  (Jompany  F,  of  the  Fourth  Regiment, 
and  carried  through  nine  battles  (which  were  in- 
scribed on  it  at  a  cost  of  $25}  was  kept  by  Ser- 
geant Enoch  Croy  for  several  years,  and  then 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  County  Treasurer. 

The  construction  of  the  new  schoolhouse  in  Al- 
bert Lea  was  commenced  in  August. 

On  the  '22d  and  23d  of  September  a  regular 
county  fair  was  held. 

In  Septeaiber  Col.  Albert  M.  Lea  suggested  a 
grand  trunk  railroad  from  Galveston,  Texas,  to  St. 
Paul,  Minnesota,  saying  that  the  traffic  between 
the  North  and  South  should  be  larger  than  be- 
tween the  East  and  West. 

The  Southern  Minnesota  railroad  reached  Al- 
bert Lea  on  Saturday,  the  16th  of  October,  and 
on  Monday  business  began. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year  a  new  brass  band 
was  organized. 

In  November  thene  were  two  confidence  men 
around  through  this  section,  who  represented  that 
they  were  engaged  in  an  extensive  manufacture  of 
an  article  that  required  old  feathers,  and  that  they 
would  escliange  new  ones  for  old,  paying  thirty 
cents  a  pound  difference  between  the  two;  and  as 
they  had  teams  would  take  them  away  at 
once,  paying  the  difference,  and  that  the  new  ones 
would  be  sent  in  about  two  weeks.  A  great  many 
thrifty  housewives  emptied  their  feather  beds,  and 
put  up  with  the  inconvenience  of  sleeping  on  straw 
for  a  week  or  two  until  the  new  feathers  came. 
The  result  was,  of  course,  they  never  saw  the  new 
feathers,  but  had  sold  their  old  ones  for  thirty 
cents  a  pound. 

THE  ¥E.\R    1870. 

Wheat  in  .January  was  selling  at  from  43  to  46 
cents  a  bushel. 

In  the  summer  Mr.  Ernst  erected  a  building 
and  started  a  boarding  school  in  Alden. 

A  violent  tornado  swept  over  the  county  on  the 
14th  of  July;  houses  were  um-oofed  and  much 
other  damage  done. 


352 


HISTORY  OF  FBEBBORN  GOUNTT. 


During  the  nioiitli  of  July  a  petrefied  duck  was 
found  near  Pickerel  Lake. 

A  hook  and  ladder  company  was  organized  on 
the  22d  of  November,  at  the  Court  House.  Col. 
S.  Eaton  was  called  to  the  chair  and  Capt.  A.  W. 
White  was  appointed  secretary.  A  committee  was 
appointed  to  draft  By-Laws. 

A  great  niilroa<l  excursion  took  place  on  the 
17th  of  October  to  celebrate  the  completion  of  the 
through  line  to  LaCrosse.  The  train  was  in  holi- 
day trim  and  had  a  refreshment  car  where  the 
liquid  samples  predominated  over  the  solid  com- 
forts. At  Every  station  the  number  kept  augment- 
ing, until  they  crossed  the  river  from  LaCrescent 
to  LaCrosse,  and  at  Pomeroy's  Hall  they  were 
welcomed  in  a  speech  by  the  Mayor,  which  was 
responded  to  by  Hon.  M.  S.  Wilkinson.  The  next 
day  they  were  entertained  at  the  Opera  House, 
and  the  company  returned  after  an  enjoyable  trip. 

Tn  the  spring  of  this  year  a  special  act  was 
passed  enlarging  the  powers  of  the  officers  of 
Albert  Lea  in  relation  to  the  village,  giving 
authority  as  to  ordinances  and  licenses. 

At  the  celebration  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  at  Albert  Lea  there  were  5,000 
people  present.  The  oration  was  by  Rev.  R.  B. 
Abbott. 

THE  YE.\R   1671. 

A  town  meeting  was  held  at  Albert  Lea  on  the 
4th  of  January,  and  SI, 500  voted  in  aid  of  the  St. 
Louis  railroad.  Shell  Rock  voted  .SI, 500,  and 
Hartland  voted  *10,000. 

On  the  7th  of  January  the  Orophiliau  Lyceum 
was  organized.  Miss  Minnie  Ernst  read  an 
essay  on  the  occasion. 

A  cheese  factory  was  started  in  Albert  Lea  in 
March. 

On  the  23rd  of  February  there  \vas  a  great 
freshet  in  Southern  Minnesota. 

Andrew  Larson,  a  Swede,  hung  himself  in  the 
town  of  Hayward  on  the  14th  of  March  at  the 
house  of  Andrew  Sanderson.  He  was  an  erratic 
and  insane  individual. 

On  the  12th  of  April  the  citizens  of  Albert  Lea 
had  a  meeting  and  resolved  to  secure  six  Babcock 
fire  extinguishers. 

In  April  the  citizens  of  Albert  Lea  contributed 
to  pay  for  the  instruments  for  the  cornet  band. 

The  railroad  bond  (]uestion  was  submitted  to  a 


vote  of  the  people  ;  and  this  county  was  almost 
solid  against  it,  the  whole  number  of  votes  cast 
being  760;  for  the  payment,  80 — against  the  pay- 
ment G80.  Hayward,  Alden  Riceland,  Bancroft 
Manchester,  and  Hartland  had  no  votes  for  the 
payment,  while  Carlston  and  Ne«ry  had  one 
each. 

The  Albert  Lea  cheese  factory  with  its  appoint- 
ments cost  S6,000,  and  it  was  completed  in  June. 
William  Peck  was  the  foreman  of  the  establish- 
ment, which  had  a  six  horse-power  engine. 

In  October  an  elk  was  seen  near  the  residence 
of  Dr.  Blaokmer,  and  was  shot  at  with  a  bird 
charge  by  the  Doctor's  son.  He  ran  across  the 
railroad  track,  going  south  ;  quite  a  cavalcade 
was  soon  in  pursuit,  and  he  was  followed  as  far  as 
the  Shell  Kock  and  beyond  that  he  was  '-lost  to 
sight  but  to  memory  deer,"  to  the  many  weary 
pilgrims  who  sadly  retraced  their  steps.  It  was 
probably  a  mournful  satisfaction  to  aftenvard 
learn  that  the  royal  game  was  killed  in  Cresco, 
Iowa. 

When  Chicgo  was  bunied,  in  October,  the  citi- 
zens of  Albert  Lea  had  relief  meetings  and  sent 
what  they  could. 

THE  TE.^R   1872. 

James  Fitzgerald,  a  resident  of  the  town  of 
Bath,  50  years  of  age,  was  frozen  to  death  on  the 
Ist  of  February.  He  was  away  with  a  team,  and 
it  is  supposed  had  an  attack  of  asthma,  and  did 
not  survive  the  cold,  which  was  intense  ;  he  was 
found  a  few  miles  from  home. 

Ggrdiner  Cottrell,  an  old  settler  of  Shell  Rock, 
died  in  May. 

Martin  Sheehan,  an  old  settler  who  located  in 
Bath  in  1857,  quietly  passed  away  on  the  7th  of 
of  August.     He  had  lived  an  unobtrusive  life. 

On  the  second  of  November,  Mr.  L.  G.  Pierce, 
of  Alden,  with  his  wife  and  four  children  were 
struck  liy  the  engine  of  a  passing  train,  while  on 
a  wagon  loaded  with  goods,  and  singularly  enough 
none  of  them  were  seriously  injured. 

In  November  Hon.  CharU  s  Mcllrath  was 
ap])ointed  receiver  of  the  Southern  Minnesota 
railroad. 

Here  is  a  moilcl  return  on  a  writ  issued  in  this 
county.  "This  cuss  is  a  dead  beat;  after  harvest 
he  will  have  something;  then  hand  me  the  writ 
and  I  will  give  him  a  clatter." 


EVENTS  OF  INTEUESr. 


353 


THE  YEAR  1873. 

In  October  there  was  quite  au  extensive  conspir- 
acy to  obtain  money  by  selling  land  not  their  own, 
by  parties  from  Cleveland,  Ohio.  They  had 
obtained  descriptions  of  land  owned  by  Cleveland 
men,  and  then  came  out  here  with  forged  deeds, 
and  having  bad  them  recorded,  proceeded  to  sell 
the  lots  ;  but  as  they  were  on  the  point  of  leaving, 
they  were  detected  and  their  plana  frustrated. 
Considerable  trouble  was  caused  by  the  affair 
which  will  be  related  elsewhere. 

THE  YEAR  1874. 

Early  in  187i  there  was  quite  a  spirited  contro- 
versy as  to  the  name,  Albert  Lea.  Varions  sug- 
gestions were  made  pro  and  con.  The  objection 
to  the  name  being  because  it  was  unusual  and 
unlike  the  name  of  any  other  place  in  the  wide 
world,  which  ought  to  strike  the  majority  of  peo- 
ple as  being  a  most  admirable  reason  why  it 
should  be  retained. 

In  February  a  young  man  was  frozen  to  death, 
near  Albert  Lea,  when  intoxicated,  and  a  coroner's 
jury  declared  that  the  saloon-keeper  who  sold  him 
the  liquor  was  responsible. 

The  Albert  Lea  Temperance  Alliance  was  organ- 
ized in  February.  Fifty-eight  persons  joined  the 
Society.  The  first  officers  were:  President,  Gil- 
bert Gulbrandson;  Vice  President,  Capt.  A.  W. 
White;  Treasurer,  H.  O.  Haukness;  Secretary, 
August  Peterson. 

In  March  Mr.  A.  A.  Munn,  a  leading  citizen  of 
Freeborn,  died. 

A  library  and  reading  room  was  organized  on 
the  27th  of  March  at  the  office  of  Ballard  k 
Hibbs.     Dr.  Ballard  presided  at  the  first  meeting. 

There  was  quite  a  gale  swept  aci-oss  the  county 
on  the  2.5th  of  July;  in  Bath,  Manchester,  and 
Freeborn  it  was  particularly  tierce,  unroofing 
houses,  destroying  crops,  and  doing  thousands  of 
dollars  worth  of  damage. 

Grange  Hall  in  Shell  Rock  was  dedicated  on  the 
6th  of  November.  Among  the  concomitants  of 
the  occasion  were  a  supper  and  a  dance  with  62 
couples  in  attendance. 

Albert  Lea  Seminary  was  opened  for  pupils  on 
the  9th  of  December  by  Bliss  S.  A.  Thayer  of  Bos- 
ton, a  graduate  of  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary. 

THE  YEAR    1875. 

At  the  March  meeting  in  Albert   Lea  the  No- 
License  party  carried  their  point  by  fifty  majority. 
23 


The  spring  term  of  the  Albert  Lea  Seminary 
was  under  the  charge  of  Miss  Jennette  Curtis,  of 
Michigan. 

The  Congregationalist  church  bell,  weighing 
616  pounds,  was  swung  up  about  the  1st  of 
November,  and  waked  the  slumbering  echoes  of 
the  village  with  its  joyous  ringing. 

THE  YEAR  1876. 

Joseph  Schorbeck,  14  years  of  age,  was  killed 
by  a  runaway  accident  early  in  January.  His 
body  was  dragged  three  miles  and  mangled  be- 
yond all  recognition. 

In  Freeman,  Mr.  Lea  Hughes  secured  a  through 
ticket  to  the  land  of  the  hereafter,  by  a  shot 
through  a  vital  part.  This  was  in  the  \vinter  of 
this  year. 

In  the  year  1874  and  1875  the  opponents  of 
license  had  carried  the  day  at  the  polls,  but  in 
1876  the  order  was  reversed  and  the  license  party 
were  triumphant. 

John  H.  Smith,  a  venerable  man  of  86  years,  and 
father-in-law  of  Mr.  T.  Walcott,  on  the  7th  of 
June,  while  fishing  at  Albert  Lea,  near  the  rail- 
road, became  bewildered  and  stepped  in  front  of 
an  engine  and  was  instantly  killed.  He  was  a 
pensioner  of  the  war  of  1812. 

At  Freeborn,  in  the  early  summer  of  this  year, 
"Dora"  a  little  daughter  of  Mr.  Shoen,  six  years 
of  age,  was  lost,  and  after  eleven  hours  search  by 
the  whole  neighborhood,  was  found  near  midnight 
on  the  prairie  near  a  grove,  fast  asleep,  and  re- 
stored to  her  distracted  paients. 

The  Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  by  the  United  States  of  America 
was  celebrated  in  Albert  Lea  in  a  way  and  man- 
ner befitting  the  occasion,  which  was  one  of  re- 
joicing that  the  experiment  of  self  government 
had  been  in  every  way  so  successful,  that  ten  solid 
decades  had  passed  away  since  the  American  peo- 
ple had  declared  "that  they  were  and  by  right 
ought  to  be  free  and  Independent,"  and  that  from 
a  few  millions,  they  were  nearly  half  a  hundred 
millions,  occupying,  instead  of  a  small  strip  of 
country  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  the  wide  ex- 
panse from  ocean  to  ocean,  from  the  Bay  of 
Fundy  to  San  Diego,  and  from  Vancouver's 
Island  to  the  Florida  Reefs.  The  citizens  of 
Albert  Lea  and  the  surrounding  country,  were 
fully  alive  to  the  spirit  of  the  occasion,  and  the  dis- 
play was  quite  equal  to  that  in  Philadelphia,  con- 


354 


arSTORT  OF  FREEBOttN  COUNTY. 


Bidering  the  size  of  the  two  places.  Nothing  like 
it  had  ever  happened  here  nor  will  ocenr  again 
until  some  remarkable  occasion  shall  call  for  a 
duplicatiiin  of  the  pageant.  There  w  Te  .soldiers 
ou  parade  keeping  time  to  martial  musie.  Beauti- 
ful young  ladies  representing  the  States;  General- 
Washington  and  his  family  rejiresented  in  the 
long  procession,  enthusiasm  everywhere,  Hags, 
fire-crackers,  fire  arms,  fire  works,  and  in  a  few 
words  an  exaggerated  fourth  of  July. 
The  procession  was  made  up  as  follows: 

1.  Soldiers  of  the  late  war. 

2.  Thirty-nine  girls  representing  the  States. 

3.  General  and  Lady  Washington,  son  and 
daughter. 

4.  President  of  the  day,  orator  and  reader. 

5.  City  and  County  Officers  in  carriages. 

6.  Band. 

7.  Citizens  ou  foot. 

8.  Citizens  in  carriages. 

The  Hon.  Lea  Barton  was  orator  of  the  day. 

Various  amusements,  boat  racing  and  other 
sports  were  indulged  in  and  a  good  example  set 
for  the  next   Centennial  when  it  shall  roll  around. 

Freeborn  and  Geneva  also  appropriately  cele- 
brated the  Centennial  4th. 

The  grasahoppers  appeared  in  the  county  in 
August. 

In  September  the  grasshopper  plague  had 
proved  so  disastrous  in  other  places  that  serious 
fears  were  entertained  that  thoy  would  actually 
depopulate  the  county,  and  on  the  10th  of  this 
month,  in  accordance  with  suitable  notice,  a  con- 
vention was  held,  and  the  speeches  that  were  made 
reminded  one  of  the  dark  days  of  the  rebellion 
when  reinforcements  were  wanted  to  fight  the 
common  enemies  of  the  country.  The  meeting 
was  at  the  Court  House,  all  parts  of  the  county 
being  represented.  Hon.  J.  L.  Gibbs  was  called 
to  the  chair,  and  Isaac  Botbford  was  named  for 
Secretary.  A  committee  on  resolutions  was  ap- 
pointed as  follows:  A.  M.  Johnson,  Wm.  Morin, 
J.  T.  Hall,  Dr.  Ballard,  and  E.  C.  Stacy.  Mr.  J. 
T.  Hall  addressed  the  meeting,  and  declared  that 
he  was  not  to  be  destroyed  bv  grasshoppers;  that, 
although  the  ground  was  peppered  with  grass- 
hopper eggs,  he  proposed  next  year  to  put  in  a  full 
crop  and  use  all  the  means  that  should  come  to  his 
knowledge  to  exterminate  these  unwelcome  pests. 
A.  M.  Burnham  had  two  hundred  acres  under  the 
plow,and  as  his  soil  was  sandy,  it  was  said  to  be  the 


particular  breeding  ground  for  these  lively  in- 
sects. A  part  of  his  laud  had  been  rented  to  a 
man  who  had  had  experience  wieh  the  "  hopper '" 
plague,  and  his  opinion  was  that  the  eggs  there 
were  spoiled.  Mr.  S.  Smith,  of  Manchester,  had 
been  through  all  hardships,  the  privation  and  toil 
of  pioneer  life,  and  he  had  faith  to  l)eli(?ve  that 
providence  would  help  those  who  helped  them- 
selves. William  Morin  said  that  he  had  1,100 
acres  under  cultivation;  most  of  it  was  leased  to 
other  parties,  but  he  proposed  to  break  up  12.5 
acres  of  it  himself,  just  for  fun,  and  to  keep  his 
hand  in.  David  Calvin  had  a  panacea  for  the 
grasshopper  plague  in  the  form  of  large  doses  of 
fowls;  he  had  several  scores  of  turkeys  and  hens, 
and  they  worked  for  nothing  and  found  them- 
selves, and  kept  his  place  clear.  Mr.  Fern,  of 
Hayward,  had  experience  with  the  pestiferous 
locusts  in  Kansas,  and  he  had  learned  that  a  wet 
.season  was  bad  for  them  and  good  for  the  farm- 
er.^,  for  in  such  a  case  most  of  them  would  decay. 
Judge  Stacy  said  that  those  who  were  residents 
of  Freeborn  county  came  here  to  stay,  and  they 
proposed  to  stay,  for  people  who  had  lived  on 
Johnuy-cake  and  suckers  for  several  years  were  not 
to  be  driven  otf  by  such  a  miserable,  in.significant 
jerky  insect  as  a  grasshopper.  J.  H.  Parker  had 
thirty-five  acres  of  new  breaking,  which  he  found 
was  completely  filled  with  eggs,  and  he  proposed 
to  cover  the  knolls  and  sandy  places  with  hay,  and 
as  soon  as  they  hatched  out  in  the  spring,  make 
it  hot  for  the  little  beasts  by  firing  the  whole 
business.  Mr.  Dominick  came  to  Minnesota  to 
follow  the  occupation  t)f  farming,  and  he  pro- 
posed to  go  on,  hoppers  or  no  hoppers.  Hanni- 
bal Bickford  served  notice  that  he  would  shoot 
every  dog  found  on  his  premises,  and  titty  others 
shouted  "  me  too!"  He  preferred  chickens  to  hop- 
pers. Mr.  Tilton  had  experienced  a  four  years  siege 
with  the  "varmints,"  but  these  were  of  a  smaller 
variety.  Among  other  things,  burning  prairie  grass 
in  the  spring  instead  of  the  fall  was  recommended. 

The  resolutions  were  submitted,  and  they  stated 
that  it  was  a  deplorable  fact  that  there  were  grass- 
hoppers in  our  midst,  but  not  enough  to  discour- 
age the  farmers.  That  we  came  to  stay  and  have 
a  prior  right  to  the  soil.  That  a  stop  should  be 
made  to  killing  birds.  The  following  committee 
was  appointed  to  arrange  concert  of  action:  Dr. 
A.  C.  Wedge,  Dr.  0.  W.  Ballard,  E.  C.  Stacy,  I. 
Botsford.     The  meeting  was  large  and  enthiisias- 


EVENTS  OF  INTEREST. 


355 


tic,  with  a  predominating  spirit  of  ^^carthnginum 
est  iliileiida."  Tbe  meeting  ailjourned  to  the  last 
day  of  the  county  fair,  which  would  be  on  the  12th 
of  October. 

In  November  the  murder  and  attempted  rob- 
bery at  Northfleld  excited  considerable  interest  in 
the  chase  and  capture  of  the  bandits,  and  what 
assistance  could  be  given  was  rendered. 

Early  in  October  two  well  dressed  gentlemen 
stopped  at  Martin's  Hotel,  and  while  here,  after 
some  days,  a  lady  claiming  to  be  the  wife  of  one 
of  the  men,  and  a  boy  fourteen  years  of 
age,  came,  and  remaining  a  few  days,  they 
left.  About  this  time  Mr.  D.  W.  Goodrich  learn- 
ed that  his  trunk  had  been  broken  and  robbed  of 
S13,000  in  notes,  bonds,  and  mortgages.  Sus- 
picion at  once  rested  on  this  party,  and  they  were 
followed,  identified,  and  arrested  at  Wells,  and 
lodged  in  jail  here.  The  property  being  found, 
they  gave  their  names  as  Frank  Clifford,  William 
E.  Wilson,  Mrs.  Clifford,  and  a  son  by  a  former 
husband.  lu  December  they  were  brought  up  for 
trial.  Wilson  was  put  on  the  defense  as  there 
was  the  least  evidence  against  him,  and  he  was 
acquitted.  It  was  then  proposed  (o  put  him  on 
the  stand,  where  he  proved  that  he  was  really  the 
guilty  man  and  that  the  others  knew  nothing 
about  it.  The  others  were  also  acquitted.  The 
man  Wilson  was  then  re-arrested  and  afterwards 
the  other,  and  the  next  July  they  were  convicted 
and  sent  up  for  five  years. 

THE    YEAR    1877. 

At  the  March  meeting  in  Albert  Lea  the  "No 
License"  vote  came  out  ahead  with  sixty-five  ma- 
jority. The  contest  was  spirited  and  active,  and 
settled  a  great  question  for  twelve  months. 

A  severe  snow  storm  raged  for  several  days  near 
the  last  of  April,  and  the  prediction  was  universal 
that  it  was  a  distressing  time  for  the  infantile 
"hoppers"  who  were  just  warming  into  life,  and 
who  came  to  an  untimely  end  by  the  million. 

Much  ingenuity  was  displayed  in  the  invention 
of  engines  of  death  for  the  unwelcome  insects. 
Large  numbers  of  devices  were  arranged,  ditches 
dug,  and  various  measures  adopted.  In  the  town 
of  Alden  alone  a  careful  estimate  placed  the 
number   of  bushels  caught  at  one  thousand. 

A  woman  mysteriously  disappeared  in  Carlston 
in  .June;  her  name  was  Martha  Sweet,  and  some- 
time afterwards  her  remains  were  found,  she  bav- 


ing  drowned  in  ten  inches  of  water,  leaving  a  note 
that  she  intended  to  take  an  aqueous  route  for 
that  -other  side." 

In  1877,  the  tramps  were  so  numerous  that  a 
military  company  was  organized  to  look  after 
them.  The  officers  were:  Captain,  Theodore 
Tyrer;  First  Lieutenant,  H.  D.  Brown;  Second 
Lieutenant,  Charles  Kittleson. 

The  Burlington,  Cedar  Rapids  &  Northern  rail- 
road reached  Shell  Rock  on  the  15th  of  August, 
and  created  the  usual  rejoicing. 

At  Nunda  on  the  30th  of  August,  the  eldest 
son  of  Mr.  Bessenger  was  killed  by  a  runaway 
accident. 

The  county  Bar  Association  met  on  the  4th  of 
September  at  the  office  of  Stacy  &  Tyrer,  to  take 
action  on  the  accusations  that  had  been  so  point- 
edly made  in  the  "Pioneer  Press"  against  Sher- 
man Page,  the  judge  of  the  district  court.  The 
feeling  was  that  if  true  they  should  be  known, 
and  if  not  true  the  judge  was  certainly  entitled 
to  a  vindication.  The  following  committee  was 
appointed  to  confer  with  other  members  of  the 
bar  in  the  district,  and  to  have  the  charges  inves- 
tigated: E.  C.  Stacy,  J.  A.  Lovely,  and  D.  E.  P. 
Hibbs.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  a  district  com- 
mittee which  had  been  appointed  reported  that  the 
charges  were  groundless. 

The  Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis  railway  reached 
this  point  on  the  11th  of  November,  and  there 
was  a  regular  opening  excursion.  The  Mayor  and 
counci  of  Minneapolis,  with  railroad  magnates,  in- 
vited guests,  and  citizens,  came  on  a  special  train, 
ran  down  to  the  State  line  and  returned  to  partake 
of  a  dinner  at  the  Hall  House.  The  welcome  speech 
was  made  by  Judge  Stacy,  who,  it  is  needless  to 
remark,  did  ample  justice  to  the  occasion,  to 
which  Mayor  De  Laittre  responded.  Hon.  W.  D. 
Washburn,  in  the  course  of  his  remarks,  said  that 
this  was  the  happiest  day  of  his  life,  that  this  was 

"The  day  he  long  had  sought," 

And  mourned  because  he  found  it  not," 

or  words  to  that  effect.      It   was  a  day  of  general 

rejoicing,  beccuse  the    city    of    Albert  Lea   and 

neighboring  towns  now  had  direct  communication 

in  the  direction  of  the  four  cardinal  points  of  the 

compass. 

THE  YE.\R    1878. 

In  Bancroft  on  Sunday,  the  24th  of  February, 

the  friends  of  Mr.  and   Mrs.  Daniel  Prescott  met 

at  the  house  of  Henry  Loomis  to  celebrate  the 


356 


HISTORY  OF  FHEBBORN  COUNTY. 


semi-centennial  of  their  wedding  day.  Mr.  Pres- 
cott  appeared  to  be  a  well  kept  gentleman  of  tlie 
old  school,  still  active  and  full  of  vivacity.  Mrs. 
Prescott  was  a  lady ofrare culture  and  refinement, 
and  at  the  age  of  four  score  was  remarkable  for 
her  mental  vigor  and  sprightliness.  There  were 
present  three  children,  twenty-three  grand-chil- 
dren, and  five  great  grand-cLildren.  The  presents 
covered  a  large  center  table  with  beautiful  tokens 
of  love  and  respect  for  the  venerable  pair.  Two 
long  tables  were  .spread  and  charmingly  orna- 
mented with  fruits,  liowers,  and  daiutie.s.  and 
loaded  with  tempting  viands,  reflecting  great 
credit  upon  those  who  prepared  it  with  such  taste. 

Daniel  Prescott  and  Miss  Elizribeth  Masservey 
were  married  on  the  24th  of  February,  1828,  at 
Appleton,  Waldo  county,  Maine,  from  where  they 
removed  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1831,  and  from 
thence  came  to  Bancroft  in  18.i7.  They  raised 
seven  children,  three  of  whom  were  at  thi.s  time 
living  near  their  aged  p-irents. 

The  golden  ceremony  on  this  occasion  was  per- 
formed by  E.  K.  Pickett,  Esq.  The  groomsman 
and  bridesmaid  being  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .Jerry  Ward. 
The  following  ritual  for  this  rare  event  had  been 
prepared  by  the  magistrate: 

''With  this  ring,  Betsey,  I  thee  wed. 
So  fifty  yoart*  aj;o  I  said 
While  standing  at  the  holy  shrine. 
I  took  your  truth  and  plighted  mine. 
Our  love  was  like  a  laughing  stream. 
Or  as  the  morning's  gentle  beam. 
No  clouds  or  shadows  hid  from  view. 
The  bliss  in  store  for  me  and  you. 

The  rivulet  soon  became  a  river. 

Deeper  an<l  broader,  ever,  ever; 

No  longer  skipping  like  a  fawn, 

But  deep  and  wide  it  rolled  along, 

And  so  with  you  and  I,  dear  wife. 

These  fifty  years  of  wedded  life 

Have  added  depth,  and  strength,  and  truth, 

.\nd  '•eplaeed  joys  for  Heeting youth. 

Faithful   we've  kept  the  marriage  vow. 
Honest  and  true,  and  even  now. 
Though  fifty  years  we've  walked  together, 
We'll  now  renew  our  troth  forever. 
I  take  thee.  Betsey,  for  my  wife. 
Another  titty  years  of  life., 
Renew  the  l)liss  for  yon  and  me. 
And  Betsey  says,  so  mote  it  be. 

Angels  attend  and  witness  bear, 

I  here  rejoin  this  happy  pair. 

The  band  now  bound  sliall  ever  liold 

With  chains  of  love  and  links  of  gold. 

Kternity  can  never  sever 

These  cords  of  love  thus  bound  forever; 

A  husband  and  a  wife  again, 

.\nd  angels  say  .\men!    Amen!" 


The  company  separated  after  a  most  joyous 
time,  interspersed  with  reminiscences  and  good 
wishes  expressed  for  the  continued  health  and 
prosperity  of  the  aged  cotiple.  This,  the  first 
golden  wedding  in  Bancroft,  which  was  such  a 
success,  it  is  hoped  was  but  the  beginning  of  a 
long  list  to  follow  as  time  rolls  on. 

Tlie  Farmeis'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company 
of  Bath  was  organized  on  the  1st  of  .January,  and 
commenced  business  on  the  1st  of  February. 
H.  P.  Jensen  was  president,  and  Nels  I-".  Peterson, 
secretary. 

In  March  the  question  as  to  city  or  no  city, 
charter  or  no  charter,  was  the  all  absorbing  one 
in  Albert  Lea.  Petitions  ///•"  and  run  went  to  the 
Legislature;  tlie  number  signing  for  were  132  tax 
payers;  those  a  gainst,  77  tax  payers.  The  argu- 
ments were  mostly  in  relation  to  the  relative  cost 
and  to  the  influence  of  a  city  charter  upon  the 
prospective  growth  of  the  city. 

It  passed  the  Legislature  and  was  submitted  to 
the  people  on  the  1st  of  April,  and  carried  by  75 
majority. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  .J.  W.  Smith  had  a  surprise 
Crystal  wedding  on  the  23rd  of  April.  The  bride 
appeared  in  her  original  dross,  worn  fifteen  years 
before.  Eev.  R.  B.  Abbott  and  Rev.  J.  T.  Todd 
officiated  to  readjust  the  marital  tie.  The  occasion 
was  an  enjoyable  one,  the  presents  being  numer- 
ous and  appropriate. 

The  first  city  election  was  held  on  the  Titli  of 
May.  The  whole  number  of  votes  cast  was  380, 
of  which  Frank  Hall  had  3(i<t. 

OleOleson  iossom,  who  came  to  Manchester  in 
1856,  and  opened  a  farm  which  he  cultivated  till 
his  death,  passed  on  with  the  great  majority  on 
the  9th  of  .June.     He  was  a  fine  old  gentleman. 

In  the  fall  W.  C.  Lincoln,  County  Auditor, 
plead  guilty  to  a  charge  of  embezzlement  of  school 
funds  belonging  to  District  No.  38,  and  was  sent 
to  State  Prison  for  one  year  and  fined  $1,273,  or 
double  the  amount  of  the  misappropriation.  It 
seems  that  the  amount  had  been  returned,  and  it 
is  regarded  by  many  as  a  deplorable  mistake  of 
Mr.  Lincoln  to  plead  guilty  under  the  circum- 
stances. 

THE  YE.\K  1879. 

In  Harthiiid,  on  the  31st  of  January,  Mr.  Mads 
Madson,  landlord  of  the  Madson  House,  hung 
hims?lf  in  liis  barn.  The  cause  assigned  for  this 
act  was  temporary  embarrassment. 


EVENTS  OF  IXTEREST. 


357 


THE  TEAR    1880. 

A  terrible  tragedy  occurred  on  Sunday.  October 
2d.  Kay  McMilleu,  with  Henry  Johnson  and  his 
brother,  started  on  a  hunt,  going  out  to  White's 
Lake,  where  they  expected  to  find  sport  through 
the  day.  They  had  shot  one  duck  when  the  trio 
separated,  McMillen  being  at  the  foot  of  the  lake 
and  the  Johnsons  to  the  north,  where  a  unmber  of 
ducks  were  seen.  The  two  were  away  an  hour  or 
so;  on  returning  they  found  McMillen  .sitting  on  a 
rail,  a  little  benumbed  with  the  cold,  and  on 
rising  he  stumbled  and  fell  over  the  rail,  discharg- 
ing his  gun,  which  took  effect  in  the  right  side  of 
the  mouth,  and  entering  the  brain  produced  instant 
death.  He  was  thirty  years  of  age,  a  native  of 
New  York  State,  and  had  lived  in  Albert  Lea  two 
and  one-half  years.  He  left  a  wife  and  many 
friends. 

THE  YEAR    1881. 

On  the  28th  of  January  a  Post  of  the  Grand 
Army  was  instituted  in  the  city. 

A  Board  of  Trade  in  the  city  of  Albert  Lea  was 
organized  on  the  10th  day  of  February,  and  the 
following  officers  were  elected :  President,  H.  D. 
Brown ;  Vice  President,  W.  P.  Sergeant;  Treasurer, 
0.  M,  Hewett;  Seeretar-y,  0.  W.  Ballard;  Execu- 
tive Committee,  D.  E.  Dwyer,  W.  W.  Johnson, 
William  Morin,  D.  G.  Parker,  G.  Gulbrandson, 
and  G.  A.  Patrick. 

In  June  some  children  in  the  town  of  Moscow, 
who  were  playing  in  some  clay  that  had  been 
thrown  from  a  well  at  a  depth  of  thirty  feet,  found 
several  copper  coins  with  square  holes  through 
the  center  of  them,  not  unlike  the  copper  coins  of 


the  Chinese.  If  these  coins  actually  came  from 
that  depth  of  undisturbed  deposite  it  is  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  discoveries  in  this  line  ever 
made. 

THE  YEAK    1882. 

In  January  there  was  some  sporadic  smallpox 
in  the  city,  but  it  was  so  carefully  looked  after  by 
the  proper  authorities  that  it  did  not  become 
epidemic. 

On  the  13th  of  January,  1882,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
David  Hurd  had  their  Silver  wedding,  which  was 
the  most  noticeable  event  of  the  kind  yet  taking 
place  in  the  county,  because  this  couple,  with  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  C.  C.  Colby,  were  the  first  couples  mar- 
ried in  the  town  of  Albert  Lea,  aecording  to  the 
report.  On  this  occasion  the  weather  was  cold, 
but  there  was  a  house  full,  and  a  bountiful  repast 
with  warmth  and  geniality.  The  center  table  was 
strewn  with  silver  tokens  of  love  and  esteem,  and 
really  a  day  to  be  long  remembered  by  those  who 
were  present. 

In  June  there  was  a  gang  of  robbers  in  town 
who  went  through  the  railway  station  and  several 
residences,  getting  considerable  booty;  but  they 
soon  left  for  a  healthier  climate. 

On  the  11th  of  April  one  of  the  most  extensive 
conflagrations  that  ever  aiHicted  Albert  Lea  occur- 
red. Several  buildings  were  consumed,  and  among 
the  losses  sustained  were  those  of  the  '-Standard'" 
office,  to  the  extent  of  about  $3,000.  Mr.  L.  Lace 
lost  in  personal  property  about  .f  300.  Other  suf- 
ferers were  W.  Buel,  Strauss  &  Schlesinger,  Knat- 
vold  Brothers,  D.  E.  Dwyer,  Judge  Town,  Mrs. 
Pratton,  J.  P.  Colby,  W.  M.  Butler,  C.  F.  Davis, 
T.  J.  Wauek  and  others. 


358 


BISTORT  OF  FRBEBOUN  C  OUNTT. 


CITY  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


CHAPTER  LII. 

Descriptive — Eaelt  Beginnings — Neceologt 
— Industrial  enterprises — Citt  Govern- 
ment—  Periodicals  —  Associations  —  Eduoa- 

tional religions — cemeteries fraternal 

orders. 

The  city  of  Albert  Lea  is  situated  in  the  town- 
ship bearing  the  same  name,  a  full  description  of 
which  will  be  found  in  another  chapter.  The  city- 
is  located  in  sections  eight,  nine,  sixteen,  and  sev- 
enteen. It  is  laid  out  in  the  usual  form,  iirrec- 
tangular  blocks,  with  alleys,  some  running  north 
and  south  and  others  east  and  west.  Broadway  is 
a  north  and  south  street,  one  liundred  feet  wide, 
the  others  being  eighty.  Parallel  with  Broad- 
way, on  the  east,  is  Newton,  Elizabeth,  and  Lake; 
on  the  west  are  the  avenues,  Washington,  Jeffer- 
son, Madison,  Monroe,  Adams,  Jackson,  Taylor, 
and  Lincoln,  with  Grove  and  Park  as  local  streets. 
South  of  the  railroad  the  streets  are  numbered, 
First,  Second,  etc.  Madison  and  Court  are  diagonal 
streets,  converging  toward  the  Southern  Minne- 
sota depot.  Above  the  railroad  are  South,  Pearl, 
and  Cottage  streets,  the  latter  of  which  runs  by 
the  Court  House;  then  Main,  William,  and  Clark, 
where  the  first  business  place  was  located  ;  then 
comes  Water  and  Fountain  streets.  These  are. he 
the  principal  streets  and  avenues  and  give  a  gen- 
eral idea  of  the  nomenclature  associated  with  the 
highways. 

Spring  lake,  which  was  at  first  not  a  repulsive 
body  of  water  is  within  the  city,  but  it  is  under 
going  the  process  of  being  filled  up,  and  in  due  time 
will  exist  only  as  a  name  and  a  recollection. 
Fountain  Park,  a  comparatively  late  addition  to 
the  city,  is  a  symetrical  projeotion  into  Fountain 
Lake,  at  a  good  elevation,  and  is  dotted  with  fine 
residences.  The  buildings  in  the  city  are  of  a 
good  cliaracter,  esjjecially  those  lately  con.structed. 
Like  all  western  cities,  it  began  in  a  small  way, 


the  business  blocks  and  dwelling  houses  were  mere 
makeshifts,  improvised  to  supply  an  emergency, 
except  in  rare  cases.  Now  there  is  the  ability  and 
taste  to  supplement  the  utilitarian  aspect  of 
buildings  with  elegance,  which  is  shown  in  the 
improved  architectural  pretentions. 

Albert  Lea  is  a  delightful  city  in  which  to  live; 
the  natural  inducements  to  purchase  suburban  res 
idences  are  here  in  all  their  pristine  beauty, — a 
salubrious  climate,  good  society,  near  schools  and 
churches,  and  but  a  few  minutes  walk  from  the 
depot.  The  environments  ond  concomitants  of 
the  place,  are  such  that  we  must  be  excused  for 
dwelling  upon  them. 

The  surroundings  of  Albert  Lea  are  fairer  than 
dreamland.  On  the  southeast  is  Lake  Albert  Lea 
with  its  waving  lines  of  meadow  and  woodland  ; 
and  on  the  north  is  the  charming  Fountain  Lake, 
with  its  graceful,  wooded  slopes,  cheerful  head- 
lauds,  and  peaceful  bays,  halt  encircling  the  town; 
on  the  west  and  lieyond  these  bright  waters,  other 
lakes  lie  in  tha  (juiet  prairie,  Uke  islands  on  the 
bosom  of  the  sea. 

The  Shell  Rock  River  takes  full  volumes  of  lim 
pid  water  from  these  basins,  and  flows  southward 
along  one  of  the  loveliest  of  valleys. 

The  city,  particularly  the  residence  portions, 
is  embowered  in  a  flowery  forest,  and  the  very 
atmosphere  of  poetry  is  upon  lake  and  river,  wood- 
land and  prairie.  Picturesque  views  are  surrounded 
witb  overarching  trees,  embosomed  cottages  and 
villas.  These  placid  and  unruffled  waters  are  rife 
with  boating,  fishing,  and  of  course,  love  making 
in  the  humid  summer  afternoons  and  evenings, 
and  no  fleet  of  Venetian  gondolas  ever  bore  fairer 
freightage  of  beauty,  laughter  anil  song,  than 
the  many  hued  pleasure  craft  of  Fountain  Lak^e. 
As  a  summer  pleasure  resort  nothing  could  be 
more  superb. 

The  lakes  and  rivers  are  alive  with  fi.sh  and  fowl. 
People  from  all  over  the    East  and  South   come 


CITY  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


359 


here  to  pass  a  week  or  a  moutli  ;  and  the 
augling  and  shodting  leave  nothing  to  be  desired. 
Some  take  quarters  at  the  hotels,  some  live  in  cot- 
tages, and  others  camp  out,  where  the  convention- 
alities of  society  may  be  measurably  ignored,  and 
communion  with  nature  en  joyed  without  restraint. 
The  people  of  Albert  Lea  should  make  a  specialty 
of  entertaining  summer  visitors,  and  transform 
the  whole  city  into  a  rural  boarding  house  com- 
munity, where  homelike  fare  and  favor  could  be 
obtained  without  the  starched  formalities  of  hotel 
life  at  the  summer  resorts. 

Around  the  lake  there  is  a  drive,  but  if  the  pub- 
lic-spirited citizens  would  make  a  boulevard  around 
the  entire  lake,  close  to  the  shore,  following  the 
contour  of  its  winding  banks,  it  would  be  the 
finest  drive  between  Long  Branch  and  the  Golden 
Gate. 

Poets  have  sung  of  many  beautiful  spots,  and 
painters  pictured  charming  scenes,  and  here  are 
scenes  for  both. 

Below  we  copy  an  article  published  in  the  "Turf, 
Field  and  Farm"  of  New  York,  under  date  of  May 
22d,  1874: 

"Albert  Lea,  a  beautiful  lake  about  thirteen 
miles  in  length  and  varying  in  width  from  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  to  three  miles,  and  situated  in 
Freeborn  county,  Minnesota,  is  an  attractive  body 
of  water  to  the  sportsman.  A  gentleman,  whose 
name  is  known  to  the  whole  country,  and  who  is 
a  thorough  sportsman,  writesus  some  interesting 
facts  from  that  neighborhood.  The  elevation 
being  great,  the  air  is  pure  and  the  climate 
healtliy.  People  seldom  die  there.  A  few  years 
ago  the  lake  was  stocked  with  fish,  but  we  are 
told  that  the  'Vandals  who  follow  murder  for  a 
living,  having  no  perception  or  appreciation  of 
sjjort,  have  nearly  drained  it.'  In  the  winter  a 
hole  is  cut  in  the  ice,  and  the  fish  are  speared  with 
a  pitchfork  and  hauled  away  by  the  wagon-load. 
From  five  to  twenty -five  tons  of  pickerel  have 
been  taken  out  of  the  lake  each  winter  for  several 
years.  It  is  gratifying  to  learn  that  the  sports- 
men of  the  State  have  been  successful  in  the  effort 
to  have  the  Legislature  pass  a  stringent  law  for 
the  preservation  of  fish  and  game,  and  also  that 
they  are  determined  to  see  the  law  enforced.  In 
the  fall  of  the  year  ducks  and  geese  visit  Albert 
Lea  in  myriads,  and  it  is  said  that  no  place  on 
the  continent  affords  better  sport.  Sandhill  cranes 
cover  the  prairie  and  grain  fields,  and  snipe,  plo- 


ver, and  curlew  are,  to  use  an  expressive  phrase, 
•as  thick  as  flies  in  a  country  tavern,'  and  prairie 
chickens  are  without  number.  All  this  will  sound 
most  eloquent  to  the  ear  of  the  sportsman,  and 
doubtless  he  will  dream  fond  dreams  of  Albert 
Lea  when  he  reads  this  paragraph." 

In  driving  about  the  various  lakes  and  natural 
parks,  constant  surprises  are  in  waiting  for  those 
who  appreciate  nature  in  her  quiet  moods.  One 
of  the  highest  authorities  as  to  sporting  grounds 
is  the  above  mentioned  journal,  and  in  connection 
with  other  pleasant  things  said  about  Albert  Lea 
a  few  years  ago,  we  cull  the  following: 

"Col.  S.  A.  Hatch  has  returned  to  the  city  from 
his  shooting-box  on  the  romantic  shores  of  the 
lake  at  Albert  Lea,  Minnesota.  He  reports  that 
the  duck  and  geese  shooting  was  never  better 
than  this  fall.  Quite  a  party  of  gentlemen  from 
New  York  gathered  at  Albert  Lea  in  the  last  days 
of  September,  and  remained  until  the  lakes  closed 
on  the  29th  of  October.  The  majority  of  them 
were  Wall  street  magnates,  who  had  shot  ducks 
in  various  parts  of  the  country,  not  excepting 
Maryland  and  Virginia  and  the  Carolina  coast. 
After  a  thorough  experience  they  were  unanimous 
in  expressing  the  opinion  that  they  never  saw 
ducks  in  greater  abundance,  and  of  such  delicate 
flavor,  as  in  the  bracing  altitudes  of  Minnesota. 
They  voted  Albert  Lea  the  center  [of  the  sports- 
man's paradise.  It  is  just  far  enough  removed 
from  the  great  hatching  district,  to  become  the 
first  feeding-ground  of  the  full-grown  birds.  And 
the  food  is  so  abundant  and  of  such  fine  quality, 
that  the  ducks  fairly  burst  with  fatness  when 
stopped  short  in  their  flight  by  a  charge  of  num- 
ber sixes.  Very  large  bags  of  canvas  backs, 
mallards,  red  heads,  and  teal,  were  made  every  day 
by  each  member  of  the  party.  The  goose  shoot- 
ing was  also  superb  in  October.  In  a  small  body 
of  water,  which  the  gentlemen  christened  Lake 
Kosa,  rude  blinds  were  made,  and  one  day  a  well- 
known  shot  of  the  party  killed  six  geese,  in 
addition  to  a  large  number  of  red  heads  and 
mallards.  Any  one  who  has  had  experience  in 
wild  goose  shooting,  knows  how  difficult  it  is  to 
bring  the  cautious  birds  to  bag,  and  therefore  he 
will  appreciate  the  skill  of  the  sportsman  who 
captured  six  in  a  hunt  lasting  but  a  few  hours. 
The  sandhill  cranes  swarmed  the  prairies,  but  no 
effort  was  made  to  bring  them  to  bag.  We  are 
surprised  at  this,  for  there  is  a  charm  in   crane 


360 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


shooting,  which  is  only  heightened  by  the  wari- 
ness of  the  huge  birds.  The  pinnated  gronse  had 
packed  early  in  October,  and  so  not  much  time 
was  wasted  on  them.  When  the  "chickens'"  move 
in  (locks,  which  number  thousands,  they  will  not 
lie  to  the  dogs,  and  no  pleasure  is  extracted  from 
the  pursuit  of  them,  especially  when  water  fowl 
swarm  liy  the  million  right  under  your  nose.  The 
fishing  was  very  fine  this  fall  in  the  lakes  about 
Albert  Lea.  One  day  shortly  after  the  arrival  of 
the  party,  Col.  Hatch  entered  the  house  with  a 
splendid  string  of  pickerel  in  his  hand.  "What 
are  those?"  asked  a  well-known  New  Yorker,  his 
eyes  blazing  with  admiration.  "Trout."  was  the 
laconic  reply.  "Good  heavens!  you  don't  tell  me 
BO.  Why,  they  are  the  biggest  trout  I  ever  saw. 
Where  did  you  catch  them?"  "They  came  from 
the  lake  which  you  see  before  you,"  said  Col. 
Hatch,  with  a  wave  of  the  hand.  "And  are  there 
any  like  these  left  in  the  lake?"  queried  the  New 
Yorker,  with  the  deepest  interest  in  his  tones. 
"Plenty  of  them,"  said  the  host.  "Then,  boys," 
almost  shouted  the  enthusiastic  disciple  of  Wal- 
ton, rising  from  his  chair,  "no  duck  shooting  for 
me  to-morrow.  I  shall  try  my  hand  at  the  trout." 
When  the  would  be  fisherman  realized  that  a  joke 
had  been  played  on  him,  he  put  on  a  grave  face, 
and  swore  that  the  pickerel  bred  in  the  cool  and 
clear  waters  of  Fountain  Lake  were  equal  to  the 
best  trout  ever  t.iken  from  a  mountain  brook  in 
Virginia,  or  a  Umpid  stream  in  the  Adiroudacks. 
This  fish  story  beats  all  hollow  the  little  mud-hen 
narrative  which  had  circulation  last  year.  There 
seems  to  be  something  deceptive  in  the  air  of 
Minnesota.  Objects  do  not  always  look  what 
they  really  are.  The  Storm  King  swept  down 
from  the  north  earUer  than  usual  this  year.  On 
the  29th  of  October,  the  ice  was  an  inch  and  a 
half  thick  on  the  lakes,  and  the  water  fowl  moved 
in  solid  bodies  for  the  South,  bringing  the  shoot- 
ing to  an  abrupt  close  at  Albert  Lea." 

Of  course  there  is  no  place  ia  the  county,  so 
interwoven  with  its  history  from  the  earliest  jjer- 
iod  up  to  the  present  time  as  the  county  seat,  and 
in  respect  to  many  points  they  are  identical,  and 
in  giving  something  of  the  early  settlement  sev- 
eral items  already  alluded  to,  reappear  here,  in 
order  not  to  destroy  the  connection.  As  to  the 
town,  the  village  or  city,  little  attempt  will  be 
made  to  separate  them  here,  although  the  town 
and  the  city  governments  will  receive  individual 
mention. 


Those  who  first  came  here  resolved  to  build  a 
town  that  should  become  a  city,  and  although 
their  determination  was  supplemcnt<'d  by  the  nat- 
ural advantages  of  the  location,  it  is  doing  but 
simple  justice  to  the  pioneers  to  express  the  opin- 
ion that  equal  energy  and  determination,  displayed 
almost  anywhere  else,  would  have  accomplished 
a  like  result. 

When  Mr.  Ruble  made  the  proposition  to 
Ly  Brand  and  Thompson  to  pool  their  united  ener- 
gies and  means,  and  make  St.  Nicholas  the 
metropolis  of  this  region,  they  made  a  fatal  mis- 
take in  .spurning  the  offer,  for  that  city,  which  so 
filled  their  minds  as  almost  to  dethrone  common 
sense,  now  has  no  shelter,  even  for  the  owls  and 
the  bats,  which  are  supposed  to  linger  around 
deserted  habitations. 

Albert  Lea  village  was  platted  by  Charles  C. 
Colby,  and  recorded  on  the  29th  of  October  1856, 
in  Dodge  county,  of  which  it  then  formed  a  part. 
On  the  24th  of  February,  1859,  it  was  duly 
recorded  in  the  Register's  office  of  this  county, 
and  numerous  additions  have  been  made  since  that 
time,  the  most  important  of  which  will  be  men- 
tioned. 

The  first  plat  recorded  had  the  name  of 
Charles  C.  Cobly  as  surveyor.  Austin  T.  Clark, 
as  administrator  of  Lucius  P.  Wedge,  signed  the 
document.  A.  Armstrong  was  the  Notary  Pub- 
lie.  John  Wood  was  Register  of  Deeds,  and 
J.  E.  Bancroft,  Deputy  Register.  William  Morin 
and  George  S.  Ruble  were  also  proprietors. 

E.  C.  Stacy  had  a  subdivision  recorded  on  the 
13th  of  October,  1877.     H.  C.  Stacy,  Surveyor. 

Ballard's  Additiim  was  recorded  on  the  22d  of 
March,  1880. 

Out-lots  of  Parker's  Addition,  surveyed  by  W. 
G.  Kellar,  went  on  the  record  on  the  22d  of  Jmic, 
1880. 

F.  A.  Blackmer's  addition  was  on  the  records 
on  tha  25th  of  June,  1880. 

Charles  W.  Ballard's  Subdivision  to  Albert  Lea 
was  recordod  on  the  15th  of  November,  1880. 

'       Among   the  earlier  additions  were  Kittleson  k 

\   Johnson's,   recorded  as  a  subdivision  on  the  Ifith 

I   of  June,  1869. 

FrancisHall's  addition  was  recorded  on  the  12th 
of  June,  1859. 

I        D.  (t.  Parker's  addition  was   made  on  the  28th 
of  November,  1869. 

I       The  Railroad  Addition,  south  of  the  railroad. 


CITY  OF  ALBERT  LiHA. 


H61 


was  made  by  William  Morin,  Francis  Hali,  H.  W. 
Holley,  and  A.  P.  Man,  at  the  time  the  railroad 
reached  this  point. 

Augustus  Armstrong  had  an  addition  recorded 
on  the  31st  of  August,  1872. 

North  Point  Subdivision  was  recorded  on  the 
1st  of  February,  1871. 

Francis  Hall's  Subdivisson  was  recorded  on  the 
2ud  of  Aisril,  1872. 

It  seems  that  a  part  of  the  south  part  of  the 
city  has  never  been  platted,  that  between  the 
Court.  House  and  railroad,  but  the  residents  there 
seem  contented  and  happy. 

EAKLY   EXPIiOBATION  AND  .SETTLEMENT. 

In  the  State  history  the  reader  will  perceive  the 
steps  by  which  this  quarter  of  the  world  was  open- 
ed Tip  to  the  Caucasian  race,  but  here  we  have  to 
record  the  visit  of  a  single  exploring  party  nearly 
twenty  years  before  the  country  began  to  be  actu- 
ally settled,  and  this  will  be  done  while  furnishing 
a  sketch  of  the  life  of  the  Commandant  of  the  ex- 
pedition, which  seems  to  naturally  fit  in  at  this 
point. 

Col.  Albert  Miller  Lea  Was  born  in  Richland, 
Grainger  County,  Tennessee,  on  the  23rd  of  July, 
1808.  His  jjarents  were  Major  Luke  Lea  and 
Lavinia  Jarnagiu.  At  thirteen  years  of  age  he 
entered  college  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee.  In  1827 
he  received  an  apppointment  at  West  Point,  and 
graduated  the  fifth  in  his  class  in  1831.  He  was 
appointed  a  Lieutenant  in  the  13th  Artillery  but 
shortly  afterwards  exchanged  positions  with  the 
since  noted  John  B.  Magruder,  of  the  Seventh  In- 
fantry, and  was  stationed  at  Fort  Gibson,  then  on 
the  extreme  frontier. 

From  thence  he  was  ordered  to  Washington, 
there  receiving  instructions  and  orders  to  report 
to  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  to  survey  and  plan  im- 
jjrovemeuts  for  the  Tenessee  River  and  its  tribu- 
taries. From  this  time  he  passed  through  the 
usual  variations  in  army  life,  being  detailed  for 
different  duties  in  several  parts  of  the  country, 
and  in  1835,  was  in  Fort  DesMoines,  Iowa,  and 
there  received  orders  to  undertake  a  summer  cam- 
paign to  the  St.  Peters,  now  the  Minnesota  River. 

On  the  seventh  of  Jufle,  1835,  the  march  was 
commenced  with  three  detachments  of  sixty  men 
each,  with  Captain  Nathan  Boone,  a  son  of  the 
Daniel  Boone,  as  guide.  The  route  taken  was  up 
the  divide  between  the  DesMoines  and  Mississippi 
Rivers   to   Lake   Pepin,  then  the  column  turned 


west  and  headed  for  the  source  of  the  Blue  Earth 
River,  Kossuth  county,  in  Iowa. 

On  this  march  the  trip  was  made  through  Free- 
born county.  As  near  as  can  now  be  traced  the 
column  entered  the  county  near  the  schoolhouse 
in  district  No.  30,  in  the  town  of  Moscow.  Pro- 
ceeding thence  in  a  circuitous  route  across  a  por- 
tion of  Moscow,  the  southern  part  of  Riceland, 
northwest  corner  of  Hayward,  and  into  Albert  Lea 
township,  striking  Albert  Lea  Lake,  which  they 
named  Fox  Lake,  and  following  up  to  section  six, 
crossed  into  Pickerel  Lake  and  lialted  for  dinner 
on  the  banks  of  White's  Lake.  This  lake  was  given 
the  name  of  Lake  Chapeau,  from  its  resemblance 
to  that  form  of  a  military  hat.  They  then  moved 
southwesterly  to  Alden  and  Mansfield,  crossing 
the  county  line  nearithe  middle  of  section  nineteen, 
and  continued  the  march  down  the  DesMoines  to 
the  place  of  starting,  now  the  capital  of  Iowa. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  of  1835^36,  Mr. 
Lea  resigned  his  commission  in  the  army,  to  take 
effect  June  1st,  in  the  mean  time  having  obtained 
a  leave  of  absence,  which  he  improved  by  writing 
up  for  publication  in  book  form,  a  sketch  of  this 
expedition,  including  a  map  of  the  country,  which 
was  published  in  Philadelphia  by  H.  S.  Tanner. 
In  this  book  the  name  Iowa  was  first  applied  to 
the  territory  now  composing  the  State  of  that 
name. 

In  May,  1830,  the  Colonel  was  married  to  Ellen 
Shoemaker,  of  Philadelphia.  For  a  time  he  was 
located  at  the  mouth  of  Pine  River,  below  Rock 
Island,  to  survey  some  lands,  which  being  com- 
pleted he  received  the  appointment  of  Chief 
Engineer  of  the  state  of  Tennessee,  with  head- 
quarters at  Nashville,  arfd  for  some  time  he  was 
engaged  in  prosecuting  internal  improvements  in 
that  State.  Soon  afterward  he  was  appointed  by 
Martin  VanBuren  to  establish  the  southern  bound- 
ary of  Iowa,  which  he  did.  Aftenvards  he  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad 
company  as  locating  engineer.  In  March,  1841, 
he  was  appointed  Chief  Clerk  in  the  war  depart- 
ment, and  in  September  of  that  year,  upon  the 
resignation  of  President  Harrison's  cabinet,  he 
became  Secretary  of  War  ad  interim,  which  he 
held  for  six  weeks. 

About  this  time,  as  elsewhere  recorded,  Jean  N. 
Nicollet,  a  French  saBniit,  gave  to  Lake  Chapeau 
the  name  of  Albert  Lea,  which  has  since  been 
trausfeired  to  the  larger  lake  below  the  city. 


362 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


In  1844,  lie  accepted  the  appointment  of  Profes- 
sor of  Mathematics  in  the  Eaat  TennesseeUniversity 
at  KuDXvillo,  which  position  he  lielJ  until  1851. 

In  the  meantime,  having  lost  his  wife,  he  mar- 
ried Catherine  S.  1).  Heath.  He  then  started  a 
new  enterprise,  the  manufacture  of  glass  in  Knox- 
ville,  which  proved  a  financial  failure. 

In  railroad  interests  he  afterwards  went  to 
Texas,  and  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  between 
the  two  sections  of  the  country,  he  offered  his 
services  to  the  Confederacy,  and  served  in  various 
capacities.  His  son  Edward,  who  adhered  to  the 
Union  cause,  was  killed  at  (ialveston,  Texas,  while 
acting  as  chief  officer  of  the  steamer  Harriet  Lane. 

After  the  close  of  the  war.  Col.  Lea  resided  for 
a  time  iu  Galveston,  but  afterwards  removed  to 
Corsicaua,  Texas. 

In  June,  1879,  on  a  special  invitation  of  the 
municipality,  he  visited  this  city  and  region,  and 
was  given  a  right  royal  welcome,  delivering  an 
interesting  address  to  the  Old  Settlers"  Associa- 
tion. He  was  profuse  in  his  expressions  of 
astonishment  at  the  change  which  had  been 
wrought. 

While  preparing  the  history  a  letter  was  sent  to 
Col.  Albert  M.  Lea,  asking  if  there  was  anything 
connected  with  his  journey  across  the  county,  or 
in  relation  to  his  last  visit  here,  to  which  he 
wished  to  add,  and  his  brief  reply  is  herewith 
published : 

"Corsieana,  Texas,  August  18th,  1882. 
Prof.  I.  H.  Stearns,  Albert  Lea,  Minn. 

Dear  Sir:  Referring  to  your  note  of  the  9th 
instant,  allow  me  to  say  that  more  honor  has  been 
done  me  by  the  people  of  Freeborn  county  than 
my  transient  visit  at  an  early  day  would  seem  to 
merit,  and  that  I  do  not  wish  to  make  my  name 
still  more  conspicuous  in  that  connection  by  per- 
sonal communications  in  your  proposed  History 
or  Freeborn  County,  which  you  will  doubtless 
till  with  more  interesting  matter. 

With  thanks  tor  your  courteous  tender.  T  am 
very  truly  your  ol)edient  servant, 

AijBert   Lea." 

George  S.  Buble  came  here  in  July,  1855,  to 
find  a  mill  site,  and  after  a  careful  reconnoissauce 
selected  a  point  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Albert  Lea, 
where  he  proposed  to  build  a  dam,  and  by  raising 
the  lake  a  few  feet  secure  a  splendid  water  power. 
While  away  for  reinforcements,  Jacob  Lybrand 
secured  that  point,  and  so  Mr.  Ruble  did  the  next 


best  thing;  came  here  and  planted  himself  and 
built  his  mill. 

Mr.  Lorenzo  Merry,  from  Cedar  River,  the  man 
who  gave  his  name  to  Merry's  Ford,  in  Iowa,  was 
here  living  in  his  wagon,  which  he  had  hauled 
here  with  an  ox  team;  and  he  soon  got  up  a  log 
cabin  on  block  eight  between  Clark  and  Water 
and  Broadway  and  Washington  streets,  which  of 
course  is  to  be  remembered  as  the  location  of  the 
first  residence  of  a  white  man  in  Albert  Lea  City. 
He  went  to  Walnut  Lake  and  built  a  hotel,  and 
then  to  the  Red  River  country.  The  next  house 
was  that  of  George  S.  Ruble,  on  what  was  called 
the  Island.  This  may  bo  described  as  a  double 
log  house,  with  magnificent  proportions  for  those 
times,  the  size  being  18x18  and  14x18  feet.  This 
house  still  stands,  but  it  has  been  sided  up  and 
measurably  modernized. 

The  first  mill  was  on  the  comer  of  the  lake, 
south  of  its  present  location,  a  race  having  lieen 
cut  from  that  point  to  the  river  some  rods  below; 
and  there  it  stood  and  did  good  service  until  the 
12th  of  April.  1801,  when  it  was  undermined  by 
the  freshet,  and  settled  four  feet  at  the  upper  end. 
It  was  never  repaired,  part  of  the  machinery  go- 
ing to  North  wood  and  a  part  into  the  new-  mill. 
The  building  of  this  mill,  which  was  the  nucleus 
of  the  village  and  city  of  Albert  Lea,  was  com- 
menced on  the  29th  of  October,  1855. 

The  next  residence  to  go  \ip  was  on  block  nine, 
and  as  an  evidence  of  the  metropolitan  ideas  en- 
tertained in  those  early  days  by  these  pushing 
pioneers,  it  should  be  recorded  that  the  next 
building  to  go  up  was  a  printing  office,  built  by 
Mr.  Ruble,  and  presented  to  Swineford  and  (iray, 
the  first  printers  to  penetrate  this  region.  The 
next  shanty  to  go  up  was  by  Daniel  Hard,  and 
Swineferd  soon  built  an  office  and  used  the  one 
presented  by  Ruble  as  a  residence. 

Mr.  Merry  opened  the  first  hotel,  although  Mr. 
Ruble,  having  a  house  of  two  rooms,  entertained 
people  by  the  dozen,  as  his  table  was  an  extension 
one  in  a  certain  sense,  and  his  beds  were  all  elastic 
— that  is,  there  were  bunks  on  three  sides  of  the 
room. 

The  Clark  building,  as- it  was  called,  was  erec- 
ted in  185G.  The  first  building  on  the  spot  was 
Mr.  Merry's  boading  house,  wliieh  was  burned  in 
1865.  It  was  14x16  feet,  and  had  a  few  shelves 
with  some  goods. 

Squire  Clark  used    to  hold  court  here.     A  lad- 


CITT  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


363 


der  extended  to  a  room  above,  and  a  trap-door  to 
a  hole  below.  In  this  room  the  court  would  meet, 
and  in  a  jury  case  the  people  would  have  to  be 
ttirned  out  of  doors,  and  would  listen  through  the 
cracks  to  the  unconfined  eloquence  withii',  and 
know  the  verdict  as  soon  as  it  was  agreed  upon. 

The  old  settlers  relate  many  anecdotes  as  to  the 
marriages  that  were  jjerformed  there;  one  of  them, 
which  is  of  course  told  as  the  first  ceremony  of 
the  kind  in  town,  if  not  in  the  county,  and  to  one 
who  has  never  looked  up  such  matters,  it  is  aston- 
ishing how  many  of  these  first  events  will  be  dis- 
covered. Well,  the  story  is  that  when  the  first 
bridal  pair  stood  up  before  the  'Squire,  and  had 
joined  hands,  while  the  crowd,  with  feverish  anxi- 
ety, awaited  the  consummation  of  their  plighted 
vows,  the  magistrate  nerved  himself  to  the  task, 
with  the  awful  feeling  of  responsibility  resting 
upon  him,  and  began  :  "Know  all  men  by  these 
presents",  but  finding  that  this  did  not  sound  all 
right,  he  began  again.  "To  whom  it  may  con- 
cern"; this  "splurge"  created  such  an  impression 
that  he  abruptly  stopped  and  called  for  the  stat- 
utes or  any  book  that  had  a  marriage  form,  but 
on  being  told  that  the  form  was  not  essential,  he 
ended  the  ceremony  by  pronouncing  them  hus- 
band and  wife. 

In  this  building  it  is  reported  that  the  first  ser- 
mon was  preached;  Kev.  Mr.  Lowry  and  Eev. 
Mr.  McReynolds  being  the  early  preachers. 

On  one  occasion,  a  man  who  lived  somewhere 
near,  who  had  listened  to  what  he  considered  a 
powerful  discourse,  offered  publicly  to  give  the 
minister  half  a  cheese,  if  he  would  come  over  to  his 
house  and  discuss  the  matter  with  "Lucinda,"  his 
wife,in  whose  Biblical  knowledge  he  had  the  utmost 
confidence.  The  Sabbath  School  Convention  at 
first  met  here  ;  but  the  old  building  finished  its 
own  history  in  the  fall  of  1872. 

The  men  who  came  here  to  work  for  Mr.  Rubla 
were:  Saxon  C.Roberts,  Joseph  Willford,  who  was 
afterward  frozn  to  death  in  Martin  county,  Charles 
F.  Warren,  H,  V.  Henderson,  A.  Ableman,  L.  C. 
Roberts,  John  B,  Lenox,  John  Rion,  Ed.  Murphy, 
Arthur  Boulton,  Edward  Henderson,  and  David 
Irons. 

The  pay  roll  tor  these  men  commenced  on  the 
2d  of  November,  1855.  Of  course  these  men  had 
to  be  boarded  and  lodged  by  Ruble,  and  Mr.  H. 
Peck  used  to  say  that  any  one  coming  within  forty 
miles  of  Albert  Lea  wouUl  swing  round  here  and 
get  a  meal  at  Ruble's. 


The  next  store  in  the  place  was  opened  by  Col . 
Eaton,  opposite  where  the  Post-office  now  is. 

Francis  Hall,  whom  usage  has  transformed  into 
Frank  Hall,  was  the  next  man  to  come  and  com- 
mence general  merchandising,  and  he  has  been  a 
prominent  and  public  spirited  citizen  ever  since, 
being  frequently  mentioned  in  this  work. 

G.  A.  Watrous  made  the  first  brick,  in  1857. 

The  land  on  the  site  of  the  city  was  pre-empted 
by  Mr.  Ruble  on  the  east  of  Broadway,  and 
by  Mr.  Merry  on  the  west  of  that  street.  The 
latter  secured  160  acres,  40  of  which  he  sold  to 
T.  C.  Thorn,  who  transferred  it  to  William  Morin, 
and  he,  being  an  engineer,  surveyed  and  platted 
it. 

At  first  the  lots  were  sold  fron  $25  to  $100  each, 
according  to  location.  The  fact  that  there  was  no 
exorbitant  prices  for  lots  was  one  of  the  elements 
contributing  to  the  success  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Ruble  laid  out  312  acres  east  of  the  town, 
and  Thomas  Smith,  of  Red  Wing,  also  had  an  in- 
terest in  the  town  site  and  sold  town  lots. 

In  1857,  during  the  fall,  the  hard  times  that 
prevailed  in  every  section  of  the  country,  most 
seriously  affected  the  growth  and  prosperity  of 
the  place,  and  a  few  of  the  lots  east  of  the  town 
were  sold,  and  to-day  that  is  Ruble's  farm. 

When  Swineford  and  Gray,  the  printers,  came, 
Mr.  Ruble  made  arrangements  to  have  a  news- 
paper started  at  once,  and  endorsed  their  paper  to 
Rounds,  of  Chicago,  to  secure  press  and  material. 
In  about  a  year  it  was  sold  to  Gray,  who  finally 
turned  it  over  to  Botsford,  but  a  sketch  of  the 
paper  appears  under  the  proper  head. 

Mr.  Merry's  interest  was  bought  out  by  L.  P. 
Wedge,  a  non-resident,  who  sent  his  relative,  A. 
C.  Wedge,  to  look  after  the  property.  L.  P. 
Wedge  subsequently  died  and  his  widow  married 
Augustus  Armstrong. 

Charles  Kittleson,  a  young  man,  came  out  west 
to  obtain  work,  and  not  finding  it,  as  he  had  no 
trade,  became  discouraged  and  was  about  to  re- 
turn to  Wisconsin  when  Ruble  offered  him  fifty 
cents  a  day  to  work  in  the  mill,  and  afterwards 
he  went  to  work  for  Frank  Hall  in  his  store.  Sub- 
sequently some  one  built  a  saloon  for  him.  which 
he  kept  until  the  war  broke  out,  and  then  went  in- 
to the  army,  in  Captain  Heath's  company.  On 
his  return  he  was  elected  County  Treasurer,  and 
afterwards  re-elected,  serving  ten  years;  he  is  now 
State  Treasurer  of  Minnesota. 


364 


IIISrORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


A.  B.  Webber  waa  a  Rejjublican,  and  among 
other  things  he  did  for  the  good  of  the  town,  waa 
IjuiKling  the  Webber  House,  a  part  of  wliich  ia 
stdl  standing  unocoupied  next  to  the  Cliicago  fur- 
niture establishment  on  Broadway.  He  went  into 
the  armj.  was  in  the  commissary  department,  and 
afterwards  moved  to  Kansas,  and  thence  to  Cali- 
fornia. 

The  first  dance  was  on  that  first  Christmas  eve,, 
with  C.  C.  Colbj'  to  fnrnisli  the  music,  and  it  was 
an  enjoyable  alFair.  Mr.  Colby  is  now  in  New 
York  in  the  music  business. 

The  first  child  born  in  town  was  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  Walford  and  his  wife  Mary,  in  March,  1856; 
her  name  was  Louisa.  She  is  married  and  now 
lives  in  Vinton,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Crowfoot  started  the  first  blacksmith  shop, 
and  in  due  time  others  came  in,  and  the  town  has 
always  been  well  supplied  with  iron  working  ar- 
tizaus. 

The  supplies  in  those  times  were  generally 
brought  from  McGregor,  Iowa,  and  the  transpor- 
tation was  from  two  to  three  dollars  for  a  hundred 
pounds,  depending  \i])im  the  weather  to  some  ex- 
tent. Sometimes  several  weeks  would  be  con- 
sumed in  a  trip,  as  the  country  was  roadless  and 
bridgeleas,  and  the  water  in  the  sloughs  would  be 
t<jo  deep  to  ford. 

Hall's  first  store  was  built  by  Wedge  A-  Moriu. 
When  Hall  went  into  his  new  store  his  old  place 
waa  occupied  by  Whitten. 

One  of  the  early  society  events  was  the  marri- 
age by  Colonel  Eaton,  who  was  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  of  Mr.  Heath,  the  second  Sheriff  of  the 
county,  to  Miss  Rice.  The  ritual  employed  was  a 
striking  improvement  ujion  Squire  Clark's  jerkey 
impromptu.  Tlie  magistrate's  fee  was  12.50,  in 
gold.  What  the  Colonel  could  possibly  do  with 
so  much  gold  in  those  days  no  one  could  conjec- 
ture. 

The  story  is  told  of  a  devout  (■hurch  member 
who  had  a  passion  for  card  playing,  and  who 
spent  most  of  his  evenings  in  the  saloons,  en- 
gaged in  his  favorite  game,  but  he  waa  quite  reg- 
ular at  the  prayer  meetings,  and  he  would  take 
part  in  the  exercises,  not  unfrequently  interluding 
his  remarks  with  such  expressions  as  '-at  this 
stage  of  the  game,"  "go  it  alone,"  got  euchred," 
and  "playing  the  best  trump,"  which  evidently 
conveyed  quite  as  mucli  meaning  as  he  intended. 

In  1857,  the  new-comers  were  numerous;  the 


village  of  Albert  Lea  began  to  assume  acme  pro- 
portions, and  it  is  a  matter  of  congratulation  that 
it  is  still  growing,  the  ])resent  season  having  wit- 
nessed the  erection  of  some  of  the  finest  buildings 
in  town,  as  residences  and  for  business  purposes 

As  to  what  became  of  the  men  who  came  to 
work  for  Mr.  Ruble:  E.  W.  Murphy  is  one  of  the 
leading  merchants  of  Albert  Lea;  Roberts  and  hia 
son  Lars  went  to  Kansas;  the  Hendersons  left  some 
years  ago;  Gtrtler,  Ableman  and  Willfnrd  liave 
climbed  the  golden  stair.  Mr.  Willford  had  the 
genertil  management  of  the  gang. 

Lorenzo  Merry  had  been  on  the  ground  one 
mcjnth,  and  the  only  persons  then  known  to  be  in 
the  county,  according  to  E.  W.  Murphy,  were 
Tlieodore  Lilly,  Charles  C.  Colby  and  two  sisters, 
and  Charles  Wilder  and  brother,  who  were  all  on 
the  west  side  of  the  lake;  and  on  the  oppo.site  side 
were  Chris.  Mickleson  and  family,  and  Charles 
Peterson. 

Mr.  Merry  remainetl  about  two  years,  when  he 
started  for  pastures  new. 

In   1856,    a    stage    hne    commenced    running 

through  Albert  Lea,  and  the  people  began  to  feel 

that  they  must  very  soon    begin   to  put  on  some 

I  style,    for   this   brought    in    settlers    in    a    rapid 

manner. 

In  the  summer  of  185G,  the  urgent  and  pressing 
necessity  was  felt  for  an  establishmsnt  where,  to 
use  the  characteristic  vernacular,  the  ever  festive 
'•bug  juice"  might  be  dispensed,  and  in  resjionse 
to  this  demand,  a  man  made  liis  appearance  on  the 
scene  and  opened  a  saloon. 

When  Frank  Hall  arrived,  he  made  everything 
lively;  as  one  of  the  early  settlers  remarked,  "he 
was  a  buster,"  and  at  once  commenced  the  erec- 
tion of  a  fine  store. for  those  times,  and  opened  a 
first-class  assortment  of  goods,  embracing  general 
merchandise  in  great  variety.  This  was  in  1857. 
A  number  of  years  afterward  he  Imilt  the  "old 
brick  store,"  which  waa  and  still  is  a  landmark. 

Mr.  Wilder,  at  an  early  day,  opened  a  small 
stock  of  general  merchandise  and  a  large  stock  of 
whisky,  in  Hall's  old  place.  At  this  time  the 
inhabitants  of  the  village  were  few,  but  as  the 
tide  of  emigration  in  this  direction  was  on  the 
Hood-tide,  and  the  country  was  fast  settling  up, 
the  streets  presented  a  busy  appearance. 

Brock  Woodruff  opened  a  small  store  of  general 
merchandise,  and  as  that  was  the  first  thing  usually 


CITY  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


365 


called  tor  by  the  thirsty  traveler,  he  also  put  in 
licjiiid  refreshments. 

"Squire  Clark  may  be  described  as  an  inferior 
looking  man,  who  had  a  chronic  opthalmia.  He 
had  considerable  professional  pride,  and  when  he 
was  called  down  to  Shell  Rock  to  marry  Mr. 
Andrews  senior,  and  completely  broke  down,  he 
was  a  good  deal  mortified,  telling  his  friends 
when  be  returned  that  he  "completely  broke  down, 
by  gosh!"  H.  D.  Brown  was  present  at  that 
wedding. 

At  one  time  there  was  a  man  who  was  on  trial 
for  some  offense,  and  he  demanded  a  jury,  but  the 
justice  decided  that  he  could  only  have  a  jury  by 
paying  the  expenses  of  such  luxury.  This  start- 
ling proposition  was  shown  by  tlie  counsel  for  the 
defense  to  be  contrary  to  the  statutes,  but  'Squire 
Clark  stated  that  he  had  once  so  decided,  and  he 
did  not  propose  to  reverse  his  own  decision,  for  a 
Justice  in  all  things  should  be  consistent. 

Affairs  were  not  long  in  assuming  form  and 
coherence  in  the  town;  men  gravitated  to  their 
proper  level,  a  subdivision  of  labor,  the  true  index 
of  civilization,  resulted,  and  to-day  there  is  a 
thriving  and  prosperous  community. 

NECROLOGICAL. 

It  has  been  deemed  proper  to  furnish  a  brief  sketch 
of  some  of  the  most  prominent  men  and  women 
who  have  drifted  into  that  unseen  Sea,  which  is 
but  a  step  from  our  present  existence,  and  ultim- 
ately swallows  every  living  soul.  It  is  not  unlike- 
ly that  some  names  'that  should  appear  here  have 
been  omitted,  for  it  is  a  notable  thing  to  see  how 
soon  one  is  disremembered,  who,  having  joined 
the  endless  possession,  has  passed  from  mortal 
view, 

Augustus  Armstrong. — The  thread  of  his  life 
was  snapped  asunder  on  the  18th  of  August,  1873 
at  the  age  of  39  years.  He  was  born  in  Milan, 
Ohio,  and  after  the  necessary  preliminary  educa- 
tion, began  the  study  of  law  in  a  school  in  Cincin- 
nati, and  after  admission  to  the  bar,  began  prac- 
tice. In  18.57,  he  came  to  this  county,  where  as  a 
lawyer,  public  officer,  private  citizen,  and  legisla- 
tor, he  became  identified  with  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  rising  State.  He  was  the  first 
County  Treasurer  and  the  first  district  Attorney. 
In  1865,  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  return- 
ed the  next  year,  was  sent  to  the  Senate  in  1867, 
and  again  to  the  House  in  1869.  He  was  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Southern  Minnesota  railroad,  and 


was  United  States  Marshal  of  Miuuesota.  Stricken 
down  in  the  meridian  of  his  life's  journey,  Min- 
nesota lost  a  sou  very  faithfid,  loboring  for  the 
good  of  all.  His  friends  mourned  a  counselor 
and  his  family  lost  the  sun  that  shone  o'er  their 
pathway.  He  was  married  on  the  10th  of  October, 
1861,  to  Mrs  Mary  .1.  Wedge.  He  left  two  child- 
ren ;  Mary  A.  and  Augustus. 

Samuel  Batchelder. — A  leading  citizen  of 
Freeborn  county,  was  born  in  Topsham,  Orange 
county,  Vermont,  on  the  28th  of  April  182.5,  and 
after  attending  the  common  school  went  to  Nor- 
wich University,  and  there  regularly  graduated  at 
the  age  of'  twenty  years.  He  then  studied  law 
under  Judge  Underwood  and  was  duly  admitted 
to  the  bar  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  Symptoms  of  pulmonary  disease  ap- 
pearing he  went  to  Georgia  where  his  condition 
was  materially  improved.  He  ha,d  already  been 
married  to  Miss  Susan  P.  Taplin  who  went  south 
with  him.  In  1850,  he  went  to  Kemper  Springs, 
Mississippi,  and  taught  and  conducted  anAcademy 
with  eminent  success.  In  1856,  he  removed  to 
Philadelphia,  and  leaving  his  wife  there  spent  the 
winter  of  1856-57  in  Minnesota.  At  first  he  took 
a  claim  near  Mr.  Dill's  but  relinquished  that  and 
purchased  a  farm  near  Itasca,  which  is  still  known 
by  his  name.  The  following  season  he  returned 
to  Philadelphia  and  took  charga  of  Attleborough 
Academy,  about  twenty  miles  from  there.  In 
1861,  his  wife  died,  leaving  a  child  .six  months 
old.  This  little  one  subsequently  died  as  had  two 
others,  also  in  infancy.  Two  years  later,  in  1863, 
he  came  here  for  a  permanent  residence.  In  1867, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Adide  Sims  of  Albert  Lea. 
He  was  elected  Superintendent  of  Schools  for 
Freeborn  county,  serving  \\  ith  rare  ability  for  three 
years,  and  in  1869,  was  chosen  County  Auditor,  a 
position  he  occupied  with  credit  to  himself  until 
1877.  He  built  a  house  in  this  city,  where  his 
estimable  widow  now  lives.  He  was  one  of  the 
few  early  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  was  a  ripe  scholar,  with  unusual  attainments, 
being  especially  efficient  in  mathematics,  Latin, 
and  Greek.  His  character  for  honesty,  integrity, 
and  perfect  reliability,  was  never  questioned.  It 
may  be  truly  said  that  he  was  unselfish,  true,  and 
firm  in  his  convictions  of  right.  He  was  sadly 
missed  in  the  secular  and  church  circles. 

Ashley  M.    Tyreu  was   a  native    of  Concord, 
Erie  county.  New  York,  and  studied  law  in  the 


366 


niSTORY  OF  FREEPORN  COUNTY. 


office  of  Judge  Hazelton,  at  Jamestown,  Cbautua- 
qua  county.  Sometime  after  the  war  he  came  to 
Alhirt  Lea,  and  went  into  the  office  of  Augustus 
Armstrong,  and  afterwards  with  Judge  Stacy. 
His  death  was  in  June,  1880.  He  was  an  honora- 
ble man,  highly  respected,  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  and  of   the  Presbyterian   church. 

N.  H.  Ellickson.— Mr.  N.  H.  Ellick.so'n,  of 
Albert  Lea,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  this  county, 
had  an  extensive  acquaintimce,  and  was  well 
known  as  a  man  of  ability  and  learning.  He  was 
the  editor  of  the  first  Norwegian  paper  printed  in 
thr  United  States,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was 
coroner  of  this  county.  He  died  February  1st, 
aged  58  years,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery 
west  of  this  city,  where  "Life's  fitful  fever  o"er,  he 
sleepeth  well." 

Mrs.  Minerv.\  Blackmek,  widow  of  Dr.  Frank- 
lin Blackmer,  entered  this  world  in  Middlebury, 
Vermont,  on  the  9th  of  .Tamiary,  1811.  At  the 
age  of  three  years,  her  parents  moved  to  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  where  they  were  the 
first  settlers.  She  was  left  motherless  at  thirteen 
years  of  age,  and  assumed  the  care  of  the  youn- 
ger children.  At  the  age  age  of  twenty  she  was 
married  to  Dr.  Blackmer,  and  five  years  later 
went  to  Ohio  and  lived  in  the  town  of  Amherst. 
In  the  year  1856,  they  removed  to  Minnesota  and 
located  in  Albert  Lea.  After  living  here  more 
than  twenty  years,  the  Doctor  died,  in  1877. 
Most  of  her  life  was  spent  on  the  frontier,  as  she 
removed  three  times  to  the  border  of  civilization 
to  help  subdue  the  wilderness.  She  was  remark- 
ably well  fitted  for  success  iu  such  an  arduous 
life;  possessing,  as  she  did,  a  strong  constitution, 
with  an  earnest  will  she  endured  hardships  be- 
yond the  ability  of  many.  She  was  always  happy 
in  making  others  comfortable.  Her  departure  to 
an  unknown  frontier  was  on  the  17th  of  May, 
1882. 

"After  the  shower,  the  givini?  sun. 
Silver  stars  when  the  day  is  done. 
After  the  snow  the  emerald  leaves, 
After  the  harvest  the  golden  sheaves." 

Mhs.  Cii.vniTY  Fay. — The  wife  of  L.  W.  Fay, 
was  born  in  Otterville,  Indiana,  and  came  to  this 
county  in  1857.  The  dial  of  time  struck  its  last 
hour  for  her  on  the  25th  of  May,  1882.  A  hus- 
band and  three  children  were  left  to  love  and  re- 
member a  beloved  wife  and  mother. 

Mrs.  Mart  Dow  Howell,  wife  of  Mr.  H. 
Rowell,   yielded   up  her  natural  life  on  Sunday 


morning,  the  11th  of  Jime,  1876,  at  three  score 
and  eiglit  years.  She  was  a  native  of  Norfolk, 
England;  was  married  to  Mr.  Rowell  in  Chelsea, 
England,  int)ctober,  1831.  The  next  year  they 
came  to  New  York,  and  lived  there  two  years. 
Then  spent  eight  years  in  New  Orleans  and  Vicks- 
burg.  In  1840  went  up  the  Mississippi  as  far  as 
Illinois,  and  lived  near  Springfield  four  years; 
then  pushed  on  up  to  Wisconsin.  In  ISSl  they 
came  to  Kochester,  in  this  State,  and  in  18()9  came 
here,  where  the  family  became  well  known. 
While  in  New  Orleans.  Mrs.  Rowell  had  an  attack 
of  Yellow  fever,  from  the  effects  of  which  she 
never  recovered. 

John  Uolby.  At  the  age  of  three  score 
and  ten,  on  the  5th  day  of  June,  1876,  he  was 
gathered  to  his  fathers.  His  nativity  dated  from 
the  4th  of  December,  1806,  in  the  (rreen  Moun- 
tain State.  He  was  married  on  the  21st  of  Janu- 
ary, 1829,  to  Miss  Hannah  Rowell.  In  1835,  he 
removed  to  Pennsylvania  and  remained  there  fif- 
teen years,  then  came  west  as  far  as  Wisconsin 
where  he  lived  six  years;  then  got  over  on  this 
side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  pre-empted  the  farm 
now  in  possession  of  some  of  the  family.  He 
was  an  honest,  upright  man,  held  in  great  regard 
by  his  acquaintances.  A  wife,  one  son  and  seven 
daughters,  all  married,  survive  him.  His  remains 
were  deposited  iu  the  cemetery  on  part  of  the 
land  where  he  first  located. 

Mrs.  Amanda  WoouRrrr  came  in  1856  with 
her  husband,  and  found  a  place  in  the  Burr  Oaks 
in  London  township,  and  iu  1857  removed  to 
Albert  Lea.  She  was  true  to  all  the  instincts  of 
womanhood,  and  was  thus  an  eminently  useful 
woman.  On  the  28th  of  May,  1879,  the  cares  of 
life  were  quietly  laid  down  for  whatever  else  may 
be  in  store  for  her. 

OiiE  O.  SiMONsoN  died  suddenly  on  the  21st  of 
February,  1881,  of  Cerebro-spiual  Meningitis, 
while  filling  the  office  of  Register  of  Deeds.  He 
was  a  very  conscientious,  careful,  painstaking, 
accurate  and  reliable  man,  and  his  lo.ss  was  deeply 
felt  throughout  the  county.  Suitable  resolutions 
were  passed  by  the  county  officers  in  commemor- 
ation of  his  services.  He  was  born  in  Normandy, 
was  forty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
and  left  a  widow  and  four  children. 

B.  J.  House  was  formerly  a  member  of  the 
Massachusetts  legislature,  where  he  served  with 
great  ability.     He  came  west  in  1858,  locating  in 


CITY  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


367 


Albert  Lea.  He  was  elected  three  times  as  Pro- 
bate Judge,  and  held  other  positions  of  responsi- 
bility. He  served  in  the  Fourth  Minnesota  Regi- 
ment, from  which  he  was  honorably  discharged, 
and  remained  a  respectable  private  citizen.  He 
was  mustered  out  of  earthly  service  on  the  22d  of 
January,  1879. 

Hiram  J.  Joxes,  one  of  the  oldest  persons  in 
the  cuunty,  died  during  the  year  1879,  much  re- 
spected. 

Mes.  Elizabeth  Williams  was  born  in  Onon- 
daga county,  New  York,  and  at  an  early  day  mar- 
ried Mr.  Gideon  Marlett.  They  moved  west  to 
Elkhart,  Indiana,  and  while  there  her  husband 
died.  She  afterwards  married  Mr.  R.  Williams 
at  Chillioothe,  Illinois,  and  they  came  to  Albert 
Lea  in  18.57.  Mrs.  Williams  was  one  of  the  sis 
who  organized  the  Congregational  church  in  1858. 
Her  loss  was  especially  felt  in  the  chuich.  Her 
trials  ended  on  the  18th  of  June,  1877,  at  the  age 
of  63  years. 

INDTJSTKIAL. 

Albert  Lea  is  a  commercial  city.  It  is  true 
there  are  a  few  manufacturing  establishments  on 
a  moderate  scale,  and  most  of  them  are  mentioned 
in  a  brief  way.  No  attempt  is  made  togive  a  business 
du'ectory  of  the  city;  the  changes  in  this  respect 
are  so  frequent  that  a  correct  list  of  all  the  Ijusi- 
ness  houses  might  be  written  to  have  it  very  im- 
perfect by  the  time  it  gets  into  print.  Among  the 
industrial  enterprises  may  be  mentioned  the  fol- 
lowing, which,  to  save  too  many  heading.?,  includes 
the  Post-office  and  Banks. 

Post-office. — The  office  was  opened  at  an  early 
day,  as  mentioned  in  the  early  history,  when  there 
was  but  the  house  of  Mr.  Merry,  before  Mr.  Ruble 
had  got  out  of  his  tents,  and  while  the  bulk  of  the 
inhabitants  were  his  workmen.  A  petition  was 
drawn  up,  and  all  signed  it,  requesting  a 
Post-office,  to  be  called  Albert  Lea.  It  was 
favorably  considered,  and  Lerenzo  Merry  was 
appointed  Postmaster.  The  office  was  at  first  in 
bis  house,  but  when  Clark  opened  his  store  he  was 
appointed  deputy  Postmaster.  Mr.  A.  C.  S  vine- 
ford  was  afterward  appointed  to  the  position,  while 
Clark  still  held  his  old  place  until  Col.  Eaton  was 
appointed  deputy,  and  removed  the  office  to  his 
boot  and  shoe  store,  which  was  on  the  Hall  House 
block. 

Clark  kept  the  mail  on  a  shelf  in  his  store. 
Eaton   had   a   case   made,  with  twenty -four  call 


boxes  and  four  lock  boxes.  But  a  single  one  was 
let  tor  some  time,  and  that  was  taken  by  George 
S.  Ruble.  Col.  Eaton  himself  was  appointed 
Postmaster  in  1861,  and  continued  to  keep  it  for 
some  years.  President  Johnson  appointed  D.  K. 
Stacy,  Postmaster,  and  he  kept  it  in  his  law  office. 
When  General  Grant  became  President,  the  Colo 
nel  was  re-appointed,  and  for  a  time  it  was  held 
in  a  building  on  the  corner  of  Newton  and  Wil- 
liam streets.  In  1870,  it  was  placed  in  a  building 
put  up  for  the  purpose  on  Broadway.  G.  John- 
stoo  was  the  next  Postmaster,  appointed  in  the 
spring  of  1876.  Mr.  H.  A.  Hanson  received  the 
appointment  in  November,  1881,  and  the  office 
was  removed  to  its  present  location  in  the  Opera 
House  block.  It  has  730  call  boxes  and  194  look 
boxes,  and  is  roomy  and  convenient. 

It  1868  it  was  made  a  Money  Order  office,  tha 
first  order  sola  being  dated  on  the  2d  of  Novem- 
ber. Seven  mails  are  received  each  day  by  rail, 
and  a  tri-weekly  frotn  Owatonna  by  stage.  It  is 
rated  as  a  third-class  office.  S.  H.  Cady  has  been 
the  efficient  mailing  clerk  and  assistant  for  eight 
years.  The  salary  of  the  Postmaster  is  |1,600 
per  annum.  The  stamps,  &c.,  sold  in  1881 
amounted  to  .'$5,053.52;  and  the  money  order 
business,  .$38,101.24. 

Freeborn  County  Bank. — Thomas  H.  Arm- 
strong, President;  W.  B.  Rumsey,  Cashier.  The 
correspondents  are  the  Merchants  National  Bank, 
at  St.  Paul;  The  Security  Bank,  at  Minneapolis; 
The  First  National  Bank,  at  Chicago;  the  Ameri- 
can Exchange  National  Bank,  in  New  York;  The 
Batavian  Bank,  at  LaOrosse;  and  the  First 
National  Bank,  in  Milwaukee.  The  deposits 
average  about  .f  80,000.  This  bank  was  started 
on  the  1st  of  September,  1874,  by  the  present 
proprietor. 

H.  D.  Brown  fr  Co.'s  Bank. — This  banking 
house  was  started  in  the  fall  of  1669,  by  Frank 
Hall,  who  at  first  had  the  safe  in  hia  store;  but  he 
soon  built  the  brick  block  where  the  bank  now  is, 
on  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  William  streets. 
In  the  fall  of  1871,  the  business  was  bought  out 
by  H.  D.  Brown,  who  was  sole  proprietor  until 
1876,  when  D.  R.  P.  Hibbs  became  associated 
with  him,  and  is  still  interested  in  the  ownership. 
The  correspondents  of  this  bank  in  the  business 
centers  are:  First  National  Bank,  Minneapolis; 
First  National  Bank,  St.  Paul;  Merchants'  Loan 
and  Trust  Company,  Chicago;  Alexander  Mitchell's 


3fi8 


irrsTo/.'V  OF  FREEBORN  GOl/XTV. 


Bank,  Milwaukee;  Fourth  Natioual  Bank,  New 
York;  and  The  LaCrossa  National  Bank.  This 
institution  has  depofsits  to  the  extent  of  S75,000. 

CiTV  Bank.— ^This  t)aDkinp;  house  hegan  l)usi- 
ness  in  1878,  on  the  Ist  ot  SepteiulHT.  (xilbert 
(Jiilbrandson  has  been  the  proprietor  from  the 
first;  D.  W.  Dwver  is  Cashier,  and  it  does  a  gen- 
eral banking  business,  having  depo.sits  to  the 
extent  of  870.000.  The  banks  with  which  it 
transacts  business  are:  Dawson,  Smith  A-  Shatl'er, 
St.  Paul;  The  Merchants'  National,  Chicago;  Mar- 
shall &  Ilslev,  Milwaukee;  and  American  Exchange 
National,  New  York. 

Aldkut  Le.\  FiiOUBiNG  Mill. — This  is  the  only 
flouring  mill  in  town:  it  has  two  run  of  stones  and 
can  grind  125  bushels  in  ten  hours.  For  power 
it  has  Fountain  Lake,  which  may  be  said  to  be  the 
headwaters  of  Shell  Kock  River,  and  this  is  com- 
municated by  two  turbine  wheels,  with  ten  and 
fifteen  hor.'je  ]iowcr  respectively.  In  addition  to 
this  there  is  a  steam  engine  of  forty  horse-power, 
manufactured  by  A.  P.  Allis,  of  Milwaukee.  A. 
M.  Avery  has  managed  the  mill  for  the  past  three 
years.     It  does  custom  work. 

During  the  summer  of  1882  a  f<'ed-mill  was 
added,  to  be  driven  by  an  improved  vertical  wind- 
mill^n  which  the  wind  is  admitted  through  slats,- 
to  operate  upon  a  drum  with  liuckets  not  unlike  a 
turbine  wheel.  This  mill  is  identified  with  the 
early  history  of  the  town,  and  is  owned  at  this 
time  jointly  by  Mr.  Ruble  and  Mr.  Hall. 

Spring  Lakf.  Creameky. — This  establishment 
is  owned  and  operated  by  a  joint  stock  company, 
with  a  capital  of  SIO.OOO,  and  is  located  at  the 
foot  of  Broadway,  near  the  lake.  Some  of  the 
leading  business  men  in  the  city  are  interested  in 
the  enterprise.  The  stockholders  were  .John  (rod- 
ley,  Frank  Hall,  F.  A.  Blackmer,  A.  C.  Wedge,  J. 
W.  Smith,  Knatvold  Brotlicr.s,  E.  S.  Prentice,  H. 
A.  Colburn,  Theodore  Tyrer,  D.  R.  P.  Hibbs,  H. 
D.  Brown,  W.  P.  Sergeant,  and  William  Hazleton. 

The  officers  of  the  comi)any  are:  President,  A. 
C.  Wedge;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  D.  R.  P. 
Hibbs;  Superintendent,  William  Hazleton. 

The  business  was  started  on  Tuesday  the  11th 
of  May,  1881,  with  cream  from  200  cows,  although 
1,000  had  been  promised.  During  the  first  year 
the  number  ot  cows  having  increased,  the  average 
make  was  between  seven  and  eight  hundred 
pounds  a  day. 

Specific  directions  are  given  as  to  how  the  milk 


shall  be  set  by  the  farmers,  in  cans  of  certain  size, 
and  the  price  paid  is  fifteen  cents  or  more  an  inch 
for  cream,  which  is  e(|uivaleut  to  a  pound  of  but- 
ter. The  l)usiness  being  new  the  farmers  are  only 
beginning  to  learn  how  to  get  the  best  results 
from  their  cows;  one  very  desirable  point  being  to 
lengthen  the  season  as  far  as  possible,  and  to  do 
this,  catttle  should  be  started  early  on  green  feed, 
which  is  inexpensively  accomplished  by  sowing 
rye  in  the  fall,  to  put  them  on  early;  and  the  fall 
which  is  apt  to  be  dry  should  be  lengthened  out 
by  sowing  corn  fodder  to  the  extent  of  one  fourth 
of  an  acre  for  each  cow. 

As  to  the  income  from  cows  where  cream  is  sold 
to  a  creamery,  the  annexed  statements  are  good 
examples  of  how  the  dairy  pays : 

One  man,  who  had  eighteen  cows,  realized  dur- 
ing the  season  SI, 021, 08. 

Another  with  sixteen  cows,    received  $882.73. 

Twenty  cows"  cream  for  one  month  was  sold  for 
$143.54,  and  six  cows  for  the  same  length  of  time 
nitted  «!40.74. 

Examples  might  be  multiplied  but  the  above 
items  are  sutlicient  to  fiirnish  an  idea  of  what  the 
jjrofits  on  the  business  actually  is. 

RULES  OF  THE  ALBERT  LEA  CREAMERY  COMPANY. 

"The  following  rules  have  been  adopted  by  the 
Albert  Lea  Creamery  Company,  to  keep  U])  the 
high  standard  of  the  butter  ot  their  manufacture. 
They  are  the  same  as  have  been  adopted  by  the 
creameries  of  Iowa,  and  have  resulted  in  placing 
that  State  at  the  head  of  the  butter  manufacturing 
interests  of  the  country.  These  rules  will  be 
strictly  adhered  to: 

1.  Any  patron  found  selling  nfilk  from  an  un- 
healthy cow,  or  from  cows  still  feverish  from 
calving,  will  be  dropped  and  tlie  case  reported  to 
the  civil  authorities. 

2.  Cream  from  milk  showing  careless  and  un- 
cleanly milking,  or  containing  insects  or  dirt  of 
any  kind,  will  not  be  accepted. 

3.  Milk  should  be  kept  out  of  vegetable  cel- 
lars, and  its  surroundings  be  kept  free  from  all 
odors  and  impurities. 

4.  No  tainted  or  frozen  cream  will  be  re- 
ceived. 

5.  No  collector  will,  in  any  case,  take  cream 
except  what  he  himself  skims  from  the  cans. 

fi.  .Vny  per.son  discovered  tampering  with 
cream  in   any  fraudulent  way,   either  by  stirring. 


C1T7  OF  ALBERT  LISA. 


369 


pouring  in  water,  or  any  otlier  substance,  will  be 
dropped  and  subjected  to  punishment  by  law. 

7.  Cream  from  milk  standing  in  low  tempera- 
ture is  thin  and  will  not  hold  out.  Such  cream 
will  not  be  taken  unless  the  proper  reduction  be 
made.  The  proper  temperature  for  milk  to  stand 
in  is  from  50  to  60  degress,  and  to  make  honest 
cream;  milk  should  stand  from  fourteen  to  twenty- 
four  hours  in  summer,  and  from  twenty -four  to 
thirty -six  in  the  winter  before  skimming. 

8.  Ice  and  snow  are  detrimental  to  cream,  and 
when  used  in  milk  will  not  be  taken. 

9.  Two  difterent  milking  must  not  be  put  into 
the  same  can,  nor  must  the  milk  or  can  be  disturb- 
ed after  the  milk  is  set. 

10.  Milk  must  stand  at  least  ten  hours  after 
straining  before  the  cream  can  skimmed  and  then 
be  determined  by  the  collector  whether  it  is  in 
condition  to  skim  or  not. 

11.  It  is  distinctly  understood  by  all  that  the 
word  inch  is  used  as  the  equivalent  of  a  pound  or 
half  pound  of  butter,  according  to  the  size  of  the 
can,  and  the  creameries  reserve  the  right  to  pay 
any  patrou  for  the  number  of  pounds  his  cream 
will  make. 

12.  Patrons  are  required  to  notify  their  cream- 
eries at  once  of  any  neglect  of  the  collectors,  or 
any  failure  on  their  part  to  conform  with  the 
above  rules. 

Albebt  Lea  Creamey  Co." 

EiiEVATOHs  AND  Warbhoi'ses.- — The  produce  of 
the  county  which  is  shipped  from  this  city  is  han- 
dled by  the  following  concerns : 

Armstrong's  elevator,  which  is  30x.50  feet,  two 
stories,  and  will  hold  -t.OOO  bushels.  It  is  owned 
and  operated  by'T.  H.  Armstrong.  In  1870  this 
was  erected  by  the  farmers  of  the  county,  as  a 
company,  and  managed  by  them  for  about  tour 
years,  when  it  was  sold  to  the  present  owner,  who 
put  in  a  two  horse-power  engine.  It  is  managed 
by  John  Heising,  who  purchases  grain  and 
hides. 

William  W.  Cargill  put  uj)  a  small  warehouse 
on  the  completion  of  the  Southern  Minnesota 
railroad  to  this  point.  This  building  collapsed 
some  time  after,  and  he  put  up  the  present  build- 
ing, which  has  a  capacity  of  about  15,000  bush- 
els and  an  eight  horse-power  engine.  The  firm  is 
now  Cargill  Brothers,  who  are  large  buyers  all 
all  along  the  line,  and  deal  in  grain,  hogs  and 
hides. 

24 


Another  ware-house  was  built  just  before  the 
railroad  was  completed,  by  Bassett  and  Hunting- 
don. It  is  a  frame  building,  and  is  now  simply 
used  as  a  storehouse  for  oats  and  corn  by  Cargill 
Brothers, 

Vining,  Calkins  &  Co.  put  up  a  small  ware- 
house and  used  it  but  a  few  years.  They  had  an 
engine,  the  power  from  which  was  used  mostly  in 
cleaning  grain.  It  would  hold  about  8,000  bush- 
els; it  is  owned  by  L.  F.Hodges  &  Co.  and  is 
now  laying  idle. 

An  elevator  with  a  capacity  of  30,000  bushels 
was  put  up  by  Henry  Kowell  in  1876.  He  owned 
and  operated  it  for  about  three  years,  when  it  was 
disposed  of  to  Cargill  Brothers,  who  took  it  to 
Sherman  and  it  has  since  been  burned.  It  had  a 
ten  horse-power  engine. 

In  1877,  Sergeant  and  Skinner  built  an  elevator 
at  a  cost  of  .^7,500.  It  is  a  frame  building,  with 
a  capacity  of  about  35,000  bushels,  and  is  operated 
with  an  eight  horse-power  engine.  In  1870  Mr. 
Sargent's  interest  was  purchased  by  H.  D.  Brown, 
amd  the  firm  is  now  Brown  &  Skinner,  who  buy 
wheat  only. 

At  the  same  time  K.  M.  Todd  &  Co.  of  Rock 
Palls,  Iowa,  put  nji  a  fiat  ware-house,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  buying  wheat  for  their  mill. 

Kimmer  &  Lamb  put  up  that  same  season  a 
small  ware-house  at-a  cost  of  $500.  This  was  at 
first  rented  by  Todd  &  Co.,  but  is  now  owned  by 
that  firm. 

D.  G.  Parker  subsequently  put  up  his  ware- 
hou.se,  a  one-story  building,  and  buys  wheat  and 
barley. 

The  Albert  Lea  Board  of  Trade  built  a  one- 
story  ware-house  in  1881,  and  began  the  purchase 
of  wheat.  It  is  now  used  as  a  store-house  by 
Ransom  Brothers. 

It  is  understood  that  the  prices  are  well  up  to 
the  large  wheat  markets,  after  deducting  the 
freights. 

Olson  &  Anderson,  Waoon-makebs  and  Gen- 
eral Blacksmithing. — This  establishment  has 
been  in  operation  since  1869,  with  Martin  Olson  as 
a  member  of  the  firm.  The  shop  is  on  Clark  Street. 
At  first  general  blacksmithing  business  only  was 
done,  but  in  1879,  the  manufacture  of  wagons  and 
buggies  was  commenced.  In  1882  the  firm  put 
in  a  small  steam  engine  of  sis  horse-power.  They 
do  considerable  plow  repairing  and  other  like 
kinds  of  work. 


370 


BISTORT  OF  FREKBOHX  COUXTY. 


G.  A.  Hauoe  &  C.  Christopherson  manufac- 
ture wagons  and  rej)air  plows.  They  also  manu- 
facture C.  D.  Edwards  Ditchers,  whi  'li  cuts  a 
ditch  two  and  one  half  feet  wida  and  three  and 
one  half  deep.  The  power  is  conveyed  by  a 
capstan  turned  by  horses  or  oxen,  and  it  seems  to 
be  a  valuable  device  for  the  purpose  of  excavating 
drainage  ditches.  Mr.  Hauge  purchased  the 
establishment  in  1875.  About  seven  hnud.s  are 
employed.  The  shop  is  a  large  brick  building  on 
Washington  street,  near  Spring  Lake,  and  has  a 
horse-power  to  drive  some  of  the  machinery.  Such 
an  establishment  is  of  great  value  in  the  mitlst  of 
an  agricultural  community. 

Albert  Lea  Carriaoe  Shop. — Charles  Drom- 
merhausen  is  the  proprietor,  having  started  the 
business  in  1866,  on  the  comer  of  Newton  and 
William  streets,  in  a  blacksmith  shop,  where  he 
did  repairing  and  made  a  few  wagons  and  sleighs. 
In  1868,  he  moved  to  Clark  street  and  built  the 
shop  he  still  occupies,  and  after  a  time  commen- 
ced the  manufacture  of  carriages  aud  a  variety  of 
light  wagons.  The  establishment  has  three 
buildings  and  quite  an  extensive  business. 

Waoon,  Carriage,  and  Blacksmith  Shop, 
Joseph  Peffer,  Proprietor. — This  wagon  shop 
was  started  in  1869,  and  work  continued  in  it 
until  1878,  when  a  blacksmith  shop  was  added. 
General  repairing,  blacksmithing.  horse  shoeing, 
and  wagon  making  is  carried  on,  employing  four 
men. 

BLACK.SMITHING. — C.  P.  Jolmson  oped  a  shop  in 
May,  1882,  and  does  general  repair  work  aud 
horse  shoeing. 

A  Waoon  Shop  was  opened  by  Brown  &  Pratt, 
in  1867,  and  after  changing  hands  several  times  it 
was  bought  by  A.  .7.  Balcli.  who  added  black- 
smithing  and  kept  it  in  operation  until  August, 
1882,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  F.  W. 
Balch  and  M.  C.  Larson.  They  do  general  re- 
pairing and  horse  shoeing. 

Boat  Buildino.— In  1865,  Mr.  C.  V.  Marlett 
built  a  shop  in  which  to  construct  boats.  It  is 
still  in  operation  by  Mr.  Marlett,  who  also  does 
general  repairing. 

The  city  is  uot  noted  as  a  manufacturing  place, 
but  it  is  predicted  that  in  the  near  future  more 
attention  will  h^  paid  to  the  subject :  for  manu- 
facturing, especially  of  articles  having  a  general 
sale,  serves  as  a  kind  of  business  balance  wheel  to 
steady  atlairs  during  crop  shortages  or  other  local 


fluctuations.  A  Houring  mill  on  a  large  scale 
would  conduce  to  the  prosperity  of  the  city,  and 
in  due  time  it  will  no  doubt  be  established. 

CioAR  Mantfaitort. — Thomas  J.  Wanek  began 
manufacturing  cigars  on  the  6th  of  April,  1878. 
Cigar  manufacturers  are  still  amenable  to  the 
revenue  tax,  started  during  the  war  of  1861.  The 
license  to  start  with  is  SIO  per  year,  and  then  a 
stamp  tax  of  ^l>  per  thousand  must  be  affixed  to 
all  that  are  made.  About  thirty-five  or  forty 
thousand  are  \nit  up  each  month.  Among  the 
various  brands  made  are  the  "Select."  "Henry 
Clay,"  "Evening  Star,'"  '-Happy  Dream."  '•Pro- 
tector,'" "Magic  Slipper,"  -'Shade.'"  and  "La  Mon- 
tana." 

Merchandising. — Albert  Lea  is  the  trading 
point  for  the  whole  county,  for  while  there  are 
some  gjod  stores  in  the  townships,  the  bulk  of 
the  trade  is  done  at  the  county  seat.  Here  may 
be  found  grocery  stores,  dry  goods,  hardware, 
agricultural  implements,  furniture,  drugs  and 
medicines,  clothing,  millinery,  fancy  goods,  and 
in  fact,  all  the  usual  variety  of  articles  reiiuired 
by  the  present  stage  of  civilization. 

Lager  Beer  Warehouses. — C.  and  J.  Michels 
have  a  refrigerating  storehouse  for  their  LaCrosse 
beer.  It  holds  perhaps  two  hundred  barrels,  and 
is  stored  here  to  be  shipped  northwest  and  south, 
about  a  car-load  a  week  being  disposed  of.  Mr. 
T.  Blacklin  is  the  agent  at  this  point. 

John  (ri'xD  Brewing  Company  has  a  refrig- 
erating warehouse  at  the  depot,  which  holds  about 
two  hundred  barrels  of  lager  beer.  It  is  sold 
along  the  line  of  road  to  the  extent  of  about  three 
car-loads  every  two  weeks.  O.  Knudsen  is  the 
manager  at  Albert  Lea. 

It  may  be  remarked  that  the  growth  of  the 
lagfr  beer  business  has  been  rather  marked,  and 
when  we  remember  that  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  is 
a  drinking  race,  as  is  also  the  Scandinavian  and 
the  Celtic  race,  theu-  favorite  beverage  being  spir- 
its, the  change  in  favor  of  malt  liquor  is  noticeable. 
What  is  to  be  the  outcome  is  a  matter  that  the 
political  and  social  scieutlsts  may  speculate  upon, 
as  the  question  is  not  yet  decided  whether  the  use 
of  malt  liquor,  in  contradistinction  to  spirituous,  is 
really  a  guard  against  drunkenness. 

HOTELS. 

Hall  House.  -This  building  was  erected  for  a 
dwelling  by  Frank  Hall,  in  1866  or  '67.  In  about 
four  years  he   remodeled   the    house,    and   it   has 


CITY  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


371 


since  been  run  as  a  hotel.  A  man  named  Foster 
was  the  first  landlord,  but  after  a  year  or  two  Mr. 
Hall  assumed  charge,  and  has  conducted  it  ever 
since.  It  is  a  three-story  brick,  has  33  guest 
rooms,  is  near  the  central  part  of  the  city,  and  has 
the  reputation  of  being  a  good  hotel. 

Gilbert  House. — This  building  was  erected  by 
Morin,  Armstrong,  and  others,  in  1868,  for  a 
cheese  factory,  and  run  as  such  a  couple  of  sea- 
sons. S.  S.  Sutton,  in  the  meantime,  had  come 
into  possession  of  the  property  and  converted  it 
into  a  hotel,  known  as  the  Lake  House.  After  a 
year  or  so  it  was  sold  to  Warren  Gilbert,  who  is 
still  the  owner.  The  next  lessees  were  Gardner  & 
Hunter,  who  run  it  a  few  years  when  a  dissolu- 
tion of  partnership  occurred,  the  latter  continuing 
as  proprietor  about  one  year  longer.  During  this 
time  it  had  been  changed  to  the  Gardner  House. 
The  present  proprietor,  John  B.  Foote,  leased  the 
premises  in  1879,  and  since  then  the  capacity  of 
the  house  has  been  doubled,  and  the  standard 
raised  so  that  it  now  ranks  among  the  best  hotels 
of  the  city.  Seventy-five  guests  can  be  comforta- 
bly accommodated  at  this  hotel. 

La  CrosseHouse. — This  was  built  by  the  present 
proprietor,  L.  Gentrich,  in  1877.  It  is  a  two-story 
frame,  and  can  accommodate  about  twenty  guests. 
It   is  located  on  Clark  street,  west  of  Broadway. 

City  Hotel. — In  1867,  William  Fenholt  erect- 
ed this  hostlery,  and  still  continues  its  manage- 
ment. It  is  a  two  story  frame  house,  and  can 
accommodate  about  thirty  guests.  It  is  located 
on  Clark  street,  east  of  Broadway. 

National  Hodse. — This  was  built  in  1875  by 
Andrew  Rolfson,  who  conducted  it  until  the  first 
of  September,  1882,  wLen  H.  A.  Orandall  became 
proprietor.  It  is  a  two  story  frame  house,  situ- 
ated on  East  Clark  street,  and  can  accommodate 
about  thirty-five  guests. 

WiNSLOW  House. — This  house  was  built  at  the 
station  of  the  Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis  railroad, 
on  the  completion  of  that  line  to  Albert  Lea,  in 
1878.  It  was  run  by  Mr.  Bunker  until  1882, 
and  has  since  been  conducted  by  Frank  Hall.  It 
is  a  two  story  brick,  and  contains  twenty-six 
rooms. 

Albert  Lea  HonsE. —  This  sign  appears  on  the 
the  outside  of  a  white  frame  house,  nearly  oppo- 
the  Winslow  House,  but  as  the  proprietor  did  not 
possess  sufficient  courtesy  to  answer  the  few  civil 


questions  propounded  to  him,  no  further  remarks 
can  be  made  regarding  this  place. 

There  is  a  hotel  and  boarding  house  near  the 
depot  on  the  Southern  Minnesota  railroad,  kept 
by  Mr.  Brandon.  It  is  a  neat  and  home-like 
place,  and  gives  good  satisfaction  to  its  patrons. 

CITY  GOVERNMENT. 

In  the  winter  of  1878,  the  city  charter  was 
granted  by  the  State  Legislature,  in  obedience  to 
a  numerously  signed  petition  of  the  tax-payers  of 
the  village.  And  having  been  accepted  by  a  vote  , 
of  tbe  people,  on  the  12th  day  of  May,  1878,  the 
city  government  was  organized,  the  first  officers 
being:  Mayor,  Frank  Hall;  Board  of  Aldermen, 
W.  P.  Sergeant,  President,  J.  W.  Smith,  R.  E. 
Johnson,  John  F.  Anderson,  and  E.  D.  Porter, 
two  from  each  ward;  Clerk,    Fred.    S.    Lincoln. 

After  the  organization,  the  various  details  re- 
quiring action  were  attended  to.  Some  of  the 
most  important  of  which  will  be  mentioned. 

The  city  Justices  were  required  to  furnish  bonds 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duties  in  the 
sum  of  11,000  each.  Tbe  City  Treasurer  for 
$5,000.  The  license  for  the  sale  of  beer  was  fixed 
at  $100,  and  both  malt  and  spirituous  liquors  at 
f250. 

The  second  meeting  was  on  the  15th  of  the 
same  month,  when  the  Mayor  delivered  his  inaug- 
ural   address. 

A  license  fee  for  Cole's  circus,  which  desired  to 
exhibit,  was  fixed  at  ^25. 

The  city  Assessor's  bonds  were  fixed  at  .$500; 
the  city  Attorney's,  $500,  and  various  committees 
were  appointed.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  the 
order  of  business  was  established. 

1st.  Reading  of  Minutes. 

2d.  Reports  of  Committees. 

3d.  Action  on  the  reports  of  Committees. 

4th.  Unfinished  business. 

5th.  New  business. 

Meetings  of  the  board  were  arranged  for  the 
1st  and  3d  Tuesdays  of  each  month. 

The  first  ordinance  was  passed  on  the  Ist  of 
May,  and  related  to  the  sale  of  intoxicating  bev- 
erages. 

The  city  printing,  after  some  manouvering,  was 
given  to  the  "Enterprise." 

Side  walks  early  received  attention. 

In  June  the  pay  of  the  poUce  was  fixed  at  $45 
per  month. 

The  machinery  of  the  city  government  was   set 


372 


niSTOET  OF  FRl'lEBORN  COUNTY. 


in  motion  and  run  with  little  friction  considering 
its  newness,  and  the  fiuanci.il  condition  at  the  end 
of  the  year  presented  a  good  showing,  as  the  ex- 
penditures had  not  been  extravagant,  and  there 
was  a  small  bahince  in  the  treasury. 
The  exhibit  was  as  follows: 

Cash  received S5,.549  52 

Cash  paid  out 5,5'23  11 

In  the  treasury 26  41 

i879. — The  election  was  on  the  5th  of  May. 
There  were  two  candidates  for  Mayor,  H,  D. 
Brown  and  W.  P.  Sergeant.  Mr.  Brown  was 
elected  by  seven  majority,  and  the  otBoers  tliis 
year  were:  Mayor,  H.  D.  Brown:  .Mdermen,  W. 
P.  Sergeant,  President,  Thomas  H.  Armstrong. 
Elland  Erickson,  J.  W.  Smith,  William  Fenholt, 
and  John  H.  Anderson;  Clerk,  John  Anderson; 
Attorney,  K.  M.  Palmer;  Assessor,  D.  X.  Gates; 
Street  Commissioner,  E.  D.  Porter;  Chief  of 
Police,  Reabeh  Williams;  City  Surveyor,  William 
Morin. 

Liquor  licenses  were  fixed  at  .SlOU,  and  the  one 
hundred  dollar  licenses  for  selling  malt  liquors 
were  discontinued.  The  license  for  a  brewery 
was  fixed  at  .'$200  a  year. 

On  the  27th  of  June  it  was  voted  to  purchase  a 
La  France  Steam  fire  engine  at  a  cost  of  82,800. 
This  was  done  after  careful  investigation.  The 
question  as  to  the  location  of  an  engine  house  was 
one  of  the  problems  the  Council  had  to  wrestle 
with.  Several  lots  were  offered,  and  finally  two 
were  accepted  which  were  presented  by  William 
Morin  and  Thomas  H.  Armstrong.  On  the  2r)th 
of  August  the  engine  arrived,  and  after  examina- 
tion and  testing,  it  was  declared  satisfactory. 

An  ordinance,  passed  to  prevent  the  obstruction 
of  certain  streets  by  forbidding  the  feeding  of 
teems  on  them,  was  vetoed  by  the  Mayor  on  ac- 
count of  its  improver  discriminations  and  because 
the  streets  were  made  for  use,  and  the  prosperity 
of  the  city  largely  depended  upon  the  trade 
brought  by  the  persons  who  would  be  thus  in- 
commoded. 

1880.^ — The  officers  this  year  were:  Mayor.  R. 
C.  VanVechten,  who  received  358  votes  out  of 
390;  Treasurer,  N.  H.  Shaugh,  who  received  393 
votes:  Justice  of  the  Peace,  E  C  Stacy, wlio  received 
391votes,  and  H  A  Haukness;  Aldermen, Wm  Morin 
chairman,  O.  F.  Nelson,  J.  A.  Anderson,  with  those 
liolding  over;  Clerk,  John  Auder.son;  Street  Com- 
missioner,  E.  D.  Porter;  Treasurer,   W.  A.  Hig- 


gins;  Chief  of  police,  E.  D.  Patrick;  City  Engin- 
eer, A.    Motzfeldt. 

Some  of  the  salaries  were  fixed  as  follows: 
Chief  of  Police,  S4")  a  month,  and  the  night  watch 
man  S35.  The  clerk  S2.')0  a  year;  Street  Commis- 
sioner $2  a  day  for  actual  work;  Engineer  of 
steam  fire  engine,  S150  a^,  year,  and  the  fireman 
S60  a  year;  the  city  engineer  $100  a  year. 

On  the  21st  of  June  a  bell  was  authorized  for 
the  engine  house,  and  the  fire  limits  were  fixed. 

The  public  drive  around  the  lake  was  made  in 
the  summer  of  1880.  The  right  of  way  was  con- 
veyed by  Theodore  Tyrer,  of  Albert  Lea,  and 
Washington  Lee,  of  New  York,  who  materially 
assisted  in  doing  the  work.  The  city  gave  S269, 
and  received  a  deed  of  the  property. 

In  October,  the  Spring  Lake  having  become  so 
filled  as  to  be"  obnoxious,  exhaling  foul  emana- 
tions, five  physicians,  A.  C.  Wedge,  M.  E.  Wood- 
bury. W.  H.  Smith,  G.  W.  Barch,  and  M.  M. 
Dodge,  presented  a  petition  to  the  council  as  to 
the  effects  upon  the  sanitary  condition"of  the  city, 
and  recommended  that  it  be  filled  or  drained. 
Their  prayer  was  supplemented  by  another  from 
Frank  Hall  and  seventy-one  other  citizens,  and 
the  machinery  was  set  in  motion  to  have  it  drained 
and  filled. 

On  the  loth  of  March,  a  board  of  health  was 
established,  with  Dr.  A.  M.  Burnham,  the  Mayor, 
and  presideut  of  council,  as  members.  J.  H.  Par- 
ker was  appointed  City  Attorney  for  the  balance  of 
the  year 

1881. — The  new  government  was  organized 
on  the  3rd  of  May.  The  Mayor  was  Frank 
Hall.  The  board  of  alder nen  were:  John  A. 
Anderson,  President,  O.  F.  Nelson,  M.  P.  Ser- 
geant, Thomas  H.  Armstrong,  William  Morin,  and 
Willam  Fenholt;  Clerk,  .John  Anderson;  Assessor, 
A.  W.  White;  Treasurer,  B.  H.  Skaug;  Sinking 
Fund  Commissioner,  D.  G.  Parker;  City  Attor- 
ney, J.  H.  Parker;  Health  Officers,  A.  M.  Burnham. 
M.  D.,  John  A.  Anderson,  and  Frank  Hall. 

Tlie  city,  on  the  question  of   "License"  or  "No 
License,"'  voted    aye,    and    thi 
parchment   conferring   rights 
this  respect  was  fixed  at  •'i!400.* 

The  Secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Health, 
Charles  N.  Hewitt,  inspected  Spring  Lake,  and 
re])i)rted  what  should  1  e  done  in  the  interest  of 
the  sanitary  coudition  of  the  city,  and  his  sugges- 


price   fixed   for  a 
Old    privileges    in 


CITT  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


373 


tions  were  carried  into  eflfeot,  not,  however,  without 
considerable  friction. 

1882. — There  was  what  is  called  a  dead-lock  in 
the  Board  of  Aldermen.  It  lieing  understood 
that  there  was  an  eqnal  division  of  parties,  and  as 
the  President  has  no  vote,  except  in  case  of  a  tie, 
a  compromise  was  effected  by  the  appointment  of 
a  President  pro  tein. 

According  to  the  index,  there  are  eighty-two 
subjects  for  town  ordinances,  which  are  included 
in  thirty-five  separate  acts.  These  regulations 
embrace  the  matters  usually  legislated  upon  by 
local  authorities,  and  while  in  such  cases  there  is  a 
constant  interference  with  individual  freedom,  of 
course  upon  the  plea  of  the  public  good,  this  has 
not  been  of  an  umisnal  character,  and  honesty  and 
economy  have  been  the  prevailing  traits  in  the 
administi'ation  of  city  affairs. 

Herewith  is  presented  an  abstract  of  the  report 
of  the  City  Clerk  and  Treasurer  for  the  year  end- 
ing on  the  15th  of  April,  1882,  which  will  be 
useful  for  reference  or  comparison: 

"City  Clerk's  Office,  ) 

City  of  Albeet  Le.\,  Minnesota,  • 
April  16th,  1882.      ) 
To  the  Common  Council : 

I  herewith  submit  to  you  a  statement  of  the 
city's  finances  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  April  15th, 
1882: 

abstract  of  receipts. 

Cash  in    treasury  April  15, 

1881 1    336  29 

Liquor  and  brewery  licenses  3,750  00 

Miscellaneous  licenses 248  00 

Poll  tax 18  00 

Justice  fees 208  80 

General  tax 1,615  75 

Sidewalk 182  77 

Roads 789  04 

Fire  department 778  72 

Bridge    bonds 2,990  00 

$11,218  37 

abstract    of    EXPENDITPEES. 

Paid  outstanding  orders  and 
time  orders,  including  en- 
gine and  hose  orders.  .  .  ..S2,201  89 

Poor 811  68 

Salaries 2,592  10 

Fire  bell,  freight  and  hang- 
ing."        252  88 


Of  road  funds 1,439  47 

A.  McNeill   on  bridge  con- 
tract   1,250  00 

Court  and  jail  expenses.  -.  . .  51  60 
Brought    over     to    sinking 

fund 937  50 

Books   for  justice   and  sta- 
tionery    ■     24  80 

Wood  and  wood  sawing ....  6355 
Street  cleansing,  shoveling 

snow,  etc 65  82 

Mill  dam 225  00 

Printing 163  80 

Election  expenses 73  00 

Pound 10  00 

Street  lamps,  oils,  etc 58  55  . 

Spring  Lake  drain  and  cis- 
tern    739  61 

Pest  house    and    small-pox 

patients 736  07 

Lumber  and    hardware ....  980  84 

Miscellaneous 229  11 

.«12,007  30 

GENERAL  BALANCE  SHEET. 

Assets.      Liabilities. 
Taxes  for  1881   and  previ- 
ous years $3,624  76 

Sidewalks  (to  be  levied).         94  52 
Value  real   and   personal 

city    property,    as    per 

last  annual  statement .  .    7,909  00 
Shed  by  engine  house.  . .       100  00 

Fire  bell 250  00 

Pest  house,  and  furniture, 

&c.,  therein 250  00 

Bridge  fund 1,740  00 

City  Lake  Park,  owned  by 

city  and  valued  at .  ...    1,500  00 
La  France  Manufacturing 

Company,    non-interest 

bearing  orders $3,648  00 

B.  F.  Goodrich  &  Co 1,066  00 

Other  outstanding  orders  3,530  30 

Bridge  bonds  (  bearing  7 

per  cent,  interest) 3,000  00 

Balance 4,223  98 

Total $15,468  28     $15,468  28 

Most  respectfully  submitted. 

John  Anderson, 

City  Clerk." 


374 


HTSrORT  OF  FRBBBORN  COUNTr. 


Report  of  Treasurer  of  City  of  Albert  Lea,  from 
April  15,  1881,  to  April  15,  1882: 
"To  the  Honorable  Mayor  and  Oommon  Council  of  tlw. 

City  of  Albert  Lea: 

Gentlemen: — Pursuant  to  section  6,  chapter  3, 
of  the  charter  of  the  city  of  Albert  Lea,  I  herewith 
transmit  to  you  a  statement  ot  all  monies  received 
as  City  Treasurer,  and  all  orders  paid  on  the  same. 

RECEIPTS. 

1881. 

April  15.  By  cash  balance  in  treasury .  $      882  51 
By  9    liquor  licenses.   .^-100 

each 3,600  00 

By  1  beer  license 150  00 

By  14  billiard  table  licenses, 

10  each .* 140  00 

By  concert  licenses 43  GO 

By  circus  license 35  00 

By  auction  licenses 25  00 

By  poll  tax 19  25 

By  fines  from  city  justices .  .         208  80 
By    amount     from     county 

treasurer 3,666  03 

By  sale  of  bridge  bonds 2,990  00 

$11,764  59 

DISBURSEMENTS. 

Orders  on  general  fund  paid .  S  4,547  48 

Orders  on  road  fund  paid.  .     1,739  50 
Orders   on   fire    department 

fund  paid 904  38 

Orders  on  sinking  fund  paid        456  37 
Orders  on  bridge   fund  paid     1,250  00 
Orders  on  railroad  bond  in- 
terest paid 210  00 

April  15,  1882,  balance  in  treasury  at 

at  this  date 2,656  85 

$11,764  59 

BALANCE  IN  DIFFERENT  FUNDS. 
1882. 

April  15.  General  fund $        37  76 

Eoad  fund 57  63 

Fire  department  fund 4  11 

Sinking  fund 481  13 

Bridge  fund 1,740  00 

S.  M.  E.  K.  fund 336  22 

$  2,656  85 
Respectfully  submitted. 

B.  H.  Skaug, 

City  Treasurer." 


PERSONAL  TAXES  IN  ALBERT  LEA. 

In  this  list  is  presented  those  who  pay  a  tax  of 
this  character  on  one  thousand  dollars  and  up- 
wards : 

T.  H.  Armstrong $9,900 

M.  A.  Armstrong 1,100 

D.  H.  Brown  &  Co 5,550 

Brigham  k  Co .3,500 

Brown  k  Skinner 2,000 

C.Burtch ■ 1,712 

G.  M.  Crane 3,654 

I  Conklin,  Dwight  k  Co 2,625 

Chicago  Furniture  Co 1,760 

C.  L.  Coleman  1,750 

P.    Clauson 1,444 

D.  E.  Dwyer 2,473 

Enterprise  Printing  Co 1.021 

Gulbrandson  Bros 1,395 

L  O.  Greene 1,092 

Gulbrandson 2,595 

C.  F.  Hcdonstad 1,067 

C.  M.  Hewett 4,005 

Frank  Hall 1,579 

W.  W.  Johnson 2,501 

Knatvold   Bros 3,150 

Ed.  Murphy 1,313 

McCormick  Bros 1,525 

William  Morin 2,072 

Now  &  Soth 4,625 

John  Paul 1,442 

A.  Palmer,  Jr 1,095 

R.  N.  Parks 1,821 

W.  W.  Powell  &  Co 3,500 

Ransom  Bros 3,625 

Raymon  Bro.  &  Prentice 3,535 

Strauss  k  Schlesinger 2,100 

G.  O.  Ludloy 5,481 

W.  P.  Sergeant 5,463 

Smith  k  Gassett 3,500 

Wedge  k  Spicer 3,900 

Williams  k  Drake 1,134 

There  is  a  large  number  coming  well  up  toward 
like  amounts. 

The  following  table  shows  the  value  of  improve- 
ments that  have  been  made  in  Albert  Lea  since  the 
year  1869,  the  smallest  being  in  the  year  1873, 
and  the  largest  in  1878 : 

1869 $59,230 

1870 45,842 

1871 70,959 

1872 48,275 


CITT  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


375 


1873 3i,310 

1874 76,121 

1875 84,200 

1876 42,201 

1877 89,689 

1878 99,941 

1879 62,700 

1880 81,965 

On  the  18th  of  July,  1879,  a  public  meeting  was 
held  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  fire  company. 
Eev.  J.  R.  Chalmers  was  chosen  chairman,  and  J. 
K.  Richards  secretary.  An  organization  was 
etfected,  with  the  subjoined  officers :  Chief,  James 
Allen;  Assistant,  Ans.  Peck;  Chief  of  Hose, 
Charles  Soth;  Assistant,  J.  J.  Bond ;  Treasurer,  N. 
O.  Narveson;  Secretary,  J.K.Richards.  At  this 
meeting  a  committee  to  draft  a  constitutian  was 
appointed. 

This  is  an  efficient  organization,  supplied  with 
modern  apparatus.  The  officers  for  1882  are: 
Chief  Engineer,  William  P.  Sergeant;  First  As- 
sistant, J.  J.  Bond;  Second  Assistant,  E.  W. 
Murphy;  Foreman,  James  Allen;  Assistant  Fore- 
man, M.  C.  Mitchell;  Hose  Foreman,  E.  H.  Ellick- 
'son;  Assistant,  George  Pratt;  Secretary,  Adam 
Wiegard;  Treasurer,  N.  O.  Narveson;  Engineer, 
George  Rutam;  Second  Engineer,  A.  Peck;  First 
Fireman,  Thomas  Carney;  Second  Fireman,  An- 
drew Peterson ;  Finance  Committee,  H.  O.  Brager, 
A.  M.  Anderson;  Steward,  Axle  Brundin. 

The  department  is  a  compromise  between  a  paid 
and  a  volunteer  institution.  The  skilled  mechanics 
on  the  force  receiving  a  salary. 

The  city  officers  for  the  year  ending  in  May 
1883,  are  as  follows;  Mayor,  Dr.  C.  W.  Ballard; 
Treasurer,  N.  O.  Narveson;  Assessor,  Aug.  Peter- 
son ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  E.  C.  Stacy  and  H.  O. 
Haukuess;  Aldermen: 

IsL  Ward,  W.  P.  Sergeant,  Martin  Olson ; 

3d  Ward,  Wm.  Morin,  T.  H.  Armstrong, 

3rd  Ward,  Wm.  Feuholt,  John  Tliompson. 

On  the  vote  regarding  the  license  question, 
there  was  186  majority  for  license. 

PERIODICALS. 

Freeboen  County  Standard. — This  paper  was 
first  issued  on  the  11th  of  July,  1857,  by  Swine- 
ford  &  Gray,  under  the  name  of  the  Minnesota 
Star."  It  was  a  Democrat  paper  and,  it  la  said, 
was  encouraged  by  the  Damocratic  Central  Com- 
mittee, to  the  extent  of  S500  in  cash,  and  many 


citizens  took  ten  copies,  subscribing  for  them  at 
the  rate  of  .$2  a  year  in  advance,  but  it  soon  fell 
the  victim  of  one  of  those  diseases  incident  to 
juvenile  newspaperdom,  and  which  are  so  fatal. 
The  press  on  which  it  had  been  printed,  after  lay- 
ing idle  some  months,  was  sold  under  a  foreclos- 
ure, to  satisfy  a  mortgage  held  by  G.  S.  Ruble, 
and  was  bid  in  by  him,  who  afterwards  sold  it  to 
Alf.  P.  Swineford,  one  of  the  former  proprietors. 
Mr.  Swineford  then  commenced  the  publication  of 
the  "Freeborn  County  Eagle." 

This  paper  commenced  on  the  11th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1858,  and  went  on  as  a  Democratic  paper  until 
the  26th  of  February,  1850,  when  the  publishers 
retired  and  Isaac  Botsford  took  the  supervision, 
and  from  that  time  it  was  Republican.  On  the 
19th  of  May,  1860,  the  Eagle  made  its  last  flight, 
and  George  S.  Ruble,  who  held  the  greatest  inter- 
est in  the  establishment,  associated  with  him 
Joseph  Hooker,  and  on  the  20th  of  the  same 
month  came  out  with  the  Freeborn  County  Stan- 
dard. 

This  firm  had  an  experience  of  just  twenty- 
three  weeks,  when  the  office  was  sold  at  a  great 
discount  to  A.  D.  Clark,  who  on  the  21st  of 
October,  1860,  assumed  the  editorial  chair  and 
began  to  use  the  royal  pronoun  "we",  until  the 
25th  of  July,  1861,  when  he  divested  himself  of 
the  editorial  harness,  and  sold  to  A.  B.  Webber. 

This  gentleman  kept  distributing  ink  up  to  the 
10th  of  October,  when  the  concern  passed  into  the 
hands  of  J.  0.  Ross,  who  conducted  the  paper  up 
to  the  20th  of  February,  1862,  when  he  sold  to 
William  Morin  and  enlisted  in  the  army.  Mr. 
Morin  kept  the  paper  going  until  the  4th  of  July, 
1864,  and  then  his  foreman  and  compositors  leav- 
ing for  the  war,  the  paper  was  suspended. 

In  March,  1865,  Mr.  D.  G.  Parker  bought  the 
paper,  and  on  the  6th  of  April  recommenced  the 
publication,  which  has  been  kept  up  ever  since. 

Mr.  Isaac  Botsford  was  again  connected  with 
tlie  paper,  which  has  always  been  a  journal  with 
considerable  influence. 

In  April,  1878,  George  T.  Robinson  bought  out 
Mr.  Botsford's  interest,  and  in  May  of  that  year 
W.  W.  Williams  bought  out  D.  G.  Parker,  and  in 
February,  1879,  T.  W.  Drake  purchased  Mr. 
Robinson's  part  of  the  establishment. 

In  1878  the  the  paper  was  enlarged  to  its  pres- 
ent size  and  form,  a  six  column  folio.  This  eatab- 


376 


llIsTiiHY  OF  FUEEBOUy  VUVMY. 


liahment  was  burned  on  the  lltL  of  April,  1882, 
entailiug  a  heavy  loss. 

Bancboft  Banner. — This  was  one  of  those 
county  seat  papers  which,  having  failed  in  the 
object  for  which  it  was  issued,  there  was  no  furth- 
er necessity  for  its  existence,  and  so  died  a  natur- 
al death.  But  Mr.  Bleakely,  who  had  brought  it 
into  existence,  tells  the  story  in  such  an  admir- 
able way,  that  it  would  be  a  pity  to  mar  its 
beauty,  so  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  extract 
from  his  speech  before  the  Old  Settlers'  Associa- 
tion. 

The  Albert  Lea  Enterphise — This  is  a 
weekly  repuljlicau  newspaper,  which  first  appeared 
on  th  25th  of  April,  1872,  with  James  0.  Hamlin, 
of  Mason  City,  Iowa,  as  publisher.  It  was  an 
eight  column  folio.  At  the  end  of  a  year,  S.  H. 
Cady,  of  Wisconsin,  came  and  brought  a  job 
printing  outfit,  and  the  paper  then  appeared  as 
published  by  the  Enterprise  Printing  Company. 
On  the  25th  of  September,  1873,  Mr.  Hamlin 
sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Cady,  and  on  the  2d  of 
October  the  paper  came  out  with  S.  H.  Cady  as 
sole  proprietor.  Thus  it  remained  until  the  win- 
ter of  1874-75,  when  Fred  Cochrane  became  editor 
of  the  sheet.  On  the  26th  of  August,  1875,  the 
establishment  was  purchased  by  the  present  pro- 
prietor, M.  Halversou,  who  has  been  the  sole 
owner,  except  in  the  spring  of  1881,  when' an 
interest  in  the  concern  was  sold  to  F.  D.  Pierce 
and  A.  E.  EUickson,  who  retained  a  share  in  the 
paper  for  nine  mouths,  until  the  present  time. 

In  the  spring  of  1870,  the  paper  was  enlarged 
to  a  SIX  column  quarto.  It  is  on  a  sound  financial 
basis,  with  a  local  habitation,  and  a  circulation  of 
1,000  copies.  There  is  a  Babcock  &  Cottrell 
power  press,  with  three  job  presses,  knife  pajjer 
cutter,  125  fonts  of  type,  and  in  all  respects  a 
well  appointed  ottice.  When  purchased  by  Mr. 
Halverson  the  paper  had  a  circulation  of  400.  At 
present  the  press  work  of  the  other  papers  is  done 
in  this  office.  The  building  is  20x50  feet,  of 
brick. 

The  Albert  Lea  Postbn  was  first  issued  on 
the  5th  of  July,  1882,  by  the  Albert  Lea  Pub- 
lishing Company,  the  officers  of  which  are:  H. 
Erickson,  President;  H.  G.  Emmons,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; J.  P.  Gnnager,  Secretary;  H.  O.  Haukness, 
Treasurer  and  general  manager;  and  O.  J.  Hagen, 
Editor.     It    is    a    seven    column  folio,  printed  in 


the  Norwegian  language,  at  $1.25  a  year,  and  has 
a  circulation  of  8G-1. 

This  paper  is  the  successor  of  tlie  "Sanverke," 
of  which  N.  Nelson  was  editor,  published  by  the 
same  company.  Before  this  there  was  the  "Son- 
dre  Minnesota,"  by  Peterson,  Anderson,  and  Mot- 
ezfeldt,  and  then  there  was  the  'North  Star,"  by 
Jac.  Elleston,  and  T.  T.  Pierce. 

There  have  been  several  other  papers  in  the  city 
and  county,  which  have  had  an  existence  more  or 
less  brief,  and  have  passed  away  from  inanition  or 
some  other  disease'  Some  of  them  were  preco- 
cious, and  could  not  have  been  reasonably 
expected  to  live  and  thrive  in  this  bleak  and  inhos- 
pitable world. 

Among  the  various  buds  of  promise  may  be 
mentioned  the  "Will  of  the  Wisp,"  which  launched 
upon  the  troubled  sea  of  existence,  breasted  the 
waves  for  three  months,  and  sunk  forever  beneath 
its  waters.  T.  T.  Pierce  was  at  the  helm  of  this 
well  managed  sheet. 

The  High  Sohool  Journal  was  a  sprightly, 
well  behaved  little  entity,  managed  by  W.  W.  Par- 
ker, Jerry  Sheehan,  and  Willie  Crane,  high  school 
students,  and  during  the  four  months  it  survived 
was  a  credit  to  all  concerned. 

The  Freeborn  Springs  Herald. — This  was  a 
campaign  sheet,  evolved  by  the  county  seat  con- 
test in  the  interest  of  Itasca,  where  it  was  pub- 
lished, and  Dr.  Burnham  was  the  Visa  tergo  that 
furnished  the  power.  Isaac  Botstord  was  the 
editor  and  proprietor,  and  it  was  a  battle  ax  wor- 
thy of  a  more  successful  cause.  For  thirteen 
weeks  the  friction  of  its  presence  filled  the  air 
with  electricity  so  that  a  good  many  heads  of  hair 
stood  on  end  imtil  after  the  election.  The  octa- 
gon from  which  it  issued  still  stands,  but  the  jiaper 
itself  is  a  mere  recollection. 

During  the  county  seat  contest  there  was  con- 
siderable fierceness  between  the  rival  sheets,  and 
each  one,  of  course,  estimated  the  value  of  its 
utterances  in  moulding  public  opinion  quite  as 
high  as  they  would  bring  in  open  market,  and  the 
Itasca  concern,  as  was  claimed  at  the  time,  sent  a 
young  man  down,  who  purloined  the  "toggle 
joint"  of  the  Albert  Lea  press,  hoping  thus  to 
prevent  the  issue  of  its  hated  rival  until  the  elec- 
tion was  over,  but  Kublo  and  the  boys  were  equal 
to  the  emergency,  and  did  not  propose  to  let  a 
little  thing  like  that  prevent  the  regular  appear- 
ance of  the   paper.       So    they    procured    a    long 


CITT  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


377 


scantling  for  a  lever,  and,  letting  one  end  project 
out  of  the  door,  the  form  was  run  under  the 
platen,  when  a  man  outside  would  heave  down, 
and  take  the  impression.  Mr.  F.  W.  Drake  was  a 
young  man  in  the  office  at  the  time,  and  helped 
to  work  off  the  edition. 

If  there  have  been  other  newspapers  or  periodi- 
cals in  the  county,  they  will  be  mentioned  in  the 
towns  where  they  existed. 

FBBEBOKN  OOUNTr  CANE  GEOWEES'  ASSOCIATION. 

This  association  is  in  the  interests  of  the 
syrup  and  sugar  manufacture,  and  the  raising  of 
cane  generally.  Considerable  attention  has  been 
paid  to  the  cultivation  of  the  amber  cane,  and 
there  are  quite  a  number  of  mills  and  evaporating 
pans,  where  small  amounts  of  syrup  are  made.  A 
mill  was  started  a  few  years  ago  to  manufacture 
on  quite  a  liberal  scale,  but  jt  was  this  season 
removed  into  the  country.  The  President  of  the 
association  is  H.  N.  Oatrander;  Secretary,  George 
H.  Prescott. 

ANTI     HOESE     THIEF     ASSOCIATION       OF      FREEBOKN 
COUNTY. 

After  a  preliminary  meeting  an  organiza- 
tion was  effected  at  the  Court  House,  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  30th  of  September,  1882.  A  con- 
stitution was  adopted,  and  the  following  officers 
elected:  President,  George  S.  Kuble;  Vice  Presi- 
dents, A.  C.  Wedge,  T.  J.  Sheehan,  and  N.  P. 
Howe;  Treasurer,  L.  B.  Spicer;  Secretary,  C.  W. 
Levens. 

The  proposition  is  to  appoint  active  riders,  and 
make  it  exceedingly  uncomfortable  for  the  equine 
purloiners  who  visit  this  section. 

THE  GREAT  ALBERT  LEA  ROUTE. 

The  Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis  railroad  was  com- 
pleted to  this  point  on  the  10th  of  September, 
1877.  It  makes  a  through  route  between  the  twin 
cities  and  Chicago,  over  the  Burlington,  Cedar 
Eapids  &  Northern,  and  the  Eock  Island  &  Pacific, 
railroads.  The  line  to  St.  Louis  is  over  the  same 
line  to  Burlington,  and  then  over  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quiucy  road.  These  lines  are  called 
the  "Great  Albert  Lea  Route,"  which  receives  a 
large  patronage.  At  this  station  there  are, 
including  the  eight  passenger  trains,  about  forty 
arrivals  each  twenty-four  hours. 

The  southwestern  line  runs  to  Angus,  Iowa,  and- 
there  connects  with  the  Des  Moines  and  Fort 
Dodge  line. 


An  account  of  the  celebration  of  the  arrival  of 
the  first  train  on  this  route,  is  given  in  the  chap- 
ter on  "Events,"  and  need  not  be  repeated  here. 

Although  the  difficulties  of  railroad  building, 
when  this  road  was  constructed,  were  as  nothing 
compared  to  those  attending  the  construction  and 
equipment  of  the  Southern  Blinuesota,  it  must  not 
be  supposed  that  it  did  not  require  the  highest 
order  of  talent  and  energy,  and  a  liberal  exchequer, 
to  get  them  into  running  order. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  first  district  school  established  in  Albert 
Lea  was  number  seven,  which  was  soon  after  the 
organization  of  the  county.  Before  this,  bow- 
ever,  there  had  been  private  schools,  which  are 
elsewhere  mentioned.  The  first  appropriation  was 
in  the  form  of  a  district  tax  to  the  amount  of  $400. 
Theschoolhousebuiltwith  that  money  lasted  several 
years,  and  then  another  was  built  which  stijl  stands 
in  the  corner  of  the  school  grounds,  which  occupy 
a  square  west  of  the  public  square  on  Clark  street. 
Messrs.  Stacy,  Tyrer,  and  Wedge  were  on  the 
board  when  it  was  built,  and  Mr.  I.  J.  Fuller,  of 
Oconomowoc,  furnished  the  plans. 

On  the  organization  of  the  district  system  in 
1860,  this  became  the  Thirty-eighth,  and  so  con- 
tinued until  the  winter  of  1881,  when  an  inde- 
pendent district  was  created  by  a  special  act  of 
the  Legislature,  and  the  present  fine  schoolhouse 
was  erected.  Messrs.  D.  R.  P.  Hibbs,  D.  N.  Gates^ 
and  W.  P.  Sergeant  constituted  the  school  board. 
The  plans  were  furnished  by  Mr.  Jones,  of  Madi- 
son, Wisconsin.  The  cost  of  the  building,  which 
is  of  brick,  modern  in  style  and  well  adapted 
for  school  purposes,  was  $20,000,  and  it  was  com- 
pleted on  the  1st  of  January,   1881. 

The  school  system  of  the  county  has  been  fos- 
tered here,  as  it  has  been  aU  over  the  country,  by 
"Teachers'  Institutes,"  which,  in  addition  to  the 
knowledge  as. to  the  science  of  school  teaching 
imparted,  serve  to  create  and  sustain  the  esprit  du 
corps,  which  is  so  important  in  this  profession. 
There  have  been  other  schools  of  a  graded  charac- 
ter, which  did  good  work,  but  they  are  in  exist- 
ence no  longer,  and  the  energies  of  the  friends  of 
education  are  concentrated  upon  the  public 
schools. 

When  the  new  schoolhtuise  was  ready  for  oc- 
cupancy, there  were  some  formalities  attending 
the  tearing  away  from  the  old  building,  and  among 
the  other  good  things  said  was   a  poem  by  Miss 


378 


'HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY, 


Lora  Levens,  which  is  given  entire.     It  is  entitled 

FAREWELL  TO  THE  OLD  SCHOOL  HOFSE. 

■'When  an  old  frieml,  tried  and  true, 
We  change  for  one  unknown  and  new. 
It  seems  hut  meet  to  leave  liehind 
A  tear  for  the  old  one.  true  and  kind- 
Ten  years  ago  last  gonehy  spring. 
When  Howers  were  in  bloom  and  birds  on  wing. 
I  entered  first  this  public  school, 
(For,  happily,  'twas  free  to  wit  or  f^tol.) 
The  house  then  stood  upon  a  spot, 
Kemotc  from  flower,  or  tree,  or  cot; 
Ju»t  here  in  front  of  the  "Public  Squa'e." 
With  plenty  of  gravel,  acddirt,  and  air. 
But  'twas  not  liuilt  in  the  ancient  way. 
As  was  the  Deanon's  One  Hoss  Shay  — 
"To  last  a  hundred  years  to  a  day"— 
tor  the  builders  thout;ht  it  "wtmldn't  pay," 
Soon  the  ccilinj;  cracked,  and  then  it  fell 
And  dropped  on  our  heads  and  laps— pell  mell. 
And  then  the  windows  would  rattle  and  shake. 
And  the  flo«»r  beneath  would  tn-mble  and  quake. 
Ana  in  and  out  all  through  its  walls. 
In  cl-isets  and  entries,  and  rooms  and  halls, 
The  wind  would  whistle  and  rush  and  roar, 
And  e'en  come  up  through  the  cracks  in  the  floor. 
In  vain  we've  punched  and  knocked  and  poked. 
But  still  the  old  stove  has  smoked  and  smoked; 
And  many  an  hour  have  we  stood  and  bat. 
With  wrap  and  shawl  and  cloak  and  hat, 
While  tears  adown  our  cheeks  would  flow — 
But  not  the  tears  of  grief  and  woe. 
But  perhaps  by  these  we'll  value  more 
The  comforts  that  now  for  us  are  in  store! 
And  everj  thing  else  in  this  old  room— 
From  our  teacher  there  to— even  the  broom, 
Has  so  long  been  subject  to  wear  and  tear 
They  do  with  each  other,  most  fitly  compare. 
But  the  end  has  come.    Let  us  take  our  last  view 
Ere  the  old  and  the  dear  we  change  for  the  new, 
For  so  long  they've  been  with  us  and  each  is  so  old, 
Places,  like  living  friends,  in  our  hearts  they  hold, 
Many  a  year  before  us  has  stood 
Numbering  the  hours  for  bad  or  good. 
The  big  old  clock,  with  its  tick,  tick  tick. 
Keeping  time  to  the  pencils'  click,  click,  click. 
Full  many  an  hour  with  listless  look. 
The  idler  has  sat  with  eyes  off  his  book, 
With  many  a  groan  and  many  a  sigh. 
Watching  how  slowly  the  hours  went  by. 
Upon  the  wall,  with  a  deep,  dark  frown. 
Our  "country's  hero"  has  long  looked  down. 
Inciting  us  to  strive  for  a  st.ition. 
Equal  to  his  in  affairs  of  the  nation. 
Thougli  none  may  trea<l  the  senate  halj. 
Yet  each  of  us  will  heed  some  call; 
And  we'll  all  look  back  now  and  then  with  a  sigh. 
To  the  happy  hours  that  here  passed  by. 
Before  the  stove  is  the  low  front  seat. 
With  little  of  room  and  much  of  heat. 
Where  the  wicked  have  gi)t  (I've  heard  some  say.) 
A  taste  of  the  heat  of  a  future  day. 
We  can  never  forget,  though  far  away. 
The  old  green  curtains  that,  day  after  day, 
Have  hung  at  the  windows,  slit  and  torn- 
Of  all  their  former  beauty  shorn. 
And  ever  ''green,"  in  memory,  will  stand 
The  old  ink  keg,  with  bright  red  band; 
And  ne'er  to  )  e  erased  from  (»ur  minds— or  the  floor 
Is  that  beautiful  ink  spot  we  made  there  of  yore; 


And  as  "bright"  in  memory  as  e'er  it  shown 

Will  that  little  bell  be  with  its  silvery  tone; 

And  'twill  seem,  on  memory's  wall  to  call 

Pictures  of  school  days,  gone  from  us  all. 

And  ttb'  what  tales  these  walls  could  tell 

Of  the  sad  lots  that  have  us  befell— 

Of  the  weary  Vimbs.  and  aching  head. 

And  real  tears  that  we  have  shed. 

And  how.  at  times,  have  they  echoed  and  swelled 

With  cries  and  groans  that  could  not  be  quelled. 

At  the  fall  of  the  stick,  or  wooden  rule. 

When  a  euljirit  has  broken  a  law  of  the  school. 

Again,  sounds  of  gay  mirth  and  glee 

Are  softly  brought  back  on  the  air  to  me ; 

And  again  the  walls  all  seem  to  resound 

With  a  sort  of  stifled,  giggling  sound. 

They  could  tell  of  classes  that  have  passed  away. 

Till  now  isleft  the  school  of  to-day. 

Of  somu  who  have  joined  the  tierce,  weary  strife, 

.\nd  are  fighting  nobly  the  battle  of  life, 

Antl  of  a  few  who  are  lying,  lying  low, 

L'ndi-r  the  sod  and  under  the  snow. 

But  others  come  on.  and  in  they  pour, 

Till  now  no  room  is  left  for  more. 

80  now  at  last  is  built,  complete, 

A  new  schoolhou!-e,  with  comforts  replete, 

Where  all  of  the  rising  generation 

May  be  fitted  to  fill,  in  life,  their  station. 

So  farewell,  old  schoolhousel     We'll  say  good  bye. 

And  away  to  the  new  we'll  each  of  us  hie. 

We  kuow  all  thy  faults,  they  are  before  us  in  view. 

But  even  by  these  you  are  endeared  to  us,  too. 

Soon  will  thy  walls  be  covered  with  must, 

The  stove  will  be  coated  with  dirt  and  with  rust, 

Unmolested,  the  mice  will  come  imt  to  their  play. 

But  finding  no  cruml>s  will  soon  hasten  away. 

Around  the  corners,  deserted  and  lone. 

The  fierce  winter  wind  will  whistle  and  moan. 

In  through  the  cracks  the  snow  will  soon  sift. 

And  over  the  steps,  unheeded,  'twill  drift- 

The  spiders  will  weave  their  webs  overhead. 

And  all  will  be  silent  and  still  au  the  dead. 

But  01  the  lessons  we've  mastered  here 

Will  live  with  us  all  for  many  a  year. 

Lessons  of  truth,  and  honor,  and  trust. 

Lessons  that  show  us  we  can  and  we  must, 

Lessons  that  will  help  us  to  keep  our  place, 

In  this  great,  and  hard,  and  worldly  race." 

Ah  to  the  present  condition  of  the  schools 
in  the  citj.  a  reference  to  the  returns  of  the  work 
done  shows  that  thej  are  in  a  healthy  contlition. 
and  in  competent  hands. 

From  the  first  annual  report  of  Prof.  J.  C. 
Ailing,  the  Principal  and  Su])erintendent  of  the 
schools  of  Albert  Lea,  which  includes  the  school 
year  ending  on  the  Ist  of  July,  1882,  the  follow- 
ing statistics  are  gathered: 

Whole  nuud)or  of  scholars  entitled  to  ap- 
portionment    548 

Not  of  school  age,  or  non-residents  paying 

tuition 24 

Separate  names  enrolled  during  the  year. .  572 

Days    of  school 195 

Total  attendance,  in  days,  by  all  scholars.  .  fi0,559 


CITY  OF  ALBEKT  LEA. 


379 


Average  daily  attendance 311 

Wliole  number  of  teachers — one  man  and 

seven    women ' 8 

Pupils  enrolled  per  teacher 72 

Average  attendance  per  teacher 44 

Percentage  of  perfect  attendance  through 

the   year 55 

Number  of  grades  below  the  High  School .  8 
Cost  of  supervision  and  instruction,  based 

on  average  daily  attendance,  per  capita.  S12.34 

HIGH    SCHOOL. 

Whole  number  of  pupils  enrolled  during 

the  year 76 

Greatest  number  present  at  any  one  time. .  67 

Number  of  days  of  school 195 

Average  daily  attendance 45 

Percentage  of  perfect  attendance  on  enroll- 
ment    59 

Number  of  teachers 2 

The  curriculum  ot  statistics  embraces  the  higher 
English  branches  and  Latin. 

At  the  commencement  exercises,  in  .June,  a  wide 
range  ot  subjects  was  embraced,  and  those  having 
parts  acquitted  themselves  in  a  very  creditable 
manner. 

BELIGIOnS. 

The  Pbesbytbbian  Chtjboh  op  Albeet  Lea. — 
It  must  have  been  in  April,  1857,  when  Eev.  S.  G. 
Lowry  visited  this  place,  and  he,  in  connection  with 
Kev.  Isaac  McReynokls,  a  Methodist  clergyman, 
who  still  lives  in  the  county,  were  the  first  to 
break  the  bread  of  the  word  to  the  people  in  this 
region.  For  three  years  Mr.  Lowry  continued  to 
hold  meetings  from  time  to  time,  but  finally  his 
health  failed,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Cook,  a  Congrega- 
tional minister,  of  Austin,  visited  the  town  and 
was  invited  to  preach,  and  the  result  was  that  a 
church  was  organized  under  the  Congregational 
form,  with  six  members,  three  ot  whom  had  been 
Presbyterians,  and  three  Congregationalists.  This 
church,  which  was  maintained  in  this  form  until 
the  autumn  of  1868.  is  alluded  to  under  its  own 
heading. 

At  the  Fall  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  South- 
ern Minnesota,  Old  School,  a  petition  was  pre- 
sented, subscribed  to  by  the  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church  in  Albert  Lea,  and  a  few 
other  persons,  requesting  the  organization  of  a 
Presbyterian  Church.  The  petitioners  were  eigh- 
teen in  number,  all  expressing  a  desire  to  become 


members.  In  response  to  this  petition,  the  Pres- 
bytery appointed  Rev.  D.  C.  Lyon  and  Rev.  A.  J. 
Stead  a  committee  to  meet  the  petitioners,  and,  if 
the  way  should  be  clear,  organize  the  church. 
Accordingly,  on  the  29th  ot  September,  1868, 
these  brethren  held  a  meeting  for  this  purpose  in 
the  Court  House  in  Albert  Lea.  Rev.  S.  G.  Lowry 
and  Rev.  Theophus  Lowry,  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Mankato,  New  School,  were  present  by  invitation, 
and  assisted  in  the  proceedings.  The  Church  was 
then  formally  organized,  under  the  name  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Cburch  ot  Albert  Lea,  with  the 
following  members:  Benjamin  Brownsill,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Brownsill,  Curtis  B.  Kellar,  Samuel 
Eaton,  Mrs.  Clarissa  Eaton,  Mrs.  S.  M.  Robinson, 
Mrs.  Eliza  Hunt,  Mrs.  Harriet  J.  Barden,  Mrs. 
Mary  F.  Armstrong,  Samuel  Thompson,  Mrs. 
Amanda  Woodruff,  Mrs.  Darrow,  Mrs  Henrietta 
Ruble,  Mrs.  C.  E.  Sheehan,  Thomas  Sherwood, 
Clarence  Wedge,  Mrs.  Mary  Buell,  Samuel  Batch- 
elder,  and  Wm.  J.  Squier  — 19.  Samuel  Batchelder, 
Samuel  Eaton,  and  Curtis  B.  Kellar,  were  elected 
Ruling  Elders,  to  serve  respectively  one,  two,  and 
three  years.  A  public  service  was  held  in  the 
evening;  a  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  A.  J. 
Stead,  and  the  elders  were  ordained — the  charge 
to  them  was  given  by  Rev.  Theophus  Lowry. 
Brief  addresses  were  made  by  Rev.  8.  G.  Lowry 
and  Rev.  I).  C.  Lyon,  and  the  meeting  was 
dismissed  with  the  Apostolic  benediction. 

Thus  the  former  Congregational  Church  of  this 
place  was,  by  the  unanimous  choice  and  action  of 
its  own  members,  merged  into  the  Presbyterian 
Church;  and  they,  with  a  few  others  received  at 
the  time,  constituted  the  original  membership  of 
the  present  organization. 

Rev.  Dr.  W.  M.  Paxton,  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  New  York  City,  was  here  during 
that  summer,  on  his  vacation,  and  conceived  a  lively 
interest  in  the  people  and  the  church,  going  so  far 
as  to  offer  to  build  a  church,  if  the  people  desired 
it  and  would  contribute  what  they  were  able. 
This  proposition  was  accepted  by  the  people,  and 
the  Congregationalists  considered  that  it  was  the 
best  they  could  do,  under  the  circumstances,  as  it 
involved  no  sacrifice  of  any  article  of  belief:  the 
real  difference  in  the  two  denominations  being  in 
their  form  of  church  government.  In  this  way, 
then,  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Albert  Lea  came 
into  existence,  and  was  organized  as  above 
recorded. 


380 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


They  at  once  commenced  to  Ijnikl,  and  before 
the  following  winter  had  fairly  set  in,  this  house 
was  raised  and  enclosed.  It  was  completed  the 
following  summer,  and  was  dedicated  to  the  wor- 
ship of  God  <m  the  15th  day  of  August,  1869. 
The  Presbytery  of  Southern  Minnesota  was  in 
session  here  at  that  time,  and  the  dedicatory  ser- 
mon was  priached  Ijy  Dr.  Paxtou.  from  Matt. 
26;8.  "To  What  Pi'Upose  is  This  Waste  ?" 
The  success  of  the  entetpri.se  was  largely  owing 
to  the  liberality  and  energy  of  one  who  has  since 
gone  to  his  rest.  Augusitus  Armstrong,  who, 
though  not  a  communicant,  was  nevertheless  one 
of  the  wisest  in  council  and  tlie  most  elTicient  in 
executing  all  that  was  needful  to  the  establishment 
of  the  church.  While  he  lived  he  manifested  a 
lively  interest  in  the  growth  of  the  church,  spirit- 
ual as  well  as  material ;  and  was  always  to  the  min- 
ister a  prudent  and  safe  adviser. 

Along  with  the  names  of  Dr.  Paxton  and  Mr. 
Armstrong,  lionoraI)le  and  grateful  mention  must 
be  made  of  Miss  Mary  Gelston,  a  member  of  Dr. 
Paxton's  church,  from  the  city  of  New  York,  who 
from  first  to  last  lias  contributed  more  than  half 
the  means  necessary  to  build  and  complete  the 
church  pioparty  in  its  present  form.  "This  excel- 
lent christian  lady,  though  an  entire  stranger  to 
every  one  of  us,  became  interested  in  Albert  Lea 
and  this  church  through  her  Pastor,  and  sent  us 
$3,000  for  the  church  building  and  grounds, 
.'$2,000  towards  building  the  Manse,  and  less  than 
two  years  ago  sent  us  S50()  more  to  assist  in 
the  erection  of  our  chapel,  besides  at  one  time  a 
handsome  donation  for  our  Sabbath  School 
Library.  Altogether  we  have  received  from  her 
nearly  sJCi.OOO.  It  is  her  munificence  which,  under 
God,  has  raised  up  and  established  this  church. 
Let  us  record  her  name  in  our  hearts  with  most 
aii'ectionate  remembrance,  and  in  our  prayers  let 
us  seek  for  the  blessings  of  tiod  upon  one  through 
whose  beneficence  so  great  blessings  have  come 
upon  .us.  This  church  has  been  raised  up  and 
fostered  by  Mary  Gelston;  let  it  be  her  everlast- 
ing memorial.  Let  it  tell  to  the  end  of  time 
what  well  directed  giving  can  accomplish.  And 
may  God  grant  that  her  unselfish  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  Christ,  and  her  liberal  spirit  in  giving  to 
build  up  the  church,  a  church  she  has  uever  seen 
— may  be  imitated  by  the  prople  she  has  blessed 
— by  all  of  us  upon  whom  the  blessing  has 
come." 


Mrs.  Armstrong  and  Clarence  Wedge  gave  the 
land.  The  pulpit  was  presented  by  Mr.  Tuttle, 
the  bell  by  Mr.  Darlington  of  Pittsburg.  The 
Bible  and  hymn  books,  to  the  value  of  Sl(M),  were 
presented  by  Mr  Deiiney  of  Pittsburg.  H.  D. 
Brown  presented  a  three  years'  policy  of  insur- 
ance on  the  church  for  85,000,  at  a  net  cost  of  S75. 

For  nine  months  after  the  church  was  organ- 
ized, it  was  supplied  with  preaching  by  different 
ministers.  Among  these  were  Rev.  Charles 
Thayer,  of  Farmington,  Kev.  John  L.  Gaj.e,  of 
Kasson,  and  Rev.  R.  B.  Abbott,  who  first  preached 
on  the  21st  of  March,  1809.  He  soon  received  a 
formal  call,  and  removed  here  from  St.  Paul  in 
July.  On  the  15th  of  August  the  church  was 
dedicated  in  the  morning,  and  the  pastor  was 
installed  in  the  evening.  The  seimon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  W.  S.  Wilson,  of  Owatonna,  the 
charge  to  the  Pastor  was  given  by  Rev.  D.  C. 
Lyon,  and  the  charge  to  the  people  by  Dr.  Pax- 
ton. 

The  resident  membership  at  this  time  consisted 
•of  eighteen  persons,  as  follows: — Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brownsill,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  B.  Kellar,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Eaton,  INIrs.  Robinson,  Mrs.  Armstrong,  Mrs. 
Barden,  Mr.  Samuel  Thompson,  Mrs.  Woodruff, 
Mrs.  Ruble,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Squier,  Mr.  Batchelder, 
Mrs.  Buell,  Mr.  Clarence  Wedge,  and  Mr.  Sher- 
wood. 

Up  to  the  centennial  year,  when  Mr.  Abbott 
preached  a  historical  sermon,  from  which  many  of 
tlie.se  facts  were  gathered,  there  had  been  a  total 
number  received  into  the  church  of  two  hundred 
and  sixty-four. . 

The  Sabbath  School  was  at  first  commenced  as 
a  union  one,  and  although  there  have  been  losses 
by  detachments  going  to  make  up  other  schools,  it 
has  kept  on  growing. 

There  are  connected  with  the  Sunday  school 
work,  half  a  dozen  missi<m  schools,  with  an  aggre- 
gate attendance  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  children. 

In  1874,  the  church  undertook  the  erection  of  a 
chapel,  which  was  felt  to  be  a  necessity,  and  here 
that  estimable  wc^mau,  the  fast  friend  of  the 
church.  Miss  Gelston,  did  not  fail  tliem,  for  she 
sent  $500,  and,  with  another  $500  added,  it  was 
completed. 

Rev.  Mr.  Abbott  has  been  the  pastor  since  his 
installation.  The  church  may  be  siiid  to  be  in  a 
flourishing  condition,  with  a  good  house  of  wor- 
ship, and  a  commodious  Manse  adjoining. 


CITY  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


38) 


The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — Like  the 
most  of  the  frontier  regions,  this  vicinity  early 
received  the  attention  of  the  itinerant  Methodist 
preacher.  Lsaac  W.  McEeynohls,  who  was  a 
local  preacher,  but  had  never  been  ordained,  came 
here  and  took  a  farm,  a  mile  west  of  the  village,  in 
1856.  He  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  in  180r>. 
He  came  here  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  and  the  next 
season  went  l)ack  and  brought  his  family,  in  an 
ox-team.  Mr.  Mo  Reynolds,  it  is  likely,  was  the 
first  to  hold  religious  services  in  the  county, 
which  he  did  in  Shell  Rock,  in  the  fall  of  185fi. 
Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  was  aLso  at  Shell  Kock  several 
times,  at  the  house  of  brother  Scott.  Preaching 
was  also  done  near  the  State  line,  at  Gordousville, 
and  a  class  was  formed,  with  Jacob  Beighley  as 
leader;  also  at  Bear  Lake  and  other  places,  where 
there  was  an  opportunity.  The  very  first  in 
Albert  Lea  must  have  been  at  the  house  of  George 
Ruble,  near  the  saw-mill.  Mr.  Gates,  with  his 
family,  attended  in  an  ox-team.  Mr.  McReynolds 
was  one  year  in  the  employ  of  the  conference  as  a 
supply,  which  must  have  been  the  conference  year 
of  18.'i8.  Thomas  Kirkpatrick  was  the  Presiding 
Elder.  Classes  were  formed  where  it  seemed  to 
be  feasible,  at  Bear  Lake,  Rice  Lake,  Glendale; 
and  although  there  was  a  stated  supply  at  Geneva, 
no  class  was  organized  there.  la  Albert  Lea 
there  was  occasional  preaching.  Several  more  or 
less  promising  organizations  were  formed,  but 
from  various  reasons  they  failed  to  be  sustained. 
There  was  a  kind  of  floating  population;  restive 
individuals,  who  would  remain  a  certain  time  and 
then  push  on  west.  Regular  supplies  were  started 
several  times  by  the  conference.  Rev.  Mr.  Wat- 
son, Rev.  John  Garner,  and  perhaps .  one  or  two 
more,  but  the  ground  was  either  stony  or  was 
preoccupied. 

One  year,  Mr.  McReynolds  told  the  conference 
that  if  they  would  send  a  man  who  had  no  family, 
he  would  board  him  for  a  year  without  cost,  and 
I.  W.  W.  Wright  was  sent;  but,  after  a  time,  find- 
ing his  affinity,  he  got  married,  and  went  to 
keeping  house.  The  young  man  soon  preached 
the  schoolhouse,  where  the  meetings  were  held, 
empty.  A  few  of  the  heads  of  families,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  duty,  kept  on  attending,  luit  it  terminated 
in  a  collajise  of  the  Methodist  interest  here.  It  is 
told  that  on  one  occasion  this  ecclesiastical  lumin- 
nary  announced,  among  other  things,  that 
Abraham  was  the  first   one  to  proclaim   that  the 


universe  was  governed  by  one  God.  But  to  the 
young  man's  credit,  it  should  be  stated  that,  hav- 
ing accepted  what  he  considered  a  call  to  preach, 
he  also  had  the  good  sense  to  stop  preaching  in 
obedience  to  a  like  mandate,  which  is  sometimes 
all  unheeded. 

Late  in  the  fifties  a  Sunday  School  was  started ; 
it  was  a  union  schot>l,  patronized  by  all  denomi- 
nations. 

When  Mr.  McReynolds  had  finished  his  confer- 
ence work,  he  took  charge  of  the  schoi>l  in  tlie 
schoolhouse,  and  really  made  a  good  success 
of  it. 

When  the  Mothodist  influence  waned  as  above 
related,  the  Congregational  predominated,  and  it 
finally  became  denominational  and  was  at  last 
merged  into  the  Presbyterian,  and  is  stiJl  in  exis- 
tence, one  of  the  largest  and  most  flourishing  in 
town. 

Thus  matters  remained  until  the  year  1878, 
when  the  interest  was  revived  and  the  church  re- 
organized on  a  firm  basis. 

In  February,  1878,  Rev.  Robert  Fobes,  of 
Waseca,  who  had  been  an  agent  of  Hamline  Uni- 
versity, but  at  that  time  had  no  charge,  came 
down  here  to  look  over  the  sitiiation,  and  he  start- 
ed out  in  a  business  way;  went  and  secured  the 
use  of  the  Court  House,  and  then  canvassed  the 
the  village  for  an  audience;  the  result  was  he  got 
a  good  hearing,  and  the  next  week  he  went  around 
again  drumming  up  delinquents,  telling  them  to 
come  round  and  listen  to  the  best  seimon  they 
ever  heard. 

This  went  on  for  some  time.  He  did  preach 
good  sermons,  and  at  last  came  to  the  subject  of 
a  regular  church  organization,  and  one  Sunday, 
invited  those  who  would  join,  to  rise,  and  sixteen 
responded  to  the  invitation.  Two  weeks  from 
that  time  was  set  for  the  regular  organization. 
When  the  time  came,  about  half  of  the  numlier 
had  weakened  and  the  reverend  gentlemen  was  a 
good  deal  cast  down,  and  hesitated  as  to  what  he 
should  do.  He  consultetl  Mi'.  J.  H.  Parker,  wlio 
declined  to  advise  either  pro  or  con,  but  Mrs.  Par- 
ker happened  along  while  they  were  talking  it 
over.  Mr.  Fobes  asked  her  what  he  had  better  do? 
She  replied:  "If  there  is  ever  going  to  be  a  Meth- 
odist Church  in  Albert  Lea,  now  is  the  time  to 
start  it;  you  came  down  for  that  purpose  and 
you  better  go  on  and  organize  Jim  and  I,  if  no- 
body   else    is    present!"     That  settled  it.     The 


362 


n  I  STORY  OP  FREEBORN  COUNTY 


church  was  duly  organized  witli  nine  members. 
The  liRt  is  mislaid,  but  from  memory  there  were: 
Mr.  J.  H.  Parker  and  bis  wife  Mary  J.  Parker; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Tiltou,  C.  B.  Parkinson,  Mr. 
.T.  W.  Abbott,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  M.  Bond,  and  Peter 
Nelson.  Eddie  Nelson  had  applied  to  join  as  a 
probationer  l)efore  the  church  was  formed. 

While  Rev.  Robert  Fobes  was  here  the  Sunday 
school  that  is  still  in  existence,  was  started,  and  it 
has  kept  up  to  a  good  state  of  efficiency  ever 
since. 

In  October,  1878,  Rev.  .J.  W.  Klepper  was  as- 
signed here  by  the  conference,  and  building  oper- 
ations were  soon  commenced.  A  lot  was  purchas- 
ed at  a  cost  of  $100.  about  one  third  of  its  market 
value,  and  the  church  was  buijt  at  a  cost  of . '#1,700. 
The  business  men  and  citizens  generally,  took 
hold  and  did  what  they  could.  The  sum  of  $200 
was  borrowed  from  the  church  extension  fund, 
and  a  like  sum  was  ulso  donated  from  that  fund. 
Mr.  Klepper  remained  two  years,  when  Mr.  Henry 
Frank  was  stationed  here  and  still  remains.  He 
camo  from  Kansas  in  October  1881.  He  formerly 
resided  in  Chicago. 

In  October,  1881,  Mr.  Frank  started  an  eight 
page  four  column  illustrated  paper,  called  the 
"Church  Visitor,"  intending  it  for  a  speciol  pur- 
pose and  continued  it  up  to  July,  1882. 

Mr.  Frank  is  an  advanced  thinker,  a  good 
worker,  and  a  remarkably  fine  speaker. 

The  Sunday  school  is  in  a  good  condition  under 
Mr.  J.  H.  Parker  as  superintendent,  and  has  an 
enrollment  of  more  than  one  hundred,  and  a  large 
average  attendance. 

The  Fihst  Baptist  Chukoh  of  Albert  Lea. — 
The  first  preaching  with  any  sort  of  regularity  in 
this  place  was  by  Rev.  D.  H.  Palmer,  in  the  school- 
house.  This  was  before  the  war.  Rev.  Amory 
Gale,  the  very  first  State  missionary,  also  held 
service  here,  and  so  much  of  an  interest  was  man- 
ifested that  it  was  resolved  to  organize  a  church, 
and  after  suitable  preliminary  meetings,  a  council 
of  bretliren  convened  on  the  29th  of  September 
for  that  purpose.  Rev.  Gilead  Dodge  was  chosen 
Moderator,  and  Rev.  I).  H.  Palmer,  Clerk.  The 
customary  examination  resulting  satisfactorily, 
the  church  was  duly  organized  and  the  following 
named  persons  admitted  to  membership:  Eunice 
Jennings,  Lydia  C.  Jennings,  Charles  (Ireen, 
Sarah  Green,  Jeremiah  Walker,  Mrs.  J.  Walker, 
Maggie  E.  Morin,  John  Wood,  Emeline  A.  Wood, 


Reuben  C.  Cady,  Rodah  Lowe,  Alden  G.  Doug- 
lass, and  Winnah  Pride,  with  H.  1).  Palmer  pastor 
of  the  church.  On  the  following  day  Sister  D. 
Stage  was  baptized  and  admitted  to  full  fellow- 
ship. 

At  the  organization  the  following  services  took 
place:  Sermon  by  Rev.  H.  I.  Parker;  hand  of  fel- 
lowship by  Rev.  A.  L.  Cole;  prayer  by  Rev.  Gilead 
Dodge;  charge  by  Rev.  E.  L.  Rugg;  benediction 
by  the  pastor,  Rev.  D.  H.  Palmer. 

To  connection  with  these  services,  rich  and  ap- 
jiropriate  discourses  were  preached  by  Brothers 
Cole,  Parker,  Dodge,  and  Rugg. 

It  should  be  mentioned  that  the  venerable  mis- 
sionary. Rev.  M.  W.  Hopkins,  rendered  invaluable 
aid  to  the  society  during  the  preliminary  labors 
incident  to  the  organization. 

Elder  Cornelius  Smith  was  the  next  pastor,  com- 
mencing his  duties  on  the  1st  of  October,  186P. 

After  Elder  Smith  left,  the  church  was  for  a 
time  pastorless.  Elder  Weeden  was  invited  to 
temporarily  supply  the  pulpit. 

The  church  was  duly  incorporated  on  the  13th 
of  May,  1871.  In  October,  1873,  Rev.  Amos 
Weaver  became  pastor.  In  October,  Rev.  Norman 
F.  Hoy  t  became  pastor  of  the  church,  and  remains 
still  at  his  post. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  1874,  the  subject  of 
building  a  church  was  vigorously  taken  in  hand,  the 
parsonage  having  been  previously  built.  Services 
at  this  time  were  held  in  Masonic  hall.  It  was 
rapidly  pushed  to  completion,  and  dedicated  on 
the  1st  of  November,  1874,  at  10:30  a.  m.  Amory 
Weaver  was  the  pastor.  Several  other  ministers 
were  present,  among  them  Rev.  S.  F.  Drew,  R.  B. 
Alibott,  and'  George  Prescott.  The  cost  of  the 
structure  was  •f3,58.5..56,  and  there  was  a  debt 
upon  the  property  of  $2,300,  which  was  reduced 
by  contributions  at  that  time  by  the  sum  of  $8-56. 
The  building  is  a  rather  severely  plain  gothic,  28x 
50  feet,  with  sixteen  foot  posts,  a  recess  4x14  feet 
in  the  rear  and  a  tower  10  feet  square,  with  the 
spire  reaching  an  altitiide  of  63  feet.  The  front 
has  a  fine  large  window — 6x14  feet — of  stained 
glass.  It  is  supplied  with  patent  seats,  is  carpeted, 
and  is  really  neat  and  tasty. 

In  1876  this  churcli  was  without  a  ))astor,  and 
the  debt  upon  it  was  pressing  heavily  upon  the 
few  members  who  were  struggling  to  preserve  the 
altar  they  had  erected  with  such  self-sacrificing 
devotion,  so,  after  much  thought  and  consultation, 


GITT  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


383 


it  was  resolved  to  make  an  appeal  to  the  deaomi- 
nation  generally,  for  help.  Implorations  not  un- 
like this  have  been  sent  east  from  every  State  iu 
the  Union,  beginning  with  the  Pilgrims — as  they 
planted  religious  liberty  on  Plymouth  Rook. 
This  circular  is  printed,  that  coming  generations 
may  see  how  the  eirly  settlar;*  adapted  means  to 
ends,  and  that  while  the  injunction  has  always  been 
to  put  religion  into  business,  that  here  they  did 
not  hesitate  to  put  business  into  religion. 

Austin,  Mix\n„  March,  30,  1876. 
Deau  Brother. — Freeborn  County,  in  the 
Southern  tier  of  counties,  in  this  State,  has  a  pop- 
ulation of  over  13,000,  and  is  constantly  filling 
up.  Its  county  seat  is  Albert  Lea,  a  thrifty  and 
important  railroad  center  in  a  township  of  1,900 
inhabitants.  The  little  Baptist  Church  there,  of 
27  members,  mostly  females,  is  in  trouble.  As 
one  of  the  nearest  Baptist  Ministers,  I  have  be- 
come deeply  interested  in  the  needy  condition  of 
this  church.  I  know  its  members  to  be  earnest 
and  self-sacrificing.  They  are  in  danger  of  losing 
their  neat  house  of  worship,  which  was  recently 
built,  and  for  which  they  have  worked  so  hard. 
After  raising,  in  two  years,  over  $2,.500  for  religi- 
ous purposes,  they  can  do  little  more  and  are 
liable  to  lose  all  they  have  thus  far  gained.  On  a 
property,  (including  a  parsonage,  built  some 
years  ago  )  valued  at  over  $.5,000,  they  owe  about 
•^1,800.  The  meeting  house,  costing  |3,500,  is 
completely  finished  and  furnished — except  an 
organ.  The  united  testimony  of  the  community 
is  that  the  expenditure  has  been  very  economical, 
and  without  many  favors  received  must  have  been 
greater.  To-day  this  church  is  without  a  pastor 
or  preacher,  and  burdoned  with  this  debt.  There 
are  two  other  small  native  churches  in  the  county 
accessible  from  Albert  Lea,  but  without  preach- 
ing, so  that  there  is  not  a  single  Baptist  Minister 
in  the  county  to-day,  excepting  the  Swedish.  Re- 
move this  dept  and  we  can  put  a  pastor  iu  this 
field  and  he  will  find  a  good  support.  Let  it  drag 
Albert  Lea  Church  down,  and  Baptist  interests 
in  that  whole  section  suffer  irreparable  injury. 
Look  at  the  map  and  see  how  important  a  point 
it  is  tor  us  to  hold.  Its  possibilities  within  ten  or 
fifteen  years  are  very  great.  Now,  Baptists  can 
raise  this  debt  and  not  feel  it.  We  ask  of  your 
whole  church  the  specific  sum  of  two  dollars. 
How  easy  iu  a  few  moments  to  raise  so  small  an 
amount   and  thus  rescue  this  church.     The  only 


expense  in  this  movement  is  the  printing  and 
sending  this  circular,  so  that  every  dollar  you 
send  goes  directly  to  raise  the  debt.  If  you  re- 
spond, the  amount  required  will  be  raised.  Per- 
haps your  Sabbath  school  would  like  to  own  a 
share  in  one  of  God's  houses  out  on  these  broad 
prairies.  Will  you,  for  the  Master's  sake,  help  to 
make  this  plan  a  success?  If  we  had  asked  a 
hundred  dollars,  you  might  lay  this  appeal  aside 
as  useless,  but  surely  the  amount  named  is  not  a 
large  one.  If  you  treat  this  as  a  small  matter  and 
lay  it  aside  unnoticed,  of  course  the  plan  fails. 
They  need  help  at  once.  Three  are  waiting 
baptism.  Ground  can  now  be  occupied,  that 
soon  will  be  out  of  reach.  Contributions  may  be 
sent  to  .John  Wood,  or  Mrs.  M.  E.  Morin,  Albert 
Lea,  Freeborn  County,  Minn.;  to  Rev.  W.  W. 
Whitcomb,  Owatonua,  or  to  me.  Yours  fratern- 
ally. 

C.  D.  Belden, 
Minister  of  the  Baptist  Church,  Austin,  Minn. 

We,  the  advisory  committee  to  the  State  Con- 
vention Board,  from  the  Minnesota  Central  Associ- 
ation, of  which  body  the  Baptist  Church  at  Albert 
Lea  is  a  member,  heartily  endorse  the  above 
movement  for  the  relief  of  that  church,  and  wish 
complete  success. 

W.  W.  Whitcomb, 
J.  U.  Denlson, 
C.  D.  Belden. 

This  paper  was  indorsed  by  the  trustees  of  the 
Minnesota  Baptist  State  Convention  as  certified  to 
by  A.  A.  Russsell,  Secretary  of  the  Board.  It  was 
quite  extensively  circulated  and  the  result  was 
contributions  to  the  extent  of  about  $500,  which 
relieve<l  their  present  necessities,  and  in  October 
1874,  Rjv.  Norman  F.  Hoyt  located  here,  and 
since  that  time  the  society  has  beem  moving 
along  in  a  prosperous  way,  and  now  has  a  good 
membership  and  a  thriving  Sunday  school. 

Roman  Catholic— The  Chdrch  of  St.  Theo- 
dore.— A  beautiful  brick  church  was  erected  in 
1877,  and  dedicated  on  the  9th  of  September. 
Bishop  Ireland,  R3V.  P.  Riordan,  and  R9V.  Theo- 
dore Venn,  were  present  and  conducted  the  exer- 
cises, the  Bishop  preaching  a  sermon  on  the  Rules 
of  Faith.  There  ire  sixty  families  connected  with 
this  church.  The  pastor  is  Rev.  James  Fleming, 
who  came  in  November,  1881.  His  predecessor 
was  Rev.  P.  F.  Dargnault,  and  before  him  was 
Rev.  Theodore  Venn.     There  are  several  mission 


384 


JIISTOHY  OF  FHEEBOIiN  COUyiY. 


cimrclie.s  iu  tlio  county,  with  Albert  Lea  as  the 
mother  charch.  Oin'  of  these  is  in  Bath,  one  in 
Newry,  one  at  Twin  Lakes,  and  another  at  Aldeu, 
whicli  are  supplied  from  here  with  services  at  regu- 
lar intervals.  In  the  whole  parish  there  are  210 
families.  The  connection  is  witli  tiie  St.  Paul 
Diocese,  under  Bisliop  (irace. 

The  parochial  residence  was  built  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1882,  at  a  cost  of  ••{;l,9.50.  The  cost  of  the 
church  was  upward  of  $4,200,  and  it  is  without 
doul)t  the  finest  and  most  durable  edifice  for 
cliurch  purposes  iu  town. 

The  First  UniveratjIst  Society  of  Albert 
Le4.— -There  had  been  religious  services  in  the 
interest  of  this  form  of  belief  for  some  time,  with 
more  or  less  regularity,  iu  the  Court  House,  and 
on  the  14th  of  May,  1870,  pursuant  to  four  weeks 
notice,  a  meeting  was  held  for  the  puri«)se  of  or- 
ganizing. Wm.  C.  Pratt  was  chosen  chairman, 
and  Alonzo  Brown  was  appointed  secretary.  On 
motion  the  meeting  adjourned  to  the  house  of  C. 
R.  Ransom. 

On  reassembling  the  Committee  on  Constitu- 
tion, which  had  been  previously  appointed,  re- 
ported a  Constitution  and  Articles  of  Faith, 
which  were  unanimously  adopted.  The  document 
eml)raced  twenty -one  articles,  including  the  Dec 
laration  of  Faith. 

The  following  officers  were  elected:  Moderator, 
C.  R.  Ransjm;  Clerk,  E.  C.  Stacy:  Collector  and 
Treasurer,  C.  E.  Ransom;  Trustees,  E.  C.  Stacy, 
A.  Brown,  and  M.  M.  Luce. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1872,  a  meeting  was  held 
to  take  into  consideration  the  building  of  a  house 
of  worship,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
solicit  subscriptions,  consisting  of  E.  C.  Stacy, 
Charles  Levens,  Frederick  Cochrane,  A.  H.  McMil- 
len.  and  J.  M.-Pratt. 

Little  progre.ss  seems  to  have  been  made  until 
the  fall  of  1876,  when  the  following  building 
committee  was  elected:  William  C.  Pratt,  John 
M.  Marty,  and  G.  C.  Harper.  In  the  spring  of 
1877  the  edifice  was  completed,  and  is  an 
unpretentious  building  in  size  and  architectural 
appointments;  it  was  christened  "Our  Father's 
Chapel."  Articles  of  incorporation  were  filed  in 
the  office  of  the  Register  of  Deeds  on  the  22d  oi 
April,  1879. 

The  first  preaching  was  by  Rev.  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge.  Mr.  Frederick  Cochrane  also  officiated 
for  iiuite  a  time.     Rev.  A.  A'edder  was  also  here. 


Rev.  G.  S.  Gowdy  came  here  in  Ai>rLI,  187t'i.  and 
has  ofliciated  ever  since,  also  having  charge  of  the 
church  in  Glenville. 

The  Conorbi;.\tion.\l  Church. — The  history 
of  this  society  is,  during  its  early  period,  identi- 
cal with  the  Presbyterian,  into  which  it  was 
transformed,  as  rel.Tted  in  the  sketch  of  that  de- 
nomination. It  will  1)6  remembered  that  when 
the  church  was  organized  there  were  three  Pres- 
byterians and  three  Congregationalists,  and  in 
deference  t<>  Mr.  Cook,  who  visited  and  preached 
here  at  an  early  dxy,  and  who  was  connected  with 
the  Congregationalists,  that  church  form  was 
adopted. 

The  Presbyterian  members  were  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Samuel  Eaton  and  Mrs.  Woodrufl'.  Those  of  the 
other  connection  were  Mrs.  A.  Armstrong,  and  J. 
U.  Perry  and  wife.  Father  Lowry  was  a  Presby- 
terian. At  first  meetings  were  held  at  any  place 
where  couvenient.  When  Mr.  Lowry,  or  any 
minister  came  round,  Col.  Eaton,  who  had  a  good 
team,  would  get  Tim  Sheehan  to  take  it,  with  a 
big  sled,  and  circle  about  the  vicinity  of  the  \-il- 
lage  and  bring  them  into  church. 

When  the  church  was  turned  over  two-thirds  of 
them  were  of  Presbyterian  antecedents.  After  a 
time  the  Congregationalists,  or  most  of  them,  in  . 
the  church,  concluded  to  go  back  to  their  first 
love,  and  to  build  a  church  of  their  own.  Mrs. 
Reuben  Williams  took  an  active  part  in  the  work, 
and  considerable  aid  was  obtained  from  the  Home 
Mission  fund,  it  is  believed  to  the  extent  of  §1,000, 
and  perhaps  other  sums  from  the  East,  and  .so  the 
church  was  built,  a  very  neat  structure. 

Their  first  pastor  was  R?v.  Mr.  Drew,  who 
turned  Presbyterian  and  went  to  Preston.  Rev. 
Mr.  Todd  was  the  next  minister,  and  he  too  went 
into  a  Presbyterian  pulpit.  The  next,  and  last, 
was  Rev.  Chalmers,  who  went  to  Dakota,  and  the 
church  was  then  sold  at  quite  a  sacrifice  to  the 
Episcopalians,  and  most  of  the  members  were 
again  merged  in  the  old  society. 

Albert  Lea  Evangelical  Lutheran  Norwe- 
gian Church. — This  society  has  a  fine  church  on 
Clark  street,  opposite  the  Public  Park,  built  in 
imitation  of  freestone.  There  are  about  fifty 
families  who  worshi])  here.  The  church  was  got 
together  and  the  edifice  built  about  1874.  Rev. 
Mr.  Vulpsburg  was  the  pastor  at  one  time,  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Eiver.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  O.  H. 
Smeby.     There  is  a  Sunday  school,  and  the  church 


CITY  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


385 


fully  admiuisters  to  the  wants  of  the  Lutheran 
Norwegians  in  the  commiiuity. 

The  Scandinavian  Union  Baptist  Church. — 
This  church  is  usually  called  the  Danish  Baptist 
church,  and  was  organized  in  1874,  with  eleven 
members.  It  now  has  about  eighty.  Preaching 
in  this  interest  was  commenced  at  an  early  day, 
and  kept  up  with  more  or  less  regularity  until  the 
organization  of  the  society.  Of  those  who  have 
been  here  may  be  mentioned:  Rev.  Louis  Jorjen- 
son,  Kev.  James  Hendricksou,  Adolph  Carlsen, 
and  others.  The  erection  of  the  edifice  was  at  a 
cost  of  more  than  $2,500. 

The  church  having  been  completed,  was  dedi- 
cated on  Sunday,  the  2d  of  July,  1876,  with  ser- 
vices in  the  Scandinavian  language  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Ostergreen,  of  St.  Paul,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Lunde,  of 
Clark  Grove.  In  the  evening  the  service  was  in 
English,  by  Messrs.  Abbott,  Alden,  Lunde,  and 
Wood.  The  building  is  a  fine  appearing  building, 
28x42  feet,  with  a  tower  extending  65  feet.  Rev. 
Carl  Carlson,  the  architect  and  builder,  came  here 
in  1873,  and  for  some  years  has  regularly  filled 
the  pulpit.     The  services  are  in  English. 

Danish  Evangelical  Ldtheban  Church — In- 
dependent.— This  is  a  small  church  located  in 
Parker's  Addition,  and  built  in  1881.  The  pastor 
is  Rev.  J.  Danielaon,  who  resides  in  Freeborn  and 
oificiates  here  once  every  few  weeks. 

Episcopalian — The  Church  of  the  Good 
Shepherd. — There  have  been  occasional  services 
here  in  this  form  since  an  early  day.  Sometimes 
it  has  been  quite  regular,  with  some  one  from  the 
Cathedral  in  Faribault,  and  Bishop  Whipple  has 
occasionally  been  here  himself,  as  well  as  his 
brother.  Rev.  George  B.  Whipple.  The  church 
edifice  was  purchased  of  the  Congregationalists 
for  S2,000,  and  arranged  for  the  Episcopal  service. 
It  was  first  opened  for  service  on  Christmas  day, 
1879.  Rev.  Mr.  Irwin  was  the  first  pastor,  who 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  R.  Powell,  the  present 
incumbent.  There  are  twenty-five  families  who 
worship  here. 

CEMETERIES. 

Albert  Lea  people  have,  up  to  this  time,  paid  lit- 
tle attention  to  the  ornamentation  of  burial  places, 
which  is  in  any  case  a  mere  sentiment,  as  nothing 
that  can  be  done  here  for  the  departed  ones,  how- 
ever dear  in  life  and  cherished  in  remembrance, 
will  be  of  any  service  to  them,  although  the  kind 
offices  we  perform  in  token  of  our  love  for  those 
25 


who  have  gone  before,  does  have  a  beneficent  in- 
fluence upon  us  and  upon  those  who  take  cogni- 
zance of  this  bestowal  of  such  tokens  of  regard. 

About  the  first  burial  place  was  that  on  the  Pick- 
erel Lake  road,  taken  from  McReynold's  farm.  A 
certain  amount  of  money  was  appropriated  by  the 
town  at  one  time  to  fence  the  grounds,  but  only 
the  side  next  to  the  road  got  so  supplied,  the 
money  having  been  used  for  other  purposes. 
This  cemetery  has  some  fine  monuments,  and  is 
otherwise  very  highly  ornamented  with  shrubbery 
and  prairie  flowers,  and  if  "beauty  unadorned  is 
adorned  the  most."  this  place  is  embellished  in 
the  highest  style  of  nature. 

There  is  also  a  small  corner,  north  of  Fountain 
Lake,  that  is  devoted  to  burial  purposes. 

In  the  spring  of  1882,  the  subject  of  a.  new 
cemetery  was  agitated,  and  in  May  a  meeting  was 
held  to  discuss  measures  to  provide  a  new  ceme- 
tery. Hon.  H.  D.  Brown  was  called  to  the  chair. 
The  matter  was  freely  talked  over,  and  it  was  the 
almost  universal  feeling  and  decision  of  all  pres- 
ent, that  a  new  cemetery  ground  should  be 
purchased  and  the  old  cemetery  abandoned.  As 
to  the  location  there  were  various  opinions, 
although  the  majority  seemed  to  favor  a  place 
north  of  Fountain  Lake.  Others  favored  a  loca- 
tion east  of  the  mill.  The  matter  was  finally 
relegated  to  a  committee  of  nine,  consisting  of  H 
D.  Brown,  Chairman;  T.  H.  Armstrong,  J.  A. 
Lovely,  D.  R.  P.  Hibbs,  W.  P.  Sergeant,  W.  W. 
Johnson,  J.  W.  Smith,  Dr.  Wedge,  and  George 
Davies,  who  were  to  report  to  a  future  meeting  of 
citizens  concerning  all  the  matters  that  pertained 
to  the  location  of  a  new  cemetery.  So  that  it  is 
likely  that  at  no  distant  day,  Albert  Lea  will 
have  its  "Mount  Auburn,"  "Greenwood,"  or  "Glen- 
dale,"  with  its  wealth  of  landscape  scenery,  and 
costly  marble. 

Itasca  Cemetery. — This  was  laid  out  r.nd 
appropriated  as  a  burial  place  iu  1871.  It  is 
owned  by  a  company.  A.  M.  Burnham  is  Presi- 
dent; Isaac  Botsford,  Secretary;  and  E.  D.  Hop- 
kins, Treasurer.  It  is  located  to  the  west  of  the 
buried  city  whose  name  it  bears,  commanding  a 
view  for  quite  a  distance  in  several  directions,  and 
is  just  east  of  the  old  north  and  south  territorial 
road,  traces  of  which  can  yet  be  seen.  Those  who 
repose  here  have  fine  marble  monuments.  The 
price  of  the  lots  is  $20. 


38r. 


HISTOUY  OP  FUEEBOBN  COUNT Y. 


FRATERNAL.    ORDERS. 

Masonic.  —  Western  Star  Lod^e  No.  26  wae 
instituted  in  OctolxT,  1857,  ane  worked  under  a 
dispensation  until  October  27th,  1858,  when  a 
charter  was  granted. 

The  first  officers  were:  Asa  W.  White,  W.  M.; 
Charles  Norton,  S.  W.;  .1.  Brownsill.  J.  W.;  A.  C. 
Wedge,  Tr.;  H.  D.  Brown,  Sec'y;  A.  B.  Webber, 
S.  D.;  Aug.  Armstrong,  J.  D.:  Isaac  Botsford, 
Tyler. 

The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  are;  William 
C.  Pratt,  W.  M.;  G.  T.  Gardner,  S.  W.,  .J.  J. 
Bond,  J.  W.;  S.  S.  Edwards,  Sec'y ;  W.  P.  Sergeant, 
Tr.;T.  E.  Schlender,  S.  D.;  S.  S.  Mallery,  J.  D.: 
Axel  Brunden.  Tyler. 

The  Masters  of  the  lodge  have  been,  fnun  the 
fir.st  until  1882,  as  follows:  Asa  W.  White,  John 
Browu.sell,  H.  D.  Brown,  F.  B.  Fobes,  D.  N.  Gates, 
W.  P.  Sergeant,  .7.  F.  Reppy,  F.  S.  Lincoln,  and 
William  C.  Pratt. 

The  lodge  is  in  a  nourishing  condition,  and  has 
a  capacious  and  well  furnished  hall.  The  meet- 
ings in  the  summer  are  on  the  second  Wednesday 
in  each  month,  and  the  rest  of  the  year,  on  the 
second  and  fourth  Wednesdays. 

Albert  Lea  Chapter  No.  30,  Kotal  Arch 
Ma-sons. — Instituted  on  the  30th  of  March,  1874. 
The  first  meeting  was  on  the  17th  of  April.  The 
first  officers  were;  A.  W.  White,  H.  P.;  C.  L. 
West,  K. ;  S.  Partridge,  S. ;  H.  Powell,  C.  of  H. ; 
F.  S.  Lincoln,  P.  S.;  George  Woodward,  R.  A.  C; 
William  Morin.  Tr. ;  F.  S.  Sinclair,  Sec'y. 

The  present  officers  are:  H.  D.  Brown,  H.  P.; 
GeiTge  C,  Harper,  K.:  J.  D.  Prime,  S.;  J.  F. 
Reppy,  C.  of  H.;  George  T.  Gardner,  P.  S.;  C.  M. 
Wilkinson,  R.  A.  C;  S.  S.  Edwards,  Sec'y;  Wil- 
liam P.  Sergeant,  Tr. 

There  are  31  members. 

Apollo  Commandery,  Knights  Templar,  No. 
12.— Instituted  on  the  1st  of  October,  1879,  with 
nineteen  charter  members.  The  officers  were: 
John  Boyce,  E.  C. ;  H.  R.  Wells,  Gen. ;  M.  H. 
Avery,  C.  of  G. 

The  present  officers  are:  William  Morin,  E.  C; 
J.  F.  Reppy,  Gen.;  M.  H.  Avery,  C.  G. ;  H.  D. 
Brown,  Prel. ;  G.  S.  Ruble,  S.  W. ;  A.  A.  Peck,  J. 
W.;  W.  P.  Sergeant,  Tr. ;  George  F.  Gardner, 
Recorder. 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  third  Wednesday  of 
each  mouth.     The  membership  is  30. 


Equitable  Aid  Union. — At  the  last  regular 
semi-annual  election  of  officers  of  Albert  Lea 
Union,  No.  390,  E.  A.  U.,  the  following  named 
persons  were  elected  officers  for  the  ensuing  term: 
Ira  A.  Town,  Chancellor;  L.  I).  Smith,  Advocate: 
Theo.  Schlender,  Vice  President;  E.  H.  Ellickson, 
Auxiliary ;H.  O.  Haukuess,  Treasurer;  T.  K.Ram- 
sey, Secretary;  .John  Docrr,  Accountant;  A.  G. 
Brundin,  Chaplain;  Ole  Knudson,  .Jr.,  Warden; 
M.  P.  Johnson,  Sentinel;  C.  O.  Barnes,  Watch- 
man. 

Odd  Fellows — Albert  Lea  Lodge  No.  fil. — 
Instituted  on  the  27th  of  August,  1877,  with  the 
following  officers:  G.  S.  Gowdy,  N.  G. ;  E.  C. 
Stacy,  V.  G.;  S  S.  Edward,  R.  S.;  A.  H.  Squier, 
J.  S.;T.  W.Long,  Tr. 

There  is  a  membership  of  70.  Their  hall  is  ''■ 
good  one,  over  Smith  k  Gossett's  store. 

The  present  officers  are:  J.  P.  Colby,  N.  G. ; 
S.  Strau-ss,  V.  G.;  C.  D.  Marlett,  Sec,;  S.  S. 
Edwards,  Treas. ;  D.  L.  Squier,  Mar.;  A.  H.  S([iiier, 
Con.;E.  S.  Wilson,  I.  G.;  L.  Stefterson,  O.  G.;  E. 
C.  Stacy,  R.  S.  N.  G.;  W.  H.  Long.  L.  S.  N.  G.; 
L.  Gahi,  R.  S.  V.  G.;  H.  S.  Menifee,  L.  S.  V.  G.; 
A.  Noble,  R.  S.  S. :  Aug.  Peterson,  L.  S.  S. ;  J.  B. 
Claybourue,  O.  C. ;  Rev.  G.  S.  Gowdy,  Chaplain; 
Z.  k.  Mallery,  P.  G. 

Daughters  of  Rebekah. — The  following  are 
the  officers  of  Albert  Lea  Degree  Lodge  No  16, 
Daughters  of  Rebekah:  E.  C.  Stacy,  N.  G.;  Mrs. 
C.  D.  Marlett,  V.  (}.;  Mary  Gahl,  Rec.  Sec;  Katie 
Tuuell,  F.  Sec;  Mrs.  D.  L.  Squier,  Treas.;  Mrs. 
A.  H.  Squier,  I.  G.;  W.  H.  Long,  O.  G.;  D.  L. 
Squier,  Warden;  Eva  Long,  Con.;  Mrs.  A.  H. 
McMillan,  R.  S.  N.  G. ;  Mrs.  W.  O.  Roasberry,  L. 
S.  N.  G.;  L.  Gahl,  R.  S.  V.  G.;  S.  Strauss,  L.  S. 
V.  G.;  G.  S.  Gowdy,  Chaplain;  A.  H.  Squier,  P.  G. 

Ancient  Order  of  United  Workingmen. — 
This  fraternal  and  beneficial  society  was  instituted 
in  Albert  Lea  on  the  10th  of  March,  1878. 

The  first  officers  were:  Dr.  A.  0.  Wedge,  P.  M. 
W.;  W.  P.  Sergeant,  M.  W.;  T.  J.  Watt,  (J.  F.; 
R.  C.  VauVeohten,  O.;  J.  F.  Rappy,  Rec;  P.  M. 
Wilkinson,  F. ;  August  Peterson,  Recr. ;  W.  G. 
Kellar,  I.  W. ;  G.  C.  Harper,  O.  W. ;  G.  T.  Gar- 
diner, G. 

Their  meetings  were  held  on  Tuesday  evenings, 
at  Masonic  Hall. 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  — Robson  Post, 

No.  5,  was   instituted  in  the  winter  of  1880,  and 


CITY  OP  ALBERT  LEA. 


387 


was  named  in  lionor  of  Captaia  James  A.  Eobson, 
of  Company  E,  Tenth  Minnesota  Regiment. 

The  present  officers  of  the  post  are:  Com- 
mander, George  S.  Ruble;  Senior -Vice  Command- 
er, Gr.  Q.  Annis;  Adjutant,  F.  W.  Drake; 
Quartermaster,  Jerome  P.  Greene;  Officer  of  the 
Day,  John  Murtaugh;  Officer  of  the  Guard,  J.  B. 
Frauss;  Chaplain,  William  Lowe;  Surgeon,  D.  M. 
M.  Dodge;  Sergeant  Major,  J.  J.  Bond;  Quarter- 
master Sergeant,  Martin  Olson;  Sentinel,  Ai 
Rice. 

The  list  of  members  was  burned  in  the  Are  of 
April,  1882,  but  it  is  made  up  of  the  men  who 
went  to  the  front  from  wherever  they  lived  when 
the  war  broke  out. 

There  have  been  various  other  fraternal  orders, 
some  of  them  with  insurance  features,  and  others 
with  monopathic  reformatory  ideas,  and  they 
have  had  an  existence  more  or  less  extended. 
Some  of  them  may  be  in  existence  now,  and  while 
they  are  of  interest,  and  perhaps  use  to  those  who 
are  connected  with  them,  the  public,  as  a  rule,  are 
not  sufficiently  concerned  to  warrant  the  occu- 
pancy of  much  space  in  a  work  like  this. 

MILITAEy. 

From  time  to  time  there  have  been  military 
companies  in  existence  here  since  the  war, 
which  have  been  more  or  less  creditable 
Now  we  have  the  Albert  Lea  Light  Guakds, 
which  was  organized  on  the  4th  of  May,  1882.  It 
is  Company  E,  Second  Battalion  of  the  Minnesota 
National  Guard.  Fifty-two  men  were  mustered 
in  by  Major  Bobeleter,  commanding  the  Second 
Battalion.  The  company  is  duly  armed  and 
equipped,  and  is  a  fine  body  of  men. 

The  commissioned  officers  are :  Captain,  George 
T.  Gardner;  First  Lieutenant,  T.  K.  Ramsey; 
Second  Lieutenant,  C.  S.  Roberdson. 

This  company  took  part  in  the  Decoration  ser- 
vices on  the  30th  of  May,  the  same  month  they 
were  organized,  and  made  a  fine  appearance. 
Their  uniform  is  identical  with  that  of  the  United 
States  regular  army,  but  of  finer  material. 


CHAPTER  Lin. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 

James  Carey  Alling  was  born  on  the  7th  of 
January,  1857,  in  Chemung,  New  York.  In  1858, 
the  family  moved  to  Greene  county  in  the  same 
State,   where  his  parents  still   live.     His   father. 


Harvey  Alling,  is  a  Baptist  minister.  In  1873, 
James  entered  the  State  Normal  School  at  Oswego, 
taking  a  classical  course  and  graduating  in  1879. 
He  had  meanwhile  studied  law  and  had  also 
taught  some  ;  and  after  his  graduation  went  to 
Alabama  where  he  was  engaged  as  professor  of 
the  sciences  in  the  State  Normal  School,  remain- 
ing two  years.  In  September,  1881,  he  came  to 
Minnesota  and  obtained  the  position  of  Principal 
of  Pleasant  Grove  school  at  Mankato.  Since  Jan- 
uary 1882,  he  has  been  Principal  and  Superinten- 
dent of-tbe  Public  Schools  of  Albert  Lea,  having 
a  present  attendence  of  over  four  hundred  pupils 
and  a  corps  of  nine  teachers.  Mr.  Alling  is  the 
founder  of  the  "Albert  Lea  City  Library"  and  a 
member  of  the  "American  Association  for  the 
Advancement  of  Science." 

Rev.  R.  B.  Abbott  is  a  native  of  Franklin 
county,  Indiana.  The  son  of  a  thrifty  farmer,  he 
was  brought  up  to  habits  of  manual  labor,  indus- 
try and  self  reliance.  After  improving  such 
opportunities  for  education  as  the  common  schools 
of  that  time  afforded,  he  prepared  himself  for 
college  by  private  study.  He  entered  the  Indiana 
State  University  and  was  graduated  in  the  class 
of  '47.  Three  years  later  he  received  the  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts  from  the  same  institution.  For 
several  years  he  was  engaged  in  teaching,  first  in 
Muncie,  then  in  New  Castle,  and  afterward  in  the 
Whitewater  Presbyterian  Academy.  After  stud- 
ying Theology  privately  several  years,  he  was 
ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the  gospel  by  the 
Presbytery  of  the  latter  place  in  1857,  and  very 
soon  after  became  pastor  of  the  church  at  Brook- 
ville  in  his  native  county,  continuing  seven  years 
with  much  success.  This  was  followed  by  a  two 
years'  pastorate  at  Knightstown.  From  this 
place,  on  account  of  his  wife's  failing  health,  he 
removed  to  Minnesota  and  again  engaged  in 
teaching,  first  as  Principal  of  the  Public  schools  of 
Anoka,  and  afterward  as  the  Principal  of  the  St. 
Paul  Female  Seminary.  In  1869,  he  retired  from 
teacliing  and  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Albert  Lea,  which  has  since 
grown  to  be  one  of  the  best  and  strongest  church- 
es in  southern  Minnesota.  In  connection  with 
this,  he  is  laboring  for  the  establishment  of  a  col- 
lege in  Albert  Lea  for  the  education  of  young 
women,  in  which  enterprise  there  is  great  hope  of 
abundant  success. 

His  wife,  whose  failing  health  brought  him  to 


388 


niSTORT  OP  FliBEBORN  COUNTY. 


this  State,  having  died  in  1879,  hfi  was  mar- 
ried again,  two  years  later  to  Miss  Marietta 
Hunter,  a  graduate  of  Ripen  College,  Wisconsin, 
and  for  several  years  a  teacher  iu  Albert  Lea. 

F.  A.  Blackmeu,  M.  I).,  a  native  of  Oliio,  was 
born  in  Amherst,  Lorain  county,  on  the  16th  of 
January,  1848.  His  father.  Dr.  Franklin  Blaek- 
mer,  was  one  of  the  fir.><t  physicians  to  locate  in 
this  town,  coming  iu  18.56.  They  settled  on  a 
farm  near  the  city,  and  in  1862,  F.  A.  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  of  the  Fifth  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  while  at  FortRidgely  was  wounded, 
a  ball  passing  through  his  face,  in  one  cheek  and 
out  of  the  other.  After  his  return  from  the  army 
he  attended  school  from  1863  to  1868,  then  en- 
tered the  Oberlin  College,  in  Ohio,  which  he 
attended  during  the  winter  months,  and  in  sum- 
mer continued  his  studies  at  the  University  of 
Worcester,  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  After  graduating 
from  the  latter  institution  he  was  in  the  drug 
business,  and  also  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  having,  since  1872,  devoted  his  entire 
attention  to  the  latter.  He  was  joined  iu  marriage 
on  the  15th  of  October,  1872,  with  Miss  Franc  E. 
Wedge.  The  union  has  been  blessed  with  one 
child,  Koe  C,  born  on  the  17th  of  October,  1873. 

Hbman  Blackmer,  also  a  son  of  Dr.  Franklin 
Blackmer,  was  born  in  Amherst,  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  3d  of  .January,  1850.  He  came  to 
Albert  Lea  witn  his  parents  when  seven  years  old, 
attended  the  public  schools  until  1865,  when  he 
entered  the  Oberlin  College,  in  Ohio,  and  remained 
four  years,  teaching  a  portion  of  each  year.  He 
then  returned  to  his  home,  and  in  1870,  continued 
his  studies  at  the  Appleton  College,  in  Wisconsin, 
and  after  a  year  there  entered  the  college  in 
Kipon,  and  in  1872,  took  a  law  course  in  the  State 
University  at  Madison,  graduating  in  1873.  He 
was  married  in  October  of  the  latter  year  to 
Miss  Helen  Webster,  who  has  borne  him  five  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Black- 
mer was  admitted  to  practice  iu  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Wisconsin;  subseijuently  moved  to 
Kansas,  and  practiced  in  Osborne  until  his  return 
to  Albert  Lea  in  1874.  For  the  past  seven  years 
he  has  hold  the  office  of  .Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
is  also  Court  Commissioner. 

Charles  W.  Ballard,  M.  D.,  Mayor  of  the 
city  of  Albert  Ijea,  and  one  of  its  public-spirited 
and  prominent  citizens,  was  born  in  New  York 
city  on  the  22d  of  January,  1826.     He   attended 


different  lioarding  schools  in  New  Jersey  and 
New  York,  and,  in  1847,  began  the  studies  of 
medicine  and  dentistry  in  the  Washington  Medi- 
cal University  of  Baltimore,  and  the  College  of 
Dental  Surgery,  graduating  from  both  institu- 
tions in  1850.  He  was  united  in  matrimony  on 
the  4th  of  February,  in  the  latter  year,  to  Miss 
Annie  E.  Harris.  Mr.  Ballard  practiced  dentistry 
in  North  Carolina  two  years,  then  returned  to 
New  York,  and  remained  iu  busiucss  there  until 
1868,  living,  the  latter  portion  of  the  time,  in 
Connecticut,  and  while  there  was  a  member  of 
the  State  Senate  two  terms,  taking  a  decided 
stand  against  slavery.  Iu  1868,  he  went  to  Flor- 
ida for  the  improvement  of  his  health,  remained 
two  years  and  came  to  Minnesota,  buying  the 
land  in  Albert  Lea  now  known  as  Ballard's  Point. 
He  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business. 

F.  W.  Bablow  was  born  in  (xenesee  county. 
New  York,  ou  the  27th  of  November,  1852.  and 
came  to  this  county  when  a  child,  his  parents 
being  pioneers  of  Bancroft.  He  was  brought  up 
on  a  farm,  and  attended  school  until  eighteen 
years  old,  then  entered  a  drug  store  in  this  city, 
remaining  .seven  years.  On  the  14th  of  June, 
1875,  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Emma 
F.  Prescott,  and  they  have  had  two  children,  both 
daughters,  only  one  of  whom  is  living.  In  the 
fall  of  1879,  Mr.  Barlow  was  elected  County 
Treasurer,  and  has  since  held  the  office. 

Chancey  Bt'RTC'H,  a  native  of  Ohio,  was  born 
near  Seneca  on  the  22d  of  April,  1859.  In  1864, 
his  parents  moved  to  Michigan,  locating  near 
Adrian,  where  his  father  died  in  1869.  Chancey 
came  with  his  mother  and  the  family  to  Osage 
county,  Iowa,  in  1871,  and  there  attended  school. 
In  April,  1881,  he  moved  to  Albert  Lea,  and 
started  in  the  drug  business,  iu  which  he  has  been 
successful.  He  was  married  in  May,  1881,  to  Miss 
Ada  Cutler,  who  was  born  in  Osage  county,  Iowa. 

Warren  Buel  was  born  in  Genesee  county, 
New  York,  on  the  4th  of  December,  1826.  When 
he  was  twelve  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  a 
farm  near  Tiffin,  Seneca  county,  Ohio.  After 
finishing  school  Mr.  Buel  engaged  iu  teaching 
for  a  time.  In  July,  1852,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Deming,  who  was  born  in  Livingston 
county.  New  York,  on  the  5th  of  November,  1829. 

!  They  resided  on  a  farm  in  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
until  1859,  and  the  following  year  moved  to  Ann 

I    Arbor,  Michigan,  and  iu   ISIil,  to  Jack.son,  where 


aiTY  OF  ALBERT  LI  A. 


389 


he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  during 
the  war.  They  came  from  there  to  Albert  Lea  in 
1877.  Mr.  Buel  was  in  the  grocery  business  for 
two  vears  after  coming  here,  but  has  since  been 
engaged  in  insurance  and  real  estate,  his  office 
being  on  Broadway.  In  1873,  he  was  elected  to 
the  State  Legislature,  and  has  also  held  local 
offices. 

H.  O.  Beager,  a  native  of  Norway,  was  bom 
on  the  1st  of  February,  1841.  In  early  life  he 
learned  the  watchmaker's  trade,  and  since  the  age 
of  fifteen  has  been  dependent  on  himself  for  sup- 
port. He  came  to  America  in  1866,  and  located 
in  Black  Earth,  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  where, 
in  1873,  he  married  Miss  Inger  Mathia  Gulson,  of 
the  town  of  Vermont,  in  the  latter  county.  They 
have  had  three  children,  all  boys,  only  one, 
Joachim,  of  whom  is  living.  In  1878,  Mr.  Brayer 
came  to  Albert  Lea,  and  opened  a  jewelry  and 
watchmaking  business,  to  which  he  has  since  de- 
voted his  time. 

HoBATio  D.  Beown,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Freeborn  county,  was  born  in  Onondaga  county. 
New  York,  on  the  15th  of  April,  1835.  He  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  at  the  same  time  pre- 
pared for  college;  attended  the  DeRuyter  and 
Cazenovia  seminaries,  and  afterward,  in  1852, 
entered  the  Union  College,  from  which  he  gradua- 
ted as  a  civil  engineer  in  1805.  He  immediately 
came  West,  and  spent  one  year  teaching  in  Illinois 
and  Iowa,  then  came  to  this  county  and  took  a 
claim  about  six  miles  south-east  of  Albert  Iiea,  in 
Hayward.  He  was  engaged  at  surveying,  and,  in 
1857,  was  elected  County  Surveyor;  was  soon  after 
appointed  deputy  Clerk  of  the  Court,  and,  in  1861, 
elected  to  the  office,  holding  the  same  ten  years. 
On  the  19th  of  December,  1861,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  L.  Peck,  and  they  have  had  four 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  Mr. "Brown 
enlisted  in  the  Fifth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry, 
Company  C;  was  soon  promoted  to  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, and,  in  1864,  was  made  Adjutant  of  the 
Eleventh  Minnesota  Regiment.  After  receiving 
his  discharge,  he  returned  to  this  place,  and,  in 
1871,  resigned  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the  Court,  to 
fill  that  of  State  Senator,  to  which  he  was  elected. 
In  the  latter  year  he  engaged  in  the  banking 
busineis,  which  he  has  since  continued.  He  owns 
a  fine  residence  on  the  lake  shore. 

A.  M.  BuRNHAM,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  pioneer 
physicians,  and  an  early   settler  of   this  county, 


was  born  in  Genesee  county.  New  York,  on  the 
16th  of  October,  1824.  When  he  was  quite  young 
he  entered  the  family  of  a  Mr.  Giles;  attended  the 
public  schools,  and  assiste<l  Mr.  Giles  in  his  dairy. 
He  subsequently  attended  the  Bethany  High 
School,  the  Springville  and  Centreville  Academies, 
then  studied  medicine  with  Drs.  Steward  and 
Farmers,  and  finally  entered  the  University  of 
Buifalo,  from  which  he  was  graduated,  in  1853,  as 
an  M.  D.  In  the  meantime,  he  had  established  a 
good  practice  in  the  latter  city.  In  1857,  he  came 
to  Wisconsin,  and  the  following  year  to  this 
county,  takiog  land  adjoining  the  town  site  of 
losca  in  Waseca  county,  but  spent  the  winter  at 
Shell  Rock,  where  he  built  a  hotel,  and  was 
engaged  in  other  enterprises.  In  the  spring,  he 
returned  to  his  farm,  taking  a  prominent  part  in 
the  contest  in  regard  to  the  coTinty  seat  of  the 
county.  During  all  this  time  he  was  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  18 — ,  he  went 
to  Wyoming  Territory,  where  he  operated  a  saw- 
mill, and  was  an  extensive  contractor  for  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad,  doing  a  heavy  business, 
and  also  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  In  1871, 
after  visiting  New  York,  he  returned  to  his  farm, 
and  has  since  continued  the  practice  of  medicine, 
Albert  Lea  has  been  his  home  since  1880. 

Rev.  Carl  Carlsen  is  a  native  of  Denmark, 
born  in  the  city  of  Nyborn  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1842.  He  attended  the  common  schools,  and, 
while  learning  the  carpenter  trade,  continued  his 
studies  at  an  evening  school.  In  1863,  he  came 
to  America;  first  to  Wisconsin,  but  soon  after 
located  in  Chicago,  where  he  was  engaged  at  his 
trade .  and  contracting,  for  ten  years.  On  the 
25th  of  December,  1867,  he  was  joined  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Anna  Hansen,  a  native  of  Norway. 
In  1873,  they  came  to  Albert  Lea,  and,  besides 
working  at  his  trade,  Mr.  Carlsen  frequently 
preaches  in  the  Danish  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Carlsen  have  had  four  chiklren,  two  of  whom 
are  living,  Olga  and  Victor. 

M.  M.  Dodge,  M.  D.  was  born  in  New  Lime, 
Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  on  the  28th  of  October, 
1842,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  commenced 
to  teach  school.  In  1859  he  studied  medicine 
with  Dr.  Porter  Key,  in  his  native  town,  and  two 
years  later  entered  the  Cincinnati  Hospital,  and  in 
the  winter  of  1863  and  '64,  attended  lectures  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  The  following  spring  he 
moved  to  Wisconsin,  immediatelv  enlisted  in  the 


390 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


Fortieth  Wisconaiu  Volunteer  Infantry,  Company 
D,  and  was  Jetaehed  as  Assistant  Surgeon  in  the 
Adams  Hospital  upon  the  regimuut's  arrival  in 
Memphis.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  located 
in  Chicago,  and  after  the  fire,  being  burned  out, 
he  attended  lectures  in  Hahnemann  Medical  Col- 
lege, from  which  institution  he  graduated  on  the 
2i2d  of  February,  1872.  On  the  21th  of  the  same 
month  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Lucy 
H.  Norton,  and  the  same  year  they  cane  to  Lone 
Bock,  Wisconsin.  In  the  spring  of  1874  they 
came  to  Albert  Lea,  where  Dr.  Dodge  has  an  ox- 
tensive  practice.  They  have  one  child,  Louis, 
nine  years  old. 

Geokoe  Drommerh.^usen,  one  of  the  pioneer 
mechanics  of  the  county  and  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Geneva,  is  a  native  of  Prussia,  born  on 
the  22d  day  of  June,  1832.  When  young  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  wagon  and  carriage  maker, 
and  in  1854,  came  to  America  and  worked  at  his 
trade  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  He  afterward 
worked  in  Ohio,  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  and  in  Red 
Wing,  coming  to  Geneva  in  1857,  and  started  the 
the  first  wagon  shop  in  the  place.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  the  latter  year  to  Miss  Julia  Persig,  who 
has  borne  him  four  children,  all  boys.  Mr.  Drom- 
merhausen  took  a  farm  in  Bancroft  in  1859,  which 
he  still  owns,  but  in  ISOfi,  came  to  this  place.  He 
owns  one  of  the  largest  carriage  and  general  re- 
pair shops  in  the  city. 

C.  C.  DwiGHT,  a  Vermonter,  was  born  in  Ver- 
shire.  Orange  county,  and  when  about  twelve 
years  old  removed  with  his  parents  to  Cambridge, 
Massachusetts,  in  which  State  he  received  an  aca- 
demical education.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years 
he  came  west  as  traveling  salesman  for  an  eastern 
clothing  house,  and  in  187()  opened  a  clothing 
store  in  Winnebago  City,  in  the  southern  part 
of  this  State.  In  March,  1880,  he  married  Miss 
Emma  L.  Harvey,  a  native  of  Cambridge,  Massa- 
cnhsetts.  The  same  month  they  came  to  Albert  Lea, 
and  Mr.  Dwight  opened  a  boot  and  shoe  store  in 
company  with  J.  O.  Conklin,  but  is  now  in  the 
business  alone.  He  is  the  father  of  one  child, 
Margaretta,  born  cm  the  8th  of  January,  1881. 

S.  S.  Edward.s,  one  of  tha  early  settlers,  and 
the  oldest  photographer  in  the  city,  was  born  in 
Watertown,  Connecticut,  on  the  15th  of  .Tuly,  1843. 
He  attended  the  commtm  schools  near  his  home, 
and  afterward  the  high  school  of  New  Haven.  In 
1871,  he  married  Miss  B.  M.  Lunde,  who  is  a  na- 


tive of  Christiauirt,  Norway.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Mary  E.  and  Charles  G.  Mr.  Edwards 
came  to  Albert  Lea  in  18t;3,  and  immediately 
started  in  his  present  business,  at  which  he  has 
been  unusually  successful- 

CoL.  Samuel  Eaton  is  a  native  of  New  York, 
bora  in  Onondaga  county  in  1815.  At  the  early 
age  of  seven  years  his  lot  was  cast  with  strangers, 
his  p.irents  being  unable  to  provide  for  and  edu- 
cate him.  Having  learned  the  trade,  he  com- 
menced the  manufacture  of  leather  and  boots  and 
shoes,  at  which  he  was  engaged  twenty  years. 
Having  a  taste  for  military  lif?,  he  filled  all  posi- 
tions from  a  private  to  the  command  of  a  regiment, 
holding  thp  latter  five  years.  In  1857  he  came  to 
Albert  Lea,  where  he  has  since  resided,  and  during 
this  time  he  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  oflBces  of 
trust,  such  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Assessor, 
Treasurer,  Coroner,  Judge  of  Probate,  and  since 
1879  has  been  Postmaster,  having  retired  from  all 
other  business.  He  was  also  Deputy  Clerk  of  the 
Court  four  years  and  Deputy  County  Treasurer 
two  years. 

John  B.  Poote  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born 
in  the  town  of  Salisbury,  Herkimer  county,  on 
the  11th  day  of  September,  1823.  He  completed 
his  studies  at  the  Fairfield  Academy,  receiving 
from  the  Superintendent  a  certificate  to  teach  in 
any  part  of  New  York  State,  and  for  thirteen 
years  availed  himself  of  this  privilege.  On  the 
1st  of  November,  1848,  he  was  joined  in  wedlock 
with  Miss  Eliza  Sharp,  a  native  of  Fulton  County, 
New  York.  She  died  on  the  23d  of  February, 
1867,  aud  was  buried  in  Yorkshire,  Cattaraugus 
County.  Mr.  Foote  was  again  married  on  the 
25th  of  April,  1871,  his  bride  being  Mrs.  Louisa 
Burnette.  From  1860  to  1879  he  was  employed 
by  publishing  houses  of  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia, and  in  the  latter  year  came  to  Albert  Lea. 
He  has  since  been  proprietor  of  the  Gilbert 
House,  one  of  the  prinoijial  hotels  in  the  city. 
He  had  three  children  by  his  first  marriage; 
Charles  M.,  Francelia  Ann,  and  Sherwoo  d  L.,  the 
two  latter  being  dead;  and  one,  Ernest  B.,  by  his 
second  wife.  The  eldest  son,  Charles  M.,  is  of  the 
firm  of  Warner  aud  Foote,  Minneapolis,  one  of  the 
most  extensive  publishing  houses  in  the  State. 

O.  B.  FoBEs  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  county, 
New  York,  on  the  30th  of  July,  1832.  He  receiv- 
ed an  academical,  education,  and  in  1854,  came  to 
Kipon,  Wisconsin.     In  1861,  he  moved  to  Minne- 


UITT  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


39) 


in  Winnebago  City  until  1863,  when  he  enlisted 
in  Company  M,  of  the  Fourth  Wisconsin  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  remaining  in  service  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  After  receiving  his  discharge  he  re- 
turned to  Ripou,  Wisconsin,  and  was  Deputy 
Postmaster  for  about  six  years.  He  then  came  to 
Albert  Lea,  and  in  company  with  his  brother  open- 
ed a  hardware  store  but  has  recently  sold  out  and 
is  now  in  the  grocery  business,  the  firm  name  be- 
ing Fobes  &  Owen.  Mr.  Fobes  was  married  in 
1876,  to  Miss  Cassie  McNeill,  a  native  of  Canada. 
The  union  has  been  blessed  with  one  child, 
Lucile. 

William  Fenholt,  one  of  the  earlier  settlers  of 
Freeborn  county,  was  born  in  Saxony,  Germany, 
on  the  12th  of  May,  183.5.  He  came  to  America 
in  1854,  first  located  in  Wisconsin,  and  in  1858, 
moved  to  this  county,  near  the  head  of  Freeborn 
lake,  in  Carlston  township.  He  was  married  in 
1859  to  Miss  Emma  Killmer,  a  native  of  Canada. 
Soon  after  the  outlareak  of  the  war  he  enlisted  in 
Company  F,  of  the  Fourth  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry  and  participated  in  many  hard  fought 
battles;  was  hurt  at  the  battle  of  Chattanooga  and 
Atlanta,  and  now  draws  a  pension.  He  came  to 
Albert  Lea  after  the  war  and  opened  the  City 
Hotel  which  he  still  owns  and  conducts.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fenholt  have  a  family  of  seven  children. 

Rev.  Henby  Frank  was  born  in  Lafayette,  In- 
diana, on  the  21st  of  December,  1853.  When  a 
child  his  parents  moved  to  Chicago  where  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools,  and  after  graduating 
entered  the  Piiilip  Academy,  at  Andover,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  later  the  Harvard  University.  In 
1875,  he  obtained  the  position  of  professor  of 
English  Literature  and  Elocution  in  the  Cornell 
University,  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Iowa.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Carrie  L.  Cleveland,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Cleveland  of  Chicago,  in  1876.  The 
following  year  he  entered  the  ministry  and  for 
several  years  preached  iu  Kansas,  then,  in  1880, 
on  account  of  failing  health  came  to  Minnesota 
and  has  since  had  charge  of  a  church  in  Albert 
Lea. 

Joseph  A.  Fuller  is  a  native  of  Walworth 
county,  Wisconsin,  born  on  the  17th  of  March, 
1851,  near  the  village  of  Geneva.  When  21  years 
old  he  went  to  Decorah,  Iowa,  and  learned  photo- 
graphy, at  which  business  he  has  since  been  en- 
gaged, coming  to  Albert  Lea  soon  after  finishing 


the  study  of  his  profession.  He  was  married  iu 
1871,  to  Miss  Luella  A.  Owen,  who  was  born  in 
Wisconsin.  They  have  one  child;  Mert  L.,  born 
on  the  11th  of  January,  1875. 

P.  H.  Green  was  born  in  Otsego  county.  New 
York,  on  the  5th  of  April,  1818.  When  he  was 
young  hia  parents  moved  to  Erie  county,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  and  then  farmed  for  himself. 
In  1861,  he  came  west  to  Freeborn  county  and 
located  in  the  town  of  Freeman,  where  he  improv- 
ed a  farm  and  remained  until  1874,  during  which 
time  he  held  several  of  the  local  offices.  In  the 
latter  year  he  came  to  Albert  Lea,  which  has  since 
been  his  home,  and  resides  with  his  sons  who 
carry  on  the  homestead.  Mr.  Green  was  married 
before  leaving  his  native  State  to  Miss  Margaret 
R.  Miner,  the  ceremony  taking  place  on  the  17th 
of  August,  1843.  Mrs  Green  died  on  the  24th  of 
December,  1873,  leaving  a  family  of  five  children. 

Walter  Gillette  was  born  lu  the  city  of 
Amherst,  New  Hampshire,  on  the  22d  of  Febru- 
ary, 1848.  In  1855,  his  parents  moved  to  Mil- 
waukee where  Walter  received  a  good  business 
education.  His  father  was  a  leather  dealer  in  the 
latter  city,  for  a  number  of  years;  in  1872,  he 
moved  to  Ripon,  Wisconsin,  in  the  same  business, 
and  remained  until  coming  here  in  1878.  Walter 
is  associated  with  him,  and  besides  leather  they 
deal  iu  wool,  hides,  and  furs,  theirs  being  the  only 
enterprise  of  the  kind  in  the  city. 

Rev.  G.  S.  Gowdy,  a  native  of  New  York,  was 
born  in  Rome,  Oneida  county,  on  the  19th  of  May, 
1810.  When  he  was  young  his  parents  removed 
to  Jefferson  county,  in  the  same  State,  and  G.  S. 
attended  school  and  learned  of  his  father  the  mil- 
ler's trade.  He  was  married  in  1830,  to  Miss 
Nancy  Allen,  who  was  burn  in  Oswego  couLty,  on 
the  Ist  of  February,  1812.  Mr.  Gowdy  entered 
upon  the  ministry  at  the  age  of  thirty  years,  and 
has  since  continued  in  that  field  of  labor  in  the 
Uuiversalist  faith.  He  had  charge  of  a  parish  in 
Yorkshire  for  a  time,  and  after  coming  to  Minne- 
sota was  in  Faribault  until  1876,  then  came  to 
Albert  Lea  as  pastor  of  the  church  here.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gowdy  have  had  three  children,  two  of  whom 
are  living;  Mary  Ann,  now  Mrs.  Sylvester  Rice, 
and  Nancy  M.,  now  Mrs.  Franklin  Gould. 

Daniel  N.  Gates,  a  native  of  New  York,  was 
born  in  Hopewell,  Ontario  county,  on  the  25th  of 
July,  1832.  He  received  an  academical  education 
in  a  Canada  college,  and  in  1853  came  west,  first 


392 


inSTOllY  OF  FREEBORN  COUXTY. 


to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  engaged  in  surveying  on 
the  St.  Croix  river,  and  a  year  later  began  mer- 
cantile pursuits  in  Brownsville,  Houston  county. 
On  the  9tli  of  October,  185fi,  be  was  joined  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Dunbar,  and  the 
union  has  been  blessed  with  three  children.  In 
1858  Mr.  Gates  moved  to  St.  Paul,  where  he  was 
Dejjuty  State  Auditor  three  years,  and  remained 
until  1869,  when  he  came  to  Albert  Lea  and  has 
since  been  freight  and  ticket  agent  for  the  Chica- 
go, St.  Paul  &  Minneapolis  railroad.  He  is  Pres- 
ident of  the  Board  of  Education  for  this  city  and 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  the 
county. 

George  T.  Gaudner  was  born  in  Albion,  Or- 
leans county.  New  York,  on  the  18th  of  August, 
1848.  He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Buffalo, 
and  in  185G  to  Joliet,  Illinois,  thence  to  Milwau- 
kee and  to  Ivilbourn  City,  Wisconsin.  In  1801, 
he  returned  to  Buffalo,  New  York,  and  entered  a 
drug  store,  but  in  1870  came  to  Lone  Eock,  Wis- 
consin, and  opened  a  store  of  his  own.  On  the 
28th  of  November,  1872,  he  married  Miss  Hattie 
H.  Hayes,  and  the  next  year  they  removed  to  this 
city,  Mr.  Gardner  clerking  in  a  drug  store.  Later 
he  purchased  the  business  of  A.  H.  Street,  and 
conducted  it  until  188(1,  when  he  was  elected  Clerk 
of  the  District  Court,  running  on  a  Democratic 
ticket,  and  received  a  majority  of  281  in  a  district 
which  has  heretofore  given  2,500  Bepulilican  ma- 
jority. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gardner  have  had  three 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living. 

M.  HaijVorsen  was  born  in  Norway  on  the  24th 
of  February,  1855.  In  1863  he  came  with  his 
father,  Richard  Halvorsen,  who  was  a  Methodist 
minister,  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  but  for  three  years 
the  family  was  not  permanently  located.  They 
finally  settled  in  Forest  City,  Iowa,  and  wlien  our 
subject  was  fourteen  years  old  he  commenced  to 
learn  the  printer's  trade  in  the  office  of  the  "Win- 
nebago Press,"  and  in  1871,  purchased  the  enter- 
prise in  partnership  with  W.  C.  Hayward.  In 
1S73  Mr.  Halvorsen  became  sole  proprietor,  being 
the  youngest  editor  in  the  State,  but  a  few  months 
later  again  took  a  partner.  The  paper  proved  a 
financial  failure  under  the  new  management,  and 
In  1874  he  removed  to  Lake  Mills,  Iowa,  purchas- 
ing there  a  full  outfit,  and  started  "The  Independ- 
ent Herald,"  making  it  a  grand  success.  In  Au- 
gust, 1875,  he  purchased  the  "Albert  Lea  Enter- 
prise,'' and  has  succeeded  here  far  beyond  his  ex- 


pectations, having  the  largest  office  in  the  county, 
and  a  circulation  of  his  paper  of  nearly  1,000. 
Mr.  Halvorsen  was  married  on  the  15th  of  August, 
1876,  to  Miss  Mildred  A.  Salsich,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Alexander  Salsich. 

Ole  J.  Hacien  is  a  native  of  Norway,  born  near 
Christiania,  on  the  31st  of  August,  1852.  He  came 
with  his  parents  to  America  and  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Winneshiek  county,  Iowa,  remaining  until  the 
age  of  fifteen  years,  during  which  time  he  attend- 
ed the  public  schools.  In  1867  the  family  came 
to  this  county  and  located  on  a  farm  near  Free- 
man. On  the  18th  of  May,  1872,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna 
A.  Stovern.  The  same  year  he  came  to  All)ert 
Lea,  and  for  eighteen  months  was  in  the  drug 
business  in  company  with  his  brother.  He  was 
subsequently  engaged  in  the  sale  of  agricultural 
implements,  and  later  entered  a  printing  office,  re- 
maining in  the  office  in  the  winter  and  selling 
machinery  in  the  summer.  In  1880  he  again 
worked  in  the  printing  office,  and  when  the  "Alliert 
Lea  Posteu"  was  started  he  was  appointed  its  edi- 
tor, which  position  he  still  holds.  He  has  a  fam- 
ily of  four  children. 

H.  A.  Hanson  was  born  in  Hurdalen,  Norway, 
on  the  26th  of  August,  1843.  When  about  ten 
years  old  he  became  an  apprentice  to  the  tailor 
trade,  and  worked  at  the  same  six  years,  when  he 
started  in  business  for  himself.  On  the  6th  of 
November,  1868,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Bertha  M.  Nelson.  They  came  to  America 
the  following  year,  directly  to  this  county,  and 
engaged  in  farming  for  one  summer.  In  the  fall, 
Mr.  Hanson  opened  a  tailor  shop  in  this  city,  and 
in  1870  increased  his  business,  thus  obtaining  the 
best  class  of  trade  in  the  place.  In  1880,  he  sold 
out  to  flu  the  office  of  Postmaster,  to  which  he  had 
been  appointed.  He  was  the  first  City  Treasui'er,and 
has  held  other  local  offices.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanson 
have  had  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living. 

Rev.  Norman  F.  Hoyt  was  born  in  Saratoga 
county.  New  I'ork,  in  the  village  of  Watcrford, 
near  Troy,  on  the  23rd  of  May,  1840.  At  the  age 
of  ten  years  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Almira, 
where  he  received  his  early  education  and 
remained  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  when 
he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  of  the  23rd  New  York 
Vohmteer  Infantry.  He  went  South  witb  his 
regiment,  and  was  in  the  battles  of  Bull  Run, 
Fredericksburg,  and  others.     At  the  expiration  of 


CITY  OF  ALBEUT  LEA. 


393 


his  term  of  service,  (two  years, )  he  returned  home, 
having  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Sergeant, 
and  in  December  re-eulisted  as  a  veteran  in  the 
the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-Eighth  Regiment, 
Company  B;  was  promoted  to  Brigade  Adjutant, 
and  participated  in  the  first  and  second  battles  of 
Petersburg,  Cold  Harbor,  Fort  Harrison,  and 
Richmond.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  sent 
to  Texas,  and  remained  in  service  two  years 
longer,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1867.  He  returned  to  his  native  State,  and 
the  following  August  came  west  to  Chicago, where 
for  five  years  he  attended  the  Baptist  Theolog- 
ical Seminary,  In  1872,  he  was  joined  in 
matrimony  with  Miss  Emma  J.  Slayson,  a  native 
of  New  York.  The  following  year  he  took  charge 
of  a  church  at  Mai[uoketa,  Iowa,  and  presided 
over  it  three  years.     Mrs.   Hoyt  died  in  October, 

1874,  leaving  a   young  child,   and  in    January, 

1875,  he  married  his  present  wife,  Miss  Mary  E. 
Baldwin,  who  has  borne  him  two  children,  Mary 
A.  and  Mable  P.  His  eldest  child  is  Emma.  Mr. 
Mr.  Hoyt  came  to  Albert  Lea  in  1875,  and  until 
the  present  year  conducted  services  at  Northwood 
and  in  the  Baptist  Church  here,  but  now  confines 
his  labor  to  his  congregation  in  this  city. 

G.  A.  Hauge  was  born  in  Christiania,  Norway, 
on  the  19th  of  December,  1840.  When  he  was 
ten  years  old  his  parents  came  to  America,  and 
located  on  a  farm  in  Winneshiek  county,  Iowa. 
Since  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  has  maintained 
himself,  and  on  the  16th  of  October,  1861,  enlisted 
in  Company  G,  of  the  Twelfth  Iowa  Volunteer 
Infantry;  was  in  several  heavy  engagements,  the 
battles  of  Shiloh,  Nashville,  etc.,  and  remained  in 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was 
honorably  discharged.  He  returned  to  his  home 
in  Iowa,  and  in  1869,  married  Miss  Nellie  Lagon, 
a  native  of  Norway.  In  1870,  they  came  to  this 
county,  first  settling  in  Bancroft,  but  since  1875, 
have  been  residents  of  this  city.  Mr.  Hauge,  with 
Mr.  Christopherson  as  partner,  conducts  the  larg- 
est blacksmith  shop  in  Albert  Lea.  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Hauge  have  two  children. 

Major  Frank  Hall,  one  of  the  early  settlers, 
and  the  first  Mayor  of  Albert  Lea,  was  born  in 
Lewis  county.  New  York,  on  the  28th  of  July, 
1834.  In  1854,  his  parents  moved  to  a  farm  near 
Beaver  Dam,  in  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  and  a 
few  years  later  to  Ripon.  There  Frank  attended 
college  for  a  few  years.      In    1858,   he  married 


Mi.ss  Maggie  Foster,  and  the  same  year  came  to 
Albert  Lea,  and  opened  one  of  the  first  stores  in 
the  place.  In  the  spring  of  1862,  he  raised  a 
company  in  the  Fifth  Minnesota  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, of  which  he  was  Captain.  He  remained 
in  service  until  the  spring  of  1863,  when  he 
received  an  honorable  discharge  and  returned 
home.  He  is  landlord  of  the  Hall  House,  the 
leading  hotel  in  the  city.  He  is  the  father  of  two 
children,  Ida  and  Joseph  W. 

C.  P.  Hedbnstad  is  a  native  of  Norway,  born 
in  Kongsberg,  on  the  3d  of  March,  1853.  Jn 
1864,  he  came  with  his  parents  to  America,  and 
located  in  Waseca  county,  Minnesota,  where  his 
mother  still  lives,  his  father  having  died  there  in 
1872.  C.  P.  learned  the  jeweler's  trade  when 
quite  young,  and  in  1875,  came  to  Albert  Lea 
and  opened  a  store  in  which  he  keeps  jewelry, 
musical  instruments,  and  sewing  machines.  In 
1880,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sina  Wangsnes,who 
was  bom  in  Bergen,  Norway.  They  have  one 
child,  a  girl. 

C.  M.  Hewitt,  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  en- 
terprising merchants  of  this  place,  is  a  native  of 
of  New  York,  born  in  Oneida  county  on  the  27th 
of  December,  1837.  When  young  his  parents 
moved  to  Columbus,  Warren  county,  Pennylvania, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood.  In  1859  he  came  to 
Minnesota,  and  located  a  farm  iu  Bancroft,  where 
he  remained  eighteen  months  and,  then  came  to 
Albert  Lea.  He  was  married  in  1867,  to  Bliss 
Lura  E.  Ash,  and  they  have  one  daiighter.  May 
A.  For  ten  years  after  coming  here  Mr.  Hewitt 
clerked  for  Frank  Hall;  and  in  June,  1869,  en- 
gaged in  business  for  himself  on  Broadway,  at 
present  having  a  $12,000  stock. 

Hans  E.  Knatvold  was  born  in  Drammen.  Nor- 
way, on  the  3d  of  September,  1848.  When  he 
was  about  fourteen  years  old  his  parents  came  to 
America  and  directly  to  this  county,  locating  in 
Oakland.  In  1862,  his  father  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany M,  of  the  First  Minnesota  Mounted  Bangers, 
and  after  receiving  his  discharge  moved  his  family 
to  the  town  of  Hayward,  where  they  still  reside. 
In  1867,  Hans  came  to  Albert  Lea  and  clerked  iu 
a  general  mercantile  store  until  1877,  when  he,  in 
company  with  his  brother,  T.  V.  Knatvold,  started 
in  the  hardware  biisiness,  and  they  carry  the 
largest  stock  in  the  city,  their  store  being  located 
on  the  west  side  of  Broadway,  Mr.  Knatvold, 
the   suliject  of  our   sketch,   also  owns   a  fine  resi- 


394 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


dence.  He  was  married  in  1879,  to  Miss  Clara 
McArthur,  a  native  of  Port  Huron,  Michigan. 
Tbey  have  one  child,  Bertha  May,  born  in  August, 
1880. 

William  G.  Kell.ir  i.s  a  native  of  Grant 
county,  Wisconsin,  born  on  the  17th  of  August, 
1849.  His  parents  are  pioneers  of  this  township, 
coming  iu  ISSfi,  and  locating  on  a  farm  near  the 
city.  William  attended  the  common  schools,  and 
in  186.")  entered  the  Oberlin  College  in  Ohio,  and 
since  his  return  has  been  engaged  in  surveying 
t  >r  several  years,  in  the  employ  of  the  Southern 
Minnesota  railroad.  He  has  been  County  Sur- 
veyor since  1870.  In  1874,  he  was  joined  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Ada  Green,  who  was  born  in 
Zanesville,  Ohio.  They  hare  one  child,  Ira  A., 
born  on  the  22nd  of  March,  1878.  C.  B.  Kellar,  a 
brother  of  the  above,  was  also  born  in  Grant 
county,  Wisconsin,  on  the  19th  of  May,  1845.  He 
came  with  his  parents  to  this  place  and  in  1862, 
enlisted  in  Company  C,  of  the  Fifth  Minne- 
sota Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Major  Hall,  and 
after  his  discharge  attended  01)erliu  College  a  few 
years.  He  has  a  wife  and  two  children.  He  is  at 
present  iu  the  employ  of  H.  D.  Brown  as  cashier. 

Prof.  Charles  W.  Levens  was  born  in  Wind- 
sor, Windsor  county,  Vermont,  on  the  7th  of 
February,  1840.  When  he  was  three  years  old 
his  parents  moved  to  Racine  county,  Wisconsin. 
Charles  attended  the  State  University,  teaching 
during  the  vacations,  until  1860.  In  the  latter 
year  he  married  Misa  Rebecca  B.  Teacbout,  a 
native  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  and  the  same  year 
moved  to  California,  remaining  one  year  engaged 
in  school  teaching.  He  returned  to  Wisconsin, 
and  for  two  years  was  (bounty  Superintendent  of 
the  schools  of  Racine  county ;  then  for  four  years 
was  Superintendant  of  the  public  schools  of  the 
city  of  Racine.  In  1870,  he  moved  to  Minnesota, 
and  after  a  residence  of  two  years  in  Olmsted 
county,  came  to  Albert  Lea,  and  was  employed  as 
Principal  of  the  public  schools  here,  afterwards 
was  elected  Superintendent  of  the  same  and  held 
both  positions  until  resigning  to  till  the  office  of 
County  Superintendant,  to  which  he  was  elected 
in  1882.  Mr.  Levens  has  been  instrumental  in 
building  up  and  giving  to  the  public  schools  of 
this  city  their  high  reputation  for  solid  worth.  He 
has  a  family  of  six  children,  four  daughters  and 
two  sons. 

William  Clifford  McAdam,    a  native  of  New 


York,  was  born  near  Utica,  in  Oneida  county. 
He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  State,  prepar- 
ing for  college  in  the  Utica  Free  Academy,  and  in 
1873,  entered  the  Hamilton  College,  graduating 
in  the  classical  course  in  1877,  and  from  the  law 
department  one  year  later.  He  then  came  to 
Chicago  and  continued  his  legal  studies  in  the 
office  of  Higgins  and  Swett.  In  1880,  he  moved 
to  Albert  Lea;  was  with  Judge  Whytock  for  a 
time,  and  is  now  of  the  firm  of  Palmer  and  Mc- 
Adam. 

M.  T.  Maoelssen.  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
more  recent  settlers  of  Albert  Lea,  is  a  native  of 
Norway,  born  in  Christiania  on  the  5th  of  April, 
1852.  His  father  was  Chief  of  Police  of  that  city 
until  1859,  when  the  family  moved  to  Bergen, 
where  the  latter  was  made  Magistrate,  and  still 
holds  the  position.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
spent  his  early  days  at  school,  attending  the 
Learned  Latin  College  in  Bergen,  and  in  1869  en- 
tered the  Royal  University  of  Norway,  from  which 
he  received  a  dijiloma  as  jihysiciau  and  surgeon 
in  1876.  He  continued  his  medical  studies  in  the 
Royal  University  at  Vienna,  Austria,  graduating 
in  1879,  and  completed  his  education  in  France. 
He  then  located  in  London,  England,  where  he 
had  a  good  practice,  still  continuing  to  study. 
In  the  fall  of  1881,  he  came  to  America,  to  Min- 
nesota, and  in  January,  1882,  located  in  this  city, 
where  he  has  established  a  good  practice. 

E.  W.  Murphy  was  born  in  county  Armagh, 
Ireland,  near  the  seaport  village  of  Dundalk,  on 
the  1st  of  May,  1832.  At  an  early  age  he  began 
life  ;or  himself,  coming  to  America,  and  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  jears  located  in  Illinois.  He  came 
to  Albert  Lea  in  November,  1855,  but  did  not  re- 
main more  than  three  years;  going  south  he  spent 
three  years  traveling.  In  1861  he  returned  to  this 
city,  and  engaged  iu  the  milling  business,  but  iu 
1878  opened  a  general  mercantile  store,  to  which 
he  has  since  devoted  his  time.  He  was  joined  in 
marriage  on  the  20th  of  November,  1870,  to  Miss 
Ann  Hoffman,  a  native  of  Vermont.  They  have 
been  blessed  with  one  son,  William  Henry,  born 
on  the  18th  of  July,  1875. 

C.  D.  Marlett  is  a  native  of  Cass  county, 
Michigan,  where  he  was  born  on  the  19th  of  May, 
1845.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Albert  Lea  in 
1857;  attended  school,  and  in  1863  enlisted  in 
Company  H,  of  the  Fir.st  Minnesota  Cavidry, 
serving  two  years.     After  returning  fnnu  the  army 


CITY  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


395 


he  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  and 
is  now  engaged  in  building  and  repairing  boats. 
He  was  married  on  the  22d  of  February,  1861,  to 
Miss  Alice  Killiner,  and  the  union  has  been  blessed 
with  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  living. 

Samuel  Marsh,  a  native  of  England,  was  born 
in  Northampton  on  the  16th  of  October,  1836. 
After  rsaching  maturity  he -was  employed  as  a 
book-keeper  in  his  native  town,  and  in  1855  came 
to  America.  He  first  located  in  Iowa,  and  engaged 
in  buying  and  selling  grain.  While  there  he  mar- 
ried, in  1864,  Miss  Michal  Bradtield,  who  was  born 
in  La  Crosse,  WLsconsin.  They  moved  to  Albert 
Lea  in  1870,  and  for  about  seven  years  Mr.  Marsh 
continued  the  business  of  buying  and  selling 
grain,  since  which  time  he  has  been  employed  as 
car  accountant  at  the  depot.  He  has  four  chil- 
dren; William  N.,  Robert  S.,  John  B.,  and  Ida  M. 

William  Morin  was  educated  in  New  York  as  a 
civil  engineer,  and  followed  the  profession  for  five 
years  in  the  eastern  States.  He  then  came  to  Min- 
nesota and  acquired  extensive  tracts  of  land,  being 
at  present  the  largest  land  holder  in  Freeborn 
county.  He  was  married  in  1862,  to  Miss  M.  E. 
Wedge,  and  they  have  two  children  at  home.  Mr. 
Morin  is  one  of  the  townsite  proprietors,  his  in- 
terest being  on  the  west  side  of  Broadway,  and  is 
also  largely  interested  in  building  enterprises  in 
the  city.  He  is  a  half  owner  of  the  finest  business 
block,  and  is  now  erecting  a  fine  residence  in  the 
western  jDart  of  the  city,  on  the  site  he  selected 
twenty  years  ago. 

Richard  Mills,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was 
born  near  the  village  of  Brownsville,  in  Fayette 
county,  on  the  14th  of  April,  1834.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  a  saddler  and  harnessmaker  in  the 
latter  village,  and  in  1861  enlisted  at  New  Castle 
for  one  year,  with  the  One  Hundredth  Pennsyl- 
vania Roundheads;  in  1862,  re-enlisted  in  the 
United  States  Navy,  and  served  under  Commodore 
Farragut.  After  his  discharge,  in  the  autumn  of 
of  1865,  he  came  west  to  Peoria,  Illinois,  and  in 
1870,  to  Albert  Lea.  Mr.  Mills  has  a  wife  and 
three  children.  His  father,  Richard  Mills,  now 
eighty-seven  years  old,  makes  his  home  with  him. 
He  draws  a  pension  for  injuries  received  in  the 
war  of  1812. 

N.  O.  Naeveson  was  born  near  Christiania, 
Norway,  on  the  2d  of  January,  1850.  In  1853, 
his  parents  came  to  America,  locating  in  Winne- 
shiek  county,  Iowa,  and    in   1858,  came  to   this 


county,  where  they  were  pioneers  in  the  town  ot 
Bancroft.  N.  O.  came  to  Albert  Lea  in  1871,  and 
was  employed  as  clerk  tor  Hazelton  &  Johnson, 
afterward  for  Andrew  Palmer,  Jr.,  and  finally  for 
A.  E.  Johnson  for  four  years.  In  1879,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Anna  C.  Hanson,  a  native  of 
Denmark.  They  have  one  child,  Orine,  born  on 
the  15th  of  June,  1880.  In  May,  1882,  Mr. 
Narveson  commenced  business  for  himself,  having 
a  stock  of  groceries,  crockery,  glassware,  etc. 

Oscar  N.  Olberg  was  born  in  Christiania,  Nor 
way,  on  the  13th  of  November,  1848.  He  at- 
tended the  Christiania  University,  and  graduated 
in  1868.  The  same  year  be  came  to  America, 
and,  in  1869,  to  Madison,  Wisconsin.  In  the 
tall  of  1870,  he  moved  to  Minnesota,  and  was 
engaged  in  a  foreign  ticket  office,  located  in  Aus- 
tin, Mower  county;  also  was  cashier  of  the  Mower 
County  Bank  for  several  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1873,  he  opened  a  general  mercantile  store  in 
Adams,  Mower  county,  and  two  years  later  built 
and  carried  on  a  double  store  in  Taopi,  in  the 
same  county.  He  was  married  in  1876,  to  Miss 
Henrietta  Dahl,  a  native  of  Waupun,  Wisconsin. 
They  have  one  child,  Clara  Mable,  born  on  the 
7ch  of  November,  1878.  In  1881,  Mr.  Olberg 
was  connected  with  a  wholesale  notion  house  in 
Chicago,  from  which  place  he  moved  to  Albert 
Lea  on  the  1st  of  October,  1882.  At  present  he 
owns  three  mercantile  stores,  located,  one  in 
Albert  Lea,  one  in  Taopi,  and  one  at  Forest  City, 
Iowa,  the  one  here  having  been  started  in  1881. 
He  is  also  still  in  the  foreign  ticket  business, 
being  general  agent  tor  the  "Monarch"  line  of 
steamers. 

Martin  W.  O'Connbr,  a  native  of  Ireland,  was 
born  in  Tipperary  on  the  7th  of  October,  1846. 
When  he  was  an  infant  his  parents  came  to 
America,  and  located  in  Burlington,  Vermont, 
where  his  father  died  a  few  years  later.  When  he 
was  seven  years  old  his  mother  moved  with  her 
children  to  Philadelphia,  and  in  1861,  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  learned  the  machinist  trade.  He 
enlisted  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Eighty-first  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Com- 
pany E,  but  was  soon  discharged  on  account  of 
sickness.  In  1868,  he  came  to  Albert  Lea,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  for  a  time,  but  now  has  a 
saloon  and  billiard  hall,  located  on  the  corner  of 
Railroad  and  College  avenues.  He  was  married 
iu   1869,  to  Miss    Hannah    Melder,    a    native   of 


396 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY 


Sweden.     Tlie  issue  of  the  union  is  two  children 
Mary  and  Ellen. 

Robert  Mulford  P.vLMF.n  was  born  on  the 
22d  of  October,  185.5,  near  Janesville,  in  Rock 
county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  received  a  first-class 
academical  education.  In  October,  1876,  he  en- 
tered the  law  oflice  of  Winans  A'  McElroy,  and 
was  duly  admitted  to  the  bar  of  that  State  in  No- 
vembcT,  1877.  In  January  of  the  following  year 
he  came  to  Albert  Lea,  and  in  June  was  admitted 
to  practice  law  in  Minnesota.  In  June,  1881,  he 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  William  C.  McAdam, 
Es(|.,  under  the  firm  name  of  Palmer  k  McAdam. 
In  1880,  he  was  nominated  for  County  Attorney 
on  the  Democratic  ticket,  but,  though  running 
several  hundred  votes  ahead  of  his  ticket  at  the 
polls,  he  was  defeated  by  John  A.  Lovely,  Esq.,  a 
regular  Hepublicau  nominee,  and  a  lawyer  of 
marked  ability.  In  1879,  he  was  elected  City  At- 
torney, and  in  1882,  received  the  regular  nomina- 
tion for  City  Attorney  in  theRepul)licau  convention 
over  John  A.  Lovely  and  John  Whytock. 

Daniel  G  Parker,  late  editor  and  proprietor  of 
the  "Standard,"  and  a  son  of  Luther  and  Ann 
(Gott)  Parker,  was  born  in  Mount  Desert,  Han- 
cock county,  Maine,  on  the  2nd  of  April,  1831. 
His  branch  of  the  Parker  family  were  very  early 
settlers  in  the  Pine  Tree  State,  his  father,  a 
mechanic,  serving  as  a  waiter  boy  for  the  contin- 
ental troops  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  '15.  Daniel 
received  only  a  comm<in  school  education,  and  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  years  went  to  sea,  and  for  seven 
years  served  on  a  number  of  merchant  vessels, 
either  as  seaman  or  mate,  sailing  the  latter  part 
of  the  time  from  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire. 
In  1851,  he  went  to  Boston  and  worked  one  year 
in  a  locomotive  machine  shop,  and  in  1854,  came 
as  far  west  as  Chicago,  where  he  spent  three 
years,  at  first  as  a  merchant's  clerk  and  afterward 
in  trade  for  himself.  In  1857,  he  removed  to  Red 
Wing,  Minnesota;  read  law  with  Judge  Charles 
McClure,  and  the  next  year  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Albert  Lea.  Here  he  practiced  until  the 
commencement  of  the  rebellion,  then  resigned  the 
office  of  County  Attorney  in  18(52,  to  enter  the  army 
as  Corjioral  of  Company  F,  of  the  First  Minne- 
sota Engineers,  and  served  a  little  more  that  three 
years,  passing  through  the  various  grades  of  pro- 
motion, being  First  Lieutenant  when  discharged, 
mo.st  of  the  time  he  was  on  detached  duty,  acting 
as  Provost  Marshal.  Judge    Advocate  in   military 


courts  and  in  other  capacities.  On  returning  to 
Albert  Lea,  Mr.  Parker  purchased  the  "Standard," 
which  had  been  suspended,  and  conducted  it  until 
May,  1878,  when,  in  consequence  of  declining 
health,  he  sold  to  W.  W.  Williams,  formerly 
editor  of  the  "Stillwater  Lumberman."  During 
his  period  of  jouraalism,  in  18GG,  and  '67,  he  filled 
the  ofSce  of  County  Treastirer,  and  for  the  last 
five  years  has  been  a  director  in  the  public  school 
board.  Since  1878,  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  and  grain  trade.  On  the  2l8t  of  Janu- 
ary, 1861,  Mrs.  Eliza  W.  Pickett,  daughter  of 
Nathan  P.  Smith,  of  New  York,  became  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Parker,  and  they  have  a  plea.sant  home  in 
western  part  of  the  city  and,  a  liberal  share  of  the 
comforts  of  life. 

August  Peterson,  one  of  the  early  settlers  and 
influential  men  of  this  county,  was  bom  in  Chris- 
tiansand,  Norway,  on  the  20th  of  September,  1843. 
His  father  was  policeman  and  warden  of  the  jail 
of  that  city  until  1854,  when  he  brought  his 
family  to  America.  They  came  to  Wisconsin  and 
first  located  in  Janesville,  then  in  Kilbourn  City. 
In  1858,  they  came  to  Freeborn  county,  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Hartland  township.  In  18()1. 
the  father  enlisted  in  the  Third  Minnesota  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  and  a  few  days  later,  August  ran 
away  from  home  and  joined  Company  F,  of  the 
Fourth  Minnesota  Regiment.  On  arriving  at 
Fort  Snelling  he  met  his  father,  who  had  him 
transferred  to  his  company.  In  1862,  he  (August) 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Murfreesboro;  was  afterward 
paroled  and  took  part  in  the  Indian  massacre,  re- 
maining in  service  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
After  his  return  he  farmed  in  Manchester  until 
1872,  when  he  was  elected  County  Register  of 
Deeds  and  held  the  office  three  years.  He  was 
appointed  by  Gov.  Pillsbury  a  member  of  the 
State  board  of  immigration  for  1879  and  1880. 
Mr.  Peterson  is  the  compiler  and  owner  of  a  set 
Freeborn  county,  "Abstract  of  Titles;"  is  also  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Sarah  Peterson,  daughter  of  an 
early  resident  of  Manchester. 

J.  H.  Pakker,  one  of  the  successful  attorneys 
of  tlie  city,  was  born  in  Orland,  Maine,  on  the  2df 
of  December,  1835.  When  ([uite  young,  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire, 
where  he  attended  school,  and  in  1851,  engaged 
in  clerking,  soon  after  entering  the  United  Stales 
postal  service.     In  1855,  he  came  to  Chicago  and 


CIT7  OF  A  !.BBRT  LEA. 


397 


clerked  about  a  year;  theu  to  Red  Wing,  and  was 
in  the  County  Register's  office  one  year,  after 
which  he  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Charles 
McClure.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  taken 
in  partnership  with  Mr.  McCluer,  and,  in  1859, 
was  appointed  County  Attorney,  and  afterward 
elected,  holding  the  office  six  years.  In  1860,  he 
purchased  the  "Red  Wing  Sentinel,"  changed  its 
name  to  the  "Goodhue  Volunteer,"  and  conducted 
it  till  1804,  when  he  sold  it,  and  became  connected 
with  the  "Red  Wing  Republican."  He  was  joined 
in  wedlock  in  1862,  with  Miss  Clarinda  H.  Sterns, 
who  bore  him  three  children,  only  one  of  whom  is 
now  living.  Mrs.  Parker  died  in  1870,  and  the 
following  year  he  moved  to  this  city  and  opened 
a  law  office.  He  was  again  married  in  April, 
1874,  to  Mary  J.  Lytle,  and  of  five  children  born 
to  the  union,  only  one  is  living.  Mr.  Parker  was 
elected  Judge  of  Probate  in  1878,  and  held  the 
office  two  years.  He  has  lately  given  some  atten- 
tion to  farming,  owning  a  good  farm  in  this 
county. 

Captain  George  S.  Ruble  was  born  in  Mifflin 
county,  Penusylvaaia,  on  the  31st  of  August, 
1822,  and  is  a  grandson  of  Petre  Ruble,  who  emi- 
grated from  Germany  in  1738,  and  settled  in 
Codorus  township,  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1750.  He  had  four  sons.  Christian,  Petre,  Abra- 
ham, and  Mathias.  The  latter  settled  in  the  east 
end  of  Kishacoquillas  valley  several  years  previous 
to  the  Revolution,  and  he  also  had  four  sons; 
Petre,  Michel,  John,  and  Henry.  The  latter  mar- 
ried Mary  E.  Simons,  of  Little  York,  York  county, 
and  they  also  had  four  sons;  Simon,  George  S., 
Henry,  and  John,  all  born  in  the  above  named 
valley.  The  family  moved  to  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  in  1829,  settling  in  Green  township,  where 
they  lived  for  nearly  twenty  years.  George  S., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  married  on  the  1st  of 
h  ebruary,  1849,  Elethear  Humphrey,  and  removed 
to  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  settling  on  a  farm 
three  miles  west  of  the  city  of  Beloit.  He  engaged 
in  stock  raising  and  the  sale  of  agricultural 
implements.  In  1855,  he  came  to  Freeborn 
county,  and  laid  out  the  village  (now  city)  of 
Albert  Lea,  buikling  and  operating  both  a  steam 
and  water  saw  and  grist  mill.  When  the  Indian 
war  broke  oat,  in  the  fall  of  1862,  he  raised  and 
became  Captain  of  Company  H,  of  the  First  Min- 
nesota Mounted  Rangers,  and  after  serving  his 
time  and  being  mustered  out,  he  re-enlisted  in  the 


autumn  of  1864.  He  went  South  as  Sen.  First 
Lieutenant  of  Company  C,  First  Minnesota  Heavy 
Artillery;  was  stationed  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.; 
afterward  placed  in  command  of  Fort  Rishop,  at 
Charleston,  East  Tennessee.  After  tlie  close  of 
the  war,  he  located  at  Chattanooga,  and  was 
engaged  in  the  sale  of  farm  implements.  He 
bought  property  on  Lookout  Mountain;  built,  and 
for  twelve  years  run,  the  house  famous  all  over 
the  South  for  good  fare  and  genial  hospitality, 
known  as  Ruble's  Cottage  House.  Selling  out  in 
the  spring  of  1881,  he  returned  to  Albert  Lea, 
and  now  devotes  his  time  to  cultivating  the  lands 
he  located  in  1855.  The  Captain  comes  from  a 
hale  and  vigorous  family,  the  combined  weight  of 
the  four  brothers  being,  previous  to  the  war,  1265 
pounds,  and  the  height  of  each,  exactly  six  feet 
two  and  a  half  inches.  He  fiads  himself  able  to 
do  his  share  of  the  work,  although  his  sixtieth 
birthday  is  passed. 

Soben  p.  Sobenson  was  born  in  Port  Washing- 
ton, Wisconsin,  on  the  12th  of  January,  1855.  He 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Door  county,  and 
resided  on  a  farm  there  twelve  years;  thence  to 
Green  Bay,  Brown  county,  where  he  attended  the 
Green  Bay  Business  College.  For  three  years 
Mr.  Sorenson  was  engaged  in  an  auction  store  in 
company  with  D.  M.  Whitney,  and,  in  1876, 
moved  to  Northwood,  Iowa.  On  the  13th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1878,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  Gunder- 
son,  of  the  town  of  Freeborn,  and  the  union  has 
been  blessed  with  two  children.  The  following 
year  they  came  to  Albert  Lea,  and  in  a  few 
months  went  to  Blue  Earth  City  and  opened  a 
sample  room  and  billiard  hall,  which  he  conductel 
until  May,  1881,  when  he  rrfturasd  to  this  place 
and  opened  his  present  billiard  hall  and  sample 
room. 

Timothy  J.  Sheehan,  Sheriff  of  Freeborn 
county  since  January,  1872,  is  a  native  of  Ireland, 
a  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Ann  (  McCarthy  )  Sheehan, 
and  was  born  on  the  21st  of  December,  1836.  He 
was  educated  in  the  national  schools  of  his  native 
country,  being  kept  to  his  studies  most  of  his 
time  till  he  was  fourteen,  at  which  age  he  came  t  o 
this  country.  He  learned  a  mechanics  trade  at 
Glens  Falls,  New  York;  worked  there  till  1855, 
when  he  went  to  Dixon,  Illinois;  was  employed 
one  season  there  in  a  saw-mill,  and  in  the  autumn 
of  1856,  settled  in  Albert  Lea  and  engaged  in 
farming    till   the   civil  war  broke  out.       In   (he 


398 


HISTORY  OF  FliEEBORN  COUNTY. 


autumn  of  1861.  Mr  Sheehan  enlisted  as  a  private 
in  the  fourth  Minnesota  Infantry,  his  company 
being  stationed  at  Fort  Snelling.  On  the  18th 
of  the  following  February  he  was  commissioned, 
by  Governor  Ramsey,  First  Lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany C,  Fifth  Minnesota  Infantry,  and  on  the 
18th  of  Jnm',  1862,  was  ordered  with  a  detach- 
ment of  fifty  men,  to  report  at  Yellow  Medicine 
Agency,  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  order  dur- 
ing the  time  of  annuity  payments.  On  the  4th 
of  Augtist,  fifteen  hundred  Sioux  broke  into  tlie 
warehouse  and  seized  the  goods  which  were 
awaiting  distribution.  Lieutenant  Sheehan,  with 
twenty-five  men,  ordered  the  Indians  to  "fall 
back,"  under  the  jjenalty  of  ineitaut  death  if  they 
failed  to  obey.  His  good  judgment,  coupled  with 
decision  and  courage,  thus  prevented  an  immedi- 
ate outbreak — an  outbreak,  however,  delayed 
only  two  weeks.  Captain  Marsh  being  killed  at 
Redwood  agency,  the  command  of  the  company 
devolved  on  Lieutenant  Sheehan;  Fort  Ridgely 
being  threatened,  he  marched  to  that  point  from 
(llencoe,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  in  nine  hours, 
many  of  the  meu  trotting  with  boots  ofT,  while 
such  as  could  not  keep  up  on  foot  were  put  on 
wiigons  drawn  by  mules.  Fort  Eidgely  was  then 
filled  with  five  hundred  refugees, — men.  women 
and  children, — and  with  one  hundred  and  one 
meu,  for  ten  days  from  the  18th  of  August,  the 
Lieutenant  gallantly  defended  them  from  the  sav- 
ages. On  the  18th  and  21st  his  men  fought  all 
day  and  all  night.  It  was  a  desperate  siege  and 
a  period  of  awful  suspense  on  the  jjart  of  the  in- 
mates of  the  fort,  until  relief  came,  at  the  end  of 
ten  days.  For  his  bravery  on  this  occasion  Lieu- 
tenant Sheehan  received  a  captain's  commission. 
After  being  in  other  severe  engagements  with  the 
murderous  Sioux,  in  November,  1862,  Captain 
Sheehan  accompanied  his  regiment  to  the  South, 
and  joined  General  Sherman's  Corps.  They 
engaged  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg;  was  in  Gen- 
eral A.  J.  Smitli's  division,  under  General  Thomas, 
at  Nashville;  was  subsequently  at  Spanish  Fort 
and  Mobile,  and  Captain  Sheehan  participated  in 
these  sieges  and  battles,  being  in  fifteen  or  sixteen 
engagemeuts  with  liis  regiment,  and  strange  to  say, 
never  received  a  scar.  At  Nashville  he  command- 
ed the  ct)lor  company,  and  received  from  the  Col- 
onel of  the  regiment,  William  B.  Gere,  in  his 
report,  the  following  commendation:  "Captain  T. 
.7.  Shecliaii,  commanding  Company   C,  color  com- 


pany, gallantly  stood  by  the  colors,  and  in  the 
last  charge  on  the  16th  inst.  I  December)  two 
color-bearers  having  been  shot,  he  placed  the 
colors  in  the  hands  of  the  third,  a  non-commis- 
sioned officer  of  his  company,  who  planted  them 
on  the  rebel  intrenchments."  Such  intrepidity 
characterized  Captain  Sheehan  all  through  the 
war.  He  was  promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  on 
the  1st  of  September,  1S6.J,  having  made  a  mili- 
tary record  of  which  the  State  may  bo  proud. 
Colonel  Houston  and  others  presented  him  with  a 
gold  badge,  engraved  as  follows:  "Presented  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel  T.  J.  Sheehan,  for  services 
during  the  Rebellion,  from  October  i:{,  1861,  to 
September  .5,  1865."  On  the  badge  is  a  list  of  the 
engagements  in  which  he  participated.  It  was  a 
well-merited  tribute  to  his  bravery  and  daring. 

On  returning  to  Albert  Lea  Colonel  Sheehan 
was  appointed  Deputy  United  States  Marshal  by 
United  States  Marshal  .\ugustus  Armstrong,  and 
in  1871,  was  elected  to  the  office  of  SheritT.  In 
this  position  he  has  shown  great  activity,  adroit- 
ness, and  exjsedition  in  arresting  criminals  of  vari- 
ous kinds,  and  is  a  very  popular  county  official. 
In  politics,  he  was  a  Douglas  democrat  before  the 
war,  but  he  has  since  acted  with  the  republican 
party,  being  an  influential  and  efficient  worker  in 
its  character.  The  wife  of  Colonel  Sheehan  was 
Miss  Jennie  Judge,  a  native  of  Ireland.  They 
were  married  in  November,  1866,  and  have  three 
boys,  Jeremiah,  George,  and  Edward.  Colonel 
Sheehan  lost  both  parents  when  he  was  two  years 
old;  was  early  thrown  upon  his  own  resources, 
and  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man.  His  suc- 
cess in  life  is  owing  wholly  to  his  self-reliance, 
energy,  and  perseverance. 

William  Henht  Smith,  a  physician  for  nearly 
forty  years,  and  an  army  surgeon,  was  born  in 
Denmark,  Lewis  county.  New  York,  on  the  9lh  of 
March,  1815.  His  parents,  Selah  and  Catherine 
(Tisdaiel  .Smith,  were  classed  among  the  agricul- 
turalists, the  father  being  one  of  the  first  settlers 
in  that  part  of  the  Black  River  country,  and  died 
when  William  was  thirteen  years  old.  From  that 
date  the  son  took  care  of  himself.  He  was  educa- 
ted at  common  and  select  schools;  commenced 
teaching  winter  terms  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years,  receiving  eight  dollars  a  month  and  board 
for  the  first  seaton,  and  taught  six  winteis,  work- 
ing on  a  farm  and  attending  select  tchools  the  rest 
of   the  time.     At    twenty-four   years   of  age    Mr. 


CITT  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


399 


Smith  commenced  reading  medicine  with  Dr. 
Elkanes  French,  of  his  native  town,  attending  th 
last  course  of  lectures  held  at  Fairfield,  Herkimer 
county,  before  the  medical  college  was  moved  to 
Geneva.  He  received  from  the  authorities  of 
Jefferson  connty  a  certificate  permitting  him  to 
practice,  and  followed  his  profession  four  years  at 
Pamelia  Four  Corners,  in  that  county;  in  1846, 
removed  to  Beaver  Dam,  Wisconsin,  and  was  there 
in  practice  twenty  years,  except  when  in  the  army. 
In  1856  he  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  Rush  Med- 
ical College,  Chicago,  from  which  he  received  his 
diploma. 

In  1862  Dr.  Smith  went  south  as  surgeon  of  a 
Wisconsin  artillery  regiment;  at  the  end  of  one 
year  was  transferred  to  the  same  position  in  the 
Twenty-eighth  Wisconsin  Infantry,  and  served 
three  more  years.  During  nine  months  of  this 
time  he  was  post  surgeon  at  Pine  Blutf,  Arkansas. 
He  is  a  kind-hearted  man,  and  was  very  attentive 
to  the  wants  of  the  sick  and  wounded. 

While  at  the  south  the  doctor  contracted  a  dis- 
ease, from  which  he  has  suffered  more  or  less  for 
a  long  time;  and  in  1866,  thinking  a  change  of 
climate  might  be  beneficial,  he  went  to  Fulton, 
Missouri,  practicing  when  he  had  sufficient 
strength;  and  in  1873,  much  improved,  returned 
to  the  north  and  settled  at  Albert  Lea.  Here  he 
has  a  good  rnn  of  business,  and  an  excellent 
standing.  He  holds  the  office  of  County  Cor- 
oner. 

While  in  Beaver  Dam,  during  the  administra- 
tions of  Presidents  Taylor  and  Fillmore,  he  held 
the  office  of  Postmaster.  A  whig  ia  early  life, 
wiih  free-soil  tendencies,  he  naturally  drifted  into 
republican  ranks,  where  be  is  still  found. 

For  the  last  twenty-five  years  he  has  paid  very 
little  attention  to  politics,  except  to  vote.  His 
leisure  time  is  given  mainly  to  medical  studies. 

On  the  22nd  of  February,  1843,  he  received  the 
hand  of  Miss  Louisa  M.  Stevens,  of  West  Mar- 
tinsburgh,  Lewis  county.  New  York.  They  have 
three  children  living;  a  son,  Selah  H.,  was  acci- 
dentally killed  on  the  railroad  at  Cherokee,  Kan- 
sas, in  January,  1874;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Jasper 
J.  Bond,  of  Albert  Lea;  Frances  E.  and  Charles 
Henry  both  reside  in  Albert  Lea. 

Edwin  Claek  Stacy  is  a  native  of  Madison 
county.  New  York,  born  in  the  town  of  Hamilton, 
on  the  6th  of  September,  1815.  His  parents  were 
Nathaniel  and  Susan  (Clark  |  Stacy.     His  grand- 


father, Rufus  Stacy,  a  native  of  Gloucester,  Mas- 
sachusetts, was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and 
at  Cherry  Valley,  when  it  was  ravaged  and  burned 
by  the  combined  forces  of  the  Tory,  Butler,  and 
the  savage.  Brant.  Nathaniel  Stacy,  a  Univer- 
salist  minister,  was  Chaplain  ot  a  regiment  in 
1814,  and  stationed  at  Sacket's  Harbor.  He  wrote 
the  memoirs  of  his  own  life — a  work  of  more  than 
five  hundred  pages,  published  in  1850 — and  in  it 
gives  a  pretty  full  account  of  the  rise  and  progress 
of  Universalism  in  the  State  of  New  York,  a  move- 
ment in  which  he  was  very  prominent.  The  vol- 
ume is  written  in  an  easy,  familiar  style,  veined 
with  humor,  and  is  decidedly  readable.  The  au- 
thor died  ten  years  ago.  Edwin  received  an 
academic  education  at  Hamilton,  New  Y'ork,  and 
Erie,  Pennsylvania,  the  family  moving  to  Warren 
county,  Pennsylvania,  when  he  was  fourteen  years 
old.  He  farmed  more  or  less  till  he  was  of  age; 
teaching  winter  schools,  and  securing  his  educa- 
tion entirely  with  his  own  means.  In  1836,  he 
came  westward  to  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan;  read  law 
a  while  with  Miles  &  Wilson,  of  that  place,  and 
finished  with  a  cousin.  Consider  A.  Stacy,  at  Te- 
cumseh,  Lenawee  county.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  at  Adrian,  in  1840,  and  in  the  autumn  of 
that  year  returned  to  Warren  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, practicing  at  Columbus  and  at  Erie  till 
1856.  He  then  came  to  Minnesota,  and  located 
at  Geneva,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for 
four  years.  The  year  Mr.  Stacy  settled  in  this 
State  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Gorman  one 
of  the  commissioners  to  organize  Freeborn  county, 
and  was  made  its  first  Judge  of  Probate.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention.  In 
1860,  Mr.  Stacy  removed  to  Albert  Lea,  the  county 
seat,  and  when  not  in  some  county  office,  has  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  ot  his  profession  and  the 
real  estate  business.  He  does  a  good  deal  of  col- 
lecting for  commercial,  agricultural,  and  other 
houses,  being  a  prompt  and  reliable  man.  Sev- 
eral years  ago  he  served  as  County  Auditor  three 
terms,  and  County  Superintendent  of  Schools  one 
term.  No  man  in  Freeborn  county  is  better  known 
than  Judge  Stacy,  the  title  he  has  had  since  Judge 
of  Probate.  He  is  among  the  leading  men  ot  the 
older  class  in  the  county,  and  greatly  esteemed  by 
all  who  know  him.  He  has  always  affiliated  with 
the  Democratic  party;  has  been  quite  active  and 
prominent  in  county  and  district  politics,  and 
was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for   Congress   in 


400 


HISTORY  OF  FHEEBOHN  COUNTY. 


1876.  He  is  iiii  OJa-Fellow;  holds  the  office  of 
Noble  (rraiul  in  the  Albert  Lea  Lodge,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Universalist  Society.  Judge  Stacy 
was  married  on  the  22d  of  Febrnary.  18-12,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  D.  Heath,  of  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  of  four  children,  tlie  fruit  of  this  union,  two 
sons  are  living.  Both  are  married,  and  reside  in 
Albert  Lea.  Dorr  is  a  member  of  the  city  police, 
and  Day  F.  is  a  printer  and  surveyor. 

J.  W.  Smith,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  suc- 
cessful merchants  of  this  city,  is  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, born  in  Sharon.  Litchfield  county,  on  the 
14th  of  .January,  1838.  When  he  was  seventeen 
years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Rock  county,  Wis- 
consin, and  settled  on  a  farm.  J.  W.  attended  the 
Hamlin  University  in  Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  two 
years,  then  returned  to  Wisconsin  and  resided  .sev- 
eral years.  On  the  2:5d  of  April,  181)3,  lie  married 
Olive  M.  Clifford,  and  the  following  year  moved 
to  Albert  Lea  and  engaged  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness. In  186(),  he  opened  a  general  mercantile 
store  at  Shell  Rjck,  in  company  with  K.  B.  Skin- 
ner, and  in  1867,  they  removed  their  stock  to  this 
.place.  Mr.  Smith  has  since  been  in  the  business, 
but  has  changed  jiartners  twice.  The  firm  is  now 
Smith  &  Garrett,  and  they  keep  the  largest  stock 
of  dry  goods  in  the  city. 

G.  O.  SuNDBY,  a  native  of  Norway,  was  born 
near  the  city  of  Christiania,  on  the  2.jth  of  July, 
1845.  He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  when 
about  fifteen  years  old  went  to  Ihe  city  and  clerked 
for  one  year.  In  1861,  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  America  and  located  on  a  farm  near  Winona,  in 
this  State,  G.  O.  soon  went  to  the  latter  city  and 
found  employment  in  a  store,  where  he  remained 
three  years,  during  which  time  he  also  attended 
Eastman's  Business  College.  In  1865,  lie  moved 
to  Owatoiina  and  engaged  in  business  for  himself 
about  a  year,  then  sold  out,  and  two  months  later 
visited  Norway.  On  his  return  he  opened  another 
store  in  Owatonna,  and  in  1869,  came  to  this  city, 
where  he  has  since  successfully  continued  in  the 
mercantile  business,  building  a  store  in  1870,  and 
in  1879,  erected  his  present  fine  brick  block.  He 
was  united  in  wedlock  on  the  14th  of  July,  1873, 
with  Miss  Laura  Abbott,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Cle.jn,  born  in  A])ril,  1874. 

W.  P.  SnuiiEANT,  one  of  the  active  business  men 
of  the  city,  was  burn  in  Oneida  county.  New  York, 
on  the  24th  of  May,  1839,  His  great-grandfather 
came  to  that  county  as  a  missionary  to  tlie  Indians 


about  one  hundred  years  ago.  and  secured  Gov- 
ernment land,  upon  which  his  son,  grandson,  and 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  were  all  born.  Mr.  Ser- 
geant's father  died  when  W.  P.  was  (juite  a  small 
boy,  and  he  lived  with  an  uncle,  and  assisted  liiiu 
on  his  farm.  He  afterward  clerked  in  stores,  and, 
in  1861,  enlisted  in  Company  I,  of  the  Eigth  New 
York  Cavalry,  serving  three  years.  He  then  was 
employed  in  a  wholesale  fancy  dry  goods  house 
in  Uiiea,  New  York,  until  1868,  when  he  opened  a 
store  in  Penn  Yan.  On  the  13th  of  March,  1807, 
Mr.  Sergeant  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Harriet  I.  Stebens.  In  1871,  they  moved  to 
Cresco,  Iowa,  l)ut  the  same  year  came  to  Alliert 
Lea  and  bought  out  a  lumber  firm,  to  which  busi- 
ness he  has  since  given  his  attention,  also  carrying 
on  a  farm.  He  is  a  strong  Republican,  and  has 
been  Alderman  four  years,  acting  as  President  of 
the  Council  the  two  latter  years.  On  the  7th  of 
November,  1882,  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Sen- 
ate by  397  majority  over  Ex-Lientenant  Governor 
Armstrong. 

Rev.  O.  H.  Smebv  was  born  in  Rock  Prairie, 
Wisconsin,  on  the  Slst  of  January,  1851.  When 
he  was  an  infant  his  parents  moved  to  Allamakee 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  attended  school,  and  later 
entered  the  college  at  Decorah,  graduating  in 
1871,  after  which  he  attended  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  St.  Louis.  After  completing  his 
studies  in  the  latter  institution,  he  came  to  Albert 
Lea,  and  has  since  had  charge  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  in  this  place.  He  was  married 
in  1876,  to  Miss  Marie  Carlson,  a  native  of  Skien, 
Norway,  her  birtli  dating  tlie  12th  of  August, 
1854.  They  have  had  three  children,  two  girls 
and  a  boy,  the  oldest  girl  being  dead. 

D.  K.  Stacy,  whose  parents  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  this  county,  ■nas  born  in  Colum- 
bus, Warren  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  16th  of 
November,  1842.  The  family  moved  to  Minnesota 
when  he  was  fourteen  years  old;  located  first  in 
Geneva,  and  in  1860,  came  to  Albert  Lea.  In 
February,  1862,  D.  K.  enlisted  in  the  Fifth  Min- 
nesota Volunteer  Infantry,  Company  C.  He  was 
on  the  frontier,  and  fought  against  Hole  in  the 
Day  at  the  Crow  Wing  Agency,  and  was  in  sev- 
eral of  the  heavy  engagements  in  the  South, 
remaining  in  service  until  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  jiromoted  to  the  office  of  Cajitain, 
and  received  his  discharge  in  October,  1865.  Soon 
alter,  he  was  married  to   Miss   Lelia   (i.   Moon,  a 


CITY  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


401 


native  of  Koek  county,  Wisconsin.  Tliis  union 
has  been  blessed  with  three  children.  It  was  Mr. 
Stacy  who  carried  the  first  mail  into  the  town  of 
Geneva,  taking  it  on  his  back. 

Simon  Strauss  was  born  in  Kirch  Brombach, 
Germany,  on  the  22d  of  March,  1850.  He 
attended  the  Commercial  College  at  Frankfort  on 
the  Main  for  five  years,  and  after  graduating  was 
employed  as  Assistant  Tellei-  in  a  bank  at  the 
same  place.  In  1876,  he  emigrated  to  America, 
directly  to  Iowa,  where  he  clerked  for  his  brother, 
and  in  September,  1878,  came  to  Albert  Lea,  and 
started  in  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Strauss 
&  Jacol>y-  His  present  partner  is  Mr.  Schlesinger, 
and  they  keep  the  largest  stock  of  clothing,  gents' 
furnishing  goods,  boots,  shoes,  etc.,  in  the  city. 

G.  O.  Slooum  was  born  in  Bock  county,  Wis- 
consin, on  the  29th  of  August,  1840.  His  early 
life  was  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  in 
1850,  the  family  removed  to  Menasha,  where  the 
father  of  our  subject  built  the  first  mill  in  that 
place.  In  1856,  they  removed  to  Sttphenson 
county,  Illinois,  and  in  1858,  G.  O.  attended 
school  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  remaining  there  two  years. 
He  then  returned  to  Illinois,  engaged  at  farm 
labor  in  the  summer  and  taught  school  during  the 
winter  seasons.  In  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Seven- 
ty-fourth Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  served  eigh- 
teen months  in  Company  H,  and  was  then  dis- 
charged for  disability.  During  the  winter  of 
1864-65  he  attended  a  business  college  in  Chicago, 
re-enlisted  the  next  spring,  and  served  till  the 
close  of  the  war  in  the  Twenty-third  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  Company  K.  He  was  married 
on  the  7th  of  March,  1865,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Car- 
ter, and  in  1868,  they  came  to  Oakland  township , 
going,  a  year  later,  to  Hay  ward,  where  Mr.  Slocum 
purchased  a  farm,  to  which  he  gave  his  attention 
in  the  summer,  and  taught  school  in  the  winter, 
also  filled  some  local  offices.  In  1875,  they 
removed  to  Albert  Lea,  and  he  clerked  in  the 
Auditor's  office  until  1878,  when  he  was  elected  to 
his  present  office  of  County  Auditor.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Slocum  have  been  blessed  with  five  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living,  both  daughters. 

Ira  a.  Town  was  born  in  Franklin,  Franklin 
county.  New  York,  on  the  2d  of  April,  1848.  In 
1864,  the  family  removed  to  Shell  Eock  in  this 
county,  and  in  .1869  our  subject  attended  the 
Cedar  Valley  Seminary  in  Iowa,  graduating  as 
Bachelor  of  tht  Sciences  in  1873.  He  then 
26 


returned  home,  but  a  year  later  entered  the  law 
department  of  the  Iowa  State  University,  gradu- 
ating in  1875,  as  Bachelor  of  the  Law,  and  soon 
after  entered  a  law  office  in  Albert  Lea.  In  1878, 
he  began  practice  by  himself  and  after  the  organi- 
zation of  the  city  of  Albert  Lea,  was  one  of  its 
first  City  Justices.  He  was  defeated  by  a  small 
majority  as  an  independent  candidate  for  the 
office  of  Judge  of  Probate  in  1877,  but  was  elected 
two  years  later,  and  is  now  serving  his  second 
term.  On  the  22d  of  November,  1879,  he  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Fannie  V.  Steele,  of  Frederick- 
town,  Ohio.     They  have  one  child,  a  daughter. 

Leandek  J.  Thomas,  an  old  settler  of  this 
State,  was  born  in  Springfield,  Bradford  county, 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  24th  of  October,  1841. 
When  he  was  an  infant  his  parents  moved  to  Wis- 
consin and  located  in  Janesville,  Rock  county, 
and  in  1857,  came  to  Minnesota.  Leander  attend- 
ed select  school  at  Owatonna  for  two  years,  and 
afterward  learned  the  printer's  trade.  In  1862,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  E,  of  the  Tenth  Minnesota 
Volunteer  Infantry;  was  in  General  Sibley's  ex- 
pedition across  the  plains,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1863, 
sent  south,  and  remained  in  service  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged- 
He  was  united  in  marriage  on  the  25th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1868,  to  Miss  Clara  M.  Colby,  a  native  of 
Wisconsin.  They  have  one  son,  Edwin  D.,  born 
on  the  29th  of  October,  1871.  Mr.  Thomas  has 
been  practicing  veterinary  surgery  for  the  past 
twelve  years.  He  came  to  this  place  in  1873,  and 
located  just  outside  the  city  limits,  but  is  now  liv- 
ing in  the  city,  running  a  feed  stable  in  connection 
with  veterinary  business.  Mr.  Thomas  is  an  hon- 
orable man,  and  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 

ToRGEK  L.  Torgerson  was  born  near  the  capi- 
tal of  Norway  on  the  6th  of  August,  1848.  His 
parents  came  to  America  when  he  was  about  five 
years  old,  and  first  located  in  Iowa.  In  1861, 
they  came  to  this  county  and  settled  in  Manches- 
ter, where  his  mother  still  lives,  his  father  having 
died  after  coming  there.  In  1867,  Mr.  Torgerson 
was  married  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Fossom,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Norway.  They  have  four  children :  Anna 
M.,  Louis  P.,  Aase  E.,  and  George  A.  Mr.  Tor- 
gerson located  on  a  farm  of  his  owcn  after  his  mar- 
riage, and  in  1877  came  to  Albert  Lea,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  the  sale  of  agricultural  implements. 

Andrew  L.  Toukle  is  a  native  of  Norway, 
born    in   Trondhjem    on  the  16th  of    December, 


402 


HlSTOnr  OF  FlifliBOKN  COUNT y 


1835.  He  there  learned  the  tailor  tiaile,  and,  in 
1869,  came  to  America,  and  directly  to  All)ert 
Lea.  Previous  to  leaving  his  native  country  he 
waa  married  to  Miss  Marrette  Eunbo.  They  have 
one  child,  Anna  M.,  born  on  the  23d  of  October, 
1866,  who  now  attends  the  St.  Olaf  s  school  in 
Northtield.  Mr.  Tockle  ojiened  a  merchant  tailor 
establishment  on  the  corner  of  Broadway,  and 
also  deals  in  agents'  furnishing  goods  and  sewing 
machines. 

Dr.  Fred  A.  Twichell  is  a  native  of  ^'er- 
mont,  bom  in  Stockbridge  on  the  29th  of  July, 
1854.  After  attending  the  common  schools  he 
entered  the  Black  River  Academy,  and  was  subse- 
quently employed  as  book-keeper  at  Lawrence, 
Massachusetts.  Returning  to  his  home  in  Ver- 
mont he  began  the  study  of  his  profession  in  the 
office  of  Dr.  R.  M.  Chase,  one  of  the  prominent 
dentists  and  physicians  of  the  place,  and  remained 
with  him  three  years.  He  came  to  Albert  Lea  in 
April,  1881,  and  began  the  practice  of  dentistry  in 
company  with  Dr.  Street. 

Walter  Thompson,  one  the  oldest  business  men 
of  Albert  Lea,  was  born  in  Buckingham  county, 
England,  on  the  5th  of  April,  1840.  His  parents 
came  to  America  in  1854,  but  he  remained  in  his 
native  country  until  1859,  and  there  learned  the 
boot  and  shoe  business.  He  came  to  this  place  in 
■  1863,  and  opened  a  boot  and  shoe  store  in  which 
he  has  a  good  trade.  Mrs.  Thompson  was  form- 
erly Martha  Slater  and  they  have  a  family  of  five 
children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter. 

John  Whttock  is  a  native  of  Buffalo,  New 
York,  born  of  Scotch  parentage  on  the  14th  of 
November,  1835.  He  attended  the  public  schools, 
afterward  the  Aurora  Academy,  and  when  twenty - 
two  years  old  commenced  the  study  of  law  which 
he  continued  three  years.  In  about  1860,  he  came 
to  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  and  the  following  year 
ei'listed  in  the  Second  Wisconsin  Cavalry,  was  en- 
rolled   as   First  Lieutenant  and    soon   promoted 


Captain  of  Company  B;  in  1865,  was  made  Major 
of  the  regiment,  which  position  he  filled  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  then  located  in  Little  Kock, 
.\rkansas,  and  remained  ten  years,  being  private 
secretary  of  the  Governor,  and  also  United  States 
District  Attorney  two  years.  He  was  joined  in 
matrimony  on  the  6th  of  August,  1872,  with  Miss 
Taylor.  In  1875,  they  came  north  to  Minneapolis, 
where  Mr.  Whytock  practiced  law  until  1878,  and 
then  came  to  Albert  Lea  which  has  since  been  his 
home,  doing  a  successful  business  in  his  profes- 
sion. 

W.  W.  Williams,  a  son  of  Rev.  John  L.  and 
Priscilla  D.  Williams,  was  born  on  the  1st  of  De- 
cember, 1840,  in  Blairsville,  Indiana  county, 
Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  a  noted  divine  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  an  early 
abolitionist.  He  was  an  agent  of  the  "Under- 
ground Railroad"  and  in  1849,  removed  to  Wis- 
consin. W.  W.  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion supplemented  by  several  terms  at  the  Monroe 
(Wisconsin  )  Institute.  He  commenced  to  learn 
the  printer's  trade  in  1858,  and  has  since  been  in 
the  newspaper  and  printing  business,  except 
two  years  spent  in  the  drug  business  at 
Spring  Valley,  Minnesota;  two  years  of  which  he 
served  as  Deputy  Warden  of  the  Min- 
nesota State  Prison,  and  a  year  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Seymour,  Sabin  &  Co.,  of  Stillwater.  In 
1864,  he  came  to  Minnesota,  and  the  following 
year  purchased  the  "Preston  Republican,"  which 
he  sold  in  1866,  and  in  1869,  started  the  "Blue  Earth 
City  Post."  During  most  of  his  residence  iu  the 
latter  place  he  was  Postmaster;  sold  his  paper  in 
1874,  and  removed  to  Stillwater.  In  1878,  he 
purchased  the  interest  of  D.  G.  Parker  in  the 
"Freeborn  County  Standard"  to  which  he  has 
since  devoted  his  time.  Mr.  Williams  is  a  clear 
and  fearless  writer  and  has  opinions  of  his  own 
which  he  does  not  hesitate  to  avow  and  since  he 
has  been  iu  this  county  has  exercised  a  powerful 
influence  in  political  circles. 


ALBEIiT  LISA  TOWNSHIP. 


403 


ALBERT  LEA   TOWNSHIP. 


CHAPTEK   LIV. 

TOPOGKAPHY  AND   PHYSICAL   FeATUBES — EaRLY 

Settlers — Town   Government — Educational 
— The  First  Marriage. 

The  township  bearing  this  name  is  the  southern 
of  the  two  center  towns  of  the  county,  Bancroft 
being  its  comrade  on  the  north,  with  Kiceland  im- 
pinging on  the  northeast,  Hayward  on  the  east, 
Shell  Rook  to  the  southeast,  Freeman  on  the  south, 
Nunda  to  the  southwest.  Pickerel  Lake  on  the 
west,  and  Manchester  to  the  northwest.  It  coin- 
cides with  the  original  government  survey,  having 
thirty-sis  sections. 

It  may  be  said  to  be  a  prairie  town,  with  numer- 
ous oak  groves;  and  when  first  visited  presented 
a  most  inviting  prospect,  which  will  be  described 
further  on. 

The  principal  river  is  the  Shell  Eock,  which 
flows  in  an  average  direction  toward  the  south- 
east, diagonally  through  the  township.  Lake 
Albert  Lea  is  the  largest  body  of  water  in  town, 
and  is  a  magnificent  sheet,  with  its  irregular  but 
gently  curving  outline  and  undulating  surround- 
ing meadows  and  hillside.  Most  of  it  lays  in  the 
town,  but  its  length  is  about  eight  miles.  Pick- 
erel Lake  also  laps  over  into  its  territory,  as  does 
White's  Lake,  which  Col.  Lea  at  first  called  Lake 
Ohapeau.  Goose  Lake,  a  compact  little  body  of 
water,  may  be  found  in  section  three.  Fountain 
Lake  is  an  artificial  pond  created  by  the  mill  dam 
erected  by  Mr.  Kuble  on  his  first  coming  here.  It 
hugs  around  the  northern  side  of  the  city  in  a 
curviUnear  way,  and  with  its  graceful  foliage,  at 
various  points  coming  down  to  the  water's  edge, 
presents  one  of  the  most  pleasing  views  to  be 
found  in  all  Southern  Minnesota. 

The  interest  in  this  town,  as  well  as  the  whole 
county,  centers  in  the  city  which  has  sprung  up 
here,  and  retains  the  same  name. 


The  early  settlement  of  this  township  has,  of 
necessity,  been  given  in  the  history  of  Albert  Lea 
City,  so  that  very  little  remains  to  be  said  here. 
A  few  pioneer  notes,  however,  will  be  given. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blaekmer  were  early  settlers,  but 
both  are  dead.  Two  sons,  Loren  and  Heman, 
live  on  the  homestead,  and  other  sons  reside  in 
Albert  Lea  and  vicinity.  Dr.  F.  Blaekmer,  resid- 
ing in  the  city,  is  a  son. 

John  G.  Godley  is  an  old  settler,  and  still  lives 
in  the  township. 

The  Nelsons  are  among  the  very  first  settlers  in 
the  south-eastern  part  of  the  towE,  and  still  live 
there. 

The  old  town  of  St.  Nicholas,  which,  at  one 
time,  had  lofty  aspirations,  was  located  in  this 
township,  but  as  its  history  is  fully  depicted  in 
the  sketch  of  the  city,  no  further  reference  to  it 
will  be  made  here. 

TOWN  CiOVERNMENT. 

It  would  be  monotonous  to  furnish  the  names 
of  the  various  town  officers  from  year  to  year,  as 
many  of  them  have  been  re-elected  from  time  to 
time.  But  it  will  be  sufficient  to  name  the  vari- 
ous gentlemen  who  have  been  prominent  in  the 
town  government  up  to  the  time  of  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  city  government.  Among  the  men 
who  have  been  town  officers  we  notice:  A.  C. 
Wedge,  D.  G.  Parker,  John  Brownsill,  Bernard 
McCarthy,  Luther  Parker,  H.  T.  Smith,  T.  J. 
Sheehan,  F.  Blakely,  Chauncy  Conley,  Thomas 
Smith,  Eeuben  Williams,  H.  D.  Brown,  A.  B. 
Webber,  Joseph  France,  E.  C.  Stacy,  F.  D.  Dud- 
ley, John  Kuble,  L.  Eaton,  George  Thompson, 
Francis  Hall,  John  Wood,  A.  Armstrong,  Charles 
T.  Knapp,  James  E.  Smith,  William  Morin,  Reu- 
ben C.  Cady,  Reuben  Williams,  O.  P.  Kenfield, 
J.  G.  Godley,  H.  M.  Manley,  W.  J.  Martin,  A.  W. 
St.  John,  George  Whitman,  D.  K.  Stacy,  A.  M. 


404 


HISTORY  OF  FliKEBOHN  COUNTY. 


Tyrer,  John  Ross,  F.  B.  Frost,  Charles  Kittleson, 
William  Hazelton,  Ole  J.  EUiugsoii,  Joseph  Green, 
G.  D.  Ball,'  Lewis  Hager,  M.  M.  Luce,  A.  E. 
Johnson,  W.  C.  Lincoln,  M.  W.  Greene,  D.  N. 
Gates,  C.  G.  Jonsrud,  and  1).  IJ.  P.  Hibbs.  As 
to  the  business  of  the  officers  of  the  town,  it  was 
of  course  mostly  of  an  executive  character,  but 
legislative  within  certain  limits. 

In  18(il,  a  pound  was  ordered  to  be  built.  In 
18G3,  a  petition  was  considered  in  relation  to  a 
bridge  at  Ruble's.  In  1868,  the  Southern  Minne- 
sota railroad  made  a  proposition  to  several  towns 
in  the  county  to  vote  aid  to  the  company.  Albert 
Lea  was  requested  to  vote  $40,000,  while  six  of 
the  towns  were  asked  for  S15,000  each,  and  seven 
of  them  were  invited  to  contribute  SI  0,000  each. 

At  one  time  in  the  hi.story  of  the  town;  tlie 
powers  of  the  town  board  were  enlarged  by  the 
legislature,  and  numerous  ordinances  were  adopted 
to  be  in  force  in  the  village. 

The  government  has  been  iu  accordance  with 
the  wishes  of  the  town,  the  powers  delegated  to 
the  Supervisors  and  other  officers  never  having 
been  abused  iu  any  notable  instance. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  1864,  the  town  vot^d 
t;25  to  each  volunteer  duly  credited,  and  S225 
was  paid  on  that  account.  During  that  year 
thirteen  enlistments  were  credited  on  the  quota 
of   tlie  town. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

There  are  five  schoolhouses  iu  the  township, 
as  follows: 

District  No.  37  has  a  house  located  uu  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  twelve. 

District  No.  14.  The  juveniles  of  this  district 
meet  for  instruction  in  a  neat  schoolliouse  on  the 
northeast  cjuarter  of  section  fourteen. 

District  No.  54.  The  sehoolhouse  of  this  dis- 
trict is  situated  on  the  northwest  (piarter  of 
section  thirty-five. 

District  No.  68.  This  house  is  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  section  twenty-nine. 

District  No.  110  is  the  next  to  the  last  organ- 
ized in  the  county,  and  has  its  sehoolhouse  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  twenty-eight. 

School  is  kept  in  these  buildings  a  great  por- 
tion of  the  year,  and  the  standard  of  both 
teachers  and  scholars  is  up  to  that  of  any  other 
portion  of  Freeborn  county. 


THE  FIRST  MARRIAGE. 

January  13th,  1857,  was  an  eventful  day  in 
Albert  Lea.  for  then  occun-ed  the  first  marriage  in 
the  townsliip,  and  it  was  none  of  your  time  affairs; 
it  was  a  double  wedding,  and  the  people  began  to 
feel  that  the  semi-civilization  of  pioneer  life  was 
fast  giving  way  to  a  condition  of  enlightment. 
C.  C.  Colby  and  Ellen  Frost,  David  Hard  and 
Mary  A.  Colby  were  the  especially  interested  and 
interesting  parties.  The  event  happened  at  the 
house  of  John  Colby.  Squire  Clark  was  employ- 
ed to  secure  the  nuptial  knot. 

Tlie  old  settlers  will  remember  that  the  squire 
was  not  noted  for  his  literary  genius,  for  his  deli- 
cacy or  polish,  but  he  was  the  only  available 
authority  vested  Ijy  the  infantile  commonwealth 
of  Minnesota,  to  declare  the  banns  indissolubly 
fixed,  and  so  he  consented  to  do  the  best  he  could 
under  the  circumstances. 

The  guests  were  assembled  and  the  parties  stood 
up  in  the  magisterial  presence,  to  be  legally  uni- 
ted, as  they  already  were  heart  to  heart,  with  a 
single  ceremony  for  both  couples. 

Here  was  a  perspiration  ]jrovoking  predicament 
for  this  lugubrious  limb  of  the  law.  In  his  per- 
plexity ho  glanced  over  a  marriage  ceremony  he 
had  picked  up  somewhere,  but  there  was  no  double 
attachment,  either  "back  action"'  or  otherwise,  and 
he  was  totally  lacking  iu  the  ability  to  improvise 
the  requisite  amendment,  or  to  modify  the  docu- 
ment to  meet  the  present  emergency.  So,  after 
reading  it  over  to  himself,  and  seeing  no  possible 
way  to  make  the  ceremony  appear  ritualistic,  in 
his  desperation  he  blurted  out,  '•!  pronounce  you 
husbands  and  wives,  and  yon  may  now  go  where 
you  please,  by  Gosh!" 

This  constituted  the  nuptial  ceremony,  no  one 
gave  the  brides  away,  no  questions  were  asked,  no 
rings  were  presented,  no  prayers  were  offered,  and 
it  may  be  added,  no  expensive  bridal  trosseau  was 
provided  in  either  case. 

Of  course  whatever  else  was  dispensed  with,  the 
bridal  tour  could  not  be  omitted,  and  so  the  only 
pair  of  horses  in  town  was  called  into  requisition, 
and  tlie  outfit  went  to  Shell  Rock  where  an  im- 
])rom])tu  dance  was  got  up  at  George  Gardner's, 
and  "they  chased  the  hours  with  flying  feet"  until 
morning,  when  the  jaded  party  started  for  home; 
but  a  snow  storm  had  so  blocked  the  road  that 
when  three  miles  away,  the  team  had  to  be  aban- 
doned, and  the  rest  of  the  way  was  made  on  foot. 


ALBERT  LEA  TOWNSHIP. 


405 


They  were  a  jolly  party,  ami  all  enjoyed  them- 
selves except  'Mrs.  B,'  whoever  she  was,  whose 
prodigious  weight  carried  her  down  through  the 
snow  at  every  step. 

Notwithstanding  the  informality  ot  the  techni- 
cal joining,  the  marriage  "took"  as  they  say  about 
vaccination,  and  twenty -five  years  afterwards  the 
silver  wedding  of  one  of  the  couples  was  celebra- 
ted here,  as  is  recorded  in  the  proper  place. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

John  Buegland,  one  of  the  ^jrominent  men  of 
this  county,  is  a  native  of  Sweden,  born  on  the 
29th  of  November,  1834.  He  remained  at  his 
birth  place  until  1854,  when  he  married  Miss 
Anna  M.  Johnson  and  the  same  year  bought  a 
farm  which  he  carried  on  until  186^,  then  engag- 
ed in  the  lumber  business.  In  1868,  they  emi- 
grated to  America,  came  directly  to  Albert  Lea 
and  bought  a  farm  in  section  twenty -seven,  which 
now  contains  over  two  hundred  acres.  He  has  a 
family  of  nine  children. 

Martin  Caret  was  born  in  Jefferson  county, 
Wisconsin,  on  the  28th  of  August,  1850.  When 
fifteen  years  old  he  commenced  going  to  the 
pineries  during  winter  seasons,  and  in  1871,  came 
with  his  parents  to  this  county  and  settled  on  a 
farm  ici  this  township.  In  1874,  he  bought  land 
for  himself  and  has  since  made  it  his  home.  He 
was  married  on  the  30th  of  June,  1875,  to  Miss 
Mary  Tracy,  who  has  borne  him  five  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Carey  has  held 
several  local  offices. 

Owen  Doyle,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Free- 
born county,  was  born  in  Carlow  county,  Michi- 
gan, on  the  1st  of  March,  1820.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  eight  years  old,  and  when  fifteen 
he  emigrated  to  America,  settling  near  Kingston, 
in  Canada,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for 
eight  years.  In  1850,  he  married  Miss  Bridget 
Murphy.  Prom  1843  to  1853,  he  had  no  settled 
home,  but  in  the  latter  year  located  in  Columbus, 
Ohio,  and  resided  there  three  years.  He  then 
came  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  three  years  later 
to  this  township,  having  since  made  his  home  in 
section  eleven.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doyle  have  had 
eight  children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and 
five  are  living. 

Ogden  Edwards  was  bom  in  Jefferson  county, 
New  York,  on  the  5th  of  May,  1826.  He  assisted 
his  father  on  the  farm  until  1854,  when  he  bought 
land  of  his  own.     On  the  28tli  of  February,  in  the 


latter  year,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Prudence 
Doughkuse.  In  1859,  Mr.  Edwards  _went  to  Cal- 
ifornia and  engaged  in  mining  two  years,  then 
returned  to  his  native  State  and  again  carried  on 
a  farm.  In  1866,  he  came  to  this  place  and 
bought  a  farm  in  section  one,  where  he  now  lives. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards  have  had  four  children; 
Charles  D.,  John,  Fi'ederick  J.,  and  Ada.  John 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years  and  six  months. 

Ole  J.  Ellingson  is  a  native  of  Norway, 
born  on  the  26th  of  January,  1825.  When  twenty- 
three  years  of  age  he  enlisted  in  the  Norwegian 
army;  spent  one  year  in  Germany,  and  remained 
in  the  service  until  the  16th  of  April,  1853.  The 
following  day  he  started  fur  America,  having  the 
year  before  married  Miss  Engel  C.  Erickson. 
They  first  located  in  Allamakee  county,  Iowa,  but 
in  1856,  became  pioneers  of  this  county,  settling 
in  Bancroft.  In  1859,  Mr.  Ellingson  was  elected 
County  Treasurer  and  moved  to  Albert  Lea;  held 
the  office  two  years  and  in  1861,  enlisted  in  the 
Fourth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  Comj:)any 
F,  serving  till  1864.  He  then  returned  to  this 
place,  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits.    He  is  the  father  of  eight  children. 

Andrew  O.  Feosager  is  a  native  of  Norway, 
and  dates  his  birth  on  the  26th  of  October,  1846. 
He  resided  with  his  parents  until  the  spring  of 
1871,  when  he  came  to  America  and  settled  in 
Lafayette  county,  Wisconsin.  In  1874,  he 
removed  to  Marquette  county,  Michigan,  where 
he  engaged  in  mining  and  railroading  one  year; 
thence  to  Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois,  and  in  1876, 
came  to  this  county.  He  bought  a  farm  in  Albert 
Lea  two  years  later,  and  has  since  devoted  his 
time  to  its  cultivation.  He  was  married  on  the 
24th  of  December,  1877,  to  Miss  Ellen  Torgen- 
son. 

John  G.  Godlbt,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Freeborn  county,  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  Eng- 
land, in  1837.  He  was  engaged  as  book-keeper 
for  two  and  a  half  years  in  his  native  place,  and 
in  1854  came  to  America,  settling  on  Long  Island. 
He  moved  from  there  to  Chemung  county.  New 
York,  and  a  year  later  came  to  Richland  City, 
Wisconsin.  In  1857,  he  moved  to  this  township, 
and  claimed  land  in  section  eighteen,  where  he 
'•batched"  it  six  months  and  returned  to  Wiscon- 
sin. In  1860,  he  came  again  to  his  claim,  and  in 
February,  1862,  enlisted  in  the  Fifth  Minnesota 
Volunteer  Infantry;  was  Chief  Clerk  in  the  Quar- 


406 


HISTORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


termaster's  departmeat  tor  two  years  and  sis 
months,  and  returned  homo  in  1866.  The  same 
year  he  sold  his  former  farm  and  bought  his 
present,  which  contains  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres.  On  the  15th  of  April,  1868,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Maggie  Slater,  who  has  borne  him 
one  child,  Anna  M. 

S.  C.  .T.i^spEKSON  was  born  in  Denmark  on  the 
18th  of  April,  1838.  When  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old  he  enlisted  in  the  Danish  army  and 
served  three  years,  then  returned  home  and 
engaged  in  farming.  He  was  married  on  the  7th 
of  April,  1860,  to  Miss  Johanna  M.  Jostenson 
The  result  of  the  union  is  seven  children.  Mr 
Jasperson  came  to  America  in  1867,  settled  in 
Chicago,  where  he  learned  the  carpenter  trade  and 
worked  at  the  same  tour  years.  He  then  went  to 
Tennessee  and  engaged  in  the  construction  of  rail- 
roads one  winter,  and  in  the  spring  of  1871,  came 
to  this  county  and  bought  a  farm  in  Bath  town- 
ship. Since  1875,  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Albert 
Lea,  his  farm  being  in  section  ten.  He  is  the  fa- 
ther of  seven  children. 

Ole  A.  Johnson  is  a  native  of  Norway,  born  on 
the  17th  of  December,  1831.  He  was  married  be- 
fore leaving  his  birthplace,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Goegerson.  They  emigrated  to  America  in  1859, 
and  settled  in  Waupaca  county,  Wisconsin;  three 
years  later  moved  to  a  farm  in  Winnebago  coianty, 
and  in  1868,  came  to  this  township.  They  have  a 
family  of  eight  children. 

William  Kellab,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
county,  was  bom  in  Jefferson  county,  Kentucky, 
on  the  24th  of  December,  1820.  At  the  age  of 
ten  years  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Edgar 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  resided  until  1842, 
when,  through  public  excitement,  he  was  attract- 
ed to  the  lead  mines  of  Wisconsin.  In  1844,  he 
,  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Illinois,  where,  on  the 
15th  of  February,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth C.  Kies,  which  union  has  been  blessed  with 
three  children.  He  immediately  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Grant  county,  where  he  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1856,  when  he  took  a  claim  in  sec- 
tion seventeen  in  this  township,  erecting  a  log 
dwelling.  The  first  religious  meeting  ever  held  in 
this  vicinity  took  place  in  his  house  in  May,  1857, 
conducted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Phelps,  a  Methodist.  In 
1864,  Mr.  Kellar   enlisted  in  Company  C,  of  the 


First  Minnesota  Heavy  Artillery,  serving  until  the 
close  of  the  war. 

W.  H.  Lowe,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county,  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  bom  in  the 
city  of  New  York  on  the  16th  of  October,  1832. 
When  he  was  tour  years  old  he  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  in  1851  went 
to  Lawrence,  Kansas.  He  soon  returned  to  his 
home,  and  in  a  short  time  came  to  Ha8ting8,where 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  resided  two 
years.  In  1854  he  settled  in  this  place  and  work- 
at  his  trade.  He  was  united  in  marraige  on  the 
4th  of  November,  1860,  to  Miss  Rhoda  A.  Baker, 
and  the  result  of  the  union  is  five  children.  Mr. 
Lowe  enlisted  in  1862,  in  the  Tenth  Minnesota 
Volunteer  Infantry,  Company  E,  and  served  three 
years,  the  two  latter  as  First  Sergeant.  After  his 
discharge  he  returned  to  Albert  Lea,  and  worked 
at  his  trade  until  1867,  then  bought  a  farm  and 
has  since  devoted  his  time  to  its  cultivation. 

Isaac  W.  McKbynolds,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
the  county,  is  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  born  on 
the  4th  of  February,  1806.  In  1816  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Jefferson  county,  Indiana, 
where  they  resided  on  a  farm  three  j'ears,  then 
went  to  Bond  county,  Illinois.  In  1827  Isaac 
came  to  Grant  county,  Wisconsin,  and  was  engaged 
in  farming  and  mining  there  until  coming  to  this 
place  in  1856.  He  took  a  claim  in  section  seven, 
and  has  since  made  it  his  home.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Nancy  Sparks,  who  has 
borne  him  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living. 

Ole  O.  Stive  was  born  in  Norway  on  the  7th  of 
May,  1842.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  America 
in  1850,  settled  in  Dane  County,  Wisconsin,  until 
1853,  then  moved  to  Winineshiek  county,  Iowa. 
They  came  to  this  county  in  1857,  and  located  in 
Bancroft,  where  Ole  resided  with  his  parents  until 
1859,  when  he  returned  to  Wisconsin  and  worked 
in  the  pineries.  On  the  13th  of  May,  1861,  he 
enlisted  in  the  Fifth  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry 
and  served  four  years  and  three  months.  He 
then  returned  to  his  home  and  lived  with  his  par- 
ents until  1868,  when  he  married  Miss  Ingeborg 
G.  Bottolfson  on  the  20th  of  December.  They 
have  had  seven  children,  gix  of  whom  are  living. 
In  1873  they  bought  a  farm  in  Albert  Lea  town- 
ship, and  have  since  made  it  their  home 


ALDEN  TOWNSHIP. 


407 


ALDEN. 


CHAPTER   LV. 

General  Descbiption— ^Earlt  Settlement — 
Township  Government — Statistical — Post- 
offices — Educational — Alden  village — Bio- 
graphical. 

This  lies  in  the  western  tier  ot  Freeborn  coun- 
ty's towns,  and  is  separated  from  Iowa  by  one 
town.  Its  contiguous  stirronndings  are,  Carlston 
on  the  north;  Pickerel  Lake  on  the  east;  Mans- 
field on  the  south,  and  Faribault  county  on  the 
webt.  It  is  constituted  as  originally  surveyed  by 
the  United  States  officers,  of  thirty-six  square 
miles,  and  contains  23,040  acres,  of  which  the 
greater  portion  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, being  one  of  the  richest  farming  towns  in  this 
part  of  the  State,  and  containing  as  much  real 
value. 

It  is  a  prairie  town,  containing  little  if  any 
timber  of  any  kind  within  its  borders.  In  the 
central  and  southeastern  part  we  find  some  marsh 
land,  but  this  is  all  valuable,  if  not  for  tillage 
purposes,  for  hay  and  grazing,  while  it  is  all  most 
valuable  meadow  land.  The  farmers  are  so  ad- 
vanced in  their  modes  and  procedures  of  agricul- 
ture that  those  lands,  formerly  too  wet  for  raising 
grain,  has,  by  the  use  of  drains  and  ditches,  all 
been  brought  under  the  plow,  and  is  now  among 
the  best  of  farming  laud.  There  are  but  few 
streams  in  the  town,  and  no  lakes. 

The  soil,  as  a  rule,  and  in  fact  almost  through- 
out the  entire  town,  is  a  rich  dark  loam,  of  from 
three  to  tour  feet  deep,  which  is  underlaid  with  a 
subsoil  of  clay.  It  is  very  rich  and  well  adapted 
to  the  crops  of  this  latitude,  such  as  wheat,  corn, 
oats,  barley,  and  all  cereals.  The  abundant 
growth  ot  indigneous  grasses  which  covers  the 
broad  expanse  of  prairie,  makes  stock  raising  not 
only  an  inexpensive  but  very  profitable  business, 
and  already  many  of  the  farmers  are  turning  their 
attention  from  grain,  and  making  stock  their  prin- 


cipal industry.  The  creameries,  which  are  spring 
ing  into  existence  all  through  this  part  of  the 
State,  serve  to  encourage  and  make  this  change 
more  universal.  It  has  already  been  demonstrat- 
ed, as  an  article  published  elsewhere  will  show, 
that  the  hopes  and  expectations  of  those  who  thus 
change  from  grain  to  stock  are  not  unfounded; 
but  that  there  is  a  great  deal  more  money  made 
with  less  risk  of  capital,  and  one-half  the  work  in 
taking  care  of  stock,  (ban  is  required  to  raise 
grain  at  customary  price?. 

early  settlement. 

The  early  development  of  this  sub-division  of 
Freeborn  county  commenced  a  little  later  than  the 
average  of  towns  in  this  part  of  Minnesota,  but 
the  changes  wrought  have  been  equal  to  any  and 
surpassed  by  none;  for,  we  find  the  township,  by  a 
glance  at  the  statistical  returns,  as  productive  and 
rich,  agriculturally,  as  the  best. 

As  to  who  the  first  settlers  were,  there  is  some 
dispute  here,  and  the  means  are  not  easy  of  access 
with  which  to  prove  any  of  the  statements.  A 
short  sketch,  purporting  to  be  the  history  of  the 
township,  was  published  in  1877,  which  we  here- 
with present.     It  is  as  follows : 

"John  Hauek  entered  this  town  in  the  spring  of 
1858,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  set- 
tler. He  also  erected  the  first  house  in  the  sum- 
mer of  that  year.  John  Tirrel  was  the  first  mer- 
chant, and  commenced  business  in  the  winter  of 
1869-70.  Mr.  Miller,  a  blacksmith,  was  the  first 
mechanic;  M.  W.  Green,  the  first  lawyer,  and  a 
Mr.  Barber,  the  first  doctor.  The  first  school  was 
taught  in  the  Russell  district,  but  when,  or  by 
whom,  I  have  been  unable  to  ascertain.  The  first 
religious  service  is  said  to  have  been  held  at  the 
house  of  William  Humes,  but  authorities  differ 
regarding  the  officiating  clergyman;  the  conflict 
laying  between  Rev.  D.  P.  Curtis  and  Rev.  A.  P. 
Wolcott.      The  first  schoolhouse   was  erected  in 


408 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


1867,  and  in  the  same  year  the  Free  Will  Baptists 
effected  tlie  first  church  organization.  A.  G.  Hall 
served  as  Chairman  of  the  first  board  of  Super- 
visors, and  E.  P.  Clark  acted  as  Clerk." 

The  above,  it  is  said,  was  gathered  by  corres- 
pondence, and  as  stated,  errors  are  liable  to  creep 
in,  so  we  do  not  vouch  for  it,  but  give  it  just  as 
received  by  us  through  the  newspapers. 

It  is  pretty  certain  that  the  first  farm  settled 
upon  in  the  town  was  in  section  two,  by  Walter 
Scott  Russell,  in  the  spring  of  1858.  HewasTi 
young  man,  coming  from  Wisconsin  with  a  yoke 
of  oxen,  and  the  same  summer  broke  three  acres  of 
land  and  "erected"  a  dug-out  in  the  side  of  a  hill, 
in  which  he  took  up  his  abode.  In  a  short  time 
he  returned  to  Wisconsin  for  his  father  and  fam- 
ily, whom  he  had  left  there,  and  brought  them 
back  with  him.  He  remained  upon  his  second 
trip  only  a  short  time,  when  he  sold  his  claim  and 
removed  to  parts  unknown. 

John  Hauek  (or  Houck  |  was  the  next  arrival, 
making  his  appearance  in  the  summer  of  the  same 
year,  and  taking  a  farm  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  township,  in  section  one,  where,  it  is  said,  he 
erected  the  first  house,  and  opened  a  farm.  He 
remained  a  few  years  and  then  removed,  his  where- 
abouts at  present  being  a  mystery,  to  us  at  least. 
Mr.  A.  G.  Hall  purchased  and  still  owns  the  farm. 

With  this  the  settlement  of  the  town  remained 
rather  quiescent  for  a  time,  and  the  next  pioneer  to 
make  a  claim  was  James  Rundel,  in  October,  1860, 
in  section  two,  but  we  cannot  find  where  he  came 
from,  as  he  died  not  long  after  his  arrival.  The 
place  he  took  is  now  owned  by  a  Mr.  Dunning,  of 
Chicago,  111. 

Elisha  Davis  came  by  team  from  Wisconsin, 
and  arrived  here  in  1862,  building  a  sod  house  on 
the  claim  which  he  selected  in  section  five.  He 
remained  here  until  the  year  1877,  when  he  sold 
out  and  went  to  Valley  county,  Nebraska. 

Joseph  W.  Harrington,  a  native  of  lUinois, 
came  to  Alden  in  186.3,  and  in  the  spring  of  that 
year  took  a  homestead  in  section  twelve,  where  he 
remained  until  1873,  when  he  removed  to  the  vil- 
lage and  remained  there  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1875.  He  was  among 
the  prominent  men  of  this  locality. 

Moses  Cheesebrough,  late  of  Wisconsin,  made  his 
appearance  in  this  township  in  the  fall  of  1864. 
He  came  with  teams,  driving  several  head  of 
stock,    and  went    to   the  big  woods,   thirty  miles 


away,  to  get  lumber  with  which  to  erect  a  frame 
dwelling.  He  remained  on  the  homestead,  which 
he  took  in  section  seven,  for  a  number  of  years, 
but  finally  went  to  Nebraska. 

William  B.  Humes  came  to  Minnesota  in  1864, 
locating  first  in  Pleasant  Grove,  where  he  remain- 
ed for  five  years;  then  came  to  Alden  to^vn8hip 
and  homesteaded  a  place  in  section  one.  He  was 
the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  elected  in  the  town- 
ship. 

James  Whitehead  was  another  arrival  in  1864, 
coming  from  Wisconsin  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and 
locating  in  section  three,  whore,  m  the  spring  of 
that  year  he  erected  a  sod  habitation.  He 
remained  until  1866,  when  he  left  the  county. 

George  W.  Sanders  also  came  in  the  sjjring  of 
1864,  from  Wisconsin,  with  a  team  of  horses,  and 
settling  in  section  nine  erected  a  house  of  two 
logs  and  a  pile  of  sod.  He  remained  here  for 
about  seventeen  years,  when  he  removed  to  other 
fields. 

A.  G.  Hall  arrived  in  1865,  in  the  spring,  com- 
ing from  McGregor,  Iowa,  to  Alden,  with  horse 
teams,  and  being  twenty -four  days  on  the  road. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival  he  bought  out  the  claim 
of  John  Houck,  in  section  one,  where  he  remained 
until  the  village  of  Alden  was  projected,  and  then 
went  to  that  jjlaoe  and  erected  the  first  building 
there.  He  was  the  first  chairman  of  Suj)(Tvisors 
of  the  to\\-n,  and  is  now  a  prominent  man  in  pub- 
lie  affairs. 

In  1865,  the  Rev.  O.  P.  Hull  made  his  arrival 
from  Wisconsin,  and  secured  a  home  in  sections 
eight  and  seventeen,  where  he  erected  a  house  and 
barn  and  remained  a  number  of  years,  then 
returned  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  lived  until  within 
a  few  years,  when  the  grim  messenger  of  death 
called  him  hence. 

Russell  Maxson,  a  native  of  New  York,  who  had 
for  a  time  been  stopping  in  Wisconsin,  came  in 
about  1863,  and  secured  a  claim,  which  he  held 
for  several  years,  when  he  left. 

OEFIOIAIi  BEOOKD. 

Til  earlier  days  the  township  of  Alden  was  con- 
nected with  adjoining  townships  for  local  govern- 
mental purposes,  and  therefore,  as  a  separate 
organization,  its  era  does  not  commence  until  late 
in  the  sixties. 

The  records  show  that  the  first  town  meeting 
was  held  at  the  house  of  E.  P.  Clark,  in  section 
four,  on  the  3d  of  April,   1866.      The   meeting 


ALDBN  TOWNSHIP. 


409 


came  to  order  by  the  selection  o£  A.  G.  Hall, 
chairman,  and  proceeded  to  business.  It  was  then 
resolved,  by  unanimous  consent,  that  $100  be 
raised  by  tax  to  defray  town  expenses  for  the 
ensuing  year.  It  was  also  resolved  that  the  sum 
of  $30  be  appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  build- 
ing a  pound,  and  George  W.  Sanders  was  elected 
poundmaster. 

Balloting  for  town  officers  came  next  in  the 
program,  and  the  following  officers  were  declared 
elected:  Supervisors,  Albert  G.  Hall,  Chairman, 
Nathan  L.  Bassett,  and  Washington  Sanders; 
Clerk,  Edwin  P.  Clark;  Assessor,  Russell  Maxson; 
Treasurer,  Charles  H.  Clark ;  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
Elisha  R.  Davis  and  William  B.  Humes;  Consta- 
bles, Ebenezer  Brown  and  Henry  S.  Davis.  The 
number  of  votes  cast  was  twenty-two. 

The  official  business  of  the  township  has  been 
conducted  in  a  frugal  and  business-like  manner, 
with  no  jars  to  disturb  the  usual  tranquility  of 
snch  matters,  and  uo  useless  waste  or  expenditure 
of  public  funds.  The  officers  elected  and  serving 
_in  1882  are  as  follows:  Supervisors,  Thomas 
Dunn,  chairman,  S.  S.  Skiff,  and  A.  H.  Stevens; 
Clerk,  J.  T.  Johnson;  Assessor,  J.  W.  Peck; 
Treasurer,  T.  W.Wilson;  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
H.  Babbitt  and  A.  G.  Hall;  Constables,  O.  M. 
Woodruff  and  W.  A.  Hart. 

STATISTICAL. 

We  have  here  grouped  together,  from  various 
sources,  a  complete  crop  cultivation  and  produc- 
tion report  of  Alden,  together  with  various  other 
items  that  will  be  of  interest  and  value  to  those 
who  wish  to  know  the  extent  to  which  the  rich 
and  productive  soil  of  the  prairies  is  utilized;  and 
while  it  will  be  undoubtedly  dry  to  those  who  are 
reading  for  pastime  rather  than  information,  we 
hope  it  will  interest  a  majority  sufficient  to  repay 
us  for  the  labor  incident  to  collecting  such  mat- 
ter. 

For  the  year  1881. — Giving  the  acreage  and 
the  amount  produced,  of  the  various  crops  in  the 
township  of  Alden: 

Wheat— 3,659  acres,    yielding    38,791  bushels. 

Oats — 959  acres,  yielding  26,497  bushels. 

Corn — 1,226  acres,  yielding  34,530  bushels. 

Barley — 210  acres,  yielding  4,095  bushels. 

Eye — 3  acres,  yielding  35  bushels. 

Buckwheat — 10  acres,  yielding  102  acres. 

Potatoes — 35  acres,  yielding  4,381  bushels. 

Beans — i}^  acres,  yielding  14  bushels. 


Sugar  cane—  6^  acres,  yielding  699  gallons. 

Cultivated  hay — 32  acres,  yielding  29  tons. 

Flax — 259  acres,  yielding  2,359  bushels. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  the  town  in  the 
year  1881,  6,401. 

Wild  hay  gathered — 2,359  tons. 

Bushels  of  timothy  seeded,  70. 

Apple  trees — growing,  1,368;  bearing  81, 
yielding  11  bushels. 

Grape  vines — 3,  yielding  40  pounds. 

Sheep — 205  sheared,  yielding  1,198  pounds  of 
wool. 

Dairy— 259  cows,  yielding  (about)  23,000 
pounds  of  butter  and  4,000  pounds'of  cheese. 

For  the  tear  1882. — It  being  at  this  writing 
too  early  to  get  returns  as  to  the  amount  of  pro- 
ductions, we  are  only  able  to  give  the  acreage  for 
1882,  with  other  information,  as  follows: 

Wheat,  2,732  acres;  Oats,  1,183;  Corn,  2,059; 
Barley,  298;  Buckwheat,  16;  Potatoes,  85i; 
Beans,  2i;  Sugar  cane,  5%;  Cultivated  hay,  81  ; 
Flax,  306.  Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1882, 
6,768|. 

Apple  trees — growing,  1,521,  bearing,  96. 

Grape  vines  bearing,  3. 

Milch  cows — 296. 

Sheep — 242  head,  yielding  1,261  pounds  of 
wool. 

Whole  number  of  farms  reported  for  1881, 
102. 

Forest  trees — planted  in  1882.  10|  acres;  num- 
ber of  acres  planted  and  growing,  202J^. 

Population. — The  census  taken  in  1870  gives 
the  township  a  population  of  381.  At  the  last 
census,  taken  in  1880,  the  village  of  Alden  is  re- 
ported as  having  a  population  of  235,  and  the 
town  475;  total  710. 

POST-OFFICES. 

The  first  Post-office  established  in  the  township 
was  called  Buckeye.  It  was  originally  in  the 
township  of  Manchester,  with  James  E.  Smith  as 
Postmaster,  and  named  in  honor  of  the  pet  cogno- 
men of  the  native  State  of  the  Postmaster,  at 
whose  house,  in  section  thirty,  in  Manchester,  the 
office  was  kept.  In  1860,  S.  B.  Smith  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster,  and  the  mail  came  by  way  of 
the  Maukato  and  Otronto,  Iowa,  route,  under  the 
supervision  of  A.  L.  Davis,  who  carried  the  mail 
by  team.  In  1866,  the  office  was  removed  from 
Manchester  to  Alden  towushij],  and  A.  G.  Hall 
was  made  mail  handler.     In   1870  the  office  was 


410 


UISTOIiY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


discontinued,  having  been  removed  to  the  village 
while  Mr.  Hall  was  awaiting  the  action  of  the  de- 
pHrtment  upon  his  resignation. 

In  1867  Ahlen  Post-ofiice  was  established  with 
E.  P.  Clark  as  Postmaster,  and  office  upon  his 
farm.  When  the  village  of  Alden  commenced 
building  up  it  was  removed  to  that  point,  and  in 
1870,  A.  G.  Hall,  who  had  removed  from  his  farm 
to  the  village,  was  ajjpoiuted  to  handle  the  mails, 
and  continued  in  this  capacity  for  about  four 
years,  when  L.  S.  Crandall  was  commissioned  and 
held  it  until  1877,  when  L.  T.  Walkrr  received 
the  appointment  and  is  still  the  incumbent,  with 
the  office  at   -'Walker's  Store." 

EDl'CATIONAL. 

DisTBicT  No.  40. — Effected  an  organization  in 
1867,  and  in  1868  erected  a  schoolhouse  in  the 
southeastern  corner  of  section  ten.  The  first  offi- 
cers were :  William  Townsend,  Clerk ;  George  Lar- 
man,  Treasurer;  and  Harrington  Austin,  Director. 
The  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Maxson,  for 
$15  per  month,  and  boarding  "round,"  with  eleven 
scholars  present.  The  last  term  of  school  was 
taught  by  Miss  Lena  Patrick,  with  about  twenty- 
three  scholars  to  answer  the  roll  call;  her  com- 
pensation was  $2.5  per  month,  and  board,  the  lat- 
ter to  be  received  among  the  scholars"  parents. 

District  No.  70. — A  meeting  was  held  on  the 
28th  of  March,  1865,  at  the  house  of  O.  T.  Hull, 
at  which  the  organization  of  the  district  was 
effected  by  the  election  of  the  following  officers: 
Director,  N.  L.  Bassett;  Treasurer,  O.  T.  Hull; 
Clerk,  E.  F.  Clark.  The  first  school  in  the  neigh- 
borhood was  taught  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Kuasell 
Maxson  in  the  fall  of  1868,  by  Ada  Bassett,  with 
nine  scholars  present.  The  first  instruction  given 
in  the  schoolhouse  was  by  Angelia  Langdon,  in 
the  spring  of  1869,  with  eighteen  scholars  pres- 
ent, and  for  SI 2  per  month.  The  house  was 
erected  in  the  winter  of  1868-69,  size  18x26,  at  a 
cost  of  8600,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  section 
seventeen.  The  last  term  of  school  was  taught 
by  Isabella  Bickford;  attendance,  twenty-three 
pupils. 

District  No.  80. — Embraces  as  its  territory  the 
northeastern  part  of  Alden,  and  extends  over  the 
town  line  into  Carlaton.  The  first  and  organizing 
meeting  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Ira  Russell, 
on  the  24th  of  August,  1866,  and  the  following 
were  the  first  officers  elected:  Director,  Ira  Rus- 
gell;  Treasurer,  William  B.  Humes;  Clerk,  James 


H.  Whitehead.  In  1869  their  schoolhouse  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  S600,  in  the  northeastern 
corner  of  section  two,  being  a  neat  frame  build- 
ing, 16x24,  with  patent  seats.  The  first  school  in 
this  house  was  taught  by  E.  J.  Russell,  with  nine 
scholars  present;  the  last  was  taught  by  Emma 
Allen  to  an  enrollment  of  twenty-three  pupils,  for 
$25  per  month. 

District  No.  81. — The  first  meeting  was  held 
at  the  house  of  S.  T.  Brown,  on  the  26th  of  March, 
1869,  at  which  the  district  was  organized  and  the 
following  officers  elected:  A.  H.  Stevens.  Direct- 
or; I.  A.  Blackman,  Clerk;  F.  F.  Blackman,  Treas- 
urer. The  sum  of  .|400  was  voted  for  the  purjjose 
of  constructing  a  schoolhouse,  and  the  following 
summer  it  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  .$500,  size  22x28 
feet,  in  the  Bouthweatern  part  of  section  twenty- 
seven,  being  etjuipped  with  patent  seats  and  all 
necessary  apparatus.  The  first  school  was  taught 
in  a  sod  hou.'<e  in  section  twenty  seven,  in  the 
summer  of  1869,  by  Olivia  Burdick,  and  after  this 
there  were  three  terms  taught  in  the  same  primi- 
tive structure. 

Di.sTKicT  No.  89. — Embraces  the  territory  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  town,  with  its  school- 
house  in  the  southwestern  part  of  section  twenty - 
five.  The  district  effected  an  organization  at  a 
meeting  held  at  the  residence  of  H.  Babbitt,  in  the 
winter  of  1869-70.  In  the  following  spring  a 
house  was  erected,  size  16x20  feet,  in  which  Dette 
Stillman  taught  the  first  term  of  school  as  soon 
as  completed,  to  an  attendance  of  twelve  pupils, 
for  .fl2  per  month.  In  1874,  the  school  structure 
now  in  use  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  S250.  The  last 
term  was  taught  by  Chester  Maywood,  for  $2'd 
per  month,  and  an  average  attendance  of  twenty- 
three  juveniles. 

DiSTiuf'T  No.  93. — This  district  embraces  the 
territory  known  as  the  Alden  District,  with  a 
schoolhouse  in  the  village  of  Alden.  The  school- 
house  was  ei'ected  in  the  summer  of  1875,  size 
20x40  feet,  two  stories  high,  with  two  rooms,  and 
cost  about  $2,300.  The  first  school  was  taught  by 
George  Miller  in  1876,  for  .$45  per  month,  with 
fifty-seven  scholars  in  attendance.  The  last  term 
was  taught  by  L.  W.  Bassett,  with  forty-one 
scholars  present,  and  the  teacher  received  !t!50  per 
month  as  compensation  for  his  services. 

VILLAGE   OF    ALDEN. 

This  is  the  only  village  in  the  town,  and  is 
among  the  prosperous  "villas"  in  the  county.     It 


ALDEN  TOWNSHIP. 


411 


is  located  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town  whose 
name  it  bears,  on  the  southern  Minnesota  branch 
of  the  C,  M.  &  St.  Paul  railroad,  about  ten  miles 
from  Albert  Lea,  the  county  seat,  and  is  surround- 
ed by  the  most  valuable  farming  land  in  the  coun- 
ty. A  small  body  of  water  covering  about  five 
acres  of  laud  lies  adjoining  the  town,  but  there  is 
no  stream  or,  in  fact,  any  water,  near  the  village, 
as  the  water  mentioned  is  merely  a  pond. 

Early  Settlement. — In  this  line  the  village 
has  not  a  history  like  the  other  villages  in  the 
county;  no  fighting  or  jobbery  for  the  county  seat; 
nor  any  squabbling  for  railway  connection  with 
the  outer  world,  as  it  came  into  existence  after  the 
railroad  had  passed  through. 

It  was  laid  out  and  platted  by  William  Blorin 
and  H.  W.  Holley;  the  former  of  Albert  Lea  and 
the  latter  of  Winnebago  City.  After  a  short  time 
Mr.  Moriu  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Holley, 
and  still  retains  the  greater  part  of  the  property. 
The  firist  business  of  any  kind  opened  on  the  vil- 
lage site  was  the  Post-office,  which  A.  G.  Hall  moved 
from  his  place  in  section  one.  This  was  only  con- 
tinued for  a  short  time,  while  the  Post-master  was 
waiting  for  his  resignation  to  be  acted  upon  by  the 
department. 

The  first  actual  business  establishment  was 
started  about  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  rail- 
road, in  1869,  by  a  Mr.  Terrill,  who  opened  a  stock 
of  general  merchandise,  together  with  hot  drinks, 
beer,  etc.  He  shortly  after  took  into  partnership 
J.  H.  Sherwood,  who,  in  a  few  mouths,  purchased 
the  entire  establishment,  and  continued  it  until  he 
failed,  about  two  years  later. 

A.  G.  Hall  erected  the  first  residence  in  the  vil- 
lage, just  prior  to  the  opening  of  this  store. 

The  station  was  commenced  by  the  railroad 
company,  and  by  the  first  of  January,  1870,  the 
track  was  completed  to  the  village. 

Next  came  the  business  house  of  George  Whit- 
man. Holley  &  Morin  erected  a  store  building, 
which  was  rented  to  Mr.  Whitman,  and  he  moved 
a  stock  of  general  merchandise  in  the  building 
and  placed  the  same  in  charge  of  Joseph  Green 
and  Victor  Gilrup.  This  store  was  finally  moved 
to  Delavau  and  succumbed  to  financial  difficulties. 
Dell  Miller  fell  into  the  line  of  progress,  and 
erecting  a  suitable  shop,  commenced  blowing  the 
bellows  and  hammering  the  anvil.  He  ran  the  shop 
for  about  a  year,  when  he  was  called  away  to  the 
eternal  shore.     The  shop  has  been  used  for  vari- 


ous purposes,  but  is  now  in  use  as  a  dwelling 
house. 

Arthur  Grigg  came  about  the  same  time  and 
opened  a  blacksmith  shop,  which  he  continued  for 
some  time,  and  finally  it  became  the  property  of 
the  present  manipulator  of  the  iron,  N.  S.  Cromett. 

Soon  afterward,  L.  T.  Walker  and  a  Mr.  Ken- 
yon  started  a  general  merchandise  store  under  the 
firm  name  of  Walker  &  Co.  Mr.  Kenyon  died  a 
few  years  afterward,  and  Mr.  Walker  for  a  time 
was  in  partnership  with  a  Mr.  Paulson,  under  the 
same  firm  name;  but,  financial  difficulties,  in  the 
hard  times,  involved  the  firm,  and  business  was 
finally  discontinued.  It  was,  however,  afterwards 
re-opened,  and  now  carries  a  light  stock,  with  the 
Post-office  in  connection. 

About  the  time  that  the  above  establishment 
originated,  A.  G.  Hall,  who  is  mentioned  as  really 
having  been  the  first  resident  of  tlie  village,  erect- 
ed a  store  building  in  connection  with  his  dwell- 
ing house,  and  opened  up  a  large  stock  of  general 
merchandise,  which  he  still  continues,  with  a  large 
and  increasing  trade.  A  few  years  after  this  es- 
tablishment was  started,  Mr.  Hall  took  into  part- 
nership with  him,  his  son,  and  in  this  manner  the 
firm  continued  until  1877,  when  the  sad  death  of 
the  young  man  occurred,  and  the  father  continues 
it  alone. 

Shortly  afterward,  H.  N.  Burnham  purchased 
the  old  Whitman  building  and  opened  a  general 
merchandise  store,  which  he  run  for  two  years  and 
then  closed  out.  Later  on  Charles  Pfefl'er  started 
a  store  in  the  same  building  which  he  still  con- 
tinues. 

Armstrong  &  Wheelock  opened  a  store  here, 
but  were  finally  closed  out  and  they  disappeared. 

H.  B.  Collins  was  the  first  lawayer  in  the  village 
and  about  one  year  ago  opened  a  general  mer- 
chandise store,  which  he  still  continues  with  a 
good  trade  add  heavy  stock. 

At  an  early  day  a  man  named  E.  D.  Barber, 
calling  him.self  a  doctor,  located  in  the  village  and 
commenced  "peddling  pills."  He  remained  less 
than  a  year,  as  he  was  very  unpopular,  and  then 
left,  locating  at  some  point  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  State,  where  he  again  made  himself 
odious  by  transporting  an  own  brother,  whom  he 
insisted  was  crazy,  to  the  Insane  Asylum,  and 
then  charged  an  enormous  bill  for  the  labor  of 
so  doing.  The  bill  was  paid  but  gave  him  the 
reputation  he  deserves.     His  whereabouts  at  pres- 


412 


HISTORY  OP  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


ent  is  a  mystery,  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  who 
knew  him. 

Alden  Flouring  Mill. — This  enterprise  origi- 
nated in  187.i,  having  been  erected  that  year  by 
Wm  Wilson.  The  building  is  28x50  feet,a  story  and 
half  high,  containing  four  sets  of  burrs,  which  are 
driven  by  sufficient  force,  by  steam  power,  to 
grind  lifty-five  barrels  of  flour  per  day.  The  mill 
is  located  near  the  lake  and  cost  about  S12,000. 
The  present  proprietor  is  William  Wilson,  Jr.,  son 
of  the  original  owner. 

A  large  grain  elevator  has  been  put  up  at  this 
point  by  a  LaCrosse  firm. 

Patrons  of  Husbandry. — This  Grange  was  in- 
stituted on  the  28th  of  March,  1873.  The  initial 
officers  were :  A.  H.  Stearns,  M.  O. ;  F.  Peck,  Tr. ; 
E.  H.  Clark,  Sec;  Mrs.  S.  P.  Dromer,  Ch.;  Mrs. 
A.  W.  Clark,  G.  K.;  Mrs.  J.  A.  Burdick,  Ceres; 
Mrs.  O.  8.  Peck,  Flora;  Mrs.  E.  A.  Hall,  Pomona; 
Mrs.  A.  W.  Clark,  L.  S. 

This  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  grange  in  this 
coimty. 

BIOGRAPniCAL. 

Eli  B.  Claek  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born  on 
the  12th  of  April,  1818.  He  resided  at  home 
until  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  then  carried  on 
a  fanu  for  two  years.  In  1840,  he  married  Miss 
Joan  A.  Strope  and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year 
they  went  to  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Clark  was  engaged  at 
the  blacksmith  trade.  In  1848,  he  moved  to 
Portage  county,  Wisconsin,  and  in  the  fall  of  1849, 
was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court;  resigned 
the  follomng  year  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Plover  in  the  same  county.  In  1858, 
he  sold  out  and  was  chosen  under  Sheriff.  In  the 
fall  of  1860,  he  moved  to  Ohio  and  engaged  in 
mercantile  j>ursuits  until  1864,  when  he  returned 
to  Portage  county.  Mr.  Clark  came  to  Canton, 
in  Fillmore  county,  in  1865,  and  while  there  estab- 
lished a  Post-office  called  Prosper;  was  appointed 
its  first  Postmaster  and  also  dealt  in  real  estate. 
He  subsequently  bought  and  conducted  a  hotel  in 
Hokah,  Houston  county,  until  1869.  In  the  latter 
year  his  wife  died.  He  then  sold  his  hotel 
and  was  traveling  salesman  for  three  years. 
In  1872,  he  married  a  second  time  and 
then  purchased  a  hotel  in  Freeborn.  He 
also  owns  an  interest  in  the  coal  and  gypsum 
mines  and  is  secretary  of  the  company.  He  has 
three  daughters;  Rosaline,  the  eldest,  married  L. 
Rossiter,   a  Captain  in  the  late   war:  the  second 


married  W.  S.  Prentiss,  now  a  passenger  conduc- 
tor on  the  C.  K.  I.  &  P.  railroad;  the  youngest 
married  H.  L.  MaGee,  now  train  master  on  the 
central  branch  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  railroad  in 
Kansas. 

Seymour  F.  Gary  was  born  in  Michigan  in 
1850.  In  1860,  he  removed  to  Vernon,  Wau- 
shara county,  Wisconsin,  and  remained  ten  years. 
He  then  came  to  Manchester,  in  this  county,  stak- 
ed out  a  claim  in  section  nineteen  but  soon  moved 
;  to  Alden,  erected  a  wagon  shop  on  Main  street, 
and  is  now  of  the  firm  of  Gary  Bros.  He  was 
married  in  1875,  the  ceremony  taking  place  on 
the  24th  of  June.  His  younger  brother,  Frank 
R.,  was  born  on  the  21st of  April,  1860,  and  learn- 
ed the  wheelwright  trade  in  1879.  The  older 
brother  has  run  a  thresher  in  this  State  for  many 
years. 

Henry  B.  Collins  was  born  in  New  York,  on 
the  30th  of  March,  1832,  and  grew  to  manhood 
on  a  farm,  He  finished  his  education  at  Milton 
College,  and  after  leaving  school  taught  during 
the  winter  seasons.  In  1843,  the  family  removed 
to  Kock  county,  Wisconsin,  where  our  subject 
continued  to  teach  school.  In  1854,  he  was 
joined  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Almeda  L.  Main, 
and  in  1859,  removed  to  Garlston,  Freeborn 
county,  pre-empting  land  m  sections  twenty-two 
and  twenty -seven,  and  buying  in  section  twenty- 
eight.  He  commenced  the  study  of  law;  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1862,  and  has  followed  the 
practice  of  his  profession  ever  since.  He  has  been 
-Justice  of  the  Peace  for  eighteen  years;  Town 
Clerk  twelve  years,  and  District  Attorney  in  1864, 
'66,  and  '68.  He  is  now  located  in  Alden,  has  a 
law  office  and  conducts  a  dry  goods  store,  in 
which  he  formerly  kept  drugs.  He  is  a  Notary 
Public  and  collection  agent;  has  two  hundred 
acres  of  laud  in  this  State  and  four  hundred  in 
Nebraska.  He  was  appointed  Chairman  of  the 
Congressional  convention  held  at  Rochester  in 
July,  1882. 

N.  S.  Cromett  was  born  in  Sebec,  Maine,  on 
the  Ist  of  January,  1823,  and  when  nineteen 
years  old  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  of  .John 
J.  Lovejoy,  with  whom  he  worked  four  years.  He 
then  purchased  the  stock,  and  conducted  the  busi- 
ness twenty-five  years.  He  was  joined  in  marriage 
in  1845,  with  Miss  Emily  F.  Gliden,  who  has 
borne  him  three  children.  In  March,  1865,  he 
removed  to  Davis,  and  in  a  short  tinie  to  Bangor 


ALDEN  TOWNSHIP. 


4J3 


where  lie  conducted  a  music  store;  remaining  in 
his  native  State  until  1866,  when  he  came  to  Iowa, 
and  engaged  at  his  trade.  In  1870,  he  came  to 
this  State,  located  on  a  homestead  of  three  hun- 
dred acres  in  Mansfield  township,  where  he  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  Supervisors  during  his 
residence  there.  After  farming  there  five  years, 
he  removed  to  this  place,  engaged  at  his  trade  on 
Main  street,  and  in  1875,  purchased  a  house  and 
lot  on  Washington  street,  and  now  has  a  large 
shop  connected  with  his  business.  He  also  owns 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  end  sixty  acres  in  section 
six,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  improved.  He 
has  been  Chairman  of  the  board  of  Supervisors, 
and  is  at  present  a  prominent  member  of  the 
village  council. 

Mbs.  Floretta  Davis  was  born  in  New  York 
in  1845.  She  moved  with  her  father  to  Illinois, 
where  the  family  resided  seven  years,  and  in  1862, 
came  to  Carlston,  in  this  county.  Mrs.  Davis 
married  her  husband,  Elmer  E.  Davis,  in  1864, 
and  moved  to  his  farm  in  section  six,  Alden  town- 
ship. He  came  to  Wisconsin  in  an  early  day,  and 
moved  from  there  to  this  place  in  1863.  He  died 
in  1873,  of  consumption,  leaving  a  family  of  four 
small  children,  the  youngest  of  whom  died  soon 
after.  Mr.  Davis  was  a  member  of  the  Baj^tist 
Church,  to  which  she  also  belongs. 

W.  S.  FosT  was  born  in  Germany  on  the  12th 
of  April,  1852,  and  learned  the  blacksmith  trade 
when  sixteen  years  old.  In  1870,  he  emigrated 
to  America,  came  directly  to  Albert  Lea,  and  in  a 
short  time  removed  to  Mansfield.  After  working 
at  his  trade  in  that  place  one  year,  he  went  to 
Winnebago  City,  engaged'  in  farming  and  the 
next  fall  removed  to  Wells,  working  in  the  rail- 
road sho]:)S  one  year.  He  then  was  employed  at 
his  trade  in  difl'erent  jjarts  of  the  State  until  1874, 
coming  to  this  village  in  that  year.  He  has  a 
blacksmith  shop  on  Main  street.  Miss  Mary  E. 
Jonky  became  his  wife  on  the  18th  of  May,  1877, 
and  they  have  three  children. 

Henry  C.  Fkielt  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born 
in  1841,  and  when  sixteen  years  old  emigrated  to 
America.  He  came  directly  to  Chicago,  Illinois; 
was  conductor  on  a  street  car  until  1862,  when  he 
enlisted  in  the  One  hundred  and  thirteenth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  being  Orderly  Sergeant  two 
years,  then  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant; 
served  till  the  close  of  the  war  and  returned  to 
Chicago.     He  clerked  in  the  retail  store  of  Field, 


Leiter  k  Co.  eight  years,  an  1  later  took  charge 
of  Mandell  Bros',  dry  goods  store  one  year,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  went  into  business  for 
himself,  selling  out  in  1875  and  coming  to  Alden. 
In  1876,  Mr.  Friely  removed  to  Albert  Lea,  where 
he  clerked  for  C.  M.  Hewitt;  afterward  rented  a 
farm  near  Pickerel  Lake,  which  he  conducted 
three  years  and  returned  to  this  place.  He  was 
married  in  1879,  to  Miss  Clara  Bethker,  and  built 
his  present  house,  in  connection  with  which  he 
has  a  billiard  hall. 

A.  G.  Halt,  was  born  in  Clinton  county.  New 
York,  on  the  16th  of  August,  1824,  and  made  his 
home  in  that  county  until  1865,  when  he  came  to 
this  place;  locating  in  section  one.  He  was  mar- 
in  his  native  State  in  1849  to  Miss  Susan  A.  Good- 
sell,  and  they  have  three  children.  In  the  autumn 
of  1869  they  removed  to  what  is  now  the  village 
of  Alden,  building  the  first  house  in  that  vicinity, 
and  two  years  after,  an  addition  to  it,  which  he 
uses  for  store  purposes,  having  a  stock  of  dry 
goods  and  groceries  on  Main  street.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  board  of  Supervisors  three  suc- 
cessive terms,  and  kept  the  first  Post-oiBce  in  town, 
known  as  the  Buckeye  Post-office. 

John  A.  Hazle  was  born  in  Canada  on  the  22d 
of  February,  1847.  His  father  was  a  merchant 
tailor,  and  John  remained  at  home  until  1859, 
when  he  came  to  Michigan.  He  was  Captain  of  a 
boat  on  the  lake  for  some  time,  then  learned 
tha  carpenter  trade  and  moved  to  Missouri,  return- 
ing to  Michgan  in  four  years.  He  was  married  in 
1873  to  Miss  Ella  M.  Wilbur,  and  the  next  year  they 
came  to  Alden,  Mr.  Hazle  purchasing  the  Alden 
House,  a  large  hotel  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Broadway  streets,  near  the  depot.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  Supervisors  two  years  and 
is  at  present  village  marshal.  He  has  a  livery 
stable  near  his  hotel. 

William  B.  Humes  wasborj  in  New  Jersey,  on 
the  25th  of  May,  1839,  and  while  young  removed 
witii  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  to  Minnesota  in  the 
fall  of  1854.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Sixth  Minne- 
sota Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  discharged  the 
next  year  for  disability.  In  1864  he  was  joined 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Rachel  M.  Harrington,  a  na- 
tive of  Illinois,  and  they  have  two  children.  On 
the  25th  of  May,  1864,  he  removed  from  Pleasant 
Grove,  where  they  had  first  located,  to  Alden,  and 
erected  a  log  house  14x16  feet.  The  next  spring 
he  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  town,  and 


414 


BISTORT  OF  P HE E BORN  COUNTY. 


was  appointoil  first  Town  Treasurer;  has  been 
Justice  o£  the  Peace,  auJ  a  member  of  the  board 
of  Supervisors  one  year.  He  has  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  section  one,  seventy 
acres  of  which  is  improved,  and  a  three  acre 
grove. 

Rev.  F.  M.  Kristensen  is  a  native  of  Denmark, 
born  on  the  31st  of  March,  1846,  and  graduated 
from  Yelling  Seminary,  having  been  a  student 
there  three  years.  After  teaching  school  seven 
years  he  attended  a  high  school  two  years,  then, 
in  1877,  came  to  America.  He  remained  in  Mich- 
igan two  years,  and  on  the  5th  of  June,  1879,  was 
married  to  Jliss  .T.  Nelson.  They  removed  to 
Iowa  and  in  the  fall  he  came  to  Alden,  and  he 
preaches  for  the  Danish  Lutherans  here  and  in 
Carlston,  having  about  fifty  followers.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kristensen  have  two  children. 

Mks.  Clarisa  Norton,  deceased,  the  wife  of 
Nelson  R.  Norton,  and  mother  of  Charles,  William, 
and  Adrian  Norton,  of  this  county,  a  lady  who 
Wiis  universally  beloved  and  respected.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Derling,  and  she  was  born  in 
Woodstock,  Vermont.  She  afterwards  lived  in 
Hampton,  New  York,  and  there  was  married,  re- 
maining six  years.  In  1833,  they  got  west  as  far 
as  Chicago,  and  remained  there  six  years,  and  then 
located  in  Burlington,  Racine  county,  Wisconsin. 
In  1872,  came  to  Minnesota  and  located  near 
Alden,  where  the  remainder  of  her  life  of  varied 
ex[)eriences  was  passed.  She  had  been  married 
fifty-four  years  and  had  nine  children.  She  was 
a  woman  of  many  virtues.  After  an  experience  of 
seventy- three  years  in  this  world,  on  the  17th  of 
September,  1881,  she  quietly  passed  to  the  other 
shore. 

Cornelius  N.  Ostbandeb  was  born  in   Clinton 


county,  New  York,  on  the  26th  of  September, 
1849.  He  moved  with  his  parents  to  Fond  du 
Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  and  in  1859,  came  to  Min- 
nesota, where  he  learned  the  carpenter  trade,  and 
for  eleven  years  was  engaged  in  farming  and  at 
his  trade.  In  1870,  he  removed  to  Wells,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  a  machine  shop,  thence  to 
Minneapolis,  returning,  in  a  short  time,  to  Albert 
Lea,  and  was  employed  at  his  trade  and  wagcm- 
making.  He  next  located  in  Alden,  where  he  has 
a  wagon  and  paint  shop  in  the  business  portion  of 
the  village  and  also  a  jewelry  store.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1870,  to  Miss  .Tennie  Comstock.  They 
have  two  children. 

GrsTAV  A.  St'HWAUDKK  was  born  in  Prus- 
sia in  1854.  His  father  kept  a  hotel  and  con- 
ducted a  farm,  and  when  fourteen  years  old  our 
subject  learned  the  butcher  business.  In  187(1,  he 
came  to  America  and  directly  to  Owatonna,  Min- 
nesota, where  for  sixteen  months  he  was  engaged 
in  a  meat  market,  then  removed  to  Minneapolis  and 
eight  months  later  to  Alden.  In  1879,  he  opened 
a  meat  market  and  packing  house  on  Broadway, 
and  is  doing  an  excellent  business.  He  was  joined 
in  marriage  on  the  26th  of  May,  1879,  with  Miss 
Matilda  Hammell. 

John  N.  Wiesner  is  a  native  of  (Termany,  born 
on  the  25th  of  July,  1854,  and  when  fifteen  years 
old  emigrated  to  America.  In  1869,  he  came  to 
New  Ulm,  Minnesota,  worked  on  a  farm  eight 
years,  then  came  to  Alden  and  opened  a  saloon  on 
Main  Street.  In  1881,  he  left  his  business  in 
charge  of  a  clerk  and  was  agent  for  the  John  Gund 
brewery  company  one  year.  He  now  has  a  billiard 
hall  and  is  doing  a  prosperous  business.  He  was 
married  on  the  7th  of  January,  1880,  to  Miss 
Barbara  Hoffman. 


BANCUOVT   TOWNSHIP. 


415 


BANCROFT. 


CHAPTER  LVI. 

Descriptive  —  Early  Settlement  —  Beligious 
Services — Oak  Hill  Grange- -Official  Eec- 
OBD — Bancroft  Village — Itasca  Village — 
Educational — Biographical. 

This  township  is  one  of  the  center  subdivisions 
of  Freeborn  county,  being  separated  by  one  tier 
from  the  north,  and  an  equal  distance  from  east 
and  west  county  lines.  Its  contiguous  neighbors 
are,  Bath  township  on  the  north:  Riceland  on  the 
east;  Albert  Lea  on  the  south,  and  Manchester 
on  the  west,  embracing  the  territory  of  town 
103,  range  21,  containing  thirty-six  sections,  or 
23,040  acres,  of  which  there  are  very  few  unsuita- 
ble for  agricultural  purposes,  and  the  greater  part 
is  already  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

The  town  has  no  lakes,  and  no  streams  of  im- 
portance. Bancroft  Creek  is  the  principal  one; 
rising  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  town  it  takes 
a  southerly  course,  and  finally  enters  Fountain 
Lake.  A  small  body  of  water,  dignified  with  the 
appellation  of  Ttaska  Lake,  covers  a  few  acres  of 
land  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  section  thirty- 
one. 

The  general  make-up  of  the  locality  wc^uld  be 
called  prairie  and  oak  openings.  The  early  set- 
tlers say  that  originally,  at  least  three-fourths  of 
the  area  of  the  town  was  covered  with  a  growth 
of  burr  and  jack  oak  and  other  timber  of  the 
smaller  varieties,  interspersed  with  natural  mead- 
ows and  prairie.  The  greater  part  of  the  former 
growth  of  timber  has  been  removed,  and  the  rich 
country  transformed  into  beautiful  and  productive 
farms.  There  are,  however,  a  number  of  groves 
left,  one  upon  section  nineteen,  another  in  section 
five,  and  in  a  number  of  other  localities  small 
groves  mark  the  remains  of  former  miniature 
forests.  A  strip  of  valuable  prairie.  kn<iwn  as  the 
Paradise  Prairie,  enters  the  town  in  the  southwest-, 
ern  comer  and  extends  northeasterly  almost  across 


the  entire  town,  gradually  disappearing  towards 
Clark's  Grove,  in  the  northeast  corner. 

The  locality  known  as  Oak  Hill  is  the  most  ele- 
vated tract  of  land  in  the  township,  taking  its 
name  from  the  variety  of  timber  with  which  it  was 
formerly  covered.  It  makes  itself  visible  on  the 
surface  in  the  northwestern  extremity  of  the  town, 
and  extends  easterly  across  the  entire  township, 
embracing  the  northern  tier  of  sections. 

The  farmers  here,  as  a  rule,  are  in  comfortable 
circumstances,  and  the  average  appearance  of  the 
farm  buildings  indicate  their  thrift  and  energy, 
the  town  having  the  reputation  of  being  one  of 
the  most  valuable  farming  localities  in  the  county. 

The  willow  hedge  is  used  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent for  fencing  purposes,  and  is  an  excellent  me- 
dium for  giving  the  prairie  a  picturesque  and 
pleasant  appearance.  J.  C.  Frost  has  four  miles 
of  this  hedge,  and  has  also  cultivated  fruit  with 
success,  having  at  this  writing  an  orchard  of  400 
bearing  and  thrifty  apple  trees,  of  nearly  twenty 
years  growth.  His  brother,  M.  L.  Frost,  also  has 
about  three  miles  of  this  beautiful  and  useful 
hedge. 

The  soil  on  the  prairie  is  mostly  a  rich  dark 
loam,  underlain  with  a  rich  sub-soil  of  clay ;  while 
in  the  timber,  or  oak  opening,  it  is  of  a  lighter 
nature,  with  a  marked  tendency,  in  places,  to 
clayeyness  and  a  sub-soil  of  sand  and  gravel. 

The  township  has  no  railroad  through  it,  and 
therefore  has  not  been  the  scene  of  the  usual  rail- 
road assistance  bond  issue.  It  has  had  two  vil- 
lages, or  hamlets,  the  rise  and  decline  of  each  of 
which  will  be  treated  under  proper  heads. 

EARLY  settlement. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  18.55,  a  party  of  Eastern 
people  left  Wisconsin,  where  they  had  stopped  for 
some  time,  and  headed  toward  the  prairie  and 
timber  land  of  Southern  Minnesota.  They  con- 
sisted of   Mr.  Bethuel  Lilly  and   wife,   and    the 


■ik; 


IIISrORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


Colby  family,  Jobn  and  his  wife  Hannah  and  six 
children.  They  arrived  at  Caledonia,  Houston 
'county,  on  the  18th  of  May,  1855.  and  here  part 
of  the  little  colony  decided  to  remain,  while  the 
balance  should  push  on  toward  the  West  in  search 
of  future  homes.  The  lotg  fell  upon  Charles  C. 
and  Sarah  Jane  Colby,  a  son  and  daughter  of 
John,  mentioned  above,  and  Bethuel  Lilly  and 
wife.  They  took  the  ox  teams,  and  in  July 
pushed  on  toward  the  setting  sun.  They  made 
their  way  direct  to  Bancroft,  and  selected  farms 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town,  about  the 
future  site  of  Itasca  village.  C.  C.  Colby  took 
the  place  on  which  the  village  was  afterwards 
platted,  and  also  selected  a  farm  for  his  father, 
John  Colby,  who  was  yet  in  Caledonia.  He 
remained  until  after  the  war,  and  finally  found 
his  way  to  New  York  City,  where  he  is  agent  for 
the  Musical  Art  Journal.  Mr.  Lilly  remained 
upon  his  place  for  about  one  year;  finally  went  to 
Kansas,  enlisted  and  sacrificed  his  life  for  his 
country  during  the  rebellion. 

The  following  spring,  in  March,  of  1856,  the 
balance  of  the  party  made  their  appearance,  and 
settled  ujjon  the  place  which  the  son  had  selected, 
jnst  over  the  line  in  Albert  Lea  township,  now 
occupied  by  Daniel  Gibson.  The  party  consisted 
of  John  Colby,  his  wife,  and  several  children. 
The  old  gentleman  lived  Upon  his  place  until 
June,  1876,  when  he  peacefully  yielded  uj]  the 
burdens  of  life  to  enter  upon  eternity,  and  his 
widow  still  lives  with  her  son-in-law,  Mr.  Leander 
J.  Thomas,  of  Albert  Lea. 

Guttorm  Bottelson,  a  native  of  Norway,  who 
had  remained  for  a  time  in  Wisconsin,  arrived  a 
few  weeks  after  John  Colby,  in  1856,  and  com- 
menced a  sojourn  which  he  still  continues,  upon 
a  place  near  Itasca.  He  came  with  ox  teams, 
bringing  his  family  and  considerable  stock. 

The  Frost  family  were  also  among  the  most 
prominent  and  active  pioneers,  and  still  remain 
in  the  town;  but  they  are  treated  at  length  under 
the  head  of  "Biographical." 

Others  who  were  also  early  pioneers  in  this 
part  of  the  town,  were  Andrew  Bottelson,  who 
is  yet  living  upon  his  place  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  town;  John  and  Andrew  Hermanson, 
Dr.  Burnham,  and  others  whose  names  have 
been  forgotten. 

In  the  meantime  the  northern  part  of  the 
town  began  to  receive  the  attention  of  the  early 


comers;  but  ere  this  claims  were  getting  to  be 
scarce,  except  second  hand,  and  in  the  same 
ratio  that  they  were  scarce,  so  they  became 
valuable.  The  settlement  north  of  the  center  of 
the  town  is  more  universally  known  as  the  "Oak 
Hill  neighborhood." 

A.  C.  Hall,  a  native  of  Maine,  was  the  first 
to  make  his  appearance,  and  he  selected  his 
domain  in  sections  five  and  eight,  in  the  middle 
of  September,  1856,  where  he  put  up  a  shanty 
and  made  some  improvements;  but  was  .  not 
really  an  actual  settler,  as  he  soon  sold  out  and 
removed   to  Iowa. 

Andrew  Barlow  was  the  next  to  arrive,  mak- 
ing his  appearance  in  September.  He  "footed 
it"  all  the  way  from  McGregor,  leaving  his 
family,  and  after  taking  a  claim,  left  for  Iowa 
in  search  of  work.  While  gone,  the  weather 
seemed  to  be  antagonistic  to  his  best  interests, 
as  the  snow  was  very  deep,  and  he  was  conse- 
quently unable  to  return  to  his  proposed  home, 
so  his  place  was  jumped;  and  when  he  finally 
returned  in  the  spring  of  1859,  he  purchased 
the  farm  back  for  if'H).  He  still  lives  ujion  the 
place  in  comfortable  circumstances. 

H.  K.  Loomis,  from  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania, 
came  by  stage  from  Dubutpie  to  near  Merry's 
Ford,  on  the  Cedar  River,  Iowa,  which  is  near  the 
southeastern  corner  of  the  county,  and  from  there 
walked  to  Bancroft,  arriving  and  selecting  his 
place  on  the  first  day  of  November,  1856.  He 
erected  a  small  t-hanty  and  made  some  improve- 
ments, and,  as  it  was  a  lonely  sojourn,  bought  a 
yoke  of  oxen,  as  he  says,  "to  talk  to." 

At  one  time  during  the  winter  he  went  four  miles 
for  a  load  of  hay,  a  job  which  engaged  him  from 
early  morn  till  late  at  night,  and  upon  his  return 
could  take  the  object  and  fruits  of  his  entire  day's 
labor  in  his  arms  and  feed  it  ere  another  day 
.shoTild  dawn.  On  the  2Gth  of  December,  he 
started  with  his  oxen  to  Delaware  county,  Iowa, 
and  remained  there  until  February,  1857.  when 
he  returned,  bringing  with  him  his  sister,  Louisa 
Loomis,  and  Oscar  and  Fannie  Ward,  the  latter  is 
now  Mrs.  George  H.  Prescott.  The  last  two 
named  were  aged  twenty  and  fifteen  years,  respect- 
ively. The  entire  party  came  in  a  sleigh,  camp- 
ing out  on  the  way,  finally  arriving  at  Benjamin 
Frost's  house,  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
town,  where  the,  manager  of  the  party,  Mr.  Loom- 
is, left  them  and  proceeded  to  his  selected  home  in 


BANCROFT   TOWNSHIP. 


417 


section  eight;  prepared  a  fire  and  set  matters  in 
shape  for  his  gneats.  The  balance  of  the  party, 
whom  he  had  left  at  Frost's,  followed  on  foot,  on 
the  top  of  the  snow,  there  being  a  heavy  crust. 

They  arrived  and  got  settled  m  safety,  and 
William  Oscar  Ward  selected  a  farm  for  his  father. 
Louisa  Loomis  is  now  Mrs.  Caswell,  living  in 
Iowa.  H.  R.  Loomis  still  lives  upon  the  farm  he 
first  selected,  a  mo.st  prominent  and  popular  man. 

Early  in  the  fall  of  1857,  Jeremiah  Ward,  anative 
of  New  York,  father  of  Oscar  and  Fannie,  arrived 
and  located  upon  the  place  selected  for  him,  and 
lived  upon  it  until  1879,  when  he  was  called  upon  to 
cross  the  dark  river  from  earthly  to  eternal  e.xist- 
ence,  and  his  loss  was  severely  felt  by  the  many 
friends  who  honored  him.  His  widow  still  lives 
in  the  town. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1857,  Albert  Loomis, 
from  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  came  to  the  "Hole- 
in-the-ground"  of  H.  K.  Loomis,  and  immediately 
took  a  claim  adjoining,  in  section  nine,  where  he 
made  his  home  for  about  ten  years,  when  he  went 
back  to  Pennsylvania. 

About  a  week  later,  Cyrus  Prescott,  a  native  of 
Maine,  who  had  made  his  home  from  childhood  in 
Ohio,  made  his  appearance  in  the  town,  coming 
by  way  of  Hastings;  and  making  a  claim  in  sec- 
tion five  took  up  his  abode  with  11.  R.  Loomis' 
people,  while  he  made  improvements  sufficient  to 
live  upon  his  place.  He  resided  here  until  1876, 
when  he  moved  to  Albert  Lea,  and  now  lives  in 
Dakota  Territory. 

Later  in  the  season  Cyrus'  father,  Daniel, 
joined  his  son,  and  made  him  a  habitation  and  a 
home  in  section  four,  where  he  remained  until  a 
few  years  ago,  and  now,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty,  lives  upon  the  farm  of  H.  R.  Loomis. 

In  June,  1857,  the  next  pioneer  drifted  in,  in 
the  person  of  William  H.  Long,  a  native  of  New- 
ark, New  Jersey,  and  commenced  a  sojourn  upon 
a  farm  in  sections  five  and  eight,  which  he  still 
owns;  but  in  the  spring  of  1882,  he  removed  to 
city  of  Albert  Lea. 

In  the  spring  of-  1858,  Charles  Dills,  a  native 
of  the  Empire  State,  came  and  purchased  a  place 
in  section  nine,  of  Charles  E.  Teneyoke,  who  had 
previously  secured  it.     Mr.  Dills  still  lives  there. 

Ere  this  time  nearly  two-thirds   of  the  land   in 

this  locality  was  taken  up  by  actual  settlers,  and 

already  a  stride  in  the  advance  of  civilization  was 

perceptible.      Among    those    who    had    arrived, 

27 


whose  names  and  actions  have  not  been  dotted 
upon  the  pages  of  memory,  a  few  more  will  be 
chronicled.  George  H.  Prescott,  who  still  lives  in 
section  four.  G.  Thompson,  who  took  land  in 
section  eight  and  is  now  in  the  West.  Andrew 
Knudson  took  land  in  section  nine,  and  is  also  in 
the  West.  Messrs.  Wells  and  Clark  took  land,  but 
soon  left. 

Jeremiah  Ward  is  mentioned  elsewhere.  He 
was  a  carpenter  and  stone  mason  by  trade;  but 
could  do  a  good  job  at  almost  anything,  and  his 
famous  old  "turn  keys"  are  yet  remembered  as 
ferocious  instruments  in  his  hands,  with  a  shud- 
der, by  many  of  the  old  pioneers;  as  they  were  the 
means  of  extracting  all  the  poor  teeth  in  the 
neighborhood.  It  is  said  in  the  winter  of  1857-58, 
he  pulled  a  tooth  for  David  Blakely,  and  after  the 
"turnkeys"  were  set,  either  head  or  tooth  had  to 
come,  and  for  a  time  it  was  doubtful  which. 

VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEKEST. 

The  first  marriage  of  parties  from  this  jjlace, 
occurred  on  the  13th  of  January,  1857,  and  united 
the  destinies  of  two  couples,  fit  the  residence  of 
John  Colby,  just  over  the  line  in  Albert  Lea.  An 
account  of  this  is  found  in  the  article  on  the 
town  of  Albert  Lea,  to  which  we  refer  the  reader. 

The  first  marriage    within   the    boundaries  of 

Bancroft  took  place  the  spring  of  1858,  the  high 

contracting   parties  being  Mr.   John   Raiser  and 

Miss  Margaret  Baker.     The  event  took  place  in 

the  "old-time"  village  of  Bancroft,  where  the  Poor 

Farm   now  is,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by 

Rev.  S.  G.  Lowrv,  a  Presbyterian  minister.     The 
I 
parties  now  reside  in  Austin. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  occurred  in  the 
spring  of  1857,  and  was  a  one  day  old  child  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  Mickleson. 

The  first  death  of  a  matured  person  was  the  de- 
mise of  Margaret  Horning,  in  April,  1859.  Her 
remains  were  deposited  in  the  graveyard  at  Al- 
bert Lea. 

Oak  Hh/L  Religious  Services. — Meetings  of 
various  denominations  have  been  held  in  this  lo- 
cality ever  since  its  early  settlement,  in  private 
houses  and  the  schoolhouse.  In  1858,  services 
were  held  by  an  itinerant  preacher.  Rev.  Mr. 
Adams.  Rev.  Mr.  Lowry,  or,  as  he  was  usually 
called.  Father  Lowry,  held  services  here  at  an  early 
day  also. 

Itasca  Cemetery. — This  burial  ground  is  locat- 
ed in  the  southwestern  part  of  section  thirty-one. 


418 


HTI^TOnr  OF  VUEKDOUN  COUNTY. 


on  the  farm  of  A.  M.  Burnham.  In  1861,  Samuel 
Henderson,  a  resident  of  Pickerel  Lake,  died,  and 
was  the  first  person  buried  here.  Others"  remains 
were  also  deposited  here,  and  about  tlie  yeiir  1870, 
the  grounds  were  regularly  arranged,  platted,  and 
set  aside  tor  the  purpose.  This  location  was 
selected  by  Mrs.  Burnham,  and  the  site  does  jus- 
tice to  her  taste,  as  it  is  a  beautiful  spot.  She 
also  selected  the  last  resting  place  that  her  re- 
mains now  occupy. 

Oak  HitjL  (trancie. — This  society  was  instituted 
on  the  7th  of  ,July,  1873,  with  the  following  char- 
ter members: 

Messrs.  Geo.  H.  Prescott,  M.  Frost,  J.  C.  Frost, 
Asa  Ward,  William  H.  Long,  D.  Prescott,  H.  R. 
Loomis,  Hans  Nelson,  J.  Ward,  Clark  H.  Dills, 
Peter  Peterson,  Charles  Peterson;  Mesdames  Fan- 
nie M.  Prescott,  Nancy  Frost,  H.  E.  Prescott,  .Jen- 
ny M.  Frost,  Helen  E.  Ward,  Eliza  Long,  E.  H. 
Prescott,  Nancy  Loomis,  Emma  Ward,  and  Maria 
Dills. 

The  first  officers  elected  were  as  follows :  Henry 
Loomis,  Master;  George  H.  Prescott,  Overseer; 
William  H.  Long,  Lecturer;  Charles  Dills,  Stew- 
ard; J.  C.  Frost,  Assistant  Steward;  Asa  Ward, 
Chaplain;  Clark  H.  Dills,  Secretary;  Hans  Nelson, 
Treasurer;  Harriet  E.  Prescott,  Ceres;  Nancy  ! 
Frost,  Flora;  Emma  Ward,  Pomona:  C.  S.  Pres- 
cott, Gate  Keeper. 

The  order  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
having  about  twenty-seven  members.  During  the 
summer  months  meetings  are  held  the  first  Satur- 
day in  each  month,  and  in  the  winter  once  every 
two  weeks,  in  Frost's  hall  in  section  eight. 

On  the  7th  of  March,  187(j,  a  corporation  was 
formed  and  shares  of  stock  issued  at  .f  5  each,  for 
the  purpose  of  establishing  a  grange  store.  The 
undertaking  was  a  success,  and  a  store  was  started 
with  about  $500  capital,  and  continued  under  the 
management  of  directors  until  1881,  when  Daniel 
Prescott  purchased  the  establishment  and  still 
runs  it.  The  dividends  declared,  while  under  the 
managemant  of  the  grange,  amounted  to  10  per 
cent,  upon  the  capital  invested. 

The  present  officers  of  the  order  are  as  follows: 
Clark  H.  Dills,  Master;  J.  C.  Frost,  Overseer;  H. 
E.  Nielson,  Lecturer;  H.  Ward,  Steward;  Daniel 
Prescott,  Assistant  Steward;  Fannie  Prescott,Chap- 
lain;  Charles  Dills,  Treasurer;  George  H.  Prescott, 
Secretary;    H.  Frost,  Gate   Keeper;    Mary    Dills, 


Ceres;    Nancy    Frost,    Pomona;    Anna   Nielsen, 
Flora;  AdeUa  Dills,  — . 

OFFICIAL    RECOHD. 

The  first  meeting  in  the  township  for  the  pur- 
pose of  effecting  the  organization  of  Bancroft, 
was  held  on  the  11th  of  May,  1858,  at  the  house 
of  ( )lo  OLsou.  The  meeting  came  to  order  l)y  the 
appointment  of  N.  H.  Elliekson,  Ohairniiiu;  W. 
N.  Oliver.  Moderator,  and  ,T.  M.  Clark,  Clerk.  E. 
D.  Porter  and  Gardner  Frost  were  elected  over- 
seers of  roads,  and  a  resolntion  was  then  adopted 
declaring  that  all  cattle,  mules,  and  horses,  except 
stallions  over  two  years  of  age,  could  run  at 
large. 

The  election  of  officers  was  next  taken  up,  and 
the  following  gentlemen  for  the  various  positions 
of  trust,  were  declared  elected:  Supervisors,  D. 
Blakely,  Chairman,  .L  M.  Clark,  and  0.  C.  Colby; 
Clerk,  G.  M.  Frost;  As.iessor,  Daniel  Prescott; 
Treasurer,  OleEllingsou;  Overseer  of  Poor,  Henry 
Loomis;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  S.  Hanson  and  S. 
S.  Watson;  Constables,  H.  Bedells  and  R.  G. 
Franklin. 

For  several  years  the  annual  meetings  were  held 
at  the  store  in  Bancroft  (now  the  county  Poor 
Farm ) ;  at  present  they  are  held  in  the  residence 
of  Ole  Gulbrandson,  in  section  sixteen. 

The  present  officers  of  the  township  are  as  fol- 
lows: Supervisors,  M.  E.  Hewett,  Chairman,  Ole 
Narveson,  and  Andrtw  Barlow;  Clerk,  Erick 
.Tohnsrud;  Treasurer,  N.  Sandburg;  Assessor,  A. 
O.  Moeu;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  E.  K.  Pickett 
and  C.  Nelsen;  Constables,  C.  H.  Dills  and  T.  B. 
Enghsh. 

EMBBYOTIO   VILLAGES. 

Bancboft  Village. — In  the  fall  of  1856,  a  vil- 
lage was  platted  under  this  name  in  sections 
twenty-eight  and  twenty-nine,  which  figured  high 
in  the  contest  for  the  county  seat,  as  narrated 
elsewhere. 

Thomas  Edgar  erected  the  first  store,  in  the 
spring  of  18.57,  and  put  in  a  stock  of  goods.  This 
buildiug  was  removed  to  Austin  in  1859. 

The  first  building  put  up  on  the  village  site  was 
a  shanty  erected  just  previous  to  the  store,  in 
1857,  by  W.  N.  Oleson.  He  had  first  lived  in  a 
"dug-out,"  to  which  he  brought  his  wife,  but 
finally  gave  up  this  mode  of  life  and  became  civ- 
ilized. Oleson  brought  his  wife  from  Shell  Bock 
on  a  hand  sled,  as  the  snow  was  so  deep. 


BANCROFT  TOWNSIITP. 


419 


A  steam  saw  mill  was  moved  to  the  village  from 
Hastiugs  by  the  Town  Site  Company,  which  was 
set  up  and  operated  by  B.  F.  Ross  and  Addison 
Caswell.  The  cost  of  the  mill  was  about  $2,500, 
it  occupying  a  building  20x40,  and  for  two  years 
the  mill  kept  piling  up  the  sawdust  of  hard  wood; 
but,  alas!  the  entire  concern  was  finally,  in  1859, 
sold  for  taxes. 

The  Town  Site  Company  commenced,  soon 
after,  the  erection  of  a  hotel,  by  digging  a  cellar; 
but  this  was  a  failure  and  was  given  up. 

A  saloon  was  started  by  a  Swede  named  Peter- 
son, which  had  a  brief  existence. 

A  newspaper  was  next  started  by  David  Blake- 
ly,  under  the  flaming  banner  of  the  "Bancroft 
Pioneer,"  which,  for  a  few  short  months,  distribu- 
ted its  newsy  wares  among  its  limited  number  of 
subscribers.  Mr.  Blakely  is  a  native  of  Vermont, 
and  is  now  the  Minneapolis  editor  of  the  "Pioneer 
Press." 

A  Post-office  was  also  established,  which  has 
since  been  removed  to  Itasca,  although  it  still 
bears  the  name  of  Bancroft. 

When  the  county  seat  matter  was  settled,  all 
hopes  of  the  village  amounting  to  anything  van- 
ished, and  the  lots  which  were  purchased  were 
afterward  sold  for  taxes,  and  in  1870,  Freeborn 
county  bought  the  entire  property,  and  it  is  now 
used  as  the  County  Poor  Farm. 

Itasoa  ViiiiiAGB. — The  land  where  this  village 
had  its  rise  and  decline  was  taken  under  the  gov- 
ernment laws,  in  1855,  by  C.  C.  Colby  and  Samuel 
Batchelder.  In  the  winter  following  the  idea  of  a 
village  was  conceived  and  carried  out  by  the 
platting  and  recording  of  Itasca,  C.  C.  Colby  be- 
ing the  surveyor.  The  scene  was  laid  in  section 
thirty-one  of  Bancroft,  about  the  little  body  of 
water  called  by  the  same  name  as  the  village. 

A  newspaper  was  started  here  by  Dr.  Burhnam, 
with  a  finely  equipped  office,  and  the  doctor  en- 
gaged a  man  to  run  it  for  him. 

Soon  after  the  preliminary  steps  were  taken,  a 
man  named  Dunbar,  started  a  store  by  putting  in 
a  very  limited  stock  of  goods.  A  Post-office  was 
established  with  C.  C.  Corljy  as  Postmaster,  and 
mail  wss  received  regularly.  The  name  of  this 
office  was  "Freeborn  Springs"  and  prior  to  its  es- 
tablishment the  citizens  were  obliged  to  go  as  far 
as  Osage,  Iowa,  for  mail  matter.  After  a  time 
the  office  was  changed  to  Bancroft,  and  Mr.  Josh. 


Dunbar   was   made    Postmaster.     The  store  was 
continued  for  many  years. 

In  1857  Pres.  Hall  and  .James  Longworth  star- 
ted a  store  which  they  ran  for  a  few  years,  making 
a  profit,  such  as  buying  calico  for  11  cents  and 
selling  it  for  60  cents  per  yard. 

Dr.  Burnham  arrived  at  an  early  day,  got  a 
large  fai'm  and  erected  thereon  a  .17,500  house, 
hauling  the  lumber  by  water  from  Shell  Bock; 
coming  up  the  Shell  Rock  river  and  thence 
by  way  of  the  lake.  The  energetic  doctor  had  a 
little  brig,  called  "Itasca,"  built,  which  continued 
to  ply  up  and  down  the  water  for  a  number 
of  years.  Through  him  a  number  of 
buildings  were  erected,  and  his  energy  enbued 
life  into  the  whole  locality;  but  all  was  of  no 
aval  1. 

As  soon  as  the  county  seat  was  settled  the  inter- 
est in  the  village  began  to  wane,  the  stores  pulled 
out  one  by  one,  for  pastures  green,  and  the  village 
now  lives  only  in  the  memories  of  those  who  were 
connected  with  it  in  its  brief  career. 

eddcationaij  mediums. 

DisTKiOT  No.  20. — Was  originally  organized  in 
1857,  as  a  part  of  District  No.  9,  and  a  log  house 
was  soon  afterwards  erected  in  which  Mary  Pres- 
cott  taught  the  first  school  to  an  attendance  of 
about  twenty- five  pnpils.  The  first  officers  were 
Messrs.  Ole  Stuga,  Daniel  Prescott,  and  A. 
Loomis.  In  1859,  it  wis  made  a  part  of  District 
No.  2,  and  three  years  later,  in  1862,  it  was  reor- 
ganized under  its  present  number.  The  school- 
house  now  in  use  was  erected  in  1875,  in  the  south- 
east corner  of  section  five,  size  24x30,  furnished 
with  patent  seats,  and  cost  about  $1,000.  The 
present  officers  are:  Director,  Asa  Ward;  Treas- 
urer, G.  H.  Prescott;  Clerk,  W.  H.  Long;  the  lat- 
ter officer  having  held  that  position  for  twenty 
years.  The  last  term  of  school  was  taught  by 
Miss  Eva  Loomis,  with  an  an  attendance  of  forty- 
four  scholars. 

District  No.  24  —Effected  an  organization  in 
1862,  the  first  meeting  being  held  at  the  residence 
of  Knute  Tollottson,  on  the  19th  of  April  of  that 
year,  and  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Direc- 
tor, Lars  .Johnson ;  Treasurer,  G.  J.  Johnson;  Clerk, 
Knute  ToUoftson.  A  log  house  was  at  once  erec- 
ted, 16x16  feet,  at  a  coat  of  $150,  which  lasted 
until  the  year  1881  when  the  present  school  struc- 
ture was  built,  occupying  a  place  in  the  porth- 
western  part  of  section  twenty -six,  size  2Qs26  feet, 


420 


insTour  or  fmkebobn  county. 


at  a  cost  of  .*()00,  being  supplied  witli  patent 
seats  and  improved  furniture.  The  first  school 
was  taught  in  1863,  by  Lida  Hewitt,  it  is  claimed 
with  thirty  pupils  in  attendance,  and  she  received 
the  sum  of  .$45  for  her  services  for  two  months. 

District  No.  58  was  organized  in  18f)3,  and  on 
10th  of  April,  that  year,  the  first  meeting  was  held, 
at  which  officers  were  elected  as  follows:  Clerk, 
Andrew  Bottelson;  Director,  B.  Frost;  Treasurer, 
John  Hermanson.  This  meeting  was  held  at  the 
residence  of  Benjamin  Frost  in  section  nineteen. 
The  first  school  commenced  on  the  9th  day  of 
May,  18G3,  with  sixteen  scholars  present,  in  the 
back  room  of  A.  Bottelson's  house,  with  Miss 
Mary  Frost  teacher,  she  receiving  S1.50  per  week. 
The  log  shoo) house  was  finished  in  1864.  The 
pi'esent  officers  are:  Director,  Erick  Attleson; 
Treasurer,  O.  G.  Bottelson;  Clerk,  A.  Bottelson. 
The  schoolhouse  is  located  in  section  twenty. 

District  No.  22 — The  first  school  in  this  dis- 
trict was  taught  by  Mrs.  Margaret  Fitzgerald,  in 
her  husband's  house  in  section  twenty-six  in  the 
summer  of  1860,  for  .$1.50  per  week.  The  dis- 
trict was  organized  at  a  meeting  held  in  the  spring 
of  the  year  at  the  same  place.  The  first  officers 
were  Ole  Narveson,  J.  Fitzgerald,  and  D.  N. 
•  Ostrander.  A  log  schoolhouse  was  rolled  to- 
gether by  subscription,  which  lasted  until  1872, 
when  the  present  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  the 
northwestern  comer  of  section  twenty-six,  being  a 
frame  building.  20x30  feet,  and  cost  about  $700. 

District  No.  23. — ES'ected  an  organization  in 
1861,  the  first  meeting  being  held  at  the  house  of 
William  English,  in  the  fall  of  1860.  The  same 
gentleman  donated  a  site,  and  a  schoolhouse  was 
secured  and  moved  upon  it  in  1862.  The  present 
schoolhouse  was  erected  in  1874,  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  two,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,200, 
size  18x26  ftet,  equipped  with  patent  seats  for 
sixty  pupils.  The  last  term  of  school  was  taught 
by  Anna  English  for  .§25  per  month,  with  thirty- 
five  scholars  present.  The  officers  at  the  present 
writing  are  Thomas  D.  English,  H.  L.  Oleson.  and 
O.  Nelson. 

District  No.  107. — Is  one  of  the  younger  dis- 
tricts of  the  county,  having  efl'ected  an  organiza- 
tion in  1878.  The  first  meeting  was  held  at  the 
residence  of  Daniel  Peterson,  and  officers  elected 
as  follows:  John  Slater,  Director;  I.  Hammer, 
Clerk;  and  O.  O.  Styve,  Treasurer.  A  school- 
house  was  soon  afterward  erected  in  the  southern 


part  of  section  thirty-three,  at  a  cost  of  8770. 
The  first  school  was  taught  in  the  winter  of  1879, 
by  Ella  Slater.  The  last  terra  was  instructed  by 
Grace  Slater,  with  thirty -one  scholars  present,  auvl 
her  compensation  was  §25  per  month. 

BXOCTRAPniCAL. 

Andrew  Bottelson,  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
this  place,  was  born  in  Norway  on  the  22d  of 
May,  1833.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  emigrated 
to  -America,  residing  in  Illinois  for  one  year,  and 
in  November,  1855,  came  to  Bancroft,  pre-empting 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  section  twenty- 
nine.  He  devotes  his  entire  time  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  his  farm;  has  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  Supervisors  four  years,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Freeborn  church.  He  was  united  in  marriage  on 
the  22d  of  March,  1860,  to  IMiss  Irene  Iverson, 
and  they  have  four  children. 

Eugene  Chamberlain  is  a  native  of  New  York, 
born  on  the  25th  of  December,  1857.  He  came 
west  with  his  parents  when  seven  years  old,  and 
they  located  in  Manchester,  where  Eugene  run  a 
ditching  machine  for  some  time  after  reaching 
maturity.  He  was  married  in  1880,  to  Miss  Fan- 
nie Reynolds,  and  the  following  spring  came  to 
Bancroft,  having  since  devoted  his  time  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits. 

J.4COB  C.  Frost  was  born  in  Ohio  on  the  9th  of 
April,  1841.  He  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Walworth  county,  Wisconsin,  when  six  years  old, 
and  in  1856,  came  to  Itasca,  in  this  township. 
.Jacob  resided  with  his  parents  until  1861,  when 
he  enlisted  in  the  Fourth  Minnesota  Volunteer  In- 
fantry under  Captain  White;  was  with  Sherman 
in  his  march  to  the  sea,  and  participated  in  twenty 
battles,  receiving  his  discharge  after  a  service  of 
three  years  ami  ten  months.  After  liis  return  to 
this  place  he  purchased  a  farm  in  section  nine, 
which  contains  two  hundred  and  eighteen  acres; 
built  a  residence,  and  has  since  made  it  his  home. 
He  was  married  on  the  17th  of  March,  1864,  to 
Miss  Jennie  (-ribson,  and  the  issue  of  the  union  is 
five  children. 

MAHL.'iN  L.  Frost,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  place,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  on  the  2Uth  of 
September,  183P.  He  came  with  his  )wrents  to 
Bancroft  in  1856,  and  took  a  claim  in  section 
thirty,  but  resided  with  his  parents  iintil  enlisting 
on  the  9th  of  October,  1861,  in  Company  F,  of 
the  Fourth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
was  in   the  array  three  years  and  three  months, 


BANCROFT  TOWNSHIP. 


421 


coming  homeou  furlough  in  1862,  and  then  mariied 
Miss  Naocy  E.  Ward,  daughter  of  J.  Ward,  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  the  place,  and  formerly  from 
Pennsylvania.  After  Mr.  Frost's  return  from  the 
army  he  bought  land  in  section  eight,  and  now 
has  a  well  unproved  farm  of  three  hundred  acres, 
with  good  house,  barn,  etc.  He  has  three  chil- 
dren. 

Peter  Finton  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  on  the 
23d  of  March,  1830.  When  young  he  learned 
the  carpenter  trade,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years  moved  with  his  parents  to  Indiana,  where 
he  was  employed  at  his  trade.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  B.  Shaul  in  1856.  She 
was  formerly  from  Logan  county,  Ohio.  They 
moved  to  Olmsted  county,  Minnesota,  in  1861. 
and  in  1874,  sold  their  farm  there  and  went  to 
Nebraska,  but  after  a  re.><idence  of  nine  months 
returned  to  Minnesota.  He  is  the  father  of 
seven  children.  Mr.  Finton  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  from  Olmsted  county  in  1871  and  '72; 
was  Justice  of  the  Peace  fourteeu  years,  and  also 
a  member  of  the  board  of  Supervisors. 

Ekiok  Johnsrud  was  born  in  Norway  on  the  27th 
of  March,  1850,  and  emigrated  with  his  father  to 
America,  locating  in  Green  county,  Wisconsin,  m 
1857.  They  resided  in  New  Albany  township 
three  years  and  then  came  to  this  county,  being 
pioneers  of  Hay  ward,  where  they  lived  three  years 
and  then  removed  to  this  township,  locating  in 
section  thirteen.  Erick  boiight  the  old  homestead 
in  1879,  and  his  parents  live  with  him.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  Town  Clerk  since  1876.  His 
brother,  G.  Johnsrud,  was  born  on  the  31st  of 
March,  1841,  and  lived  with  his  parents  until 
enlisting  in  Company  H,  of  the  Sixteenth  Wiscon- 
sin Volunteer  Infantry.  He  served  until  receiving 
his  discharge  on  the  3rd  of  March,  1865,  after 
which  he  located  a  farm  near  his  father's.  He  was 
married  in  1866,  to  Miss  Anna  Johnson,  who  has 
borne  him  tiv^  children.  He  was  appointed  Post- 
master at  Albert  Lea  in  1877,  and  held  the  office 
until  1880,  since  which  time  he  has  given  his 
time  to  agricultural  pursuits. 

H.  P.  Jensen  was  born  in  Denmark  on  the  31st 
of  December,  1828.  His  father  died  when  H.  P. 
was  six  years  old,  and  at  an  early  age  he  assisted 
in  the  support  of  the  family.  He  was  converted, 
and  in  1840  joined  the  Baptist  Church.  He  was 
married  in  the  faU  of  1852,  to  Miss  Christina 
Olson,  w'ao  had  joined  the  church  in  1847.     They 


have  a  family  of  five  children.  In  the  autumn  of 
1862,  they  came  to  America,  located  in  Wisconsin 
and  remained  until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  they 
removed  to  Freeborn  county.  Mr.  Jensen  owns  a 
farm  of  four  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  all  of 
which  is  improved,  containing  a  grove  of  orna- 
mental trees,  and  he  also  owns  some  very  fine 
cattle  and  sheep.  When  the  Farmers'  Mutual 
Insurance  Company  was  organized,  in  1878,  Mr. 
Jensen  was  appointed  President,  and  still  fills  the 
office. 

H.  K.  LooMis,  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  tlie 
northern  part  of  the  township,  is  a  native  of  Erie 
county,  Pennsylvania,  born  on  the  12th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1828.  He  attended  the  district  school,  after 
which  he  was  engaged  in  chopping  wood  in  the 
Southern  Statas  for  eight  winters,  returning  home 
and  assisting  on  the  farm  summers.  In  1854, 
he  visited  California  and  worked  in  the  mines  two 
years  with  moderate  success.  In  1856,  he  came 
to  Bancroft  and  took  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  which  has  since  been  his  home,  having 
now  a  good  frame  residence  and  well  improved 
ground.  He  was  married  on  the  4th  of  April, 
1860,  to  Miss  Mary  Prescott.  In  1861,  he  enlisted 
in  the  Fourth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  Com- 
pany F,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term,  three 
years,  re-enlisted  in  the  same  regiment  and  served 
till  the  close  of  the  war,  being  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brevet  Second  Lieutenant.  He  participated 
in  nineteen  engagements,  although  in  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  on  the  22d  of  May,  1863,  he  was  shot, 
a  ball  passing  through  his  body.  He  is  the  father 
of  five  children. 

Henby  N.  Osteander,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  this  county,  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born  in 
Plattsburg  on  the  15th  of  October,  1824.  When 
he  was  an  infant  his  parents  moved  to  Upper  Can- 
ada, and  in  1828,  his  mother  died.  His  father 
soon  after  returned  to  New  York,  and  Henry 
resided  with  him  until  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years.  He  then  went  to  Beekmantown  and 
engaged  in  the  coal  and  lumber  business  for  three 
years.  On  the  22d  of  November,  1846,  he  was 
joined  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Smith, 
also  a  native  of  New  York.  In  June,  1849,  they 
moved  to  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin;  resided 
in  town  about  four  months  and  then  moved  on  a 
farm  in  the  western  part  of  the  county.  On  the 
12th  of  June,  1859,  Mr.  Ostrander  staked  out  a 
I   claim   in   section    twenty-six,    Bancroft,  and  has 


422 


HTSTORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


since  made  it  his  liome.  He  came  here  with  four 
yolce  of  oxen,  meeting  with  many  diificultiee.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  most  of 
the  time  since  his  residence  liere.  and  was  Chair- 
man of  the  board  of  Supervisors  five  years,  also 
was  County  Commissioner  five  years.  He  lias  had 
a  family  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living; 
Hannah  B.,  the  eldest,  was  born  on  the  6th  of 
June,  1852,  and  died  on  the  3r<l  of  May,  18o();  and 
the  second,  Eva  E.,  was  born  on  tlie  9th  of  Mav, 
1854,  and  died  on  the  20th  of  March,  1878. 

To.M  Oleson  was  born  in  Norway  in  1859,  and 
resided  in  his  native  country  until  the  age  of 
eighteen  years.  He  then  emigrated  to  America, 
and  came  directly  to  Minnesota;  made  his  home 
in  Houston  county  two  yiars,  ami  in  the  sjjriug  of 
1879,  found  employment  on  the  railroad  in  this 
county.  He  afterward  lived  in  Albert  Lea  until 
the  spring  of  1882,  when  he  came  to  this  township 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming. 

E.  K.  PioKBTT,  one  of  the  respected  and  old 
settlers  of  this  place,  was  born  in  Alexander,  Gene- 
see county.  New  York,  on  the  27tli  of  September, 
1828.  When  he  was  four  years  old  his  parents 
movsd  to  Cattaraugus  county,  where  he  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm  and  received  his  education. 
He  was  married  on  the  4th  of  March,  1849,  to 
Miss  Phileua  A.  Skiff.  In  1850,  he  came  to  Wis- 
consin and  settled  in  Sheboygan  county,  two  i 
years  later  moved  to  Waukesha  county,  where  our  I 
subject  worked  at  the  carpenter  trade  three  years. 
In  1855,  he  moved  to  Walwortli  county  and  in 
1860,  came  to  this  township,  settling  in  sec- 
tion thirty-two,  having  driven  the  entire  distance, 
bringing  two  span  of  horses  and  two  wagons.  In 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Tentli  Minnesota  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  Company  E;  was  .soon  after 
promoted  Second  Lieutenant  and  assigned  to 
Company  C,  of  the  Tenth  Regiment  and  served 
three  years,  until  the  close  of  the  war,  Ijeiug  with 
the  comjjany  in  every  march  and  battle.  Since 
coming  here  Mr.  Pickett  has  worked  at  his  trade 
a  portion  of  the  time.  Of  five  children  born  to 
him,  three  are^living. 

GEtutGE  H.  PuEscoTT  Was  born  in  Maine  on  the 
20th  of  January,  1829.  He  resided  with  his  par- 
ents until  the  ago  of  twenty-one  years,  then  en- 
gaged in  the  milling  business  on  the  Ohio  river, 
owning  a  saw  and  grist  mill  which  he  conducted 
five  years.  In  1851,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Poor,  of  Utopia,  Clermont  county,  Ohio. 


In  1856,  they  came  to  this  township  and  was  one 
of  the  first  to  open  a  farm  in  the  place.  After  a 
residence  of  one  year  here  he  returned  to  Hast- 
ings, and  two  years  later  moved  to  Stearns  coun- 
ty where  he  took  a  homestead  and  engaged  in 
farming  seven  years.  In  October  1864,  his  wife  died 
leaving  four  children,  two  daughters  and  two  sons. 
He  then  returned  to  Bancroft  end  bought  the  farm 
his  father  pre-empted.  Mr.  Prescott  was  again 
married,  on  the  25th  of  December,  1870,  to  Mrs 
Fannie  Ward  Frost,  widow  of  the  late  G.  M. 
Frost,  and  the  mother  of  two  children,  Emma  and 
Edward.  This  latter  union  has  been  blessed  with 
one  son,  Gerald,  born  in  April,  1875.  Their  farm 
is  well  improved,  having  a  good  orchard,  and  Mr. 
Prescott  is  also  interested  in  a  sorghum  factory  at 
Albert  Lea.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  1871,  and  held  the  office  two  terms. 

B.  F.  Ross  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  on 
27th  of  June,  1835.  When  he  was  tliree  years 
old  his  parents  moved  to  New  York  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  mar- 
ried Miss  .Jane  Starks.  Immediately  after  their 
marriage  they  came  west,  resided  one  year  in  Iowa, 
and  then,  in  185(1,  moved  to  Riceland,  where  they 
were  the  third  family  to  locate,  and  made  it  their 
home  several  years.  They  have  a  family  of  five 
children.  In  1862,  Mr.  Ross  enlisted  in  Company 
C,  of  the  Fifth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry  and 
remained  in  service  till  the  29th  of  August,  1865. 
After  his  discharge  he  returned  ta  his  farm  and  in 
1870  came  to  Albert  Lea,  remaining  six  years. 
In  1877,  he  rented  the  county  poor  farm  which 
has  since  been  his  home. 

Ai  Rice  was  born  in  New  York  on  the  18th  of 
March,  1840.  When  he  was  but  six  years  old  his 
father  died  and  he  has  since  maintained  himself, 
working  at  different  occupations.  When  he  was 
nineteen  years  old  he  enlisted  iu  the  Eleventh 
Wisconsin  Regiment,  Company  K,  was  under  Gen. 
Grant  and  participated  in  fifteen  battles,  receiv- 
ing an  honorable  discharge  on  the  4th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1865.  He  returned  to  Wisconsin  and  engaged 
iu  the  lumber  business  four  years,  then  came  to 
Rochester,  Minnesota,  and  in  1877,  married  Mar- 
garet Knapp.  The  same  year  he  came  to  Ban- 
croft and  has  since  devoted  his  time  to  farming. 

Asa  Wakd  was  born  in  Plainsville,  Ashtabula 
county,  Ohio,  on  tlie  4th  of  November,  1844.  In 
1855,  the  family  moved  to  Iowa,  and  two  years 
ater  to  Bancroft,  his  father  taking  a  claim  in  sec- 


BATU  TOWNSHIP. 


423 


tion  seventeen.  Asa  enlisted  in  the  Tenth  Min- 
nesota Volunteer  Infantry,  Company  I,  in  1862, 
and  served  three  years.  After  his  discharge  he 
returned  to  his  home  and  remained  one  year,  then 
spent  three  years  traveling.  He  returned  to  this 
place  and  on  the  9th  of  April,  1868,  married  Miss 
Helen  Dills.  The  same  year  he  purchased  his 
present  farm  in  section  four  and  has  it  well  im- 
proved. 

Bev.  Johan  T.  Ylvisakeb,  a  native  of  Norway, 
was  born  on  the  10th  of  November,  1858.  His 
father  was  a  minister  and  came  to  America,  locat- 


ing at  Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  in  1868.  He  died 
in  1877,  at  the  age  of  forty-four  years,  Johan 
attended  the  Norwegian  College  in  Decorah, 
Iowa,  for  six  and  a  half  years,  graduating  in  the 
summer  of  1877,  and  then  entered  the  Concordia 
Theological  Seminary  at  St.  Louis,  from  which 
he  graduated  three  years  later.  He  returned  to 
his  home  and  in  March,1881,  came  to  Bancroft;  was 
ordained  on  the  last  day  of  the  same  month,  Eev. 
Bishop  Koren  performing  the  ceremony.  He  as- 
sists the  Eev.  E.  Hulfsbury,  having  charge  of  the 
Norwegian  Lutharian  Congregation  in  this  place. 


BATH. 


CHAPTER  LVII. 

General  Desobiption — Early  Settlement — 
War  Record — Official  Record — St-wistical 
— A.ssociATioNS —  Religiods  —  Educational — 

BlOaRAPHICAL, 

The  township  with  this  name  is  the  center  of 
the  northern  tier  of  towns  in  Freeborn  county. 
Its  contiguous  surroundings  are  as  follows: 
Waseca  county  on  the  north;  Geneva  township  on 
the  east;  Bancroft  township  on  the  south;  and 
Harthind  township  on  the  west.  It  contains 
thirty-six  sections  or  square  miles,  comprising  the 
territory  of  Town  104,  Range  21. 

In  early  days  the  most  of  the  township  was 
covered  with  a  growth  of  burr  oak,  much  of  it 
large  and  heavy,  enough  so  to  have  earned  the 
name  of  "forest."  This  was  interspersed  with 
meadow  or  small  patches  of  prairie  land.  There 
is  a  prairie  of  about  2,560  acres,  located  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  township.  The  timber 
has  now,  to  a  great  extent,  been  removed,  and  the 
rich  land  been  converted  into  valuable  farms.  The 
surface  is  rolling,  and  in  places  the  undulation  is 
so  abriipt  as  to   be   called  ridges,  which   are  not 


subject  to  cultivation.  The  soil  is  a  dark  sandy 
loam,  underlain  with  a  subsoil  of  clay. 

The  town  is  not  so  well  watered  as  its  neigh- 
bors, has  no  stream,  and  only  one  lake  wholly 
within  its  borders.  An  arm  of  Geneva  Lake  ex- 
tends from  the  town  bearing  its  name  into  section 
twenty-five  of  Bath,  and  covers  a  few  acres  of  land. 
Lake  George  is  the  only  body  of  water  wholly 
within  the  boundaries,  lying  in  the  southern  part 
of  section  twenty-two.  It  was  named  in  honor  of 
George  Skinner,  Jr. 

The  town  has  a  large  portion  of  its  area  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  its  broad  rich 
looking  fields  yield  a  substantial  income  to  the 
thrifty  inhabitants,  which  are,  in  majority,  Danes, 
with  a  scattering  of  Norwegians,  Irish,  and 
Americans. 

EARLY   SETTLEMENT. 

The  earliest  infringement  by  settlers,  upon  the 
territory  of  this  town,  commenced  in  the  spring  of 
1856.  The  first  parties  to  arrive  and  secure  per- 
manent homes  were  the  Brooks  brothers.  The 
party  consisted  of  Edward  D.,  Dwight  E.,  and 
Henry  L.  Brooks,  with  their  sister  Augusta,  and 


424 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


mother.  They  were  oiigiually  from  Massachus- 
etts, coming  by  way  of  Pennsylvania,  and  arriv- 
ing in  the  spring  of  1856,  with  teams,  and  all 
settled  in  and  about  section  twenty-four,  where 
the  brothers  joined  interests  and  erected  a  log 
cabin  14x26  feet.  Edward  took  a  claim  just  over 
the  line  into  Geneva  township,  and  remained  until 
186<;,  when  he  went  to  Faribault  cotinty,  where  he 
yet  lives.  Dwight  E.  remained  until  1808,  when 
he  followed  bis  brother,  and  they  were  subse- 
quently joined  by  the  other  brother,  Henry  L. 

These  were  about  all  that  came  and  settled  this 
year;  of  course,  a  few  travelers  passed  through, 
and  many  of  them  staked  out  claims,  but  they 
were  never  improved  or  occupied. 

In  May  of  the  following  year,  1857,  John  Keily, 
a  native  of  the  old  Emerald  Isle  who  had  stopped 
fpr  a  time  in  Iowa,  came  with  his  family,  in  an  ox 
cart,  and  settled  in  section  eleven  or  fourteen, 
where  he  yet  remains.  He,  soon  after  his  arrival, 
erected  a  14x18  foot  log  house,  which  he  covered 
with  sod  and  slabs. 

Soon  afterward  John  Harty  and  Martin  Shee- 
han,  of  the  same  nationabty,  drifted  in  and  se- 
cured places.  Harty  became  satisfied  with  a  farm 
in  section  four,  where  he  remained  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  sixties,  and  his  family  still  occupy  the  old 
homestead.  Sheehan  secured  a  farm  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  the  town,  where  he  remained  until 
he  died  in  1875,  and  his  family  stiU  remain  on  the 
place. 

In  the  summer  of  1857,  a  party  of  Norwegians, 
consisting  of  Hans  Peterson,  Ingebret  Erickson, 
and  Nels  Nelson,  came  with  teams,  bringing  their 
families,  and  settled  upon  claims.  The  first  is 
still  in  the  town.  The  second  left  in  1880  for  the 
Red  River  country;  and  the  third  died  during  the 
war,  in  defense  of  his  country. 

About  the  same  time  Richard  Fitzgerald,  a  na- 
tive of  Ireland,  came  and  first  located  at  St.  Nich- 
olas, where  he  put  in  a  crop;  but  soon  after  made 
his  way  to  Bath,  and  yet  resides  in  the  town. 

George  W.  Skinner  left  Corning.  New  York,  on 
the  24th  of  .\ugust,  1858,  and  arrived  in  Bath 
township  on  the  7th  of  September,  having  spent 
the  preceding  night  in  (ieneva,  where  he  found 
quite  an  important  little  settlement.  On  the  lOtli 
of  the  same  month  he  selected  the  southeastern 
quarter  of  section  twenty-two  for  his  future  home, 
and  still  occiipies  it.     Mr.  Skinner  has  lieen  prom- 


inent in  all  public  movements,  and  has  done  much 
to  prevent  the  robbery  of  the  public  purse  by  rail- 
road corporations  and  political  fiends,  and  stands 
high  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Shortly  after  Mr.  Skinner's  arrival,  John  and 
George  Blessing,  natives  of  Germany,  made  their 
appearance  and  selected  claims  in  section  twenty- 
three,  where  they  remained  for  several  years. 
Joseph  Blessing  came  with  his  family  and  located 
in  section  thirty-five,  remaining  four  or  five  years. 

Horace  Green  came  about  the  same  time  from 
Wisconsin,  and  located  in  section  fourteen.  From 
tlie  last  advice  he  now  lives  in  Moscow. 

Fred.  W.  Calkins,  a  native  of  New  York  State, 
who  had  for  a  time  sojourned  in  Iowa,  made  his 
appearance  in  June,  1857,  and  located  in  section 
sixteen,  where  he  remained  until  he  died  in  1863. 

Jacob  Bower,  a  German,  came  in  the  fall  of 
1858  and  planted  his  stakes  in  section  twenty-seven; 
but  his  stay  was  abruptly  terminated  by  the  gov- 
ernment officers,  as  he  was  discovered  selling 
whisky  to  the  Indians,  and  he  made  himself 
"abundantly  scarce." 

Mons  Grinager  came  in  1859  and  settled.  He 
is  at  present  Register  of  the  U.  S.  Land  office  at 
Worthingtou,  Minnesota. 

Elland  Ellingson,  a  Norwegian,  came  in  1859, 
and  still  remains  in  Bath. 

James  M.  Drake,  a  native  of  Maeaachusetts, 
came  in  1856,  and  located  in  Geneva:  but  has 
since  moved  his  residence  over  the  line  into  Bath. 

Others  came  in  rapidly  and  soon  all  the  govern- 
ment land  was  taken.  A  few  of  the  most  promi- 
nent arrivals  are  treated  under  the  head  of  "Bio- 
graphical." 

EVENTS  AND  MATTERS    OF  INTEREST. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  took  place  on 
the  Ist  of  June,  1859,  and  ushered  John  Shoalt 
(or  Schad),  a  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bernhart 
Schad,  living  in  section  fourteen,  into  existence. 
The  'Second  birth  was  a  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
George  W.  Skinner,  and  occurred  two  weeks  later 
than  the  above. 

Triple  Marriage. — One  of  these  rare  events 
occurred  in  Bath  on  the  22d  of  December,  1864, 
at  the  residence  of  the  Brooks  brothers,  the  cere- 
mony being  performed  by  George  W.  Skinner, 
Esquire.  The  parties  most  interested  were  joined 
as  follows:  Edward  D.  Brooks  to  Miss  Mary  Bliss; 
Dwight  E.  Brooks  to  Mrs.  Savanah  Calkins,  widow 
of  Edward  Calkins;  Lieut.  Loren  Meeker,  of  Com- 


BATH  TOWNSHIP. 


425 


pany  C,  Tenth  Minnesota  Infantry,  to  Awgusta  T. 
Brooks.  All  of  the  parties  are  alive,  in  various 
parts  of  the  Northwest. 

First  Death. — This  sad  affair  occurred  late  in 
November,  1858,  and  carried  away  Edward  Cal- 
kins, son  of  F.  W.  Calkios,  aged  21  years. 

Wab  Record. — On  the  6th  of  December,  1864, 
the  sum  of  $1,000  was  voted  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  vohinteers  to  fill  the  quota  assigned  the 
town,  and  to  prevent  the  necessity  of  a  draft.  Of 
this  amount  S600  was  used.  The  town  was  some- 
what embarrassed  in  this  regard,  as  Capt.  Mons 
Grinager  had  taken  forty  men  from  this  locality, 
six  of  them  being  from  this  town,  and  enlisted 
them  in  Wisconsin,  thus  cheating  the  town  and 
State  out  of  able-bodied  men  who  should  have 
gone  to  the  war  under  the  banner  of  a  Minnesota 
regiment.  The  names  of  the  participants  in  the 
war  from  Bath  are  as  foUows,  fourteen  in  all:  F. 
Drake,  Dwight  E.  Brooks,  Edward  D.  Brooks, 
O.  Iverson,  Ingebret  Eriekson,  Mr.  Jaoobson, 
Michael  Sheehan,  E.  Johnson,  John  Peterson,  C 
Johnson,  Capt.  Grinager,  Nels  Nelson.  Tim  Keily, 
and  Peter  Nason.  Of  these,  Nels  Nelson,  Ole 
Iverson,  and  Mr.  Jacobson  never  returned,  finding 
the  graves  of  martyrs  in  southern  soil. 

OFFICIAL  KECOBD. 

When  the  county  of  Freeborn  came  into  exist- 
ence, the  present  area  of  the  township  of  Bath  was 
merged  into  territory  taken  from  Geneva  and 
Hartland,  and  was  known  as  "Porter  Township." 
What  the  name  originated  from,  or  what  suggested 
it,  we  are  unable  to  imagine;  but  we  can  simply 
state  that  all  through  its  early  settlement  it  was 
known  under  that  caption.  Therefore,  the  town- 
ship of  Bath  proper  did  not  come  into  existence 
as  a  separate  organization  until  some  time  after  a 
majority  of   Freeborn  county's  sub-divisions. 

Porter  township  was  organized  for  local  govern- 
ment at  a  meeting  held  on  the  15th  of  April,  1859, 
at  the  residence  of  Frederick  W. Calkins.  The  meet- 
ing came  to  order  and  James  M.  Drake  was  chosen 
chairman;  F.  W.  Calkins,  moderator;  and  Harris 
Green,  clerk  pro  tmn.  The  nest  matter  taken  up 
was  that  of  the  town  name,  and  finally,  a  short 
one  being  desired,  some  one  suggested  "Bath," 
after  the  name  of  the  county  seat  of  Steuben 
county,  Ohio,  and  the  name  was  adopted.  It  was 
next  voted  that  the  lake  near  the  center  of  the 
township  should  be  known  as  "Lake  George,"  in 
honor  of  the  oldest  son  of  G.  W.  Skinner. 


The  matter  of  election  next  came  up,  and  the 
judges  of  election  were  appointed  as  follows: 
George  W.  Skinner,  Andrew  Black,  and  B.  Een- 
wgiler.  The  judges  were  duly  sworn  before  F.  W. 
Calkins,  Escj.,  and  the  election  of  officers  for  the 
ensuing  year  began,  resulting  as  follows :  Super- 
visors, Harris  Green,  Chairman,  Joseph  Blessing, 
and  E.  Eriekson ;  Clerk,  Horace  Green ;  Assessor, 
Joseph  Loreman ;  Collector,  E.  Eriekson ;  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  George  W.  Skinner  and  Horace 
Green;  Constable,  Jack  Bower.  The  elections 
were  held  in  early  days  at  the  residence  of  John 
Munsen;  and  as  time  went  by  they  were  held  at 
various  places  as  the  annual  meeting  directed. 

The  present  condition  of  town  affairs  is  above 
criticism;  as  public  trusts  have  always  been  in 
honest  and  efficient  hands,  with  nothing  occurring 
out  of  the  usual  line  of  such  business  to  disturb 
the  tranquility.  The  present  officers  are  as  fol- 
lows: Supervisors,  A.  Eriekson,  Chairman,  Patrick 
Farry,  and  J.  P.  Larson;  Clerk,  M.  P.  Peter- 
son; Treasurer,  Hans  Basmusson;  Assessor,  An- 
drew Jensen;  Constables,  Mike  Sheehan  and  E.  C. 
Johnson;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  George  W.  Skin- 
ner. 

STATISTICAL. 

For  the  Yeae  1881. — The  area  included  in  the 
following  report,  takes  in  the  whole  town,  as  fol- 
lows : 

Wheat— 3,987  acres;  yielding  69,737  bushels. 

Oats — 794  acres;  yielding  25,482  bushels. 

Corn — 859  acres;  yielding  19,646  bushels. 

Barley — 46  acres;  yielding  2,530  bushels. 

Rye — 2  acres;  yielding  53  bushels. 

Potatoes — 55%  acres;    yielding  4,080  bushels. 

Sugar  cane — 10  acres,  yielding  237  gallons. 

Cultivated  hay — 17  acres;  yielding  30  tons. 

Other  products  — 101  acres. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881 — 5,854%  acres. 

Wild  hay — 2,515  acres. 

Timothy  seed — 2  bushels. 

Clover  seed — 32  bushels. 

Apples:  number  of  trees  growing,  1,128;  num- 
ber bearing,  65. 

Grapes — 10  vines;  yielding  100  pounds. 

Sheep — 152  sheared;  yielding  531  pounds  of 
wool. 

Dairy — 375  cows;  yielding  32,550  pounds  of 
butter,  and  550  pounds  of  cheese. 

For  the  Year  1882. — It  being  too  early  in  the 
season,  at  this  writing,  to  procure  the  returns  of 


426 


IITSTORY  OF  FREKnORN  GOUNTT. 


threshing,  we  can  only  give  the  acreage  sown  this 
year: 

Wheat,  3,541  acres;  onts,  ."jSH;  corn,  801;  bar- 
ley, 155;  potatoes,  52;  sugar  cane,  3;  ciiUiva^d 
hay,  83;  other  products,  27;  total  acreage  culti- 
Tated  in  1882,  5,515. 

Apple  trees:  growing.  1,132;  beariug,  24. 

Milk  cows,  416. 

Sheep,  644;  yielding  2,880  pounds  of  wool. 

Whole  nnmljer  of  farms  cultivated  in  1882,  101. 

lorest  trees  planted  and  growing,  209. 

Population — The  census  of  187(1  gave  Bath  a 
population  of  404.  The  last  census,  taken  in 
1880,  reports  919  for  the  town;  showing  an  in- 
crease of  515. 

ASSOCIATIONS. 

Fakmers'  MrTUAL  FiKE  Insurance  As.socia- 
TioN  of  Bath.- — This  was  organized  at  a  meeting 
held  at  the  Danish  Bai>tist  Church  on  the  first  of 
.January,  1878.  On  the  14th  of  the  same  month 
it  was  incorporated  under  the  State  law,  and  seven 
directors  were  elected,  as  follows:  H.  P.  Jensen, 
N.  P.  Peterson,  John  Henderson,  Peter  Johnson,  J. 
P.  Larson,  C.  F.  Peterson,  and  C.  Nelson.  They 
met  and  elected  officers  of  the  association  as  fol- 
lows: President,  H.  P.  Jensen;  Secretary,  N.  P. 
Peterson;  Treasurer,  C.  T.  Peterson. 

The  association  has  license  to  do  business  in  the 
townships  of  Kiceland,  Bath,  Albert  Lea,  Ban- 
croft, and  Geneva. 

In  the  past  the  corporation  has  been  exceeding- 
ly fortunate,  having  had  but  two  losses,  which 
were  small,  one  .'iffi.("i{!  and  the  other  ^69.15,  both 
of  which  were  promptly  paid.  According  to  the 
report  of  January  1st,  1882,  there  was  $73,150  of 
insurance  in  force  in  the  above  towns.  The  same 
executive  officers  are  yet  in  the  same  positions  as 
mentioned  above. 

Gbange. — A  society  nnder  this  name  was  or- 
ganized in  Bath  township  in  1875,  at  a  meeting 
called  at  the  old  log  15ai)tist  church,  and  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected ;  Master,  James  Law- 
son;  Treasurer,  Peter  Jensen;  Lecturer,  Lewis 
Jorgerson;  Secretary,  G.  W.  Skinner;  Gatekeeper, 
E.  Nelson;  Pomona,  Mrs.  N.  P.  Nelson;  Flora, 
Hattie  E.  Skinner;  Ceres,  Mrs.  L.  Jorgerson. 
Meetings  were  held  once  each  month. 

bath  post-office. 

This  office  was  established  in  1876,  on  section 
thirtv  six,  at  the  residence   of  the  Postmaster,  L. 


P.  Carlson,  who  was  appointed  and  held  the  ofiBce 
for  about  two  years  when  a  Dane  named  Lingby 
was  commissioned  to  handle  the  mails.  Tide 
I  gentleman  ))roved  to  be  a  defaulter,  and  after  some 
trouble  the  matter  was  settled  and  the  present 
I'ostmaster,  A.  H.  Peterson,  was  appointed.  Mail 
now  arrives  ft)ur  times  each  week. 

BELiGiora. 

Danish  B.aptist  CnrRCH. — This  society  was  or- 
ganized in  May,  1863,  and  until  1865,  services 
were  held  in  the  houses  of  Nels  Larson  and  Hans 
Christianson,  with  Lewis  Jorgerson  as  pastor, 
which  were  the  first  religious  services  held  in  the 
township.  In  1865  a  log  church  was  rolled 
together  by  subscription,  20x26  feet,  and  seated 
to  accommodate  100  people,  in  section  thirty-five, 
which  was  used  until  1875,  when  it  was  abandoned 
and  the  present  church  edifice  erected.  A  build- 
ing committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Peter 
Johnson  and  Nels  Clauson,  which  raised  funds  to 
the  amount  of  .S1.200,  and  the  church  was  at 
once  erected  in  the  eastern  part  of  section  thirty- 
I  five,  one  and  a  half  stories  high,  size  28x40  feet, 
and  seated  to  accommodate  200  people.  The  first 
jireaclier  whs  Rev.  James  Henderson,  the  elders  at 
the  time  being  H.  P.  Jenson  and  Peter  Johnson. 
The  present  elders  are,  H.  P.  Jenson,  Peter  John- 
son, John  Anderson,  Nels  Otterson,  and  Lars 
Sorenson.  The  minister  is  Rev.  J.  S.  Lunn,  as- 
sisted by  A.  Carlson.  The  society  raises  annually 
about  .S1,000,  for  all  expenses,  including  mission- 
ary fund,  minister's  salary,  etc.. — the  pastor  only 
gets  from  $200  to  S300  of  this.  The  first  persons 
married  in  the  church  were  J.  Nelson  and  Miss 
Mary  Christeuson,  in  1877. 

In  connection  with  this  society,  and  adjoining 
the  church,  is  a  burial  ground,  containing  about 
one  acre,  which  was  laid  out  in  1875,  under  the 
su])ervi8ion  of  J.  P.  Larson  and  P.  C.  Christeu- 
son. The  first  person  buicd  here  was  Nels  Otter- 
son,  who  yielded  up  the  spirit  in  the  spring  of 
1875.  At  present  there  are  abovit  sixty-five  graves 
occupied  by  the  last  remains  of  the  tle]jarted. 

Norwegian  Lutheran  Church. — This  society 
was  organized  years  ago  in  the  township  of  Ban- 
croft, and  the  membership  has  continually  increas- 
ed, until  the  denomination  emliraces  a  good  share 
of  this  town.  The  church  edifice  wss  erected  in 
1868,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  section  twenty- 
one,  at  a  cost  of  S2,000.  The  pastor  who  first 
officiated  here  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Koren. 


BATH  TOWNSHIP. 


427 


Catholic  Chdbch.— The  catholic  society  first 
organized  in  Bath  at  the  residence  of  Michael 
Sheehan,  as  early  as  1865,  and  soon  afterward  a 
small  frame  bnikling  was  erected  for  worship,  in 
ection  eight,  which  was  used  for  the  purj;cEe  until 
within  the  last  few  years,  when  they  commenced 
the  erection  of  a  new  and  very  fine  edifice,  which 
is  at  present  iu  process  of  construction.  The  soci- 
ety is  in  good  financial  condition,  liud  has  a  good 
membership. 


EDUCATIONAL. 

DisTBicT  No.  5. — Effected  an  organization  in 
October,  1863,  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  cabin  of 
James  M.  Drake,  in  section  twenty-five.  Several 
terms  of  school  had  been  held  prior  to  this,  and 
the  whole  town  had  been  partially  organized  as  a 
single  district,  ao  that  when  this  was  organized  it 
embraced  the  entire  eastern  half  of  the  town. 
The  first  school  within  the  limits  of  this  district 
was  held  in  the  summer  of  1860,  and  was  taught 
by  Miss  Lucia  Thomas.  In  1864,  an  old  log 
house  was  purchased  of  Torkel  Ludwigson,  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  section  twenty-six,  and  in  it 
school  was  held  for  five  months  of  the  same  year, 
taught  by  the  same  teacher  as  is  mentioned  above. 
In  1871,  the  present  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  the 
eastern  part  of  section  twenty-six,  at  a  cost  of  be- 
tween $1,000  and  $1,200.  Since  its  original  or- 
ganization the  tlistrict  has  been  divided,  and  now 
consists  of  about  four  and  one-half  sections.  The 
last  term  of  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Julia 
Whalen. 

DisTKioT  No.  7. — This  was  organized  on  the 
14th  of  May,  1864,  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  resi- 
dence of  R.  Fitzgerald,  and  the  following  were 
the  first  ofiScers:  Director,  James  Fitzgerald; 
Treasurer,  G.  Oleson ;  Clerk,  R.  Fitzgerald.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  a  small  log  schoolhouse  was 
rolled  together  in  the  eastern  part  of  section  thirty, 
at  a  cost  of  about  .f  100,  which  did  service  until 
1875,  when  the  present  house  was  completed  on 
the  same  site,  size  18x28  feet,  at  a  cost  of  $600. 
The  first  teacher  in  the  district  was  Mrs.  Reynolds, 
who  received  .$20  per  month.  The  last  term  was 
taught  by  Miss  Anna  Oieson  to  an  attendance  of 
forty-four  scholars,  for  .$25  per  month. 

District  No.  64. — This  is  the  educational  sub- 
division embracing  the  territory  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  township,  and  is  among  the  most  use- 
ful in  this  locality.     The   first  school  held  in  this   , 


neighborhood  was  at  the  residence  of  H.  Green,  in 
section  fourteen,  and  was  taught  by  Mrs.  Mary 
Johnson,  for  $1.50  per  week,  to  an  attendance  of 
fifteen  pupils.  This  was  in  the  .summer  of  1863, 
and  the  same  teacher  instructed  the  school  during 
another  term,  held  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  The 
location  of  the  schoolhouse  is  near  the  center  of 
section  fourteen,  and  was  erected  in  1873,  the  dis- 
trict having  been  organized  iu  1871. 

Dlstrict  No.  82. — This  is  one  of  the  younger 
districts  in  the  town.  It  wag  formerly  a  part  of 
District  No.  5,  but  in  1874  it  was  set  off,  and  on 
the  16th  of  October  legally  organized  at  a  meet- 
ing held  at  the  Baptist  church,  at  which  officers 
were  elected  as  follows:  Nels  Larson,  Director; 
Nels  Jensen,  Clerk;  and  J.  P.  Larson,  Treasurer. 
The  first  school  was  held  in  the  log  church  during 
the  summer  of  1874,  with  Mias  Susan  Kinnear 
as  teacher.  In  1875  the  present  schoolhouse  was 
built  near  the  center  of  section  twenty-five,  but  it 
has  since  been  remodeled  and  greatly  improved. 
There  are  now  forty-five  scholars  enrolled. 

District  No.  90. — This  embraces  the  territory 
just  west  of  the  center  of  the  township,  with  a 
scoolhouse  located  on. the  eastern  line  of  section 
sixteen.  The  district,  it  is  claimed,  was  organized 
in  1859,  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  John 
Sheehan,  at  which  the  following  officers  were 
elected :  Director,  M.  S.  Sheehan ;  Treasurer,  Hans 
Rasmusson;  Clerk,  John  J.  Sheehan.  The  first 
school  was  taught  in  the  old  Catholic  Church  by 
Miss  B.  A.  Ryan,  aged  twelve  years.  The  school- 
house  was  erected  in  1860,  size  14x16  feet. 

District  No.  103. — The  organization  of  this 
district  was  effected  a  number  of  years  ago,  at  a 
meeting  held  at  the  residence  of  Michael  Sheehan 
in  section  eight,  and  their  schoolhouse  was  erected 
shortly  after  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  the 
same  section.  The  school  is  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition and  well  attended. 

biographical. 

Niels  Peter  Peterson,  a  native  of  Denmark, 
was  born  on  the  28th  of  April,  1847.  His  father 
died  when  our  subject  was  six  years  old,  and  in 
1867,  his  mother  sold  out  and  came  with  her  son 
to  America,  directly  to  Minnesota,  and  located  iu 
Winona.  In  1871,  Niels  came  to  this  township 
and  farmed  with  his  brother  for  three  years,  then 
bought  land  in  section  twenty-four  and  has  since 
made  it  his  home.     He  has  been  a  member  of  the 


428 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTT. 


board  of  Supervisors,  and  is  serving  liis  second 
terra  as  Town  Clerk.  He  has  been  Secretary  of 
tlie  Bath  Mntiial  Fire  Inanrauce  Company  since 
its  organization. 

David  .\.  Peirce  was  born  in  Maine  on  tlie  '2d 
of  October,  1830.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and 
David  lived  at  home  until  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years.  He  was  married  in  185(5,  to  Miss  Amanda 
M.  Bailey,  and  the  following  vear  moved  to  Mower 
county,  Minnesota.  Five  years  later  thev  removed 
to  Spring  Valley,  and  in  March,  1862,  Mr.  Peirce 
enlisted  in  Company  E,  of  the  Seventh  Minnesota 
Vohinleer  Infantry,  and  served  two  years  and  ten 
months.  After  his  discharge  he  returned  to 
Spring  Valley  and  removed  his  family  to  Bath, 
locating  in  section  eighteen,  where  he  has  a  good 
home  with  commodious  buildings.  His  two  oldest 
daughters  are  school  teachers  in  this  couutv  and 
he  has  a  son  editing  a  Marshall  county  paper. 

Mitchell  Slater  is  a  native  of  England,  born 
on  the  29th  of  April,  18.54.  His  parents  emigra- 
ted to  America  when  be  was  six  weeks  old,  and 
settled  in  Smithville,  Massachusetts.  Four  years  I 
later  they  came  to  Minnesota,  and  Mitchell 
remained  at  home  until  twenty-one  years  old,  then 
worked  in  different  places  until  buving  a  farm  in 
section  twelve,  Bath  township,  and  has  since  made 
it  his  home.  He  was  united  in  marriage  on  the 
9th  of  January,  1880,  with  Miss  Dora  E.  Heath, 
and  they  have  two  children. 

George  W.  Skisxer,  one  of  the  early  residents 
and  prominent  citizens  of  this  county,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Warren.  Massachusetts,  on  the  9th 
of  August,  181.').  His  father  was  a  scythe  maker 
and  he  learned  the  same  trade,  after  which  he 
went  to  Kentucky  as  salesman  for  the  firm  of 
Blanchard  &  Co.  ( for  which  his  father  also  worked  ), 
and  traveled  one  year,  then  returned,  but  soon 
went  to  St.  Louis.  While  there  he  met  Gen. 
Marcy,  with  whom,  in  1837,  he  went  to  Fort  Snell- 


ing,  thence  to  the  Missouri  and  up  the  Yellow- 
stone, and  a  short  time  after  to  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained one  and  a  half  years.  He  then  returned 
east  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law  until  his 
health  failed,  when  he  gave  up  the  profession  and 
accepted  a  commission  from  Gov.  Briggs,  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, as  Colonel  for  the  Tenth  Massachusetts 
Regiment;  went  to  Mexico  and  served  till  the  close 
of  the  war,  having  participated  in  the  battle  of 
the  National  Bridge,  and  others.  In  1848,  he 
again  returned  to  his  native  State  and  entered  the 
office  of  the  Rhode  Island  it  Massachusetts  Tele- 
graph Cr).,  and  operated  the  same  for  one  year. 
In  1849,  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Eliz- 
abeth A.  Brooks,  of  Oneida  county.  New  York. 
The  same  year  he  went  to  Mexico  and  erected  a 
telegraph  line  between  the  cities  of  Vera  Cruz 
and  Mexico,  after  which  he  returned  to  Massa- 
chusetts and  was  employed  in  an  office  at  Narras- 
burg  for  the  Erie  Railroad  Company.  He  subse- 
quently built  a  line  from  Elmira,  New  Y'ork,  to 
Philadelphia.  Previous  to  1857,  he  had  accumu- 
lated railroad  bonds  to  the  amount  of  S100,000, 
all  of  which  he  lost  in  the  Ohio  Life  and  Trust 
Company.  Then,  after  settling  up  business  ,he 
came  to  Minnesota  in  September,  1858,  and  pre- 
empted land  on  section  twenty-two,  in  this  town- 
ship. He  came  by  water  to  Red  Wing,  where  he 
hired  a  team  to  bring  him  here,  and  the  same 
autumn  got  up  a  log  house.  In  an  early  day  he 
was  sent  to  Washington  by  tne  settlers  of  the 
county,  for  the  purpose  of  importuning  President 
Buchanan  to  withdraw  the  lands  from  market  for 
the  benefit  of  settlers,  and  gained  an  exteusion  of 
one  year  for  the  settlers  to  raise  money  to  pay 
back  dues  on  their  claims.  Mr.  Skinner  has  been 
a  prominent  official  since  the  organization  of  the 
town,  and  served  as  .Justice  of  the  Peace  seventeen 
years.  He  has  four  children;  Hattie,  one  of  the 
teachers  in  this  county;  George  W.,  Henry  I)., 
and  Maud  L. 


CABLSrON  TOWNSHIP. 


429 


OARLSTON. 


CHAPTER   LVIII. 

Descriptive — Early    settlement — Statistical 
-  Religious — Educational — Biographical. 

This  is  a  township  lying  in  the  western  tier  of 
Freeborn  county  towns,  and  containing  an  area  of 
thirty  six  sections  or  square  miles,  making  23,040 
acres.  Its  immediate  surrowndings  are  Freeborn 
on  the  north;  Manchester  on  the  east;  Alden  on 
the  south;  and  the  county  of  Faribault  on  the 
west.  As  will  of  course  be  imagined,  this  is  a 
prairie  town,  the  only  places  in  which  a  show  of 
timber  is  found  being  in  the  northern  part,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  lake.  The  town  is  watered  by  a 
lake  and  several  small  streams  which  bisect  the 
prairie. 

Freeborn  Lake,  taking  its  name  after  the  same 
gentleman  in  whose  honor  the  county  received  its 
name,  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  beautiful 
bodies  of  water  in  the  county,  and  lies  mostly 
within  the  limits  of  this  town,  only  extending  into 
the  town  north  a  few  rods.  It  is  situated  in  the 
northeastern  part,  and  covers  about  2,240  to  2,400 
acres,  or  three  and  a  half  sections,  being  about 
three  miles  long  and,  (o  the  utmost,  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  wide,  while  its  depth  will  not  exceed 
twelve  feet.  The  water  of  the  lake  is  soft  and  of 
rather  a  muddj  hue.  Originally  it  abounded 
with  fish  of  all  local  species,  but  in  the  winter  of 
1868-9,  which  was  very  severe,  the  lake  water  froze 
very  deep,  and  remained  a  solid  mass  of  ice  for  six 
months.  After  the  thaw  came,  thousands  of  dead 
fish  wa.shed  upon  the  shores,  and  so  thinned  the 
supply  that  to  this  day  the  spawning  has  failed  to 
replenish  the  ranks  of  the  finny  tribe.  The  shores 
are  covered  with  a  small  growth  of  timber,  mostly 
burr  oak,  this  constituting  the  timber  land  of  the 
town,  the  balance  being  prairie  of  a  rolling 
nature. 

The  Chicago,  Milwaukee,  and  St.  Paul  railway 
line  traverses  the  southwestern  corner  of  tlie  town, 


entering  from  the  south  in  section  thirty-three 
and  taking  a  northwesterly  direction  leaves  by 
way  of  section  thirty,  to  enter  Faribault  county. 
There  are  uo  villages  in  the  town,  except  to  the 
extent  to  which  the  village  of  Alden  extends  from 
the  town  bearing  the  same  name  into  section 
thirty  three  of  this  town.  This  village  is  located 
wrong  upon  the  map  published  by  Warner  & 
Foote,  in  1878,  it  being  one  mile  further  west  than 
shown  on  said  map. 

The  town  contains  many  valuable  and  well  im- 
proved farms  and  is  among  the  best  agricultural 
towns  of  the  county,  but  then  this  is  unnecessary, 
as  its  agricultural  resources  are  well  shown  by  the 
article  upon  statistics,  published  in  another  place. 
The  inhabitants  are  mostly  Swedes  and  Danish. 

EAIiLY  settlement. 

The  following  is  a  sketch  of  the  early  matters 
in  this  town,  published  several  years  ago  by  the 
Old  Settlers'  Association,  in  the  Albert  Lea  papers. 
It  should  be  stated  that  the  matter  was  all  gath- 
ered by  correspondence,  and  errors  may,  and 
probably  have  crept  in. 

"Cablston  was  first  settled  in  1855,  by  Robert 
Miller.  Miller  built  of  logs  the  first  house,  in 
1855,  and  opened  the  first  farm  in  the  same  year. 
John  L.  Melder,  a  blacksmith,  was  the  first 
mechanic.  H.  B.  Collins  opened  the  practice  of 
law  in  1860.  The  first  school  was  taught  by 
Martha  Taylor  in  1860,  and  the  first  schoolhonse 
was  built  by  District  61,  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year.  The  first  religious  service  was  held  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Marsh,  United  Brethren  Minister,  at  the 
schoolhouse  in  District  No.  15  in  1861.  The 
Seventh  Day  Baptists  effected  the  first  church  or 
ganization,  in  November,  1863.  The  first  parties 
married,  were  David  Horning  and  Mary  Jane 
Elliott,  who  were  united  by  H.  Melder,  Esq.,  on 
the  24th  of  December,  1861.  In  1856  the  first 
child    was  born    to  Mr.   and  Mrs    Melder.     The 


430 


niSrORY  OF  FRKKBOUN  LOUNTi'. 


first  death  was  that  of  Elias  Btanton,  who  froze 
his  feet,  sufTered  several  araputatious.  and  finally 
died  in  the  spring  of  1858.  The  first  title  to  land 
was  accpiired  by  Robert  H.  Miller,  on  sections 
ten  and  eleven,  on  the  2l8t  of  A)>ril.  185fi." 

But  setting  this  aside  wo  will  turn  our  atten- 
tion to  the  earliest  comers  in  the  township.  The 
first  settler  in  the  towiisliip  was  Kobort  Killer, 
who  came  in  the  sjmng  of  1855,  and  settled  on  a 
claim  in  section  fifteen  on  the  banks  of  Feeeborn 
Lake,  where  he  erected  the  first  house,  and  did 
the  first  breakiug  He  did  not  remain  long,  as  he 
was  discovered  selling  li(juor  to  the  Indians  and 
was  obliged  to  leave  to  avoid  trouble.  The  land 
he  took  is  now  owned  by  John  Larson. 

Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  first,  the  second 
settler  put  in  an  appearance  in  the  person  of 
Theodore  L.  Carlston,  after  whom  the  town  was 
named.  He  erected  a  house  in  the  same  spring 
that  he  arrived,  and  "bachelor's  hall"  until  the 
time  of  his  death  in  1858.  He  was  drowned 
while  crossing  the  lake  in  a  boat  in  company  with 
three  others,  one  of  whom,  Mr.  Johnson,  also 
found  a  watery  grave.  Carlston's  body  remaioed 
in  the  lake  until  the  following  spring. 

The  next  to  arrive  was  Elias  Stanton,  who  also 
located  on  the  shore  of  Freeborn  lake,  in  section 
fourteen;  he  likewise  put  up  a  log  house  and 
commenced  keeping  "bachelor's  hall."  In  185  T, 
during  the  winter,  he  was  caught  in  one  of  the 
noted  Minnesota  snow  storms,  and  frozen  so  badly 
thit  after  several  amputaions  he  lost  his  life.  His 
original  place  is  now  occupied  by  David  Horning. 

Thom;is  Ford  arrived  in  1856,  and  was  another 
of  the  first  settlers  in  the  town.  He  located  in 
section  fifteen;  the  laud  as  yet  not  being  in  mar- 
ket, and  remained  until  1851),  when  he  left  for 
parts  unknown. 

Elias  Stanton,  upon  his  arrival,  was  accompan- 
ied by  a  gentleman  named  Huyck  (Houk, )  who 
also  settled  in  section  eleven  and  remained  tor  a 
number  of  years. 

L.  T.  Walker;  a  native  of  Vermont,  drifted  into 
the  township  in  the  spring  of  1858.  and  located 
in  section  tliirteen,  where  he  opened  and  commen- 
ced cultivating  a  valuable  farm.  He  remained 
here  for  a  number  of  years  and  then  moved  to  the 
village  of  Alden,  where  he  is  now  running  a  store. 
He  is  Postmaster  and  a  prominent  man. 

Mr.  Henry  Collins  came  to  Carlston  in  1859, 
and    located    in    section    twenty- seven,   where   he 


remained  cultivating  and  improving  the  farm  for 
about  eleven  years,  when  he  removed  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Alden  and  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  his 
profession,  that  of  law.  He  has  recently  opened 
a  tine  store,  and  is  a  most  public  spirited  man. 

David  T.  Calvin  and  family  came  in  the  spring 
of  1861,  and  settled  upon  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  this  town.  He  brought  with  him  horses, 
wagon,  and  several  head  of  cows,  and  purchased 
a  corn  crib  of  Mr.  Howard,  in  which  he  and  his 
family  made  their  home  for  some  time.  He  now 
lives  on  section  thirty-six,  well  located  and  com- 
fortable. 

Charles  Sweet  was  born  in  Allegany  county, 
New  York,  in  1828,  and  in  1863,  came  to  Minne- 
sota, to  the  township  of  Carlston,  locating  in 
section  thirty-two.  He  came  to  his  death  in  1880. 
He  was  i-eturuing  home  from  the  village  of  Alden 
with  a  neighbor,  and  while  crossing  the  railroad 
track  a  train  struck  the  wagon  in  which  they  were 
traveling,  indicting  injuries  upon  Mr.  Sweet  from 
which  he  died  shortly  after. 

SOME  WHO  HAVE  PAI3SED  AW.\Y. 

Hannah  Melder,  wife  of  John  Melder,  was  taken 
from  this  plane  of  life  on  the  12th  of  January, 
1879,  at  the  age  of  52.  She  came  to  Freeborn 
county  with  her  husband  in  the  year  1857,  thus 
being  one  of  the  pioneers,  who  was  well  known 
and  beloved  by  all  as  a  kind-hearted  woman,  an 
affectionate  wife,  and  careful  mothar. 

Mrs.  J.  M.  Melander  went  to  the  great  hereaf- 
ter, on  the  12th  of  January,  1879.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Christ?nson,  and  she  was  born  in  Stock- 
holm, Sweden,  on  the  17th  of  July,  1825.  Her 
father  was  city  collector  and  died  wheu  she  was 
nine  years  old,  and  her  mother  two  years  later. 
On  the  9th  of  .May,  1850,  she  was  married  to  John 
8.  Melander.  She  landed  in  Boston  on  the  18th 
of  October,  1855,  an  1  remained  there  alone  until 
joined  by  her  husbind  the  following  spring,  who 
had  been  sick  in  New  Orleans.  They  left  Massa- 
chusetts for  Iowa  in  June  of  that  year,  and 
remained  in  the  Hawkeye  State  until  this  section 
be^an  to  be  opened  up,  whea  she  came  here  and 
remained  up  to  the  time  of  death. 

Mrs.  Mary  C.  Walkar.  She  was  a  Bruce,  of 
Scotch  descent,  born  in  Towuse  id,  Vermont,  on 
the  13th  of  October,  1818,  and  was  married  to  Asa 
Walker  in  1839.  They  rem  ivel  to  Madison,  Wis- 
onsin,  and  to  Minnesota  in  1859.  She  was 
dways  first  at  a  sick-bed,  and  Was  full  of  energy 


CAULSTON   TOWN  till  I  P. 


431 


and  activity;  sadly  missed  and  long  to  be  remem- 
bered.    She  died  on  the  21st  of  January,  1879. 

Mrs.  S.  Twist,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Nathan  and 
Mrs.  Sally  Pierce,  was  born  in  New  York  State  on 
the  29th  of  July,  1833.  At  the  age  of  eleven 
years  her  parents  moved  to  Waushara  county,  in 
the  same  State.  Her  marriage  to  Mr,  T  wist  was 
in  1859,  when  she  came  with  him  to  Carlston. 
They  lived  in  Albert  Lea  for  three  years  before 
her  death,  which  was  on  the  1st  of  January,  1881. 
Two  children  preceded  her  a  month.  A  husband 
and  seven  children  remained.  Her  remains  were 
interred  in  Alden.    She  was  an  exemplary  woman. 

STATISTICAL. 

From  the  report  of  the  County  Auditor  to  the 
commissioner  of  statistics  of  the  State,  and  other 
sources,  we  have  compiled  a  few  items  to  show  the 
value  and  agricultural  resources  of  this  township, 
for  the  benefit  of  those  who  are  not  liable  to  see 
this  report  as  it  comes  from  the  State  department. 
The  items  represent  the  acreage  and  yield  of  the 
various  crops  sown,  together  with  other  matters 
of  interest. 

The  Year  1881. — The  area  included  in  this 
report  takes  in  the  whole  town,  as  follows: 

Wheat — 3,.5ii9  acres,  yielding  32,91.5  bushels. 

Oats — 814  acres,  yielding  21,197  bushels. 

Corn — 769  acres,  yielding  26,905  bushels. 

Barley — 110  acres,  yielding  2,789  bushels. 

Bye — 3  acres,  yielding  50  bushels. 

Potatoes — 31  acres,  yielding  3,500  bushels. 

Beans — 1  acre,  yielding  43  bushels. 

Sugar  cane — 10  acres,  yielding  1,031  gallons. 

Cultivated  hay — 113  acres,  yielding  198  tons. 

Pl^x — 129  acres,  yielding  1,235  bushels. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881 — 5,558. 

Wild  hay— 2,168  tons.    Timothy-    269  bushels. 

Apples — number  of  trees  growing,  2,044;  nu^a- 
ber  bearing,  505,  yielding  327  bushels. 

Grapes — 37  vines,  yielding  127  pounds. 

Sheep — 278  sheared,  yielding  1,749  pounds  of 
wool. 

Dairy — 238  cows,  yielding  27.450  pounds  of 
butter,  and  50  pounds  of  chee.se. 

For  the  Year  1882. — It  being  too  early  in  the 
season,  at  this  writing,  to  procure  the  returns  of 
threshing,  we  can  only  give  the  acreage  sown  this 
year  in  Carlston. 

Wheat,  2,933  acres;  oats,  923;  corn,  1,303;  bar- 
ley, 347;  rye,  one-half  acre;  potatoes,  70  acres; 
beans,  3)4;  sugar  cane,  6  •''4;  cultivated  hay,  186; 


flax,  139;  total  acreage  cultivated  in  1882, 
5,95214. 

Apple  trees — growing,  2,037;  bearing,  476. 

Milk  cows— 239. 

Sheep — 67,  yielding  297  pounds  of  wool. 

Wholo  number  of  farms  cultivated  in  1882 — 82. 

Forest  trees  planted  and  growing,  165  acres. 
Five  acres  planted  this  year. 

Population. — The  census  of  1870  gave  Carls- 
ton a  population  of  378.  The  last  census,  taken 
in  1880,  reports  500  for  this  town,  showing  an 
increase  of  122. 

KELIGIOUS. 

Tliere  is  not  a  church  edifice  in  the  township. 
There  is  one  organization,  and  a  number  of  de- 
nominations which  occasionally  and  irregularly 
hold  services  in  the  various  schoolhovises. 

Danish  Lutheran  Church. — This  society  is 
presumed  to  have  been  organized  about  1874,  as 
one  who  has  been  living  there  for  nearly  twenty 
years  says  it  was  organized  in  1864,  and  another 
who  has  been  there  almost  as  long,  says  1874. 
There  are  now  about  fifty  families  in  the  society, 
and  services  are  held  in  the  schoolhouse  of  Dis- 
trict No.  61,  in  the  eastern  part  of  section 
twenty-two.  Rev.  F.  M.  Kristensen  is  the  officia- 
ting minister  of  this  denomination. 

Alden  Union  Association  Cemetery. — This 
burial  ground  is  located  near  the  .'eutral  part  of 
section  thirty-four.  The  association  was  organ- 
ized on  the  17th  of  January,  1877,  with  the  fol- 
lowing as  their  trustees:  John  A.  Hazle,  A.  T. 
Briggs,  J.  E.  N.  Backus,  W.  A.  Clark,  and  L.  M. 
Hall.  The  first  burial  here  was  of  the  remains  of 
Justin,  a  son  of  Henry  Ernst,  who  died  on  the 
27th  of  June,  1871.  The  grounds  now  contain 
the  graves  of  many  departed  ones,  and  has  been 
the  scene  of  many  sad  and  sorrowful  events  of 
parting  and  farewell.  The  cematery  contains 
three  acres. 

Danish  Lutheran  Cemetery. — This  "village  of 
the  dead"  occupies  a  few  acres  in  the  eastern  part 
of  section  twenty-two,  adjoining  the  schoolhouse 
of  District  No.  61,  and  it  often  goes  by  the 
name  of  tliis  district.  The  association  controll- 
ing it  was  organized  in  1874,  the  trustees  then 
being  JohnKismusson,  Christ.  Johnson,  and  Peter 
Lirson,  and  they  still  hold  their  positions.  The 
first  burial  here  was  the  interment  of  the  remains 
of  Hans  Paulson  in  1874. 


432 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTT. 


EDrCATIONAL. 

District  No.  15. — Thifl  ednoationsl  subdivision 
came  into  existence  by  organization  late  in  1859. 
and  tbe  following  summer,  1860.  tbe  first  scbool 
was  taugbt  in  a  log  bouse,  by  Martba  Stane.  witb 
nine  sobolars  in  attendance,  the  teacber  receiving 
as  compensation  tbe  sum  of  ?18  per  montb.  Tbe 
present  scboolbouse  was  erected  in  1877,  at  a  cost 
of  S640,  equipped  with  patent  seats  for  forty 
scholars.  The  last  term  was  taught  by  Lida  L. 
Chester,  who  instructed  tbe  twenty  scholars  pres- 
ent, and  receivetl  tbe  salary  of  S20  per  month. 
The  location  of  the  scboolbouse  is  the  western 
part  of  section  ten,  and  it  is  a  credit  to  the  dis- 
trict. 

DisTRiiT  No.  16. — Effected  an  organization  in 
the  year  1860,  and  in  the  following  year  the  first 
school  in  tbe  district  was  held  at  tbe  residence  of 
James  Cook,  taught  by  Mary  J.  Trigg,  witb  ten 
scholars  present;  the  teacher  received  for  services 
the  sum  of  $1.50  per  week,  and  "boarded  around." 
Tbe  school  was  held  here  and  in  other  residences 
until  the  fall  of  1865,  when  a  log  bouse  was  erect- 
ed at  a  cost  of  S800,  size  22x30  feet,  equipped 
with  patent  seats  and  the  necessary  apparatus. 
The  last  term  of  school  was  taught  by  Harte  E. 
Jones,  with  twenty-three  scholars  present,  and 
wages  S20  per  month.  The  scboolbouse  is  located 
in  the  center  of  section  thirteen. 

District  No.  61. — The  first  school  meeting  was 
held  at  tbe  residence  of  William  W.  Coon  on  tbe 
27th  of  March.  1874,  at  which  the  organization 
of  the  district  was  effected,  and  on  the  30tb  of 
the  same  month  again  met  and  elected  the  follow- 
ing officers:  Director,  William  W.  Coon;  Clerk, 
John  L.  Garlack;  Treasurer,  David  Horning;  and 
soon  after  tbe  scboolbouse  was  erected  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  section  twenty-two,  at  a  cost  of  S600, 
the  size  of  which  is  20x30;  suppUed  with  patent 
seats  for  forty  pupils,  and  all  the  necessary  appa- 
ratus. The  first  school  consisted  of  eighteen 
scholars,  and  was  instructed  by  Chandler  Sweet, 
who  received  S30  per  month  for  his  services.  The 
last  term  was  taught  by  Miss  Walker,  with  an 
average  attendance  of  twenty-one. 

District  No.  67. — Effected  an  organization  in 
1865,  by  the  election  of  the  following  officers: 
Director,  David  Clark;  Treasurer,  Charles  Sweet, 
Clerk,  D.  T.  Clinton.  A  little  shanty  was  thrown 
together,  with  no  floor  and  a  board  roof,  in  which 


the  first  school  was  taught  by  Adelia  Bassett,  to 
an  attendance  of  nineteen  or  twenty,  receiving  for 
her  services  S18  per  month.  The  following  year, 
1866  .the  present  school  edifice  was  constructed,  a 
short  distance  from  the  board  shanty,  in  tbe  east- 
ern part  of  section  thirty,  at  a  cost  of  S500,  size 
20x26  feet,  e<]uipped  with  patent  seats  and  the 
necessary  apparatus.  The  last  term  of  school  was 
taught  by  Miss  Sadie  Pratt,  who  received  820  per 
montb. 

Advextists"  Academy.  —  A  select  school  under 
this  caption  was  institute^l  in  tbe  village  of  Alden, 
over  the  line  in  Carlttou  townshqj,  in  the  upper 
story  or  ball  of  Henry  Ernsfs  house,  by  the  gen- 
tleman in  whose  house  it  was  kept.  Tbe  school 
commenced  on  the  15th  of  December,  1875.  with 
from  forty  to  fifty  students  in  attendance;  the 
tuition  being  from  So. 00  to  $7.00  per  term,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  studies  pursued.  The  teachers 
were  Mr.  Henry  Ernst  and  his  sister,  Miss  Minnie 
Ernst.  Tbe  school  was  continued  for  several 
vears,  but  was  finally  discontinued,  as  this  method 
of  education  was  too  advanced  to  find  its  entire 
support  in  tbe  local  neighlwrhood  in  which  it  was 
founded. 

BIOGRAPHIOAI.. 

David  T.  C.alvis.  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
and  the  one  who  cast  the  first  vote  in  this  town,  is 
a  native  of  New  'i'ork,  born  on  the  29th  of  April, 
1831.  The  family  moved  to  Ohio  when  David 
was  three  years  old,  and  our  subject  remained  in 
that  State  engaged  in  farming  pursuits  until  1846. 
He  then  removed  with  his  parents  to  Wisconsin, 
settling  on  a  farm  near  Southport,  and  after  a  res- 
idence of  three  years  went  to  Chicago,  and  was 
employed  in  a  butcher  shop  until  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years.  He  was  married  in  1853,  to 
Miss  Hulda  Russell,  and  they  have  one  daughter. 
Emma  Amy,  bom  in  Iowa.  In  1858,  Mr.  Calvin 
came  to  Freeborn  county  and  settled  in  the  town 
of  Pickerel  Lake,  but  the  following  spring  came 
to  Carlston  and  selected  land  in  section  twenty- 
five.  He  enlisted  in  the  First  Minnesota  Mounted 
Rangers  in  1862,  went  west  and  fought  tbe  Imlians 
under  Gen.  Sibley,  participating  in  two  battles,  in 
tbe  last  of  which  his  horse  stumbled  and  he  re- 
ceived injuries  which  necessitated  his  discharge, 
after  a  service  of  fourteen  months.  He  returned 
to  his  home,  and  ten  years  after  taking  bis  first 
land  here  moved  to  his  present  farm  in  section 
thirty- six.     He  has  converted   this   wild  prairie 


CAULS  TON  TOWNSHIP. 


433 


into  a  well  cultivated  farm,  having  seven  acres 
planted  in  timber,  some  of  the  trees  being  now 
two  feet  through.  He  takes  great  interest  in  fine 
stock,  having  recently  sold  two  of  the  finest  calves 
raised  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

William  Clakk  was  born  in  Indiana,  on  the 
the  18th  of  January,  1833,  and  bis  father,  who 
was  a  cabinet  maker,  died  when  William  was 
nine  years  old.  When  his  mother  married  again 
he  left  home,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years 
learned  the  carpenter  trade.  In  1851  he  located 
in  Iowa,  erected  the  fir.st  building  in  Postville,  and 
in  three  years  came  to  Minnesota  He  was  united 
iu  marriage  in  1855,  with  Miss  Eunice  Lampher, 
a  native  of  New  York.  They  located  at  Rice 
Lake,  built  a  house  and  worked  at  his  trade  until 
1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Third  Minnesota 
Volunteer  Infantry;  went  south  and  was  under 
General  Buell,  but  was  discharged  for  disability 
after  a  year's  service,  and  now  receives  a  pension. 
In  the  latter  part  of  1862  he  returned  home, 
rented  a  farm  for  one  season,  then  removed  to 
Carlston,  locating  in  section  thirty-one,  where  he 
has  a  large  farm,  well  improved,  and  a  new  resi- 
dence. Mr.  Clark  has  a  family  of  ten  children. 
He  has  been  one  of  the  Supervisors  of  the  town 
for  one  term.  About  two  years  ago  his  son  met 
with  a  very  narrow  escape  while  crossing  the 
railroad  track,  the  engine  striking  the  wagon  and 
killing  one  of  the  neighbors  who  was  with  him, 
and  also  one  of  the  horses. 

Miles  W.  Dodd  was  born  in  New  York  on  the 
10th  of  October,  1824.  He  remained  at  home  un- 
til the  age  of  fourteen  years,  then  engaged  with 
Frink  and  Walter  in  stage  driving,  and  remained 
in  the  company's  employ  six  years.  In  1846  he 
removed  to  Wisconsin,  settling  near  Oshkosh,  and 
was  engaged  in  the  Wolf  River  pineries  in  the 
winter  seasons  and  on  the  farm  summers  for  four- 
teen years.  He  was  married  in  1851  to  Miss  Har- 
riet Lse,  daughter  of  Justin  Lee,  who  was  the 
brother  of  Gideon  Lee,  the  Mayor  of  New  York 
City  at  one  time.  In  1860  Mr.  Dodd  came  to 
Minnesota  and  farmed  in  Fillmore  county  six 
years,  then  moved  to  the  town  of  Chatfleld,  and 
brought  his  family  on  the  15th  of  October,  1880, 
to  his  present  farm  iu  section  nineteen,  Carlston 
township.  He  owns  over  one  thousand  acres  of 
land,  with  a  good  brick  house  and  out  buildings, 
and  has  some  very  fine  cattle. 

Chables  J.  Ghandy,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
28 


this  place,  is  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  on  the  20tli 
of  July,  1819.  When  he  was  quite  young  he 
moved  with  his  parents  to  New  York,  where  he 
resided  for  twenty-five  years  and  in  1846  married 
Miss  Huldah  Winters.  They  removed  to  Wiscon- 
sin in  1854,  remained  there  on  a  farm  for  three 
years,  and  in  June,  1857,  came  to  this  township, 
locating  in  section  twelve  and  were  the  first  set- 
tler on  the  east  of  Freeborn  Lake.  In  1862  Mr. 
Grauby  enlisted  in  the  Fifth  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry  where  he  served  three  years  as  Sergeant, 
then  re -enlisted  and  served  seven  months  as  veter- 
an. Since  his  return  from  the  army  he  has  devot- 
ed his  entire  time  to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm. 

Nath.a^s  Jackman  was'born  in  New  Hampshire 
in  1829.  He  left  his  home  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years  and  was  employed  by  the  month  until  twen- 
ty-five. In  1854,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Bumpua, 
and  iu  July  of  the  following  year  they  came  West 
to  Laayette  county,  Wisconsin.  Early  in  1861, 
they  moved  to  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota,  and 
the  following  May  came  to  this  township  and 
pre-empted  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
section  nine.  Mr.  Jackman  drove  from  Wisconsin 
with  a  horse  team  and  brought  two  yoke  of  oxen. 
Upon  his  arrival  here  he  built  a  jjlank  shanty 
10x12,  in  which  they  lived  thirteen  years,  then 
erected  a  good  house  and  barn  which  were  destroy- 
ed by  fire  in  1874.  He  owns  some  good  stock  and 
his  farm  is  well  improved.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lambert 
are  members  of  the  Advent  Church.  They  have  a 
family  of   fotir  children. 

Dennis  H.  Oday  was  born  in  Ireland  on  the 
25th  of  March,  1821.  He  was  iuarried  in  1845,  to 
Miss  Catharine  McGrath,  and  the  next  year  came 
to  America;  landed  in  New  York  and  removed 
thence  to  Fox  Lake,  Wisconsin.  He  remained 
there  eighteen  years,  then  went  to  Rochester, 
Minnesota,  and  in  seven  years  came  to  Alden; 
thence,  in  1880,  to  a  homestead  in  this  plaee  in 
section  nineteen.  Mr.  Oday  has  a  family  of  ten 
children. 

Asa  Walker,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Carls- 
ton and  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  board  of 
Supervisors  after  the  organization  of  the  town, was 
born  in  Vermont  on  the  31st  of  May,  1813.  He 
resided  at  home  until  his  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
C.  Bruce  in  1840.  For  ten  years  they  lived  on  a 
stock  farm  at  Townsend  in  his  native  State,  and 
in  1856,  removed  to  Dane  county,  Wisconsin.  In 
the  spring  of  1859,  they  came  to  this  township 


434 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


and  staked  out  a  claim  upon  which  they  still 
reside  in  sections  twenty -four  and  twenty-five. 
In  1862  and  'G3,  Mr.  Walker  was  in  the  Legis- 
lature, has  also  held  local  offices,  and  during 
the  war  was  enrolling  officer.  His  wife  died  on 
the  21st  of  January,  1878,  leaving  two  children. 


The  daughter,  S.  Emegene,  lives  at  home  and 
keeps  liouse  for  her  father.  She  taught  several 
of  the  first  schools  in  difTerent  towns  in 
this  countv,  with  which  money  she  bought  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  adjoining  her 
father's. 


FREEBORN 


CHAPTER  LIX. 

DESCRIPTIVE FIRST    SETTLEMENT NECROLOGY — 

MATTERS     OP      INTEREST — RELIGIOUS  GOVERN- 
MENTAL    STATISTICS  FREEBORN      VILLAGE 

SCHOOLS BIOGRAPHICAL. 

This  town,  with  a  name  identical  with  that  of 
the  county,  occupies  one  of  the  four  most  promi- 
nent planes — the  northwestern  corner.  Its  im- 
mediate surroundings  are,  Waseca  county  on  the 
north;  Faribault  county  on  the  west;  Carlston 
township  on  the  south,  and  Hartland  on  the  east. 
It  is  constituted,  as  are  all  the  towni^hips  iu  this 
county, of  a  full  congressional  townshijJ,  containing 
23,040  acres,  known  in  legal  parlance  as  Township 
104,  Range  23. 

Freeborn  is  principally  a  prairie  town,  not  so 
much  inclined  to  be  rolling  as  most  of  the  towns, 
but  level,  and  in  places  marshy.  The  lakes  are 
surrounded  by  a  small  growth  of  the  shrubby 
varieties  of  timber,  which  is  all  in  the  northwest- 
ern and  southeastern  parts  of  the  town.  The  soil 
is  a  dark  and  sandy  loam,  with  a  sub-soil  of  clay 
and  gravel,  and  almost  the  entire  area  is  well 
adapted  to  agricultural  purposes,  and  has  a  large 
cultivated  acreage,  yielding  good  crops  of  the 
cereals  and  other  products  of  the  latitude;  and  in 
the  low  lands  hay  is  a  most  valuable  crop.  Fruit 
culture   is  more  of  less  successful,   although,    as 


yet,  but  little  attention  has  been  paid  to  this  de- 
partment of  agriculture. 

The  soil  and  climate  is  remarkably  well  adap- 
ted to  the  cultivation  of  Amber  cane,  and  consid- 
erable attention  has  been  paid  to  this  crop,  sever- 
al mills  being  now  in  active  operation.  This  in- 
dustry, being  new  to  most  of  the  settlers,  but 
gradually  receives  attention,  but  this  very  fact 
ensures  its  permanency,  and  with  the  large  and 
ever  increasing  demaud  for  •'sweetening"  this 
must  in  time  take  its  place  in  the  front  rank  of 
crops  raised  here. 

The  township  is  well  watered  by  numerous  lakes 
and  streams,  which  diversify  the  scenery  and  help 
make  the  land  valuable  for  agricultural  purposes. 
First  in  order  should  be  mentioned  the  lake  bear- 
ing the  name  of  Freeborn,  which  extends  f ro  n 
Carlston  township,  in  which  a  greater  part  of  the 
lake  lies,  northward,  and  covers  a  few  acres  of 
laud  in  section  thirty -five,  just  south  of  the  village 
of  Freeborn.  Lake  George  lies  about  one  mile 
to  the  north,  iu  sections  twenty -six  and  twenty - 
seven.  Still  further  north,  iu  sections  eleven  and 
fourteen,  is  located  another  small  body  of  water, 
known  as  Spioer  Lake.  Trenton  Lake  covers 
quitj  an  ari^a  in  s.>ctioas  two  and  three,  and  ex- 
tends northward  into  Waseca  county.  Another 
body  of  water  known  as  Prairie  Lake,  is  located 
in  the  extreme  southwestern  part  of  the  town. 


FREEBORN  TOWNSHIP. 


435 


Two  rivers  known  as  the  Big  and  Little  Cobb 
Rivers,  traverse  the  town  from  tlie  soiitlieast  to  tlie 
northwest,  almost  parallel,  within  about  two  miles 
of  each  other,  and  enter  Faribault  eounty. 

The  population  of  the  town  is  mostly  American, 
with  a  scattering  of  foreign  element,  less  in  num- 
ber than  almost  any  town  in  Freeborn  county. 

EAKLT   SETTLEMENT. 

There  is  a  preponderance  of  testimony  that  the 
first  settlers  in  this  township  were  T.  K.  Page  and 
William  Montgomery,  who  came  from  Dodge 
county,  Wisconsin,  and  in  July,  1856,  located  in 
section  twenty-six  and  commenced  improvements; 
the  former  erecting  the  first  house,  of  logs.  They 
remained  several  years,  when  they  returned  to 
their  former  homes. 

About  the_  same  time,  or  possibly  a  little  later 
in  185(5,  the  next  settlers,  John  W.  Ayers  and  E. 
S.  Dunn,  made  their  appearance  and  secured  farms 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  township,  in  sections 
two,  three,  and  four.  Mr.  Ayers  still  resides  upon 
his  place,  in  prosperous  circumstances,  and  Mr. 
Dunn  remained  upon  his  until  1857,  when  he  re- 
moved to  the  southern  part  of  the  town,  and  in 
June  took  320  acres  of  land  in  sections  thirty- 
four  and  thirtv-flve,  under  the  provisions  of  the 
law  allowing  it  for  town  site  purposes.  He  lived 
here  until  within  the  last  year,  when  he  removed 
to  Missouri. 

A  little  later  in  1856,  came  Charles  Giddings, 
Parker  Page,  and  L.  T.  Scott,  from  Dodge  county, 
Wisconsin,  who  all  settled  upon  sections  twenty- 
five  and  twenty-six.  Mr.  Giddings  remained 
about  six  years,  when  he  removed  to  Faribault, 
and  from  there  to  Blooming  Prairie,  Steele  county, 
where  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Page  remained  about 
eight  years,  when  he  went  to  his  present  home  in 
Saline  county,  Nebraska,  via  Wisconsin.  Mr. 
Scott  still  lives  in  the  township,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  successful,  as  well  as  most  prominent  men. 
This  party  came  with  ox  teams,  bringing  also  a 
few  cows. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1856,  H.  T.  Sims  and 
D.  C.  Davis  had  made  their  way  into  the  town  and 
secured  homes.  Sims  located  upon  a  tract  of  land 
in  section  ten,  and  lived  there  for  a  number  of 
years;  finally,  in  1881,  he  quietly  passed  away,  in 
the  city  of  Albert  Lea.  Davis  located  upon  a 
place  in  section  two,  which  he  improved  and  occu- 
pied for  a  time,  and  then  removed  to  Waseca 
county. 


October  of  1856  witnessed  the  ingress  of  .John 
Bostwick  and  William  Purdie,  from  La  Crosse 
county,  Wisconsin,  who  took  claims  and  settled  to 
pioneer  life.  But  two  weeks  of  it,  however,  seemed 
to  be  sufficient,  as  they  sold  their  provisions  to 
the  other  settlers  and  left  in  disgust,  for  Wis- 
consin. 

These  are  about  all  the  pioneer.'^  who  arrived 
and  wintered  this  year.  A  few  others  had  come, 
but  they  were  merely  transient,  who  staked  a 
cldiim,  now  and  then,  and  moved  on  to  find  their 
ideal  spot  elsewhere.  The  winter  following, 
1856-57,  was  very  severe,  and  the  settlers,  not 
having  had  sufficient  time  to  prepare  for  it,  even 
had  they  imagined  what  they  should  have  to  pass 
through,  necessarily  fared  badly.  They  were 
obliged  to  haul  their  provisions  on  hand  sleds 
from  Wilton,  eighteen  miles  distant,  through  the 
deep  snow  and  piercing  cold,  many  of  them  not 
more  than  half  clad,  and  slim  shelter  when  the  , 
trip  was  over. 

The  year,  or  spring  and  summer  following,  wit- 
nessed many  accessions  to  the  meagerly  settled 
township,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  government 
land  was  claimed  and  settled  by  actual  residents. 

The  winter  of  1857-58  was  not  so  severe  as  the 
preceding  one,  and  the  residents  fared  very  well. 
Mr.  L.  T.  Scott,  on  one  occasion,  about  this  time, 
made  a  trip  to  St.  Nicholas,  where  he  purchased 
a  sack  of  flour  for  $5,  of  the  hotel  keeper.  This 
season  there  had  been  no  crops  raised,  and  settlers 
depended  mainly  upon  people  coming  in  for  sup 
plies. 

THE    HONOKED    DEAD. 

Ezra  Stearns.  —A  settler  who  came  in  1861, 
and  converted  a  wild  waste  prairie  into  a  bloom- 
ing, cultivated,  and  prolific  farm.  He  was  in- 
jured two  years  before  his  death,  which  was  on 
the  7th  of  February,  1879,  at  the  age  of  79  years. 
Mr.  Stearns  was  from  the  old  New  England  .stock, 
his  ancestors  having  come  to  Boston  on  the  ship 
Arbella,  with  Gov.  Winthrop,  in  1630. 

Squire  Donn,  on  the  7th  of  September,  1874, 
at  the  mellow  age  of  80,  was  at  last  confronted  by 
by  the  grim  messenger  that  had  already  visited 
almost  the  last  one  of  his  early  companions. 
Claiming  New  Jersey  for  his  nativity,  at  an  early 
day  he  went  to  Albany,  New  York,  and  in  1841, 
to  Wisconsin,  and  to  Minnesota  in  1854,  making 
the  first  halt  in  Faribault,  Kice  county,  and  when 
this  county  was   opened   up  came   here.     He  had 


436 


HISTORY  OF  FRBEBOHK  COUNTY 


been  married  55  years,  and  left  quite  a  family, 
Mrs.  (Toorge  Whitman  and  INIrs.  Dr.  Bareck 
among  them. 

Nathan  McQinney  was  boni  iu  Willistin),  Ver- 
mont, in  1820.  and  lived  in  the  Green  Moniitain 
State  until  tlie  year  IH.'iO,  and  then  pushed  on 
vteai  as  far  as  Dane  county,  Wisconsin.  There  he 
engaged  in  farming  up  to  the  year  1860,  when  be 
came  to  Minnesota  and  secured  a  place  in  Free- 
born, but  after  a  time  took  up  his  residence  in  the 
village  and  went  into  business,  at  one  time  with 
O.  S.  Gilmore.  He  was  a  kindhearted  man,  much 
respected.  His  last  removal  was  from  his  earthly 
tenement  on  the  19th  of  April,  lH7il. 

Mrs  Gh.\blotte  Gowakd  was  born  in  Easton, 
Bristol  county,  Massachusetts,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Keziah  Dean,  who  was  married  to 
Jason  (ioward  in  1849,  and  has  lived  here  since 
1859.  She  was  highly  esteemed  and  was  a  woman 
of  fine  qualities,  a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  and  a 
sincere  friend.  .\  very  large  concourse  of  people 
expressed  their  devotion  l)y  following  her  remains 
to  their  last  resting  place. 

H.  T.  Sims  was  called  hence  on  the  26th  of 
February,  1881,  at  the  age  of  09.  He  was  born 
in  Salom  county.  New  York,  and  lived  forty-two 
years  iu  that  State.  Iu  1854,  he  came  west  and 
stopped  two  years  in  Wisconsin,  and  then,  in  1856, 
come  over  the  Mississippi  and  located  in  the 
northern  part  of  Freel)orn  township.  After  living 
there  si.xteen  years  he  went  to  Itasca,  and  for  a 
year  or  two  lived  in  Albert  Lea  with  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Batcholder.  At  30  years  of  age  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Anna  B.  Moore.  Thoy  had  three 
children,  two  of  whom  are  still  living.  He  was 
noted  for  his  purity  of  character,  faithfulness  to 
his  engagements,  and  the  generosity  of  his  im- 
pulses. His  house,  in  early  days,  was  headquarters 
for  ministers  for  preaching  and  religious  services. 

MATTEIiS  OF  INTF.KEST. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  first  birth  in  the  township 
occurred  on  the  12th  of  February,  1857,  and  ush- 
ered into  the  light  of  this  world,  George,  a  son  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  T.  Scott. 

The  first  marriage  took  place  in  August,  1858, 
and  united  the  destinies  of  Mr.  .John  Wood  and 
Miss  Emily  Allen. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year  the  grim 
and  sorrow  laden  messenger  of  death  lowered  itself 
in  the  midst  of  sparsely  settled  Freeborn  and  car- 


ried away  its  first  victim  in  the  person  of  George 
C.  Snyder. 

FiiERBoiiN  Okanoe  No.  206. — The  organization 
of  this  society  took  place  in  the  latter  part  of  May, 
1874,  at  the  schoolhouse  in  the  village  of  Free-- 
born  by  Deputy  F  A.  Elder,  of  the  State  Grange, 
with  twenty -eight  charter  members.  The  officers 
were  as  foil  .  Master,  S.  S.  Challis;  Lecturer, 
E.  D.  Uodgers,  '^.erseer,  L.  T.  Sjott;  Treasurer, 
P.  M.  Coon;  Secretary.  Ole.  O.  Simonsen;  Chap- 
lain, S.  P.  Purdie;  Steward,  J.  Goward;  Assistant 
Steward,  D.  A.  Sooville;  Gate  Keeper,  John  A. 
Scoville;  Lady  Assistant  Steward,  Serena  M. 
Cram:  Flora,  Caroline  Scheen;  Ceres,  .\manda  C. 
Purdie;  and  Pomona,  Maggie  A.  Scoville.  The 
(irange  met  once  in  two  weeks  in  the  schoolhouse 
until  March,  1881,  when  it  consolidated  with  the 
Carlstou  Grange,  which  is  still  in  existence. 

TuENTON  PosT-oFEK'E. — This  office  was  estab- 
lished as  early  as  1858  and  still  continues,  sup- 
plying quite  an  area  with  mail.  .lohn  W.  Avers 
was  the  first  and  is  the  present  Postmaster,  with 
the  office  at  his  house  in  section  three,  near  Tren- 
ton Lake,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township. 
The  mail  arrives  once  each  week  from  Alden,  by 
way  of  Freeborn. 

RELIfilOUS. 

CoNiiUEii.ATioNAL  Chubch — This  edifice  was 
erected  in  1879,  by  the  Baptist  society,  at  a  cost 
of  $1,000,  its  size  being  about  26x40  feet.  In 
1880  the  building  was  purchased  by  the  Congre- 
gationalists,  who  now  own  it,  and  moved  to  its 
present  location,  about  eighty  rods  east  of  the  old 
site.  The  first  pastor  here  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Luce, 
the  present  is  Rev.  Wilbur  Fisk. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Chuuch. — This  building 
was  erected  iu  1878,  at  a  cost  of  $1,000,  its  size 
being  24x36  feet.  The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev. 
S.  B.Smith. 

FitEEMoUN  (Jembtery  As.sofHTioN — Wss  Origin- 
ally organizeil  in  .lime,  1872,  when  the  grounds 
were  laid  out  containing  six  acres,  ju.st  north  of 
the  village  of  Freeborn,  in  section  thirty-five,  the 
land  being  donated  to  the  project  by  L.  G.  Pierce; 
it  is  well  adapted  by  nature  for  a  "last  resting 
place,"  and  the  natural  beauty  has  been  enhanced 
bj  ini])rovements,  tencmg,  etc.  The  first  buried 
here  was  of  the  remains  of  Mrs.  E.  S.  Dunn,  in 
1858,  some  twelve  years  prior  to  the  organization 
of  the  association. 


FEE K BORN  TOWNSHIP. 


437 


There  is  also  a  cemetery  located  in*  the  uovthern 
part  of  the  town,  in  section  eleven;  which  was  net 
apart  for  burial  purposes  in  18(l'2.  The  first  per- 
son burieJ  here  was  Norman  Olin,  and  since  the 
advent  of  his  remains,  a  number,  who  have  yield- 
ed to  the  irn«iHt!il)le  call  ol'  death,  have  found 
their  last  eartlily  abode  by  his  side,  while  many 
gleaming  monuments  rear  their  heads  in  perpetu- 
ation of  the  memory  and  virtues  of  the  departed 
ones. 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 

As  a  matter  alike  interesting  to  all  who  are  at 
all  concerned  in  what  has,  or  is  to  be  said  of  their 
home,  we  herewith  present  a  short  historical 
sketch  of  the  townsliip,  |)rej)ared  by  1).  O.  I'ark(!r, 
President  of  tlie  old  settlers'  Association,  and 
reatl  by  him  at  their  annual  re-iiiiion  in  the  spring 
of  1877.  It  is  only  proper  to  state  that  the  mat- 
ter was  obtained  by  correspondence,  and  it  is  not 
ini|iri)b:ible  that  errors  have  crcjjtin.  The  sketch 
is  pul)lislied  in  tlie  county  papers  as  follows: 

"FuEEBOiiN  was  settled  by  T.  K.  Page  and 
William  Montgomery,  in  .July,  1850.  The  for- 
mer built  a  house  oi  logs  and  opened  a  farm. 
The  same  season,  being  in  advance  of  any  other, 
Clark  and  West  opened  a  small  store  in  the  win- 
ter of  1857-8,  in  the  village,  but  left  in  the  follow- 
ing spring.  E.  D.  Rogers,  a  blacksmith,  was  the 
first  mechanic.  J.  li.  (Jiddings  was  tlie  first  law- 
yer, and  located  in  1860.  In  1861  J.  K.  Moore 
olfered  his  services  as  the  first  doctor.  The  first 
school  was  taught  at  the  village  in'Scpiire  Dunn's 
log  liouse  by  Miss  Emeliue  Allen,  in  the  summer 
of  1857.  The  fir.st  schoolliouse  was  l)uilt  by 
district  No.  13,  in  the  fall  of  1858.  In  the  same  year 
L.  T.  Scottopi^ned  tlio  ball-room  of  his  hotel  to  Rev. 
Isa.'ic  Ling  for  the  first  religious  service.  In  1859 
tlio  Metlioilists  perfected  tlie  fir.s  i  \""\\  oiganiza- 
tion,  and  in  1867  the  Baptists  bunt  I '  .irst  house  of 
worship.  The  first  title  to  land,  according  to  the 
land  office  abstracts,  wasacipiinnl  by  Nelson  Ever- 
est, on  section  twenty-two,  as  early  as  the  9th  of 
.January,  1855,  but  as  this  was  eighteen  mouths 
before  there  was  any  settlement,  it  is  believed  to 
be  an  error  of  record.  John  Wood  and  lOmeline 
Allen  were  the  first  ])artic's  ma-rricd,  and  the  cere- 
mony was  performed  by  E.  H.  Dunn,  Esq.,  in 
1858.  The  first  child  born  was  George  F.  Soott, 
February  14th,  1857.  The  first  death  was  that  of 
Emily  Dunn,  in  the  fall  of  1858.  L.  T.  Scott 
opened  the  lirst  hotel  and  was  the  first  Postmaster, 


the  latter  in  the  winter  of  1857-58.  U.  D.  Gid- 
dings,  J,  W.  Ayers,  and  E.  D.  Rogers  constituted 
the  first  board  of  Supervisors,  and  were  elected, 
May  '25tli,  1858.  John  Wood,  Clerk.  The  first 
board  of  schoor  officers  were  J.  S.  Ricknrd,  L.  T. 
Scott,  and  C.  D.  Giddings." 

(iOVEUNMENTALi. 

The  township  of  Freeborn  came  into  existence 
as  an  official  subdivision  of  the  county,  at  a 
meeting  hold  for  the  purpose  of  organization  at 
the  house  of  E.  S.  Dunn  on  the  lltli  of  May,  1858. 
The  meeting  came  to  order  and  Charles  D.  Gid- 
dings was  chosen  moderator,  and  John  Wood, 
clerk.  After  the  usual  preliminaries  the  polls 
were  declared  open  for  the  election  of  officers  for 
the  ensuing  year,  which  election  resulted  as  fol- 
lows: Supervisors,  Charles  D.  Giddings,  Chair- 
man, E.  D.  Rogers,  and  .John  W.  Ayers;  Clerk, 
John  Wood;  Assessor,  Thomas  \V.  Purdio;  Collec- 
tor, John  B.  Purdie;  Overseer  of  the  poor,  Joseph 
S.  liickard;  Constables,  John  B.  Purdie,  and  S.  B. 
McGuire;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Edward  Dunn 
and  Henry  Olin. 

Public  matters  have  progressed  (piiotly  and 
without  interuption,  the  voters  having  been  suffi- 
ciently careful  to  keep  good,  honest,  and  capable 
officers  at  the  helm  of  the  town  afi'airs,  and  there- 
fore th(  ro  has  been  no  iisel(«s  waste  of  public 
mon(^y,  or  extravagance. 

In  1865,  during  the  rebellion,  a  special  town 
meeting  was  help  at  which  the  sum  of  $1,800  was 
voted  to  pay  men  who  should  volunteer  to  enlist 
in  the  service  and  fill  the  quota  assigned  the  town, 
the  amount  to  be  issued  in  bonds  as  directed  by  a 
committee  for  the  purpose. 

At  the  twenty-fourth  annual  town  meeting,  held 
in  the  spring  of  1882,  the  following  officers  were 
elected,  and  are  now  in  charge  of  tlie  public  busi- 
ness:' Supervisors,  L.  T.  Scott,  Chairman,  J.  W. 
Ayers,  and  H.  Stcnsrud;  Clerk,  J.  Goward;  Treas- 
urer, O.  S.  Gilmor(!;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Geo. 
Miller  and  H.  S.  Olin;  Assessor,  J.  B.  Purdie; 
Constables,  A.  Andrews  and  C.  Ayers. 

It  will  be  observed  that  some  of  the  present 
officers  were  members  of  the  first  board  elected  in 
the  town,  at  the  meeting  on  the  lltb  of  May, 
1858. 

STATISTICS. 

Fob  the  yeak  1881. — Showing  the  acreage  and 


438 


IIISTOEr  OF  FliMEBOMA''  C0U2fTY. 


yield  in  the  township  of  Freeborn,   for  the  year 
named: 

Wheat— 3,214  acres,  yielding  27.267  bushels. 

Oats — 595  acres,  yielding  19,806  bushels. 

Com — 495  acres,  yielding  18,394  bushels. 

Barley — 122  acres,  yielding  2,111  bushels. 

Buckwheat — 4  acres,  yielding  35  bushels. 

Potatoes — 31  acres,  yielding  2,856  bushels. 

Beans — 2  acres, yielding  13  bushels. 

Sugar  cane — 17  acres,  yielding  1,943  gallons. 

Cultivated  hay — 18  acres,  yielding  28  tons. 

Flax-seed — 233  acres,  yielding  1,611  bushels. 

Other  produce — 34  acres. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881,  4,763. 

Wild  hay— 2.400  tons. 

Timothy  seed — 172  bushels. 

Apples — number  of  trees  growing,  1,904;  num- 
ber bearing,  732;  yielding  585  bushels. 

Grapes — 83  vines,  yielding  123  younds. 

Sheep — 189  sheared,  yielding  1,009  pounds  of 
wool. 

Dairy — 202  cows,  yielding  15,950  pounds  of 
butter. 

Hives  of  Bees — 17,  yielding  120  pounds  of 
honey. 

Fob  the  year  1882. — It  being  two  early  in 
the  season,  at  this  writing,  to  procure  the  returns 
of  threshing,  we  can  only  give  the  acreage  sown 
this  year  in  Freeborn : 

Wheat,  2,039  acres;  oats,  629;  com,  835;  bar- 
ley, 220;  buckwheat,  5;  potatoes,  33;  beans,  14; 
sugar  cane,  41;  cultivated  hay,  112;  flax,  175; 
other  produce,  42. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1882,  4,145. 

Apple  trees  growing,  2,076;  bearing,  1,037: 
grave  vines  bearing,  106;  milch  cows,  206;  sheep, 
208,  yielding  1,171  pounds  of  wool. 

Farms  cultivated  in  1881,  69. 

Forest  trees  planted  and  growing,  22  acres. 

Population. — The  census  of  1870  gave  Free- 
born a  population  of  362.  The  last  census,  taken 
in  1880,  reports  480  for  tliis  town;  showing  an  in- 
crease of  118. 

FEEEBORN    VILLAGE. 

This  is  the  only  village  in  the  township,  and 
may  be  said  to  be  the  only  one  in  this  portion  of 
the  county;  and,  although  as  yet  not  large,  it  may, 
at  almost  any  time,  get  a  railroad  which  will  con- 
nect it  with  the  outer  worUl,  and  commence  an  ex- 
pansion which  will  bring  it  into  prominent  notice, 
as  it  has  an  excellent  location  for  a  village,  and  is 


STirrounded  by  some  of  tlie  most  productive  farm- 
ing lands  in  the  county.  It  is  located  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  the  town,  in  sections  thirty-four 
and  thirty-five,  on  the  north  bank  of  Freeborn 
Lake. 

The  land  upon  which  the  village  stands  was 
claimed  for  town  site  purposes  in  June,  1857,  by 
E.  S.  Dunn,  who  had  arrived  in  the  township  the 
year  previous  and  located  in  the  northern  part, 
and  the  village  was  platted  the  same  year. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  first  store  was  started  in 
the  winter  of  1857-58,  by  Clark  &  West,  and  in 
the  spring  following  were  succeeded  by  Jason 
Goward,  who  may  be  said  to  have  opened  the  first 
substantial  store,  as  he  put  in  a  fair  stock  of  gen- 
eral merchandise,  which  he  continued  to  manage 
for  about  ten  years.  In  1861,  another  store  was 
,  opened,  by  the  Southwick  Brothers,  which  is  still 
in  active  operation. 

Freeborn  Post-Office. — This  office  was  origi- 
nally established  in  1857,  with  L.  T.  Scott  as  Post- 
master, on  the  site  of  the  village  of  Freeborn. 
In  1858,  ]\Ir.  J.  Goward  was  commissiooed  Post- 
master, and  the  mail  was  received  once  each  week, 
i-iii  the  Mankato  and  Otronto,  Iowa,  mail  route, 
Henry  Lacy  being  the  mail  carrier.  In  1867  J. 
Goward  resigned  and  David  Southwick  received 
the  appointment,  holding  the  same  for  about  three 
years,  when  A.  Munn  took  the  mail  pouch  keys 
and  continued  in  the  capacity  of  Postmaster  until 
the  year  1876  rolled  arounil,  when  he  relieved  the 
usual  monotony  of  affairs  by  committing  suicide. 
His  principal  bondsman,  J.  Goward,  took  charge 
of  the  office,  and  removed  it  to  the  store  of  T.  A. 
Southwick,  who  received  the  appointment  of 
deputy,  and  in  a  few  weeks  was  made  Postmaster, 
which  position  he  still  occupies.  Mail  arrives 
daily  from  Aldeu,  and  supplies  the  Trenton  Post- 
office  with  mail  matter. 

At  the  present  writing  a  i-esiime  of  what  the  vil- 
lage contains,  would  read  something  like  this: — 
two  general  stores  by  M.  A.  Southwick  and  O.  S. 
Gillmore;  a  black-smith  shop  by  D.  A.  Scoville; 
a  wagon  repair  shop,  by  J.  H.  Clarke;  broom  fac- 
tory by  L.  T.  Scott;  shoemaking  shop  by  A.  An- 
drews. And  a  population,  it  is  said,  of  about  one 
hundred. 

MEDI0MS    OF   EDUCATION. 

The  territory  of  Freeborn  is  divided,  for  educa- 
tional purposes,  into  five  school  districts,  with 
numbers  and  locations  of  houses  as  follows;  No. 


FREEBORN  TOWNSHIP. 


439 


11,  with  schoolhouse  in  section  four;  No.  12,  in 
section  twenty-three;  No.  13,  in  Freeborn  village;. 
No.  98,  in  section  one;  No.  101,  in  section  twenty- 
eight.  The  districts  are  all  in  good  condition, 
and  under  careful  management,  having  good 
buildings  and  moderate  attendance.  A  short 
sketch  of  the  various  districts  is  herewith  pre- 
sented : 

DisTBiCT  No.  11. — Effected  the  first  organiza- 
tion in  the  township  in  1857,  and  school  was  first 
held  in  a  house  12x14,  in  section  three,  taught  by 
Miss  Normand  Olin,  to  an  attendance  of  about 
twelve  scholars.  In  1860  a  schoolhouse  was  con- 
structed in  section  three,  size  20x24  feet,  at  a  cost 
of  S350,  And  in  this  school  is  still  held,  although 
in  1874  it  was  removed^to  the'eastern  part  of  sec- 
tion four,  remodeled 'and  partly  rebuilt  at  a  cost 
of  .S400. 

District  No.  12. — It  is  claimed  that  this  edu- 
cational subdivision  did  not  arrive  to  the  dignity 
of  an  organization  until  1865,  and^soon  afterward 
a  building  was  purchased  for  •'f50  to  be  used  for 
school  purposes.  The  first  school  was  taught  by 
Miss  Minnie  Caswell  with  an  attendance  of  twelve 
pupils.  In  1870,  the  school  edifice  now  in  use 
was  constructed  at  a  cost  of  about  S400,  size  16x20 
feet.  The  last  term  of  school  was  instructed  by 
Miss  Nellie  Scott,  there  being  an  attendance  of 
twenty-eight  pupils.  The  schoolhouse  is  located 
in  the  northeastern  corner  of  section  twenty- 
three. 

DiSTBiCT  No.  13. — This  is  the  district  embrac- 
ing the  village  of  Freeborn  and  immediately  sur- 
rounding country.  The  organization  was  effected 
in  1858,  and  the  first  term  of  school  was  held  at 
the  private  residence  of  E.]^S.  Dunn,  on  the  site  of 
the  present  village,  shortly  afterward  being  taught 
by  Mr.  Joel  Southwick,  with  an  attendance  of  ten 
scholars.  The  school  was  held  in  private  houses 
for  about  two  years  when  a  little  shanty  twelve 
feet  square  was  erected,  costing  about  $20,  and 
three  years  later  another  school  building  was  sub- 
stituted, size  20x30  feet,  at  a  cost]jof  $700.  In 
1876,  the  latter  structure  was  dispensed  with  and 
the  present  neat  and  commodious  schoolhouse  was 
buUt  at  a  cost  of  .SI, 500,  size  30x40  feet,  two 
stories  high,  and  the  finest  schoolhouse  in  the 
township.  The  district  has  lately  been  organized 
into  a  graded  school,  employing  two  teachers,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  effectual  educational  mediums 
in  the  county.     George  Latin  was  the  last  princi- 


pal, and  the  average  attendance  amounted  to 
about  sixty. 

District  No.  98. — Effected  an  organization  in 
1872.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  Mrs.  Mattie 
B.  Frisby  in  the  residence  of  R.  D.  Burdick  in 
section  one,  with  an  attendance  of  twelve  pupils. 
In  1873,  the  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  the  south- 
western part  of  section  one,  size  16x24  feet,  at  a 
cost  of  $350.  The  last  term  was  taught  by  Miss 
Ellen  Roland. 

District  No.  101. — This  district  effected  an 
organization  in  the  spring  of  1876,  and  the  same 
year  erected  their  schoolhouse  in  section  twenty  ■ 
eight,  size  18x22  feet,  at  a  cost  of  .f450.  The  first 
teacher  was  Miss  Emily  Blighton,  with  an  attend- 
ance of  ten  scholars.  The  last  teacher  was  Miss 
Abby  Chase,  to  an  attendance  of  nine. 

BIOGEAPHIOAL. 

BnssELii  D.  Bdrmck  was  born  in  New  York  on 
the  27th  of  January,  1830.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  near  his  home,  and  afterward  an 
academy  in  Madison  county.  In  1855,  he  came 
West  to  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and  two  years 
later  married  Miss  Luransa  Champlin,  also  a  native 
of  New  York.  They  have  had  four  children,  one 
of  whom  died  on  the  4th  of  May,  1876.  In  1865, 
Mr.  Burdick  brought  his  family  to  this  place  and 
has  since  made  it  his  home,  his  farm  being  located 
in  section  one  of  this  township.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  his  school  district  and  has  since 
been  one  of  its  officers.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a 
Seventh  Day  Baptist. 

Alfred  Obandall  is  a  native  of  Rhode  Island, 
born  on  the  14th  of  April,  1814.  When  an  infant 
ht  removed  with  his  parents  to  a  farm  in  Madison 
county.  New  York,  and  at  the  early  age  of  twelve 
years  left  home  and  began  working  for  his  own 
support.  When  twenty-two  years  of  age  he 
moved  to  Massachusetts  and  found  employment 
in  wagon  shops.  In  1840,  he  married  Miss  Almira 
Day,  a  native  of  New  York.  They  came  to  Dane 
county,  Wisconsin,  in  1846,  and  to  this  place  in 
1863.  For  ten  years  Mr.  Craudall  had  charge  of 
different  mail  routes  from  Freeborn,  going  to 
Geneva,  to  Owatonna,  to  Albert  Lea,  and  from 
the  latter  place  to  Waseca.  He  is  one  of  the  old 
and  respected  citizens,  and  has  been  instrumental 
in  the  organization  and  growth  of  the  place.  His 
farm  contains  two  hundred  acres.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crandall  have  a  family  of  eleven  children. 

Francis  D.  Drake  was  born  in  Cortland  county. 


uo 


niSTORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


New  York,  on  the  2a  of  November.  1833.  When 
thirteen  years  old  he  cnme  with  his  parents  to 
Dane  county,  Wisconiin,  where  tliey  lived  on  a 
farm.  He  was  married  in  1858,  to  Miss  Alma 
RioUmond,  and  they  liave  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren. At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  Mr.  Drake 
enlisted  in  the  Seventh  Wisconsin  Volunteer 
Infantry,  Company  C;  in  March,  1862,  joined  the 
Array  of  the  Potomac  under  General  Grant,  and 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing, 
Shiloh,  and  several  other  important  ones.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  in  1864,  and  returned  to  his 
home  in  Wisconsin.  In  1867,  he  came  to  this 
township  and  bought  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
eighty  acres,  to  which  he  has  since  added,  and  it 
is  now  well  improved.  He  is  the  father  of  seven 
children. 

Charles  H.  Derby,  another  native  of  the  Em- 
pire State,  was  born  in  Otsego  county  on  the  7th 
of  October,  1832.  When  ten  years  old  he  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Pennsylvania,  where 
they  resided  until  1854,  then  came  to  La  Crosse 
county,  Wisconsin,  but  the  same  year  went  to 
Virginia.  In  the  latter  year  Mr.  Derby  was  uni- 
ted in  wedlock  with  Miss  Harriet  E.  St.  John,  a 
native  of  New  York.  They  have  been  blessed 
with  three  children.  In  1857,  he  returned  with 
his  wife  to  Wisconsin,  and  soon  after  moved  to  St. 
Paul.  He  has  been  a  prominent  resident  of  this 
place  since  1863,  owning  a  well  cultivated  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres. 

Stephen  Poller,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
place,  is  a  native  of  Orange  county,  Vermont, 
born  on  the  2d  of  May,  1828.  He  attended  the 
common  schools  in  Vershire,  his  native  town,  com- 
pleting his  education  at  the  Thetford  Academy, 
and  afterwanl  taught  school  for  several  years  in 
Vermont  and  New  Hampshire.  In  1852  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Lnvia  M.  Carpenter,  also  a  native  of 
that  State,  by  whom  he  had  three  children.  They 
came  west  in  1859,  and  located  a  farm  in  sections 
fourteen  and  twenty-three,  where  Mr.  Fuller  has 
since  devoted  his  time.  His  wife  died  in  1861, 
and  he  has  since  married  Miss  Elizabeth  M. 
Aughenbaugh,  of  Freeborn.  They  have  a  family 
of  four  children. 

Samuel  J.  Fuller  was  also  born  in  Vershire, 
Orange  county,  Vermont,  his  birth  dating  the 
15th  of  July,  1834.  He  assisted  his  father  on  the 
farm  until  twenty  years  old  when  he  entered  the 
academy  known  as  the  New  London  Literary  and 


Scientific  Institution,  at  New  Loudon,  New  Hamp- 
shire, where  he  took  a  scientific  course,  learning 
the  theory  of  surveying  and  civil  engineering, 
which,  however,  he  never  practiced.  In  the  fall 
of  1856,  he  emigrated  to  Keokuk,  Iowa;  the  win- 
ter following  taught  school  in  the  old  Mormon 
town  of  Nauvoo,  Illinois.  The  following  s])ring 
he  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Freeborn,  and 
staked  out  a  claim  in  sections  twenty-three  and 
twenty-four  which  has  since  been  his  home,  divid- 
ing his  attention  between  farming  and  school 
teaching.  He  was  married  in  1865,  to  Miss  Sarah 
A.  Turner,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  they  have 
been  blessed  with  two  children,  both  boys.  Mr. 
Puller  served  three  years  in  the  army.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  board  of  Supervisors  several 
terms  and  Clerk  of  his  school  district  for  the  past 
twelve  years. 

Rev.  Wilbur  Fisk  was  born  in  Sharon,  Wind- 
sor county,  Vermont,  on  the  7th  of  June,  1839. 
He  is  the  son  of  a  farmer  and  arrived  at  manhood 
in  his  native  place.  In  1861,  he  enlisted  for  three 
years  in  the  Second  Regiment  Vermont  Volunteer 
Infantry,  Company  E;  went  South,  joined  the 
army  of  the  Potomac,  and  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran 
before  his  first  term  had  expired;  was  in  active 
service  with  that  army  till  the  close  of  the  war. 
In  July,  1865,  he  received  an  honorable  discharge, 
having  served  nearly  four  years,  including  six 
months  oil'  duty  on  acc(.)unt  of  sickness.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Angelina  S.  Drew,  of  Tuubridge, 
Vermont,  and  in  September,  1865,  they  removed 
to  a  farm  he  had  purchased  in  Kansas.  Mr.  Fisk 
was  here  led  to  commence  ministerial  laliors  in  his 
own  and  contiguous  neighborhoods.  In  1875,  he 
received  an  invitation  to  come  to  this  place  and 
devote  his  whole  time  to  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
which  call  he  accepted.  He  was  ordained  and 
installed  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  of 
Freeborn  on  the  13th  of  June,  1876.  His  labor  is 
under  the  auspices  of  the  American  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  Congregational  denomina- 
tion, and  his  held  includes,  with  Freeborn,  places 
in  Hartland,  New  Richland,  and  Lemond.  He 
has  four  cliildren  living  and  one  buried  in  Kansas. 

Orvtlle  S.  Gilmoue  was  born  in  Ripton,  Addi- 
son county,  Vermont,  on  the  17th  of  February, 
1844.  He  resided  at  home  until  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  then  enlisted  in  the  army  and 
served  six  months.  In  the  fall  of  1865,  he  came 
to  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  from  whence  he  soon 


FREEBORN  T0WX8IIIP. 


441 


after  came  to  Freeborn  county,  and  located  in 
Freeborn  township.  In  1871,  he  came  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Freeborn,  and  for  two  years  clerked  in  the 
store  of  T.  A.  Southwick,  then  bought  out  the 
business  of  A.  A.  Munn,  deceased,  and  has  since 
conducted  it,  having  a  good  trade.  On  the  29th 
of  September,  1874,  IMr.  Gilmore  was  married  to 
Miss  Jennie  E.  Leonard,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren. He  has  held  several  local  offices  and  is  now 
Treasurer  of  the  town  and  also  of  the  school  dis- 
trict in  which  he  resides.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church.  His  father  was  born  in  Bristol, 
Vermont,  in  1802,  and  now  resides  with  him. 

Jason  Gowahd  was  born  in  Croydon,  New 
Hampshire,  on  the  19th  of  November,  1820,  and 
lived  with  and  worked  for  his  father  on  his  farms 
until  arriving  at  the  age  of  twenty -one.  He  then 
began  for  himself,  working  at  different  occupa- 
tions for  two  years;  then  went  south  to  Acton, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  engaged  to  carry  on  "a 
sash  and  blind  factory,  buying  the  same  after 
three  years.  In  1849,  he  married  Miss  Charlos 
Dean,  who  bore  him  five  children.  In  18.52,  he 
sold  out  his  business  in  the  latter  place  and  made 
a  trip  to  California  where  he  aengaged  in  raining 
two  and  a  half  years.  He  experienced  all  kinds 
of  luck,  at  some  times  being  worth  several  thous- 
and dollars  and  at  other  times  several  hundred 
worse  than  nothing,  the  latter  being  occasioned  by 
a  protracted  illness.  On  his  return  to  his  native 
State,  he  located  on  a  farm  which  he  purchased 
previous  to  going  west.  In  September,  1857,  he 
sold  his  lands  and  the  following  spring  came  to 
this  section  of  the  country.  After  a  two  weeks 
sojourn  at  McGregor,  Iowa,  he  started  for  the 
northern  part  of  that  State  and  southern  Minne- 
sota and  while  at  Brownsdale  in  Mower  county, 
he  made  the  acquaintance  of  a  Mr.  Bigelow  and 
his  son-in-law,  in  company  with  whom  he  bought 
a  yoke  of  oxen  and  wagon,  supplied  themselves 
well  with  provisions  and  started  west  with  high 
hopes  of  future  success.  They  drove  to  Freeborn, 
a  distance  of  thirty  miles,  in  four  days,  and  Blr. 
Goward  staked  out  a  claim  in  section  twenty-five.  ' 
He  immediately  erected  a  small  frame  dwelling  ! 
and  then  returned  for  his  family.  In  July,  1858, 
he  opened  a  store  which  he  carried  on  for  ten 
years,  during  all  of  which  time  he  was  Postmas- 
ter. He  now  owns  about  eight  hundred  acres  of 
farming  land  in  the  county  and  is  also  interested 
in  the  coal  and  gypsum  mines.     He  was  one  of 


the  leading  men  in  the  organization  of  the  first 
schools  in  this  place,  and  has  held  nearly  all  the 
local  offices,  having  for  the  past  eight  years  tilled 
the  office  of  Town  Clerk.  Many  of  the  old  set- 
tlers remember  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goward  (the  latter 
of  whom  is  lying  in  the  Freeborn  cemetery,  hav- 
ing died  on  the  29th  of  March,  1882j  with  grati- 
tude for  the  aid  rendered  by  them  during  hard 
times  in  1859. 

John  G.  Haebison  was  born  in  Derbyshire, 
England,  on  the  18th  of  March,  1827.  When  he 
was  an  infant  his  parents  moved  to  Liverpool  and 
in  1837  came  to  America  and  located  in  Canada 
West,  Durham  county,  where  they  were  pioneers. 
They  returned  to  England  in  1840,  remained  four 
years  and  then  came  to  this  country,  settling  in 
Dane  county,  Wisconsin.  In  1851,  Mr.  Harrison 
was  joined  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  J.  Pierce 
and  they  have  six  children.  He  became  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  this  place  in  1857,  having  been  to 
the  State  two  years  pi-evious  residing  one  of  the 
years  in  Iowa.  Immediately  after  coming  here 
he  staked  out  a  claim  in  section  twehe,  which  has 
since  been  his  home. 

Nels  Hanson,  a  native  of  Denmark,  was  born 
on  the  11th  of  January,  1845.  When  twenty-two 
years  old  he  joined  the  army  and  served  eighteen 
months,  receiving  at  the  end  of  time,  an  honor- 
able discharge.  In  1870,  he  came  to  America  and 
located  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  blacksmith  trade  for  about  ten 
years.  He  was  married  in  1874,  to  Miss  Christina 
Hanson,  also  a  native  of  Denmark.  The  result  of 
the  union  is  two  children.  They  came  to  this 
place  in  1880,  and  own  a  farm  in  section  twenty- 
six. 

James  Hansen,  one  of  the  first  Danish  settlers 
of  this  place,  dates  his  birth  the  7th  of  January, 
1837.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he 
came  to  America  and  resided  in  Wisconsin 
until  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighth 
United  States  Infantry,  Company  D,  and 
served  three  years.  He  then  returned  to 
Wisconsin,  and  in  1867,  came  to  Minne- 
sota and  bought  a  farm  in  this  township,  remain- 
ing three  years.  He  returned  to  Wisconsin  and 
Miss  Augusta  Dorn,  a  native  of  Germany,  since 
which  time  his  farm  has  been  their  home.  They 
have  a  family  of  five  children. 

Ole  Johnson  was  born  in  Norway,  near  Bergen, 
on    the    4th    of  October,   1835.     He  reached  his 


442 


IHtiTOHY  OF  FliEEDORN  COUNTY. 


majority  in  his  native  country,  and  in  1849.  mar- 
ried Isabelle  Johnson  and  the  issue  of  the  union 
is  eleven  children.  They  emigratad  to  America 
in  1861,  and  first  settled  in  Dane  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, where  he  carried  on  a  farm  for  ten  years.  In 
1871,  he  moved  to  Minnesota  and  has  since  been 
one  of  the  respected  and  industrious  farmers  of 
this  place. 

Henry  S.  Olin,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Freeborn,  was  Ijoru  in  Chenango  county,  New 
York,  on  the  12th  of  July,  1829.  When  but 
twelve  years  of  age  he  began  to  learn  the  carpen- 
ter and  joiner's  trade  which  he  followed  in  bis 
early  life.  In  1852,  he  moved  to  Illinois,  and  in 
November,  1856,  to  Wisconsin,  in  both  of  which 
places  he  worked  at  his  trade.  He  was  joined  in 
marriage  in  1856,  with  Miss  Annie  P.  Crandall, 
who  was  born  in  Madison  county.  New  York. 
They  have  a  family  of  three  children.  Mr.  Olin 
came  to  this  place  in  1857,  9nd  has  a  good  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  has  been 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  held  other  town  and 
school  offices  since  his  residence  here. 

Thomah  W.  PiRDiE,  a  native  of  Scotland,  was 
born  near  (rlasgow,  on  the  3d  of  September,  1828. 
When  he  was  five  years  old  his  parents  moved  to 
America  and  settled  in  St.  Lawrence  county.  New 
York,  where  he  reached  his  majority.  In  1848  he 
came  to  Wisconsin,  and  in  1857  to  Mianesota,  tak- 
ing a  claim  in  section  twenty-five,  Freeborn  town- 
ship. He  was  married  in  1860  to  Miss  Tilley  L. 
Crandall,  a  native  of  New  York.  Mr.  Purdie  was 
one  of  the  first  County  Commissioners,  first  Town 
Clerk,  and  in  1859,  and  again  in  1877,  was  elected 
to  the  State  Legislature.  He  is  the  father  of  four 
children. 

John  B.  Pi'Rdie  was  also  born  near  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  his  birth  dating  the  24th  of  March,  1830. 
He  came  with  his  parents  to  America,  resided  in 
St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York,  and  afterward  in 
Wisconsin  where  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  In  1855  he  made  a  trip  to  Kansas, 
remained  a  short  time,  and  returned  to  Wisconsin 
and  two  years  later  came  to  Minneesota,  locating 
a  claim  in  section  twenty-five,  in  this  township. 
He  was  married  in  1865  to  Miss  Amanda  C.  Aug- 
trendaveli,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  The  issue  of 
the  union  jis  one  child.  Mr.  Purdie  was  the 
first  constable  of  this  place  ami  has  filled  other 
offices   of  trust. 

NovES  P.  Stilmi.vn  was  born  in  Cattaraugus 
county,  New  York.     When  he  was  an    infant   his 


])arents  moved  to  Michigan,  and  three  years  later 
to  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  where  they  were  en- 
gaged in  farming.  They  came  to  Freeborn 
township  in  1862,  where  Noyes  was  engaged  with 
his  father  on  a  farm  until  he  became  of  age,  then 
returned  to  Wisconsin  and  entered  Albion  Acade- 
my, from  which  he  graduated  in  1869,  and  after- 
ward taught  in  the  institution.  He  returned  to 
this  place  in  1871,  and  has  since  taught  twenty 
terms  of  school,  at  the  same  time  carrying  on  his 
farm,  which  is  in  section  one.  In  1874,  Miss  Em- 
ma Benjamin,  of  Newport,  Vermont,  became  his 
wife.  She  has  borne  him  two  children;  Gertie 
Maud  and  Edith  May. 

John  A.  Sihoen,  an  early  resident  of  this  place 
is  a  native  of  Gei-many,  born  on  the  2d  of  January, 
1829.  He  came  to  America  in  1852,  and  for  five 
years  lived  in  New  York  City,  marrying,  in  1856, 
Miss  ("aroline  Herold,  a  native  of  Switzerland.  In 
1857,  they  came  to  Minnesota,  and  took  a  claim  in 
this  township  but  after  two  years  returned  to  New 
York.  He  subsequently  resided  in  Wisconsin,  and 
in  1865  enhsted  in  the  army,  went  south  and 
joined  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  receiving  an 
honorable  discharge  after  a  service  of  six  months. 
Mr.  Sohoen  always  takes  an  active  part  in  school 
and  local  matters.  He  is  the  father  of  five  chil- 
dren. 

George  Seath,  one  of  the  old  citizens,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Scotland,  and  dates  bis  birth  the  15th  of 
October,  1833.  When  he  was  quite  young  he 
came  with  his  |)arents  to  America,  and  for  one 
year  lived  in  New  York  City.  The  family  then 
moved  to  Delaware  county,  and  on  the  9th  of 
February,  1858,  George  married  Miss  Phtebe  Lar- 
ribee.  He  came  to  this  township  in  1861,  taking 
a  claim  in  section  twenty-seven,  which  has  since 
been  his  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seath  have  five 
children. 

Frietz  Tack  was  born  in  northern  Prussia,  on 
the  15th  of  April,  1849,  and  arrived  at  manhood's 
estate  in  his  native  country.  He  was  joined  in 
wedlock,  in  1867,  with  Miss  Mary  Shodenberg. 
The  issue  of  the  marriage  is  two  children.  In 
1869,  Mr.  Tack  emigrated  with  his  family  to  Amer- 
ica and  was  a  resident  of  Milwaukee  eleven  years, 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  In  1882  he 
came  to  this  place,  where  he  resides  with  his  wid- 
owed mother,  his  father  having  ilied  a  year  prev- 
ious to  their  coming.  They  have  a  good  home, 
the  farm  being  located  in  section  twenty-six 
and  is  well  cultivated. 


FREEMAN  TOWNSHIP. 


US 


FREEMAN 


CHAPTER  LX. 

TOPOGKAPHY  AND  LOCATION BAELY  SETTLEMENT — 

DECEASED  PIONEERS  —  OFFICIAL  RECORDS — 
STATISTICS RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS — BIOGRAPHI- 
CAL. 

This  one  of  the  southern  tier  towns  of  Freeborn 
county,  lying  contiguous  to  Iowa  on  the  south; 
and  the  townships  of  Albert  Lea,  Shell  Rock,  and 
JNunda,  respectively,  on  the  north,  east,  and  west. 
It  is  a  full  congressional  township,  the  greater 
part  of  which  is  under  an  admirable  state  of  cul- 
tivation, as  a  glance  at  the  statistics  will  show. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  considerably 
broken  and  inclined,  in  places,  to  be  very  hilly 
although  there  are  no  bluffs,  and  but  few  jjlaces 
so  abrupt  as  to  be  detrimental  to  agriculture. 
There  are  also  numerous  sloughs  dotting  the 
prairie,  which  form  the  only  obstruction  to  culti- 
vation to  be  found,  and  many  of  these  are  vala- 
al  rle  for  hay  and  grazinj;.  A  good  deal  of  small 
timber  is  found,  aud  it  might  be  said  the  greater 
part  of  the  area  is  jack  and  burr  oak  opening 
land,  although  very  open,  with  prairie  and  natur- 
al meadows  interspersed.  The  main  body  of  tim- 
ber is  in  the  central  part. 

The  soil  is  variable,  but  in  the  greater  portion 
of  the  town  is  of  a  rich  dark  loam,  although  not 
unfrequently  a  locality  is  passed  where  the  sand 
and  clay  are  visible. 

The  water  courses  of  this  town  are  all  sluggish 
and  small  affairs,  there  being  only  one  which  is 
as  yet  dignified  upon  the  map  with  a  name. 
This  is  Goose  Creek,  which  rises  west  of  the 
boundary  and  enters  by  way  of  section  eighteen, 
then  taking  a  southeasterly  course  passes  through 
Grass  Lake  and  leaves  for  Iowa.  Another  small 
stream  rises  in  the  northern  part  and  flows  south- 
easterly across  the  northeast  corner  of  the  town. 
Several  small  streams  fJow  into  Grass  Lake,  but 
have  no  names,  and  in  the  low  country  are  liable 
to  change  their  courses. 


Grass  Lake  is  a  body  of  water  located  in  the 
corners  of  the  four  southeastern  sections  in  the 
township.  It  is  a  sloughy  concern,  and  is  sur- 
rounded by  such  a  low,  wet  and  marshy  country, 
that  it  is  impossible  to  get  to  it;  in  fact,  it  is  said 
that  the  entire  southeastern  part  of  Preel)orn  has 
never  been  explored'. 

Therere  are  no  villages  in  the  township.  The 
Minneapolis  and  St.  Louis  railroad  enters  and 
crosses  the  northeastern  corner,  and  the  B.  C.  & 
N.  railway  line  crosses  the  northwestern  comer. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  early  settlement  and  initiatory  steps  which 
led  to  the  founding  and  subsequent  development 
of  this  thriving  township,  in  common  with  the 
majority  of  Freeborn  county's  subdivisions,  dates 
back  well  into  the  fifties.  Its  early  pioneers  and 
hardy  civilizers  were  fiot  adventurers  who  came 
here  merely  tor  speculation,  nor  were  they  men 
who  expected  or  even  hoped  to  accumulate  a  for- 
tune in  a  day;  but  men  who  knew  there  would  be 
trials  and  hardships  to  endure,  while  the  first  few 
years  of  their  existence  here  must  be  almost  a  her- 
mitage. And  they  were  not  mistaken,  as  those 
who  can  retrace  the  steps  of  memory  to  actual 
experience  will  testify,  while  those  without  having 
passed  through  it  can  never  know. 

It  is  claimed  that  Freeman  township  had 
received  a  settler  as  early  as  1854;  this  statement 
is  made  in  a  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  township 
published  in  the  Albert  Lea  papers  in  1877,  and 
prepared  by  Mr.  Parker,  president  of  the  Old  Set- 
tlers' Association,  and  Mr.  Botsford.  But  for  the 
edification  of  our  readers  we  will  publish  the 
sketch  verbatim,  to-wit: 

"The  first  settler  in  this  town  was  Ole  Olen- 
house,  who  made  his  claim  as  early  as  the  summer 
of  1854,  and  was  probably  the  first  settler  in  the 
county. 

.Jacob  Hostetter  acquired  the  first  title  to  land^ 
which  occurred  on  the   19th   of  June,    1856.     He 


444 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


was  the  first  mechanic,  aiul  worked  as  a  carpen- 
ter. 

Sarah  White,  in  1859,  taught  the  first  school, 
the  same  being  held  in  the  dwelling-houee  of 
Joseph  Shaw.  The  first  parties  married  were 
Louis  B.  Probetin  and  Libbie  Banning,  in  1857, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  by  William  An- 
drews, Esc].  The  first  child  born  was  in  1857, 
and  connected  with  the  Uleiihouse  family.  The 
first  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Wadsworth,  who  died 
in  I860." 

Where  the  above  information  came  from  we 
know  not,  and,  therefore,  will  make  no  comment 
upon  it;  but  will  commence  the  story  of  early  set- 
tlement, as  we  get  it  from  the  most  reliable  and 
oldest  settlers  now  living. 

Among  the  early  settlers,  not  the  first  in  the 
township,  was  John  Freeman,  in  whose  honor  the 
town  received  the  mime  it  bears.  He  was  bom  in 
Northamptonshire,  England,  in  the  year  1805.  In 
1855,  he  came  to  Minnesota,  and  direct  to  this 
township,  where  he  secured,  under  the  pre-emption 
law,  the  whole  of  section  fifteen  for  himself  and 
three  sons.  After  living  in  a  tent  for  several 
months  he  erected  the  log  house  in  which  he  now 
lives,  the  logs  l)eing  cut  from  poplar  trees,  and 
covered  with  what  was  termed  a  "shake  roof," 
i.  e.,  clapboards  cut  from  oak  timber.  The  log 
house  is  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  and  under 
the  third  roofing.  Three  of  Mr.  Freeman's  sons 
are  yet  in  the  town,  and  one  is  on  the  Pacific 
coast. 

The  above  statement  is  disputed  by  some,  as  to 
his  being  the  first,  and  we  give  all  sides  a  hearing 
by  producing  the  statement.  John  Oldinghouse 
[or  OlenlwuseJ  was  a  native  of  Germany,  having 
lately  sojourned  for  a  time  in  Wisconsin,  rrrived 
in  Freeman  township  in  the  summer  of  1855,  with 
his  family,  and  squatted  upon  section  twelve, where 
he  dug  a  hole  in  the  ground  and  covering  it  with 
poles  and  hay,  spent  the  winter  here.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  pulled  up  stakes  and  removed  to 
section  twenty-fcur,  and  this  point  is  probably  the 
hinge  leading  to  the  error  into  which  many  settlers 
have  fallen  in  thinking  the  date  of  his  settlement 
in  section  twenty-four  was  identical  with  that  of 
his  arrival;  for  in  early  days,  his  original  place  in 
section  twelve  was  considered  in  the  town  east  of 
this,  or  the  Shell  Rock  settlement. 

Olenhouse  erected  a  shanty  ujjon  his  new  farm 
and  made  improvements,  remaining  there  about  two 


years,  when  he  with  his  family  removed  to  Kansas, 
where  he  died  soon  after  his  arrival,  from  the 
effects  of  an  exposure  which  affected  his  brain. 

In  the  fall,  a  man  named  Mr.  Oliver  Diamond, 
arrived  and  constituted  the  next  settler.  He  was 
a  native  of  Vermont,  and  located  in  the  same  sec- 
tion with  Oldinghouse  (24, )  where,  among  other 
improvements,  heerecttd  a  log  house,  lt)x22  feet, 
which  still  stands,  although  rather  delapidated 
and  imoccupied,  a  remembranceof  'ye  olden  time', 
Diamond  did  not  remain  long  and  sold  to  Charles 
Grim  who  still  lives  on  the  place. 

About  the  same  time  in  1855,  Jacob  Hostetter, 
a  Pennsylvania  German,  who  came  direct  from 
Ohio,  tciii  Wisconsin,  settled  with  his  wife,  four 
daughters,  and  two  boys,  upon  section  one.  He 
erected  a  log  house  and  commenced  improvements 
which  he  continued  for  fifteen  or  sixteen  years, 
and  then  sold  to  Mr.  Nelson  who  is  yet  on  the 
place.  Mr.  Hostetter  now  resides  in  the  township 
of  Albert  Lea. 

The  spring  following  the  arrival  of  Hostetter, 
in  March,  185(5,  Christian  Bias,  a  German,  arriv- 
ed, and  being  a  single  man,  commenced  keeping 
"batch,"  upon  the  claim  he  secured  in 
section  twenty-two,  the  present  Joseph  Lang 
place,  and  remained  here  for  a  couple  of  years 
when  he  returned  to  Illinois  from  whence  he 
came. 

William  Edwards,  from  England  originally,  but 
late  from  Beaver  Dam,  Wisconsin,  arrived  on  foot 
in  Freeman  township  on  the  20th  of  Sept<'mber, 
1856,  and  took  a  claim  in  section  twenty-four, 
where  he  commenced  improvements,  boarding  in 
the  meantime  with  Oliver  Diamond.  His  claim 
was  jumped  shortly  afterwards  by  a  Mr.  Finch, 
and  he  took  a  place  in  section  twenty-two;  but 
finally,  in  1857,  sold  that  and  took  the  place  he 
now  occupies  in  section  three. 

Just  before  Christmas,  in  1856,  a  couple  of  Ger- 
mans, Charles  Bessinger  and  Phillip  Herman,  late 
from  Canada,  made  their  appearance  and  selected 
homes.  Chas.  Bessinger  selected  his  domain  in 
section  nine  and  lived  there  several  years,  when  he 
sold  to  his  brother,  Morris  Bessinger,  who  yet 
owns  the  place.  Phillip  Herman  planted  his 
stakes  upon  a  fine  track  of  land  in  section  thirteen 
where  he  yet  holds  forth. 

The  first  of  that  small  but  determined  army  of 
the  natives  of  Norway,  arrived  shortly  afterward 
in  the  person  of  Lars   Nelson,  who  declared  him- 


FREEMAN  TOWNSHIP. 


445 


self  at  rest  upon  a  farm  ia  section  twenty-three, 
and  he  has  since  been  joined  by  enough  of  his 
countrymen  to  declare  a  majority  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town. 

PIONEERS  DECEASED. 

Joseph  Lang  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  on 
the  25th  of  July,  1799.  When  23  he  married  miss 
Jeannette  LockharJ,  and  seven  years  thereafter 
came  to  Canada,  and  in  18.5fi  to  Freeborn  County, 
and  planted  himself  in  the  township  of  Freeman 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  until  final- 
ly transplanted  to  the  mystic  realm  on  the  11th 
of  April,  1875.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  and  left  a  wife  and  seven  children. 

Miss  Josie  Lang  came  with  her  parents  when 
they  settled  in  Shell  Rock,  and  afterwards  removed 
to  Freeman.  She  was  a  dutiful  daughter,  affec- 
tionate sister,  and  a  worthy  member  of  society, 
and  her  name  should  have  a  place  among  Free- 
man's honored  dead.  The  future  life,  with  its 
hopes,  promises,  and  possibilities,  was  opened  up 
for  her  on  the  10th  of  June,  1881. 

Pabton  Greene  was  born  in  Ehode  Island  on 
the  15th  of  May,  1795.  His  parents  removed  to 
New  York  State  in  1805.  In  1817,  he  located  in 
Erie  county,  and  remained  there  until  1855,  when 
he  came  and  procured  a  farm  in  Freeman  where, 
at  the  age  of  four  score  and  three,  he,  on  the  15th 
of  May,  1878,  was  gathered  as  a  sheaf  fully  ripe. 
He  never  married,  but  was  industrious,  sober,  and 
enjoyed  uniform  good  health,  always  preferring 
to  walk  rather  than  ride,  having  thus  made  a 
journey  to  Albert  Lea  a  few  days  before  his 
death. 

early  events. 

First  Births. — The  first  event  of  this  kind  to 
transpire  occurred  in  1857,  and  ushered  into  this 
reputed  world  of  sorrow,  Matilda  Oldinghouse, 
whose  parents  resided  in  the  town.  Another  early 
birth  was  that  of  a  son  of  Oliver  and  Emily  Dia- 
mond, it  is  claimed  late  in  1856. 

First  Marriage. — This  took  place  in  March, 
1858,  and  joined  by  the  holy  ties  of  wedlock,  Mr. 
W.  Wadsworth  and  Miss  Sarah  Freeman. 

Death. — It  is  claimed  that  the  first  death  in 
the  township  carried  away  George  W.  Wadsworth, 
a  son  of  the  parties  who  were  first  married  in  the 
town.     The  child  was  nine  months  old. 


OFFICIAL  REOJIiD.5. 

This  town  effected  an  organization  as  a  local 
government  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  2d  of  April, 
1861,  at  the  house  now  occupied  by  William  Free- 
man, by  the  election  of  the  fallowing  officers: 
Supervisors,  B.  H.  Carter,  Chairman,  William  H. 
Moore,  and  Lirs  Nelson;  Clerk,  W.  Wadsworth; 
Treasurer,  Heary  Eiton;  Assessor,  William  Eaton; 
3ohool  Superintendent,  J.  E.  Marvin.  After  this 
meetings  were  held  for  four  years  in  the  sam?  house, 
and  thea  the  schoolhouses  were  brought  into 
requisition. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows:  Supervisors, 
Ole  OpJahl,  Chairman,  Robert  Freeman,  and  Ole 
Anderson;  Clerk,  W.  Wadsworth;  Treasurer,  O.  K. 
Plaakerud;  Assessor,  E.  K.  Fla-fkerud;  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  Andrew  Ling.  Another  Justice  was 
elected,  but  he  stubbornly  refusad  to  qualify  or 
have  anything  to  do  with  it,  so,  as  expressed  by  a 
citizen,  "his  place  was  easily  filled  by  leaving  it 
vacant." 

The  matters  pertaining  to  the  public  welfare 
have  been  well  and  ably  managed,  nothing  having 
transpired  to  disturb  the  usual  tranquility  of  such 
business. 

.statistics. 

From  various  reports  we  have  compiled  the 
following  statistics,  showing  the  agricultural 
resources,  the  values,  and  the  products  of  the 
township: 

Foe  the  Year  1881. — Showing  acreage  and 
yield  in  the  township  of  Freeman  for  the  year 
uamed: 

Wheat — 4,090  acres,  yielding  48,160  bushels. 

Oats— 707 -'4  acre.s,  yielding  23,239  bushels. 

Corn — 785  acres,  yielding  27,409  bushels. 

Birley —50  acres,  yielding  954  bushels. 

Potatoes — 55Ji  acres,  yielding  3,003  bushels. 

Sugar  cane — 1  acre,  yielding  117  gallons. 

Cultivated  hay — 67  acres,  yielding  33  tons. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881,  5,730  acres. 

Wild  hay  gathered— 2,695  tons. 

Timothy  seed — 15  bushels. 

Apple  trees  growing — 1,317. 

Trees  baaring — 117. 

Apples — 179  bushels. 

Grape  vines  beariug — 5. 

Grapes — 50  pounds. 

Sheep  sheared — 107. 

Wool — 481  pounds. 


446 


HTSTORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


Milch  cows — 398,  yielding  27,115  jiounds  of 
butter. 

Hives  of  bees — 5. 

For  the  Yeak  1882. — Wheat,  3,371  acres;  oats, 
849;  corn,  l,219i-2;  l)arley,  88:  potatoes,  58J^; 
beans,  1%;  sugar  cane,  1%:,  cultivated  hay,  69 J^. 
Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1882,  5.668 ?<{. 

Apple  trees^ — growing,  1,198;  bearing,  449; 
grape  vines  bearing,  53;  mik-li  cows,  384;  sheep, 
124,  yielding  457  pounds  of  wool. 

Forest  trees  planted  and  growing — 3  acres. 

Population. — The  census  of  1870  gave  Free- 
man a  population  of  6()4.  The  last  census,  taken 
in  1880,  reports  772  for  this  town.  Showing  an 
increase  of  168. 

KEHGIOUS. 

Freeman  has  two  church  organizations,  each 
having  neat  and  valuable  buildings.  The  total 
cost  of  church  buildings  in  the  town  amounts  to 
alout  .S2,750.  The  total  number  of  members  of 
the  two  organizations  is  about  350.  The  churches 
are  about  one  mile  apart. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  on  the  8th 
of  October,  186],  by  Rev.  Walter  Scott.  It  was 
held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  W.  Wadsworth,  upon  the 
occasion  of  the  obsequies  of  his  deceased  son. 

Norwegian  Lutheran  Church. — This  is  loca- 
ted in  the  northeastern  part  of  section  twenty-one. 
It  was  erected  ia  1874  at  a  cost  of  §1,350,  but  in 
the  summer  of  1880,  it  was  reduced  to  an  almost 
entire  wreck  by  a  severe  wind  storm  which  did 
considerable  damage  throughout  this  county.  It 
was  rebuilt,  however,  the  same  year,  and  now 
stands  on  the  old  site,  in  good  condition,  a  monu- 
ment to  the  public  spirit  and  enterprise  of  the 
builders.  The  first  pastor  of  this  temple  of  wor- 
ship was  Rev.  T.  A.  Torgeson,  and  through  the 
earnest  efforts  of  this  good  and  sincere  gentle- 
man, prosperity  shed  its  bright  rays  upon  the 
small  band  of  worshipers,  until  its  membership  in- 
creiaed  to  two  hundred.  After  about  two  years 
a  change  of  pastors  was  made  and  Rev.  J.  Mosby 
was  installed.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  S.  B. 
Hustuet. 

There  is  a  cemetery  ground  in  connection  with 
the  church  of  this  society,  which  was  laid  out 
about  the  time  the  building  was  erected. 

Lutheran  Church. — Belonging  to  the  Norsk 
Dansk  Conference,  is  located  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  section  sixteen.  It  was  erected  in  1878  at 
a  cost  of  $1,400,  being  a  neat  and   cnmmodious 


building,  equal  to  any  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
The  church  society  has  been  very  successful  and 
efficient  in  its  labor.s,  for  it  now  numbers  as  fol- 
lowers of  its  faith  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
members.  There  is  also  a  cemetery  ground  con- 
nected with  this  church. 


Educational  facilities  in  Freeman  are  at  least  at 
par  with  a  majority  of  the  towns,  both  in  numeri- 
cal strengeth  and  m  efficiency.  The  territory  of 
the  town  for  this  purjjose  is  divided  into  five  dis- 
tricts, which,  if  divided  equally,  would  give  an 
area  of  a  little  over  six  s([uare  miles  to  each*  dis- 
trict. The  numbers  and  location  of  schoolhouses 
in  the  various  districts  are  shown  in  the  short 
sketch  of  each  which  is  below  presented. 

Dittrict  No  46. — Effected  an  organization  in 
i  1862,  and  the  first  term  of  school  was  taught  by 
Orfa  Skinner  at  the  residence  of  William  Eaton, 
with  seventeen  scholars  present.  Shortly  after- 
ward a  schoolhouse  was  constructed  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  section  three  at  a  cost  of  S600,  eipiip- 
ped  with  common  furniture  and  the  uece.s.sary 
apparatus.  The  attendance  has  grown  from  the 
first,  and  at  present,  instead  of  seventeen,  the  rolls 
show  about  thirty. 

District  No  44. — The  first  school  in  this  dis- 
trict was  taught  in  1865,  at  the  residence  of  Swan 
Anson,  by  Miss  Altha  Young,  with  eighteen  juv- 
eniles on  the  benches.  This  was  about,  or  shortly 
after  the  district  effected  an  organization. 
School  was  held  in  private  houses  after  this 
until  1873,  when  a  building  was  decid- 
ed upon  and  the  schoolhouse  now  in 
use  was  constructed,  at  a  cost  of  about  .$125,  in 
which  Miss  Mary  Buchanan  first  called  school 
to  order,  with  an  average  attendance  of  twenty  - 
two.  The  location  of  the  schoolhouse  is  the  cen- 
ter of  section  sixteen. 

District  No.  48. — The  first  school  in  this  edu- 
cational locality  was  taught  by  Mrs.  W.  H.  Moore 
with  an  attendance  of  thirty^scholars.  In  1873,  a 
good  and  substantial  school  structure  was  erected, 
at  a  cost  of  .'i!80(),  being  well  furnished  and  well 
kept.  The  present  attendance  of  the  school  is 
about  forty  pupils.  The  district  embraces  the 
territory  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town, 
with  the  schoolhouse  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
section  thirty-two. 

District  No.  65. — It  is  claimed  that  the  first 
school  taught  in  this  township  was  in  this  district, 


FREEMAIT  TOWNSHIP. 


447 


although  at  that  time  it-was  uuorgiinized.  Thii 
first  school  was  taught  in  Charles  G rims'  house, 
iu  the  winter  of  1862,  by  Mr.  Charles  Grim,  with 
an  attendance  of  fifteen  pupils.  This  district 
etfected  an  organization  and  continued  holding 
school  in  private  residences  until  1870,  when  a 
school  house  16x20  was  erected  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  section  twenty-three,  which  is  still 
in  use.  The  first  school  in  this  district  was 
taught  by  Miss  Jemima  Blighton,  with  an  attend- 
ance of  twenty  pupils;  the  average  attendance 
has  now  increased  to  thirty. 

District  No.  66. — This  district  embraces  the 
territory  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Freeman 
with  a  schoolhouse  located  in  section  six,  which 
was  erected  iu  1867,  at  a  cost  of  $150.  The  first 
school  therein  was  taught  by  Miss  S.  Carter,  with 
an  attendance  of  fifteen  pupils.  The  average 
attendance  has  gradually  increased,  and  is  now 
about  twenty-four. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Ole  a.  Bekgdol  was  born  in  Norway,  and 
when  twenty  years  old  he  emigrated  to  Americf 
with  his  parents,  his  father  dying  with  lung  fevei 
while  on  the  ocean.  The  remainder  of  the  famih 
located  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and  after  fivi 
years  experience  in  farming  in  that  place  cam< 
here  and  purchased  his  present  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  most  of  which  is  now  unde: 
cultivation.  In  1872  he  went  to  Northwood,  Iowa, 
and  purchased  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  o 
land,  and  remained  there  two  years.  He  wa. 
married  in  1872  to  Miss  Betsy  Johnson,  and  the; 
have  one  child,  a  daughter,  aged  eight  yeart 
Mr.  Bergdol's  mother  was  killed  by  a  stroke  o' 
lightning,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  She  i 
buried  in  the  Norwegian  Evangelical  Lutherai 
cemetery  at  this  place. 

William  Freeman  was  born  in  Northamptom, 
England,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1832.  At  the  age 
of  thirteen  years  he  was  obliged  to  depend  upoi; 
his  own  resources,  and  for  some  time  he  lived 
with  Henry  Follett,  brother  of  Sir  John  Follett, 
of  London.  In  1852  became  to  America,  engaged 
in  farming  four  years  near  Rutland,  Vermont,  and 
then  came  to  Illinois,  thence,  in  a  short  time,  to 
Minnesota.  He  located  on  his  present  farm,  firs', 
living  in  a  tent,  but  soon  after  erected  his  house, 
which  has  been  improved,  and  now  has  the  thirr 
roof.  His  farm  contains  one  hundred  and  sixt^ 
acres  and  is  well  impioved,  having  a  grove  of  oal. 


timber  and  a  very  fine  orchard.  It  is  csntrally 
located,  convenient  to  two  churches,  and  altogether 
is  a  very  desirable  home. 

Robert  Freeman  was  born  in  Northampton, 
England,  on  the  18th  of  March,  1841,  and  when 
when  fourteen  years  old  came  to  America  and 
engaged  in  farming  near  Caslleton,  Rutland 
county,  Vermont.  In  1857  he  came  west  to  Illinois, 
located  in  Kaneville,  Kane  county,  where  he 
remained  one  year,  and  came  to  Minnesota,  pre- 
empting his  present  land  in  sections  eleven  and 
four.  Freeman  township.  In  1862  he  returned  to 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  twelve  years,  and  in 
1 874  married  Miss  Louisa  Nelson,  coming  again 
to  his  farm  in  this  place  the  following  year.  They 
have  three  children,  John  P.,  Edna  B.,  and  Alice, 
an  infant.  Mr.  Freeman  is  a  member  of  the  Town 
and  School  boards. 

Ole  K.  Flaskerod  was  born  near  Ghristiauia, 
Norway,  on  the  29th  of  August,  1843.  In  1866, 
he  came  to  America,  and  after  spending  some  time 
in  Calmar,  Iowa,  removed  to  this  county,  locating 
near  Twin  Lakes,  in  Nunda,  and  purchased  forty 
acres  of  land,  on  which  he  made  some  improve- 
ments. In  1868,  he  went  to  Otter  Tail  county, 
purchased  land  near  Fergus  Falls,  but  in  1875, 
came  to  this  place  and  bought  a  quarter  of  section 
twenty-seven.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Jacobson,  who  has  borne  him  four  children,  two 
of  whom  are  dead.  Those  living  are,  Karl  Johan 
and  Anna.  Mr.  Flaskerud  has  been  Town  Treas- 
urer three  successive  years,  and  has  also  held 
other  local  offices.  His  father  and  mother  died  in 
Norway,  being  quite  aged. 

Erik  K.  Fla-skerud  was  born  on  the  20th  of 
July.  1841,  near  Christiauia,  Norway,  and  received 
a  good  education,  learning  the  shoemaker's  trade 
in  his  native  country.  In  1869,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Caroline  Stromsod,  of  Norway,  and  the 
same  year  they  emigrated  to  America,  remained 
for  awhile  in  lown,  and  then  came  to  this  State, 
locating  on  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  this  township,  section  twenty-one. 
His  parents  died  in  the  old  country  at  an  advanced 
age.  Mr.  Flaskerud  has  always  taken  an  interest 
in  church,  school,  and  town  affairs,  having  been 
Clerk  of  his  school  district  ten  successive  years, 
assessor  three  years,  and  Town  Treasurer  three 
ye:irs.  His  children  are;  Christian,  Theodore, 
Olive,  Anna,  Inger  Mary,  and  Edward. 

Charles  (trim  is  a  Prussian,  born  near  Gorhtz 


448 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


in  the  province  of  Saxony,  on  the  22d  of  Febru- 
ary, 1824,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  hia  native 
country.  In  1854,  he  came  to  America,  and  for 
two  years  was  engaf»ed  in  a  sugar  factory  in 
Memphis,  Tennessee;  removed  to  Davenport, 
Iowa,  and  thence  to  Minnesota,  locating  on  sec- 
tion oue  in  Nunda  townsliip.  He  soon  sold  liis 
claim  therj,  however,  and  for  three  years  worked 
on  neighboring  farms,  then  purchased  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  land  in  this  township, 
seetion  twenty-tour.  In  1859,  he  married  Misa 
Catharine  Beighley,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  they 
have  had  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living; 
Ada  M.,  Kosa  S.,  Georgiana  B.,  and  George  W. 
Mr.  (rrim's  mother  di(;d  in  Prussia  in  1860,  aged 
seventy-two  years,  and  his  father,  Gottlieb  Grim, 
was  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  continued  in  service 
nearly  twenty  year.s.  He  was  at  oue  time  taken 
prisoner  with  five  others,  and  after  several  days  of 
fasting,  they  finally  made  their  escape,  some  one 
from  the  outside  making  an  opening  in  the  cellar 
in  which  they  were  confined.  After  nine  days 
wandering,  their  only  food  being  sour  sorrel,  they 
all  died  but  Mr.  Grim,  who  recovered  from  his 
exposure,  but  only  lived  a  few  years,  then  found 
an  early  grave,  which  is  kept  green  in  memory  by 
his  son  Charles. 

George  Hyatt  was  born  in  Cayuga  county, 
New  York,  on  the  5th  of  July,  1832,  and  at  an 
early  age  removed  with  his  parents  to  Oswego 
county,  near  Hannibal  Centre,  where  he  received 
his  education  and  grew  to  manhood.  In  1855,  he 
removed  to  Yankee  Settlement,  Iowa,  engage.l  at 
the  carpenter  aud  joiner  trade,  and  in  1857,  came 
to  Shell  Rock,  Minnesota.  He  soon  after  pre- 
empted land  in  this  town.ship,  in  section  thirteen, 
and  now  has  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  with  a 
finely  fiuislied  house,  commodious  granaries,  barns, 
etc.,  and  gives  his  attention  to  farming  and  stock 
raising.  He  was  married  in  1863,  to  Miss  lone 
Bartlett,  and  they  have  six  children;  Annette, 
Sherman,  Willett  L.,  Prank  C,  and  Edgar  and 
Edna,  who  are  twins. 

Alexander  Johnson  was  born  on  the  23d  of 
April,  1823,  near  Arendahl,  Norway,  and  remained 
in  his  native  country  until  thirty  five  years  old. 
He  came  to  America,  and  for  some  time  found 
employment  in  the  pineries  in  Michigan  and  later 
engaged  in  fishing  on  Lake  Michigan.  In  1862, 
he  removed  to  Minnesota  and  staked  out  a  claim, 


but  soon  sold  and  bought  a  farm  in  Freeman,  see- 
tion thirty-one,  where  he  still  resides.  He  married 
Miss  Mary  Mickleaon  in  1868,  and  they  have  two 
children:  .Julius,  and  Louisa. 

Andrew  J.  Lang  was  born  in  1834,  in  Canada, 
in  Dalhousie,  province  of  Ontario,  and  received  a 
good  education.  Whe'.)  twenty-two  years  old,  he 
came  to  Shell  Rock,  this  county,  and  purcliased 
his  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  section  twenty- 
four.  He  and  his  brother  Robert  have  lived  to- 
gether for  many  years  in  single  blessedness.  They 
were  the  first  to  own  and  operate  a  threshing  ma- 
chine in  this  place,  that  being  their  employment 
for  fifteen  summers.  They  wore  out  three  ma- 
chines  of  the   J.   I.    Case  make.      Their   father, 

I  mother,  aud  sister  have  all  passed  away,  and  are 
buried  in  the  (rreeue  cemetery.  The  sister's  name 
was  .Jeannette  and  she  died  <m  the  lOth  of  June, 
1881.  Andrew  and  Robert,  the  last  of  the  family, 
have,  through  their  superior  and  careful  business 

;  management,  acquired  wealth  and  the  sincere 
respect  of  all  who  know  them. 

I  Ole  O.  Opdahl  is  a  native  of  Norway  and 
dates  his  birth  on  the  25th  of  .July,  1844.  He 
attended  school  until  the  age  of  sixteen  years, 
when  he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade,  and  contin- 
ued bis  studies  at  an  evening  school  for  two  years. 
In  1869,  he  emigrated  to  America,  located  in  Os- 
sian,  Iowa,  where  he  was  employed  at  his  trade 
six  years,  and  was  married  in  1871,  to  Miss  Rachel 
Christiansen.  He  went  to  Forest  City,  aud  for  two 
years  dealt  in  agricultural  implements,  coming  to 
Minnesota  in  1.S75,  and  ))urchased  his  present  farm 
of  three  hundred  aud  twentv  acres,  and  has  con- 
ducted it  since,  also  engaging  at  his  trade.  He 
has  been  Clerk  of  the  board  of  School  trustees 
mo?it  of  the  time  since  his  residence  here,  and  also 
a  member  of  the  board  of  Supervisors  ami  after- 
ward Chairman  of  the  same,  still  holding  the  latter 
office.  He  has  had  four  children' three  of  whom 
are  living;  G.  O.,  Thorston  E.,  and  Eliza  A.  His 
mother  is  still  living,  sixty-seven  years  of  age. 
His  father  was  drowned,  the  ves.sel  being 
wrecked  in  a  trip  from  Christiania  to  his  home. 

WiFPiNQ  Wadsworth  wbs  born  at  Stoke  Doyel, 
Northamptonshire,  England,  on  the  10th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1830,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  that  coun- 
try, receiving  such  an  education  as  the  common 
schools  afTorded.  lu  1854,  he  came  to  America, 
and  for  some  time  engaged  in  farming  in  Ver 
mont,  coming  to  this  State  in  1856,  and  pre-empt- 


GENM  VA    TO  WN8IIIP. 


449 


ed  a  claim.  He  soou  sold  that  and  purchased 
two  hundred  acres  of  school  land  in  section  six- 
teen, where  he  now  resides.  In  18.^8,  he  married 
Miss  Sarah  Freeman,  and  they  had  six  children  ; 
Elizabeth  A.,  Joseph  L.,  Ada  J.,  Agnes,  George 
R.,  and  Mary.     In  18G4,  Mr.  Wadsworth  enlisted 


in  the  army  and  served  till  the  fall  of  1865,  when 
he  received  an  honorable  discharge.  He  has 
always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  public  affairs,  and 
has  been  kept  constantly  in  office,  being  Town 
Clerk  at  present. 


GENEVA. 


CHAPTER  LXI. 

Generai/    descbiption — Early      settlement — 

hosoked  dead political statistical 

mannfactueino — geneva  village religious 

— Schools—  Biogbaphioal. 

This  is  on  the  northern  tier  of  towns  in  the 
county,  the  second  from  Mower  county  on  the 
east,  Newry  lying  between.  Steele  county  is  on 
the  north,  Bath  on  the  west,  and  Biceland  on  the 
south.  Like  all  the  other  towns  in  the  county, 
the  integrity  of  the  original  government  survey 
has  been  maintained.  Most  of  the  sections  from 
twenty -five  to  thirty-six  is  what  may  be  called 
slough  land,  and  is  covered  by  college  and  rail- 
road scrip.  The  remainder  is  rolling  prairie, 
with  a  black  sandy  loam,  which,  on  some  of  the 
ridges  is  mixed  with  clay  and  is  very  productive, 
as  there  is  seldom  a  failure  of  crops  from  any 
cause.  Nearly  all  the  timber  in  town,  when  first 
entered  for  settlement,  was  on  sections  seventeen 
and  thirty -six. 

Geneva  Lake  is  the  only  one  in  town.  It  is  in 
the  western  part,  and  occupies  parts  of  six  sec- 
tions. It  has  an  irregular  outline,  with  an  area  of 
perhaps  three  sections,  and  is  three  miles  long  and 
a  little  over  a  mile  wide  in  its  widest  part.  A 
small  stream  finds  its  way  into  it  from  the  north, 
while  an  exit  is  obtained  toward  the  east  that  is 
deflected  to  the  south  as  it  leaves  the  town  from 
section  thirty-six  to  join  Turtle  River.  This  river, 
was  formerly  noted  for  the  abundance  of  fish  it  con- 
tained, and  it  is  still  an  eligible  point  for  the  dis- 
29 


ciples  of  Sir  Isaak  Walton.  The  water  pond, 
in  their  season  are  still  found.  There  are  no 
streams  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town,  but 
good  water  is  obtained  at  no  great  depth. 

EARLY   SETTLEMENT. 

Milton  Morey  is  said  to  be  the  first  settler  in 
town.  He  took  a  claim  in  1855,  built  a  cabin 
and  did  some  breaking  that  fall.  About  Christ- 
mas his  dwelling  was  unfortunately  burned,  and 
as  he  could  not  then  put  up  another,  he  took  his 
family  in  an  ox  team  and  turned  his  face  towards 
civilization  and  spent  the  winter  in  or  near  where 
Austin  now  is,  returning  in  the  spring  and  put- 
ting in  some  crops.  After  a  time  he  went  to 
Dakota  and  now  lives  near  Yankton.  There  were 
several  settlers  in  1856,  and  to  write  the  truth  as 
though  it  were  fiction,  an  the  20th  of  April,  on  one 
of  those  days  so  characteristic  of  spring  time  in 
Minnesota,  there  might  have  been  seen  a  solitary 
traveler,  moving  along  the  Indian  trail  between 
Austin  and  some  point  beyond  this.  Prom  his  ap- 
pearance he  was  a  pilgrim  in  quest  of  some 
shrine  where  he  might  kneel  and  pay  homage  to 
the  home  he  expected  to  find,  after  he  had  created 
it.  This  stranger  was  looking  for  Mr.  Morey's  resi- 
dence, which  he  had  a  confused  idea  was  some- 
where near  the  trail  he  was  following.  This  man 
was  Elmer  Eggleston,  and  in  one  hand  he  carried 
a  grip  sack  and  in  the  other  an  umbrella.  He 
was  a  native  of  Ohio  but  had  come  from  Galena, 
and  soon  found  Mr.  Morey,  who  of  course  gave 
him  the  best   the  house  afforded,  and  two  davs 


450 


BISTORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


later  assiated  the  young  adventurer  to  stake  out 
a  farm  in  section  eiglit  which  he  opened  up  and 
cultivated  nntil  1863,  when  he  sold  out,  but  still 
lives  on  the  same  section.  In  August  following, 
the  father  reported  in  person  and  surmounted 
some  of  Uncle  Sam's  acres  in  the  same  section, 
where  he  wr(jught  until  gathered  in  by  the  grim 
reaper. 

In  May  Robert  P.  Farr,  a  native  of  Missouri, 
came  and  placed  his  sign  manual  on  a  spot  of 
land  in  section  fourteen,  and  he  has  been  bustling 
around  there  ever  since.  Along  with  him  came 
Joseph  W.  Burdick,  a  native  of  New  York,  who 
selected  his  place  in  section  ten,  and  there  he  es- 
tablished a  home  in  which  he  dwelt  until  he  ex- 
changed worlds  on  the  24th  of  April  1877. 

Henry  King,  who  was  born  in  Canada,  took  up 
his  residence  in  section  twenty -three,  but  he  now 
lives  on  the  town  site. 

E.  C.  Stacy,  who  had  been  through  here  in 
1854,  secured  a  place  in  section  seven.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  three  County  Commissioners  ap- 
pointed by  the  Governor  of  the  territory.  He 
now  resides  in  Albert  Lea. 

Isaac  Lyou,  from  Illinois,  took  a  claim  in  sec- 
tion eight  which  he  soon  disposed  of  to  Jones  & 
Eobson.  He  afterwards  lived  in  Steele  county,  and 
since  that  in  Warren,  Illinois. 

Samuel  Woodworth  came  here  from  the  Badger 
State  and  planted  his  boundary  stakes  in  section 
twenty -six,  and  there  he  remained  until  1866, 
when  he  again  set  his  face  toward  the  setting  sun, 
and  sometime  iu  1881,  he  left  his  bones  moulder- 
ing in  Dakota  soil. 

Nathan  Hunt  got  his  real  estate  in  sections  fif- 
teen and  sixteen,  went  into  the  army,  on  his 
return  marched  west  and  halted  in  Faribault 
county,  where  he  settled  permanently. 

Walter  Drake,  from  the  Nutmeg  State,  procured 
his  slice  of  Minnesota  territory  in  section  thirty, 
and  in  1866  he  too  sailed  in  command  of  a  prairie 
schooner,  and  found  a  haven  iu  Faribault  county. 

John  Reed,  from  Kent  county,  England,  sur- 
rounded a  piece  of  free  soil  iu  section  twenty-two, 
which  he  improved  and  cultivated.  In  February, 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  and  went  to 
Fort  Snelling,  but  in  one  short  month  he  was 
mustered  out,  and  went  to  join  the  legion  of 
whom  it  is  said : 

'On  fame's  eternal  campinjj  ground 

Their  silent  tents  are  spread. 
And  glory  guards  with  solem  around, 

The  bivouac  of  the  dead," 


His  widow  and  daughter  are  residents  of  the 
town  site. 

Thomas  Cashman,  of  the  Ever  (ireeu  Isle,  came 
>ora  Iowa,  and  cast  his  lot  on  section  thirteen, 
md  there  he  may  still  be  found. 

Alexander  Schntt,  a  native  of  the  province  ot 
Quebec,  Canada,  came  here  from  Ontario,  and  his 
choice  was  in  sections  eleven  and  twelve.  He  is 
now  in  section  sixteen. 

Burdette  and  Charles,  sons  of  Eliab  Eggles- 
ton,  were  early  settlers,  but  both  died  young. 

John  Hiues  was  here  a  short  time,  but  pushed 
on  to  Dakota. 

O.  G.  Goodnature,  of  Canada,  arrived  in  Juno, 
and  transplanted  himself  iu  section  fourteen;  he 
still  remains  a  resident  of  the  town. 

Lat«  this  year,  two  particularly  enterprising 
men  from  New  York  State,  with  their  minds  filled 
with  town  sites,  arrived  and  secured  a  beautiful 
spot,  located  a  town,  and  soon  made  it  one  of  the 
most  populous  and  thriving,  in  their  minds,  in  the 
whole  Northwest.  Mr.  Jones  still  survives,  but 
Mr.  Robson,  who  was  Sheriff  of  the  county  and  a 
highly  respected  citizen,  when  the  war  broke  out 
joined  the  army  and  lost  his  life. 

Hans  Eustrom,  a  native  of  Sweden,  came  here 
from  Boston  and  located  in  section  four.  He  is 
now  in  Kittson  county  holding  the  position  of 
Auditor. 

Those  already  mentioned  were  settlers  of  1856. 
\  large  settlement  came  in  1857,  but  only  a  few 
of  their  names  could  be  obtained,  among  them 
the  following : 

Bernhard  Schad,  an  enterprising  German  from 
Red  ^Viug.  arrived  and  at  once  w'ent  into  the 
blacksmith  and  wagon  business,  which  he  still 
carries  on. 

John  Heath,  Sr.,  took  a  claim  in  section  seven, 
but  afterwards  removed  to  Albert  Lea,  where  he 
now  lives. 

Charles  Henion,  from  New  Y'ork  State,  came  here 
from  Wisconsin  and  secured  a  foothold  iu  secti(}n 
four,  which  he  still  holds. 

Some  of  the  arrivals  of  1858  were: 
(jeorge  Osborne,  a  native  of  Ohio,  wlio  spent  a 
winter  here  and  afterwards  lived  in  Steele  county, 
[n  about  two  years  he  returned  to  Geneva.  Was 
iu  the  array,  and  afterwards  for  a  time  Postmas- 
ter.    He  is  now  dead. 

Thomas  Hines,  ot  Vermont,  settled  in  section 
sixteen.   He  removed  to  Faribault  county  in  1864, 


O  ENE  VA   TO  WNSHIP. 


451 


aud  lived  there  uutil  1872,  when  his  movements  in 
this  world  were  terminated.  His  family  returned 
here  to  reside  in  section  fourteen. 

Robert  Hill,  a  native  of  the  Key  Stone  State, 
pre-empted  a  place  in  section  ten,  and  afterwards 
lived  with  his  son-in-law,  Robert  P.  Farr,  until  in 
1865  the  portals  of  the  other  world  opened  before 
him. 

Early  Births. — Anna  Geneva,  daughter  of 
Bernhard  and  Anna  Schad,  was  born  on  the  8th 
of  September,  1857.  Arriving  at  womanhood  she 
married  James  Harvey  Robson  on  the  16th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1881.  They  live  in  Owatonna.  He  was  the 
son  of  James  A.  and  Martha  Robson,  and  was 
ushered  into  this  world  in  February,  1858. 

Ralph  Freeborn  Drake  was  born  in  August, 
1856. 

Irviu  E.  Burdick,  son  of  Joseph  W.  Burdick, 
was  born  on  the  10th  of  September,  1856. 

The  First  Deaths. — Seymour  E.,  son  of  Eliab 
and  Esther  Eggleston,  was  removed  to  the  spir- 
itual world  on  the  24th  of  December,  1857,  in  his 
14th  year, 

The  wife  of  W.  8.  Bacon  was  overtaken  by  the 
angel  of  immortality  in  the  winter  of  1857-58. 

Burdette  E.,  son  of  Eliab  aud  Esther  Eggles- 
ton, received  a  summons  that  could  not  be 
disregarded,  on  the  28th  of  November,  1857,  in 
his  22d  year. 

THE  HONORED  DEAD. 

Harvey  Partridge  was  born  in  Canaan,  Litch- 
field county,  Connecticut,  on  the  16th  of  July, 
1786,  and  in  1834,  removed  to  Genesee  county, 
New  York,  in  1846  to  Rock  county,  Wisconsin, 
and  in  1864  came  to  Geneva.  About  a  year  before 
his  death  he  went  fo  Albert  Lea  to  live  with  his 
son,  Sidney  Partridge.  For  fifty  years  he  was  a 
Methodist.  In  1812,  he  took  the  blue  lodge 
degrees  in  Masonry,  and  the  scarlet  degrees  in 
1813.  On  the  7th  of  August,  1875,  he  was  admit- 
ted to  the  "Supreme  Lodge  above,  where  the 
Grand  Master  of  the  Universe  presides."  He  was 
buried  with  Masonic  honors. 

Daniel  Kinnear  was  born  in  Schuylkill  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania.  He  moved  to  Iowa  in  1841  and 
remained  until  1864  when  he  removed  to  Free- 
born county.  He  was  a  Methodist,  and  his  life 
here  was  abruptly  terminated  by  a  second  stroke 
of  paralysis  on  the  29th  of  March,  1876,  at  the  age 
of  75  years.  His  wife,  one  son,  and  five  daugh- 
ters were  present  at  the  funeral. 


Hiram  R.  Jones,  one  of  the  oldest  persons  in 
the  county,  died  in  Geneva  where  he  was  much 
respected,  and  was  mourned  by  a  large  number  of 
people  with  whom  he  has  been  associated  for 
many  years. 

Eliab  Eggleston. —  At  Whitehall,  New  York, 
in  1808,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born. 
When  quite  young  he  went  to  Ohio,  afterwards  to 
Illinois,  and  finally  to  Minnesota,  settling  in 
Geneva,  where  he  arrived  in  the  year  1856. 
He  furnished  three  sons  for  the  war  of  1861,  only 
one  of  whom  survived.  Mr.  Eggleston  left  his 
son,  Elmer,  and  his  wife  with  whom  he  had  so- 
journeyed  for  forty  seven  years.  On  the  10th  of 
June,  1880,  he  quietly  breathed  his  last. 

POST-OFFIOE. 

In  1856,  E.  C.  Stacy  made  an  application 
through  Hon.  Henry  M.  Rice,  the  delegate  in 
Congress,  for  a  Post-ofHce,  which  was  secured 
with  E.  C.  Stacy  as  Postmaster,  and  they  had  a 
weekly  mail,  to  be  procurred  at  the  expense  of  the 
town,  fi'om  Austin.  Dorr  K.  Stacy,  who  was  then 
a  mere  lad,  used  to  go  over  the  twenty-two  miles 
for  it.  The  office  was  put  in  the  store  after  that 
was  opened,  and  still  continues  its  good  work. 

political. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  on  that  noted  11th 
of  May,  1858,  when  the  new  constitution  went 
into  effect.  The  Supervisors  were:  E.  C.  Stacy, 
Chairman,  W.  S.  Bacon,  and  John  Brannan;  Clerk, 
Hans  Eustrom.  The  earliest  records  are  lost  so 
there  are  no  particulars  as  to  what  was  done,  or 
of  the  names  even  of  the  other  officers. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  held  in  Chamber- 
lain's Hall  on  the  14th  of  March,  1882,  thefollow- 
lowing  officers  were  elected :  Supervisors,  Michael 
Quinn,  Chairman,  B.  H.  Conklin,  and  J.  M.  Saw- 
yer; Clerk,  A.  J.  Chamberlain;  Treasurer,  Bern- 
hard  Schad;  Assessor,  M.  J.  Feuton;  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  W.  H.  Twiford;  Constable,  Octave 
Goodnature. 

Honesty  and  economy  have  characterized  the 
management  of  town  aff'airs  from  the  first. 

statistical. 

The    year    1881. — The    area  included  in   this 
report  takes  in  the  whole  town;  as  follows: 
Wheat— 2,885  acres,  yielding  36,813  bushels. 
Oats— 799  acres,  yielding  25,640  bushels. 
Corn — 879  acres,  yielding  28,515  bushels. 


452 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


Barley — 144  acres,  yielding  3,020  bushels. 

Rye — 2  acres,  yielding  35  bushels. 

Buckwheat  -2 '4  acres,  yielding  440  bushels. 

Potatoes — 33938  acres,  yielding  4,1)14  bushels. 

Beans — lig  acres,  yielding  10  bushels. 

Sugar  cane — 2%  acres,  yielding  142  gallons. 

Cultivated  hay — 59  acres,  yielding  113  fajus. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881—477. 

Wild  hay— 42,184  tons. 

Timothy  seed — 11  bushels. 

Apples — number  of  trees  growing,  830;  number 
bearing,  330,  yielding  134  bushels. 

Grapes — 7  vines,  yielding  6  pounds. 

Sheep  ^255  sheared,  yielding  133  pounds  of 
wool. 

Dairy — 255  cows,  yielding  29,250  pounds  of 
butter  and  130  pounds  of  cheese. 

Hives  of  bees — 10,  yielding  125  pounds  of 
honey. 

The  YE.\ii  1882.— Wheat,  2,530  acres;  oats, 
944;  corn,  1,311;  barley,  271;  buckwheat,  8;  pota- 
toes, 551^;  beans,  Q%;  sugar  cane,  5;  cultivated 
hay,  60;  other  produce,  J^  acre;  total  acreage  cul- 
tivated in  1882,  6,376, y. 

Apple  trees — growing,  781;  bearing,  367;  grape 
vines  bearing,  3. 

Milch  cows— 234. 

Sheep — 45,  yielding  174  pounds  of  wool. 

Whole  number  of  farms  cultivated  iu  1882,  54. 

Forest  trees  planted  and  growiug,  128  acres. 

Population. — The  census  of  1870  gave  Geneva 
a  population  of  378.  The  last  ceusus,  taken  in 
1880,  reports  451  for  this  town;  showing  an  in- 
crease of  76. 

MANUFACTURING. 

In  1858,  a  Mr.  Deacon  Brant  started  the  manu- 
facture of  shingles  on  section  eight.  The  estab- 
lishment was  a  marvel  in  its  way,  and  displayed  a 
genius  that  should  have  been  liandsomely  reward- 
ed, for  it  was  the  missing  liuk  between  hand  labor 
and  machinery.  The  blocks  were  cut  the  proper 
length  by  a  cross-cut  saw,  and  they  were  then 
boiled  to  soften  them  and  then  were  slashed  up 
into  shingles  by  a  knife  attached  to  a  lever  worked 
by  a  man  aud  a  wman  power,  the  latter  being 
his  wife. 

Saw-mild.— In  the  fall  of  1856,  Bacon  A-  Eg- 
gleston  put  up  a  saw-mill  on  section  thirty-six, 
and  kept  it  vibrating  until  the  summer  of  1857, 
when  it  was  transferred  to  section  seventeen, 
where  Bacon  run  it  for  two  years,  having,  in  1858, 


added  a  grist-mill,  which  did  good  business.  In 
1859,  this  mill  was  carried  off  by  the  western 
fever,  which  was  epidemic  at  that  time  and  has 
been  ever  since. 

PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY. 

A  Grange  was  instituted  on  the  7th  of  July, 
1872,  with  W.  H.  Twiford  as  Master,  and  Hans 
Eustrom  Sr.  and  fifteen  other  charter  members, 
which  afterward  swelled  up  to  fifty  or  more. 
Weekly  meetings  were  held  in  the  Kobson  House 
hall.  The  members  went  into  the  fraternal  part  of 
the  order  in  a  whole-souled  way,  having  a  monthly 
ban(|uet,  followed  by  music  and  dancing.  But  in 
1877,  the  banquet  halls  were  deserted,  aud  the  life 
of  the  institution  fled  to  seek  companionship  with 
those  who  had  gone  before. 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 

The  following  in  regard  to  this  town  was  publish- 
in  1877:  "It  was  first  settled  by  Milton  Morey,  in 
the  fall  of  1855,  who  immediately  constructed  a 
log  house,  wliich  was  burned  down  on  the  Christ- 
mas following.  To  him  also  belongs  the  honor  of 
opening  the  first  farm,  which  he  did  in  the  spring 
of  1856.  E.  C.  Stacy,  who  settled  in  June,  1856. 
was  the  first  lawyer,  while  his  wife,  who  arrived 
in  August  following,  was  the  first  doctor.  Rob- 
son  and  Jones  were  the  first  merchants,  aud  com- 
menced the  sale  of  goods  in  July,  1857.  Schad 
and  Drommerhausen,  blacksmith  and  wagon-mak- 
ers, were  the  first  mechanics.  In  the  same  summer 
of  1857,  a  Mrs.  Clark  taught  the  first  school  iu  a 
log  shanty  at  the  villaga.  The  first  sohoolhouse  ■ 
was  built  by  district  No.  3,  in  1858.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1857,  Rev.  Isaac  McReyuolds  held  the  first 
religious  service.  In  1858  the  Catholics  organized 
the  first  religious  society,  and  built  the  first 
church  in  1861.  The  Post-office  was  established 
in  the  winter  of  1856-7,  which  was  supplied  by 
special  service  from  Austin.  E.  O.  Stacy  was  the 
first  Postmaster.  The  first  child  bom  was  Ralph 
Freeborn  Drake,  on  the  30th  of  July,  1856.  Wil- 
liam Robson  and  Atlanta  Smith  were  the  first  par- 
ties married,  John  Reed  performing  the  ceremony 
in  the  summer  of  1859.  The  first  death  was  that 
of  Mrs.  Welcome  Bacon,  which  occurred  in  Febru- 
ary, 1859.  Jamea  A.  Robson  opened  the  first 
hotel  in  .Tune,  1858,  although  .Judge  Stacy  had 
thrown  his  house  open  to  the  public  ever  since  his 
first  settlement.  The  first  title  to  land  was  acquir- 
ed by  Welcome  L.  Bacon,  August  16th,  1858,  the 


GENEVA  TOWNSHIP. 


453 


selection  being  made  on  section  thirty.  The  first 
board  of  officers  was  elected  May  11,  1858,  con- 
sisting of  E.  C.  Stacy,  W.  S.  Bacon,  and  John 
Brenuan;  H.  Eustrom,  Clerk." 


GENEV.i    VILLAGE. 


The  village  of  Geneva  was  platted  in  the  winter 
of  1856-57  by  James  F.  Jones  and  James  Bobson, 
on  section  eight,  and  contained  about  four  himdred 
acres.  This  was  one  of  the  first  crop  of  villages  ever 
raised  in  the  county,  and  was  very  pleasantly  sit- 
uated, and  of  course  calculated  and  expected  to 
become  the  Chicago  of  the  new  Northwest. 

In  the  spring  of  1857,  Jones  and  Bobson 
started  business  and  put  up  a  store  and  hotel. 
They  soon,  however,  dissolved  partnership,  Jones 
retaining  the  store  which  he  managed  for  several 
years,  part  of  the  time  in  company  with  C.  H. 
Molntire;  but  they  afterwards  sold  out  to  Cabot 
&  Lester,  who  continued  the  business  but  a  short 
time,  when  they  went  to  Martin  county  with  their 
goods.  The  store  was  then  occupied  by  Mr.  Lor- 
ing,  and  was  soon  consumed  by  fire. 

Two  Swedes,  named  Lohyed  and  Matison,  put 
up  a  store  and  placed  a  stock  of  goods  in  it. 
They  soon  sold  out  and  it  changed  bands  several 
times;  finally  it  was  purchased  by  Charles  Kittle- 
son,  now  State  Treasurer,  and  was  burned  while 
he  owned  it. 

George  and  Warren  Osborne  began  merchan- 
dising in  1865,  and  continued  one  year,  when 
George  secured  his  brother's  interest  and  run  it 
alone  one  year  and  then  turned  over  his  stock  to 
Charles  Kittleson. 

The  only  store  in  town  now  is  kept  by  Archi- 
bald Chamberlain,  which  was  first  opened  by 
Dwight  Brooks  in  1880. 

In  1857  Bernhard  Schad  and  George  Drom- 
merhausen  started  a  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop. 
Wagons  and  plows,  custom  work  and  general  re- 
pairing were  their  specialties.  In  about  a  year 
Schad  became  sole  proprietor,  and  he  is  still 
hammering  away  at  the  old  stand. 

Tiie  hotel  which  had  been  biiilt  was  leased  to 
Isaac  Lyons  who  opened  it  with  an  approj^riate 
flourish  in  1858,  and  managed  it  for  a  year  or  two 
and  then  sold  to  O.  A.  Jones,  of  Fillmore  county. 
His  father,  H.  K.  Jones,  kept  it  one  winter  and 
then  his  sou,  James  F.  Jones,  bought  and  moved 
into  it  and  is  now  the  proprietor. 

In  1857,  in  deference  to  a  demand,  Mr.  Graham 
put  up  a  building  and   opened  a  saloon,   and  as 


the  business  increased  he  erected  a  larger  build- 
ing, which  afterwards  changed  hands  and  a  store 
was  opened  there. 

RELIGIOUS. 

Methodist. — The  first  religious  meetings  held 
in  the  village  were  in  the  store  of  Loyhed  &  Mali- 
son, in  1857,  by  a  Methodist  itinerant.  Soon 
after  an  organization  was  effected.  Elder  Towne, 
a  Baptist  preacher,  also  had  meetings  at  Deacon 
Brant's  house,  but  as  far  as  remembered,  no  or- 
ganization was  perfected.  The  Methodist  denom- 
ination still  "holds  the  fort"  with  a  garrison  of 
twenty  members.  The  meetings  are  in  the  school- 
house,  with  Kev.  W.  H.  Burkaloo,  who  lives  in 
Berlin,  as  pastor. 

Roman  Catholic  Chukch. — The  first  mass 
known  to  have  been  said  in  this  township,  was  in 
May,  1859,  by  Father  Pendergast,  in  the  resi- 
dence of  Thomas  Cushman.  Services  were  fre- 
quently held  in  this  house,  until  inl866  the  church 
edifice  was  erected.  It  is  a  frame  building,  and 
was  put  up  under  the  care  of  Father  McDermott. 
The  congregation  is  now  under  the  charge  of 
Father  Fleming  of  Albert  Lea,  of  which  it  is  an 
outlying  mission. 

United  Bretheen. — Religious  meetings  were 
held  in  John  Hime's  house  in  1858,  also  in 
John  Brown's  house  in  section  twenty- 
three,  that  was  also  used  as  a  schoolhouse.  In 
1859  a  society  was  accumulated  with  about  a 
dozen  members,  by  Rev.  John  Arnold,  who  also 
expounded  in  Geneva  village.  This  society  had 
sufficient  attraction  of  cohesion  to  hold  together 
for  two  or  three  years,  when  it  became  dis- 
rupted. 

The  Seventh  Day  Adventists. — The  first  time 
this  peculiar  doctrine  was  advocated  in  town  was 
in  the  summer  of  1876.  Meetings  were  held  in 
the  schoolhouse  by  Elder  Dimmick.  On  the  24th 
of  September  they  organized  with  ten  members, 

I  and  a  Sunday  school  was  also  commenced  with 
Lucius  Gibbs  as  Superintendent.  Afterwards 
meetings  were  held  in  a  tent.  Rev.  D.  T. 
Curtis  came  after  this  and  expounded  the  gospel 
as  he  understood  it,  once  a  month.     Rev.  Henry 

j   Ellis  succeeded  him  and  held  the  last  meeting  on 

j   the  20th  of  January,  1882. 

Universalist. — Elder  Wakefield,  a  pioneer 
preacher  in  this  faith,  had  a  series  of  meetings 
here,   and  quite  a  society  was    gathered.     Their 

■   meetings  are  held  at  stated  times  in  the  school- 


454 


niSTORT  OF  FREEBORN  C  OUNTT. 


house,  with  Rev.  G.  S.  Gowily  as  pastor,  who  has 
good  congregations,  which  is  a  little  remarkaljle 
in  this  western  country  where,  as  a  rule,  the  so 
called  liberal  denominations  do  not  meet  with 
much  encouragement. 

SCHOOLS. 

District  No.  3. — The  first  school  was  opened  in 
8  private  house  belonging  to  John  Brown,  in  sec- 
tion fifteen,  in  the  summer  of  1858.  Mrs.  Henry 
King  wielded  the  ferule  during  this  term.  The 
next  year  the  citizens  succeeded  in  building  a 
schoolhouse  on  section  fourteen.  Miss  Lucy 
Thomas  called  the  first  school  to  order  in  the  new 
house,  which  was  a  log  afifair,  20x24  feet,  which 
was  put  up  by  a  regular  "Bee,"  each  farmer  con- 
tributing something.  This  served  until  1877, 
when  the  frame  building  now  standing  was  erected 
on  sectioQ  twenty-three,  at  a  cost  of  about  S400. 

District  No.  4. — A  school  was  opened  in  a 
claim  shanty  on  the  town  site  in  1878.  Mrs.  Clark 
was  the  constituted  authority  during  this  term. 
Afterwards  the  school  was  kept  in  the  store  of 
Loyhed  k  Matison,  and  then  in  a  building  erected 
for  a  saloon.  The  schoolhouse  was  gotten  up  in 
1865. 

District  No.  97. — This  was  organized  in  1875, 
having  been  taken  from  the  third  district.  That 
same  year  the  schoolhouse  was  built  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  section  fourteen.  The  initial 
teacher  was  Miss  Ella  Davis. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Harrison  M.  Davis,  a  native  of  New  York,  was 
born  in  Holland,  Erie  county,  on  the  19th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1832.  He  was  married  in  1851,  to  Miss 
Aurilla  Benedict,  and  four  years  after  they  moved 
to  Wisconsin.  In  the  summer  of  1858,  he  came 
to  Minnesota,  lived  in  Steele  county  until  fall, 
then  returned  to  Wisconsin.  They  came  again  to 
Steele  county  in  1862,  and  on  the  1st  of  Decem- 
ber of  the  year  following,  Mr.  Davis  enlisted  iu  the 
.Second  Minnesota  Cavalry,  went  west  on  the 
frontier,  and  remained  in  service  until  November, 
1865,  svhen  he .  received  an  honorable  discharge. 
In  1866,  he  bought  a  farm  in  section  six,  Geneva, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  He  is  the  father  of  two 
cliildren;  Adelmar  P.  and  Edwin  W. 

Eliab  Eqgleston,  deceased,  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Geneva,  was  born  in  Whitehall,  New 
York,  on  the  29th  of  July,  1808.  When  quite 
young  he  learned  the  carpenter  and  joiner  trade, 


and  afterward  was  engaged  as  an  architect.  When 
about  twenty  years  old  he  moved  to  Ohio,  and  a 
few  years  later  to  Indiana.  On  the  4th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1833,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Esther  Chapman.  Thej  resided  in  (lalena,  Illi- 
nois, seven  years,  and  in  1856  came  to  Minnesota 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  this  place.  He  devoted 
his  time  to  the  improvement  of  his  home  until  his 
death  on  the  9th  of  June,  1880.  Mr.  ancl  Mrs. 
Eggleston  had  six  children;  Charles,  who  enlisted 
in  1862  in  the  Fourth  .Minnesota  volunteer  infan- 
try. Company  F,  went  south  and  was  under  Grant 
at  Vicksburg,  came  home  on  a  furlough  and  died 
on  the  19th  of  October,  1863,  aged  twenty-eight 
years;  Elmer,  the  only  son  now  living,  married  on 
the  22d  of  October,  1861,  Miss  Catherine  Gross, 
i  and  they  have  two  children.  Burdette  and  Eliab 
I  J. ;  Burdette,  the  third  son,  died  on  tlie  28th  of 
November,  1857,  in  his  twenty-second  year;  Olive 
Ann  died  when  two  and  a  half  years  old;  Alvanus 
enlisted  in  the  Fifth  Minnesota  Regiment,  Com- 
pany C,  went  south  and  died  near  Vicksburg  on 
the  5th  of  July,  1863;  and  Seymour  E.  died  on 
the  24th  of  December,  1857,  ageti  fourteen  years. 
Mrs.  Eggleston  lives  on  the  old  homestead  with 
her  son  Elmer. 

Michael  Fenton,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  place,  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  on  the  29th 
of  September,  1811.  He  was  brought  up  iu  Mid- 
dlesex county,  England,  and  there  learned  the 
trade  of  a  brickmaker.  In  1830  he  sailed  with 
his  parents  for  America,  his  father  dying  on  the 
way.  The  remainder  of  the  family  proceeded 
from  Quebec  to  Boston,  aud  thence  to  Waterbury, 
Vermont,  where  Michael  was  engaged  at  his  trade 
one  summer.  He  then  returned  to  Canada  and 
worked  iu  the  lumber  business  tor  two  years,  from 
thence  to  Rochester  and  subsequently  to  Buffalo, 
Detroit,  and  back  to  Rochester.  He  was  married 
in  1847  to  Miss  Mary  White.  While  at  Roches- 
ter he  enlisted  in  the  first  United  States  artillery, 
went  south  to  Florida,  aud  after  a  service  of  three 
years  was  honorably  discharged.  He  spent  eight 
months  iu  Georgia  aud  from  there  went  to  New- 
burg,  New  York,  thence  to  Vermont  and  worked 
at  his  trade.  He  went  to  Michigan  and  settled  on 
a  farm  about  eleven  miles  from  Jackson,  and 
after  a  residence  of  five  years  moved  to  Ottawa, 
niiiiois.  He  served  in  the  Mexican  war  under 
Geo.  Shields,  was  wounded  twice  at  the  battle  of 
But-na  Vista,  and  confined    in  the  hospital    four 


GENE  VA  TOWNSHIP. 


455 


months,  after  which  he  received  his  discharge  and 
returned  to  Illinois  by  way  of  New  Orleans  and 
St.  Louis.  After  reaching  his  home  he  was  laid 
up  two  years  on  account  of  injuries  received 
while  in  service.  In  1857  he  came  to  Minnesota, 
resided  in  Stillwater  until  1858,  then  selected  a 
farm  in  this  place,  and  the  following  year  moved 
his  family.  He  is  a  member  of  the  National  Vete- 
rans' Association  and  is  a  Mexican  pensioner,  pro- 
bably, the  only  one  in  the  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fenton  have  had  three  children;  Johanna  M., 
Michael  J.,  and  William  E.,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  on  the  10th  of  July,  1880,  from  the  effect  of 
injuries  received  from  a  falling  capstan. 

Robert  P.  Fakr,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
place,  is  a  native  of  Missouri,  born  in  1827.  When 
quite  young  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Indi- 
ana, and  at  the  age  of  nine  years  went  to  live  with 
his  grandparents  in  Pennsylvania.  After  four 
years  he  returned  to  his  home,  and  four  years 
later  removed  to  Clayton  county,  Iowa,  where  he 
bought  a  saw-mill  and  run  it  until  1856.  In  the 
latter  year  he  came  to  Minnesota,  took  a  claim  in 
section  fourteen  of  this  township,  and  has  since 
made  it  his  home.  He  has  a  fine  orchard,  and  his 
farm  contains  four  hundred  acres.  In  1861,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Belle  Hill,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  have  had  seven 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living;  Esther,  May, 
Sarah,  Robert,  Alice,  and  Charles.  George  died 
when  eighteen  mouths  old. 

Lucros  GiBBS  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  on  the 
17th  of  February,  1831.  He  received  an  academ- 
ical education,  and  in  1862,  his  health  failed, which 
necessitated  a  change  of  climate.  He  went  to 
lUiuois,  thence  to  St.  Louis  up  the  Missouri  river, 
and  west  to  Montana.  After  an  absence  of  three 
years  he  returned  to  his  native  State,  where  he 
married  Miss  Mary  A.  J.  Maynard,and  after  a  few 
weeks  started  for  Minnesota.  He  located  in 
Geneva,  where  he  bought  a  farm  and  has  since 
made  it  his  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gibbs  have  had 
five  children,  three  of  whom'  are  living;  Lester  D., 
Carrie  S.,  and  Willie  L.  Stephen  died  on  the  16th 
Of  January,  1881,  aged  nine  years,  and  Henry 
died  four  days  later  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

John  L.  Gibbs  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  on  the 
3d  of  May,  1838.  He  acquired  the  fundamental 
principles  of  a  good  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  State,  and  afterward  attended 
Le  Raysville  Academy,  and  subsequently  taught 


school,  using  the  proceeds  for  the  advancement  of 
his  education.  After  a  course  at  the  Susquehanna 
Collegiate  Institute  and  the  Pokeepsie  Law 
School  of  Indiana,  he  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  university  at  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  gradu- 
ating one  year  afterwards.  He  then  taught  school 
in  Iowa,  and  in  1861,  came  to  Albert  Lea.  The 
following  year  he  was  elected  County  Attorney, 
and  in  1863,  elected  to  the  Legislature  and  again 
in  '64,  '75,  and  '76.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  by  the 
public  positions  he  has  occupied,  in  what  esteem 
ho  is  held  by  his  fellow  citizens.  He  was  married 
in  1868,  to  the  widow  of  Capt.  James  Robson. 
Mr.  Gibbs  has  always  been  a  careful  and  method- 
ical student,  and  by  his  perseverance  has  overcome 
many  obstacles  that  to  an  ordinary  mind  would 
seem  insurmountable.  As  presiding  officer  of  the 
House  his  qualifications  are  marked  with  that 
degree  of  firmness  and  ability  that  has  so  distin- 
guished some  of  his  predecessors.  In  selecting 
the  standing  committees  no  man  could  have  been 
more  just  and  impartial,  or  displayed  better  judg- 
ment than  did  he. 

O.  C.  Goodnature,  one  of  the  pioneers  and 
most  successful  farmers  of  Freeborn  county,  is  a 
native  of  Canada,  born  in  1825.  When  quite 
youug  he  moved  to  Clinton  county.  New  York, 
and  was  there  employed  in  a  saw-mill  and  in  driv- 
ing a  team.  He  was  marrid  to  Miss  Emily  De- 
Marre  and  the  issue  of  the  union  is  nine  children ; 
Octave  C,  George,  Peter,  Nicholas,  Eli,  Emily, 
Rosalie,  Michael,  and  David.  Mr.  Goodnature 
sought  a  home  in  Minnesota  in  1856,  and  settled 
in  section  fourteen  of  this  township  where  he  has 
since  resided. 

Charles  Henion,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Geneva,  is  a  native  of  Albany  county.  New  York, 
where  he  was  born  on  the  17th  of  September, 
1831.  In  1854,  he  removed  to  Wisconsin,  which 
was  his  home  until  coming  to  this  place  in  1857. 
He  took  a  claim  in  section  four  and  the  same  year 
returned  to  New  York  and  married  Clarisa  Hubbs. 
The  result  of  the  union  is  five  children ;  Ophelia, 
Alva,  Cora,  Lillie,  and  Bina.  Immediately  after 
marriage  Mr.  Henion  returned  to  his  farm  and  has 
since  devoted  his  time  to  its  improvement.  Mrs 
Henion  died  on  the  16th  of  July,  1872,  and  in 
1876,  he  married  his  present  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Libbie  Clipper.  She  is  a  native  of 
Schenectady  county,  New  York,  born  in  1842,  and 
resided  in  her  native  county  until  coming  to  Min- 
nesota. 


456 


HI  STORY  OP  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


JasteS  F.  Jones,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
place,  was  born  in  Oi'ondaga  county,  New  York, 
on  the  15th  of  June,  1822.  When  quite  young 
he  was  engaged  in  a  tan  yard  and  subsequently 
learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner,  currier,  and  shoe 
maker.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Adelpha  Moon,  and  after  a  few 
days  they  started  with  a  team  for  Milwaukee. 
Just  before  reaching  their  destination  Mr.  Jones 
was  taken  sick  with  fever,  and  when  able  was  taken 
to  his  brother's  house  in  the  city  and  remained 
during  the  winter.  In  the  spring  he  took  some 
land  which,  the  next  year,  he  sold  and  moved  tn 
Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  bought  a  farm. 
After  a  residence  of  three  years  there  his  health  fail- 
ed and  they  returned  to  NewYork  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes, 
which  he  brought  to  Wisconsin  every  year  and 
traded  for  wheat ;  that  he  took  to  Jauesville  and 
had  made  into  flour,  then  to  Milwaukee  where  he 
shipped  it  to  Buffalo  for  sale.  After  continuing  in 
this  business  for  three  years  he  returned  to  his  farm 
in  Rock  county,  and  in  1856  came  to  this  county, 
and  in  company  with  Captain  Robson  located  the 
town  site  of  Geneva,  built  a  hotel  and  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  and  farming.  He  is  at  pres- 
ent landlord  of  the  hotel  here  and  is  also  interes- 
ted in  stock  raising  in  the  Missouri  valley  in  Da- 
kota. Mr.  and  Mrs  Jones  have  a  family  of  six 
children;  Hiram,  Eugene,  Helen,  Adelle,  Jay,  and 
Mark. 

Geobge  Osborn,  deceased,  one  of  the  early 
residents  of  this  place,  was  born  in  Erie  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  6th  of  September,  18.32.  He  was 
married  in  1857  to  Miss  Maria  J.  Gross,  a  native 
of  New  York,  and  the  year  following  they  came 
to  Minnesota  and  located  a  farm  in  this  place. 
They  afterward  resided  for  two  years  in  Waseca 
county  and  then  returned  to  Geneva.  In  1862 
Mr.  Osbom  enlisted  in  the  Tenth  Minnesota  Regi- 
ment, Company  E,  and  served  as  sergeant.  He 
was  in  several  battles  and  once  was  wounded; 
after  a  service  of  three  years  he  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge,  having  gained  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  every  officer  and  soldier  who  knew 
him.  While  in  the  army  he  contracted  a  lung 
disease  which  resulted  in  consumption,  and  finally 
terminated  his  life.  In  the  spring  of  1866  he 
opened  a  boot  and  shoe  store  which  he  carried  on 
nine  years;  was  also  Postmaster  a  number  of 
years.     He  was  a  Universalist,  but  his   house  was 


always  open  to  ministers  of  any  denomination, 
and  no  man  could  be  more  thoroughly  missed,  his 
death  occurring  on  the  23d  of  February,  1875. 
He  left  a  wife  and  two  daughters. 

Richard  Quinn  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1828, 
I  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1851.  He  landed  in 
I  New  York  on  St.  Patrick's  Day,  and  after  a  month 
went  to  Indiana,  where  ho  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  railroad  company  one  year,  then  went  to  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  and  engaged  in  the  livery  business. 
He  was  afterward  employed  as  porter  in  a  hotel 
at  Cincinnati,  and  there  married,  in  1854,  Miss 
Mary  Ann  Hayes.  For  a  time  Mr.  Quinn  was 
engaged  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  liquor  busi- 
ness at  Dubuque,  Iowa.  He  came  to  Minnesota 
and  settled  in  the  Crow  River  country,  working  at 
Dayton  and  afterward  engaged  in  farming  about 
four  miles  from  that  place.  After  a  residence  of 
four  years  there  he  sold  and  moved  to  Minneap- 
olis, where  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, and  in  1868  came  to  this  township,  locating 
in  section  fifteen,  which  has  since  been  his  home. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Quinn  have  had  thirteen  children, 
ten  of  whom  are  now  living;  Mary  Ann,  Edmund 
J.,  Michael  J.,  William  F.,  Nora  J.,  Mary  F., 
Johanna  A.,  John  R.,  Philip  P.,  and  Monica  C. 
The  two  eldest  died  in  infancy,  and  Anne  E.  died 
in  June,  1882,  aged  sixteen  years. 

Bernhard  Schad  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born 
on  the  28th  of  April,  1834.  At  the  ago  of  four- 
teen years  he  began  to  learn  the  blacksmith  trade, 
and  after  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years  came  to  America.  He  located  in  Genesee 
county.  New  York,  and  three  years  later  moved  to 
Chicago,  then  to  Red  Wing,  in  this  State,  where 
he  was  married  in  1856  to  Miss  Anna  Andrist, 
who  was  born  in  Berne,  Switzerland,  on  the  (Jth  of 
October,  1834.  They  remained  in  Red  Wing  one 
year  and  then  moved  to  this  towushiiJ  and  opened 
a  blacksmith  shop,  which  he  still  carries  on.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Schad  have  had  seven  children,  six  of 
whom  are  living;  Anna  Geneva,  John  B.,  Mary  M., 
Katie  Belle,  Libbie  E.,  and  Frankie  E. 

MicHAEi.  QriNN  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in 
1834,  and  left  his  birth  place  for  America,  in  1852. 
He  went  from  New  York  to  Elizabeth,  New 
Jersey,  and  two  months  later  to  Lancaster,  Ohio, 
thence  to  Cincinnati,  and  Newport,  Kentucky.  He 
came  to  Debuque,  Iowa,  to  visit  friends,  and  in 
April,  1856,  made  a  trip  to  St.  Paul,  traveled 
through     the     big     woods      to      the    prairie    of 


nENEVA  TOWNSHIP. 


457 


Forest  City  with  the  early  settlers  and  after  a  time 
went  to  Chicago  and  resided  one  year.  He  then 
returned  to  Minnesota  and  assisted  a  Mr.  Dayton 
in  laying  out  a  townslte,  buUding  a  saw  and  grist 
mill  in  the  Crow  River  Valley.  Mr.  Quinn  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Mobile,  Alabama,  with  Miss 
Margaret  O'Shea,  on  the  10th  of  Ajiril,  1860.  In 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  First  Alabama  Mounted 
(Cavalry,  and  after  serving  one  year  was  transferred 
to  a  gLin  boat  in  Mobile  bay,  remaining  till  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  then  opened  a  grocery  store  in 
Mobile,  and  after  running  it  two  years  sold  out 
and  came  again  to  Minnesota  and  bought  land  in 
section  nine,  ten,  and  sixteen  of  this  township  and 
has  since  made  this  jjlace  his  home.  He  has  filled 
different  offices  of  trust  and  is  at  present  chairman 
of  the  board  of  Supervisors.  He  is  the  father  of 
seven  children;  Edward,  William,  Mary  A.,  Cath- 
arine A.,  Margaret,  Honora,  and  John.  Mr. 
Quinn  has  traveled  quite  extensively  throiigh 
both  the  northern  and  southern  States. 

Captain  James  A.  Robson,  deceased,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Freeborn  county,  was  born  in 
western  New  York,  on  the  23d  of  May,  1825. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  an  infant,  and  he 
lived  with  his  mother  until  1847,  when  he  remov- 
ed to  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  and  settled  in 
Magnolia.  He  was  joined  in  matrimony  on  the 
'26th  of  October,  1848,  to  Miss  Martha  Partridge, 
and  the  union  was  blessed  with  four  children.  In 
1857,  Mr.  Robson  came  to  Geneva,  and  in  1859 
was  elected  County  Sheriff  and  moved  to  Albert 
Lea,  where  he  also  carried  on  a  hotel,  the  Webber 
House,  during  his  term  of  service.  In  August, 
1862,  he  took  an  active  part  in  raising  Company 
E,  of  the  Tenth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry 
and  by  unanimous  voice  was  chosen  its  Captain. 
He  was  accidently  shot  by  Lieut.  McCarty  of 
Company  H,  and  died  on  the  9th  of  November,  of 
the  same  year,  two  days  after  the  accident.  He 
was  a  popular  man  at  home  aud  in  the  army,  and 
his  death  was  a  great  loss  to  the  community  in 
■which  he  lived. 

Alexander  Schutt,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Geneva,  was  born  in  Quebec,  Canada,  on  the  2Sth 
of  February,  1833.  He  remained  at  his  birth- 
place until  twenty-one  years  old,  then  was  en- 
gaged at  the  carpenter  trade  for  three  years  in 
Ontario.  In  1866,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Car- 
son and  the  same  year  came  to  Minnesota.  They 
came   directly  to   this  county  and  first  settled  in 


Moscow,  but  the  same  year  came  to  this  township 
and  took  land  in  sections  eleven  and  twelve.  They 
have  a  family  of  eight  children;  Hiram,  Francis, 
John,  James,  Albert,  Maria,  Lillie,  and  Alexander.  ■ 
Mr.  Schutt  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  six  hundred 
acres  and  good  buildings. 

Dk.  Willis  H.  Twifoed  was  born  on  the  12th 
of  May,  1821,  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio.  His 
mother  died  when  he  was  seven  years  old 
and  left  the  family  of  ten  children.  In  early 
life  Willis  improved  all  opportunities  afforded 
him  for  obtaining  an  education,  attending  the 
Academy  of  Delaware,  Ohio,  for  two  terms.  He 
afterward  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  J.  Sidney  Skin- 
ner at  West  Canaan,  Ohio,  and  studied  medicine 
three  years,  taking  his  degree  as  M.  D.  at  the 
Starling  Medical  College  of  Columbus.  In  April, 
1846,  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Nancy 
R.  Darning,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Darning,  Esq., 
of  Madison  county,  Ohio.  Dr.  Twiford  jsracticed 
his  profession  in  Pleasant  Valley,  now  Plain  City, 
until  August,  1853,  when  he  removed  to  Union 
City,  Indiana,  and  remained  there  till  the  war. 
He  entered  the  Twenty-fifth  Indiana  Regiment  as 
Assistant  Surgeon,  and  was  soon  after  commis- 
sioned Surgeon,  being  in  charge  of  the  hospital 
on  the  Antietam  battle  field.  He  was  appointed 
by  General  Hooker,  Surgeon  in  Chief  of  the  First 
Division  of  the  Twelfth  Army  Corps  and  held  the 
same  until  July,  1864,  when  he  resigned  in  con- 
sequence of  an  injury  of  the  spine,  resulting  in 
partial  paralysis.  The  same  year  he  came  to 
Minnesota,  and  settled  at  River  Point,  in  Steele 
county.  Ha  was  elected  to  the  ninth  Minnesota 
Legislature,  and  in  1870,  resumed  his  practice  of 
medicine,  coming  to  Geneva  in  July,  1873. 

Charles  E.  Vinton  was  born  in  Hampshire 
county,  Massachusetts,  on  the  23d  of  January, 
1826.  When  he  was  five  years  old  his  parents 
moved  to  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York,  and  in 
1856,  to  McHenry  county,  Illinois,  settling  on  a 
farm.  Charles  was  married  in  1851,  to  Miss  Brit- 
ana  Hurlburt,  a  native  of  New  York.  After  a  resi- 
dence of  two  years  in  Illinois  they  came  to  Min- 
nesota, and  took  land  in  Summit,  Steele  county. 
In  1875  they  removed  to  Geneva,  where  Mr.  Vin- 
ton bought  twenty-two  lots  in  the  town  site,  and 
has  since  added  five  more  to  his  purchase.  He  is 
the  father  of  three  children;  Mary,  Martinette, 
and  Cliarles  W. 

John  W.  Walaski,  one  of  the  earlv  settlers  of 


458 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBOUN  COUNTY. 


this  place,  was  born  at  Castle  Garden  in  New 
York,  on  the  5th  of  January,  1831.  His  father 
was  a  Polander  and  a  captain  in  the  Begiilar 
Army,  being:  among  the  ninety-sis  banished  from 
that  country  at  the  fall  of  the  empire.  Those 
banished  came  to  America  and  took  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  were  cared 
for  by  the  Government,  each  family  given  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  To  Daviess 
county,  Illinois.  Air.  Walaski's  jjarents  settled 
there  and  remained  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War  when  they  removed  to  Jefferson 
Barracks,  Mi.isouri.  His  father  joined  the  army 
and  went  to  J^lorida,  where  he  took  part  in  the 
Seminole  War,  leaving  his  famiy  at   Fort  Clark, 


near  St  Louis.  After  a  service  of  four  years  he 
returned  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  Government 
land  in  Clay  County  where  they  resided  until 
18.57,  then  came  to  Minnesota  to  seek  a  home. 
The  father  and  son  both  took  laud  in  this  county 
and  in  1862,  came  to  Geneva,  where  the  former 
(lied  on  the  30th  of  November  in  the  same  year. 
His  widow  died  on  the  14th  of  November.  1870, 
aged  fifty -six  years.  In  186'2,  John  went  witli  a 
volunteer  company,  furnished  his  own  horse  and 
equipments,  and  went  west  to  guard  the  frontier 
until  relieved  by  government  troops.  He  was 
married  in  1865,  to  Miss  Amy  Baker,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Edna  G. 


HA  YAVARD 


CHAPTEB  LXII. 

General  description — eaklt  settlement — poi^- 

ITICAL events    OE      INTEREST STATISTICS 

SCHOOLS — BIOGRAPHICAL. 

This  township  is  the  southeast  of  the  six  in- 
terior towns  of  the  county,  and  the  towns  in 
contact  with  it  are,  Riceland  on  the  north;  Oakland 
on  the  east;  Shell  Ruck  on  the  south;  and  Albert 
Lea  on  the  west.  It  is  six  miles  square,  like  all 
the  other  towns  in  the  county. 

An  arm  of  Lake  Albert  Lea,  three  miles  long 
and  a  third  of  a  mile  wide,  lays  near  the  western 
boundary,  in  a  north  and  south  direction.  A  stream 
called  Peter  Lund  Creek  enters  the  lake  in  section 
seven,  made  up  of  two  branches  arising  back  in 
the  town. 

The  land  may  be  described  as  prairie,  with  oak 
openings  and  meadow  land  interspersed,  the  prai- 
rie predominating;  the  timber  being  found  mostly 
in  the  western  part  of  its  territory,  in  the  region 
of  the  lake.  In  tlie  northern  part  of  this  region 
may  be  found,  with  the  oak,  some  |)oplar  timber. 


while  soutliward  the  wood  is  red  oak  and  a  small 
growth  of  poplar.  The  heaviest  timber  is  in  sec- 
tion thirty-one,  which  is  divided  into  wood  lots  of 
five,  ten,  or  twenty  acres.  The  prairie  is  rolling, 
and  some  of  it  inclined  to  be  low.  The  north- 
east part  of  the  township,  particularly  in  sections 
eleven,  twelve,  thirteen,  and  fourteen,  has  not  yet 
been  reclaimed,  and  is  still  owned  bv  the  State 
and  railroad.  A  scheme  is  however  contemplated 
by  which  the  whole  tract  is  to  be  drained  and 
improved. 

The  soil,  as  a  rule,  is  a  black  loam,  productive 
of  all  crops  in  this  latitude.  The  subsoil  is  clay 
and  gravel.  The  Southern  Minnesota  railroad 
runs  through  the  town  from  east  to  west,  entering 
it  on  section  one  and  leaving  it  from  section 
seven. 

EAliLY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  town  was  named  in  honor  of  David  Hay- 
ward,  an  early  settler,  who  came  from  Postville, 
Iowa,  in  tbe  summer  of  1856,  and  selected  a  place 
in  section  six,   claiming   a  quarter  section,    and 


If  A  Y  WAIl  D  TO  WNSUIP. 


459 


there  he  Kved  until  1858,  when  he  returned  to 
Iowa.  His  taxes  becoming  delinquent  the  place 
was  sold,  and  it  is  now  owned  in  part  by  Charles 
E.  Fisher. 

The  first  two  settlers  were  two  Norskmen,  Peter 
Lund  and  E.  Gilbraudsou,  who  came  in  company 
from  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin.  They  left  their 
families  iu  Houston  county,  and  came  through  to 
this  place  and  secured  claims  on  sections  eight  and 
seventeen,  and  on  the  20th  of  June,  1856,  they 
went  back  and  brought  their  families.  At  first 
they  lived  in  a  tent  arranged  by  poles  and  wagon 
covers;  in  this  they  lived  until  fall,  when  they  dug 
a  hole  in  the  ground,  and  sodding  it  over  existed 
in  that  for  a  year. 

The  very  first  breaking  done  in  the  town  was 
by  a  young  man  named  Olson  Andrews,  on  sec- 
tion thirty-two.  This  was  in  the  summer  of 
1856. 

James  Andrews  also  broke  some  land  on  section 
thirty -two.  He  lived  in  the  town  of  Shell  Bock 
before  he  brought  his  family. 

The  next  comers  were  the  Peccsylvania  Ger- 
mans, two  of  whom  located  in  Albert  Lea  and  one 
here. 

William  Newcomb,  in  the  fall  of  1856,  drifted 
on  to  section  seven  with  his  family  and  a  team  of 
horses,  and  put  up  a  log  house,  which  he  staid  in 
until  1874,  when  he  sold  to  John  Murphy,  and 
took  himselt  to  Council  Bluifs,  Iowa. 

In  section  eight  the  first  settlement  was  made 
by  Norwegians. 

Section  two  was  settled  by  Americans. 

The  southeast  corner  of  the  township  was  first 
settled  by  Americans,  but  is  now  inhabited  by 
Bohemians. 

Lysander  K.  Luce  came  to  this  town  in  April, 
18.58,  and  surrounded  a  claim  on  sections  seven 
and  eight.  He  was  from  Clayton  county,  Iowa, 
and  pulled  through  this  roadless  region  with  an 
ox  team.  He  constructed  a  timber  residence, 
which  was  all  the  fashion  on  the  frontier,  and 
here  he  lived  and  wrought  until  on  the  16th  of  June 
1882,  he  drifted  across  that  mystic  river  of  which 
we  talk  so  much  and  know  so  'little.  He  was  a 
native  of  New  York  State, 

Lysander  Eaymond  Luce,  Sen.,  deceased,  This 
Freeborn  county  pioneer  entered  upon  the  enjoy- 
ment of  human  life  on  the  21st  of  July,  1814,  at 
Stowe,  Vermont,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  was 
married  to  Ann    Morrison,   of    his    native   town. 


They  lived  there  until  1855,  and  had  five  chil- 
dren. At  this  time  he  caught  the  western  fever, 
which  was  then  epidemic  in  New  England,  and 
brought  his  family  to  Clayton  county,  Iowa, 
and  remained  two  years.  Then  removed  to  Albert 
Lea  and  staid  one  year  when  he  went  to  Hayward. 
His  release  from  the  body  was  by  a  lingering 
method  which  he  bore  with  great  fortitude,  and 
was  on  the  16th  of  .Tune,  1882. 

POLITICAL. 

The  first  town  meeting  in  response  to  a  legal 
notice  was  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  April,  1859 
at  the  house  of  S.  H.  Ludlow.  According  to  the 
records  there  were  two  moderators,  S.  H.  Ludlow 
and  I.  W.  Devereux.  The  officers  of  the  election 
were  H.  M.  Luce  and  Charles  Bush.  On  motion 
the  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  house  of 
Charles  Bush,  where  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  Supervisors,  J.  W.  Devereux,  Chairman, 
Peter  Lund,  and  H.  L.  Dow;  Clerk,  Charles 
Bush;  Treasurer,  Peter  Lund;  Assessor,  A.  T. 
Butts;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Charles  Bush :  Con- 
stable, H.  L.  Dow. 

The  whole  number  of  votes  cast  at  this  election 
was  nine,  and  there  was  no  charge  of  ballot-box 
stuffing. 

A  tax  of  fifty  dollars  was  levied  for  town  ex- 
penses. It  was  voted  that  the  next  town  meeting 
be  at  the  house  of  A.  T.  Butts,  on  section  .seven- 
teen. 

Since  that  time  the  town  has  run  on  in  the  even 
tenor  of  its  way,  and  the  expenses  of  the  govern- 
ment have  been  gradually  increasing  until  it  has 
now  got  up  to  the  sum  et  -5125,  the  amount  raised 
for  1882,  and  yet  no  motion  has  been  made  to 
have  a  committee  of  investigation  to  see  what  has 
become  of  their  money.  It  is  evident  that  this  is 
a  poor  town  for  rings. 

At  the  election  held  on  the  27th  of  March,  1882, 
the  following  officers  were  elected :  Supervisors, 
H.  C.  Nelson,  Chairman,  Ole  Anderson,  and  Peter 
O.  Stensven;  Clerk,  R.  Campbell;  Treasurer,  Peter 
Lund;  Assessor,  E.  W.  Knatvold. 

The  whole  number  of  votes  cast  at  this  election 
was  eighty,  although  the  number  of  registered 
voters  is  190.  So  that  less  than  one-half  turned 
out.  The  established  polling  place  is  the  Howard 
sohoolhouse,  in  District  No.  34. 

HAYWARD    VILLAGE. 

A  village  was  platted  here  in    1869  by   H.  C. 
I  Lacy.     Martha  P.  Gibbs  was  the  proprietor  and 


460 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


it  was  recorded  on  the  20th  of  December.  Morin 
&  Armstrong,  of  Albert  Lea,  took  an  interest  in 
the  village  in  1870  and  erected  a  warehouse  on  thr 
railroad  grunuds.  Tlie  next  building  put  up  was 
a  store  and  dwelling  by  Oliver  Nelson  in  the  fall 
of  1870,  In  1877  he  sold  to  R.  Campbell  and 
went  to  Laki'  Mills,  Iowa.  In  1S7(I  the  depot  was 
built. 

It  is  a  mere  hamlet,  and  to-day  is  made  up  of  a 
good  size!  store,  kept  by  Hanson  brothers;  two 
blacksmith  shops;  a  boarding  house  kept  by 
William  Hoyt;  two  warohou.ses,  and  two  dwelling 
houses.  The  population  consists  of  five  families. 
The  location  is  in  section  nine,  and  it  is  six  and 
one  half  miles  east  of  Albert  Lea. 

POST-OFFICE. 

This  perquisite  of  civilization  was  established 
during  the  war,  in  1863.  The  first  man  entrusted 
with  the  key  to  unlock  the  mail  pouch  was  M.  W. 
Campbell,  who  received  and  distributed  the  mail 
in  his  house  on  section  four.  In  1870  it  was 
transferred  to  the  village,  to  Oliver  Hanson's  care, 
in  the  store,  and  after  a  time  it  was  turned  over  to 
H.  T.  Hanson,  who  is  still  entitled  to  write  P.  M. 
after  his  name.  It  has  a  daily  mail  each  way, 
from^the  train. 

WIND  FEED  MILL. 

There  is  a  feed  mill,  driven  by  wind,  on  the 
railroad  in  section  eight.  It  was  built  by  M.  M. 
Luce  in  1877,  and  is  18x32,  two  stories  high,  and 
has  a  capacity,  when  there  is  sufficient  wind,  to 
grind  two  hundred  bushels  a  day.  It  is  one  and 
one  fourth  miles  west  of  the  village. 

PATRONS    OF  HVSBANDBY. 

A  Grange  was  instituted  on  the  9th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1874,  in  the  sohoolhouse  in  district  number 
sixty.  The  prominent  officers  were,  Luther 
Phelps,  Wm.  Bragg,  and  G.  Y.  Slocum.  At  first 
there  were  thirty  members  and  meetings  were 
kept  up  until  some  time  in  1879,  when  the  char- 
ter was  surrendered.  At  one  time  it  was  flourish- 
ing, having  seventy  members.  A  hall  was  built 
in  1876,  20x40  feet,  one  story  high.  It  finally 
passed  in  the  hands  of  Robert  Campbell,  Jr.,  and 
is  now  owned  by  Hanson  ife  Brother  who  use  it  for 
■tore  purposes. 

CEMETERY. 

The  city  of  the  dead,  where  all  mortality  finds 
a  home  at   last,  is    on  section    nine,  south  of  the 


village  of  Hayward,  on  a  commanding  piece  of 
ground.  The  association  was  organized  in  June, 
1874,  the  first  officers  being  Olson  Nelson  and 
Andrew  Gilbrandson.  There  are  four  acres.  The 
first  one  to  leave  his  earthly  remains  here  was 
Arne  Overby,  in  the  winter  of  1874.  He  was  a 
native  of  Norway  and  lived  on  section  twenty- 
three,  being  one  of  the  early  settlers.  At  the 
time  of  his  demise  he  was  about  forty  years  of 
age.     There  are  now  sixteen  graves  here. 

EARLY    EVENTS. 

Ole  P.  Lund,  son  of  Peter  and  Else  Lund,  as  is 
reported,  was  the  first  settler  to  arrive  by  birth  in 
this  town.  It  was  on  the  27th  of  May,  18,58,  and 
he  still  lives  here  and  is  himself  a  married  man. 

The  first  known  death  was  that  of  an  infant 
child  of  Philo  Butts,  in  the  winter  of  18.58,  who  at 
(hat  time  lived  in  section  seventeen,  but  in  1862 
he  returned  to  Wisconsin. 

STATISTICS. 

The  Ye.^b  1881. — The  area  included  in  this 
report  takes  in  the  whole  town,  as  follows: 

Wheat — 3,858  acres,  yielding  40,132  bushels. 

Oats— 787  acres,  yielding  25,283  bushels. 

Com — 612  acres,  yielding  25,340  bushels. 

Barley — 91  acres,  yielding  2,055  bushels. 

Rye — 33  acres,  yielding  354  bushels. 

Buckwheat — 6  acres,  yielding  47  bushels. 

Potatoes— -37  acres,  yielding  3,682  bushels. 

Sugar  cane — 2  acres,  yielding  420  gallons. 

(Cultivated  hay — 66  acres,  yielding  98  tons. 

Flax — 20  acres,  yielding  193  bushels. 

Other  products — 5  acres. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881 — 5,517. 

Wild  hay— 2,075  tons. 

Timothy  seed — 7  bushels. 

Apples — number  of  trees  growing,  1,251;  num- 
ber bearing,  307,  yielding  124  bushels. 

Grapes — 242  vines,  yielding  210  pounds. 

Sheep — 117  sheared,  yielding  497  pound  of 
wool. 

Dairy — 282  cows,  yielding  24,625  pounds  of 
butter  and  200  pounds  of  cheese. 

Hives  of  bees — 9,  yielding  100  pounds  of 
honey. 

The  Year  1882.— Wheat,  2,898  acres;  oats, 
848;  corn,  932;  barley,  178;  rye,  69:  buckwheat, 
20;  potatoes,  82:  beans,  3;  sugar  cane,  1;  cultiva- 
ted hay,  149;  flax,  30;  total  acreage  cultivated  in 
1882—5,210. 


HATWARD  TOWNSHIP. 


461 


Apple  trees  growing — 1,196;  bearing,  489. 

Grapes — vines  bearing,  245. 

Milch  cows — 243. 

Sheep — 135,  yielding  581  pounds  of  wool. 

Whole  number  of  farms  oultivated  in  1882 — 87. 

PopniiATioN. — The  census  of  1870  gave  Hay 
ward  a  jjopulation  of  382.  The  last  census,  taken 
in  1880,  reports  659  for  this  town;  showing  an 
increase  of  277. 


The  first  school  taught  in  this  town  was  in  the 
north  part,  in  section  three,  in  a  timber  building 
which  was  put  up  for  that  purpose.  Miss  Olive 
Callahan  was  the  first  to  teach  the  young  idea  how 
to  shoot  under  this  roof,  and  B.  Lamb  taught  here 
from  1864  until  1875.  It  was  finally  removed  to 
the  village,  and  is  now  District  No.  34.  The  first 
school  here  was  held  at  the  Grange  hall  on  the  2d 
of  October,  1875  The  officers  elected  were  E.  A. 
Campbell,  Lars  Lund,  and  Peter  Lund.  The 
present  building  cost  about  $700,  is  24x36  feet, 
and  has  seats  for  about  forty  scholars.  The  first 
school  here  was  managed  by  W.  Cooley  in  the 
late  autuma  of  1875  at  832  per  month,  with  forty 
pupils. 

District  No.  35. — This  was  organized  in  1866 
at  the  house  of  Watson  Brown.  The  first  officers 
were  O.  Andrews,  .James  Andrews,  and  Watson 
Brown.  In  the  aummer  of  that  year  they  succeeded 
in  getting  up  a  log  house,  16x20  feet.  In  1880, 
the  old  house  becoming  inadequate  to  the  wants 
of  the  district,  a  new  one  was  built,  a  frame  struc- 
ture. 18x30  feet,  with  room  for  eighty  scholars,  at 
a  cost  of  $700. 

District  No.  36. — In  1864  this  district  assumed 
form;  the  meeting  for  organization  being  in  the 
house  of  Peter  Lund,  on  the  12th  of  April,  and  a 
log  house  was  soon  rolled  together  on  section 
eighteen,  16x18  feet.  The  first  school  had  four- 
teen jiupils.  It  was  called  to  order  and  managed 
by*  Miss  Esther  Lowry,  for  .$20  a  mouth.  Tlie 
first  school  officers  were  Peter  Lund,  Andrew  San- 
derson, and  L.  R.  Luce. 

District  No.  60. — In  1864  this  was  taken  from 
No.  35,  and  created  into  a  new  district,  the  first 
meeting  being  held  at  the  house  of  Daniel  Chute, 
on  the  2d  of  June,  1864.  The  first  officers  were 
Daniel  Chute,  Luther  Phelps,  and  David  Ansley. 
They  proceeded  to  build  a  log  house  without  floor, 
and  with  a  sod  roof,  and  dignified  it  by  calling  it 
a  schoolhouse,  but  it   was  the  best  they  could  do. 


and  here  Miss  Emma  Fenholt  got  togethes  thir- 
teen pupils  and  taught  them  ten  weeks  for  .$2  per 
week  and  boarded  herself.  The  house  now  there 
was  constructed  in  1875  at  a  cost  of  .$400.  It  is 
20x26  feet  and  can  seat  thirty-five.  The  last 
school  was  taught  by  Miss  Helleu  Hare,  at  |22 
per  month,  and  there  were  twenty-three  scholars; 
considerable  more  difference  in  the  wages  than  in 
the  number  of  pupils. 

BI0GB.1PHICAL. 

Robert  Campbell,  Sr.,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  county,  is  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  Ches- 
ter, Windsor  county,  on  the  7th  of  September; 
1795.  His  father  was  a  revolutionary  soldier,  and 
drew  a  pension  until  the  time  of  his  death.  In 
the  spring  of  1855,  Mr.  Campbell  came  to  Wis- 
consin and  resided  on  a  farm  in  Janesville,  Rock 
county,  until  coming  to  this  township  in  1858. 
He  drove  here  with  an  ox  team,  and  staked  out  a 
claim  in  section  ten  where  he  has  lived  ever  since. 
He  was  appointed  Postmaster  in  1865,  and  has  held 
other  local  offices.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
was  Belinda  Woodward  and  of  ten  children  born  of 
the  union,  six  are  living.  One  son  was  killed  in 
the  army,  and  had  he  lived  would  now  be  sixty- 
one  years  old. 

Robert  Campbell,  Jr.,  a  sou  of  the  subject  of 
our  last  sketch,  was  also  born  in  Chester,  Windsor 
county,  Vermont,  his  birth  dating  the  14th  of 
March,  ls36,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years 
came  with  his  parents  to  Wisconsin.  He  went 
from  there  to  California  in  1859,  and  was  engag- 
ed in  the  mines  and  in  tlic  lumber  business  for 
eight  years,  then  took  a  trip  to  Oregon  and 
Washington  territories  and  returned  to  San  Fran- 
cisco. In  1867  he  came  to  Minnesota  and  located 
in  section  ten,  Hay  ward.  The  following  year  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Isadore  A.  Luce,  the  ceremo- 
ny taking  place  on  the  23d  of  March.  After 
living  on  his  farm  some  years  Mr.  Campbell 
removed  to  Albert  Lea,  and  started  in  the  machin- 
ery business  with  Gilbrandson  and  Bro.,  and 
remained  with  them  for  five  years,  then  returned 
to  this  place  and  in  the  autumn  of  1877  bought 
Granger's  Hall,  converted  it  into  a  store  building 
and  commenced  trade.  In  March,  1880,  he  sold 
to  Hanson  Bros,  and  moved  to  section  four,  where 
he  now  lives.  His  farm  contains  five  hundred  and 
forty  acres  and  he  also  owns  a  warehouse  and 
haypressin  the  village.     He  was  Postmaster  from 


462 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


1877  to  1880,  and  has  been  Town  Clerk  since 
1878.     He  is  the  father  of  five  children. 

Nehemi.\h  W.  C.\MrBELL,  deceased,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Vermont,  born  on  the  29th  of  April,  1823. 
He  married  the  daughter  of  Amos  Robbiiis;  she 
was  born  on  the  25th  of  November,  1825,  in  Ver- 
mont, the  marriage  ceremony  takmg  place  on  the 
30th  of  September,  1849.  In  1857  Mr.  Campbell 
moved  with  his  family  to  Wisconsin,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  came  to  Hayward,  located  a  farm 
in  section  four,  and  brought  his  family  the  follow- 
ing year.  ()u  the  7th  of  November,  18()4,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  C,  of  the  First  Minnesota 
Heavy  Artillery,  under  Capt.  George  S.  Ruble,  and 
served  until  the  18tb  of  May,  1865,  wheu  he  died 
in  the  hospital.  His  widow  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead with  Elbridge  A.,  the  oldest  son,  who  was 
born  on  the  18th  of  February,  1851.  He  has 
been  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  school  Clerk,  each, 
several  years.  Mrs.  Campbell  has  another  son 
and  two  daughters. 

Joseph  Feabn,  was  born  in  England  on  the 
20th  of  June,  1832.  He  came  to  America  when 
eighteen  years  old  and  remained  in  Ohio  one  year, 
thence  to  Illinois,  and  in  a  year  enlisted  at  Chicago 
in  the  regular  array  for  a  period  of  five  years. 
During  the  time  he  was  in  several  skirmishes  with 
the  Indians,  tlieu  went  to  New  Mexico  and  accom- 
panied emigrants  across  the  plains  to  California. 
During  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre  he  was 
for  nine  days  buried  in  the  snow  with  nothing  to 
eat  but  horse  flesh.  After  receiving  his  discharge 
on  the  15th  of  August,  1860,  he  traveled  through 
Kansas  to  Ohio,  and  on  the  20th  of  June,  1862, 
married  Miss  Sarah  McClum,  who  was  born  on 
the  5tb  of  June,  1825.  In  1869  Mr.  Fearn  came 
to  Minnesota,  and  for  some  time  was  engaged  in 
keeping  a  boarding-house  at  Armstrong,  then  re- 
moved to  Hayward  and  located  a  farm  in  section 
twenty,  which  is  well  improved  with  a  fine 
orchard.     He  is  the  father  of  one  child. 

A.  P.  Hanson  is  a  native  of  Norway,  born  on 
the  6th  of  May,  1849,  and  emigrated  with  his 
parents  to  America  wheu  twelve  years  old.  They 
came  directly  to  Minnesota  and  resided  in  Ban- 
croft for  one  year,  then  came  to  Hayward  and 
lived  on  a  farm  a  number  of  years.  In  1870  Mr. 
Hanson  was  married  to  Miss  Oleana  Hanson,  and 
they  have  five  children.  In  1880  they  m  .ved  to 
the  village  and  his  brother  bought  the  Campbells' 
store  where  A.  P.  has  since  devoted  his  time,  keep- 


ing a  line  of  general  merchandise  on  the  corner  of 
Main  street.  The  Post-ofSce  is  located  at  their 
store. 

Edwakd  W.  Knat%'old  was  bom  in  Norway  on 
the  11th  of  April,  1851,  and  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  America  when  eleven  years  old.  They 
came  directly  to  this  township  and  took  a  home- 
stead in  section  eighteen  where  Edward  assisted 
in  the  farm  labor  until  twenty -three  years  old. 
He  then  bought  a  farm  of  his  own,  has  twice 
added  to  it  ind  now  owns  three  hundred  and  forty 
acres  containing  good  buildings.  He  was  mar- 
ried on  the  16th  of  November,  1874,  to  Miss 
Nettie  Barny  and  the  union  has  been  blessed 
with  four  children.  Mr.  Knatvold  is  a  partner  of 
Robert  Campbell  in  a  hay  press  and  warehouse 
in  the  village  of  Hayward.  His  father  came 
from  Norway  to  this  country  and  immediately  en- 
listed in  the  army,  served  one  year  and  settled  on 
his  present  farm.  He  is  now  sixty-five  years 
old. 

Sami'ed  T.  Kirkpatrick  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  on  the  1st  of  May,  1836.  At  the  age 
of  thirteen  years  he  left  home  and  worked  on 
farms  until  sixteen  years  old  when  he  served  an 
apprenticeship  of  two  years  in  a  blacksmith  shop. 
He  then  moved  to  Armstrong  county,  worked 
three  years  and  in  1856,  came  to  Utica,  Crawford 
county,  where  he  erected  a  shop  and  remained 
several  years.  On  the  17th  of  December,  1857, 
he  was  joined  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Nancy 
Davis.  In  1864,  Mr.  Kirpatrick  sold  his  shop, 
bought  a  farm  and  carried  it  on  in  connection 
with  another  shop  for  six  years.  In  March,  1870, 
he  came  to  this  place,  purchased  eighty  acres  in 
section  thirty-three,  and  in  June  returned  for  his 
family,  settling  on  tlie  farm  the  same  year.  He 
,iow  owns  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  all  im- 
proved, with  a  fine  grove  all  around  his  house. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick  have  a  family  of  five; 
Mary  Auu,  twenty-four  years  old;  Martha  J., 
,wenty-two;  Leonard  C,  nineteen;  Robert  T., 
.'ourteen;  and  Frank  J.,  twelve. 

Milton  M.  Lt'ce,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  place,  was  born  in  Vermont  on  the  21st  of 
.September,  1843.  He  resided  with  his  parents  on 
,1  farm  in  his  native  State  until  1855,  when  they 
aoved  to  Clayton  county,  Iowa.  In  the  spring  of 
1857,  his  father  came  to  Minnesota,  left  his 
.'iimily  in  Albert  Lea  and  pre-empted  land  in  Hay- 
ivard  where  they  have  since  lived.     In  1861,  Mil- 


HAY  WARD  TOWNSHIP. 


463 


tou  eulistei  in  the  Fourth  Miunesota  Vohinteer 
lafan'ry,  Cjmpmy  I;  at  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Invalid  Corps,  sent  to  Bock 
Island  and  remained  during  the  winter  of  1863 
and  '64.  In  October  of  the  latter  year,  he  went 
to  Chicago  where  he  received  an  h(jnorable  dis- 
cliarge  and  returned  horns,  remaining  until  March 
1st,  1865,  when  he  went  to  St.  Paul  as  a  veteran 
in  Company  A,  of  the  Ninth  Regiment,  Hancock's 
First  Veteran  corps;  was  mustered  in  on  the  10th 
of  March  and  witnessed  the  hanging  of 
Lincoln's  conspirators.  He  was  sent  to 
InJia'iapolis,  Indiana,  where  he  guarded  Gov- 
ernment stores  till  March,  1866,  when  he  was 
mustered  out.  The  same  month  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  M.  E.  Stulty  of  the  latter 
place.  Mr.  Luce  returned  with  his  wife  to  his 
home  and  remained  until  1869,  when  he  moved  to 
Albert  Lea  where  he  was  constable  four  years, 
and  also  worked  at  the  carpenter  trade;  was  elec- 
ted City  Mar,-5hal  in  1874;  in  1877,  he  returned 
to  his  father's  farm  where  he  still  resides. 

Samuel  Lajjdis  was  born  on  the  4th  of  May, 
1837,  in  Ohio,  and  lived  with  his  father  until  of 
age,  when  he  came  west.  After  a  residence  of  two 
years  in  Iowa  he  returned  to  Ohio  and  in  the  fall 
of  1861.  came  to  Blue  Earth,  Faribault  county, 
Minnesota.  He  soon  after  enlisted  in  the  First 
Minnesota  Mounted  Rangers,  Company  K,  went 
to  St.  Peter,  thence  to  Missouri  River  and  fought 
the  Indians,  participating  in  eight  battles.  After 
receiving  his  discharge  he  went  to  Ohio  and  re- 
enlisted  in  Company  H,  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Ninty-seventh  Ohio  Regiment;  was  sent  south  to 
Virginia  and  remained  in  service  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge  on 
the  .Slst  of  July,  1865.  On  the  21st  of  December 
following  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eva  Smith,  by 
whom  he  has  three  children.  For  four  years  after 
his  marriage  he  lived  in  Michigan,  then  came  to 
Freeborn  county  and  bought  a  farm  in  section 
twenty-six,  Hayward,  moved  his  family  here  in 
October,  1869,  and  has  since  made  it  his  home. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church. 

Peter  Lund,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  place, 
was  born  in  Norway  on  the  13th  of  June,  1820. 
He  was  married  in  his  native  place  on  the  16th  of 
June,  1846,  to  Miss  Elsie  Gravli,  and  they  have 
two  children.  In  1850,  he  came  to  America,  loca- 
ted first  on  Rock  Prairie,  Wisconsin,  and  a  year 


later  moved  to  Iowa  county  in  the  same  State, 
where  he  worked  in  lead  mines  three  years;  then 
moved  to  Iowa,  and  a  yenr  afterward  to  "Minpe- 
sota.  He  came  to  this  township  and  selected 
claims  in  sections  eighteen  and  eight,  returned 
to  Iowa  for  his  family,  whom  he  brought  here 
with  an  ox  team,  arriving  on  the  1st  of  July,  1856. 
Mr.  Lund  now  owns  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  a  large  portion  of  which  is  cultivated.  He 
was  the  first  Town  Treasurer,  and  held  the  same 
several  years. 

John  Park  is  a  native  of  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
born  on  the  23rd  of  May,  1833.  His  mother  died 
when  he  was  nineteen  years  old,  after  which  he 
came  to  Winneb.igo  county,  Wisconsin,  and  after 
a  residence  of  eight  years  moved  to  Waushara 
county,  where  he  took  a  claim  and  remained  two 
years.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Rice, 
from  New  York,  and  they  have  a  family  of  nine 
children.  In  1861,  Mr.  Park  came  to  Minnesota, 
lived  on  a  farm  near  ,\lbert  Lea  one  year,  then 
moved  to  Hartland,  and  the  same  year  came  to 
Hayward,  first  bought  railroad  laud,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1866,  purchased  his  brother's  farm  in 
section  twenty-nine,  which  is  well  improved  and 
_'ontains  a  good  frame  house. 

Edmund  Town  is  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  on 
the  26th  of  August,  1822.  When  twenty -one  years 
old  he  removed  to  New  York  where,  on  the  12th 
of  December,  1843,  he  married  Miss  Betsy  E.  J. 
Lyon,  formerly  from  Vermont.  In  1854,  they 
came  to  Minnesota,  arriving  in  Shell  Rock  on  the 
2d  of  May.  Mr.  Town  purchased  a  hotel,  of  which 
he  was  landlord  until  1876,  then  traded  it  for  a 
farm  in  this  township,  and  moved  here  on  the  14th 
of  November  of  that  year.  While  at  Shell  Rock 
he  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  two  years.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Town  have  a  family  of  five;  their  oldest 
son  served  in  the  late  war,  enlisting  in  Company 
C,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  New  York 
Regiment  in  1863. 

Thomas  Wiley  was  born  in  Boston  Massachu- 
setts, on  the  2l8t  of  November,  1820.  At  the  age 
of  thirteen  years  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  manu- 
aeturer  of  printing  presses,  where  he  remained 
several  years,  subsequently  learning  the  trade  of 
^nano  forte  maker  in  his  native  city.  In  1840,  he 
mgaged  with  a  firm  of  book  publishers  and  deal- 
ers, remaining  some  six  years.  He  was  married 
,u  1846,  to  Mis?  Emily  A.  Johhson,  of  Worcester, 
.Massachusetts.      A  tew  years  later  they  removed 


iCA 


HISTORY  OF  FHEBBORN  COUNTY. 


to  Detroit,  Michigan,  where  he  was  employed  in 
the  Superintendent's  oflBce  of  the  M.  C.  Railroad, 
subseqnently  moved  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  afterward 
to  Central  Illinois,  and  in  1856,  was  elected  Clerk 
ot  the  Circuit  Court  and  Recorder  of  Deeds  in 
McHenry  county,  which  office  he  held  four  years. 
He  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry,  but  was  rejected  on 
account  of  pliysical  disability.  He  was  engaged 
in  the  dry  goods  business  in  Chicago  for  several 
years.     In  1857,  his  wife  died,  leaving  four  chil- 


dren. He  was  afterward  married  to  Miss  Harriet 
E.  Soule  in  Cambridge,  Illinois.  Three  children 
survive  their  mother,  who  died  in  Albert  Lea  in 
June,   1882.     Mr.  Wiley  moved  to  this  place  in 

1873,  and  purchased  a  farm  in  section  tliirt^'-three. 
He  has  been  forward  in  promoting  agricultural 
enterprises,  successfully  managing  the  county 
fairs  and   introducing  improved   machinery.     In 

1874,  he  was  elected  Justice  ot  the  Peace,  and  has 
since  filled  the  office. 


HARTLAND, 


CHAPTER  LXIII. 

Desokiptive — Eably  Days — Matteks  of  Inter- 
est— Official  Record — Village  op  Habtland 
— Statistics^  Schools — Biographical. 

The  town  bearing  this  name  is  one  of  the 
northern  tier  of  townships  in  Freeborn  county,  and 
in  the  second  tier  from  the  west.  It  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Waseca  county;  on  the  south  by 
the  township  of  Manchester;  on  the  east  by  Bath; 
and  on  the  west  by  Freeborn.  It  is  constituted 
as  originally  surveyed,  of  thirty-six  sections,  l)ut 
the  survey  correction  line  passing  through  it  cuts 
off  278.8")  acres,  making  it  so  much  less  than  the 
usual  congressional  township,  and  leaving  about 
22,861.15  acres. 

It  is  almost  entirely  a  prairie  town,  and  the  ex- 
panse of  undulating  prairie  jjresents  a  pleasing 
and  beautiful  contrast  to  the  usual  broken  and 
spar.sely  timbered  sections  throughout  this  part  of 
Minne.sota.  There  are  yet,  however,  traces  of 
timber  in  the  town,  most  of  it  about  Mule  Lake, 
in  sections  thirteen,  fourteen,  twenty-three,  and 
twenty-four;  and  in  the  western  part,  in  and  about 
sections  seven  and  twenty,  although  the  latter  has 
long  since  been  converted  into  fertile  and  valua- 
ble farms. 


The  entire  area  of  the  town  is  well  adapted  to 
the  modes  of  agriculture  and  crops  of  the  day, 
and  the  farmers  are,  as  a  rule,  in  moderate  cir- 
cupistances,  with  fair  farm  buildings  and  moderate 
conveniences.  The  soil  is  of  a  dark  loam,  from 
eighteen  to  twenty-four  inches  in  depth,  underlaid 
with  a  sub- soil  ot  clay.  Rocks  or  stone  of  any 
kind  are  scarce,  and  there  is  no  limestone  what- 
ever. The  soil  in  the  burr  oak  region  of  Mule 
Lake  is  more  of  a  sandy  nature. 

There  are  two  water  courses  in  the  town  and 
one  lake.  Mule  Lake  is  situated  in  the  four  cor- 
ners of  sections  thirteen,  fourteen,  twenty-throe 
and  twenty-four,  and  constitutes  the  head  waters 
of  the  LeSueur  River,  which  takes  a  northward 
course,  bearing  a  little  to  the  east,  until  it  loaves 
the  township,  when  it  bears  westwardly.  Boot 
Creek  rises  in  section  ten  and  Hows  northwesterly 
to  enter  Waseca  county. 

Tlie  Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis  railroad  crosses 
the  township  from  north  to  south,  and  on  it  is  lo- 
cated the  village  bearing  the  same  name  as  the 
township. 

A  few  words  as  to  the  lake  will  not  be  out  of 
place.  The  Indians  named  it  Le  Sueur,  and  it  went 
bv  this  name  through  the  early  settlement;   but, 


UABTLAND  rOWlSTSHIP. 


465 


n  1857,  a  fiue  span  of  mules  belonging  to  B.  J. 
Boardman  were  drowned  in  it,  and  tlie  settlers 
began  designating  it  as  Mule  Iiake,  until  it  was 
as  generally  known  under  this  caption  as  the 
other.  The  lake  finally  got  upon  the  map  as 
Le  Sueur  or  Mule  Lake,  and  thus  both  will  be 
perpetuated. 

IN    EARLY    DATS. 

There  seems  to  be  a  preponderating  amount 
of  testimony  that  the  first  settlers  in  this  town- 
ship were  the  Boardman  brothers,  who  came  in 
the  spring  of  1857,  and  located  about  Le  Sueur 
or  Mule  Lake,  one  taking  on  the  south  and  the 
other  to  the  east  of  that  body  of  water.  Both 
had  families  and  at  once  commenced  the  erec- 
tion of.  houses.  They  remained  for  about  one 
year  and  then  left  for  parts  unknown. 

About  the  same  time,  two  others,  whose  names 
have  been  forgotten,  made  their  appearance  and 
took  claims  on  the  north  and  west  sides  of  Mule 
Lake;  thus  surrounding  it.  But  little  is  known 
of  the  actions  of  any  of  these;  as  they  left 
shortly  for  other  scenes. 

Uncle  Charles  Sheldon  joined  this  settlement 
at  about  the  period  of  its  starting,  coming  from 
Kochester  and  taking  a  place  just  north  of  Mule 
Lake,  in  section  thirteen,  where  he  yet  remains. 

Levi  Jones  next  put  in  an  appearance,  having 
come  from  Geneva,  and  jumped  a  claim  from  a 
Norwegian  named  Wunj,  and  during  the  sum- 
mer he  was  joined  by  a  Mr.  Montgomery,  who 
took  a  jjlace  just  west  of  Uncle  Sheldon's,  built 
a  house  and  remained  until  the  next  spring, 
when  he  left.  Jens  Thorson  also  came  early 
this  summer,  and  took  the  place  he  now  occu- 
pies. 

In  October,  1857,  George  McColley,  of  New 
York,  accompanied  by  his  family  and  brother- 
in-law,  Charles  Morehouse,  came  with  a  yoke  of 
cattle,  a  cow,  and  his  household  furnitiire,  and 
located  in  section  twenty-nine.  Mr.  McColley 
still  lives  on  his  place,  although  his  estimable 
wife'  has  passed  away.  He  is  one  of  Freeborn 
county's  most  public-spirited  men.  Charles 
Morehouse  settled  in  section  twenty,  but  ha  ^ 
since  moved   away. 

About  the  same  time  came  the  Motson  family, 
consisting  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Motson,  and  the  five 
boys,  Ole,  Erick,  Mot,  John,  and  Andrew,  who 
all  settled  about  George  McColley's  place.  They 
were  Norwegians,  and  all  are  yet  living  in  the 
30 


town  except  the  old  gentleman,  who  died  several 
years  ago,  and  Mot  Motson,  who  hung  himself  in 
Hartland. 

In  the  fall  of  1858,  a  pair  from  Wisconsin,  in 
the  personnel  of  John  P.  Duncan  and  John  P. 
Huggins,  drifted  in  and  secured  homes.  Dun- 
can dropped  anchor  in  section  twenty,  and 
remained  a  citizen  of  the  town  until  within  two 
years,  when  matters  became  too  torrid  for  him 
and  he  left  between  two  days,  as  the  saying 
goes.  Huggins  was  a  true  man,  and  settling 
in  section  twenty-eight  remained  until  the  war 
broke  out,  when  he  enlisted  and  heroically  died 
in  defense  of  his  native  land. 

The  same  year  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Sandy 
Purdie,  William  0.  Cram,  Hat.  Pierce,  and 
Jonathan  Pickard,  who  all  took  places  and  are 
yet  on  them,  except  the  last  named,  Jonathan 
Pickard,  who  now  resides  "in  Freeborn  town- 
ship. 

In  1859,  Seth.  S.  Challis,  of  the  New  Eng- 
land States,  made  his  arrival  and  commenced  a 
sojourn  in  section  thirty-one,  which  he  still  con- 
tinues. 

Speculators,  after  this,  took  most  of  the  land, 
and  if  early  settlers  wanted  it  they  must  pur- 
chase at  a  good  round  figure.  At  this  time  the 
town  had  no  name,  more  than  Town  104,  Kange 
22. 

MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 

The  first  birth  in  Hartland  township  was 
Mary  A.  McColley,  on  the  9th  of  August,  1858. 
She  is  now  Mrs.  Charles  Doty,  and  yet  resides  in 
the  town.  Freeman  Beede  was  another  early 
birth. 

The  first  marriage  ceremony  performed  within 
the  limits  of  the  town,  took  place  in  May,  1859, 
the  high  contracting  parties  being  Mr.  J.  Seely 
and  Miss  Frances  Farris. 

Death,  that  insatiable  enemy  to  immortality, 
soon  hovered  over  the  little  community,  and  took 
as  its  first  victim,  Martha,  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Judith  Wrangham,  aged  nine  years,  on  the 
18th  of  June,  1859. 

The  township  was  named  Hartland  by  Mrs.  O. 
Sheldon,  in  1858,  and  she  also  bestowed  the  same 
name  upon  the  Post-office,  which  was  established 
at  the  same  time,  with  O.  Sheldon  as  Postmaster. 
What  the  name  was  in  honor  of,  or  what  had 
suggested  it,  we  are  unable  to  say. 

During  the  late  war  of  the  rebellion  bonds  were 


466 


HISTORY  OF  rut;EBOUN  COUNT r. 


voted  to  the  amount  of  SI, 700,  to  secure  volun- 
teers, but  it  seems  that  it  was  ineffectual,  for  two 
drafts  were  made,  notwitlistauding  nine  volun- 
teers were  furnished.  John  McCartney.  John 
McClelland,  and  Perry  Haugen,  of  this  town- 
ship, never  returned,  the  second  named  leaving  a 
wife  and  child  to  mourn  his  loss. 

Bonds  to  the  amount  of  $10,000  were  voted  to 
the  Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis  railroad,  as  bonus. 

RELiGiors. — Tlie  first  sermon  preached  in  the 
township  was  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  McReynolds,  an 
itinerant  Methodist  preacher,  in  the  fall  of  1858, 
at  B.  J.  Boardraan's  house  in  section  twenty- 
four.  The  Methodist  church  was  organized  in 
1859,  at  William  Wrangham's  house,  with  Rev. 
Mr.  Corey  officiating  and  six  members.  The 
society  finally  merged  with  other  denominations. 

The  Congregational  society  was  organized  in 
1877,  at  the  schoolhouse  of  district  No.  8,  by 
Elder  Cobb,  with  twelve  members.  .\  store 
building  was  afterward  purchased  in  the  village 
of  Hartland  and  converted  into  a  church.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  Wilbur  Fisk,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  thirty-five. 

The  Presbyterian  denomination  first  held  ser- 
vices in  the  old  log  schoolhouse  in  1869,  with  Rev. 
William  Wrallson  as  minister,  and  for  several 
years  thereafter  services  were  held  regularly  ouce 
in  three  weeks. 

OFFIt'LVL    REOORD. 

The  early  town  records  of  this  township  are  a 
curious  set  of  documents,  and  should  be  preserved 
aa  a  curiosity,  if  not  for  official  purposes.  They 
consist  of  a  small  book  made  of  foolscap,  con-  1 
taining  ten  or  fifteen  pages,  and  from  the  center 
of  the  document  soms  one  has  cut  about  the  same 
number  of  pages,  for  some  reason  best  known  to 
the  cutter.  The  school  districts,  oaths  of  officers, 
roads,  and  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  town  are 
promiscuously  thrown  together,  and  the  legal 
terms  such  as  ''to  wit,"  "whereas,"  "therefore," 
etc.,  are  indiscriminately  mixed  in  without  regard 
to  their  appropriateness  in  connection  with  the 
subject;  but  calculated  to  inspire  the  sturdy  pio- 
neer officers  with  the  full  and  fearful  respDnsihil' 
ity  of  their  positions. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
O.  Sheldon  on  the  11th  of  May,  1858,  and  the 
following  officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing 
year:  Supervisors,  B.  J.  Boardman,  Chairman,  .1. 
L.  Reynolds,  and  J.  C.  Seeley ;  Clerk,  E.  Boardman ; 


Assessor,  T.  W.  Calkins;  Collector,  B.  J.  Board- 
man;  Constables,  Alexander  Spencer  and  James 
Sheehan;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  T.  W.  Calkins 
and  O.  Sheldon;  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  Jacob 
Heath;  Overseers  of  Roads,  E.  A.  Calkins  and  B. 
Cromwell. 

The  first  meeting  of  Supervisors  was  held  at 
the  Town  Clerk's  office  on  the  Uth  of  June,  1858, 
at  which  the  town  was  divided  into  three  road 
districts,  and  the  following  gentlemen  were  made 
overaeers  of  them:  First,  E.  A.  Calkins;  second. 
B.  Cromwell;  third,  Charles  Morehouse. 

The  officers  for  1882  are:  Supervisors,  Olaf 
Lee,  Chairman,  Sandy  Purdie,  and  Peter  Mace; 
Clerk,  Peter  Griuager;  Treasurer,  C.  Hen<lrickson; 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  E.  Wicks  and  S.  S.  Challis; 
Assessor,  Frank  Phipps;  Constable,  Peter 
Peterson. 

VII>I,.\GE  OF    H.\RTL,\NU. 

This  is  the  only  village  in  the  township.  It  is 
located  on  a  fine  village  site,  on  a  high  portion 
of  the  town,  and  at  every  hand  lies  a  fine  view  of 
prairie,  dotted  with  the  modest  homes  of  thrifty 
farmers  and  artificial  groves,  and  to  the  north 
farm  houses  can  be  seen  at  a  distance  of  seven 
miles.  The  sight  is  all  that  can  be  desired,  ex- 
cept the  absence  of  a  water  course  or  lake;  as  one 
inhabitant  suggested,  "it  is  a  boss  site  in  summer 

but in    winter,"    as    its    elevation  serves    as 

an  "estoppel,"  so  to  speak,  of  the  wind.  To  the 
stranger  the  burg  presents  rather  a  dreary  ap- 
pearance, with  tlie  "butt  ends"  oi  the  buildings 
pointed  towards  the  railroad,  and  the  absence  of 
shade  trees;  but  the  last  objection  is  fast  being 
remedied  by    the  citizens  who  are  planting   trees. 

Its  E.4.RLV  Days. — The  laud  upon  wliich  the 
village  was  started  was  originally  the  property  of 
Torger  Samuelson;  but  in  1877,  when  the  rail- 
road was  started,  twenty  acres  m  the  northwestern 
corner  of  section  twenty-one,  were  purchased  by 
A.  E.  Johnson,  then  of  Albert  Lea,  and  it  was  at 
once  platted  and  the  sale  of  lots  begun.  At  this 
time  William  Morin  platted  a  few  acres  of  his 
laud  east  of  the  railroad  track,  and  for  a  time  con- 
siderable strife  existed,  a  few  buildings  being  erec- 
ted upon  both  sections.  But  finally  a  settlement 
was  arrived  at  and  Mr.  Morin  platted  twenty 
acres  into  lots  and  blocks,  just  north  of  Johnson's 
in  the  southwest  corner  of  section  sixteen,  and  the 
whole    forty    and  the  small   portion  east  of  the 


IIARTLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


467 


track  became  the  village  site.  This  was  at  the 
time  of  the  arrival  of  the  railroad. 

The  first  business  opened  in  the  town  took 
place  in  September,  1877.  A  small  frame  build- 
ing was  moved  from  the  town  of  Manchester  to 
this  place  by  Andrew  J.  Anderson,  and  opened 
for  a  boarding  house.  In  a  few  months  he  sold 
it  to  Mots  Motson,  who  enlarged  and  remodeled 
it,  carrying  it  on  for  a  year  or  so  when  he  commit- 
ted suicide  by  hanging  himself,  and  the  building 
is  now  occupied  as  a  residence  by  his  widow. 

In  Sejjtember  of  the  same  year,  1877,  J.  P. 
Grinager  and  C.  K.  Hovland  put  up  a  frame 
building  20x80,  one  story  high,  and  in  November 
put  in  their  stock  of  general  merchandise.  About 
two  years  later  Mr.  Hovland  retired  from  the  firm 
and  Mr.  Grinager  continues  it  alone. 

About  the  same  time  Scarseth  and  Lee  com- 
menced building  and  opened  their  $4,000  stock  of 
general  merchandise  to  customers  late  in  October, 
in  a  building  50x2'2  and  two  stories  high.  In 
1879  Mr.  Scar.seth  died  and  Mr.  Olof  Lee  has 
since  managed  the  bu.siness. 

In  a  few  weeks  after  the  above  advent,  E.  S. 
Dunn  moved  a  building,  22x.50  feet,  from  Free- 
born village  to  Hartland,  and  with  it  brought  and 
opened  a  limited  stock  of  drugs.  Mr.  Dunn 
afterwards  sold  to  Hovland  &  Nelson,  and  they  in 
turn  rented  to  the  present  jiroprietor,  Dr.  M. 
Torkelson. 

The  same  fall,  Hoff  &  Seim  moved  a  small 
building,  18x24  feet,  to  the  village,  bringing  also 
a  stock  of  goods,  and  locating  their  building  east 
of  the  track,  opened  a  general  merchandise  store. 
This  store  was  formerly  located  on  the  farm  of 
Louis  Knudson  in  section  fifteen,  where  the  Post- 
ofiice  was  originally  established.  In  July,  1878, 
the  goods  were  moved  to  the  main  part  of  the 
village,  where  the  business  is  still  continued,  now 
under  the  firm  of  Seim  &  Hufland. 

Thus  the  growth  of  the  village  went  on,  and 
new  stores  and  saloons,  and  various  other  shops 
were  started,  and  a  number  of  buildings  erected, 
many  of  which,  however,  are  now  vacant. 

In  1881  a  building  was  erected  east  of  the  rail- 
road track,  size  50x5.5  feet,  for  a  hay  press,  by 
Tunell  &  Harper,  in  which  the  necessary  machin- 
ery was  put  into  operation  by  a  twelve  horse- 
power steam  engine.  This  is  quite  an  enterprise, 
and  makes  a  ready  market  for  all  the  hay  put  up 
in  the  neighborhood,  baling  it  for  shipment  to  the 


cities  and  distant  markets.  Lately  W.  P.  Ser- 
geant purchased  Tunell's  interest,  and  the  busi- 
ness is  continued  under  the  new  firm. 

Warehouses. — The  first  warehouse  erected  in 
the  village  was  put  up  about  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember, 1877,  by  C.  D.  White,  being  a  frame 
building,  one  story,  size  32x40  feet.  This  was 
pretty  well  filled  with  grain  by  the  time  the  rail- 
road got  here. 

The  next  warehouse  was  put  up  by  C.  W. 
Whiton,  in  November,  1877,  size  40x80,  one  story 
high,  and  was  run  by  A.  MoDermid  in  the  interest 
of  the  Millers'  Association.  The  latter  gentle- 
man purchased  it,  and  in  1881  it  was  increased  in 
size  and  changed  into  an  elevator  with  a  capacity 
of  about  9,000  bushels,  using  a  ten  horse-power 
steam  engine.  This  elevator  was  entirely  destroyed 
by  fire  in  the  winter  of  1881-82. 

In  the  winter  of  1877  Grinager  &  Fitzgerald 
erected  a  warehouse  30x60  feet,  which  was  operated 
for  three  years  and  then  torn  down. 

P.  Olson  erected  a  warehouse,  30x50  feet,  one 
story  high,  in  1878,  which  is  still  on  the  ground. 

HAKTLAND    POST-OFFICE. 

Before  the  village  was  thought  of  this  Post- 
office  was  established  and  held  in  various  parts  of 
the  township.  In  December,  1876,  J.  C.  Hoff  was 
appointed  Postmaster,  and  moved  the  office  to  his 
store  in  section  fifteen.  In  the  fall  of  1877  it  was 
removed  with  the  store  to  the  village,  and  in  1879, 
when  he  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  store  to  hia 
partner,  Ole  A.  Seim,  the  latter  gentleman  became, 
and  still  is.  Postmaster,  with  the  office  at  the 
store.     Mail  now  arrives  daily  on  the  railroad. 

STATISTICS. 

The  teak  1881. — Showing  the  acreage  and 
yield  in  the  township  of  Hartland  for  the  year 
named. 

Wheat — 4,939  acres,  yielding  58,651  bushels. 

Oats— 1,000  acres,  yielding  3.3,353  bushels. 

Corn — 735  acres,  yielding  29,615  bushels. 

Barley — 77 J^  acres,  yielding  1,882  bushels. 

Buckwheat — 7  acres,  yieldiug  90  bushels. 

Potatoes — 37  acres,  yielding  4.494  bushels. 

Beans — ^,^  of  an  acre  yielding  9  bushels. 

Sugarcane, — 2ig    acres,   yieldiug  369  gallons. 

Cultivated  hay — 14  acres,  yielding  91  tons. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881, — 6,833. 

Wild  hay— 2,799  tons. 

Timothy  seed — 413^  bushels, 


468 


iirsrmn'  of  fiiickborn  countt. 


Apples — number  of  trees  growini;,  1,987,  num- 
ber bearing,  307,  yiekling   l-tO;*^   bushels. 

Grapes — 23  vines,  yielding  285  J^  pounds. 

Sheep — 690  sheared,  yielding  2,979  pounds  of 
wool. 

Dairy — 4.09  cows,  yielding  33,955  pounds  of 
butter. 

Hives  of  Ijees — 2,  yielding  20  pouuds  of  honey. 

The  year  1882— Wheat,  4.431  acres;  oats, 
1,109;  corn,  1,203;  barley,  122:  buckwheat,  24;  po- 
tatoes, 43;  beans,  ig ;  sugar-cane,  2;  cultivated  bay, 
52;  flax,  1;  other  products,  55  ig';  total  acreage 
cultivated  in  1887,05034'. 

Apple  trees — growing,  1,881;  bearing,  349; 
grapevines  bearing,  31. 

Milch  cows— 41,6. 

Sheep — 644,  yielding  2,880  pounds  of  wool. 

Farms  cultivated  in  1881^101. 

Forest  trees  planted  and  growing — 209. 

PopoLATioN. — The  census  of  1870  gave  Hart- 
land  a  population  of  485.  The  last  census,  taken 
in  1880,  reports  699  for  this  town.  Showing  an 
increase  of  214. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

District  No.  8 — The  organization  of  this  dis- 
trict was  effected  in  the  spring  of  1863,  at  a  meet- 
ing held  at  the  house  of  Aaron  Carr  in  section 
ten.  The  first  officers  were;  Director,  W.  J.  Mc- 
Clelland; Treasurer,  William  Wraugham;  Clerk, 
William  Beede.  A  log  schoolhouse  was  bought 
for  $9,  and  located  in  section  eleven.  The  first 
school  was  taught  by  Miss  Mary  Bliss  with  eight 
scholars  enrolled;  the  last  term  in  this  building 
was  taught  by  Miss  Maggie  McClelland  to  an 
attendance  of  forty  pupils.  The  present  house 
is  located  near  the  center  of  section  eleven,  size 
18x24,  and  cost  •'5400.  The  present  officers  are 
Messrs.  Hendrickson,  Peterson,  and  Phipps. 

District  No.  9. — This  district  embraces  the 
territory  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town- 
ship, with  a  schoolhouse  located  in  section  thirty - 
five,  and  was  among  the  first  districts  organized  in 
the  county,  although  the  records  only  extend 
back  to  1869,  prior  to  tliat  having,  by  some  means, 
been  lost.  The  district  is  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion, fully  up  to  the  average  schools  in  attendance 
and  efficiency. 

District  No.   10. — It   is   claimed   that  this  dis- 
trict was  organized   in  the  summer  of  1858,  and 
'   the  first  school  was  taught  the  same  year  by  Mrs. 
Charles  Morehouse  at  her  residence,  witli  six  pu- 


pils present.  The  first  school  meeting  was  held  in 
the  fall  of  1858,  at  the  residence  of  C.  Morehouse, 
six  voters  present,  and  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  Clerk,  George  McColley;  Director,  J.  P. 
Duncan; Treasurer.  Charles  Morehouse.  In  1863, 
a  schoolhouse  was  erected  near  the  center  of  the 
district,  size  26x30,  frame,  at  a  cost  of  S800, 
which  is  still  in  use.  The  schoolhouse  is  located 
in  the  northern  part  of  section  thirty-two. 

District  No.  62. — The  first  school  held  within 
the  boundaries  of  this  district  was  called  in  the 
summer  of  1860,  with  twelve  pupils  present,  and 
Elizabeth  Sibbey  as  instructor.  In  the  spring 
of  1862  the  district  effected  an  organization,  the 
officers  being  L.  Knudson,  O.  Sheldon,  and  Levi 
Jones,  ajid  the  first  school  after  organization  was 
taught  by  Miss  C.  Reynolds  in  a  private  house. 
In  1868  the  school  structure  was  erected  in  the 
center  of  section  fourteen  at  a  cost  of  #415.  The 
present  clerk  is  Henry  Hanson. 

District  No.  109.— This  is  the  Hartlaud  vil- 
lage school,  and,  as  will  be  inferred  from  the 
number,  is  the  youngest  school  district  in  the 
township.  Prior  to  its  organization  the  children 
attended  in,  and  the   territory  was    annexed  to, 

\  other  districts.     At  the  time  of  platting  the  vil- 

i  lage,  or  shortly  after,  the  district  was 
brought  into  existence,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1878  the  schoolhouse  was  erected,  being  a  frame 

j  building,  size  24x36  feet,  two  stories,  with  a  bel- 
fry, well  painted  and  furnished,  and  cost  about 
11,800.  The  lower  story  is  used  for  church 
services,  lectures,  town  meetings,  and  all  public 
purposes.     The  school  has  had  as  many  as  fifty- 

I  five  scholars  enrolled  and  is  in  a  flourishing 
condition  now,  having  about  thirty  average 
attendance. 

biographical. 

William  Beede,  one  of  the  jiioneers  of  this 
place,  is  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  on  the  9th 
of  April,  1824.  He  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and 
in  1845,  married  Miss  Cynthia  Sleeper,  who  was 
born  in  New  Hampshire.  lu  1856,  they  came 
west  and  settled  first  in  Wisconsin  and  two  years 
later  started  with  an  ox  team  for  this  place. 
They  pre-empted  land  in  section  four,  which  has 
since  bean  their  home.  They  have  a  family  of 
three  children.  Mr.  Beede  in  an  early  day  took 
an  active  part  in  the  organization  and  supjjort 
of  the  schools. 


IIAKTLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


469 


S.  S.  Ohallis  was  born  in  Corinth,  Orange 
county,  Vermont,  on  the  7th  of  April,  1822.  In 
1847  he  removed  to  New  Hampshire,  and  in  1850 
to  Massachusetts.  He  was  married  on  the  22d  of 
November,  18.52,  to  Miss  N.  .Julia  Orr,  who  has 
borne  him  four  children.  In  1857  Mr.  Challis 
went  to  California  where  he  remained  three  years, 
then  returned  to  Vermont,  and  in  June,  1862,  came 
to  Hartland  which  has  sinc3  been  his  home,  his 
farm  being  in  section  thirty-one.  He  was  Chair- 
man of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  1864,  and  the 
year  following  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  which 
office  he  now  holds.  In  1863  he  was  chosen  and 
served  as  captain  of  a  military  company  raised  in 
this  county. 

Gtilij  Guttobmsen,  oue  of  the  old  residents  of 
Hartland,  is  a  native  of  Norway,  born  on  the  16th 
of  June,  1822.  He  sailed  for  America  in  1850, 
landing  in  New  York  on  the  4th  of  July,  and 
came  directly  to  Columbia  county,  Wisconsin. 
On  the  10th  of  February,  1855,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Engelburt  Tearksendatter, 
who  has  borne  him  two  children,  only  one  of 
whom  is  living.  In  1856  they  removed  to  Min- 
nesota, and  resided  in  Steele  county  tor  two  years, 
then  came  to  Hartland.  He  served  in  the  First 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry  from  the  16th  of 
Blarch,  1865,  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Walter  L.  Hansen,  a  native  of  the  Empire 
State,  was  born  in  Oswego  county  on  the  25th  of 
May,  1845.  When  he  was  ten  years  old  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois  where,  on  the  1st  of 
August,  1864,  he  enlisted  La  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-sixth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  Company 
E,  was  on  garri.son  duty  all  the  time  until  dis- 
charged on  the  10th  of  July,  1865.  In  1867  he 
moved  to  McGregor,  Iowa,  and  a  year  later  to 
Wisconsin,  where  he  married  on  the  18th  of  March, 
1870,  Miss  Margaret  Ramsey.  She  died  on  the 
9th  of  June,  1872,  leaving  one  child,  Margaret 
Irene.  In  1875  Mr.  Hansen  came  to  Hartland 
and  purchased  a  farm  in  section  three,  which  has 
since  been  his  home.  His  present  wife  was  for- 
merly Miss  Emma  Challis,  whom  he  married  on 
the  26th  of  October,  1876.  This  union  has  been 
blessed  with  one  child,  Maud  Lillie. 

Caul  Hendrick.son  was  born  in  Norway  on  the 
12th  of  May,  1838,  and  when  ten  years  old  emi- 
grated with  his  parents  to  America.  They  settled 
in  Wisconsin  where  he  married,  in  1860,  Miss 
Esther  Madison.     They  have  had  eleven  children, 


nine  of  wom  are  living.  He  came  here  in  1865, 
and  purchased  his  present  farm.  Since  1877  he 
has  been  Town  Treasurer,  and  has  held  other 
local  and  school  offices. 

Ole  T.  Johnson  was  born  in  Norway  on  the 
6th  of  August,  1856,  and  when  an  infant  came 
with  his  parents  to  America.  The  family  first 
located  in  Columbia  county,  Wisconsin,  until 
1867,  then  came  to  this  township  and  have  since 
made  it  their  home,  their  farm  being  in  section 
two. 

Lewis  Knddsok,  one  of  the  early  residents 
here,  is  a  native  of  Norway,  and  dates  his  birth 
the  5th  of  August,  1830.  He  was  married  in 
April,  1853,  to  Miss  Isabel  Kittleson,  and  the 
same  year  they  came  to  America.  In  1858,  they 
moved  from  Wisconsin  to  this  township,  and 
secured  a  farm  in  section  fifteen.  Mrs.  Knud- 
son  died  on  the  28th  of  April,  1871,  having 
borne  seven  ehildren,  only  one  of  whom  is  now 
living.  His  present  wife.  Miss  Isabel  Torgenson, 
he  married  on  the  20th  of  May,  1872,  and  of 
six  children  born  to  this  union,  four  are  living. 

Thomas  8.  Lee  was  born  near  Bergen,  Nor- 
way, on  the  3d  of  January,  1834.  When  he  was 
twenty -two  years  of  age  he  came  to  America  and 
first  settled  in  Racine  county,  Wisconsin.  He  was 
married  in  1861,  to  Miss  Sarah  Johnson,  also  a 
native  of  Norway.  They  resided  in  different  parts 
of  the  latter  State  until  1873,  when  they  came  to 
Minnesota  and  located  in  Freeborn  township  until 
1880,  then  came  to  Hartland.  They  have  a  family 
of  ten  children. 

Oluf  Lee  was  born  in  Norway,  about  twenty- 
five  miles  from  Christiania,  on  the  21st  of  April, 
1849.  His  father  died  when  he  was  twelve  years 
old,  and  after  finishing  his  schooling  he  clerked 
in  a  store.  When  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age 
he  went  to  sea,  and  in  1870,  spent  one  summer 
traveling  in  England.  He  emigrated  to  America 
in  1871,  and  located  in  Oconomowoc,  Wisconsin, 
and  clerked  in  a  dry  goods  store  for  ten  months, 
thence  to  LaCrosse  in  the  same  occupation.  He 
was  subsequently  employed  as  book-keeper  for 
J.  C.  Easton,  of  Chatfleld,  and  later  filled  the  same 
position  in  the  First  National  Bank  in  LaCrosse, 
Wisconsin,  also  for  a  lumbering  company.  In 
1877,  he  came  to  Hartland  and  bought  an  interest 
in  the  first  store  in  this  place,  and  is  now  sole  pro- 
prietor. He  is  at  present  Chairman  of  the  board 
of  Supervisors,  and  has  held  other  local  offices. 


470 


nrSTORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


George  McCollev,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Hart- 
land,  was  born  in  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York, 
on  the  24th  of  March,  1831.  When  he  was  young 
his  parents  moved  to  Ohio,  and  in  1845,  to  Port- 
age City,  Wisconsin.  On  the  6th  of  March,  1853, 
George  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Electa 
Morehouse  and  they  have  six  children.  In  1857, 
Mr.  McColley  started  with  an  os  team  to  this 
place  and  for  two  months  camped  in  his  wagon, 
in  the  meantime  putting  up  a  shib  house  in  section 
twenty-nine  which  has  since  been  his  home.  He 
served  for  a  time  iu  Company  E,  of  the  First 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry.  His  wife  died  on 
the  19th  of  July,  1881. 

Francis  E.  Phipps,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
was  born  on  the  14th  of  April,  1833.  When  young 
he  learned  engineering,  and  in  1854,  came  to  Green 
Lake  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  running  stationary  engines  in  a  steam  mill.  In 
1860,  be  came  to  Minnesota  and  took  a  claim  in 
this  ]jlace,  sections  ten  and  fifteen,  where  he  has 
since  lived.  He  was  married  in  1862,  to  Miss 
Mary  Samson,  a  native  of  Canada.  After  a  linger- 
ing illness  of  several  years  Mrs.  Phipps  died  in 
1881,  leaving  three  children.  Mr.  Phipps  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  support  and  organiza- 
lioh  of  the  schools  and  has  held  several  local 
offices. 


O.  A.  Seim  was  Ijorn  in  Norway  on  the  25th  of 
December,  1840,  and  when  fifteen  years  old  emi- 
grated to  America.  He  was  engaged  in  farming 
in  Wisconsin  until  1857,  then  came  to  Steele 
county,  Mmnesota,  and  worked  his  father's  farm 
until  buying  one  of  his  own.  At  the  sanie  time 
he  carried  on  a  general  mercantile  store  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  Waseca  county.  In  1876,  he 
came  to  Hartlaud  township  and  opened  the  first 
atore  in  the  place  with  .John  C.  Hoif  as  partner, 
but  a  year  later  moved  to  the  village  and  is  now 
carrying  on  a  merchandise  business  in  company 
with  Oluf  Hufiand.  Mr.  Seim  has  been  Postmas- 
ter since  1879,  besides  holding  other  offices. 

Peter  P.  Shager,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  county,  is  a  native  of  Norway,  born  on  the 
16th  of  January,  1819.  He  came  to  America  in 
1849,  and  resided  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  one 
year,  afterward  in  Columbia  county  until  1854, 
then  went  to  Winneshiek  county,  Iowa.  In  the 
spring  of  1857,  he  came  to  this  county  and  settled 
in  Manchester  until  enlisting  on  the  15th  of 
August,  1862,  in  the  Tenth  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry,  Company  E,  and  served  twenty-one 
months.  After  his  discharge  he  located  on  a  farm 
in  seciiou  thirty-four,  Hartlaud.  and  has  since 
devoted  his  time  to  its  cultivation. 


LONDON 


CHAPTER   LXIV. 

Topography  and  location — Early  settlers — 
Statistics  —  Mediums  of  education  ^-  Bio- 
graphical. 

This  is  the  southeastern  sub-division  of  Free- 
born county,  with  Mower  county  bounding  it 
on  the  east;  the  state  of  Iowa  on  the  south; 
the  township  of  Oakland  on  the  north;  and 
Shell  Kock  on  (he  west.  It  is  a  complete  con- 
gressional township  of  36  sections  or  s(iuare  miles, 
and  comprising  the  territory,  technically  speak- 
ing, of  Township  101,  Range  19. 


The  greater  part  of  the  township  is  prairie  laud, 
and  is  well  adapted  to  tillage  and  profitable  agri- 
culture. Toward  the  central  and  northern  part 
there  is  considerable  small  timl)er;  such  as  burr, 
red,  and  scrub  oak,  interspersed  with  natural 
meadows  and  small  patches  of  prairie,  and  is 
known  as  "oak-opening  land."  The  general  in- 
clination of  the  surface  is  rolling,  although  it  may 
be  said  to  be  more  level  than  any  township  in  Free- 
born county.  In  and  about  sections  fifteen  and 
sixteen  is  the  most  broken,  although  not  enough 
so  to  be  impractical  for  cultivation.  The  soil  is  a 
dark  loam,  rich  and  productive,  and  is  underlain 
with  a  subsoil  of  clay.     The  best  farming  land  in 


LONDON  TOWNSHIP. 


471 


the  town  is  the  eastern  part,  while  the  balance  is 
moderate  or  up  to  the  average. 

There  are  few  streams  and  only  one  lake  to 
water  the  surface  of  London.  This  body  of  water 
lies  near  the  center  of  the  town,  and  is  known  as  Elk 
Lake,  covering  the  greater  part  of  160  acres  in 
section  twenty-one.  Two  streams  flow  across  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  town,  and  one  traverses 
he    southwest  corner. 

EARLY     SETTLERS. 

The  early  steps  leading  to  the  founding  and 
subsequent  development  of  this  thriving  town- 
ship, began  at  about  the  same  period  as  did  most 
of  the  towns  in  Freeborn  county,  and  in  none 
of  them  has  the  growth  been  more  substantial,  or 
progress  more  marked  than  in  London.  The  early 
jjioneers  of  this  locatity  were  not  of  a  class  that 
were  indolent;  but  they  were  thriving,  energetic, 
and  high  spirited.  They  were  good  neighbors, 
and  ao  good  neighborhoods  were  created,  and  this 
was  one  of  the  great  comforts,  and  in  fact,  blessings, 
for  which  the  pioneers  had  cause  to  be  thankful; 
for  without  the  few  good  companions  to  each, 
which  formed  neighborhoods,  and  the  unanimity 
of  good  fellowship  and  purpose,  pioneeer  life  on 
the  then  barren  frontier  must  have  been  unendur- 
able. 

About  the  first  settlement  made  in  the  town- 
ship was  by  a  party  of  various  nationalities  from 
Wisconsin,  who  settled  in  sections  eight,  nine,  and 
ten,  in  what  was  termed  the  burr  oak  opening 
laud.  This  party  was  made  up  of  Edward  E.  Bud- 
long,  who  now  lives  in  Shell  Bock  townwhip;  John 
T.  Asher  from  Wisconsin,  who  is  now  dead;  Asa 
Bullock  and  family,  and  a  Mr.  Carpenter,  the  last 
two  mentioned,  after  a  year's  residence  in  London, 
pulled  up  stakes  and  removed  to  Oakland  town- 
ship, where  friends  and  relatives  had  preceded 
them.  In  the  article  upon  that  town  they  are 
treated'  more  at  length.  During  the  ensuing 
winter  the  young  folks  who  were  matrimonially  in- 
clined decided  to  have  the  conjugal  knot  tied  in 
the  everlasting  and  let-no -man -put- asunder  way; 
so  the  ox  teams  were  "covnded"  and  yoked,  and 
away  the  parties  hied  themselves  on  a  rapid  ox 
walk  for  Osage,  Iowa,  25  miles  distant,  where  the 
ceremony  was  performed  making  the /ow;',  two,  and 
uniting  Lemuel  Bullock  to  Miss  Carpenter,  and 
Willard  L.  Carpenter  to  Miss  Bullock. 

This  was  about  all  who  arrived  in  London  in 
the  year  1855,  and  they  passed  the  winter  as  best 


they  could,  depending  upon  each  other  for  enter- 
tainment and  keeping  off  despondency.  During 
the  following  year,  however,  the  beauties  of  this 
region  began  to  be  heralded  abroad,  and  many 
who  had  come  to  realize  the  inequality  of  the 
contest  between  labor  and  capital  in  the  older  and 
eastern  States,  thronged  in  to  find  a  new  home, 
where,  for  the  first  years,  at  least,  equality  would 
reign  supreme  and  merit  must  be  ranked  side  by 
with  capital.  Among  those  who  arrived  in  1856, 
as  many  of  the  most  prominent  ones  as  can  be 
remembered,  will  be  given. 

William  N.  Goslee,  a  native  of  Connecticut,who 
had  stopped  for  a  time  in  Iowa,  came  from  the 
latter  place  with  an  ox  team,  and  in  May,  1856, 
secured  the  place  he  now  occupies  in  section 
thirteen.  Timothy  F.  Goslee  came  about  the 
same  time;  but  located  just  over  the  line  in 
Mower  county. 

Benjamin  Stanton  joined  this  party  by  securing 
a  slice  from  Uncle  Sam's  domain  in  section  twelve. 
In  October,  1857,  while  engaged  in  building  a  log 
house  his  earthly  career  was  abruptly  terminated 
by  a  stroke  of  lightning. 

Just  north  of  Stanton,  in  section  one,  the  same 
year,  B.  E.  P.  Gibson,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
succeeded  in  making  his  anchor  take  firm  hold 
and  his  moorings  still  remain  intact.  H.  B.  Riggs, 
late  of  Michigan,  joined  this  party  and  made 
himself  a  home  in  section  eleven,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  number  of  years,  and  then  removed  to 
Shell  Rock,  where  he  finally  paid  the  debt  of 
mortality. 

These  parties  had  scarcely  got  nicely  settled 
when  the  tranquility  of  their  reign  was  disturbed 
by  the  arrival  of  a  native  of  Wisconsin  in  the 
person  of  D.  B.  German,  who  located  in  section 
twelve,  where  he  remained  until  1880,  when  he 
removed  to  Mower  county,  and  now  lives  there. 

Avery  Strong,  a  native  of  New  York  State,  was 
another  of  the  arrivals  in  1856,  who  secured  a 
habitation  in  this  settlement  by  installing  himself 
in  section  thirteen.  He  soon  left,  however,  and  is 
now  living  in  his  native  State. 

Silon  Williams  came  from  Vermont  at  about 
the  same  time,  and  planted  his  stakes  in  section 
eleven,  where  he  still  continues  to  thrive. 

Edward  Thomas,  also  about  the  same  time, 
commenced  a  sojourn  which  he  still  perpetuates  in 
this  settlement. 


472 


nisroRT  OF  FREEBoity  couyrr. 


William  Davia  and  a  Mr.  Liint  also  arrived  iu 
1865. 

Section  twenty-one  received  a  settler  this  year 
in  the  person  of  Ole  Lewis,  who  remained  a  year 
or  two  and  then  left  the  country. 

In  the  spring  of  1857  James  H.  Goslee  left  his 
home  in  Connecticut  and  pushed  toward  the  set- 
ting sun,  coming  as  far  as  Dubuque  by  rail,  from 
there  taking  the  stage  route  to  St.  Paul,  where  he 
was  engaged  for  a  couple  of  weeks,  and  then 
came  on  as  far  as  West  Union  with  a  man  who  had 
horses  for  sale.  The  snow  was  very  deep  and  he 
was  delayed  for  several  days;  but  finally  found  a 
man  who  was  on  a  milling  trip  from  Chickasaw 
county,  Iowa,  and  with  him  rode  to  the  latter 
place.  Here  he  was  detained  for  three  days  by  a 
severe  blizzard,  and  was  finally  carried  on  to 
Otronto,  Iowa,  from  whence  be  walked  to  his 
brother's  place  in  Lyle,  Mower  county,  who  is 
mentioned  above  as  having  settled  there  the  year 
previous.  Bring  favorably  impressed  by  the 
country,  bought  a  place  in  sections  twelve  and 
thirteen  in  this  township,  of  Sylvester  West, 
which  he  still  occupies. 

In  1858  James  H.  Stewart,  a  native  of  the 
Empire  State,  made  his  appearance  in  London, 
and  became  an  inhabitant  by  placing  his  sign 
manual  upon  papers  for  a  claim  in  section  twenty- 
four,  where  he  now  tills  the  soil. 

The  same  year  Joseph  Chmelik  and  A.  Ray- 
mond, Bohemians,  arrived  and  took  claims  in 
section  five  where  they  are  still  plodding. 

After  this  the  immigration  was  more  gradual, 
yet  this  is  enough  to  indicate  the  class  with  which 
London  began  its  civilization. 

HATTERS    OF    INTEREST. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  occurred  late  iu 
the  fall  of  1856,  and  brought  into  existence  George 
Adkins. 

The  second  made  its  apjjearance  in  February, 
1857,  and  this  time  a  child  of  Horace  Lamb 
became  a  living  creature. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Benjamin  F.  Stan- 
ton, who  died  by  a  stroke  of  lightning  on  October 
6th,  1857.  His  remains  were  deposited  in  their 
last  resting  place  near  Otronto,  Iowa. 

For  political  purj)oses  this  township  was  origin- 
ally merged  with  Oakland,  and  subseijuently  for 
a  time  a  part  of  Shell  Rock;  but  finally  it  was  set 
off  from  these  and  is  now  a  separate  organizaticin 
under  the  head  of  London. 


From  the  records  we  learn  that  the  first  title  to 
land  was  acquired  by  William  Clatwortliy  and 
W.  A.  Pierce,  on  the  15th  of  August,  1856,  these 
parties  taking  their  claims  on  sections  eight  and 
nine. 

London  Post-office. — This  office  was  estab- 
lished in  September,  1876,  with  Henry  Lang  as 
Postmaster,  and  shortly  afterward  Mrs.  Meadow- 
croft  was  appointed  as  deputy,  with  the  office  in 
section  fourteen.  Mail  arrives  once  each  week 
from  Austin,  the  mail  carrier  being  John  Connor. 
Tlie  office  remained  in  section  ft)urteen  until 
April,  1880,  when  Mr.  James  Lacy  was  commis- 
sioned Postmaster  and  Marion  Connor  deputy, 
and  again,  iu  the  spring  of  1882  the  Postmasters 
changed,  this  time  John  Manning  took  the  mail 
pouch  keys  and  still  fills  the  position  of  Postmas- 
ter, the  office  being  kept  in  section  fifteen  at  his 
residence. 

statlstics. 

The  Year  1881. — Showing  the  acreage  and 
yield  in  the  townsliip  of  London  for  the  year 
named : 

Wheat— 2,365  acres,  yielding  25,723  bushels. 

Oats — 753  acres,  yielding  22,321  bushels. 

Corn — 710  acres,  yielding  20,895  bushels. 

Barley — 169  acres,  yielding  4,491  bushels. 

Rye — 1  acre,  yielding  6  bushels. 

Buckwheat — 5  acres,  yielding  22  bushels. 

Potatoes — 28 J4  acres,  yielding  3,049  bushels. 

Sugar  cane — 8^4  acres,  yielding  300  gallons. 

Cultivated  hay — 56  acres,  yielding  42  tons. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881—4,1321^. 

Wild  hay— 569  tons. 

Apple.s — number  of  trees  growing,  704 ;  uvimbei 
bearing.  111,  yielding  25*^  bushels. 

Tobacco — 19  pounds. 

Sheep — 31  sheared: 

Dairy — 129  cows,  yielding  5,275  pounds  of 
butter. 

The  Year  1882.  —Wheat,  995  acres;  oats,  758; 
corn,  1,059;  barley,  224;  rye,  10;  buckwheat,  2; 
potatoes,  34;  sugar  cane,  1%;  cultivated  hay,  99; 
flax,  3. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1882— 3,1883^. 

Apple  trees — growing,  668;  bearing,  93. 

Grape  vines — bearing,  1. 

Milch  cows — 150. 

Sheep— 31. 

Whole  number  of  farms  cultivated  in  1882  —  55. 

Forest  trees  planted  and  growing,  31^  acres. 


LONDON  TOWN 811  IP. 


473 


Population. — The  census  of  1870  gave  London 
a  population  of  311.  The  last  census,  taken  in 
1880,  reports  614  for  this  town;  showing  an 
increase  of  303. 

MEDIUMS    or  EDUCATION. 

District  No.  51. — Effected  an  organization  in 
1862,  and  the  following  year  the  first  term  of 
school  was  held  at  the  residence  of  H.  B.  Riggs, 
in  section  eleven,  by  Miss  Orpha  Skinner,  with  an 
attendance  of  about  twelve  scholars.  Then,  in 
1867,  the  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  the  western 
part  of  section  twelve,  which  has  since  been 
greatly  improved.  The  last  term  of  school  was 
taught  by  Misn  Belle  Cheadle  with  an  average 
attendance  of  twenty-five  scholars. 

District  No.  59. — Embraces  territory  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  town,  and  has  a  school- 
house  located  in  the  northern  part  of  section 
thirty-two. 

Distbict  No.  71. — This  district  came  into  exist- 
ence by  organization  in  1865,  the  first  school 
being  held  in  Morgan  Eckert's  granary,  in  section 
eighteen,  taught  by  Miss  Dora  Sabin  with  an 
attendance  of  about  six  pupils.  After  this  school 
was  continued  in  private  houses  and  granaries 
until  the  summer  of  1869,  when  a  schoolhouse, 
16x20,  was  completed  in  section  eight  at  a  cost  of 
S220,  and  Carrie  Harrison  taught  a  school  with 
an  attendance  of  eighteen.  The  house  has  since 
been  remodeled  and  improved  to  the  extent  of 
$500.  The  last  teacher  was  John  D.  Murphy; 
attendance  thirty-two. 

District  No.  94. — EfTected  an  organization  in 
1874,  and  the  school  building  was  erected  the 
same  year,  in  the  southern  part  of  section  twenty- 
three,  size  20x20,  with  an  ante-room  12x16  feet, 
and  cost  .|1,025.  The  first  teacher  was  Mr.  John 
Bewick  with  an  attendance  of  fifteen  scholars. 
Ella  Meadowcroft  was  the  last  instructor  of  the 
young  idea  and  had  an  average  attendance  of 
aljout  twenty  pupils. 

BIOGBAPHICAL. 

Persons  Bump  was  born  in  Wyoming  county. 
New  York,  on  the  29th  of  March,  1844.  When 
he  was  seven  years  old  his  parents  came  west  and 
settled  in  Wisconsin.  Persons  enlisted  in  1862,  in 
the  Twenty-second  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry, 
Company  E,  was  in  considerable  active  service  in 
the  South  and  spent  four  months  in  Libby  prison, 
receiving  an  honorable  discharge  in  1865,  having 


attained  the  rank  of  Frst  Lieutenant.  He  returned 
to  his  home  and  the  same  year  married  Miss  Mar- 
inette Oolson,  a  native  of  Ohio.  In  1868  they 
came  to  London  township,  and  bought  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  in  sections  twenty- 
two  and  twenty-seven  and  have  since  made  it  their 
home.     They  have  five  children. 

Thomas  Bosnallie,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  place,  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  on  the 
5th  of  Apil,  1819,  His  parents  came  to  America 
when  he  was  an  infant,  and  located  in  Canada. 
He  remained  with  an  uncle  in  Scotland  until  four 
years  old,  then  joined  his  parents  in  Canada. 
In  1851  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Charlotte  Philips  and  two  years  later  they  came 
to  Wisconsin.  Since  1856  Mr.  Bonnallie  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  place.  His  first  wife  died, 
and  in  1873,  he  married  his  present,  Mrs.  Janette 
Campbell,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Penn.  The 
issue  of  this  union  is  seven  children. 

James  H.  Goslbe,  one  of  the  old  and  respected 
citizens  of  this  section  of  the  country,  is  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  born  in  Hartford  county,  on  the 
31st  of  January,  1831.  The  early  j^art  of  his  life 
was  spent  in  farming  and  learning  the  carpenter 
trade,  and  in  1857,  he  came  to  this  township.  His 
farm  now  contains  over  seven  hundred  acres  and  is 
well  improved,  he  devoting  his  time  principally  to 
stock  raising.  In  1860  he  was  united  in  wedlock 
to  Miss  Zillah  T.  Beach,  a  native  of  New  York. 
They  have  had  two  children;  Henry  A.,  born  on 
the  2d  of  July.  1861;  andDwight  W.,  born  on  the 
8th  of  April,  1866.  The  latter  died  on  the  12th  of 
January,  1882. 

William  N.  Goslee,  another  pioneer  of  London 
township,  was  born  in  Hartford  county,  Connecti- 
cut, on  the  12th  of  May,  1826.  He  was  married 
before  leaving  his  native  State,  in  1850,  to  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Ellis.  They  came  west  in  1855  and 
located  in  Iowa,  but  the  following  year  came  to 
this  place,  staking  out  a  farm  in  section  thirteen 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  Mrs.  Goslee 
died  in  1862.  His  present  wife  was  formerly 
Mary  A.  Cheadle,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  they 
have  two  children.  Mr.  Goslee  owns  a  fine  farm, 
and  since  his  residence  here  has  served  the  town 
and  county  in  difl'erent  capacities. 

RoGBB  P.  Gibson  was  born  in  Connecticut  on 
the  17th  of  August,  1817.  He  grew  to  manhood 
on  a  farm  and  in  1840,  married  Miss  Colista  Gos- 
lee, who  died  three  years  later.     Some  years  after 


474 


HISTOBT  OF  FREEBORN  GOUNTT. 


he  was  again  married  to  a  CoDnectiout  lady,  who 
came  west  with  him  to  Iowa  in  1855,  and  to  this 
township  the  following  year.  Death  again  entered 
his  home  in  1861,  and  took  away  his  partner  in 
life,  whose  remains  rest  in  the  cemetery  at  this 
place.  In  1863,  he  was  wedded  to  Miss  Emma 
M.  Bolton,  who  was  born  in  Ohio.  This  union 
has  been  blessed  with  six  children.  Mr.  Gibson's 
farm  has  the  appearance  of  a  careful  and  exper- 
ienced manager.  He  is  one  of  the  pioneers  here 
and  has  filled  offices  of  trust  in  the  town. 

Abtrdb  E.  Johnston,  a  New  Yorker,  was  born 
on  the  6th  of  .Tune,  1850.  When  he  was  sixteen 
years  old  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Butler 
county,  Iowa.  They  resided  there  until  1879,  then 
came  to  this  place  and  located  in  section  twenty- 
four,  which  is  still  their  home.  Mr.  Johnston  is 
at  present  Treasurer  of  the  school  board. 

Henky  Lang,  a  native  of  Scotland,  was  born  on 
the  10th  of  January,  1842.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  America  when  an  infant,  first  settled  in 
New  York  City  and  afterward  lived  in  Missouri. 
After  a  residence  of  five  years  in  the  latter  place 
the  family  came  to  Wisconsin  and  in  1862  to  this 
township.  Henry  was  joined  in  matrimony  to 
Miss  Jane  Meadowcroft,  also  a  n.itive  of  Scotland. 
They  have  a  family  of  seven  children.  Mr.  Lang 
owns  a  well  improved  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres. 

John  W.  Manning,  the  present  Postmaster  of 
Loudon,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  on  the  31st  of 
October,  1845.  He  remained  in  his  native  place 
until  twenty  years  old,  then  came  to  Rock  county, 
Wisconsin,  and  in  1867,  married  Miss  Sylvia 
Mosher,  a  Canadian  lady.  The  issue  of  the  union 
is  five  children.  In  1872,  Mr.  Manning  moved  to 
Iowa  and  in  1879  came  to  this  place.  He  has  a 
good  farm  in  section  fifteen. 

John  Robertson  was  born  neir  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, on  the  15th  of  May,  1836.  He  came  with 
his  parents  to  America  in  1844,  and  resided  for 
some  time  in  Rock  county,  Wisconsin.  In  1858 
he  married  Miss  Margaret  Campbell,  also  a  native 
of  Scotland.  They  came  to  Minnesota  in  18(;6, 
and  settled  in  section  twelve  of  this  township, 
which  has  since  been   their  home,  the  farm  con- 


taining three  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Robertson  have  a  family  of  three  children. 

James  H.  Stewart,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
London  township,  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born 
on  the  19th  of  August,  1832.  In  1853  he  came 
to  Wisconsin,  where  he  married,  in  1856,  Miss 
Clarissa  H.  Hubbard,  a  native  of  Vermont.  The 
same  year  they  moved  to  Illinois,  and  a  year  later 
came  to  this  place,  taking  land  in  section  twenty- 
four,  which  is  now  a  well  cultivated  farm.  Mr. 
Stewart  has  filled  offices  of  trust  since  coming 
here.     He  is  the  father  of  three  children. 

Edward  T.  Thomas,  a  native  of  Wales,  was 
born  in  March,  1835,  and  when  very  young  came 
with  his  parents  to  America.  They  located  in 
Utica,  New  York,  and  several  years  later  moved 
to  Ohio,  finally  coming  west  to  Rock  county,  Wis- 
consin. In  1860  Edward  married  Anna  Thomp- 
son, of  Ohio.  The  following  year  he  came  to 
Minnesota  and  took  a  claim  in  London,  section 
twenty-two.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  have  a  family 
of  three  children. 

.Tames  Van  Winkle,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Illinois  on  the  IHh  of  September,  1825.  He  was 
married  in  1853  to  Miss  Nancy  Sutherland,  also  a 
native  of  Illinois.  They  came  to  Minnesota  in 
1858,  but  only  remained  a  year  and  a  half,  and 
returned  to  their  native  State.  In  1861  they  came 
again  to  this  State  and  bought  a  farm  in  London, 
where  Mr.  Van  Winkle  died  on  the  4th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1876.  He  left  a  widow  and  six  children  to 
mourn  his  loss. 

SiLON  Williams,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
place,  was  born  in  Derby,  Vermont,  on  the  23d  of 
July,  1832.  When  twenty-two  years  old  he 
moved  to  Osage,  Iowa,  and  a  year  later  came  to 
this  place,  settling  in  section  eleven.  He  was 
joined  in  wedlock  in  1860  with  Miss  Mary  A. 
Phelps,  a  Canadian  lady.  They  have  tea  chil- 
dren. In  1862  Mr.  Williams  enlisted  in  the  Ninth 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  Company  C,  spent 
one  year  on  the  frontier,  and  then  went  south  and 
participated  in  considerable  active  service,  receiv- 
ing his  discharge  in  1865.  He  has  since  made 
his  farm  his  home. 


MANUHESTEB  TOWNSHIP. 


475 


MANCHESTER. 


CHAPTEK  LXV. 

LOCATION  AND  TOPOGEAPHY EAELT  SETTLEMENT 

OEGANIZATION —  STATISTICS EVENTS  OP  INTEEEST 

— MANCHESTER  VILLAGE— SCHOOLS— BIOOEAPHICAL. 

Whatever  the  population  of  this  town,  it  is  cer- 
tain it  bears  an  English  name.  It  lies  in  the 
second  tier  from  the  north  and  also  second  from 
the  western  line  of  Freeborn  county.  Its  contigu- 
ous surroundings  are,  Hartland  on  the  north; 
Bancroft  on  the  east;  Pickerel  Lake  on  the  south; 
and  Carlston  on  the  west.  It  contains  11,689 
acres  less  than  a  full  congressional  township, 
because  of  the  "correction  line"  of  the  survey,  and 
has  thirty-six  sections,  comprising  the  territory  of 
Town  103,  Range  22,  in  all  about  22,923  acres. 

Originally  the  greater  part  of  the  town  was 
covered  with  timber  of  small  varieties,  such  as 
burr  and  black  oak,  maple,  basswood,  black  wal- 
nut, butternut,  ash,  and  elm,  interspersed  with 
natural  meadows  and  prairie  land.  The  south- 
western part  of  the  town  was  principally  burr  oak 
opening  land,  except  in  sections  twenty -eight  and 
twenty-nine,  where  is  found  the  sugar  maple  which 
is  still,  to  a  considerable  extent,  intact.  The 
greater  part  of  what  was  originally  timber  land  is 
now  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The  prin- 
cipal parcel  of  timber  now  in  the  town  is  black 
and  burr  oak,  the  latter  being  the  most  plentiful. 
The  entire  northwest  portion  of  the  town  is  a  roll- 
ing prairie,  and  is  among  the  best  of  farming 
land. 

The  soil,  as  a  rule,  is  a  dark  rich  loam  of  from 
two  to  three  feet  iu  depth,  and  underlaid  with  a 
subsoil  of  clay;  but  this  is  particularly  apjjlicable 
to  the  timber  land,  as  on  the  prairie  a  lighter  ten- 
dency is  apparent,  while  the  subsoil  is  of  clay  and 
sand.  All  the  land  is  very  productive  and  well 
adapted  to  the  mode  of  cultivation  and  crops  of 
the  latitude.  The  prairie  land  is  made  picturesque 
by  groves  of   domestic  poplar,  which   have  been 


planted  and  well  cared  for  by  the  thrifty  settlers. 

The  township  is  well  watered  and  has  its  full 
complement  of  small  lakes  and  water  courses.  A 
cluster  of  small  lakes  is  found  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  town,  and  on  the  map  appear  the  names 
of  Lake  Peterson,  Sugar  Lake,  Silver  Lake,  and 
Lake  Whitney,  which  are  all  near  together  on  sec- 
tions twenty,  twenty-one,  twenty-eight,  twenty- 
nine,  and  thirty.  The  only  one  of  these  having 
an  outlet  is  Lake  Peterson,  from  which  a  small 
stream  taking  a  southeasterly  course  finally  leaves 
the  town  rin  section  thirty-six,  and  enters  Ban- 
croft township.  South  of  this  cluster  of  lakes,  in 
section  thirty-two,  Spring  Lake  infringes  upon 
and  covers  a  few  acres  of  land.  A  small  body  of 
water  known  as  Gun  Lake  is  located  in  the  eastern 
part  of  section  nine.  School  Section  Like  is  loca- 
ted in  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  town,  in 
section  thirty -six. 

There  is  but  one  village  in  the  township,  Man- 
chester, located  in  section  fifteen,  on  the  Minneap- 
olis &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  which  crosses  the 
township  from  north  to  south,  bearing  a  little 
southeasterly. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  rolling,  and  although, 
in  place.s,  inclined  to  be  rather  abrupt  in  its  mod- 
ulations, is  not  hilly,  or  in  any  place  broken 
sufficiently  to  be  detrimental  to  agriculture.  The 
town  is  well  iidapted  to  agricultural  jjurposes,  and 
has  a  l^rge  cultivated  area  yielding  good  crops  of 
the  cereals. 

EAELY   SETTLEMENT. 

The  earliest  attempt  at  settling  this  town  com- 
menced in  18.56,  when,  on  the  6th  day  of  June  of 
that  year,  S.  S.  Skiff,  a  native  of  New  York,  came 
from  Wisconsin  and  took  a  claim  in  section  twen- 
ty-six, where  he  remained  until  1858,  and  then 
returned  to  Wisconsin  where  he  stayed  until  1860. 
This  year  he  again  pushed  his  way  back  to  his 
newly  made  habitation  and  settled  down  in  earn- 


476 


HISTOHT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


est.  He  made  this  his  liome  until  1880.  and  then 
removed  to  the  town  of  Alden,  where  his  light 
still  "holds  out  to  bum."  He,  it  is  claimed,  was 
the  very  first  settler,  and  there  is  a  preponderance 
of  teKtimony  to  uphold  it.  Ho  had  been  here 
about  one  week,  when,  on  the  l.^th  of  "June,  18.56, 
there  arrived  a  party  from  Iowa,  which  soon  took 
the  name  of  Winneshiek  county  settlement  as  they 
came  from  their  Norwegian  homes  by  way  of 
Iowa  and  had  stopped  for  a  time  in  the  county 
indicated. 

Among  this  party  were  Gunie  Thykeson,  who 
secured  a  place  in  sections  nine  and  ten,  upon  the 
banks  of  the  miniature  lake  which  received  its 
name  after  him,  and  he  may  still  be  found  upon 
the  place,  evidently  well  satisfied  with  his  venture. 

N.  N.  Wangin,  who  planted  his  stakes  upon  a 
part  of  Uncle  Sam's  domain  in  section  seventeen, 
where  he  may  still  be  found. 

Rollof,  a  brother  to  Gunie  Thykeson,  made  him- 
self at  home  in  section  fifteen,  w'here  he  remained 
until  1879,  when  he  took  up  his  abode  upon  a 
place  in  sections  nine  and  sixteen. 

Stiner  Mickelson  also  settled  in  section  fifteen 
and  remained  until  1864,  when  he  disposed  of  his 
farm  and  removed  to  Blue  Earth  City,  where  he 
still  lives. 

Ole  O.  Klappp,  who  settled  in  section  twenty - 
two,  and  remained  until  1858,  when  he  went  to 
Bancroft,  and  in  1864,  went  to  the  south. 

This  comprised  the  original  members  of  the 
Wineshiek  county  settlement.  They  were  all 
natives  of  Norway,  and  they  have  since  been  joined 
by  countrymen,  who  have  thronged  in  until  they 
constitute  the  greater  part  of  the  town's  inhabit- 
ants. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  same  month  that  the 
above  settlement  arrived,  in  June,  1856,  a  party 
known  as  the  Kock  county  settlement,  all  natives 
of  Norway,  who  had  sojourned  for  a  short  time  in 
Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  came  to  the  town,  and 
their  names  and  movemements  are  chronicled  as 
follows;  ' 

Thor   Anderson,  Andrew  Evorson,  and  Ole  Kit- 
tleson  all  took  claims  in   and  about  section  ten,    \ 
where  they  still  remain.  ' 

Peter  O.  Fossum  planted  his  hopes  on  a  tract  in 
section   fourteen,     and    is    still    bustling  around    j 
there. 

Ole  Peterson  commenced  a  sojourn  which  he 
still  perpetuates  in  section  fifteen.  | 


Halver  Peterson  anchored  his  bark  of  worldly 
possessions  in  section  nine,  and  remained  there 
until  August,  1868,  when,  as  matters,  evidently, 
did  not  progress  in  a  satisfactory  manner,  tired  of 
the  practical  problem  of  world's  life,  solved  the 
matter  by  hanging  himself;  his  family  still  live 
upon  the  old  place. 

O.  O.  Fossum  located  on  sections  twenty-one 
and  twenty-two,  and  remained  there  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1878,  and  his 
remains  were  sorrowfully  deposited  in  their  last 
resting  place,  in  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  Ceme- 
tery.    His  family  still  occupy  the  old  home-stead. 

THE  HONORED  DEAI}. 

Henry  Schmidt  came  to  this  county  when  it 
was  wild  and  desolate,  but  lived  to  see  the  town 
settled,  filled  with  farms,  and  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition. He  had  been  Town  Treasurer,  and  was  a 
thorough  American  German.  The  respect  in 
which  he  was  held  was  attested  by  the  large  fune- 
ral which  took  place  a  few  days  after  his  death, 
which  was  on  the  6th  of  September,  1878,  at  the 
age  of  67  years. 

Ole  Olson  Fossdm  came  to  Manchester  in  1856, 
took  a  claim  and  opened  a  farm  and  continued  to 
live  on  it  until  the  9th  of  June,  1878,  when  he 
went  over  the  river  at  the  age  of  64.  He  is  re- 
membered as  a  fine  old  gentleman. 

Mrs.  Harriet  L.Johnson  was  thirty-five  years 
of  age  when  her  presence  was  required  in  the 
great  beyond,  on  the  6th  of  April,  1873.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  Dr.  Solomon  Douglass,  of  Oswego 
county,  New  York.  With  her  husband  she  came 
west  as  far  as  Winnebago  county,  Wisconsin, 
where  they  remained  six  years,  and  then  came  to 
Freeborn  county.  Three  children  were  left.  She 
was  a  woman  who  won  the  esteem  of  all  her 
acquaintances 

OFFICIAL     OEGANIZATION. 

The  first  town  meeting,  at  wliich  the  organiza- 
tion was  effected,  was  held  at  the  house  of  Ole 
Peterson,  on  the  11th  of  May,  1858,  pursuant  to 
to  notice  of  the  Clerk  of  County  Commissioners. 
After  the  usual  preliminaries  the  meeting  was 
called  to  order,  and  the  polls  opened  for  the  elec- 
tion of  town  officers  for  the  ensuing  year.  Upon 
counting  the  ballots  the  following  candidates  were 
found  to  have  the  number  of  votes  set  opposite 
their  names,  as  follows: 

For  Chairman  of  Supervisors,  Matthias  Ander- 


MANCHESTER  TOWNSHTP. 


ill 


son  received  25  votes;  E.  S.  Smitb,  7.  Supervis- 
ors, Ole  Peterson  and  Tostin  Knntson,  unanimously 
elected,  32  votes  each.  Clerk,  James  E.  Smith,  32. 
Assessor,  Bennett  Asleson,  25;  Mattias  Anderson, 
7.  Collector,  Thomas  Anderson,  32.  Overseer  of 
the  Poor,  .Tohn  Ellingson,  32.  Constables,  Charles 
Oleson  and  David  Ames,  each  32  votes.  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  James  E.  Smith  and  Thomas  Oleson, 
32  votes  each.  Overseer  of  Koads,  Charles  Olson, 
25;  Ole  Peterson,  7.  There  were  in  all  thirty-two 
votes  cast. 

Town  Name. — The  original  name  of  the  town- 
ship was  "  Olborg,"  in  honor  of  the  Post-office  in 
in  Norway  from  whence  Ole  Peterson  came.  After 
a  short  reign  under  this  caption  it  was  changed  to 
Buckeye,  in  a  joke  upon  Stanley  and  S.  B. 
Smith,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio,  and  a  Post- 
oHice  by  this  name  was  established.  In  1858,  at 
the  meeting  above  mentioned,  the  matter  of  the 
name  again  came  up,  and  "Liberty"  was  pro- 
posed to  take  the  jilace  of  the  Ohio  caption.  The 
matter  was  put  to  a  vote  and  resulted  in  a  unani- 
mous assent  to  the  new  name.  The  town  then 
commenced  its  career  as  "  Liberty " ;  but  in  a 
short  time  notice  was  received  from  the  State 
Auditor  that  as  there  were  already  two  "  Libertys" 
in  the  State,  their  name  must  be  changed.  In 
accordance  with  this,  in  1859,  the  name  was  again 
changed,  this  time,  finally,  to  "  Manchester.'" 

Thus  the  township  of  Manchester  was  started 
on  its  career  as  a  municipality,  and  since  that 
time  the  affairs  of  the  public  have  been  faithfully 
cared  for.  It  being  a  farming  community  there 
has  been  but  little  expenditure  of  public  funds, 
except  for  school  and  highway  purposes,  and  the 
burdens  of  local  taxation  have  never  been  ex- 
cessive. 

The  present  township  officials  are  as  follows: 
Supervisors,  Claus  Fandt,  Chairman,  Rolloff Thyke- 
son,  and  Thor  Anderson;  Clerk,  I.  A.  Rodsater; 
Assessor,  D.  H.  Johnson;  Treasurer,  Bennett 
Asleson;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  L.  C.  Larken; 
Constable,  M.  O.  Whitney.  The  last  town  meet- 
ing was  held  in  the  spring  of  1882,  at  the  school- 
house  of  District  No.  18. 

STATISTICS. 

This  article  is  intended  to  convey  to  the  reader 
an  idea  of  the  wealth  and  productiveness  of  the 
township,  and  to  what  extent  the  facilities  and 
richness  of  soil  which  nature  has  endowed,  have 
been  utilized  and  improved. 


The  Year  1881. — Showing  the  acreage  and 
yield  in,  the  township  of  Manchester  for  the  year 
named: 

Wheat— 2,696  acres,  yielding  16,937  bushels. 

Oats — 450  acres,  yielding  16,147  bushels. 

Corn — 521  acres,  yielding  17,650  bushels. 

Barley — 26  acre.s,  yielding  690  bushels. 

Rye — 10  acres,  yielding  200  bushels. 

Buckwheat — 1  acre,  yielding  25  bushels. 

Potatoes — 68  acres,  yielding  2,260  bushels. 

Flax  seed — 42  acres,  yielding  350  bushels. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881^3,814. 

Wild  hay— 2,184  tons. 

Apples— number  of  trees  growing, 1,453;  num- 
ber bearing  275  yielding  78  bushels. 

Sheep — 386  sheared,  yielding  1,20  J  pounds  of 
wool. 

Dairy — 872  cows,  yielding  15,700  pounds  of 
butter. 

The  year  1882.— Wheat,  2,894  acres;  oats,  532; 
corn,  500;  potatoes,  29;  other  products,  19;  total 
acreage  cultivated  in  1882 — 3,974. 

Apple  trees  growing — 1,902. 

Milch   cows— 518. 

Sheep— 67,  yielding  631  pounds  of  wool. 

PopuijAtion. — The  census  of  1870  gave  Man- 
chester a  population  of  701.  The  last  census, 
taken  in  1880,  reports  784  for  this  town,  showing 
an  increase  of  83. 

MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  Mich- 
ael Michaelson,  in  September,  1856.  The  boy 
grew  to  manhood,  was  married,  and  now  lives  in 
Blue  Earth  county. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  first  marriage  in  the 
township  occurred  in  December,  1858,  the  high 
contracting  parties  being  Mads  Madson  and  Miss 
Opengardeu.  The  ceremony  was  performed  by 
Thomas  Oleson  at  the  residence  of  John  Elling- 
son, in  section  sixteen.  The  groom  died  in  1880, 
and  the  widow  now  resides  in  Hartland. 

The  above,  however,  was  not  the  first  marriage 
of  parties  from  this  town;  for  on  the  2d  of  Octo- 
ber, 185S,  a  double  wedding  occurred  in  Cedar 
Rapids,  Iowa,  wliich  united  the  destinies  of  Miss 
Inglebert  Peterson  to  Ole  Knudson,  and  Miss 
Sarah  Kittleson  to  Lewis  Sebertson.  The  cere- 
mony was  performed  by  Rev.  L.  Clausen. 

The  first  death  occurred  in  August,  1858,  and 
carried  to  that  mysterious  hereafter,  Peter  Johnson, 
aged  24  years. 


478 


JIIHTORY  OF  FliEEBORN  COUNTY. 


The  first  religions  services  in  tlie  town  were  held 
iu  June,  1858,  at  the  residence  of  Ole  Peterson,  in 
section  tifteen,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brown,  a  Lutheran 
rainiater.  The  church  organization  was  not  effect- 
ed until  1876. 

The  first  house  in  the  township  was  erected  in 
June,  1856,  by  Gunia  Thykeson,  on  section  nine. 
It  was  a  log  building,  12x14  feet,  and  was  after- 
ward used  as  a  stable. 

Mickle  Mickleson,  in  July,  1856,  the  following 
month,  erected  the  second  house  of  the  same  ma- 
terial, and  this  was  subsequently  used  as  a  black- 
smith shop. 

At  an  early  day  a  number  of  the  jiioneers  in  a 
rude  way  manufactureil  sorghum,  by  using  three 
,wouden  home-made  rollers,  propelled  by  a  yoke  of 
oxen,  for  a  press;  but  this  crude  machinery  has 
long  since  been  supplanted  by  the  patent  process 
and  new  machinery. 

It  is  claimed  that  Mathias  Anderson,  who  came 
from  the  town  of  Manchester,  Boone  county,  Illi- 
nois, gave  to  this  township  its  present  name. 

Originally  town  meetings  were  held  in  private 
houses,  and  anywhere  that  shelter  could  be  found. 
At  present  they  are  held  iu  the  schoolhouse  of 
district  No.  18,  in  section  twenty-two. 

The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  erected  and  oper- 
ated by  a  Mr.  Mickleson,  on  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  fifteen.  In  1865  he  sold  out  and  went 
to  Blue  Earth  county,  where  he  now  lives.  This 
was  erected  in  1856. 

In  1858,  the  next  shop  was  erected  in  section 
thirteen,  size  12x14  feet,  and  put  in  ojjeration  by 
Lewis  Oleson.  It  was  of  logs,  with  a  log  and  sod 
roof,  and  was  operated  by  him  until  about  1873, 
when  it  changed  hands;  finally,  in  1879,  becoming 
the  property  of  Ole  O.  Olson  who  now  owns  it. 

Suicide. — In  August,  1868,  Halver  Peterson, 
an  early  Norwegian  .settler  living  in  section  ten, 
disgusted  and  disheartened  by  the  vicissitudes  and 
uncertainties  of  this  cruel  world,  departed  from  it, 
in  spirit,  by  hanging  himself  to  a  tree.  He  had 
been  sick  for  eighteen  months,  and  the  only  excuse 
offered,  was  the  old  one  in  these  cases,  "tired  of 
life." 

Frozen  to  De.\th. — A  Mr.  Gulbrandsou  was 
frozen  to  death  on  the  evening  of  the  8th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1873.     One  of  his  oxen  perished  with  him. 

Manchestee's  War  Eecord. — It  cannot  be 
denied  that  this  town  did  its  full  share  during  the 
war  of  the  rebellion.     Of  those   who  volunteered 


and  went  into  the  service,  nine  never  returned, 
finding  graves  in  southern  soil.  Strengen  Bcns<m 
was  the  only  married  man  of  the  departed  lieroes; 
he  left  a  wife  and  two  children  to  mourn  his  loss. 
The  rest  were  all  single  men  and  most  of  their 
jjareuts  resided  in  the  town  at  the  time.  Man- 
chester voted  bonds  to  t!ie  amoimt  of  .S4,()  10  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  volunteers  to  till  the 
quota  assigned  the  town,  which  amount  was  duly 
paid  and  recruits  secured. 

Buckeye  Post-office. — This  was  the  first  office 
in  the  township,  having  been  established  in  1858, 
named  after  the  pet  cognomen  of  Ohio,  with  James 
E.  Smith  as  Postmaster,  and  the  office  at  his  res- 
idence in  section  thirty,  where  it  remained,  there 
being  but  little  business  for  it,  until  1860,  when 
S.  B.  Smith  was  appointed,  with  a  mail  route  from 
Maukato  to  Otronto,  Iowa,  under  the  supervision 
of  A.  L.  Davis,  who  carried  the  mail  by  team. 
After  a  time  A.  G.  Hall  was  appointed,  and  the 
office  was  removed  to  his  residence  iu  section  one 
of  Alden,  where  it  was  finally  discontinued  about 
1870. 

Manchester  Post-office  was  established  in 
the  village  of  this  name  iu  1878,  upon  a  petition 
gotten  up  by  H.  R.  Fossum  and  E.  H.  Stensrud, 
and  signed  by  a  majority  of  the  citizens.  H.  R. 
Fossum  was  first  appointe<l  as  the  Postmaster, 
and  held  the  office  until  1880,  with  a  business  in 
the  meantime  amounting  to  S6  per  quarter,  when 
E.  H.  Stensrud  was  commissioned  and  sfill  holds 
the  mail  pouch  key ;  the  business  of  the  last  quar- 
ter amounted  to  .S8.89.  The  office  is  kept  in  the 
store  at  the  village. 

Farmers'  Mutual  Insurance  Company  of  Man- 
chester.— This  corporation,  instituted  for  the 
protection  of  the  farmers  from  fire  and  lightning, 
is  growing  rapidly  each  year;  afid,  as  there  is  not 
visible  iu  this,  the  hand  of  dishonesty  and  trickery 
that  is  so  apparent  in  the  procedures  of  a  great 
many  of  the  city  corporations,  it  has  been,  and, 
with  the  same  capable  management  iu  the  future 
that  it  has  had  in  the  past,  will  continue  to  be  a 
true  benefit  and  assistance  to  its  patrons.  The 
company  was  organized  at  the  Central  church  of 
the  Freeborn  Norwegian  Lutheran  Conoreoa- 
tion  on  the  7th  of  December,  1876,  on  which  day 
the  following  officers  were  elected;  President,  O. 
Peterson;  Secretary,  I.  A.  Rodsater;  Treasurer, 
O.  Narvesou;  and  Directors,  E.  C.  Johnson,  K. 
Ingebrigtson,  A.  N.  Teslow,  I.  Hammer,  H.  Stens- 


MANCHESTER  TOWNSHIP. 


479 


ruJ,  and  John  Madson.  It  commenced  biisiness 
on  the  10th  of  February,  1877,  and  consisted  at 
that  time  of  102  members,  and  the  capital  in- 
sured was  $135,172.  During  the  first  year  the 
company  had  a  loss  of  only  $10.  Total  losses  dur- 
ing the  first  five  years,  $765.  Last  year's  loss 
was  $200.  At  the  last  annual  meeting  the  com- 
pany consisted  of  338  members,  with  an  amount 
of  insurance  of  $375,000. 

Present  officers:  President,  O.  Peterson;  Secre- 
tary, Tver  A.  Rodsater;  Treasurer,  O.  Narveson; 
Directors,  C.  C.  Johnson,  K.  Ingebrigtson,  A.  Tes- 
low,  C.  Jonsrud,  H.  Stensrud,  John  Madson. 

NoRWEGi.*,N  Lutheran  Church. --This  society 
was  organized  about  1876,  with  Eev.  V.  Koran  offi- 
ciating, and  had  about  nine  members.  In  1876,  the 
church  was  erected  in  section  four.  Gust.  Peterson 
donating  two  acres  of  land  for  a  site.  It  cost 
about  $5,700,  and  is  36x82  feet,  with  a  tower,  in 
which  an  800  pound  bell  has  been  placed  which 
cost  1300,  and  is  one  of  the  finest  church  build- 
ings in  the  county.  The  society  is  very  prosperous 
and  strong,  and  now  counts  about  400  as  its 
followers.  Eev.  Ina  Woolfsburg  is  the  present 
minister,  and  has  been  upon  the  circuit  for  fifteen 
years.     Services  are  held  every  other  Sunday. 

There  is  also  a  neat  burial  ground  adjoining 
the  church,"  which  was  laid  out  in  1872.  The  first 
burial  here  was  of  the  remains  of  an  infant  child 
of  Andrew  Madson  and  wife,  in  1873.  The  first 
matured  person  whose  remains  were  deposited 
here,  was  Cornelius  Gilbertson,  who  died  ut  Free- 
born at  the  age  of  twenty-four, 

VILLAGE   OF    MANCHESTER. 

This  is  the  only  village  in  the  township,  and 
though  as  yet  nothing  metropolitan,  it  has  a  pros- 
pect of  becoming  a  good  center  for  trade. 

It  is  located  in  section  fifteen,  on  the  Minneap- 
olis it  St.  Louis  railway,  about  seven  miles  from 
Albert  Lea,  the  county  seat,  and  surrounded  by 
an  excellent  farming  country. 

The  village  was  platted  in  1882  by  Ole  Peter- 
son, but  had  already  taken  a  start. 

In  1877  Cosgan  &  White  erected  an  elevator 
which  was  moved  to  section  twenty- three  soon 
after  its  erection,  and  has  since  been  moved  back 
to  the  village. 

In  1878,  Anton  Anderson  erected  a  blacksmith 
shop,  24x28  feet,  and  commenced  blowing  the 
bellows.  In  the  fall  of  1881,  an  addition  was 
erected,   12x28   feet,   for  a  wagon   shop,  and  an 


engine  house  10x12  feet,  in  which  was  placed  a 
five  horse-power  steam  engine  to  run  the  machin- 
ery.    The  shop  employs  three  men. 

In  February,  1878,  a  building  was  erected  by 
H.  R.  Fossum  and  E.  H.  Stensrud.  and  a  good 
stock  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  and  general  mer- 
chandise was  placed  upon  the  shelves  to  the 
amount  of  about  $400.  In  May  the  Post-office 
was  established. 

MEDIUMS    OF    EDUCATION. 

District  No.  18. — This  district  effected  an  or- 
ganization in  the  year  1861.  The  year  previous 
a  schoolhouse  of  logs  was  erected  by  subscription 
on  section  fifteen,  in  which  a  school  of  thirty 
scholars  was  taught  by  Emma  Walker.  After 
this  district  was  organized  they  took  charge  of 
the  school  building,  and  scliool  was  continued 
under  their  management.  The  first  school  officers 
were:  Thorson  Knuteson,  John  Ellingson,  and 
O.  O.  Fossum,  Clerk,  Director,  and  Treasurer. 
In  1867  the  house  was  moved  to  the  site  it  now 
occupies  in  section  twenty-twi>.  The  present 
officers  are;  Director,  Dennis  Sipple;  Treasurer, 
Clau8  Flindt;  Clerk,  Bennett  Asleson.  The  last 
term  of  school  was  taught  by  H.  B.  Fossum,  with 
forty  pupils  enrolled. 

District  No.  19. — A  meeting  was  held  on  the 
8th  of  May,  1862,  at  the  residence  of  Christian 
Jacobson,  at  which  the  organization  of  this  dis- 
trict was  effected  and  made  permanent  by  the 
election  of  officers,  as  follows:  Director,  Tosten 
Knatson;  Clerk,  Claries  Olson;  Treasurer,  Charles 
Johnson.  The  same  summer  Mr.  Henderson 
taught  the  first  school,  a  term  of  three  months,  in 
Charles  Oleson's  house  in  section  thirteen,  with 
seven  or  eight  pupils  present.  In  1864  Christian 
Jacobson  donated  a  site,  and  the  schoolhouse  was 
erected  in  the  center  of  section  twelve,  by  con- 
tribution of  labor,  at  a  cost  of  about  g50,  size 
16x20.  The  present  officers  are;  Director,  Ole 
Knutson;  Treasurer,  John  Johnson;  Clerk,  P.  J. 
Spilde.  The  last  instructor  was  L.  P.  Jensen,  and 
there  were  forty  scholars  upon  the  roll. 

District  No.  21 — Efl'ected  an  organization  in 
1864,  the  first  meeting  being  held  at  the  house  of 
Erick  Olson,  in  section  nine,  in  the  spring,  at 
which  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Direc- 
tor, Carl  Gustaveson;  Treasurer,  Halver  Peterson; 
Clerk,  August  Peterson.  The  first  school  was 
taught  by  Miss  Emma  King  in  Erick  Olson's 
house,  in  section  nine,  with  twenty  pupils  present. 


480 


UI8TURY  OF  FREEBOltN  COUyTr. 


In  1867  a  frame  house,  which  is  still  in  tise,  was 
erected  in  the  western  part  of  section  nine,  size 
16x22,  at  a  cost  of  .S3()0.  The  present  otKcers  are  ■ 
Director,  Ed.  Mortensou;  Treasurer,  Hans  Chris- 
topherson;  Clerk,  Nels  N.  Waugiu.  The  last 
term  of  school  was  taught  by  John  C.  Quammen, 
with  thirty-five  scholars  enrolled. 

District  No.  55. — This  educational  sub-divis- 
ion embraces  tlie  territory  in  the  southeastem 
part  of  the  town.  It  wiis  organized  in  the  fall  of 
1864  in  E.  D.  Hopkins'  house,  on  section  thirty- 
four,  and  the  following  officers  were  elected: 
Director,  O.  Kemfield;  Treasurer,  J.  Welcor; 
Clerk,  E.  D.  Hopkins.  The  first  school  was  taught 
by  Maggie  Colby  in  1864,  in  a  log  house  belong- 
ing to  A.  M.  Johnson,  ou  the  bank  of  Lake  Albert 
Lea.  The  following  year  a  log  house,  18x16  feet, 
was  procured,  which  has  since  been  moved  to  its 
present  site  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section 
thirty-four,  having  cost  about  SIOO.  The  present 
officers  are  as  followt-:  Director,  A.  M.  Johnson; 
Treasurer,  J.  H.  Converse:  Clerk,  O.  J.  Taylor. 
The  last  teacher,  in  the  summer  of  1882,  was  Miss 
Eva  Gilsoii,  and  there  were  nineteen  scholars  en- 
rolled. 

BIOGBAPHICAIi. 

Mathias  Anderson,  one  of  the  first  settlers 
aud  organizers  of  this  township,  was  born  in  Nor- 
way on  the  15th  of  June,  1824.  He  emigrated 
with  his  parents  to  America  in  1851,  located  in 
Broome  county,  Illinois,  where  his'  mother  and 
one  sister  still  reside.  Ou  the  1st  of  October,  1854, 
Mathias  was  joined  in  matrimony  with  Mi.ss 
Betsey  Helga.  In  1857,  they  came  to  this  town- 
ship and  staked  out  a  claim  in  section  two,  which 
is  still  their  home.  Mr.  Anderson  was  Chairman 
of  the  first  board  of  Supervisors  and  the  first 
Clerk  of  School  District  No.  18.  He  is  the  father 
of  five  children,  three  boys  and  twc  girls. 

Erik  O.  Aasen  was  born  in  Norway  o:i  the  15th 
of  October,  1832,  and  learned  the  blacksmith 
trade  in  his  native  country.  In  1857,  he  emigra- 
ted to  America,  came  to  Iowa  and  resided  one 
year,  then  moved  to  this  place  and  located  in 
section  nine  which  has  since  been  his  home.  In 
1860,  he  met  with  an  accident,  one  of  his  cows 
hooking  him,  which  resulted  in  the  loss  of  his 
eyesight.  He  was  married  ou  the  25th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1870,  to  Miss  Argatta  Mark,  who  has  borne 
liim  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.     Mr. 


Aasen  has  held  town  and  school  offices  since  his 
residence  here. 

Lewis  Beach  was  born  in  New  York  on  the 
2()th  of  December,  1830.  He  was  married  ou  the 
27th  of  Septembei-,  1857,  to  Miss  Lessie  T.  Sou- 
miss  and  the  same  fall  moved  to  Michigan.  In 
the  spring  of  1858,  he  came  to  this  township  and 
was  among  the  first  settlers,  staked  out  a  claim  in 
section  eighteen  and  has  since  made  it  his  home. 
In  1863,  he  was  elected  Town  Clerk  and  held  the 
office  five  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beach  have  had 
nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  living. 

Charles  Bickford,  a  native  of  Vermont,  was 
born  in  Richford,  Franklin  county,  on  the  29th  of 
September,  1835.  He  enlisted  in  Company  A,  of 
the  Sixth  Vermont  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1864,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war,  par- 
ticipating in  seven  battles,  and  while  in  the  battle 
of  Petersburg  was  wounded.  After  his  discharge 
he  returned  to  his  home  and  remained  until  the 
spring  of  1866,  when  he  came  to  Minnesota  and 
settled  on  his  present  place  in  this  townsnip.  He 
was  married  on  the  25th  of  December,  1868,  to 
Miss  Almira  J.  Tucker.  They  have  had  six  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  living. 

Jambs  H.  Chamberlain  was  born  in  Ashford, 
Cattaraugus  county,  New  York,  on  the  1st  of 
April,  1830,  and  was  never  outside  of  his  native 
State  until  coming  to  this  State  in  1864.  He  was 
married  on  the  10th  of  March,  1850,  to  Miss 
Angeliue  Margaret  Hall.  They  have  had  nine 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain was  drafted  in  the  late  war  but  was  not  able 
to  serve.  He  came  to  Freeborn  county  and  resided 
in  Bancroft  until  1868,  when  he  moved  to  this 
township  and  has  since  made  his  home  in  section 
thirty-four,  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  his 
farm. 

Carl  Gust.avesen  is  a  native  of  Norway,  born 
ou  the  8th  of  December,  1828.  Having  a  talent 
for  music  he  devoted  consiilerable  time  to  its 
study  and  for  a  time  was  leader  of  the  '-Great 
Norway  Military  Band."  He  was  married  on  the 
26th  of  December,  1852,  to  Miss  Annie  Mortenson. 
In  1855,  they  came  to  America,  resided  in  Iowa 
until  1863,  and  then  moved  to  Manchester  in  sec- 
tion five  where  they  still  make  their  home.  Of 
seven  children  born  to  the  union,  four  are  living. 
When  first  coming  here  Mr.  Gustavesen  taught 
instrumental  music  but  since  1876  has  devoted 
!iis  time  to  farming. 


MAM'llESTEli  TOWSSllIP. 


481 


Pi0S  HuBEB  was  born  iu  Germany  on  the  5th 
of  May,  1849.  He  emigrated  to  America  in  1867, 
and  first  settled  in  Connecticut;  in  1873,  came  to 
Houston  county,  and  the  following  year  to  this 
township.  In  1876,  he  purchased  land  in  section 
twenty-one  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  to  its 
cultivation.  He  was  married  on  the  25th  of 
December,  1877,  to  Miss  Mary  Flaelmau.  They 
have  been  blessed  with  three  children. 

John  Johnson,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Man- 
chester, is  a  native  of  Norway,  and  dates  his  birth 
the  14th  of  February,  1831.  He  came  to  America 
in  1855,  and  first  settled  m  Walworth  county, 
Wisconsin.  On  the  7th  of  February,  1856,  he 
married  Miss  Esther  M.  Olson.  The  following 
year  they  removed  to  this  place  and  located  in 
section  one  where  they  have  since  devoted  their 
time  to  the  cultivation  of  the  farm.  They  have 
had  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Mr. 
Johnson  is  one  of  the  Directors  of  school  district 
No.  19. 

John  Olsbn  Jord.\hl,  deceased,  was  a  native  of 
Norway,  born  on  the  14tL  of  February,  1820.  In 
1857,  he  emigrated  to  America,  and  first  settled 
on  Washington  prairie,  in  Winneshiek  county, 
Iowa.  In  the  autumn  of  1857,  he  came  to  this 
county  and  made  a  pre-emption  in  sections  eleven, 
fourteen,  and  fifteen,  and  in  1858,  moved  his  family 
on  the  same.  He  married  in  the  spring  of  1842, 
Miss  Flora  Nelson,  and  of  thirteen  children  born 
to  the  union,  nine  are  living.  Mr.  Jordahl  died 
on  the  8th  of  October,  1871,  and  his  wife  followed 
on  the  27th  of  October,  1881. 

Ole  J.  JoKD.\HL  was  born  on  the  19tb  of  July, 
1842,  in  Norway.  He  emigrated  with  his  parents 
to  America  in  1857,  and  resided  on  Washington 
prairie  in  Winneshiek  county,  Iowa,  until  1858. 
He  then  came  to  this  township  with  the  family,  and 
inl866  bought  his  present  place,  in  section  two. 
He  was  married  on  the  3d  of  December,  1865,  to 
Miss  Anna  Johnson.  They  have  a  family  of  seven 
children.  Mr.  Jordahl  has  been  Chairman  of  the 
board  of  Supervisors  five  successive  years  and 
clerk  of  his  school  district  five  years. 

Charles  M.  Johnson  was  born  in  Norway  on 
the  20th  of  August,  1829.  He  left  his  native 
country  in  1841,  and  came  to  Amei'ica  with  his 
parents,  settling  in  Boone  county,  Illinois.  In 
1852,  he  went  to  the  gold  mines  of  California,  but 
four  years  later  returned  to  Boone  county,  where, 
on  the  20th  of  March,  1856,  he  married  Miss 
31 


Adeline  Olson.  On  the  2d  of  July,  1857,  he 
started  for  this  State,  and  located  a  claim  in  sec- 
tion twelve,  Manchester  township.  He  has  been 
road  Overseer  two  years,  and  Treasurer  of  his 
school  district  two  terms.  He  is  the  father  of  six 
children,  two  boys  and-four  girls. 

SivERT  Johnson,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
place,  was  born  in  Norway  on  the  12th  of  August, 
1807.  He  was  united  in  matrimony  on  the  13th 
of  January,  1829,  to  Miss  Anna  Peterson,  who 
bore  him  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are  still 
living.  She  died  on  the  4th  of  August,  1848,  and 
the  following  year  he  came  to  America  with  five  of 
his  childran,  two  having  died  since  coming  here. 
He  married  his  present  wife,  formerly  Annie  Paul- 
son, on  the  1st  of  January,  1849.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  with  four  children,  three  of  whom 
are  living.  When  first  coming  to  this  country 
Mr.  Johnson  settled  in  McHenry  county,  Illinois; 
in  1855,  moved  to  Butler  county,  Iowa,  and  two 
years  later  came  to  Manchester,  taking  a  farm  in 
section  twelve,  which  has  since  been  his  home. 
His  eldest  son,  Lewis  Johnson,  was  bom  on  the 
12th  of  March,  1838,  in  Norway,  and  resided  with 
his  father  until  1861.  He  was  married  on  the  8th 
of  May  in  that  year,  and  moved  to  his  farm  in 
section  two.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  Supervisors  several  terms.  He  is  the  father  of 
six  children. 

Jens  O.  Jenson  was  born  in  Norway  on  the  16th 
of  November,  1813.  He  was  married  on  the  25th 
of  December,  1832,  to  Miss  Martha  Olsdatter.  In 
1851,  he  came  with  his  family  to  America,  first 
located  in  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  remaining  in 
that  State  until  coming  here,  in  1860.  He  imme- 
diately selected  his  present  farm  in  section  twen- 
ty-four, to  which  he  has  since  devoted  his  time. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jenson  have  had  ten  children,  three 
of  whom  are  living,  one  girl  and  two  boys;  three 
of  their  sons  were  killed  in  the  army. 

Knut  Knutson  Moerttm,  a  native  of  Wisconsin, 
was  born  in  Waukesha  county,  on  the  1st  of  Octo- 
ber, 1844.  In  1855  he  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Goodhue  county  where  they  remained  one  year, 
and  in  1856,  became  pioneers  of  this  township. 
Kuute  was  married  on  the  25th  of  December, 
1873,  to  Miss  Inglebert  Oleson,  who  has  borne  him 
four  children.  His  farm  is  located  in  section  four- 
teen and  is  well  cultivated. 

Ole  K.  Morrcm  was  born  in  Norway  on  the 
14th  oi  September,  1835.     He  emigrated  to  Amer- 


482 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBOJiN  COUNTY. 


ici  in  1843,  and   settled   in   Wisconsin,  thence  in 

1857,  to  Manchester,  where  he  married  his  wife. 
Miss   Ingeborg    Peterson,  on    the   2d  of  October. 

1858.  They  have  had  ten  children,  eight  of  whom 
are  living.  Mr.  Morrum's  farm  is  in  section  thir- 
teen, and  he  is  one  of  the  Directors  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  19. 

Lewis  L.  Olson,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
place,  was  bom  in  Norway  on  the  15th  of  Octo- 
bers, 1824.  He  was  drafted  and  served  in  the 
army  in  his  native  conutry  for  five  years.  On  the 
5th  of  December,  184G,  he  married  Miss  Annie 
Helguesdatter.  In  the  spring  of  1832  they  came 
America,  and  on  the  10th  of  September  of  the 
same  year,  Mrs.  Olson  died.  Of  three  children, 
the  result  of  the  union,  one  is  living.  Mr.  Olson 
first  settled  in  Racine  county,  Wisconsin,  and 
there  married  Miss  Rangle  Deisledatter  on  the 
4th  of  July,  1854.  In  1857  they  removed  to  this 
township  and  located  their  present  farm  in  section 
thirteen.  While  in  Wisconsin  Mr.  Olson  learned 
the  blacksmith  trade,  at  which  he  was  engaged 
until  quite  recently,  he  has  devoted  his  entire 
time  to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Olson  have  been  blessed  with  seven  children. 

Ole  PETEnsoN,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  and 
a  leading  man  of  this  township,  is  a  native  of  Nor- 
way, born  on  the  16th  of  February,  1832.  He 
emigrated  to  America  in  1851,  and  settled  in 
Illinois,  first  in  Boone  and  afterward  in  Rock 
county.  On  the  20tli  of  December.  1852.  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Eliza  Gulbrandson,  and  they  have  had 
six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living.  In  1856 
Mr.  Peterson  came  to  this  county  and  selected  a 
home  in  section  fifteen,  Manchester.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  first  board  of  Supervisors,  and 
afterward  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  taking  an 
interest  in  all  local'  matters.  He  is  President  of 
the  Farmers'  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  of 
which  he  was  also  the  organizer.  In  1862  Mr. 
Peterson  enlisted  in  tlie  Fifteenth  Wisconsin  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  Company  K,  was  promoted  to 
First  Lieutenant,  and  served  one  year  when  his 
health  failed,  on  account  of  which  he  was  dis- 
charged and  returned  to  his  family,  having  since 
made  this  place  his  home. 

IvER  A.  RoDSATEU  wa8  bom  in  Norway  on  the 
18th  of  September.  1845.  He  received  a  good 
education  in  his  native  place,  and  in  1856  emi- 
grated to  America,  first  settling  in  Wisconsin. 
In  the  spiing  of  1857  he  moved  to  Worth  county, 


Iowa,  and  the  same  sommer  came  to  this  place. 
He  was  married  on  the  27th  of  October,  1867,  to 
Miss  Ingeborg  Anderson,  and  have  since  made 
their  home  in  section  ten.  Mr.  Rodsater  was 
elected  Town  Treasurer  in  1869,  served  till  1871, 
and  was  then  elected  Town  Clerk,  having  since 
held  the  offices.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
bi^ard  of  County  Commissioners  since  1877,  and 
has  held  school  offices;  has  also  been  Secretary  of 
the  Farmers'  Mutual  Insurance  Company  of  Man- 
chester since  its  organiaation.  Mr.  and  Mr.s. 
Rodsater  have  had  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living. 

S.  B.  SsiiTH,  more  familiarly  known  as  Uncle 
Sam.  is  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  and  organizers 
of  Manchester.  He  was  born  in  Renville,  Lick- 
ing county,  Ohio,  on  the  16th  of  July,  1818,  and 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Portage  county  in  the 
same  State  in  1832.  When  twenty-one  years  old  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sabra  S.  Dewey, 
the  ceremony  taking  place  on  the  16th  of  June, 
1839.  She  was  born  on  the  16th  of  December, 
1819,  in  Westfield,  Hampden  county,  Massachu- 
setts. In  1844  they  moved  from  Ohio  to  Indiana, 
and  remainad  tintil  1850,  then  resided  in  Illinois 
for  several  years.  In  the  summer  of  1857  Mr. 
Smith  came  to  Manchester,  and  has  since  been  in- 
terested in  the  improvement  of  the  town  and  of 
his  own  home.  His  wife  died  on  the  27th  of 
March,  1869.  She  bore  him  two  children;  Will- 
iam A.,  and  Helen  J.,  both  of  whom  are  now  dead. 
The  son  enlisted  on  the  18th  of  August.  1862,  in 
the  Sixth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry.  Company 
E,  and  served  his  country  until  1865;  and  the 
daughter  died  on  the  12th  of  November,  1876. 
On  the  27th  of  August,  1870,  Mr.  Smith  was 
joined  in  wedlock  to  his  present  wife,  Mrs.  Sarah 
J.  Gray.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  two 
children,  both  girls. 

Paul  J.  Spilde,  youngest  son  of  Sivert  iiiid 
Annie  .Johnson,  was  bom  in  Norway  on  tlie  24th 
of  December,  1849.  He  came  with  his  parents  to 
America  at  the  age  of  eight  months,  and  has 
always  lived  with  them,  they  now  making  their 
home  on  his  farm  in  section  twelve.  He  was 
joined  in  matrimony  on  the  29th  of  January,  1874, 
to  Syneva  Guttormson,  who  has  borne  him  four 
children,  three  boys  and  one  girl.  Mr.  Spilde  is 
one  of  the  Directors  of  his  school  district. 

John  Sippei,,  deceased,  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, born  on  the  28th  of  September,  1807.     He 


MANCUKSrEB  TOWNSIITP. 


483 


was  married  on  the  26th  of  June,  1838,  to  Miss 
Margaret  Wenzel.  The  result  of  the  union  was 
ten  children,  eight  of  whom  are  still  living.  Mr. 
Sippel  brought  his  family  to  America  in  1855, 
lived  for  three  years  in  Wisconsin  and  in  June, 
1858,  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  place, 
staking  out  a  claim  in  section  twenty-seven.  He 
died  on  the  27th  of  May,  1871.  His  son  Dennes 
Sippel  was  born  in  Germany  on  the  27th  of  July, 
1845,  and  now  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  Hi- 
was  joined  in  matrimony  on  the  4th  of  May,  1871, 
to  Miss  Ida  Tida  and  they  have  had  six  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living. 

Gtinne  Thykeson,  who  built  the  first  log  house 
in  this  place,  was  born  in  Norway  on  the  22d  of 
March,  1832.  He  was  united  in  marriage  on  the 
1st  of  May,  1853,  with  Miss  Singa  Olson,  and  the 
same  year  they  came  to  America.  They  resided 
in  Winneshiek  county,  Iowa,  until  coming  to  this 
place  in  1856,  taking  a  claim  in  section  nine, 
which  is  still  their  home.  They  have  had  eight 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living. 

RoLLOP  Thykeson,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
place,  was  born  in  Norway  on  the  27th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1837.  In  1852,  he  came  to  America  and 
directly  to  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
remained  until  1854,  then  moved  to  Winneshiek 
county,  Iowa.  In  1856,  he  came  to  Manchester 
and  staked  out  a  claim  in  section  fifteen  upon 
which  he  lived  several  years,  then  moved  to  his 
present  home  in  section  sixteen.  On  the  20th  of 
January,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Fifteenth  Wis 
consin  Volunteer  Infantry,  Company  K,  and 
served  till  the  close  of  the  war,  having  partici- 
pated in  four  battles.  After  his  discharge  he 
returned  to  bis  farm  in  this  place,  and  on  the  25th 


of  July,  1866,  married  Miss  Annie  ElUngson.  Of 
nine  children  born  to  this  union,  eight  are  living. 
Mr.  Thykeson  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of 
Supervisors  several  times  and  has  held  school 
offices. 

O.  J.  Taylor,  a  native  of  New  York,  was  born 
in  Hamburgh,  Erie  county,  on  the  2l8t  of  March, 
1832.  In  1845,  he  'jioved  with  his  parents  to 
Milwaukee,Wi8consin,  where  he  grew  to  manhood, 
and  on  the  15th  of  August,  1862,  enlisted  in  the 
Twenty-second  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry, 
Company  C.  He  was  in  several  important 
engagements  and  returned  to  his  home  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  without  a  scratch,  having  received 
an  honorable  discharge.  Before  entering  the 
army,  on  the  6th  of  February,  1860,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Emily  A.  Gibson  and  they  have  been 
blessed  with  one  child,  Ervin  O.  Mr.  Taylor  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  place  several  years,  his 
farm  being  located  in  section  thirty-five. 

Sevebt  Thoreson,  a  native  of  Norway,  was 
born  on  the  14th  of  November,  1849.  He  came 
with  his  parents  to  America  when  five  years  old 
and  settled  on  Jefferson  prairie  in  Boone  county, 
Illinois.  On  the  12th  of  August,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  M,  of  the  Twelfth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war,  par- 
ticipating in  a  few  small  skirmishes.  In  1866,  he 
removed  to  Iowa,  which  State  he  made  his  home 
two  years,  then  came  to  Manchester  and  selected 
a  farm  in  section  nine.  He  was  married  on  the 
30th  of  May,  1869,  to  Betsy,  widow  of  Halver 
Peterson,  and  the  mother  of  four  children.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Thoreson  have  had  six  children.  He  is 
at  present  Postmaster  and  has  held  other  local 
offices. 


484 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  GOUNTY. 


MANSFIELD, 


CHAPLER  LXVI. 

DESCRIPTIVE — EARLY  SETTLEMENT — EVENTS    OF    IN- 
TEREST   POLITICAL STATISTICAL — SCHOOLS — 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

The  townshij)  bearing  this  old,  time  ht)Uored 
name,  receiving  it,  as  did  so  many  towns  through- 
out the  United  Kingdom,  in  honor  of  Lord  Mans- 
field, is  a  full  congressional  township  embracing 
the  territory  of  Town  101,  Range  23.  It  is  the 
southwestern  subdivision  of  Freeborn  county,  its 
contiguous  surroundings  being,  Alden  on  the 
nortli;  Nunda  on  the  east;  Faribault  county  on 
the  west;  and  the  state  of  Iowa  on  the  south. 

As  to  the  surface  and  physical  features,  not 
much  can  be  said  of  this  that  would  not  readilj' 
apply  to  almost  any  other  prairie  town,  and  this 
is  one  in  the  full  sense  of  the  word.  However, 
there  are  a  few  patches  of  timber  here,  the  most 
of  which  is  domestic,  and  located  mostly  in  sec- 
tions seven,  eight,  ten,  and  thirty- six.  The  north- 
western part  of  the  town  is  high  and  rolling,  furn- 
ishing some  of  the  finest  farming  land  immagin- 
able;  but,  as  you  go  southward  and  to  the  east  it 
becomes  more  level  and  low,  with  numerous 
marshes  and  sloughs,  which  makes  the  locality 
less  valuable  for  farming  and  agricultural  pur- 
poses, although  there  are  many  fine  farms  in  this 
as  well  as  other  portions  of  the  town.  In  the  ex- 
treme southeastern  corner,  a  ridge  of  high  land 
abruptly  pushes  its  way  through  the  surface  of 
the  prairie,  which  inaugurates  the  area  of  the 
tableland,  commeucing  here  and  extending  east- 
ward through  Nunda  and  other  towns. 

The  soil  is  a  dark  loam,  with  a  subsoil  of  sand 
and  gravel,  as  a  rule;  but  this  is  not  invariable, 
for  in  places  a  marked  tendency  to  a  lighter  na- 
ture is  visible,  with  a  clayey  subsoil. 

Mansfield  has  no  lakes  within  its  borders,  nor 
has  it  any  streams  of  much  importance.  The 
largest  in  the  township  is  Steward's  Creek,  which 


rises  in  Alden  and  crossing  a  corner  of  section  two 
passes  through  the  center  of  section  one  and 
twelve,  forming  a  miniature  lake  in  section  one. 
ti>uches  a  corner  of  thirteen  and  leaves  the  town 
on  its  way  to  Bear  Lake,  in  Nunda.  Lime  Creek 
crosses  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  township. 
Another  small  stream,  not  as  yet  dignified  with  a 
name  upon  the  map,  rises  in  section  eight,  and 
Howing  northward  through  section  five,  leave.-!  the 
town  and  enters  Alden. 

The  geologicil  and  natural  history  survey  of 
county  of  Freeborn,  by  N.  H.  Wiuchell,  State 
Geologist,  published  in  187.5,  says  of  Mansfield:  — 
"This  town  is  nearly  all  prairie,  a  small  patch  of 
oak  openings  ooeuring  in  sections  three,  ten,  and 
fifteen.  The  northwestern  part  of  the  township  is 
rolling,  and  the  southeastern  is  level  and  wet  with 
marshes. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  earliest  steps  leadings  to  the  founding  and 
subsequent  development  of  this  thriving  town- 
ship commenced  early  in  1856,  which  was  about 
the  time  that  the  w'estern  fever  actually  set  in,  and 
found  root  in  the  minds  of  the  eastern  people. 

The  first  settlers  in  Mansfield  were  the  Tunell 
brothers,  John  and  Henry,  who  came  from  Illinois 
by  the  way  of  Iowa,  with  their  families,  and  with 
teams,  arriving  on  the  23d  of  June,  1856,  and  lo- 
cating on  section  eight.  Here  John  remained 
until  1873,  when  he  went  to  Oregon,  where  he 
now  resides  with  his  family ;  while  Henry  still 
occupies  the  place  he  originally  secured  in  section 
eight,  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  both 
town  and  county.  These  brothers  brought  with 
them  about  one  hundred  head  of  cattle,  and 
shortly  after  their  arrival  commenced  putting  up 
hav,  seiuring  enough  to  carry  them  safely  through 
the  winter;  but  a  prairie  fire  came  rolling  along 
and  destroyed  all  the  fruits  of  their  labor.  For  a 
time  the  prospect  looked   seriously  dubious,  but 


UAXS FIELD  TOM-ysHIP. 


485 


they  finally  managed  to  purchase  enough  hay 
from  parties  in  Iowa  to  title  them  over  the  winter, 
without  a  loss  of  more  than  half  their  stock,  as 
the  poor  brut.es  suffered  considerable  from  the 
severe  cold  and  deep  snow. 

Shortly  after  these  parties  made  their  appear- 
ance, Henry  Schmidt  and  Henry  Jahnke  arrived 
and  secured  tracts  of  the  government  domain; 
Henry  Schmidt  located  on  section  ten,  where  he 
remained  until  that  insatiable  enemy  of  immortal- 
ity, Death,  called  him  hence.  Mr.  Jahnke  made 
himself  at  home  in  section  ten,  and  still  holds 
forth  there,  a  prosperous  and  prominent  farmer. 

After  this  there  were  no  arrivals  for  some  time, 
but  gradually  the  attention  of  incomers  was 
turned  this  way,  and  the  government  land  began 
to  disappear.  Messrs.  Stenvaldson  and  Kittleson, 
natives  of  Norway,  came  in  and  located  where 
they  still  live,  on  valuable  farms  in  section  fifteen. 
Shortly  after  this  we  notice  the  arrivals  of  a  num- 
ber of  additions  to  this  littlement  of  Norwegians; 
H.  Knutson,  Nels  Nelson,  John  Kraiis  Haar,  and 
others  who  are  yet  occupying  their  places. 

VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  first  birth  in  the  township 
was  the  minor  arrival  of  Louisa  Schmidt,  on  tlie 
10th  of  October,  1856. 

Among,  if  not  the  very  first  marriages  in  the 
township,  occurred  in  1864,  and  united  August 
Heintz  and  Miss  Louisa  Yost  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony. 

The  first  death  of  a  matured  person  was  the 
demise  of  Mrs.  Henry  Schmidt,  who  was  called 
away  on  the  20th  day  of  December,  1862.  She 
was  first  buried  on  the  farm,  but  her  remains 
■were  subsequently  removed  to  the  Mansfield 
cemetery. 

The  first  religious  services  in  the  township 
were  held  in  1859,  by  Eev.  Mr.  Smith,  an  itiner- 
ant preacher  from  New  Ulm. 

MANSFIELD  POST-OFFICE. 

This  luxury  was  established  about  1875,  the 
first  Postmaster  being  Mr.  James  M.  Emerson, 
who  held  the  office  until  the  8th  of  March,  1878, 
when  the  present  Postmaster,  Henry  J.  Smith, 
was  commissioned  to  handle  the  mail,  and  still 
acts  in  that  capacity.  The  location  of  the  office 
is  at  the  Postmaster's  house  in  section  ten,  and  it 
supplies  a  ^ood  area  of  country  with  its  postal 
matter,  proving    a   great  convenience  to    the  far- 


mers, who  would  otherwise  be  obliged  to  go  out 
of  the  township  for  the  news  from  friends. 

Lutheran  Church.  —This  society  effected  an 
organization  as  early  as  1874,  and  in  that  year 
they  erected  a  neat  and  commodious  church  edi- 
fice in  the  southeastern  corner  of  section  thirty- 
six,  at  a  cost  of  about  |.3,300.  The  denomination 
belongs  to  the  conference  of  Blinnesota.  Their 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  B.  B.  Gelduger,  who  was 
succeeded  by  Eev.  Mr.  Nelson,  and  next  came 
the  present  officiating  clergyman,  Rev.  Mr.  Ostrop. 
It  is  one  of  the  strongest  societies  in  Freeborn 
county,  having  about  three  hundred  members. 

There  is  a  cemetery  in  connection  with  this 
church,  located  just  south  of  it,  on  a  high  spot 
of  land,  which  contains  about  thirty  graves.  This 
was  laid  out  about  the  time  of  the  organization 
of  the  society,  and  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
grounds  for  the  purpose  in  Mansfield. 

Mansfield  Cemetery. — This  burial  ground  is 
located  in  the  northeastern  part  of  section  sixteen, 
containing  one  acre,  which  is  neatly  fenced  and 
well  improved.  This  "village  ot  the  dead  "con- 
tains many  members  of  the  earliest  settlers  in 
Mansfield,  and  among  the  gleaming  head  boards 
we  see  the  epitaph  of  the  father  of  Henry  Tunell, 
one  of  the  first  and  most  honored  settlers. 

POLITICAL. 

In  earlier  days  Mansfield  was  merged  into  sur- 
rounding towns  for  local  government,  and  the 
records  of  it  as  a  separate  organization  do  not 
commence  until  1866,  when  they  state  that  the 
first  meeting  was  held  in  Henry  Schmidt's  house. 

The  first  officers  elected  were:  Supervisors, 
Henry  Tunell,  Chairman,  John  Kraus  Haar,  and 
John  B.  Oleson;  Clerk,  John  Tunell;  Assessor, 
Nicholas  Stenoldson;  Treasurer,  John  Tunell. 
At  present,  meetings  are  held  in  the  schoolhouses 
throughout  the  town. 

Mansfield  has  always  been  in  good  hands,  so 
far  as  its  officials  are  concerned,  and  public  mat- 
ters have  been  attended  to  with  a  zeal  and 
honesty  that  is  indeed  commendable;  it  is  out  of 
debt,  has  voted  S400  for  road  and  bridge  fund, 
and  has  never  voted  any  railroad  bonds  to  beggar 
the  people  and  enrich  monopolists. 

STATISTICAL. 

We  will  say,  as  an  introductory  remark  to  this 
article,  that,  as  a  rule,  statistics  are  rather  dry 
reading  to  one  who  is  merely  perusing  a  work  for 


486 


HISTORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


pastime,  as  they  go  too  much  into  fine  detail  to 
suit  mere  fancy;  but  to  one  who  is  searching  for 
facts  coaoerning  a  locality  which  he  has  in  con- 
templation for  a  future  home,  they  are  everything 
and  all  important.  They  determine  for  him  with 
accuracy  the  resources  of  a  country;  the  class  of 
people  with  wliich  it  is  settled,  giving  the  amount 
of  their  productions,  and  they  are  indisputable. 
In  fact,  all  vital  matters  concerning  the  wealth, 
prosperity,  and  welfare  of  a  locality  are  embodied 
in  a  careful  summing  up  of  the  statistics  of  values, 
cultivation,  and  prt>dnction.  We  have,  therefore, 
compiled  a  statement  of  such  for  this  township, 
taken  from  the  County  Auditor's  report  to  the 
commissioner  of  statistics  of  Minnesota  for  1882, 
and  elsewhere,  which  we  herewith  present.  It 
must  be  remembered  that  although  the  report 
was  made  in  the  year  1882,  the  acreage  and  num- 
ber of  bushels  raised  was  in  the  year  1881. 

Wheat— 1,844  acres,  yielding  22,611  bushels; 
average  12.25  bushels  per  acre. 

Oats — 399  acres,  yielding  12,162  bushels;  about 
33  bushels  per  acre. 

Corn— 534  acres,  yielding  19,480  bushels;  363^ 
bushels  per  acre. 

Barley — 33  acres,  yielding  740  bushels;  22i-'2 
per  acre. 

Potatoes— 29  acres,  yielding  3,075  bushels;  106 
per  acre. 

Sugar  cane — 51^  acres,  yielding  670  gallons  of 
syrup;  127  gallons  per  acre.     No  sugar  reported. 

Hay — 30  acres,  yielding  60  tons;  per  acre,  two 
tons.     Wild  hay,  1,230  tons. 

Other  products,  about  five  acres. 

Total  number  of  acres  cultivated  in  1881,  2,879. 

Apples — 867  growing  trees,  141  bearing;  yield- 
ing 20  bushels. 

Sheep — 82  sheared,  yielding  292  pounds 
of  wool;  over  three  pounds  and  a  half  per  head. 

Dairy — 210  cows,  yielding  10,800  pounds: 
averaging  over  fifty  pounds  each.  No  cheese 
reported. 

Bees  and  honey — 3  hives,  yielding  12  pounds 
of  honey. 

This  closes  the  report  for  the  year  1881.  Prom 
the  report  of  Assessors,  for  the  j^rcsent  year,  1882, 
we  have  gleaned  the  following  which  wiU  be  of 
interest : 

The  Year  1882.— Acreage  sown  to  wheat,  1,801 ; 
oats,  423;  corn,  834;  barley,  22;  rye,  1;  potatoes, 
35>^;  sugar  cane,  3)^;  cultivated  hay,   30;  other 


I  produce,  3.     Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1882 — 

I  3,2]  3. 

Other  items  for  the  same  year:  growing  apple 
trees,  1,162;  bearing  apple  trees,  406;  grape  vines 
in  bearing,  13;  milch  cows,  205;  sheep,  229;  wool, 
807;  whole  number  of  farms  reported,  35. 

FoiTLATiox. — In  the  year  1860,  the  population 
of  Mansfield  may  be  said  to  be  almost  nothing. 
In  1870,  the  census  report  gives  it  379,  and  at 
the  last  census,  in  1880,  we  find  the  ))opulation  to 
be  552;  showing  an  increase  in  ten  years  of  173. 

;  SCHOOLS. 

Educational  facilities  in  Mansfield  are  up  to  the 
average  of  towns  in   the   count}',   having  six  dis- 
'   tricts,  all  in  good  condition   and  well  managed. 
If  the  territory  were  equally  divided  in  the  town- 
ship, this  would  give  an  area  of  six  square  miles  ' 
to  each  educational   sub-division.     The  districts, 
,   with  numbers  and    location  of  sehoolhouses,  are 
,   as  follows:     No.  41,  building   in  section  thirty- 
two;  No.  74,   in  section  two;  No.   84,   in  section 
twenty-six;  No.  86,  in  section  thirty -five;  No.  87, 
in  section  eight;  No.  92,  in  section  ten.     Below  is 
given  a  short  sketch  of  the  organization,  growth, 
and  present  condition  of  the  various  districts. 

District  No.  41. — Embraces  the  territory  lying 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  township.  It  was 
organized  at  an  early  day,  but  as  to  the  actual 
date  there  are  many  confiictiug  reports,  and  as  we 
have  failed  in  seeing  the  records  we  cannot  here 
decide  the  question;  but,  it  is  certain,  however, 
that  about  the  year  1872  their  schoolhouse  was 
erected  in  the  northern  part  of  section  thirty-two, 
at  a  cost  of  about  .$100,  the  size  of  it  being  12x16. 
The  first  school  was  instructed  by  Miss  Hattie 
Coblett,  to  nine  scholars.  The  attendance  at  the 
present  time  is  sixteen. 

District  No.  74. — Effected  an  organization 
about  1870,  and  held  school  in  the  private  resi- 
dence of  John  Kraus  Haar  in  section  two,  with  Miss 
Bhoda  Gripman  as  teacher  and  twelve  pupils  to 
answer  the  roll  call.  In  1872  their  schoolhouse 
was  erected  in  the  southwestern  corner  of  section 
two  at  a  cost  of  S!!400.  the  size  of  which  is  18x30. 
The  school  has  not  increased  much  in  numerical 
strength. 

District  No.  84. — This  district  commenced  its 
existence  by  erecting  a  school  edifice  in  section 
twenty-six,  the  size  of  which  is  16x24  and  cost 
$300.  The  first  teacher  was  C.  H.  Emmons  with 
an    attendance  of  about   twenty-five,   which   has 


MANSFIELD  TOWNSHIP. 


487 


increased  to  about  thirty-five  pupils.  This  dis- 
trict embraces  the  territory  southwest  of  the  center 
of  the  townshij^. 

District  No.  86. — Effected  an  organization  in 
1872,  the  first  school  being  taught  in  Mr.  Hellek 
Knudson's  house  in  section  thirty-six,  the  teacher 
being  Miss  Jennie  L.  Eomanson,  with  twenty-five 
students  present.  In  the  year  1874,  two  years 
after  organization,  the  school  building  now  in 
use  was  erected  in  the  southeastern  cornet  of  sec- 
tion thirty-five,  at  a  cost  of  about  .f  200,  the  size 
being  18x24.  This  district  is  really  a  union  one, 
as  it  embraces  as  part  of  its  territory  several  sec- 
tions in  the  state  of  Iowa. 

DiSTEiCT  No  87. — It  is  claimed  by  .some  that 
this  educational  subdivision  came  into  existence 
in  the  year  1867;  and  the  first  school  was  taught 
by  Miss  Ivey  Thomas  in  John  Tunnell's  residence 
with  fourteen  pupils  present.  The  following  year 
their  school  edifice  was  erected  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  section  eight,  size  16x24  at  a  cost  of  S400. 
The  lumber  from  'this  house  was  hauled  from 
Austin. 

District  No.  92. — This  district  is  presumed  to 
have  been  organized  about  1875,  for  in  that  year 
we  find  their  school  house  was  erected  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  section  ten,  at  a  cost  of  .S400, 
size  18x24.  Mr.  Ambrus  Morey  was  the  first 
teacher,  to  an  enrollment  of  twenty-one  scholars. 
The  district  is  in  good  condition  and  now  has  an 
attendance  of  about  twenty -five. 

BIOGKAPHICAI/. 

BEN.IAMIN  H.  Dillingham  was  born  in  Maine 
on  the  27th  of  December,  1841.  He  was  raised 
on  a  farm  and  attended  the  Friends'  Seminary,  lo- 
cated in  Providence,  Rhode  Island.  In  1862,  he 
was  joined  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma  J.  Mc- 
Curdy,  who  was  born  in  his^native  State.  They 
came  to  Iowa  in  1866,  and  engaged  in  farmfng 
three  years,  since  which  time  Mansfield  has  been 
their  home,  taking  a  quarter  in  section  thirty -two. 
Their  children  are,  Henry  E.,  James  S.,  Charles 
H.,  Oliver  E.,  George  A.,  Mary  F.,  Millard  F., 
Lilian,  and  an  infant  not  named.  Mr.  Dillingham 
takes  a  deep  interest  in  educational  matters,  was 
one  of  the  leading  men  in  starting  the  public 
schools  in  this  place  and  has  been  Clerk  of  the 
school  board  eight  successive  years. 

John  Kbaus  Haab,  an  old  settler  in  this  place, 
is  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  the  village  of 
Shlenklfeldt,  near  Frankfurt-on-the-Main,  on  the 


15th  of  April,  1817.  He  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  the  village,  and  when 
fourteen  years  old  began  the  trade  of  a  cabinet- 
maker, and  after  four  years  at  the  same  was  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  the  celebrated  Kraus 
Haar  pianos  and  organs.  In  1842  he  came  to 
America,  located  in  Erie  county,  Ohio,  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  two  years,  then  to  Berlin  Centre, 
and  afterward  to  Litchfield,  Michigan.  In  1844 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Beck.  After  some 
years  at  his  trade  in  the  latter  place  his  health 
failed  and  he  came  to  Kock  county,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  resided  on  a  farm  five  years  and  then 
moved  to  Mitchell  county,  Iowa.  Since  1863,  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  place,  taking  land  in 
section  two.  He  is  a  respected  citizen,  has  always 
taken  an  active  part  in  all  school  and  local  mat- 
ters, and  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
township,  having  since  held  a  number  of  the 
principal  town  offices.  His  children  are  George 
H.,  Mary  L.,  Samuel  H.,  Elizabeth  C,  Isaac  N., 
John  C,  and  Sarah  M. 

William  Jost  was  born  in  Waldeck,  Germany , 
on  the  27th  of  August,  1842.  In  1864,^he  came 
with  his  parents  to  America,  and  directly  to  Min- 
nesota, locating  in  section  nine,  Mansfield.  He 
now  owns  two  hundred  and  eighty-four  acres, 
about  half  of  which  is  under  cultivation,  having 
a  good  house  and  barn.  In  1870  he  was  joined 
in  matrimony  with  Miss  Caroline  Frese,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Germany.  They  have  five  children;  Fred- 
eric, Fredrica,  Mary,  Augusta,  and  Emma.  Mr. 
Jost's  father  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
two  years,  and  his  mother  still  lives,  aged  seventy- 
two. 

Henry  Jahnke,  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
Mansfield,  is  a  native  of  Meoklinburg,  Germany, 
born  on  the  1st  of  August,  1822.  He  there  grew 
to  manhood,  attending  school,  and  in  1852  came 
to  America,  first  locating  in  Illinois.  He  was 
married  in  1852  to  Miss  Mary  Miller.  Two  years 
later  they  came  to  this  township,  and  under  the 
homestead  law  took  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  sections  three  aad  ten,  which  is  still  their  home, 
having  a  desirable  farm  well  cultivated.  Mr.  amd 
Mrs.  Jahnke  have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living,  John,  Mary,  Christ,  Mina,  and  Louisa. 

Valentine  Katzdng,  a  native  of  Germany,  was 
born  on  the  6th  of  January,  1844.  When  eleven 
years  of  age  he  came  with  his  parents  to  America 
and  located  on   a   farm  in    Rockford,  111.     1  rom 


488 


HTSTORY  OF  FREE  BORN  COUNTY. 


thenoe  thev  moved  to  Kilbonrn  City,  Wisconsin, 
and  shortly  after  cume  to  Minnesota  and  located 
in  Blue  Earth  City.  In  1864  Valentine  enlisted  in 
Company  F,  of  the  First  Minnesota  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, was  in  the  service  one  year  and  then  honora- 
bly discharged.  In  1867  he  married  Miss  Christiana 
Yost,  who  was  also  born  in  Germany.  They  have 
a  family  of  seven  children;  August,  Edward, 
William,  Ferdinand,  Herman,  Bertha,  and  Erncs- 
tina.  Mr.  Katzimg's  farm  is  situated  in  section 
nine. 

D.\viD  Lavai.I;E,  one  of  the  old  and  substantial 
citizens  of  this  place,  was  born  near  Lake  Cham- 
plain  in  Canada  in  1839,  He  grew  to  manhood 
in  his  native  place  and  in  1860,  married  Miss 
Louisa  Pearmsolt,  who  was  also  raised  in  Canada. 
In  1865,  Mr.  Lavalle  came  west  and  three  years 
later  located  in  Mansfield,  upon  the  farm  which 
is  still  his  home.  He  has  a  family  of  six  children; 
Elizabeth,  David,  Milda,  Hulda,  Eva,  and  John 
O.  His  father,  PaulL.  Lavalle,  lives  with  him  and 
is  a  well  perserved  man  of  seventy-three  years, 
enjoying  the  comforts  of  life  with  his  children's 
children. 

John  Niebuhr  was  bom  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
on  the  22d  of  November,  1828.  He  received  his 
education  there  and  in  1864,  married  Miss 
Catharine  King.  They  emigrated  to  America  in 
1872,  coming  directly  to  this  place  and  locating 
in  section  seventeen  which  is  still  their  home. 
Mr.  Niebuhr  now  owns  five  hundred  and  seventv 
acres  of  land,  about  half  being  under  cultivation, 
and  has  one  of  the  largest  dwelling  houses  in  the 
place.  He  is  an  energetic  farmer,  keeping  a  fine 
lot  of  stock  and  also  raising  small  grain  He  has 
a  family  of  ten  children;  Dora,  Mary,  Eliza,  Kate, 
Henry,  William,  Louisa,  Maggie,  Minnie,  and 
George. 

Rev.  p.  G.  Ostbt  was  born  in  Trysil,  Norway, 
on  the  12th  of  August,  18.36.  He  received  a  good 
education  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  commenced 
teaching  school,  and  after  two  years  entered  a 
high  school,  similar  to  our  Normal  schools,  where 
he  remained  two  years,  then  returned  to  teaching. 
In  1868,  he  came  to  America  and  attended  the 
College  at  Paxton,  Illinois,  and  afterward  at 
Marshall,  Wisconsin,  where  he  passed  a  theologi- 
cal course  and  was  ordained  as  a  Lutheran  minis- 
ter. He  was  Chaplain  for  C.  L.  Clausun  at  Ht 
Ansgar,  Iowa,  for  one  year,  then  moved  to  Austin, 
Minnesota,    and    was    pastor   of  the   Norwegian 


Lutheran  church  there  for  seven  years.  In  1871, 
he  married  Miss  Garo  B.  Thoruby,  and  they  have 
a  family  of  five  boys;  Johannas  G.,  Bernhard  I., 
Paul  I.  D.,  Selmar  O.,  and  James  ().  C.  In  1878, 
Mr-  Ostby  came  to  Mansfield  as  pastor  of  the 
Lutheran  Cliurch  of  this  place,  and  through  his 
energy  and  benevolence  it  is  now  in  a  prosperous 
condition. 

Ole  I.  Opdahi,  was  born  near  Bergen,  Norway, 
on  the  5th  of  January,  1853,  and  came  with  his 
his  parents  to  America  in  1865.  After  a  residence 
of  a  short  time  in  Iowa  the  family  removed  to 
Minnesota  and  located  in  Nunda.  In  1874,  Ole 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Betsy  David- 
son, also  a  native  of  Norway,  and  the  same  year 
came  to  Mansfield,  buying  land  in  section  eleven 
which  has  since  been  their  home.  Mr.  Opdahi 
takes  an  active  part  in  the  advancement  of  educa- 
tion, has  held  school  offices  and  was  a  member  of 
the  board  of  Supervisors  three  years.  His  farm 
now  contains  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  and 
is  well  improved.  He  has  five  children ;  Louisa, 
Emma,  GiUa,  Eva,  and  David. 

Alexandeu  Peterson  was  born  in  Uddevalla, 
Sweden,  on  the  8th  of  August,  182i).  At  the  age 
of  fifteen  he  went  to  Norway  where  he  received  a 
good  education.  He  was  married  in  1853,  to  Miss 
Enger  Serena  Norby,  a  native  of  Norway.  In 
1864,  they  came  to  America  and  resided  in  Iowa 
for  three  years,  then  moved  to  this  place,  settling 
in  section  twenty-four.  His  farm  now  contains 
two  hundred  acres  of  well  improved  land.  Mr. 
Peterson  is  always  intcrestetl  in  local  matters  and 
has  held  difl'ereut  offices,  is  at  present  Town  Clerk 
and  also  school  clerk.  His  children  are;  Mary, 
Hanna,  Caroline,  Carl,  Peter,  Otto,  and  Alphons. 

Hiram  M.  Pettit  was  born  in  Crawford  county, 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  18th  of  July,  1833.  He  was 
raised  on  a  farm,  and  in  1853,  came  we.st  to  Iowa, 
where  he  resided  two  years,  then  located  in  Min- 
nesota, but  returned  to  Iowa  in  a  few  years.  He 
was  joined  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Elisif  Dibble 
in  1859.  In  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  Company  I,  and 
after  a  campaign  through  to  Mississippi,  was  tak- 
en sick  and  confined  in  the  hospital  at  Jackson, 
Tennessee,  five  months,  after  which  he  was  honor- 
ably discharged.  In  1864,  he  entered  land  in 
section  one,  Mansfi(>ld,  and  now  has  it  nearly  all 
under  cultivation,  making  a  good  home.  He  has 
filled  a  number  of  school  and  town  offices.      Mr. 


MOSCOW  TOWNSHIP. 


489 


aud  Mrs.  Pettit  have  four  ehildren;  Edison,  Hud- 
son, Elmer,  and  Mary. 

HiEAM  J.  Steward,  a  native  of  Maine,  was 
born  near  Bangor,  on  the  2l3t  of  September, 
1831.  At  the  early  age  of  twelve  years  he  began 
working  by  the  day,  following  the  lumber  busi- 
ness twelve  years.  In  1855,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Steward,  who  was  also  born  in 
Maine,  and  they  settled  on  a  farm  near  Saint  Al- 
bans. In  1862,  Mr.  Steward  enlisted  in  the 
Twenty-second  Maine  Volunteer  Infantry,  Compa- 
ny K,  went  New  Orleans  and  at  the  battle  of  Port 
Hudson,  June  13th,  1862,  was  wounded  in  the 
right  knee  where  the  buckshot  still  remains.  Aft- 
er a  service  of  eleven  months,  he  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge  and  returned  to  his  home.  In 
1806,  he  came  west  to  Iowa,  remained  three  years 
and  then  came  to  Minnesota,  taking  land  in  sec- 
tion twelve  where  he  still  lesides.  He  has  a  fine 
farm,  and  the  tidy  appearance  of  his  home  gives 
evidence  of  his  eastern  education  and  habits.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Steward  have  three  children;  PhedoraC, 
Lizzie  M.,  and  Hiram  H. 

Henkt  J.  Schmidt  was  born  near  Joliet,  Illinois, 
on  the  26th  of  August,  1853,  and  when  three 
years  old  came  to  Mansfield  with  his  parents  who 
were  among  the  first  settlers  in  this  place.  Henry 
was  married  in  1878,  to  Miss  Caroline  Leonhardi, 
also  a  native  of  Illinois.  They  have  had  two 
children;  Henry  and    Arthur,  the  former    having 


died  when  one  year  old,  and  tlie  latter  on  the  23d 
of  September,  1882.  Their  farm  contains  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  with  the  greater  portion 
under  cultivation.  Mr.  Schmidt  has  been  school 
Clerk  six  years,  Town  Treasurer  four  years,  Post- 
master for  a  time,  and  is  at  present  Treasurer  of 
the  school  district.  His  parents  are  both  dead, 
his  mother  having  died  when  thirty-eight  years 
old,  and  his  father  at  the  age  of  sixty -seven. 

Henry  Tunedl  was  born  the  29th  of  June, 
1826,  near  Hanover,  Germany.  When  seventeen 
years  old  he  enlisted  in  the  army  as  a  Volunteer, 
serving  seven  years  and  one  mouth.  In  1850  he 
married  Miss  Dora  Olmyer  and  the  same  year 
emigrated  to  America.  They  located  near  Bloom- 
ing Grove,  Illinois,  and  after  farming  there  six 
years,  came  to  Minnesota,  settling  in  Mansfield  on 
section  eight,  where  he  has  a  farm  of  four  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  all  cultivated.  He  has 
eight  children;  William  0.,  Henry  J.,  Charles, 
George  J.,  Alvina  D.,  Gustavus,  Robert,  and  Ed- 
ward, all  of  whom  are  grown.  Mr.  Tunell  is  one 
of  the  intiuential  citizens  of  this  place;  has  been  in 
the  Legislature  two  terms;  Chairman  of  the  board 
of  Supervisors  fifteen  years;  school  Director  ten 
years,  and  Clerk  of  the,  school  board  of  Trustees. 
After  the  Sioux  Massacre  in  1863,  he  was  com- 
missioned Captain  of  a  Militia  company  for  home 
protection. 


MOSCOW. 


CHAPTER  LXVII. 

Location  and  topography — early  settlement — 

THE     honored    dead — STATISTICS RELIGIOUS — 

VILLAGE  OF  MOSCOW — SUMNER  VILLAGE EVENTS 

OF     INTEREST MANDPACTUBINO,    SOCIETIES,    ETC. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

This  is  one  of  the  eastern  towns  in  Freeborn 
county;  one  lying  between  it  and  the  northern 
boundary.  Its  contiguous  surroundings  are  as 
follows:  Mower  county  on  the  east;  Oakland  on 
the  south;  Riceland  on   the  west;  and  Newry  on 


the  north.  Moscow  is  a  full  congressional  town- 
ship of  thirty-six  sections  or  square  miles,  con- 
taining 23,040  acres. 

The  greater  part  of  the  township  is  what  is 
called  burr  oak  opening  land,  that  is,  small  patches 
of  burr  and  black  oak  timber,  interpersed  with 
natural  meadows  and  prairies.  Along  the  Turtle 
Creek,  in  sections  seven,  eight,  seventeen,  eight- 
een, twenty-one,  and  twenty-two,  considerable 
heavy  timber  is  found,  among  the  varieties  being 
white,  red,  and  burr  oak,  white  and  black  ash, 
bass  and  elm,  and  on  section  twenty-six  there  was 


■100 


iiisniny  of  freehokn  county 


■A  fine  growth  of  heavy    oak   timber,  where    the 
first  claim  in  the  township  was  taken. 

Turtle  Creek  is  the  princijjal  water  course  in 
the  town,  entering  from  Ricelaml  by  way  of  sec- 
tions seven  and  eighteen,  ami  taking  a  southeast- 
erly course,  eroasos  the  town  and  leaves  through 
section  thirty-six  to  enter  Mower  county.  This 
stream  furnishes  an  excellent  water-power  in  sec- 
tion twei,ty-two,  which  has  been  improved  to 
some  extent,  and  greater  improvement  is  now  in 
contemplation  and  will  probably  be  carried  out. 
Deer  Creek  is  a  small  stream  whiee  rises  in  Newry, 
and  taking  a  southerly  course,  makes  a  conH\i 
ence  with  the  Turtle  in  section  eighteen. 

The  soil  is  a  clayey  loam,  dark  in  places 
and  again  of  a  lighter  nature,  with  a  tendency  to 
sandiness  in  many  places.  It  is  well  adapted  to 
agricultural  purposes,  and  is  productive  if  prop- 
erly tilled. 

e.\rijT  settlement. 

Tliere  seems  to  be  a  preponderance  of  testi- 
mony that  the  first  claim  in  the  township  was 
taken  in  May.  185.5,  by  a  man  named  Nathan 
Hunt,  who  located  in  section  twenty-six,  and  re- 
mained for  about  one  year  and  sold  to  Alexander 
Schutt,  who  in  turn  sold  to  the  present  proprietor, 
Henry  Fero. 

The  next  to  put  in  an  appearance  after  Hunt, 
was  a  party  composed  of  various  nationalities: 
Robert  Speer,  a  native  of  New  York  State,  Thom- 
as R.  Morgan,  and  Thomas  Ellis,  natives  of 
Wales,  who  came  from  Wisconsin  where  they  had 
been  for  a  few  years,  and  accomplishing  the  jour- 
ney with  ox  teams  by  camping  on  the  way,  ar- 
rived here  on  the  first 'of  June,  1855.  It  should 
be  chronicled  to  the  credit  of  the  parties,  as  it  is 
unusual  to  such  journeys,  that  they  did  not  travel 
on  Sunday,  and  made  the  trip  in  one  month. 

Mr.  Speer  took  a  claim  in  section  twenty-two. 
where  he  pitched  a  tent  to  live  in  while  he  was 
breaking,  and  he  still  holds  forth  on  the  same 
spot. 

Mr.  Morgan  drove  his  stakes  upon  a  place  in  sec- 
tion twenty-eight,  and  lived  upon  the  pl.ice  until 
1881,  when  he  rented  and  moved  to  Austin. 

Mr.  Ellis  also  took  a  tract  of  land  in  section 
twenty-eight,  where  he  lived  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1874,  and  his  family  are  now  in  Dakota. 

.Tames  Bush,  .John  ft.  and  .Tames  Dunning,  soon 
after  arrived,  all  being  natives  of  New  York  State, 


having  stopped  for  a  time  in  in  Wisconsin  and 
secured  homes.  Bush  took  his  farm  in  section 
twenty-seven,  where  he  erected  a  log  house  cov- 
ered with  bark;  but  he  soon  built  a  better  one 
and  still  lives  upon  his  pl.ice.  James  Dun- 
ning halted  in  section  twenty-seven,  where  he 
lived  until  1876,  and  then  removed  to  Kansas, 
where  he  now  lives.  John  (i.  Dunning  took  a 
claim  in  sections  twenty-two  and  twenty-seven, 
and  continued  his  sojourn  here  until  1872,  when 
he  removed  to  Oregon. 

Evan  Morgan  was  another  of  the  fifty-fivers. 
He  was  a  native  of  Wales,  ha^^ng  become  Ameri- 
canized in  Wisconsin,  and  after  his  arrival  in 
Moscow  tarried  a  while  in  section  twenty-one;  but 
soon  sold  that  place  and  removed  to  section 
twenty-two,  where  he  may  yet  be  found. 

This  is  about  a  complete  list  of  the  arrivals  in  the 
year  1855.  The  year  following  there  were  a  great 
many  to  make  their  appearance  upon  the  pro- 
gressive scene  in  Moscow  township,  and  as  many 
of  them  as  can  be  remembered  will  be  chronicled. 

Stephen  N.  Frisbie,a  native  of  Connecticut,  came 
rom  Wisconsin  early  this  year  and  secured  a  farm 
in  section  thirty-five,  where  he  is  yet  to  be  found. 

Nathan  S.  Hardy,  a  school  teacher  from  the 
Empire  State,  arrived  and  kept  Prisbie  company 
by  securing  a  place  and  erecting  a  habitation  in 
the  same  section,  where  he  yet  holds  forth.  Will- 
iam Pace,  an  Englishman,  who  had  been  natural- 
ized in  Wisconsin,  joined  this  little  settlement  by 
taking  a  jilace  in  section  thirty-four,  where  he 
ri>mained  iintil  the  time  of  his  death  in  September, 
1882. 

Henry  Fero,  a  native  of  New  York,  drifted  in 
and  took  a  slice  from  Uncle  Sam's  domain  just 
north  of  this  little  settlement,  in  .section  twmty- 
six,  where  his  light  still  holds  out  to  burn.  Two 
others  in  the  persons  of  George  W.  Dearmin  and 
Benjamin  Martin,  originally  from  North  Carolina, 
but  late  of  Indiana,  extended  the  neighborhood 
above  treated,  westward,  by  securing  and  sub- 
duing claims  in  sections  twenty-eight  and  twenty- 
nine.  The  former  still  resides  in  section  twenty  • 
eight,  but  the  latter,  after  a  sojourn  of  two  years 
returned  to  Indiana. 

Ashabel  Barnhart,  from  the  Buckeye  State, 
pushed  the  neighborhood  northward  and  selected 
his  territory  in  section  twenty -one,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death  in  1872,  and  his  family 
now  reside  in  Dakota. 


J/0-sCOll'  TOWNSHIP. 


i'.n 


Rufus  K.  Crum,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  came 
from  Indiana  and  took  a  claim  in  section  twenty- 
eight.  He  remained  for  a  number  of  years,  lay- 
ing out  a  town  site,  and  finally  removed  to  Iowa. 
With  Crum  came  George  W.  Davis,  of  the  Buck- 
eye State,  who  took  land  in  section  twenty-eight: 
but  one  Minnesota  winter  was  enough  for  him, 
and  he  pulled  up  stakes  and  left  for  Iowa,  where 
he  has  since  died. 

A.  A.  Webster,  of  the  Empire  State,  drifted  in 
add  anchored  in  section  twenty-three,  lived  there 
awhile  and  then  sold  and  removed  to  section 
fourteen,  where  he  remained  until  1879,  and  now 
lives  in  Dakota  Territory. 

About  the  same  time  David  Gates,  of  the  same 
descent,  made  his  appearance,  coming  direct  from 
Wisconsin,  and  located  upon  a  place  in  section 
thirty-three,  which  he  still  owns;  but  in  1875  he 
removed  to  Austin. 

Hiram  C.  Porter,  a  native  of  Vermont,  came 
from  Iowa  this  year,  and  settled  just  north  of 
Gates  iu  section  twenty-eight,  and  lived  here  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  sad  event  occurred 
in  1868.  His  .son  now  occupies  the  place;  while 
his  widow  became  the  wife  of  John  G.  Dunning_ 
and  now  resides  in  Oregon. 

Another  of  the  arrivals  this  year  was  George 
Watson,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  selected 
his  portion  of  Government  land  in  section  thirty. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional 
Convention;  was  elected  a  Senator  to  the  first 
Minnesota  Legislature;  was  the  first  Postmaster  of 
the  Sumner  Post-office,  and  in  1863,  received  a 
Government  appointment  at  St.  Paul,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  was  joined,  soon  after  his  arrival 
to  Minnesota,  by  Josiah  W.  Hardy,  a  native  of 
New  York  State,  who  came  from  Iowa,  and  plant- 
ed his  stakes  upon  a  farm  iu  section  twenty-five. 
He  lived  here  for  about  one  year,  when  he  returned 
to  Iowa,  and  in  May,  1864  gave  up  his  life  in  St. 
Louis,  in  defense  of  his  country. 

The  Vanderwurkers,  father  and  son,  natives  of 
Michigan,  arrived  this  year,  and  commenced  pio- 
neer life  upon  claims  in  Moscow,  but  both  have, 
since  1878,  pulled  up  their  claim  stakes,  and  re- 
moved; the  former  to  Wisconsin,  and  the  latter  to 
Lyon  county,  Minnesota. 

Robert  A.  Dearmin  was  another  to  arrive  this 
year,  locating  in  section  twenty-eight;  he  may  yet 
be    ound  upon  the  original  homestead,   at   this 


writing,  overturning  the  land  for  the  crop  of 
1883. 

Four  Englishmen  came  in  about  this  time,  in  the 
persons  of  Messrs.  Bridle,  Prey,  Hallenback,  and 
Galpin,  who  all  took  claims  with  the  avowed  in- 
tention of  making  this  their  future  home:  but  the 
severe  winter  succeeding  their  arrival  apparently 
satisfied  them,  as  they  all  soon  after  pulled  up 
stakes  and  left  for  parts  unknown. 

A.  B.  Lizer,  George  Balton,  and  Leonard  Web- 
ster were  also  among  the  arrivals  of  1856,  and 
took  farms.  Lizer  came  from  Wisconsin  and  locat- 
ed in  section  thirty-five,  remaining  until  1879, 
when  he  went  to  Kansas,  Balton  established  him- 
self in  section  tljirty-tbree,  where  he  remained 
until  called  upon  by  the  angel  of  death.  Web- 
ster first  settled  upon  a  farm  in  section  twenty- 
three,  and  remained  in  the  town  until  1880,  when 
he  went  to  Dakota. 

Tollef  Oleson  and  Ole  ToUefson,  whose  names 
indicate  their  nationality,  arrived  late  in  this  year, 
and  squattad  in  section  twelve,  where  they  lived 
for  a  number  of  years.  The  son  is  now  dead,  and 
the  father  is  living  in  Lau^iing,  it  ia  said,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-seven  years. 

Michael  Murphy,  an  Irishman,  also  arrived  this 
year,  and  took  a  place  in  section  tweuty-flve, 
where  his  smiling  visage  is  still  on  exhibition. 

In  1857,  we  note  the  arrival  of  several  pioneers; 
among  whom  were  Francis  Hardy,  father  of  N.  S. 
and  J.  W.  Hardy;  Daniel  S.  Ingraham;  Samuel 
Degood;  Samuel  G.  Lowry,  and  soon  after,  his  son, 
Theophus  Lowry;  David  M.  Farr;  and  Leonard 
Ware. 

THE    HONORED  DEAD. 

David  M.  F.vbr  was  an  early  settler  in  Moscow, 
having  dawned  upon  the  western  scenes  in  section 
twenty-two,  in  the  township  of  Moscow,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1856,  and  the  next  year  got  his  family  up- 
on the  spot  where  they  lived  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  took  place  on  the  8th  of  July,  1878, 
in  Texas,  at  the  age  of  55  years.  He  was  born  in 
Orleans  county,  New  York,  on  the  2d  of  Decem- 
ber, 1822,  and  was  liberally  educated.  On  the 
20th  of  July,  1843,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Han- 
nah Robbins.  His  ability  was  recognized  where- 
ever  he  was  known,  and  he  served  in  almost  every 
local  office.  Was  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Town 
Clerk,  Postmaster,  Supervisor,  and  for  years  was 
known  as  the  model  Assessor  of  Freeborn  county. 
He  was  a  good,  careful,  and  correct  surveyor,  and 


■t'.l-J 


lIlsTonr  OF  FliEEBnRN  COUNTY. 


a  very  useful  man  in  the  community.  He  left  a 
wife  and  four  children  to  bewail  his  sudden  taking 
ofl',  which  was.  as  above  mentioned,  away  from 
home. 

Hiram  J.  Bice  moved  into  this  county  in  18")7, 
and  securing  a  foothold  in  section  thirty-six  in  the 
town  of  Mobcow,  remained  there  up  to  the  year 
1876,  when  lie  went  to  Floyd  county,  Iowa,  and 
there  died,  in  Septemlier,  1877.  He  enlisted  in 
the  array,  was  a  faithful  soldier,  but  lost  his  health 
and  never  fully  recovered. 

Thomas  Ellis  died  in  the  town  of  Moscow  on 
the  13th  of  September,  1871,  having  fought  the 
good  fight  and  finished  his  course.  He  was  a 
native  of  Wales.  Oncoming  to  America  lie  stop- 
ped a  while  in  Ohio,  and  then  pushed  on  to  Wis- 
consin where,  catching  the  tide  that  was  setting 
so  strongly  into  the  new  territory  of  Minnesota,  he 
was  brought  out  here  in  185.5,  securing  a  place 
where  he  remained  through  life.  He  was  in  the 
army  during  the  war,  was  a  kind  father  and  hus- 
band, and  was  sadly  missed. 

Israel  N.  Pace. — The  year  1840,  and  Benning- 
ton, Wyoming  county,  New  York,  claims  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  as  the  time  and  place  of  his 
birth.  From  the  age  of  two  years  he  lived  in 
Wisconsin,  coming  to  this  place  in  1856.  He  was 
married  on  the  9th  of  December,  1867,  to  Miss 
Bosaniia  Farr.  For  three  years  he  served  his 
country  in  the  Union  army,  in  the  Tenth  Minne- 
sota Regiment,  and  was  slightly  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Nashville  in  September,  1864:.  He  was 
a  good  citizen,  friend  and  neighbor,  and  left  a 
wife  and  five  children.  The  bugle  call  that 
sounded  the  rereilU  for  his  rising  in  the  other  life, 
was  on  the  17th  of  April,  1879.  at  the  age  of  38. 

Mrs  Mary  T.  Cheadle  terminated  her  earthly 
journey  on  Monday  evening,  the  10th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1879,  at  the  age  of  54  years.  Entering  upon 
the  activities  of  this  life  in  Rockvale,  Indiana,  on 
the  7th  of  October,  1825,  she,  at  an  early  day, 
married  Mr.  Cheadle,  and  with  him  lived  and 
reared  her  family.  During  the  war  her  husband 
volunteered  in  the  army  and  left  his  bones  to 
lileach  on  southern  soil.  Several  years  ago  she 
came  to  this  county  and  located  near  her  rela- 
tives in  Moscow.  She  was  an  exemplary  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

J.  S.  Harris. — The  balance  sheet  of  this  life 
was  struck  on  the  8th  of  December,  1879.  He 
was  bom  in  the  Old  Dominion,  in  Augusta  coun- 


ty, in  1823,  and  was  one  of  the  seven  children  who 
removed  to  Rockwell,  Illinois,  in  1844,  and  about 
that  time  he  joined  the  Presbyterian  church.  Was 
married  to  Miss  Ella  Elsley  in  18.")3,  and  in  1H56, 
removed  ^vith  his  wile  and  one  child  to  Iowa.  In 
1859  he  came  to  Moscow.  He  was  a  constant 
and  devout  worshipper  at  the  clmrch  of  his 
choice. 

STATISTICAI.. 

The  year  1881. — The  area  included  in  this  re- 
port takes  in  the  whole  town  as  follows: 

Wheat— 3,842  acres,  yielding  41,525  bushels. 

Oats— 1,131  acres,  yielding  32,700  bushels. 

Corn — 998  acres,  yielding  33,723  bushels. 

Barley — 380  acres,  yielding  7,641  bushels. 

Buckwheat — 4  acres,  yielding  30  bu.shels. 

Potatoes — 58*  acres,  yielding  5,637  bushels. 

Beans — 4=8,  yielding  56  bushels. 

Sugar  cane — 3J  acres,  yielding  450  gallons. 

Cultivated  hay — 415  acres,  yielding  590  tons. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881 — 6,813  %• 

Wild  hay— 1,235  tons. 

Timothy  seed — 45  bushels. 

Clover  seed — 15i  bushels. 

Apples — number  of  trees  bearing,  649,  yielding 
591  bushels. 

Grapes — 4  vines,  yielding  105  pounds. 

Tobacco — 70  pounds. 

Sheep — 150  sheared,  yielding  984  pounds  of 
wool. 

Dairy — 308  cows,  yielding  19,830  pounds  of 
butter,  and  15,050  pounds  of  cheese. 

Hives  of  bees — 2,  yielding  50  pounds  of  honey . 

The  year  1882:  Wheat,  2,732  acres;  oats, 
1,183;  corn,  2,058;  barley,  298;  buckwheat,  16: 
potatoes,  85J;  beans,2.V;  sugar  cane,  b%;  culti- 
vated hay,  81;  flax,  306;  total  acreage  cultiva- 
ted in  1882— 6,768-5. 

Apple  trees— growing,  1,521:  bearing.  96: 
grapes  vines  bearing,  3. 

Milch  cows — 275 

Sheep — 226,  yielding  1,236  pounds  of  wool. 

Pori'LATioN — The  census  of  1870  gave  Moscow 
a  population  of  592.  The  last  census,  takeu  in 
1880.  reports  650  for  this  town;  showing  an  in- 
crease of  58. 

REIiIGIOOS. 

The  earliest  settlers  of  Moscow  were  mostly 
Americans,  with  strong  religious  tendencies,  rep- 
resenting various  creeds  or  denominations,  includ- 


MOSCOW  TOWNSHIP. 


4!i;! 


ing  the  Congregationalists,  Methodists,  Baptists. 
Campbellites,  and  Presbyterians,  which  faiths  were 
held  to  with  a  Puritanic  tenacity.  All  felt  the 
need  of  religious  instruction,  and  when  a  preacher 
of  the  gospel  put  in  an  appearance  he  was  hailed 
with  joy.  The  first  to  dawn  upon  the  scene  was 
"Elder"  Phelps,  a  yoxmg  man  fresh  from  the  dis- 
cipline of  the  theological  college,  who  had  located 
at  Austin.  He  first  preached  in  Rufus  K.  Crum's 
house,  in  section  twenty-eight,  in  1856,  and  ho 
occasionally  preached  in  this  vicinity  until  March, 
18.57;  but  no  society  was  formed.  Later  in  the 
same  year  he  preached  in  Samuel  Degood's  house 
in  section  thirteen,  and  a  class  was  formed  with 
about  fi.fte9n  members,  with  Isaac  Vanderwnrker, 
leader.  A  Sunday  school  was  organized  about  the 
same  time,  which  was  continued  until  1880,  Sam- 
uel Degood  being  superintendent  a  number  of 
years.  The  last  school  was  held  at  the  school- 
house  in  section  thirteen.  Elder  Reynolds  was 
the  regular  preacher,  and  as  most  of  the  original 
members  of  the  class  have  either  removed  to  other 
localities,  or  died,  it  has  been  discontinued. 

During  the  winter  of  1856-57,  Daniel  Ingra- 
ham,  an  itinerant  exhorter  not  identified  with  any 
denomination;  but,  as  be  said,  "anything  to  beat 
the  devil,"  preached  in  private  houses,  among 
them  George  Bolton's  and  William  Paul's.  A 
class  was  organized  at  Bolton's  house  in  1857, 
with  George  Bslton  as  leader,  and  the  same  year 
Elder  Mapes  held  services  in  various  places,  and 
also  held  a  series  of  protracted  meetings,  the 
result  of  which  was  an  organization.  In  186.5, 
when  Elder  Tice  was  preaching  here  he  started 
the  project  of  building  a  church,  which  was 
accordingly  erected  in  section  twenty-two.  This 
was  the  Methodist  Episcopal  society,  and  for  a 
time  religious  matters  prospered  and  the  church 
grew;  but  finally,  interest  began  to  wane,  the 
members,  many  of  them,  moved  away,  preaching 
became  irregular,  and  then  discontinued,  and  the 
organization  was  declared  iitorihimd. 

PRBSBrTEBiAN  Church. — The  first  services  by 
this  denomination  were  held  during  the  fall  of 
1857,  at  the  house  of  the  reverend  gentleman  who 
ofllciated,  S.  G.  Lowry.  The  society  effected  an 
organization  soon  after,  under  the  name  of  the 
Sumner  and  Moscow  Presbyterian  church.  Mr. 
Lowry  continued  to  preach  at  his  house  and  in 
school  buildings  for  about  two  years,  when  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Morse,  a  follower  of  the  Congregational 


faith,  took  the  religious  training  of  the  community 
in  charge,  and  continued  preaching  once  every 
two  weeks  for  about  one  year. 

In  1858,  Theophus  Lowry  organized  a  Sunday 
school  at  the  schoolhouse  in  section  thirty-one, 
and  acted  in  the  capacity  of  superintendent.  This 
school  continued  in  active  work  until  1878. 

Congregational  CunRCH. — The  first  minister 
of  the  gospel  following  this  faith,  to  hold  services 
in  this  township,  was  Rev.  Stephen  Cook,  of  Aus- 
tin. He  preached  in  the  schoolhouse  of  district 
No.  31  in  1859,  and  on  the  8th  of  April.  1860.  a 
society  was  organized  at  the  same  schoolhouse 
with  eleven  members.  The  second  preacher  was  a 
brother  of  the  first.  Rev.  Nelson  Cook.  As  most 
of  the  original  members  have  either  died  or  moved 
away,  no  services  have  bee  i  held  since  1875.  Rev. 
A.  Morse,  of  Austin,  was  the  last  pastor. 

A  Union  Sunday  School  was  organized  at  the 
house  of  William  Pace,  in  March,  1857,  which 
was  about  the  first  school  of  this  kind  formed  in 
the  township.  Money  was  very  liberally  sub- 
scribed and  a  good  supply  of  books  procured. 
The  organization  started  its  good  work  under  the 
most  favorable  auspices,  with  S.  N.  Frisbie  as 
superintendent,  and  continued  its  efficiency  for 
many  years. 

Fairview  Cemetery. — Was  platted  and  re- 
corded on  the  4th  of  June,  1875.  It  is  in  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion twentj'-nine.  The  trustees  were  J.  S.  Harris, 
T.  B.  Morgan,  S.  W.  Pitts,  N.  F.  Earle,  W.  Maun, 
and  N.  B.  Vausthouse.  A.  C.  Spicer  was  the  sur- 
veyor. 

VILLAGE  or  MOSCOW. 

In  June,  1857,  this  little  burg  was  conceived, 
and  was  laid  out  in  lots  and  blocks  by  Daniel 
Johnson,  surveyor,  for  the  proprietors,  Nathan 
Owens,  Benjamin  Lindsey,  and  David  M.  Farr. 
It  is  located  near  the  center  of  section  twenty- 
two,  or,  to  be  technical,  the  northeast  of  the 
southwest  of  section  twenty-two,  on  the  bank  of 
Turtle  Creek. 

A  Post-office  under  the  name  of  Moscow  was 
established  at  the  village  in  1858,  with  John  G. 
Dunning  as  Post-master,  and  office  at  David 
Farr's  house,  in  section  twenty-two.  In  1860 
David  M.  Farr  was  (roramissioned,  and  held  the 
office  for  two  years,  when  the  present  incumbent, 
Evan  Morgan,  was  appointed  to  liandle   the  maih 


494 


HISTORY  OF  FltHEJJdliN  CdUXTY. 


wliicli  arrives  twice  eaoh  week  from  OaklaiKl.  Tlie 
office  is  kept  at  tbe  house  of  tlie  Postmaster. 

In  1866,  Joseph  James,  John  Chandler,  and 
James  Dyrlyii,  put  in  machinei y  and  commenced 
operating  a  steam  saw-mill  near  the  main  part  of 
the  village.  They  continued  to  pile  up  saw-dust 
ior  about  four  years,  when  timber  began  to  get 
scarce  and  they  sold  the  concern,  which  was  fin- 
ally removed  to  Waseca  county. 

In  1879.  Arthur  Sanderson  and  bisson,  Creorge, 
erected  a  two  story  frame  building  for  a  store 
and  tenement,  and  in  January.  1880,  put  in  a 
good  stock  of  general  merchandise,  which  they 
still  continue  to  manage.  This  is  what  has  long 
been  needed  by  the  village  and  surrounding 
country,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  the  farmers  will 
sufficiently  appreciate  the  enterprise  to  make  it  a 
fiiiaucial  success  to  the  projectors. 

.SUMNEB    VILLAGE. 

lu  1857,  a  village  was  laid  out  iuto  lots  in  sec- 
tion thirty-one  by  Bufus  K.  Crura,  and  recorded 
under  this  caption.  A  Post-office  was  also  es- 
tablished the  same  year,  with  George  Watson  as 
Postmaster,  which  was  continued  until  1876, 
Aarou  McKune  being  the  last  mail-handler.  In 
1858,  Mr.  Crum,  the  projector  of  the  embryo 
city,  erected  a  house  on  the  village  site,  and  used 
to  entertain  travelers.  But  all  of  no  avail;  grad- 
ually the  interest,  even  of  the  town  proprietors, 
weakened,  and  the  village  of  Sumner  became  a 
thing  of  the  past,  and  the  fond  hopes  for  lots, 
blocks,  stores,  scht)oIs,  and  Churches,  were  aband- 
oned, and  the  surer  and  more  practical  plan  of 
making  money,  by  transforming  the  imaginary 
lots  and  blocks  iuto  fields  of  corn  and  wheat, 
was  resorted  to. 

VAKIOrs    MATTEKS    OF    INTEREST. 

It  is  claimed,  and  upon  good  authority,  that  the 
first  birth  in  the  township  took  place  on  the  26th 
of  December,  1855,  and  ushered  into  existence 
Sophia  Matilda,  a  daughter  of  Evan  and  Sarah 
Morgan.  The  little  girl  grew  to  womanhood; and 
on  the  12th  of  May,  1879,  married  A.  M.  Lee, 
and  now  resides  in  Sibley,  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  Iowa. 

About  the  next  minor  arrival  was  the  birth  of 
Eva  Maria,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Speer. 
She  was  married  in  1875  to  DeForest  Lincoln,  and 
in  1881  died  at  Alexandria,  lea^'iug  one  child. 

Alfred    Silas,  a    son    of    Henry  amd  Mary  A. 


Fero,  was  also  among  the  early  births,  in  Mo.scow, 
Ills  natal  existence  dating  back  to  the  29tli  of 
October,  1856.     He  now  lives  in  Dakota. 

The  earliest  marriage  occurring  within  the  lines 
of  Mo.-cow  and  of  residents  of  the  town,  took 
place  in  October,  1856,  and  united  the  future  for- 
tunes of  George  Bridle  to  Miss  Galpin.  Rev. 
Stephen  Cook,  of  Au.stin,  performed  the  ceremony 
at  the  house  of  the  bride's  parents  in  section 
thirty-two.  In  1877  the  happy  couple  returned 
to  Illinois. 

Another  early  marriage  took  place  on  the  17th 
of  May.  1859,  the  high  contracting  parties  being 
George  W.  Dearmin  and  Miss  Lucia  Campbell' 
the  knot  being  tied  by  Rev.  Theophus  Lowry. 
The  parties  still  live  in  section  twenty-eight  of 
Moscow. 

Nathan  S.  Hardy  and  Amelia  A.  Pace  were 
united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  on  the  10th 
of  August,  1859,  by  the  Rev.  Stephen  Cook,  at  the 
residence  of  the  bride's  parents  in  section  thirty- 
four. 

FiusT  Death. — This  sad  event  made  its  impress 
on  the  minds  of  the  members  of  the  scanty  com- 
munity, and  long  it  will  be  ere  it  will  be  effaced 
from  their  memories.  A  child  of  an  Englishman 
named  Galpin,  living  in  section  thirty-two.  was 
the  first  victim,  and  quietly  passed  away  in  1856. 

Another  early  event  of  this  kind  was  the  demise 
of  Harriet,  wife  of  James  Bush,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-five,  on  the  25th  of  December,  1858. 

First  Store. — In  1856,  Elbridge  Gerry,  a 
Yankee  from  the  Green  Mountain  State,  opened  a 
general  store  in  section  twenty -eight,  in  a  little 
log  house.  The  building  had  been  erected  by 
the  neighbors  as  an  inducement  to  business  men, 
and  during  its  erection  Gerry  furnished  whisky  to 
keep  the  popvluce  in  a  good  humor.  When  the 
store  was  completed  Gerry  put  in  a  limited  stock 
of  dry  goods,  boots  and  shoes,  and  groceries,  and 
an  unlimited  stock  of  poor  whisky,  which  was  his 
stajjle  article.  He  did  a  very  brisk  business  for 
about  one  year;  but  finally  left  and  returned  to 
his  former  home  in  Vermont.  The  building  he 
used  is  now  in  the  village  of  Hayward,  used  as  a 
barn,  and  belongs  to  Mrs.  E.  J.  Campbell. 

First  Mill. — In  1857,  Messrs.  Lindsey  k 
Owens  put  up  a  steam  saw-mill  in  section  twenty- 
one,  eijuippiug  it  with  a  circular  saw  and  power 
sufficient  to  cut  3,500  feet  per  day.  In  1858  a 
burr  for  the   purchase  of  grinding  feed  was  at- 


.iruSCOW  TOWNSHIP. 


495 


tached  and  the  mill  run  for  both  a  saw-mill  and 
feed  grinding.  Thus  the  industry  continued  until 
about  1866,  when  the  machinery  was  removed  to 
Wisconsin. 

FiKHT  Blacksmith  Shop. — This  enterprise 
originated  through  the  energy  of  Eobert  Speer, 
who  in  the  fall  of  185.5  erected  a  small  slianty, 
put  in  tools,  and  during  the  winter  following  did 
considerable  blacksmithiag.  In  1856  he  put  up  a 
substantial  log  building  in  which  to  carry  on  his 
business,  and  the  pioneers  came  all  the  way  from 
Blue  Earth  county  for  plow-sharpening.  Mr. 
Speer  carried  on  the  business  until  1877. 

SoRGHUJi  Mill — J.  H.  Mclntire,  in  1877,  put 
in  machinery  and  commenced  operating  a  mill  of 
this  description  for  tlie  manufacture  of  syrup,  and 
since  its  construction,  as  regularly  as  the  season 
rolls  round,  this  mill  is  found  to  be  in  operation. 
A  good  article  is  manufactured  and  the  enter- 
prise is  of  great  benefit  to  the  neighboring  com- 
munity. 

WooDL.wvN  Grange. — This  society  of  the  Pat- 
rons of  Husbandry,  effected  an  organization  in 
1873  or  '74,  with  about  twenty  charter  member's, 
among  whom  were  George  King,  Samuel  Degood, 
Abijah  Webster,  and  James  H.  Mclntire,  and 
Abner  Vanderwurker  was  chosan  Worthy  Master. 
The  organization  continued  in  active  existence  for 
about  two  years,  and  in  fact,  the  charter  has 
never  been  formerly  surrendered;  but  one  by  one, 
the  original  and  enterprising  members  moved 
away,  or  lost  interest,  until  the  lodge  finally  died 
from  inappetency  for  success.  Meetings  of  the 
order,  while  it  was  in  force,  were  held  at  the 
houses  of  Mr.  Vanderwurker  and  George  King. 

Moscow  Grange. — This  lodge  effected  an  or- 
ganization a  few  weeks  after  the  Wood  lawn 
society,  and  among  the  charter  members  we 
notice  the  names  of  Henry  Fero,  Evan  Morgan, 
James  Bush,  Kobert  Speer,  John  Ruh,  Joseph 
James,  and  James  Dunning.  The  first  Master 
was  Mr.  John  Ruh.  Meetings  were  held  at  the 
schoolhouse  in  section  twenty-two.  It  is  said  that 
this  Grange  broke  up  in  a  quarrel  after  a  brief 
existence  of  about  two  years. 

I.  O.  OP  G.  T. — This  society  was  organized  at 
Henry  Fero's  house  in  April,  1876,  with  seventeen 
charter  members,  among  whom  were  flecry  Fero, 
Evan  Morgan,  G.  W.  Edwajds,  H.  C.  Lee,  Mary 
Fero,  R.   G.  Speer,   William    Rogers,  and   L.   M. 


Fero.     The  society   flourished   for  a    time  but  is 
now  defunct. 

BIOGKAPHIIAL. 

William  L.  Bliss  was  born  in  Montpelier, 
Vermont,  on  the  I'Jth  of  September,  1818.  He 
learned  the  shoemaker  trade  and  when  twenty- 
two  years  old  moved  to  Lowell,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  bought  an  interest  in  a  restaurant  and 
conducted  the  same  two  years.  He  then  went  to 
New  York  City  and  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and 
retail  liquor  traffic.  In  1848,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Alraina  O.  Spaulding.  They  have  four 
children;  Gilbert  R.,  Almina  O.,  George  S.,  and 
Ida  ^lay.  Previous  to  his  marriage  he  traveled 
through  New  York,  Vermont  and  Canada,  selHng 
jewelry  and  dry  goods  and  afterwards  settled  in 
Clinton  county,  New  York;  but  in  1856,  went  to 
California,  and  engaged  in  mining,  remaining 
sixteen  months.  On  his  return  he  traveled  along 
the  Pacific  slope  selling  honey-bees  and  introduc- 
ed the  first  ones  in  Oregon  and  Washington  terri- 
tories. After  an  absence  of  two  and  a  half  years 
he  returned  to  New  York,  and  in  1859,  again  start- 
ed for  California,  but  upon  reaching  this  county 
stopped  at  Moscow  and  concluded  to  settle,  taking 
a  claim  in  section  thirteen  where  he  still  lives. 

James  Bush,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this 
place,  was  born  in  New  York  on  the  5th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1828.  When  young  he  worked  for  a  time 
at  the  shoemaker's  trade  and  before  leaving  his 
native  State  married,  in  1844,  Miss  Harriet  Gates. 
In  1855,  they  came  to  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin, 
and  the  following  year  to  Moscow,  taking  a  claim 
in  section  twenty-seven.  In  February,  1857,  his 
wife  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years.  She 
bore  him  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living. 
In  1859,  he  married  his  second  wife,  a  sister  of 
the  former,  and  she  died  on  the  30th  of  August, 
1881,  leaving  a  family  of  nine  children.  In  1874, 
Mr.  Bush  built  a  tine  frame  residence  in  which  he 
now  lives. 

George  W.  Dearmin,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  place,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  on  the 
30th  of  October,  1828.  When  he  was  a  small 
child  his  parents  became  pioneers  of  Indiana, 
where  George  resided  until  1847,  when  he  en- 
listed in  the  Fifth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry, 
Company  E,  participating  in  the  Mexican  war,  and 
serving  till  its  close.  After  his  discharge  he  came 
to  Indiana,  and  in  1855  came  to  Iowa;  resided  in 
Mitchell  county   until  the  spring  of  1856,  when 


406 


IirSTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


he  came  Jto  this  township  aud  took  a  claim  in  sec- 
tion eight,  but  soon  after  sold  aud  bought  in  sec- 
tion twenty-eight.  In  March,  186.5,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  F,  of  the  First  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry;  was  sent  to  Washington  aud  remained 
in  service  until  the  following  July.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  in  May,  1859,  with  Miss  Lu- 
cia Campbell.  Of  eight  children  born  to  this 
union,  only  three  are  living:  Jessie  F.,  Orra  A., 
and  Mary  E. 

Stephen  N.  Frisiue,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  place,  was  l)orn  in  Guilford,  New  Haven 
county,  Connecticut.  His  mother,  Miss  Amada 
Scranton,  was  a  descendant  of  John  Seranton,  who 
came  with  twenty-five  other  families  from  Eng- 
land, and  settled  in  the  latter  town  in  1639.  His 
father  was  a  sea  faring  man;  aud  when  Stephen 
was  ten  years  of  age  he  went  to  live  with  his 
uncle  on  a  farm,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
twenty-t>ne,  then  removed  to  Genesee,  Waukesha 
county,  Wisconsin.  On  the  30th  of  August,  1848, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Theresa  M.  Castle.formerly 
of  Colesville,  New  York,  aud  the  issue  of  the  un- 
ion was  live  children — three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. In  1850,  they  moved  to  Beaver  Dam, 
Dodge  county,  and  resided  there  until  1853,  thence 
to  Leeds,  Columbia  county.  In  June,  1856,  he  and 
his  family  started  with  ox  teams,  and  on  the  23d 
( if  .July,  arrived  in  this  township  and  staked  out 
the  claim  upon  which  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Frisbie 
enjoys  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  towns- 
men in  a  large  degree,  having  been  repeatedly 
elected  to  fill  offices  of  trust  and  honor.  In  1857, 
he  was  appoiuted  one  of  the  commissioners  to 
organize  Freeborn  county,  and  that  fall,  at  the 
fir.st  general  election,  was  made  one  of  the  County 
Commissioners,  aud  again  in  1877  elected  to  the 
same  office.  He  has  been  Chairman  of  the  board 
of  Supervisors,  Assessor,  Town  Treasurer,  and  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  in  which  latter  capacity  he  now 
officiates.  In  1878.  he  was  honored  with  a  seat 
in  the  House  of  Kepresentatives.  Although  his 
business  has  been  farming,  he  has  engaged  to 
some  extent  in  other  occapations;  from  the  fall  of 
1869  till  1S75  he  handled  grain,  first  for  Bassett, 
Hunting  .V:  Co.,  and  afterwards  for  other  parties; 
subsequently  kept  a  lumber  yard  on  his  own  ac- 
count. In  religious  views  he  is  a  Congregational- 
ist,  aud  when  the  ITnion  Sabbath  School  was  or- 
ganized in  this  place  he  was  apj)ointed  its  .Super- 
intendent.    A  Congregational  church  was  organ- 


ized here  in  1859,  of  which  he  was  a  member; 
but  meetings  in  it  have  since  been  disccmtinued, 
and  he  joined  the  church  at  Austin.  He  is  a 
staunch  Republican,  and  has  always  been  a  x.eal- 
ou.s  advocate  of  its  principles.  He  was  appoiuted 
Postmaster  in  1858.  the  office  being  kept  at 
his  house  until  August.  1877,  when  it  was  re- 
moved to  the  railroad  station,  aud  its  name 
changed  to  Oakland.  Mr.  Frisbie's  first  wife 
died  on  the  25th  of  June,  1875,  after  a  long  aud 
painful  illness,  and  he  married  his  present  wife  on 
the  9th  of  .August.  1877.  She  was  formerly  Miss 
Sophie  A.  Little,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio. 

John  Guy,  a  native  of  Ireland,  was  born  in  Don- 
egal in  1845.  In  1869,  he  left  his  birth  place 
and  emigrated  to  America,  landed  in  New  York, 
and  came  directly  to  Minnesota.  He  resided  for 
a  year  and  a  half  with  his  uncle  in  Oakland,  and 
in  1871  bought  land  in  this  jjlace  in  company 
with  bis  brother.  Mrs.  Guy  was  formerly  Miss 
Mary  Taylor.  Jlr.  Guy  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  since  quite  young;  is  a 
Republican  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  j)oli- 
tics. 

N.iTH.^N  S.  H.VRDY,  one  of  the  old  settlers  of 
Moscow,  was  born  in  Essex  county,  New  Y'ork,  on 
the  10th  of  January,  1833.  ktter  teaching  school 
for  a  time   in  his  native   State  in    the   spring   of 

1854,  he  moved  to  Illinois,  engaged  in  farming 
during  the  sunimer  and  in  the  fall  clerked  in  the 
store  of  L.  S.  Felt,  in  Galena.     In  the  autumn  of 

1855,  he  returned  to  New  York,  and  in  the  spring  of 
"5(),  again  started  west,  locating  in  this  townshij) 
the  1st  of  July.  He  was  married  on  the  Idth  of 
August,  1859,  to  Annette,  a  daughter  of  William 
Pace,  and  the  union  has  resulted  in  four  children; 
Lovina  S.,  Adda  F.,  Louis  E.,  and  Milton  J. 

Rev.  Theophis  Lowry,  deceased,  the  eldest 
son  of  Bev.  Samuel  G.  Lowry,  was  born  in  Nicholas 
county,  Kentucky,  on  the  9th  of  September,  1821. 
His  father,  after  preaching  tor  some  time  in  Lew- 
is county,  Kentucky,  moved  to  New  Richmond, 
Clermont  county,  Ohio,  in  1823,  thence,  two  years 
later,  to  Decatur  county,  Indiana,  and  afterward, 
in  1832,  to  Putnam  county.  In  1835,  he  went  to 
Crawfordsville,  the  location  of  Wabash  College, 
where  Theophus  graduated  in  1843,  and  in  1846, 
graduated  from  Lane  Seminery,  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  married  to  Misa 
Nancy  T.  Elsey,  of  Parker  county.  He  was  or- 
dained   by    the    Presbytery    of     Ciawfordsville. 


AlO/iCOW  TOWNSHIP. 


497 


After  preaching  two  years  at  Danville  and  other 
points  in  Hendricks  county,  he  was  compelled  to 
retire  to  a  farm  for  a  year.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  he  took  charge  of  the  Bethany  church, 
Owen  county,  but  after  a  year,  was  obliged  to  give 
up  the  ministry  and  engaged  in  farming  for  some 
five  or  six  years.  In  the  spring  of  1857,  in  com- 
pany with  his  father  and  other  friends,  he  came  to 
Minnesota  and  located  a  claim  in  section  twenty- 
nine,  Moscow,  where  he  died,  on  the  23d  of  April, 
1874.  For  some  eight  years  before  his  death,  he 
was  able  to  preach  again,  and  supplied  the  church- 
es of  Sumner  and  Woodbury.  His  wife  survives 
him  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead,  with  her 
adopted  son,  Eugene  Lowry. 

Edward  Ltigg,  a  native  of  England,  was  born 
in  the  parish  of  St.  Martin,  county  of  Cornwall, 
on  the  14th  of  August,  1834.  He  was  brought 
up  as  a  farmer,  attended  school  in  his  youth,  and 
at  the  age  of  nineteen  joined  tlie  Wesleyan  Metho- 
dist church.  On  the  11th  of  April,  18.58,  he  left 
his  birth  place  and  sailed  for  America,  landed  in 
Quebec,  Canada,  and  came  directly  toRacine  coun- 
ty, Wisconsin.  He  came  to  Freeborn  county  in 
1859  and  settled  on  a  claim  in  Bath  township, 
which  was  afterward  jumped.  In  January,  1862, 
he  married  Miss  Almira  Williams.  They  soon  after 
moved  to  Riceland  and  rented  a  farm  for  a  year, 
thence  to  Brush  Creek,  Fairbault  coun'^y  In  Au- 
gust, 18(54,  Mr.  Lugg  enlisted  in  Company  E, Tenth 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  went  South  and 
joined  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  at  Memphis 
and  remained  in  service  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
Oh  his  return  he  settled  on  railroad  land  in  Rice- 
land.  In  1874,  he  came  to  Moscow,  and  rented  a 
farm  for  three  years,  then  purchased  his  present 
in  section  twenty-eight.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lugg 
have  had  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living  ; 
Charles  H.,  James  E,,  Samuel  R.,  and  Laura  Z. 
Maggie,  born  on  the  8th  of  November,  1863,  died 
on  the  6th  of  October,  1870,  and  Zelda,  born  on 
the  15th  of  December  1867,  died  on  the  11th  of 
September,  1870. 

Michael  McCorRT,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Mower  county,  was  born  in  county  Down,  Ireland, 
in  October,  1880.  In  1847,  he  came  to  America 
and  settled  in  Rochester,  New  York,  where  he  was 
employed  in  agricultural  pursuits  eight  years.  He 
married,  in  1855,  Miss  Ellen  White,  and  they  spent 
a  short  time  in  Canada,  then  came  to  Clinton 
county,  Iowa,  and  the  following  spring  to  Minne- 
32 


sota,  locating  in  Nevada,  Mower  county.  He  lived 
there  until  1868,  when  he  sold  and  came  to  this 
place  which  has  since  been  his  home.  Mr.  Mc- 
Court  is  the  largest  individual  landholder  in  the 
place.  In  the  spring  of  1881,  his  stable  was 
burned  with  sis  head  of  horses,  a  colt,  all  the  har- 
nesses, and  considerable  farm  machinery.  He  has 
a  family  of  six  children ;  John,  Michael,  Thomas, 
Stephen,  Mary,  and  Daniel. 

Evan  Morgan,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
county,  is  a  native  of  Wales,  born  on  the  10th  of 
March,  1805.  He  was  married  before  leaving 
Wales  to  Miss  Winiflekl  Reese,  and  they  emigrated 
to  America  in  1838.  They  located  on  a  farm  in 
Portage  county,  Ohio,  and  remained  until  1848, 
when  they  moved  to  Rock  county,  Wisconsin.  In 
1855,  they  sold  their  interest  in  the  latter  place 
and  came  to  this  township.  Mr.  Morgan  bought 
land  in  the  town  site  and  also  some  adjoining,  all 
of  which  he  still  owns.  His  wife  died  leaving  six 
children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living.  His 
present  wife  was  formerly  Sarah  L.  Thomas  and 
the  marriage  took  place  in  1862.  Of  seven  chil- 
dren born  to  this  union,  five  are  living.  Mr. 
Morgan  has  held  offices  of  trust  since  his  residence 
here;  in  1866,  was  sent  to  the  State  Legislature 
and  is  at  present  Town  Clerk. 

William  Pace,  deceased,  one  of  the  oldest  set- 
tlers of  this  place,  was  born  in  Sussex  county, 
England,  on  the  10th  of  March,  1803.  He  learned 
the  miller  trade  in  his  native  place;  emigrated  to 
America  and  for  years  worked  at  liis  trade  in  New 
York.  He  was  married  in  1831,  to  Miss  Amelia 
Ridge  and  they  had  two  children,  one  of  whom 
is  living,  a  son.  Mrs.  Pace  died  in  1834,  and  in 
1836.  Mr.  Pace  married  Miss  Lavina  Castle.  In 
1842,  they  came  to  Waukesha  county,  Wisconsin, 
and  after  a  residence  of  nine  years  moved  to 
Dodge  county.  In  1856,  Mr.  Pace  became  a  pio- 
neer of  this  county,  taking  a  claim  in  section 
thirty-four,  Moscow,  which  was  his  home  until  his 
death  which  occurred  on  the  6th  of  September, 
1882.  He  left  a  widow  and  five  grown  children. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church 
at  Austin;  was  a  good  citizen  and  neighbor  and 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Philo  Pace,  a  native  of  Genesee  county,  New 

York,   was    born    on     the   2d  of    August,   1843. 

When  he  was  thirteen  years  old  his  parents  moved 

to  this  place  which  Philo  has  ever  since  made  his 

i   home.     In   1863,  he  was  engaged  in  selling  farm 


498 


HISTORY  OF  Fli.'jaBOlilf  COUNTY. 


machinery,  afterward  in  carpentering  and  now 
divides  bis  time  between  mercantile  and  farming 
pursuits.  He  was  joined  in  marriage  in  1874, 
witli  Miss  Mary  Sculliu  and  tliey  have  four  chil- 
dren; Clara  Nellie,  Hattie  Lou,  Genevieve,  and 
IvyB. 

Robert  G.  Speer.  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
county,  was  born  in  Seneca  county.  New  York,  on 
the  12th  of  April,  1820.  When  be  was  five  years 
old  his  parents  moved  to  Washtenaw  county, 
Michigan,  where  Robert  learned   the  blacksmith 


trade  when  quite  young.  He  was  married  in 
1847,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Hutchinson.  In  18.50,  they 
moved  to  a  farm  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and 
five  years  later  settled  in  this  place.  Mr.  Speer 
erected  a  blacksmith  shop,  the  first  in  the  place, 
and  followed  that  occupation  until  18*i2,  when  he 
enlisted  in  the  Second  Minue.sota  Cavalry  and 
served  as  blacksmith  for  the  regiment  eleven 
months  when  he  was  discharged  for  disability. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  S])eer  have  had  seven  children,  five 
of  whom  are  living;  Mary  E.,  Dewitt  C,  George 
W.,  Generva,  and  Amanda. 


NUNDA 


CHAPTER  LXVIII. 

Location  and  Description — Early  Settlement 
— -Events  of  Interest — Statistics — Business 
AND  other  Matters — Religious — Twin  Lake 
Village — Mediums  of  Eduoation^ — Biograph- 

ICAL. 

The  sul  i-division  of  Freeborn  county  bearing 
this  name  lies  in  the  southern  tier  of  towns,  and 
within  one  of  the  western  boundary  of  the  county. 
Its  contiguous  surroundings  are,  Pickerel  Lake 
on  the  north;  Freeman  on  the  east;  Mansfield  on 
the  west,  and  the  state  of  Iowa  on  the  south.  It 
is  constituted  as  origmallj'  surveyed,  of  36  sec- 
tions, or  23,040  acres. 

Nunda  is,  locally  speaking,  a  prairie  town :  al- 
though the  eastern  part  was  formerly  what  is  called 
"oak  oj^ening"  land, and  there  were  some  fine  groves 
of  maple,  butternut,  bass,  iron  wood,  and  occasion- 
ally walnut,  about  the  lakes;  but  this  has  all  or 
nearly  all  been  long  since  removed.  The  north 
and  west  parts  of  the  town  are  made  up  of  roll- 
ing prairie,  with  a  soil  of  dark  loam,  underlaid 
with  a  sub-soil  of  clay.  The  southern  and  east- 
ern part  of  the  township  is  more  given  to  soil  of 
clayey  nature,  and  quite  rocky  in  places.  There 
has  been   considerable  lime-stone,  of  the  variety 


known  as  "Floating,"  picked  up  and  burned  to  a 
limited  extent  by  B.  H.  Carter;  but  there  has 
never  been  any  ledges  discovered. 

This  town  is  well  watered  by  numerous  brooks, 
rivers,  and  lakes,  which  diversify  the  scenery,  and 
make  of  Nunda  a  picturesque  and  beautiful  town- 
ship. Bear  Lake,  the  largest  in  the  township,  is 
a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  covering  about  1,5110 
acres  in  the  western  portion  of  the  town,  while  a 
i  stream  known  as  Lime  Creek  is  its  outlet,  and 
takes  a  southwesterly  course  to  finally  empty  into 
the  Shell  Rock  River.  Lower  Twin  Lake  is  a 
body  of  water  lymg  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  town,  containing  several  islands  of  a  few 
acres  each.  This  is  connected  by  a  stream  called 
"  The  Inlet,"  with  the  Upper  Twin  Lake,  which 
infringes  on  this  townahijj  to  the  extent  of  about 
220  acres  in  section  two.  We  suppose  the  lakes 
received  the  names  of  Upper  and  Lower  Twin 
Lakes  from  the  fact  of  their  similarity  in  size. 
(xoose  Creek  constitutes  the  outlet  of  theee  lakes, 
*nd  tiows  through  sections  twelve  and  thirteen  on 
its  way  eastward  to  Freeman  township,  eventually 
to  help  swell  the  Shell  Rock.  State  Line  Lake, 
which  name  was  suggested  by  the  fact  that  the 
extreme  southern   ])oint    of  the  lake  touches  the 


NUNDA  TOWNSHIP. 


499 


Iowa  and  Minnesota  State  lines;  is  the  smallest  in 
town,  covering  about  iOO  acres  of  land,  mostly  in 
section  thirty-three;  from  this  flows  a  creek  bear- 
in;;  the  same  name  and  entering  Iowa.  All  of 
these  lakes  abound  in  fish  of  various  species, 
among  which  we  notice  pickerel,  sucker,  bass, 
and  bullhead,  and  are  much  frequented  by  pleas- 
ure seekers  in  quest  of  "finny  sport." 

Almost  all  of  the  land  in  the  town  is  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  and  as  the  soil  is  rich 
and  well  adapted  to  the  crops  and  modes  of  cul- 
tivation of  the  day,  as  a  natural  sequence,  the 
farmers  are  all  in  comfortable  circumstances,  not- 
withstanding they  have  had  serious  drawbacks  in 
the  last  decade  in  the  way  of  drought,  failure  of 
wheat  crop,  etc.,  and  they  are  now  turning  their 
attention  more  toward  stock — which  exist  almost 
solely  on  the  rich  prairie  grass — with  the  most 
satisfactory  results. 

EAKLY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  early  or  earliest  settlement  of  Nunda  dates 
back  to  185(5,  and  was  rapid  and  constant  until  all 
the  vacant  land  was  secured  and  occupied. 

As  it  nearly  always  gives  rise  to  controversy 
and  contention  in  a  work  of  this  kind,  to  state 
that  any  one  of  a  party,  made  a  claim  or  secured 
a  farm,  first,  we  have  adopted  the  plan,  for  this 
township  at  least,  of  merely  giving  the  date  of 
arrival  of  early  settlers  as  given  to  our  interview- 
ers; so  that  one  reading  it  can  come  to  his 
own  conclusion  as  to  who  was  first,  etc. 

Among,  if  not  the  first  settlers  in  the  township, 
were  James  Wright  and  Anthony  Bright,  who 
came  in  the  winter  of  1855-56,  and  commenced 
what  was  known  as  the  Bear  Lake  Settlement. 
Wright  took  a  claim  on  section  sixteen  and 
remained  until  1857  when  he  sold  to  John  V. 
Wohlhuter  who  still  occupies  it.  Anthony  Bright 
took  a  place  in  section  twenty-one,  south  of 
Wright,  and  in  1857  sold  out  and  left. 

Patrick  Fitzsimmons,  a  native  of  Ireland,  made 
his  appearance  from  Winneshiek  county,  Iowa, 
and  joined  this  settlement  in  May,  1856.  He  took 
a  claim  in  section  sixteen,  where  he  lived  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  18th 
of  July,  1866.  It  was  he  who  named  the  town- 
ship Nunda,  in  honor  of  towns  of  the  same  name 
in  which  he  had  lived  in  New  York  aud  Illinois. 
He  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  township  aud  his 
death  was  much  regretted  by  all  who  knew  him. 

About  the  same  time  came  Fred  McCall,  another 


native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  who  made  himself  at 
home  about  one  mile  east  of  his  fellow-country- 
man, in  section  fourteen,  where  he  still  lives,  one 
of  the  pulilic-spirited  men  of  this  locality,  and  one 
of  the  oldest  settlers  in  Nunda. 

Nels  Bergeson  and  Nels  Walaker,  natives  of 
Norway,  came  to  Miunesotain  1856;  the  first  came 
direct  to  this  town  and  took  a  place  in  section 
twenty-eight;  the  latter  did  not  arrive  here  until 
1860. 

It  should  have  been  mentioned  in  connection 
with  the  above,  that  Charles  Fitzsimmons  and  Irvin 
Elsworth  came  in  the  early  part  of  1856,  and  it  is 
claimed  by  some  that  they  were  the  first.  Fitz- 
simmons placed  his  signet  upon  a  quarter 
of  section  sixteen,  where  he  remained  until  1868 
and  then  removed  to  Martin  county,  Minnesota. 
Elsworth  enriched  himself  by  pre-empttng  a  place 
in  section  fourt(«n,  where  he  lived  for  about  one 
year  when  he  sold,  and  now  sojourns  in  California, 
from  last  accounts. 

In  the  fall  of  this  year,  1856,  Harry  Brown 
drifted  in  and  made  a  habitation  in  section  seven, 
where  he  remained  until  1858  when  he  sold  out. 

Seneca  Stockdale  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  having 
been  born  on  the  26th  of  March,  1801,  and  after 
attaining  the  age  of  fifty-five  came  to  the  township 
of  Nunda,  where  he  was  among  the  first;  arriving 
on  the  14h  of  July,  1856.  He  took  a  farm  in  sec- 
tion one,  where  he  remained  for  about  thirteen 
years,  and  then  removed  to  section  three,  remain- 
ing here  until  the  7th  of  February,  1871,  when,  at 
the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy  years,  he  passed  peace- 
fully away  to  that  land  where  the  "wicked  cease 
from  troubling  and  the  weary  are  at  rest." 

A  few  more  came  in  this  year,  but  they  were 
merely  transients,  and  only  remained  a  short  time, 
and  their  names  have  been  forgotten. 

The  following  year,  1857,  the  emigration  to  this 
locality  seemingly  commenced  in  earnest,  and, 
although  to  name  them  all  would  be  almost  im- 
possible, as  many  of  them  as  are  remembered  will 
be  given.  As  will  be  seen,  there  were  already 
several  settlements  in  the  town,  and  those  coming 
this  year  were  not  subjected  to  that,  (as  an  old  set- 
tler termed  it)  "solitary  confinement"  inevitable 
to  the  pioneer  times  of  those  who  were  already  in, 
and  waiting  for  the  neighbors  whom  the  arrivals 
in  1857  furnished. 

Nelson  Boughton,  a  native  of  New  York,  came 
this  year  and  took   a  farm    in   section  thirty-five, 


500 


HISTORY  OF  FEKEBORN  COUNTY . 


where  he  lived  until  1859,  when  he  was  murdered 
by  a  man  named  Kreigler,  which  is  mentioned  in  an- 
other place. 

Alonzo  White,  of  Vermont,  came  about  the  same 
time  and  settled  iu  the  same  section,  where  be 
lived  until  1859,  and  then  went  back  to  the  East. 

James  Carle,  of  the  same  nativity  also  came  at 
the  same  time  and  took  land  in  sections  thirty-four 
and  thirty-five,  wliere  he  lived  until  18t50  when  he 
sold  and  followed  his  friend  east. 

Lafayette  Hall,  of  New  York,  came  and  settled 
in  this  vicinity;  in  1860  he  went  to  the  easteni 
part  of  the  State,  where  he  now  lives. 

Michael  Donahue  had  arrived  in  the  spring  of 
1857,  and  settled  a  mile  or  so  north  of  this  little 
settlement,  in  section  twenty-three,  where  he  still 
holds  forth. 

Martin  Forljes  also  came  at  tlie  same  time  an3 
settled  on  the  same  section. 

John  Honan,  a  native  of  Ireland,  came  iu  18.57, 
an  settled  on  section  tventy-tour. 

John  M.  Geissler,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Freeborn  county,  came  to  Nun- 
da  in  1857,  and  selected  the  place  he  now  occupies 
in  sections  three  and  ten.  He  has  probably  been 
the  most  prominent  man  in  the  township  in  public 
matters  and  has  held  many  offices  of  trust  and 
importance. 

John  V.  Wolilhuter,  a  native  of  Germany,  came 
to  America  in  1847,  and  in  the  fall  of  1857  to  this 
township  and  purchased  the  farm  he  now  occupies 
near  Bear  Lake. 

E.  A.  White  made  his  appearance  in  the  spring 
of  this  year,  and  settled  on  section  nine,  where  he 
still  remains.  William  White  came  to  this  coun- 
try at  the  same  time. 

George  Hall  and  Johnson  Hall,  from  the  eastern 
States  came  to  Nunda  in  the  spring  of  1857,  and 
took  farms  in  sections  three  and  four,  where  the 
latter  lived  for  a  time  and  tlien  went  east.  Mr. 
George  Hall  is  still  on  his  farm. 

John  Donahue,  originally  from  the  Emerald 
Isle,  but  late  from  Illinois,  arrived  in  July,  1857, 
and  settled  with  his  parents  on  section  fourteen. 

There  miy  have  bsea  others  who  came  this  year, 
but  this  is  enouoh  to  indicate  the  rapidity  with 
which  the  unoccupied  land  was  taken.  A  few  of 
those  who  have  since  arrived  will  be  noted. 

In  1858,  Mr.  Cunningham,  a  native  of  the  land 
of  the  Shamrock,  made  his  appearance  and  secured 
land  in  section  twenty-three. 


Narve  Esleson,  of  Norway,  lost  no  time  in  secur- 
ing a  habitation  in  section  thirty-thrte,  where  he 
now  lives. 

Knudt  Oleson,  in  1861,  had  also  secured  land, 
and  has  since  been  joined  by  a  small  army  of  his 
countrymen. 

John  McGuire,  a  native  of  Ireland,  on  the  23d 
June,  1860,  made  his  apjjearance,  and  settled  on 
section  fourteen. 

B.  H.  Carter,  a  native  of  the  eastern  States,  ar- 
rived in  Nunda  in  1861,  and  made  himself  at  home 
in  section  one,  whore  he  still  lives,  a  prominent 
man  in  the  township. 

This  (juite  extended  list  embraces  the  most  of 
the  early  settlers,  and  many  of  them  who  are  not 
found  here  will  be  seen  under  the  head  of  Bio- 
graphical. 

E.VRIjY  KETTl/ERS  WHO  HAVE  PASSED  AWAY. 

William  White,  one  of  the  pioneers,  was  in- 
ducted into  this  life  on  the  8th  of  September, 
1796.  at  Bemis  Heights,  on  the  battle  field  where 
the  English,  under  (xeneral  Burgoyne,  surrendered 
to  General  Gates,  in  the  town  of  Saratoga,  New 
York.  When  two  years  of  age  his  father  went  to 
Clinton  county,  in  the  same  State.  In  the  war  of 
1812  he  served  as  a  teamster,  and  so  received  a 
bounty  land  warrant.  In  1814  his  father  and 
himself  went  to  Tioga  county,  and  on  the  Sus- 
quehana  he  was  in  business  for  forty-one  years. 
He  married  Margaret  Love,  and  they  had  four 
sons  and  five  daughters,  all  living  when  he  died 
on  the  17th  of  January,  1876.  He  came  to  Nunda 
on  the  7th  of  June,  1857,  so  that  he  had  been  a 
resident  of  the  town  for  nineteen  years.  A  few 
daj's  before  his  death  he  was  seized  with  a  sensa- 
tion of  numbness  in  his  left  foot,  in  which  the 
circulation  stopped,  and  gangrene  sui)ervened 
with  a  fatal  result.  An  able  and  prominent  man, 
he  was  for  six  years  County  Commissioner,  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  and  in  other  public  positions. 

Erick  Erickson. — Mr.  Erickson  commenced 
building  in  section  thirty-three  in  the  town  of 
Nunda,  on  the  25th  of  June,  1856,  and  there  he 
wrought  up  to  the  time  of  his  final  exit  from  this 
sphere  of  existence,  which  occurred  on  the  14th 
of  December,  1877,  at  the  age  of  55  years.  He 
hac  o|)e!ied  a  fine  farm  and  was  an  honest  and 
upright  man. 

Thomas  Morrison,  having  nearly  filled  up  the 
measure  of  bis  one  hundredth  year,  was  gathered 
with  the  innumerable  host  from  whence  no  tidings 


NUN  DA  TOWNSHIP. 


501 


come,  on  the  8th  of  November,  1876.  His  birth 
was  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  on  the  12th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1777,  and  came  to  America  in  1811,  and  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  18f51  he  came  to 
Minnesota.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  and  had  six  children.  His  wife  had  pre- 
ceded him  but  two  mouths. 

Fkedekick  H.  White  came  with  his  father  in 
1857,  and  captured  a  farm  in  Nunda.  Himself 
and  two  brothers  were  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion. 
He  was  next  to  the  youngest  of  thirteen  child- 
ren. While  in  the  service  he  contracted  a  cough 
which  finally  terminated  fatally.  His  kind  dis- 
position and  gentle  manners  bad  drawn  to  him 
large  numbers  of  friends.  It  was  on  the  17th  of 
February,  1879,  at  the  age  of  32,  the  recall  was 
sounded  for  him  for  the  last  time. 

Mrs  M.4.BT  Walker,  wife  of  Hon.  Asa  Walker, 
aged  60  years,  went  through  the  final  transposi- 
tion on  the  20th  of  January,  1869,  at  Nunda. 
Mrs.  Walker  was  one  of  the  pioneers,  and  a  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Congregational  church,  and 
had  a  firm  faith  that  "it  is  not  all  of  life  to  live 
nor  all  of  death  to  die." 

EVENTS  OP  INTEREST. 

Eakly  Births. — One  of  the  first  births  in  the 
town  was  the  ushering  into  existence  of  Louis  H. 
Emmons,  on  the  30th  of  December,  1856,  who  is 
still  in  the  land  of  the  living. 

On  the  24th  of  February,  1858,  a  similar  in- 
stance occurred  and  brought  into  existence  John 
David  McCall,  who  grew  to  manhood  and  still 
lives  in  the  town. 

Early  Marriage.^. — It  is  reported  that  the  first 
couple  to  be  joined  in  wedlock  within  the  limits  of 
the  township,  were  Mr.  Louis  Proebstein,  (or  some 
such  name)  and  Elizabeth  Banning,  in  the  fall  of 
1856.  This  date  is  pretty  early  early;  but  we 
give  it  to  our  readers  just  as  given  to  us. 

Another  early  marriage  was  that  of  Isaac  Ken- 
dall to  Miss  Christina  Clark,  in  April,  1858,  by 
Frederick  McCall. 

Deaths. — An  early,  it  not  the  first  death  in  the 
township,  occured  on  the  23d  of  March,  1858, 
and  caaried  Jacob  Zimmerman,  age  23,  to  that 
land  "from  wlience  no  traveler  returns."  He  was 
the  first  person  buried  in  the  Brush  Hill  Cemetery. 

Hulda,  wife  of  Patrick  Fitzsimmons,  died  on  the 
28th  of  November,  1858. 


TOWNSHIP  organization. 

Politically  speaking,  the  residents  of  Nunda 
first  came  together  in  1857,  late  in  the  fall,  for 
the  election  of  a  representative  in  the  territorial 
legislature,  and  in  the  spring  following,  an  organ- 
ization of  the  township  was  effected,  whereupon, 
on  the  11th  day  of  May,  1857,  they  again  as- 
sembled, and  made  their  organization  substantial 
by  the  election  of  town  officers. 

Among  the  first  officials  were:  Supervisors, 
Patrick  Fitzsimmons,  Chairman,  J.  V.  Wohlhuter, 
and  Henry  Tunell;  Clerk,  William  B.  Spooner. 
This  meeting  was  held  in  John  Hofl'man's  house, 
in  section  twenty-two. 

In  government,  the  township  has  run  along 
very  smoothly,  with  no  jars,  embezzlement,  or  in- 
efficiency to  disturb  the  tranquility  of  matters, 
and  the  management  has  always  been  in  capable 
and  honest  hands. 

At  the  24th  annual  meeting,  held  in  the  spring 
of  1882,  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Su- 
pervisors, L.  Marpe,  Chairman,  E.  T.  Yeadon, 
and  John  F.  Wohlhuter;  Clerk,  John  M.  Geissler; 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  H.  Easmussou  and  E.  A. 
White;  Treasurer,  John  Donahue;  Constables, 
T.  Sw€nson  and  Hugh  Donahue;  Assessor,  T. 
Swenson. 

statistics. 

The  object  of  presenting  these  few  figures  id 
not  so  much  on  account  of  the  intrinsic  import- 
ance of  knowing  how  much  was  raised  this  par- 
ticular year,  or  the  kind  of  crops  cultivated,  al- 
though this  knowledge  is  valuable,  but  more  as  a 
basis  of  comparison  in  future  years. 

The  Year  1881. — Showing  the  acreage  and 
yield  in  the  township  of  Nunda  for  the  year 
named : 

Wheat — 3,962  acres;  yielding  40,698   bushels. 

Oats — 744  acres;  yielding  23,082  bushels. 

Corn — 942  acres;  yielding  30,662  bushels. 

Barley — 50  acres;  yielding  954  bushels. 

Potatoes — 90  acres;  yielding  7,248  bushels. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881,  5,788. 

Wild  hay— 3,086  tons. 

Apple  trees  growing — 1,704;  trees  bearing,  249; 
apples,  90  bushels. 

GrajM  vines  bearing — 8. 

Tobacco — 126  pounds. 

Sheep— 257  sheared;  yielding  1,028  pounds  of 
wool. 


502 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


Dairy — 499  cows:  yielding  44,594  pounds  of 
butter. 

The  Year  1882.^Wheat,3,834  acres;  oats,  734; 
corn,  942:  barley.  50;  potatoes,  96;  total  acreage 
cultivated  in  1882,  5,756. 

Apple  trees  growing — 1,662;  trees  bearing,  244; 
grape  vines  bearing,  8. 

Milch  cows — 551;  sheep,  297,  yielding  1,148 
pounds  of  wool. 

Whole  number  of  farms  in  1881— lOU. 

Population.— The  census  of  1870  gave  Nunda 
a  population  of  675.  The  last  census,  taken  in 
1880,  reports  777  for  this  town;  showing  an  in- 
crease of  102. 

BUSINESS  AND  OTHER  MATTERS. 

A  manufacturing  establishment,  in  which  the 
man  with  the  anvil  and  bellows  manouvers,  was 
commenced  in  the  spring  of  1866  on  section  four, 
in  a  shop  12x16.  The  proprietor  of  this  was 
William  Pickle,  and  times  have  evidently  been 
flourishing  with  the  establishment,  as  it  is  still 
there,  now  occupying  a  shop  10x20. 

In  1876  a  similar  institution  was  started  in  a 
building  erected  for  the  purpose,  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  section  thirty,  by  H.  H.  Edwin, 
■which  is  still  in  full  blast. 

In  September,  1880,  a  general  merchandise 
store  was  started  by  George  Emmons,  in  section 
thirty-two.  This  was  continued  until  the  6th  of 
December,  1881,  when  it  was  moved  to  Norman, 
Iowa. 

A  blacksmith  shop  was  established  in  the  south- 
western part  of  section  nine,  by  John  Bettner,  in 
1875,  and  it  is  still  in  good  running  order,  with 
Mr.  B.  still  at  the  anvil. 

In  the  spring  of  1872,  Mr.  George  Reim  erected 
a  shop  and  commenced  blacksmithing  in  section 
eight.  He  still  continues  the  business,  now  be- 
ing in  a  shop  16x20  feet,  which  was  erected  in 
1881. 

A  sorghum  mill  was  started  in  section  eight  in 
1873,  which  is  still  on  the  ground,  having  a  ca- 
jjacity  of  about  forty  gallons  per  day. 

The  first  Post-office  in  the  township  was  estab- 
lished in  the  spring  of  1859,  and  Patrick  Fitz- 
simmons  was  appointed  Postmaster,  with  the  office 
at  his  house  in  section  sixteen,  where  mail  arrived 
once  each  week.  Here  the  office  remained  until 
the  2l8t  of  June,  1806,  when  Frederick  McCall 
was  appointed  mail  handler,  and  the  office  was  re- 
moved to  his  tesidence  in  section  fourteen,  mail  at 


this  time  being  carried  once  each  week  by  Albert 
Davis.  In  1877  it  was  again  removed,  this  time 
to  Twin  Lake  in  section  twelve,  and  on  the  first 
of  July,  1881.  the  name  was  changed  from  Nunda 
to  Twin  Lake,  under  which  name  it  is  now  known. 
Mail  now  arrives  twice  each  day.  When  the  office 
was  moved  to  the  village,  in  1877,  B.  H.  Carter 
was  appointed  Postmaster,  and  held  it  several 
years,  when  Mr.  McCall  was  again  appointed,  and 
is  stUl  the  incumbent. 

State  Line  Post-office. — The  citizens  of  the 
southern  portion  of  the  town  first  indulged  in  this 
luxury  in  1864,  on  the  first  of  -August,  in  which 
year  this  office  was  established  by  Congress,  and 
Mr.  H.  G.  Emmons  was  appointed  to  handle  the 
mail,  with  the  office  at  his  house  in  section  thirty- 
two,  mail  arriWug  once  each  week  from  Albert 
Lea.  In  November,  1879,  Mr.  Emmons  resigned 
his  position  as  Postmaster,  and  the  office"  was  re- 
moved to  Norman,  Iowa,  where  it  is  now  kept  by 
Mr.  Thomas  Wangsness. 

RELIGIOUS. 

German  Lutheran  Church. — The  first  services 
for  this  Society  were  held  in  the  summer  of  1862, 
at  the  residence  of  Mr.  John  Wohlhuter,  in  section 
sixteen,  by  Rev.  Mr.  L.  Scheor.  The  Society  was 
organized  in  1866,  with  John  Wohlhuter,  John 
Tunell,  and  Mr.  Fink  as  Trustees.  Services  were 
held  in  private  houses  until  the  schoolhouse  of 
District  No.  42  was  erected,  and  this  was  then 
u.sed  until  the  summer  of  1881,  when  their  pres- 
ent neat  church  was  erected  near  the  center  of 
section  four,  size  28x40,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,300. 
Ai  organization  the  Society  had  thirteen  members, 
it  now  has.  thirty,  the  present  pastor  being  the 
Rev.  Ferdinand  Tiede.  The  Trustees  are  John  M. 
Geissler,  August  Liuderman,  and  Henry  Drom- 
merhausen. 

Lutheran  Cemetery. — This  ground  was  laid 
out  in  December,  1875,  by  .John  M.  Mertz,  near 
the  center  oi  section  four,  containing  126  lots, 
10x15  feet.  The  first  burial  here  was  William 
White,  who  died  on  the  14th  of  January,  1876. 

Brush  Hill  Cemetery. — The  land  for  this 
ground  was  donated  as  a  cemetery  ground  by 
Christian  Hogen  in  1859,  the  first  burial  being 
Jacob  Remmermaud,  in  March,  1858.  Although 
the  land  was  given,  verbally,  no  deed  was  made, 
and  the  farm  changing  hands  the  new  proprietor 
refused  to  recognize  former  arrangements,  and  in 
1879  the  land  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $100. 


NUNDA  TOWNSHIP. 


503 


The  ground  is  located  about  the  center  of  section 
fifteen. 

Bear  Lake  Cemetbkt. — This  was  platted  on  the 
8th  of  December,  1875,  and  recorded  on  the  8th 
of  March,  1876.  The  trustees  were  R.  J.  White, 
William  P.  Pickle,  S.  F.  Foster,  William  P. 
Spooner,  and  John  M.  Geissler. 

State  Line  Cemetery. — This  burial  ground  is 
located  on  the  Iowa  and  Minnesota  State  line,  in  | 
section  thirty-two,  containing  about  one  acre  of  1 
land  surveyed  into  lots.  The  ground  was  platted 
and  laid  out  in  1861,  on  the  land  of  Mr.  T.  Nel- 
son, but  did  not  receive  an  occupant  until  Febru- 
ary, 1863,  when  Christina  Emmons  passed  to  that 
unseen  world,  and  her  remains  were  interred  in 
this  as  her  last  earthly  abode. 

Catholic  Society  Cemetery. — Located  in  the 
central  part  of  section  twenty-four,  was  laid  out 
and  dedicated  to  burial  purposes  on  the  29th  of 
August,  1876,  land  being  donated  by  John  Honan; 
and  was  divided  into  126  lots,  2ix2J,  in  all  two 
acres  and  a  half.  The  first  person  so  unfortunate 
as  to  need  burial  here  was  John  Honan,  who 
passed  away  on  the  9th  of  September,  1876. 

TWIN    LAKE    village. 

This  is  the  only  village  in  the  township,  and  is 
located  iu  the  northeastern  part  of  Nunda,  at  the 
outlet  of  the  lower  lake  bearing  the  name  of  the 
village,  in  section  twelve;  and  although  its  growth 
up  to  this  time  has  been  slow,  being  situated  upon 
a  main  railroad  thoroughfare,  it  has  a  chance  yet 
of  making  a  healthy  and  moderate  sized  village. 

Its  Early  Days. — The  land  upon  which  the 
village  now  stands  originally  belonged  to  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Wilson  and  Mr.  Tanner.  The  first  plat  came 
into  existence  in  1858,  at  the  instigation  of  Augus- 
tus Armstrong,  and  was  laid  into  lots  on  the  land 
of  William  Banning,  but  as  no  growth  was  devel- 
oped, and  no  interest  in  the  little  burg  manifested, 
the  lots  and  blocks  were  finally  reclaimed  as  a 
farm.  Matters  ran  along  in  this  way,  nothing 
being  done  in  regard  to  it,  until  1869,  when  a 
surveyor  again  made  his  appearance  and  the  lots 
and  blocks  of  the  village  were  again  brought  into 
existence,  about  eighty  rods  north  of  the  old  plat, 
on  land  of  Mr.  Wilson  and  Mr.  Tanner  as  above 
stated,  and  in  the  fall  of  this  year  John  Donahue 
and  William  Knudtson  erected  the  first  business 
house  and  opened  a  stock  of  groceries  aud  general 
merchandise. 

A  store  was  opened  by    Frederick   MoCall,  in 


March,  1863,  at  his  residence  in  section  fourteen, 
and  the  original  Twin  Lake  Post  office  was  also 
kept  here.  In  1877,  the  business  was  moved  to 
the  village,- and  for  a  time  groearies  were  kept; 
but  finally  all  was  discontinued  except  the  tin 
shop.     The  Post-office  is  also  kept  here. 

In  the  fall  of  1875,  Peter  Donahue  laid  the 
foundation  of  his  present  general  merchandise 
store  by  placing  a  stock  of  groceries  upon  the 
shelves. 

In  1870,  Mr.  William  Beatty  assisted  in  the 
growth  of  the  village  and  erected  a  hotel  which  he 
ran  until  1877,  and  then  sold  it  to  Ole  Nelson  who 
still  continues  it  as  a  boarding  house. 

In  1868,  a  building  was  erected  and  a  black- 
smith shop  put  into  operation  by  a  Norwegian 
whose  name  is  forgotten.  In  a  few  years  it  was 
transferred  to  the  Booth  brothers,  who  ran  it  for  a 
year  and  then  sold  to  B.  H.  Carter  and  John  Don- 
ahue, who  operated  it  for  several  years  in  partner- 
ship, and  then  Mr.  Donahue  purchased  the  entire 
business  and  still  manages  the  concern. 

A  mill  was  erected  at  an  early  day,  and  later,  a 
schoolhouse.  The  railroad  pushed  its  way  through 
the  village,  and  a  depot  and  elevator  followed,  with 
the  accompanying  advantages,  until  the  place  now 
contaics  three  general  stores,  one  grist  mill,  an 
elevator,  depot,  schoolhouse,  blacksmith  shop,  a 
shoe  shop,  and  ten  or  twelve  dwelling  houses. 

Twin  Lake  Mill. — In  1857,  a  saw-mill  was 
erected  in  the  northern  part  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  twelve,  where  the  village  was 
afterwards  laid  out,  by  William  Banning  and  a 
Mr.  Forbes,  and  commenced  operations  with  a 
forty  horse  water-power,  making  a  capacity  for 
cutting  1,000  feet  per  day.  Matters  got  compli- 
cated with  the  managers  and  the  mill  remained 
idle  most  of  the  time  until  1863,  while  the  propri- 
etors engaged  in  a  long  legal  controversy  out  of 
claims  of  each  upon  the  mill  site.  In  1863,  David 
Perry,  who  owned  an  interest  in  the  mill,  took 
charge  of  it,  employing  B.  H.  Carter  to  straighten 
it  up,  increasing  the  capacity  to  1,500  feet  per 
day.  After  running  it  a  short  time  he  transferred 
it  to  Augustus  Armstrong  and  J.  M.  Tanner. 
After  this  Mr.  Tanner  ran  it  ■  for  a  time  and  in 
1868  sold  one-half  interest  to  Mr.  William  Wil- 
son, and  soon  after  the  other  half  was  also  trans- 
ferred. The  latter  gentleman  at  once  commenced 
the  erection  of  a  flouring  mill  which  was  comple- 
ted in  due  time  and  is  now  a  valuable  enterprise 


504 


HISTOBT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


in  the  village;  having  a  capacity  for  grinding  120 
bushels  of  wheat  per  day. 

The  mill  is  equipped  with  modem  machinery, 
deriving  its  power  from  the  Goose  Creek,  which 
furnishes  a  power  of  forty  horse,  or  18  J2  feet  of 
water  head.  Altogether  the  mill  is  the  main  and 
principal  enterprise  in  the  surrounding  country. 

MEDirMS  OF    EDUCATION. 

Realizing  that  "knowledge  is  power"  the  citiz- 
ens of  Nunda  have  forti&ed  themselves  against 
that  curse  to  civilization,  ignorance,  by  dividing 
their  territory  into  eight  school  districts,  with 
numbers  and  locations  of  schoolhouses  as  follows: 
No.  42,  with  building  on  section  four;  No.  43  on 
section  sixteen;  No.  44  on  section  thirty-two;  No. 
45  on  section  twenty -four;  No.  76  in  Twin  Lake 
village;  No.  99  on  section  six;  No.  105  in 
section  thirty-four;  No.  108  in  section  four- 
teen; a  short  sketch  of  each  of  which  is  given 
in  connection  herewith.  It  is  unnecssary  to 
state,  knowing  the  enterprise  of  the  people  here, 
that  the  districts  are  all  in  good  financial  condi- 
tion with  neat  buildings,  and  ably  managed. 

District  No.  42. — Embraces  the  territory  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  town  toward  the  center. 
The  first  school  was  held  by  Miss  Mary  Ann 
White,  in  the  winter  of  1858-59,  at  the  residence 
of  Samuel  Clark  in  section  three,  with  twelve 
juveniles  upon  the  hard  benches.  School  was 
continued  iu  the  houses  of  various  farmers 
throughout  the  district  until  1870,  when  the  pres- 
ent frame  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $550 
in  section  four.  Miss  Eva  Morey  first  opened 
school  here  with  thirty-five  scholars  in  attendance. 
The  present  officers  are:  R.  A.  White,  Clerk; 
August  Linderman,  Director;  and  William  Lenz, 
Treasurer. 

District  No.  43. — The  first  school  held  within 
the  territory  comprising  this  district,  was  at 
the  residence  of  John  Hoffman  in  section 
twenty-two,  in  the  spring  of  1858,  by  Joseph 
White,  with  an  attendance  of  twenty  schol- 
ars, and  the  district  effected  an  organ- 
ization by  the  election  of  the  following  officers: 
Clerk,  P.  Fitzsimmons;  Director,  John  V. 
Wohlhuter;  Treasurer,  Michael  Donahue.  In 
1868  the  present  school  edifice  was  erected  in  the 
western  part  of  section  sixteen,  at  a  cost  of  .f  400, 
where  the  first  teacher  was  Isabell  Wilson.  The 
present  school  board  consists  of:   Alfred  Emery, 


Clerk;  Christian    Yost,    Director;  and    Fred    H. 
Yost,  Treasurer. 

District  No.  44. — It  is  stated  by  some  that 
this  district  effected  an  organization  in  1858,  the 
first  clerk  being  D.  G.  Emmons,  and  the  same 
year  the  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss 
Sarah  Emery  in  an  empty  house  belong- 
ing to  N.  Asleson  on  section  thirty-two.  After 
this  school  was  held  iu  private  residences 
uhtil  about  1870,  when  they  erected  a 
frame  schoolhouse  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
section  thirty-two,  at  a  cost  of  S650,  in  which 
Miss  Robinson  first  called  school  to  order.  The 
present  officers  are:  Messrs  L.  Emmons,  A.  Free- 
mott,  Nels  Nelson,  respectively  Clerk,  Director, 
and  Treasurer. 

District  No.  45. — Effected  an  organization  in 
the  fall  of  1861,  and  embraced  the  territory  now 
included  in  district  No.  76.  The  first  officers 
were  Messrs  Rupson,  Donahue,  and  Berrj';  but  as 
nothing  was  accomplished  by  this  board,  the  fol- 
lowing year  Patrick  Kelly  and  John  McQuire 
took  their  places,  and  in  the  fall  of  1862  a  log 
schoolhouse  was  erected  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  section  fourteen  by  contribution  of  labor,  and 
and  school  was  taught  in  the  following  summer 
by  Eliza  Eaton  with  twenty  scholars  enrolled. 
This  building  was  used  until  1871-  the  district 
having  been  divided  in  the  meantime — and  a  new 
frame  house  was  constructed  at  a  cost  of  $400  in 
the  western  part  of  section  twenty-four.  This 
building  served  its  purpose  until  the  9th  day  of 
June,  1881,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  in 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  the  present  neat  frame 
building  was  erected  on  the  old  site  at  a  cost  of 
.S770,  in  which  Miss  Leda  Hewett  first  called 
school  to  order,  with  an  attendance  of  forty-six 
juveniles.  Matters  have  ran  along  pleasantly  and 
the  present  school  officeiB  are:  Patrick  Kelly, 
Martin  Forbes,  and  Patrict  Honan,  respectively 
Clerk,  Treasurer,  and  Director. 

Since  the  above  was  written  the  Albert  Lea 
Standard  of  September  7th  1882,  says: — "School 
district  45  held  their  annual  meeting  last  Satur- 
day and  elected  M.  Conors  director,  and  H.  Dona- 
hue clerk.  Also  voted  ^1%  tax  for  current  expen- 
ses and  also  to  have  seven  months  school — four 
in  the  winter  with  a  man  teacher,  and  three  in  the 
summer." 

District  No.  76. — The  territory  now  comprised 
under  this  number  was  formerly  embraced  in  Dis- 


NUNDA  TOWNSHIP. 


505 


trict  No.  45.  In  1863  this  district  was  set  off  and 
organized  by  the  election  of  Mr.  B.  H.  Carter, 
Clerk;  Elof  Knudtson,  Director;  J.  M.  Tanner, 
Treasurer.  In  1865  a  schoolhouse  was  erected  in 
the  village  of  Twin  Lake  at  a  cost  of  $500,  in 
which  the  first  school  was  taught  by  Isabella 
Wilson  to  an  attendance  of  forty  scholars.  This 
house  was  used  until  March,  1881,  when  a  pass- 
ing engine  set  it  on  fire  and  it  was  destroyed. 
The  railroad  comnany  refused  to  pay  any  dam- 
ages, and  upon  being  sued  by  the  district  the 
courts  rendered  a  judgment  in  favor  of  the  district 
of  about  .S450  for  the  building,  and  $110  for  the 
lot,  making  a  total  of  .f  560  and  costs. 

In  the  spring  of  1881  a  new  schoolhouse  was 
erected  on  a  lot  purchased  of  William  Wilson,  for 
•S60,  and  is  a  neat  frame  building  having  cost 
$1,000.  The  school  has  at  present  an  attendance 
of  about  forty  scholars,  the  officers  being  John 
Donahue,  Clerk;  Henry  Eaton,  Treasurer;  B.  H. 
Carter,  Director. 

District  No.  99. — This  district  effected  an  or- 
ganization in  1875,  the  first  officers  elected  being : 
Clerk,  W.  J.  Morey;  Director,  Fernando  Fessen- 
den;  and  Treasurer,  E.  T.  Yeadon.  In  the  spring 
of  1876  the  present  neat  schoolhouse  was  erected 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  section  six,  at  a  cost 
of  $475,  in  which  the  first  school  was  instructed 
by  Miss  Louisa  Rodgers,  with  eighteen  scholars 
enrolled.  At  the  present  time  the  school  officers 
are:  Clerk,  Loren  Fessenden;  Director,  William 
Barnes;  Treasurer,  F.  Reimen. 

District  No.  105. — Effected  an  organization  in 
1864,  and  the  first  school  was  taught  in  the  house 
of  Peter  Knutson  in  the  spring  of  this  year.  In 
the  spring  of  1866  a  small  building  was  erected 
in  section  thirty-five  at  a  cost  of  about  SlOO,  the 
labor  being  donated  by  the  residents.  This 
building  was  used  until  1879,  when  the  present 
house  was  erected  upon  the  same  site  at  a  cost  of 
$300,  in  which  the  first  school  was  taught  by 
Priscilla  V.  Hemou,  with  an  attendance  of  thirty 
scholars.  The  first  officers  were:  Clerk,  Silas 
White;  Treasurer,  Peter  Knutson ;  Director,  Helga 
Larson.  The  present  officers  are:  Ole  N. 
Gvephvim,  Helga  Larson,  and  J.  Sorenson. 

District  No.  108. — This  district  is  really  a 
division  of,  or  it  might  be  called  a  reorganization 
of  No.  84,  coming  into  existence  as  a  separate 
organization  in  1879  by  electing  John  Larson, 
Clerk;  Knute  Hovland,  Director,  and  Hogen  Kas- 


musson,  Treasurer.  In  1881  a  neat  sehool  build- 
ing was  erected  in  the  southern  part  of  section 
nineteen,  at  a  cost  of  $350,  and  in  which  knowl- 
edge is  still  dispensed.  The  first  school  in  this 
house  was  taught  by  a  lady  teacher  named  Eslen 
Nerverson. 

BIOGRAPHIfiAL. 

B.  H.  Carter  was  born  in  Cayuga  county,  New 
York,  on  the  9th  of  January,  1823.  He  resided 
at  home  and  attended  school  until  1842,  when  he 
began  to  learn  the  wheelwright  trade,and  finished 
in  1845.  On  the  22d  of  October  in  the  latter 
year,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Helen  Eaton.  The 
same  year  they  moved  to  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  engaged  at  his  trade  two  years,  then 
came  west  to  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin.  In  1859 
they  removed  to  this  county,  purchased  a  farm  in 
Freeman,  and  resided  there  until  1861,  when  they 
came  to  Nunda,  taking  a  claim  in  section  one.  In 
1863  Mr.  Carter  was  commissioned  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, and  enrolled  a  large  portion  of  the  men 
of  Nunda  and  Freeman  for  a  draft;  he  served  in 
the  Fifth  Minnesota  Regiment  from  1864  till  the 
close  of  the  war.  After  his  return  he  engaged  in 
farming  three  years  and  then  built  a  wagon  shop 
in  the  village  of  Twin  Lake,  but  in  1879  returned 
to  his  farm,  which  has  since  been  his  home. 
He  has  held  several  offices  of  trust,  and  was 
Court  Commissioner  three  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Carter  have  had  fifteen  children,  those  living  are: 
Henrietta,  Eva,  Theda,  Daisy,  Jerome,  Glide,  Lillis, 
James,  Ada,  Anna,  and  Asa.  Three  died  in 
infancy. 

Jerry  Callaghan  was  born  in  the  North  Parish 
Chapel  in  the  city  of  Cork,  Ireland,  in  September, 
1829.  He  attended  North  Manestry  School  ten 
years,  after  which  he  engaged  in  delivering  milk, 
and  in  five  years  was  employed  as  a  waiter.  In 
1848,  he  emigrated  to  America,  located  in  Schen- 
ectady county.  New  York,  where  he  farmed  one 
year,  and  came  to  Racine  county,  Wisconsin.  In 
1856,  he  removed  to  Freeborn  county,  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  near  Albert  Lea,  resided  there  until 
1864,  and  bought  his  present  farm  in  Nunda,  sec- 
tion twenty-three.  He  was  married  on  the  14th 
of  October,  1859,  to  Miss  Mary  Honan,  and  in 
1864,  enlisted  in  the  army,  served  nine  months  and 
returned  home.  On  the  20th  of  December,  1870, 
as  he  was  returning  home  from  Albert  Lea,  he  lost 
his  way,  was  out  all  night  and  was  so  badly  frozen 
as  to  necessitate  the  amputation  of  the  left  leg  six 


506 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


inches  above  the  ankle,  the  toea  from  tlie  right 
foot  and  the  fingers  from  both  handa.  Mr.  Callag- 
han  has  eight  children:  Joseph,  Mary,  Ann,  Cath- 
arine, John,  Wilham,  Bridget,  and  Jennie. 

H.  H.  Edwin  was  born  in  Norway  on  the  7tli 
of  January,  1841.  When  fifteen  years  old  be  com- 
menced to  It  am  the  blacksmith  trade,  serving  an 
apprenticeship  of  three  years.  He  then  went  to 
Denmark;  two  years  later  to  Germany,  and  in  one 
year  returned  to  Norway,  working  at  his  trade  in 
both  places.  lu  ISC'),  he  emigrated  to  America, 
first  located  in  LaCrosse,  Wisconsin,  engaged  in 
the  blacksmith  shop  of  Devon,  Smith  &  Co.  until 
1867.  On  the  6th  of  October  in  the  latter  year, 
he  married  Miss  Martha  Thompson,  and  they 
removed  to  Jackson,  where  Mr.  Edwin  was  em- 
ployed at  his  trade  until  1874.  He  then  removed 
to  Nunda  and  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  on  section  thirty,  where  he  still 
resides.  He  has  a  family  of  seven  children;  Car- 
oline, Theodore,  Martinis,  Amelia,  Dorothy,  Nels, 
and  Hannah. 

H.  G.  Emmons,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Free- 
born county,  was  born  in  Norway,  on  the  16th  of 
October,  1828.  He  emigrated  to  America  in  1850, 
directly  to  Rook  county,  Wisconsin,  where  be 
engaged  in  farming  and  railroading.  In  1854,  he 
married  Miss  Christina  Larson,  and  two  years 
later  they  removed  to  Minnesota,  driving  the  dis- 
tance with  a  yoke  of  oxen.  They  located  in 
Nunda,  where  Mr.  Emmons  now  owns  five  hun- 
dred acres  of  laud.  They  lived  in  their  wagon 
two  months  when  a  shanty  was  completed,  and  in 
1861  built  a  portion  of  their  present  dwelling. 
He  has  held  local  offices,  being  a  member  of  the 
board  of  Co)inty  Commissioners  si.x  years,  fo\ir 
years  of  which  lie  was  chairman,  and  in  1877  and 
1878,  was  in  the  State  Legislature.  His  farm  is 
supplied  with  good  outbuildings,  barn,  granary, 
etc.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emmons  have  had  eight  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  living.  Two  children  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years,  and  Charles  while  attend- 
ing school  at  Carlton  College,  on  the  12th  of  April, 
1882,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years.  Mr.  Em- 
mons has  filled  the  office  of  Postmaster  fifteen 
years  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  fourteen  years. 

Ellef  Evenson,  a  native  of  Norway,  was  born 
the  9th  of  September,  1847,  and  reared  on  a  farm. 
When  nineteen  years  old  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship at  the  carpenter  trade,  at  which  he  worked 
until  1868,  in  his  native  country.     In  the  latter 


year  he  came  to  America,  direct  to  Watonwan 
county,  this  State,  and  located  a  claim.  In  1872, 
he  sold  his  farm  and  engaged  on  the  Winona  and 
St.  Peter  railroad  for  one  year,  and  at  the  end 
of  that  time  went  tn  Winnebago  county,  Iowa: 
followed  farming  until  1874,  then  came  to  this 
place,  and  in  1878,  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  seventy-three  acres,  in  section 
tliirty-three.  He  was  married  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Ever- 
son,  on  the  14th  of  February,  1878. 

Alexander  Freemott  is  a  native  of  Germany, 
born  on  the  9th  of  Decemljer,  1822.  At  the  age 
of  fifteen  years  he  commenced  to  learn  the  trade 
of  carriage  painting,  serving  as  an  apprentice 
four  years.  In  August,  185.3,  he  came  to  America, 
and  on  the  31st  of  .January,  1854,  was  joined  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Minnie  Hundredmark,  in  Chi- 
cago, Illinios.  In  I860,  they  moved  to  Batavia  in 
the  latter  State,  and  he  was  engaged  at  his  trade, 
as  foreman,  until  1876.  Then  he  came  to  Nunda 
ana  purchased  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  and  built  a  large  frame  dwelling. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freemott  have  had  eleven  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy:  those  living  are;  Al- 
bert. Amelia,  Henry,  Edward,  Alexander,  Lucy, 
Edith,  Anna,  and  Lena. 

George  Hall  is  a  native  of  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  born  on  the  21st  of  July.  1837.  In  1848,  he 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Green  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  thence  to  Winneshiek  county,  Iowa.  He 
came  to  Nunda  in  the  spring  of  1857,  located  a 
claim  in  section  four  and  remained  one  season, 
then  returned  to  Winneshiek  county  and  .settled 
on  a  farm.  He  was  man-ied  on  the  11th  of  Au- 
gust, 1858,  to  Miss  Eliza  A.  Stockdale.  In  1864,  Mr. 
Hall  sold  his  farm  in  the  latter  place,  and  again 
came  to  Nuuda,taking  land  in  section  tlirce,  wljich 
is  still  his  home.  He  has  a  family  of  nine  children; 
William,  Ruth,  James,  Lenora,  Mary,  Rosa,  Burt. 
Flora,  and  Flossa. 

J.  R.  Jones,  a  native  of  England,  was  born  in 
March,  1824.  He  resided  at  home,  assisting  in 
the  farm  labor  and  attending  school  until  the  age 
of  fourteen  years,  when  he  began  farming  for 
hiuLself,  In  1848,  he  was  employed  by  an  En- 
glish nobleman  as  groomsman,  and  remained  with 
him  until  he  emigrated  to  America  in  1852.  He 
was  married  the  previous  year  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Hughes.  They  first  settled  in  Green  county,  Wis- 
consin, where  he  carried  on  a  farm  a  number  of 
years.      On  the  18th  of  May,  1854,   Mrs.   Jones 


NUNDA  TOWNSHIP. 


507 


died  leaving  one  son,  who  is  now  a  doctor  living 
in  Iowa.  Mr.  Jones  was  married  to  bis  second 
wife  in  1857.  She  was  formerly  Savilla  Kelley, 
and  bore  him  six  children;  Charles,  David,  Lau- 
ren, Mary,  Clarence,  and  William.  In  1866,  they 
moved  to  this  county,  and  after  residing  in  Free- 
man for  a  short  time,  came  to  Nunda  in  the  spring 
of  1870,  and  located  on  his  present  farm.  His 
wife  died  on  the  25th  of  September,  1874. 

Helge  Larson  is  a  native  of  Norway,  born  on 
the  9th  of  June,  1834,  and  remained  at  home  un- 
til twenty  years  of  age.  He  then  engaged  in 
farming  on  neighboring  farms,  and  in  1860,  emi- 
grated to  America,  coming  direct  to  Nunda  and 
locating  in  section  thirty -six,  where  he  now  owns 
two  hundred  acres  of  laud.  He  was  married  on 
the  11th  of  April,  1861,  to  Miss  Barbara  Esselson, 
and  in  1874,  erected  his  present  frame  house,  hav- 
ing previously  lived  in  a  log  shanty.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Larson  have  been  blessed  with  ten  children. 

LouLS  Mabpe,  a  pioneer  of  Freeborn  county, 
was  born  in  Germany  in  1832,  and  after  finishing 
school  was  engaged  in  a  wholesale  grocery  house 
five  year.s.  In  18.54,  he  emigrated  to  America, 
located  on  a  farm  in  Genesee  county.  New  York, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1856,  removed  to  this  county, 
settling  in  Pickerel  Lake  township.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1857,  to  Miss  Caroline  Yeost,  and  in  1863 
they  came  to  this  place,  first  erecting  a  log  house, 
but  now  has  a  fine  frame  house  in  the  process  of 
construction.  He  had  eight  children,  two  of 
whom  are  dead.  His  wife  also  died  on  the  17th 
of  January,  1875.  On  the  15th  of  October  1876, 
he  was  again  married,  his  bride  being  Miss  May 
Fulton,  who  bore  him  two  children,  and  died  on 
the  7th  of  Ssptember,  1881. 

TosTEN  Nelson  was  born  in  Norway  in  the  26th 
of  November,  1816.  When  fourteen  years  old  he 
learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  and  was  engaged  at 
the  same  four  years.  He  then,  in  company  with 
his  father,  started  a  taa  yard  and  carried  it  on 
until  the  death  of  his  father.  Tosten  then  took 
charge  of  the  homestead  until  coming  to  America. 
He  married  when  twenty -sis  years  years  old  Miss 
Susan  Johnson,  and  in  1850  they  emigrated  to 
this  country,  locating  in  Columbia  county,  Wis- 
consin. They  purchased  a  farm  there  but  in 
1858,  sold  and  removed  to  Mitchell  county,  Iowa. 
In  1863,  they  removed  to  Nunda,  and  bought  a 
farm  in  section  thirty -one  which  is  still  their  home. 
Mr.   and  Mrs.  Nelson  had  eight  children;  Nels, 


the  eldest  died  in  the  army  in  1863,  aged  twenty- 
two  years;  Martha,  the  second;  Johanes  died 
when  two  years  old ;  John,  Mary,  Martin,  Carlin, 
and  Andrew.  Mrs  Nelson  died  on  the  11th  of 
May,  1866,  at  the  age  of  fifty -one  years.  On  the  2d 
of  June,  1869,  Mr.  Nelson  again  married,  his  bride 
being  Miss  Betsey  Peterson.  He  has  held  num- 
erous offices  of  trust  in  the  town. 

Iver  O.  Opdal,  a  native  of  Norway,  dates  his 
birth  the  10th  of  August,  1825.  He  spent  ten 
years  in  the  army  in  his  native  country,  and  in 
November,  1851,  married  Miss  Isabelle  Dahlen. 
In  1864,  they  emigrated  to  America,  came  to  Dane 
county,  Wisconsin,  and  in  a  short  time  removed 
to  Winnebago  county,  Iowa.  He  came  to  Nunda 
in  1865,  and  purchased  land  in  sections  thirty  and 
nineteen  which  is  still  his  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Opdal  have  had  two  children. 

Knudt  Olsen  was  born  in  Norway,  on  the  7th 
of  August,  1829.  His  father  died  when  Knudt 
was  but  eight  years  old,  and  he  remained  on  the 
farm  with  his  mother  until  1860,  when  he  came  to 
Amtrica  and  directly  to  this  township,  buying 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  nineteen,  where  he 
now  owns  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He 
was  joined  in  matrimony  with  Miss  O.  Thompson 
in  January,  1872,  and  the  issue  of  the  union  is 
two  children. 

William  Pickle  was  born  in  New  York,  on  the 
31st  of  December,  1834.  His  younger  days  were 
spent  on  a  farm  and  in  school,  finishing  his  edu- 
cation at  a  select  school  in  Wisconsin.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  year.?  he  was  apprenticed  to  the 
blacksmith  trade  in  what  is  now  known  as  the 
"Upton  Manufacturing  Works"  at  Battle  Creek, 
Michigan.  In  1855,  he  was  engaged  in  a  shop 
at  Marshall  in  the  same  State  and  in  1857,  went  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  where  he  found  employ- 
ment at  his  trade  and  mining,  remaining  until 
1859.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Freeborn  county, 
locating  in  Freeman  township,  and  in  1862  en- 
listed in  the  Twenty-first  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry, 
served  three  years  and  two  months,  being  muster- 
ed out  the  7th  of  April,  1865,  and  returned  to  his 
farm.  He  sold  his  farm  in  Freeman  and  purchas- 
ed one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  this 
township  on  section  four,  and  has  his  farm  sup- 
plied with  a  fine  frame  dwelling  and  numerous 
out-buildings.  On  the  27th  of  May,  1865,  he  was 
joined  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Mary  Kranshoor, 
and  they  five  children;  Lillian,  Walter.  Martin, 
Etta,  and  Ralj)h. 


508 


HISTORY  OP  FREEBORN  COUNTY 


Hor.AS  RASsirssoN,  one  of  tlie  old  settlers  of  tbis 
township,  was  born  in  Norway,  on  the  29th  of 
March,  1835,  and  came  to  this  country  with  his 
parents  in  1857.  They  located  in  Columbia 
county,  Wisconsin,  and  in  1858,  Hogan  came  to 
this  township  and  stakea  out  a  claim  in  section 
thirty,  where  he  now  owns  two  hundred  and  forty- 
six  acres. of  land.  He  was  married  on  the  10th  of 
October,  1858,  to  Miss  Isabelle  Anderson,  and 
they  had  three  children.  Mrs.  Rasmussou  died 
on  the  24th  of  May,  1865,  and  our  subject  was 
again  married  on  the  21st  of  April,  1867,  his  bride 
Vieing  Miss  Christina  Nelson.  This  latter  union 
has  been  blessed  with  seven  children,  one  of  whom 
is  dead.  Mr.  Kasniusson  has  held  many  local 
offices  in  the  place. 

Ole  Tar.\ld.son  is  a  native  of  Norway  and  dates 
his  birtli  the  8th  of  May,  1827.  He  was  married 
in  1859,  to  Miss  Alena  Mikkelson,  the  ceremony 
taking  place  the  25th  of  December.  In  1862,  he 
learned  the  carpenter  trade,  and  in  1867,  came  to 
America,  directly  to  Nunda,  where  he  has  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  acres.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Taraldson  have  a  family  of  six  children;  Theodore, 
Martin,  Alena,  Ole,  Christina,  and  Tena. 

Andrew  A.  Tompson  was  born  in  Norway  in 
1836,  and  remained  at  home  until  eighteen  years 
old,  then  went  to  work  for  himself  on  a  farm.  He 
was  married  in  1864,  to  Miss  Martha  Oleson,  and 
the  same  year  they  emigrated  to  America  locating 
in  Spring  Prairie,  Wisconsin;  a  year  later  they  re- 
moved to  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  being  engaged  in 
farming  in  both  States.  In  1868,  he  came  to  this 
township,  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  section  nineteen,  where  he  still 
resides.  He  has  tour  children:  Ole,  Mary,  Amy, 
and  Betta. 

N.  N.  Walaker  is  a  native  of  Norway,  born  on 
the  16th  of  April,  1830,  and  when  seventeen  years 
old  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade.  In  November, 
1854,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Carrie  Lewis,  and 
two  years  later  they  came  to  America.  For  sev- 
eral years  they  lived  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  farmed  during  summer  months  and 
worked  at  his  trade  in  the  winter.  In  I860,  he 
removed  to  Nunda,  section  twenty-nine,  building 
first  a  log  house,  and  in  1874,  erected  his  present 
commodious  dwelling.  He  has  a  family  of  four 
children;  Anna.  George,  Nicholas,  and  Louis.  Mr. 


Walaker   has  held  many   offices  of  trust  in   the 
place  since  his  residence  here. 

'  John  V.  Wohlhuter,  a  pioneer  of  this  county, 
,  was  born  in  France,  on  the  29tli  of  September, 
1827.  In  the  spring  of  1847,  he  emigrated  to 
America,  went  to  Buffalo,  New  York,  where,  for 
seven  months,  he  was  engaged  on  the  Erie  Canal; 
from  there  went  to  Peru,  Indiana,  and  thence,  in 
1849,  to  Chicago.  Illinois,  and  found  employment 
at  teaming.  On  the  28th  of  February,  1853,  he 
married  Miss  F.  Fort  man  and  the  same  year 
removed  to  Fayette  county.  Iowa;  remained  until 
the  fall  of  1857,  and  then  came  to  this  place, 
locating  in  section  sixteen,  where  he  Las  two  hun- 
I  dred  and  seventeen  acres  of  land.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  officers  here  and  has  held  many  offices 
since.     He  has  four  children. 

R.  A.  White,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  this 
i  place,  was  born  in  Tioga  county,  New  York,  on 
the  11th  of  January,  1840.  He  came  here  with 
hif  parents  in  1857,  and  on  the  11th  of  October, 
1861,  he  enlisted  and  was  appointed  Sergeant  of 
the  Fourth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  Com- 
pany F,  serving  until  the  22d  of  December,  1864, 
when  he  received  an  honorable  discharge.  He 
returnedto  Nunda  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
farming,  owning  four  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
acres  of  land,  which  is  all  well  improved.  He  was 
married  on  the  26th  of  March,  1873,  to  Miss  Jen- 
nie M.  Rudler,  and  the  result  of  the  unioL  is  four 
children;  Belle  M..  William  M..  Allen  R.,  and 
Ferris  L. 

Chbist.  Yost  was  born  in  Germrny  on  the  15th 
of  September,  1837.  He  attended  school  seven 
years,  and  afterward  engaged  in  teaming  until 
1857.  In  the  latter  year  he  emigrated  to  America, 
located  near  Chicago  on  a  farm,  and  in  one  year 
removed  to  that  city  where  he  again  engaged  in 
teaming.  On  the  11th  of  May,  1862,  he  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Lucas,  who  was  born  in  (termany 
on  the  17th  of  July,  1843.  Later,  Mr.  Yost  was 
a  street  car  conductor,  and  in  1866,  purchased  a 
farm  in  Nunda,  and  brought  his  family  here.  In 
1875,  he  sold  his  land  in  section  twenty-two,  and 
bought  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  section  sixteen.  His  children  are;  Fred- 
erick W.,  Mary  L.,  Katie  A.,  Margaret  A.,  and 
Louis  J. 


NEWBY  TOWNSHIP. 


509 


NEWRY. 


CHAPTER  LXIX. 

DESCRIPTIVE — EARLY   SETTLEMENT — TOWN    ORGANI- 
ZATION  STATISTICAL MATTERS     OF    INTEREST — 

RELIGIOUS — SCHOOLS — BIOGRAPHICAL. 

This  is  the  uortheast  corner  township  of  Free- 
born county,  and  is  therefore  one  of  the  most 
prominent  towns  as  to  the  location.  Its  boundaries 
are  as  follows:  Steele  county  on  the  north;  Mower 
county  on  the  east;  Moscow  township  on  the 
south;  and  Geneva  on  the  west.  It  is  a  full  con- 
gressional township  of  36  sections  or  square  miles, 
embracing  the  territory  of  township  104,  Range 
19. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  ([uite  rolling  and 
is  made  up  mostly  of  oak  ojsening  land.  The 
greater  part  of  the  prairie  land  is  found  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  town,  while  the  southern 
part  is  chiefly  covered  with  timber  of  the  varieties 
of  black,  red,  and  burr  oak,  poplar  and  black  wal- 
nut, although  the  latter  has  now  been  mostly 
removed. 

The  .soil  is  different  as  you  change  localities ;  the 
west,  north,  and  eastern  parts  being  mostly  a 
dark  loam  of  from  two  to  three  feet  in  thickness, 
and  underlaid  with  a  subsoil  of  blue  clay ;  and  the 
southern  and  central  part  is  more  of  a  sandy 
nature  or,  as  it  is  called,  "black  sandy  loam,"  with 
a  subsoil  of  gravel. 

There  are  not  so  many  water  courses  or  lakes  in 
this  town  as  in  a  majority  of  its  neighbors,  yet  it 
is  not  altogether  devoid  of  them.  A  small  body 
of  water  lying  in  section  two  is  known  as  Newry 
Lake  Oak,  or  Johnson's  Lake,  lies  in  section 
twenty -six,  and  from  it  flows  a  substantial  little 
stream  which  empties  into  Deer  creek  in  the 
northern  part  of  section  thirty-four.  The  popula- 
tion is  almost  entirely  Irish  and  Norwegian,  there 
being  no  Americans  and  only  three  German  fami- 
lies in  the  township. 


EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  early  settlement  of  this  township  com- 
menced in  1854,  and  was  about  the  second  settle- 
ment started  in  Freeborn  county.  Eliot  Kinet- 
son  and  family,  natives  of  Norway,  were  the  first 
to  arrive,  making  their  appearance  in  1854,  and 
claiming  a  place  in  section  twenty-five,  where 
they  remained  until  1874,  when  Mr.  Kinetson 
died  and  was  buried  in  Mower  coiinty.  The 
family,  with  the  exception  of  the  youngest  son, 
Halver  Ellofson,  removed  in  1876  to  Otter  Tail 
county  where  they  yet  reside.  The  young  man 
still  remains  in  the  township,  living  on  section 
twenty-sis.  These  were  about  the  only  actual 
settlers  in  this  year. 

In  1855  quite  a  number  of  emigrants  thronged 
in.  Christian  Erick  Rukke  and  family,  natives 
of  Norway,  who  had  stopped  for  a  time  in  Illi- 
nois, were  among  the  number  to  arrive  this  year, 
and  they  took  a  claim  in  section  thirty-six,  where 
they  remained  until  1868,  when  they  secured  the 
place  they  now  occupy  in  section  twenty-six. 
Helge  Oleson  came  at  the  same  time  from  the 
same  place,  and  planted  his  stakes  in  section  ten, 
where  he  has  since  been  living. 

In  the  spring  of  1856  a  colony  of  Irishmen 
came  from  Illinois  and  secured  homes.  The  party 
consisted  of  Thomas  Fitzsimmons,  William  and 
John  Bell,  John  Breunan,  aul  Patrick  Creegan, 
and  all  of  the  party  settled  on  land  near  the  cen- 
ter of  the  town  where  they  yet  remain,  with  the 
exception  of  Thomas  Fitzsimmons,  who  died 
upon  the  11th  of  April,  1867. 

About  the  same  time,  or  probably  a  little  later 
than  the  above  arrivals,  Ole  O.  Thorson,  a  native 
of  Norway,  came  from  Dane  county,  Wisconsin, 
and  secured  a  home  in  section  thirty-sis,  where  he 
remained  until  1857,  when  he  removed  to  Olmsted 
county  and  still  lives  there. 

The  year  following  the  settlers   came  in  so  rap- 


.•JlU 


HISTORY  OF  FUBEBOUN  COUNTY. 


iilly  that  it  is  impossible  to  trace  them  in  86- 
(luence,  and  by  ISliO  all  of  the  government  land 
in  the  township  that  was  really  valuable  had  been 
taken,  and  claims  must  be  purchased  according  to 
the  amount  of  improvements  that  had  been  made, 
instead  of  getting  them  free  from  Uncle  Sam. 

TOWN  OKGANIZATION. 

When  this  locality  first  began  to  be  colonized, 
liy  common  consent  or  usage,  it  took  the  name  of 
Dover,  more  as  the  name  of  the  locality  than  the 
township.  Thus  it  was  at  the  time  of  the  first 
town  meeting  on  the  11th  of  May,  1858,  at  the 
house  of  William  Bell,  iu  section  twenty-one,  and 
the  first  matter  upon  the  program  was  to  take 
into  consideration  the  propriety  of  changing  the 
former  order  of  things  and  give  the  township  a 
j)ermauent  a])pellatiou.  It  had  been  proposed  by 
some  one  to  call  it  "Liberty"  instead  of  Dover, 
and  there  was  quite  a  following  to  this  idea;  but 
all  of  this  was  dispelled  by  Thomas  Fitzsimmons, 
who  stated  that  he  was  in  favor  of  the  name  of 
Newry,  iu  remembrance  of  a  little  town  in  Ireland 
from  whence  a  number  of  the  pioneers  hailed,  and 
80  that  name  was  bestowed  by  vote. 

The  first  officers  elected  were  as  follows:  Sup- 
ervisors, John  Brennan,  Chairman,  Daniel  Holly- 
wood, and  WiUiam  Bell;  Clerk,  Thomas  Fitzsim- 
mons; Treasurer,  C.  E.  Johnson;  Assessor,  Patrick 
Creegan;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Thomas  Holly- 
wood. 

Tlie  present  officials  of  the  town,  serving  in  1882, 
are  as  follows:  Supervisors,  John  Herron,  Chair- 
man, Peter  P.  Haugen,  and  Micliaol  Dowd ;  Clerk, 
Thomas  A.  Helvig;  Treasurer,  Ole  Easton;  As- 
sessor, Ole  C.  Johnson;  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
Thomas  Herron  and  Patrick  Creegan:  Constable, 
Andrew  O'Leary.  Elections  are  held  in  school- 
houses. 

STATISTICAL. 

The  year  1881. — The  area  included  iu  this  re- 
port takes  in  the  whole  town  as  follows : 

Wheat — 4,224  acres,  yielding  56,212  bushels. 
Oats— 1,012»  acres,  yielding  31,132  bushels. 
Corn — 755  J^  acres,  yielding  21,816  bushels. 

Barley -116|  acres,  yielding  3,307  bushels. 

Potatoes — 47^  acres,  yielding  5,113  bushels. 
Sugar  cane — \  acre,  yielding  50  gallons. 
Cultivated  hay — 123^  acres,  yielding  816  tons. 
Total  acreage  cultivated  in   1881,    6,277.',  acres 
Wild  hay— 2,703  tons. 
Timothy  seed — 3  bushels. 


Apples — Number  of   trees  growing,  319;  num 
bearing,  87;  yielding,  36  bushels. 

Grapes — 10  vines,  yielding  100  pounds. 

Tobacco— 276  pounds. 

Sheep  sheared — 177,  yielding  479  pounds  of 
wool. 

Dairy — 405  cows,  yielding  29,250  pounds  of 
butter. 

Hives  of  bees — 31. 

The  year  1882.— Wheat,  4,035  acres;  oats, 
909;  corn,  l,079-'4;  barley,  129.i;  buckwhe.-it,  9; 
potatoes,  55.1 ;  beans,  .', ;  sugar  cane,  \ ;  cultivated 
hay,  158;  other  produce,  \;  total  acreage  cultiva- 
ted in  1882— 6,376.V; 

Api)le  trees — growing,  395;  bearing,  77;  grape 
vines  bearing — 8. 

Milch  cows — 383. 

Sheep — 187,  yielding  505  pounds  of  wool. 

Forest  trees  planted  and  growing,  lO^  acres. 

PoPUiyATioN. — The  census  of  1870  gave  Newry 
a  population  of  596.  The  last  census,  taken  in 
1880,  reports  737  for  this  town;  showing  an 
increase  of  141. 

MATTERS  OF    INTEREST. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  occurred  at  four 
o'clock  a.  m.,  on  the  9th  of  February,  1856,  and 
ushered  into  existence  Tingne,  a  daughter  of  Chris- 
tian E.  and  Randi  N.  D.  Johnson  who  resided 
upon  section  thirty-six.  The  child  grew  to  woman- 
hood in  the  township  and  on  the  6th  of  February, 
1876,  was  married  to  .John  G.  Quamm  and  now 
resides  in  Dakota. 
■  The  first  marriage  ceremony  was  performi'd  by 
Rev.  C.  S.  Clauson  on  the  5th  of  June,  1858,  and 
united  the  destinies  of  Halver  Elofson  and  Caroline 
Fingerson,  and,  sad  to  say,  the  happy  bride  men- 
tioned, ere  six  months  had  elapsed,  was  called 
upon  by  the  hand  of  death  and  passed  to  the 
unknown  shore,  making  the  first  death  in  the 
township. 

The  first  title  to  land  witliin  the  boundary  of 
Newry  township  was  acquired  by  Oliver  R.  Au.stin 
and  W.  R.  Lincoln,  who  proved  upon  lands  iu  sec- 
tions four  and  five  on  the  4th  of  of  September, 
1856. 

Newry  Grange  Lodge  No.  99. — This  society 
or  order  efl'ected  an  organization  on  the  9th  of 
December,  1873,  at  the  schoolhouse  of  District 
No.  79,  under  the  auspices  of  Messrs  Butler  and 
King,  of  Albert  Lea,  with  fifteen  charter  mem- 
bers, and  C.  E.  Johnson  was  elected  Master.     The 


yEWMT  TOWNSHIP. 


511 


lodge  flourished,  holding  meetings  once  each  week 
until  1875,  when  the  charter,  thirty  members,  and 
fifteen  dollars  which  was  in  the  treasury,  were 
merged  with  the  Albert  Lea  Lodge. 

Newry  Post-office. — This  office  was  estab- 
lished upon  a  petition  from  the  citizens  in  187i, 
with  John  Herron  as  Postmaster  and  office  at 
his  house  in  the  northwestern  part  of  section  uine. 
Mail  arrived  by  way  of  the  Bloomiuy  Prairie  and 
Geneva  route,  and  is  yet  carried  to  this  point  from 
the  former  place.  The  business  has  amounted  to 
about  $3  per  quarter.  The  office,  location,  and 
Postmaster  are  the  same  at  present  as  when  first 
established. 

BEIilGIOUS. 

The  first  services  held  in  the  township,  of  a  re- 
ligious character,  were  in  the  fall  of  1856,  at  the 
house  of  Ole  Thorson,  in  section  thirty-six,  and 
Kev.  C.  L.  Clausen  and  Eev.  O.  Pierce  were  the 
ministers  who  officiated,  both  being  followers  of 
the  Lutheran  faith.  In  1857  C.  L.  Clauson  or- 
ganized the  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church  at  a 
house  in  section  thirty-six,  owned  by  C.  E.  Rulcke, 
with  thirty-six  members,  and  the  society  com- 
menced holding  services  at  private  residences, 
which  they  continued  until  1874,  when  they 
erected  a  fine  church  building  just  over  the  coun- 
ty line  in  Mower  county,  adjoining  section  twenty- 
four,  which  cost  $6,000,  and  is  a  credit  to  the  so- 
ciety. Tht^  church  now  has  a  membership  of  over 
two  hundred,  and  is  known  under  the  title  of  Red 
Oak  Grove  Norsk  Lutheran  Church. 

EDITCATIONAl. 

For  educational  purposes  this  township  is 
divided  into  six  school  districts,  which  are  all  in 
good  financial  condition,  and  have  a  fair  average 
attendance  in  each.  Their  numbers  are  1,  2,  73, 
79,  and  106. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Thomas  A.  Helvig  is  a  native  of  Norway,  born 


on  the  14th  of  September,  1845.  He  emigrated  to 
America  in  18G1,  and  settled  in  Fayette  county, 
Iowa.  On  the  27th  of  February,  1864,  he  en- 
listed in  the  Ninth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
Atlanta,  .Jonesboro,  and  several  others.  In  the 
winter  of  1865  he  was  sick  about  a  month,  but 
afterwards  returned  to  service  and  was  sent  to  the 
regiment  at  Goldsborough,  North  Carolina,  on 
the  2d  of  March,  1865.  They  marched  from 
there  to  Washington,  and  after  about  three  weeks 
was  sent  to  Clinton,  Iowa,  where  he  received  his 
discharge,  and  reached  home  on  the  1st  of  July, 
1865.  On  the  29th  of  November,  1867,  he  came 
to  this  place,  and  just  two  years  after  was  joined 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Dora  Benson.  Tlie  following 
December  Mr.  Helvig  purchased  a  farm  insection 
thirteen,  which  has  since  been  his  home.  In  1870 
he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  board  of  Super- 
visors, and  again  in  1878;  in  1876  was  elected 
Town  Clerk,  and  again  in  1880  still  filling  the 
office.     He  is  also  clerk  of  his  school  district. 

Christian  Eriok  Rukke  was  born  in  Norway  on 
the  18th  of  July,  1822.  He  learned  the  stone- 
mason trade  in  his  native  place,  and  worked  at  the 
same  more  or  less  until  coming  to  America.  He 
was  married  on  the  14th  of  April,  1852,  to  Miss 
Randi  Nelsdatter  Sustegard,  who  has  borne  him 
fifteen  children,  eleven  of  whom  are  living,  five 
boys  and  six  girls.  In  1852  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rukke 
emigrated  to  this  country,  arriving  in  Rock 
county,  Wisconsin,  on  the  9th  of  August.  The 
following  year  they  moved  to  Stephenson  county, 
Illinois,  and  in  the  spring  of  1856  once  more 
changed  their  place  of  residence,  coming  this 
time  to  Newry,  where  they  were  among  the  first 
settlers.  Mr.  Rukke  was  the  organizer  of  school 
District  No  79,  and  had  control  of  it  a  number 
of  years.  He  was  the  first  Town  Treasurer,  and 
has  been  elected  to  different  offices  since  but  would 
not  accept. 


J12 


niSTORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


OAKLAND 


CHAPTER  LXX. 

Descriptive  —  Early  Settlement  —  Official 
Record — Oakland  Village — Statistics — Re- 
ligious— Schools — Biographicu.. 

This  is  one  of  the  eastern  towns  of  Freeborn 
county,  and  is  boumled  as  follows:  Moscow 
township  on  the  north,  Oakland  on  the  south, 
Mower  county  on  the  east,  and  Hayward  town- 
ship on  the  west.  It  is  a  full  congressional  town- 
ship, the  integrity  of  the  original  government 
survey  remaining  unchanged,  as  in  all  the  towns 
of  the  county. 

Unlike  all  other  of  Freeborn  county's  sub- 
divisions, this  has  no  lakes  or  water  courses;  but 
water  can  be  obtained  by  boring  to  a  reasonable 
depth.  A  little  brook  is  marked  upon  the  map  as 
rising  in  the  northern  part  of  section  six  and 
(lowing  northward  into  Moscow. 

The  entire  western  part  of  the  town  is  made  up 
of  what  is  termed  "oak  opening"  land,  or  prairie 
and  natural  meadows  dotted  with  groves  of  small 
growth  burr  and  black  oak  timber,  and  there  is 
also  considerable  moderately  heavy  timber;  al- 
thongh  this  has  been  greatly  diminished  as  in 
comparison  with  what  it  was  in  early  days.  The 
eastern  part  is,  as  a  rule,  jjrairia  land  with  the 
usual  pleasant  and  beautiful  rolling  tendency, 
which,  as  you  go  toward  the  south,  becomes  rather 
Tow  and  marshy,  yet,  not  sufficiently  so  to  be 
wliolly  impractical  for  agriculture.  In  section 
fourteen  considerable  burr  oak  timber  is  found. 
The  soil  is  a  rich  dark  loam,  with  a  subsoil  of 
clay  and  gravel,  and  the  entire  township  is  well 
fitted  for  the  crops  and  modes  of  farming  of  the 
|)resent  day,  yielding  abundant  and  profitable 
crops  to  the  energetic  and  industrious. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

An  absorbing  interest  is  always  manifested  in 
regard  to  the  very  first  pioneer  who  venturtd  into 


any  locality  to  establish  a  home,  and  it  would 
seem  that  while  parties  who  were  cotemporary 
with  the  first  settlers  are  still  living,  it  would  not 
be  difficult  to  promptly  arrive  at  the  fact,  but  for 
various  reasons  which  it  may  not  be  necessary  to 
state,  this  is  not  the  ease,  and  there  is  much  more 
uncertainty  in  this  respect  than  would  be  sup- 
posed by  those  wlio  have  not  undertaken  to  gather 
this  kind  of  information.  It  is  quite  certain, 
that  the  first  settlement  in  the  township  of  Mos- 
cow was  made  in  1855,  by  a  party  from  Illinois. 
This  party  consisted  of  G.  W.  Carpenter  and  fam- 
ily, and  W.  L.  Carpenter,  with  Joel  Bullock  and 
family  and  Lemuel  Bullock.  George  W.  Carpen- 
ter located  in  section  ten;  W.  L.  Carpenter,  a 
young  man,  secured  a  piece  (jf  land  in  section 
three,;  Joel  Bullock  with  his  family  made  himself 
at  home  in  section  four,  and  Lemuel  Bullock  made 
a  claim  in  section  three. 

The  next  settlement  was  made  near  the  center 
of  the  town  by  a  party  of  Irishmen,  who  arrived 
in  July,  185(3.  Cornelius  Kenuevan,  together 
with  his  family,  among  whom  were  three  sous, 
came  at  this  time,  and  located  upon  a  good  farm 
in  section  twenty-two,  where  he  remained  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1880, 
and  his  three  sons  still  remain  in  the  town  in  com- 
fortable and  prosperous  circumstances.  John 
Murano,  a  native  of  the  Old  Emerald  Isle,  ar- 
rived at  the  same  time  and  located  in  section 
twenty-seven.  He  remained  upon  his  original 
liomestead  until  1874,  when  he  gave  up  the 
ghost,    and  his   family  still  occupy  the  place. 

Within  a  few  weeks  after  the  arrival  of  these 
Irishmen,  a  couple  of  Norwegian  brothers  in  the 
persvniiii  of  Ole  and  George  O.  Gunderson,  late 
of  Wisconsin,  made  their  appearance  upon  the 
scene  and  took  claims  just  north  of  the  above 
mentioned  parties,  in  and  about  section  nine.  Ole 
took  a  claim  of  160  acres  in  this  section,  brought 
his  family,  and  erected   a  log   hut    among  other 


OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


513 


improvements;  he  remaiaed  here  until  1877,  when 
his  earthly  career  was  abruptly  terminated. 

Francis  Merchant,  Sr.,  a  Frenchman,  was  also 
among  the  arrivals  of  1856,  and  settled  in  sec- 
tion one.  The  old  homestead  is  still  in  the  hands 
of  members  of  his  family. 

Eeuben  Babcock  was  among  the  arrivals  of 
1856,  coming  ia  November  of  that  year  from  Illi- 
nois, and  filed  upon  160  acres  of  Uncle  Sam's  do- 
main in  section  fifteen,  where  he  located  his  fam- 
ily, erected  a  log  house,  and  remained  until  1859, 
when  he  sold  his  place  and  i-emoved  to  Albert 
Lea. 

Asa  Bullock,  Jr.,  a  native  of  Vermont,  arrived 
in  Oakland  iu  the  latter  part  of  October,  1856, 
and  pre-empted  160  acres,  where  he  erected  a  log 
house  and  remained  until  1864,  when  he  was 
called  upon  by  the  Great  Overseer  to  report  upon 
the  other  shore  of  the  valley  of  death.  Mr.  Bul- 
lock was  highly  esteemed  by  his  neighbors,  hav- 
ing held  many  public  positions  of  trust  and  res- 
ponsibility, discharging  the  duties  with  credit  to 
himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents. 

Others  among  the  early  settlers  were  A.  D. 
Weight,  Jerry  Griffia,  Henry  Holleushead,  James 
Bobinson,  and  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town 
a  great  many  Bohemians,  whose  names  have 
been  forgotten. 

VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  that  of  a 
child  of  Samnel  Bullock    and  wife,  iu   February, 

1856.  The  parents  of  the  child  had  settled  in 
section  three  in  1855,  having  come  from  Wis- 
consin. 

The  first  marriage  of  parties  living  in  Oakland 
took  place  in  the  winter  of  1855  and  '56,  and  uni- 
ted W.  L.  Carpenter  to  Miss  Prudence  Bullock; 
and  L.  E.  Bullock  to  Miss  Yuba  Carpenter,  be- 
ing a  double  wedding.  As  there  wiiia  no  one  in 
the  township  licensed  to  marry,  the  parties  went 
over  the  line  into  Mower  county,  where  the  cere- 
mony was  performed  by  Squire  Beach. 

Another  early  marriage  was  that  of  Oscar  Mil- 
ler and  Miss  Bullock,  in  September,  1857.  This 
ceremony  was  performed  by  George  Watson, 
Esquire,  in  the  township  of  Moscow. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  first  death  in  Oakland 
took  place  in  the  spring  of  1858,  and  carried  to 
that  great  unknown  shore  Asa  Bullock,  the  father 
of  a  large  family  of  early  pioneers,  who  had,  in 

1857,  located  in  section  nine. 

33 


W.  L.  Carpenter  and  L.  E.  Bullock  turned  the 
first  sod  in  the  way  of  breaking  in  the  township, 
in  section  three,  in  the  spring  of  1856.  They 
also  put  up  the  first  dwelling  houses  in  Oakland, 
of  logs. 

From  the  oflBcial  records  we  glean  that  the  first 
title  to  land  was  acquired  by  George  N.  Crane,  to 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  thirty,  on  the  15th 
day  of  August,  1856. 

OFFICIAL   RECORD. 

The  first  election  or  town  meeting  held  within 
the  boundaries  of  Oakland,  and,  in  fact,  at  which 
the  town  organization  was  efl'ected,  took  place  on 
the  5th  of  April,  1857,  at  the  house  of  Thomas 
Kiley  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  town.  The 
gentleman,  at  whose  house  the  meeting  was  held, 
was  made  clerk,  and  Asa  Bullock  was  chosen  mod- 
erator. After  the  usual  preliminaries  the  matter 
of  electing  township  officials  for  the  ensuing  year 
was  turned  to,  and  after  the  polls  were  closed  it 
was  found  there  were  31  votes  cast,  and  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  declared  elected:  Supervisors, 
Asa  Bullock,  Chairman,  Willard  L.  Carpenter,  and 
Henry  Hollenshead;  Clerk,  Cornelius  Kennevan; 
Collector,  John  Murane;  Assessor,  John  Murane; 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  Cornelius  Kennevan;  Consta- 
ble, James  Kobinson ;  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  James 
Robinson;  Pound  Master,  Asa  Bullock,  Jr. 

Public  matters  have  been  attended  to  with  zeal 
and  honesty,  and  through  the  capability  of  the 
gentlemen  who  have  officiated  there  has  been  no 
waste  of  public  funds;  but  economy  has  tempered 
all  expenditures.  At  the  last  annual  town  meet- 
ing, held  in  the  spring  of  1882,  tLie  following 
gentlemen  were  made  officers  for  the  ensuing 
year:  Supervisors,  Frank  Merchant,  Chairman, 
D.  C.  Kennevan,  and  A.  Lesum ;  Clerk,  A.  G.Wise- 
man; Assessor,  Edward  Cotter;  Treasurer,  John  J. 
Roylston;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  E.  B.  Earl  and 
William  Chester.  Town  meetings  are  held  alter- 
nately at  the  schoolhouses  of  districts  thirty-two 
and  thirty-three.  The  town  now  registers  160 
voters,  although  at  the  last  election  only  43  votes 
were  polled. 

In  1864,  bonds  were  voted  to  the  amount  of 
$1,000  to  pay  bounty  to  volunteers  to  till  the 
quota  assigned  the  town  and  thus  prevent  a  draft. 
In  the  spring  of  1865  another  special  meeting  was 
held  and  again  bonds  were  voted. 

OAKLAND  VILLAGE. 

This  is  located  upon  the  line  of  the  Southern 


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tbat  di^net.    aad  it  is  eisdaed  Ae  fiirf  aeteol  j^^  ^  Aag«L  1854.    Whm  fet  »:ffi^  S« 

■Beliag«8hddat  tbekoaseof  InFailaLiB  ^W  fefepsaSB  fesi  boA&d,  aadte^»E 

tfaefaOof  1861:  TBt  sane  ecaitia<&ttfa>B^at^  ;q,  b^  aa  a«fe  «*d  «-e  to 

neat  bx  ad±^  tfae  qaestaoa,  -Hww  eaa  it  be  tbai  ^^  WkeoMBL    At  tfce  a«e  cf 

Di^»;  Xou  33  hdd  ife  &^  laa^iag  i-  1961,  ^.i,^^^  a  hl.^.^  cfee  at  lfearf«^  CSt. 

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-reois  afterwarJ?"     It  e  futaiw.  aowwia:.    uui  ^^.^^^^^^       ^^^r^mk 

tlie&^sdioal^asiaasldiatfaefidiof  ISPSI.  at  j^  ^.g^^^  ae^ea  ^^a^     Oa  tie  34*  rf  A»- 

fbehcseof  George  OsipeateE.  by  Tl»ei^  Bar-  -^s.  1?;^  ke««iid3&B  Adda  C.  IH^jaL  a 

ko.  witfa  tbiiteeii  seiiafais  OB  tbe  bmeb^     "Qe  ^-^^  ^  Caaadji^    Altar  laatas  iae  above  omu 

pieaeid  ateoODi^  was  esated  of  loes  in  ^  pas^.  Me.  Dadbr  aagaged  is  braaes  »**.  J.  J. 

aortfaea^eni  part  of   aeetiaa  aae,  eailj  IB  Ae  Sg^  ,B»d  p«6^a«DK»si^  as  Jfawwr.  «■ 

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taagfat  bTETaFOsin.  to  aa  ataesdaBeeci  3,^^  ^  j^g  ,ifea^  e(  OaWaad.  wiafe  Apt 


eixteeB  9(iulais.  Ae  necni^  Sorbs  sEETieeF  tao      i«u  fte  mD  bai^  b«BBd  ■  Aas^:.  18S2.  It- 
perHMib.    Tbe  pp^oit  board  of  srinolofieas      jjajbr  ,^  .oWMSed  Ite^aBS^  ■  l^i* 


KaBfalkm:    Siiwtac;  C  B.  Ws^hb;  IjsaE-      jriH  Mfe  tS«  .^mel     Hfe  »as  s^c  to  sek  I;«^a- 
mrr.  A.  T.  Vssaa:  Clai.  A.  Toaas.  tare  at  1ST9  aai  aga»  »  1S»1- 

Dezkkt  Sol  T5. — GSarCed  aa  oia'aaimtMB  i=:  F-t=.-v  B.  Sasi.  k  a  aatiie  of  J<=S=nssm  essiSj, 


18^  aahrariag  ^  feedteirr  b  Ae  soahwesBa^      X«v  Tr^rk.  bnm  oa  tbe  Ckfa  of  Xscis.  ISfti.    ^ 
port  of  tbe  township.    Ibe  €i9t  sebaoi  p%.>ti"wg      paateBflp  e^ae  to  tbe  tMaatj  a  ISK.  aad  be  xe- 


-vasbddattfaelvKeaC  IliaBidE£BaeiaB.«atbe  ^Jed^ia&tibaaaata^&EBigKlSeii 

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eeis  «««  efected:    Diieetoi^  £.  BL  Eaaie:  Cfait  ami  11  riipfr  IT  T*  Ifrimrr: 

A.  D.  Wait.  Jr.;  KeaeaicE.  A.  B.  Waate,  Sr.   Tbe  -rnarTyd  in  aavxe  ^rtS  Iteeesfco'  lieS.  vbsa  be 

fiist  acbool  v^  beld  nt  Ae  s^ae  phrr  as  vas  ibe  ^ras  Mattastky  diechai&td    for  de^sSsj.      He 

MtjUiag.  br  W.  E.  Wait,  vitb  ox  sebofaas  pees-  letKKd  to  kk  bone  aad  (be  aiA  <£ 

o^    ^^sebooifaoaBeBovmaBB^nsca^AtwSBd  iaSLBHi»d3EBS^BsbeA.LasiaiT.    Ibes 

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vbiefa  a  10  foot  adifitina  bae  beea  ande  ^ace.  Os^faad  tovs^p.  vbere  le 

Tbe  keatiaa  of  tbe  bnlSaseAe  southwest  part  ^aee  a^kd  to  ^1  Scat  pKAaae.     fi? 

of  aertaoa  tacaty^aae.    The  piutud  rdBrra^  are:  J^^xe  ed  tbe  PeMse  deva 

I>iieel<Mv  Fater  Sorkob:  Ke^aia^.  Joeeph  Bay-  jjj^ee  yeaas.  «  veesat  bcA^ag  Ae  i 

aoad:   Ckrk.  E.  B  Bade.      Tbe  2a^   taa    of  ]^  -^  iei    -^  -_^,^  -  3*ci  :<  May,  ISSU  leawsis 

sAoal  vas  acaeaded  by  Sorty-^K  pafsis.  So^ekfll-  i      H-  _^--  -_  llr  -.c«eiBt  -w^e.  sr- 

DEmcrXo.  S3l— Tks  'Wi-~tir-.i  swb^iis.  .  jseiH- E.1    1.  Z   ~  _i     1    -.  -.     A  'yksxc-  ISSi 


616 


HTsronr  of  frbeboun  gounty. 


Francis  Mekchant,  Jr.,  one  of  the  early  sellers 
of  this  place,  was  horn  in  France  on  the  20th  of 
September,  1842.  He  came  with  his  parents  to 
America  when  seven  years  old,  resided  in  Oneida 
county,  New  York,  until  185G,  when  they  removed 
to  Wisconsin,  and  a  year  later  to  this  place,  locat- 
ing a  farm  in  section  one,  which  is  still  their 
home.  In  1862,  Francis  enlisted  in  Company  C, 
of  the  Ninth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry;  was 
appointed  First  Lieutenant,  sent  south,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  returned  to  Fort  Snelling,  where 
he  received  a  Captain's  commission  and  was  hon- 
orably discharged.  He  then  returned  to  his 
homo,  and  on  the  11th  of  November,  1866,  mar- 
ried Miss  Annie  Lamping,  formerly  from  Illinois. 
They  have  five  children.  Mr.  Merchant  bouglit 
his  father's  farm  in  1877,  and  now  carries  on  the 
same.his  parents  living  in  Walla  Walla, Washington 
Territory. 

As.\  Rowley  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State, 
born  on  the  12th  of  October,  1830.  He  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Columbia  county,  Wisconsin, 
in  1846,  and  on  the  11th  of  October,  1856.  mar- 
ried Miss  Hutchison  Smith.  They  lived  on  a  farm 
in  Adams  county,  Wisconsin,  for  three  years,  tlieu 
retummg  resided  on  a  farm  adjoining  his  father's 
until  1864,  when  they  came  to  Oakland  and  home- 
steaded  in  section  six.  He  has  since  added  to 
his  farm  and  makes  it  his  home;  he  has  held  town 
offices,  also  church  offices,  being  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Hee  is  the  father  of  four 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  His  eldest 
son  was  graduated  from  the  State  University  in 
1881,  and  the  younger  is  now  in  the  junior  class 
in  the  same  institution,  and  his  daughters  are 
both  prorament  teachers  in  this  county. 

William  T.  Spillane,  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, was  bom  in  Potter  county,  on  the  22d  of  Jan- 
uary, J  856.  When  he  was  sixteen  years  old  he 
came  to  .\lbert  Lea,  and  was  employed  by  H. 
Rowell  in  an  elevator  for  three  years,  then  moved 
to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  attended  school  for  one 
year.  He  subsequantly  took  a  trip  through  Kan- 
sas and  Missouri,  returning  to  this  county  in 
1877.  He  was  engaged  in  buying  wheat  for  Car- 
gill  &  Co.,  being  at  different  stations  on  the  road 
until  the  autumn  of  1879,  when  he  took  charge  of 
the  elevator  in  this  place  and  has  since  held  the 
position. 

Jame>j  ToRRE^"s  was  born  in  Ireland  on  the  15th 


of  October,  1831,  and  when  eighteen  years  old 
emigrated  to  .\merica.  He  lived  in  New  York, 
then  in  Michigan,  and  in  185i>,  started  to  Minne- 
sota, but  on  arriving  in  Illinois,  stopped  and  re- 
mained through  the  winter.  He  was  married  on 
tlie  4th  of  July,  1858,  to  Miss  Charlotte  J.  Finlon. 
E;irly  in  the  spring  they  came  on  to  this  State,  and 
located  a  farm  in  this  township,  which  conta  ins 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  and  is  well  improv- 
ed. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Torrens  have  a  family  of  t«n 
children,  all  but  two  of  whom  are  at  home. 

Alonzo  p.  Warren,  a  native  'of  the  Empire 
State,  was  born  in  Genesee  county,  on  the  2d  of 
September,  1823.  When  he  was  fifteen  years  old 
he  came  to  Racine,  Wisconsin,  where  he  worked 
at  the  carpenter  trade  for  two  and  a  half  years, 
then  returned  to  his  native  State.  After  a  resi- 
dence of  three  years  he  again  came  to  Wisconsin ; 
bought  a  farm  in  Dodge  county,  which  he  carried 
on  for  a  few  years  and  then  came  to  Waupun  and 
opened  a  harness  shop.  He  was  married  on  the 
13th  of  April,  184K,  to  Miss  C.  B.  Rogers.  They 
conducted  a  hotel  for  one  year  ia  Algona,  Winne- 
bago county.  For  a  time  they  lived  in  Alma, 
where  his  wife  died,  on  the  14th  of  September, 
1851,  leaving  a  son  and  a  daughter.  The  8(m  en- 
listed in  the  army,  and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Atlanta.  Mr.  Warren  was  married  to  his  present 
\vife,  formerly  Miss  C.  E.  Fuller,  on  the  9th  of 
October,  1866. 

Henry  Wyent,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
place,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1822.  His 
father  died  when  Henry  was  fifteen  years  old  and 
he  soon  after  moved  with  his  mother  to  a  different 
lacality  in  the  same  State,  and  worked  at  various 
occupations,  finally  renting  a  farm  which  he  car- 
ried on  for  four  years.  He  was  married  in  the 
autumn  of  1849,  to  Miss  Eliza  Showese  and  they 
have  four  children,  three  boys  and  one  girl.  In 
the  fall  of  1845,  Mr.  Wyent  came  to  this  place  and 
took  a  claim  in  section  six,  returning  to  Pennsyl- 
vania for  the  winter,  aud  in  the  spring  brought  his 
family.  At  the  time  of  the  Indian  troul>le  he  sent 
his  family  back  to  their  former  home,  and  enlist- 
ed in  Company  C,  of  the  Second  Minnesota  Cav- 
alry; went  west  and  served  till  the  spring  of  1864, 
when  he  was  mustered  out  at  Fort  Snelling.  He 
tlieu  went  for  his  family,  and  has  since  made  this 
place  his  home.  He  owns  a  good  farm  of  three 
hundred  aud  twenty  acres. 


PICKEREL  LAKE  TOWNSHIP. 


517 


PICKEREL  LAKE, 


OHAPTEB  LXXI. 

DESCRIPTION EARLY  DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZA- 
TION— ARMSTRONG  VILLAGE — RELIGIOUS— SCHOOLS 
—  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

The  town  bearing  this  appellation  is  among  the 
center  towns  of  Freeborn  county,  having  as  its 
contiguous  surroundings,  the  township  of  Man- 
chester on  the  north;  Nunda  on  the  south;  Albert 
Lea  on  the  east;  and  Alden  on  the  west.  It  is 
constituted  as  originally  surveyed  by  the  govern- 
ment officers,  of  thirty -six  sections,  or  23,040 
acres. 

The  surface  of  the  town  may  be  said  to  be 
diversified,  as  we  find  both  timber  and  prairie 
and.  In  early  days  the  greater  pari  of  the  east- 
ern half  of  the  town  was  timber  of  divers  varieties, 
among  which  were  burr  and  black  oak,  maple, 
basswood,  beach,  elm,  butternut,  and  some  black 
walnut,  and  yet  there  are  many  traces  of  this  min- 
iature forest  visible  in  the  region  of  the  lakes, 
some  even  claiming  that  at  least  one-eighth  of  the 
township  is  now  covered  with  timber;  but  we 
think  that  this  statement  is  a  little  overdrawn. 
There  are,  however,  many  spots  of  land  covered 
with  patches  of  oak  openings  and  groves,  as  the 
town  may  be  said  to  be,  in  a  limited  way,  noted 
tor  its  beautiful  landscape  which  is  greatly  en- 
hanced by  these  small  groves  of  timber.  The 
surface  is  rolling,  in  places  given  to  abrupt  hills 
called  "knolls,"  which  also  help  to  make  the 
scenery  picturesque.  One  of  these,  known  as 
"Jennings  Point"  in  section  two,  rises  higher  than 
the  surrounding  country,  and  is  the  highest  point 
in  the  county.  It  is  claimed  by  a  great  many, 
and  through  Freeborn  county  generally  believed, 
that  this  is  the  highest  point  of  land  in  the  State; 
but  this  is  a  very  apparent  mistake,  for  the  very 
report,  (Winchell's  geological  survey  report,  pub- 
lished in  1876),  upon  which  this  theory  is  based, 
contradicts  it.     There  are  three  points  in   Minne- 


sota which  rise  to  a  height  of  200  feet  above  this; 
one  in  Nobles,  one  in  Mower,  and  one  in  Otter 
Tail  county.  It  is  true,  however,  that  this  is  the 
highest  point  in  Freeborn  county,  it  being  1,342 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  ocean,  and  667  feet 
above  Lake  Superior. 

The  soil,  in  the  eastern  part,  is  a  rich  dark 
loam  of  from  two  to  two  and  one-half  feet  in 
depth;  underlaid  by  a  subsoil  of  yellow  clay  of 
about  20  feet,  beneath  which  lies  the  blue  clay. 
As  you  go  westwardly,  to  the  more  open  rolling 
prairie,  the  soil  becomes  of  a  lighter  nature,  with  a 
tendency  to  sandiness,  the  depth  of  which  varies 
from  eight  to  eighteen  inches;  having  a  gravelly 
loam  and  sand  subsoil  of  twelve  feet,  underneath 
which  is  the  sand  bed.  There  is  no  lime  or  sand- 
stone to  speak  of,  but  in  places  there  is  a  prof  usioh 
of  boulders.  The  best  of  water  is  found  at  reas- 
onable depth. 

The  town  is  well  watered  by  various  lakes  and 
streams,  which  are  all  teeming  with  fish,  and  are 
much  frequented  by  seekers  after  sport  of  this 
kind.  White's  Lake  lies  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  town,  covering  about  160  acre.^  in  section 
one;  this  was  originally  known  as  Albert  Lea 
Lake,  but  since  1856,  when  A.  W.  White  pre- 
empted a  claim  touching  it,  the  lake  has  been 
known  under  its  present  name.  Pickerel  Lake, 
after  which  the  town  was  named,  derives  its  appel- 
lation from  the  abundance  of  fish  of  this  name 
which  are  found  in  its  waters.  It  lies  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  town,  in  sections  thirteen  and 
twenty-four,  and  extends  into  the  town  of  Albert 
Lea;  a  large  tract  of  land  northwest  of  this  lake 
is  marked  on  the  map  as  overflown  land  and  use- 
less for  farming  purposes.  In  sections  twenty- 
three  and  twenty-six  are  located  the  Little  Oyster 
Lakes,  so  called  because  of  their  shape,  and  it  is 
made  a  joke  that  on  wet  occasions  they  open  their 
mouths  in  the  shape  of  an  inlet  to  admit  fresh 
water.      Next  comes  the  upper  Twin   Lake,  the 


518 


UIsrORT  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


largest  body  of  water  in  tho  township,  lying  in 
the  southeastern  part,  mostly  in  section  thirty- 
five,  and  extending  southward  to  make  connection 
with  its  twin,  the  Lower  L>ike,which  lies  in  NiinJa 
township.  A  number  of  other  small  bodies  of 
water  are  scattered  through  the  town,  which  are 
sometimes  called  lakes,  but  more  properly  known 
as  ponds.  The  lakes  of  this  town  are  the  headwa- 
ter of  the  Shell  Kock  River. 

FIRST  SETTLESrENT. 

Charles  and  William  Wilder  (or  as  many  spell 
it,  Weilder, )  and  A.  D.  Pinkerton,  made  their  ap- 
pearance and  located  on  and  about  section  twelve 
in  1855.  Charles  Wilder  at  once  commenced  and 
completed  the  first  dwelling  shanty  in  the  town- 
ship. They  remained  on  the  places  for  some 
years  but  have  now  all  gone  to  other  parts. 

In  the  following  spring,  1856,  John  Kuble,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  who  had  stopped  for  a 
time  in  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  make  his  appear- 
ance and  was  the  next  settler  in  the  towushij).  He 
brought  his  family  with  him  and  settled  upon 
160  acres  in  section  twelve,  where  he  opened  the 
first  farm  in  the  township  and  still  remains  a 
prominent  man  in  Freeborn  county. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  another  settler 
crowded  into  this  section.  This  was  A.  W.  White 
after  whom  the  lake  was  named.  He  was  a  native 
of  the  Empire  State,  and  remained  upon  his  farm 
until  1861,  when  he  removed  to  the  village  of 
Albert  Lea,  where  he  still  resides.  Section 
twenty-nine  received  a  settler  the  same  fall,  in  the 
person  of  Louis  Marplee,  of  the  German  Fader- 
land,  who  settled  in  the  section  mentioned  and  re- 
mained there  until  1866  when  he  removed  to 
Nunda.  Several  of  his  countrymen  came  in  this 
fall,  and  were  the  vanguard  of  that  determine<l 
band  which  subsequently  followed  and  now  about 
monopolize  the  township. 

Henry  Schneider  and  Frederick  Fink,  Germans, 
both  came  this  fall  and  settled.  The  former  drop- 
ped anchor  in  section  fifteen  where  his  moorings 
still  remain  fast,  and  Mr.  Pink  also  placed  him- 
self on  a  place  in  the  same  section,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1H7()  and  then  moved  to  his  present 
place  in  section  twenty-nine.  He  is  a  prominent 
man  in  public  matters, 

Christian  Bohle,  of  the  same  nationality,  came 
about  the  same  time  as  Fink  and  settled  in  section 
fifteen  where  he  yet  remains.     All  of  these  parties 


had  just  come  from  the  state  of  New  York,  where 
they  had  sojourned  for  a  time. 

Section  eleven  ,in  the  Ruble  settlement,  received 
an  additional  settler  also  about  the  same  time  as 
the  last  named,  in  the  fall  of  185G,  in  the  person  of 
Frederick  Woodward,  fresh  from  the  "Badger 
State,"  who  secured  a  habitation  there  and  re- 
mained until  1861.  when  he  enlisted  in  the  army, 
and  upon  his  return  settled  in  Iowa,  where  he 
lived  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

Early  in  the  following  spring,  1857,  Charles 
and  A.  K.  Norton,  natives  of  the  "Green  Moun- 
tain" State,  who  had  been  whiling  away  a  short 
time  in  Racine  county,  Wisconsin,  drifted  into  this 
township.  Charles  planted  his  stakes  on  a  pleas- 
ant farm  in  sections  thirteen  and  fourteen,  while 
his  brother,  A.  K.  Norton,  bought  land  in  sections 
thirteen  and  twenty-three,  where  he  remained  un- 
til 1861  when  he  enlisted  in  the  army,  and  upon 
liis  return  settled  in  Freeborn  township,  where  he 
still  lives. 

Luther  Smith  also  arrived  this  spring.  He  was 
a  native  of  New  York  and  settled  in  section  three, 
where  he  lived  until  the  war  broke  out  when  he 
also  enlisted,  but  never  returned,  finding  a  lonely 
grave  in  the  sunny  south.  His  family  have 
gone. 

After  1857  the  ingress  upon  the  government 
land  of  the  town  wa?  so  rapid  and  incessant  that 
it  is  impossible  to  note  them  all,  but  we  will  try 
and  give  a  few  of  the  most  important. 

E.  Jennings,  a  native  of  New  York,  first  made 
his  appearance  in  this  township  in  the  spring  of 
1862,  but  returned  to  Illinois  for  his  family  which 
he  had  left  there,  and  did  not  re-arrive  here  until 
18(i5,  when  he  settled  on  the  place  where  he  now 
lives,  in  sections  two  aid  three. 

Tlie  settlement  in  the  western  portion  of  the 
township  did  not  commence  until  about  1860, 
when  L.  L.  Lovell  made  his  appearance  and  took 
a  farm  in  or  adjoining  what  was  afterwards  known 
as  Lovell's  grove  in  section  eight.  W.  G.  Bloe 
came  with  Lovell  from  the  eastern  States  and 
took  a  place  in  section  eighteen.  He  remained 
here  until  1872  when  he  left  the  county. 

In  1863,  Mortimer  Whitney  came  and  took  a 
a  place  in  section  seven  where  he  remained  until 
1871,  when  he  removed  to  Owatonna,  and  still 
holds  forth  in  tho  latter  place. 

N.  H.  Stone,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was 
another  early  settler,  arriving  in    1864,  and  still 


PICKEREL  LAKE  TOWNSHIP. 


519 


lives  in  the  town.  Also  Knudt  Knudtson,  a  na- 
tive of  Norway,  arrived  during  the  same  year  and 
still  remains;  it  is  said  be  is  the  only  representa- 
rive  of  the  Norwegian  race  in  the  (ownship. 

ITEMS    OF  INTEREST. 

The  first  death  to  occur  in  the  township,  was 
the  demise  of  Mrs.  Christian  Bohle  in  January, 
1859;  she  had  been  living  on  section  fifteen. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  town  took  place  on 
the  6th  of  July,  1859,  and  united  the  destinies  of 
Frederick  Fink  and  Miss  Frederica  Weiser;  the 
ceremony  being  performed  by  B.  McCarty,  Esq. 
The  bridegroom  went  to  Mitchell  county,  Iowa, 
and  from  there  brought  his  bride  to  John  Ruble's 
place  in  section  twelve,  on  foot,  where  the  cere- 
mony took  place.  They  still  reside  in  the  town- 
ship. 

The  first  birth  within  the  limits  of  the  town, 
was  on  the  night  of  the  14th  of  September,  1857, 
and  ushered  into  existence,  Amelia,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Harrietta  Ruble,  in  the  old  log  house  in 
section  twelve.  She  still  lives  with  her  parents  in 
the  township,  and  at  her  birth-place. 

County  Seat. — It  is  claimed  that  when  the 
matter  of  where  the  county  seat  should  be  located, 
was  being  agitated,  a  meeting  was  held  in  John 
Ruble's  barn  yard,  for  the  purpose  of  feeling  the 
public  pulse  on  the  matter,  and  it  was  found  that 
there  were  only  seven  legal  voters  in  the  town;  but 
after  the  election  was  over,  counting  the  polls  dis- 
closed that  forty -five  votes  had  been  cast.  We  can- 
not explain. 

INDUSTKIAL      ENTEKPKISBS. 

Some  years  ago  John  Ruble  erected  a  shop  on 
his  place  in  section  twelve,  and  hired  a  brawny 
son  of  vulcan  to  manipulate  the  bellows. 

In  the  year  1868,  Anson  Hanf  erected  on  sec- 
tion eleven,  a  16x20  frame  shop  in  which  he  did 
blacksmithing  until  1876,  when  he  made  it  a  part 
of  his  barn,  and  in  1878  erected  the  building  he 
now  occupies  in  section  eleven,  the  size  16x18, 
and  does  his  own  work. 

Several  parties,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  sixties, 
burned  lime  in  section  twelve  with  moderate  suc- 
cess. 

OFFICIAL     RECORD. 

Pickerel  Lake  was  first  annexed  for  local  gov- 
ernment purposes  to  the  township  of  Manchester- 
in  its  organization  in  1858,  and  thus  remained 
until   1860,  when   the  County   Commissioners,  in 


answer  to  a  petition,  annulled  its  connection  to 
Manchester  and  made  it  a  part  of  Albert  Lea 
township.  Finally,  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
board  of  County  Commissioners,  held  at  Albert 
Lea  the  8th  of  September,  1865,  a  petition  was 
presented  signed  by  William  C.  Pentecost  and 
twenty-four  other  legal  voters  and  residents  of 
Pickerel  Lake,  asking  to  be  separated  from  Albert 
Lea  and  made  a  separate  political  organization. 
The  request  was  granted,  and  on  motion  of  Com- 
missioner Andrews,  it  was  ordered  by  the  board 
that  $400  of  a  special  tax  of  $1,500,  voted  for 
roads  and  bridges,  and  for  finishing  the  county 
buildings,  be  granted  Pickerel  Lake  for  roads  and 
bridges.  The  board  then  selected  the  following 
as  township  officers  until  the  time  of  the  annual 
election:  Supervisors,  John  Ruble,  Chairman, 
J.  France,  and  J.  H.  Converse;  Clerk,  A.W.White; 
Treasurer,  E.  Jennings;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  R. 
C.  Cady  and  William  Schneider;  Constables,  O. 
Kenfield  and  Peter  Lampman.  The  Clerk  refused 
to  qualify,  but  his  place  was  readily  filled  by  the 
appointment  of  R.  C.  Cady. 

The  first  annual  election  was  held  at  the  house 
of  John  Ruble  on  the  3d  of  April,  1866,  and  the 
following  officers  were  elected:  Supervisors,  John 
Ruble,  Chairman,  Joseph  France,  and  J.  H.  Con- 
verse; Justices  of  the  Peace,  R.  C.  Cady  and  Wil- 
liam Schneider;  Assessor,  John  Ruble;  Treasurer, 
E.  Jennings;  Constables,  William  Weiser  and  O. 
Kemfield;  Clerk,  R.  C.  Cady;  Overseer  of  High- 
ways, A.  C.  Howe,  W.  C.  Whitney,  J.  Smith,  E. 
Ames,  and  A.  C.  Davis.  A  couple  of  these  parties 
also  refused  to  qualify,  but  their  places  were  filled 
by  the  appointment  of  Peter  Lampman. 

At  the  last  annual  town  meeting,  held  in  the 
spring  of  1882,  the  following  officers  were  elected: 
Supervisors,  J.  George  Widmann,  Chairman, 
Charles  Schneider,  and  Charles  Kreuger:  Clerk, 
Charles  H.  Ruble;  Treasurer,  Henry  Ruethe;  As- 
sessor, H.  S.  Holt;  Jtistices  of  the  Peace,  B.  A. 
Cady  and  S.  A.  Foster.  The  Judges  of  this  elec- 
tion were  Charles  Martin,  George  Widmann,  and 
Charles  Schneider..  The  sum  of  .f  700  was  voted 
tor  the  roads  and  bridges. 

The  public  matters  pertaining  to  the  town  have 
always  been  in  good  hands  and  ably  managed; 
there  never  having  been  any  extravagance  or  use- 
less expenditure  of  public  money. 

ABMSTRONG  VILLAGE. 

This  is  the  only  village  in  the  township  of  Pick- 


520 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY. 


erel  Lake,  aud  is  the  youngest  village  in  Freeborn 
county,  if  it  cau  be  called  a  village,  for  probably 
the  name  of  Station  would  be  more  appropriate. 
It  is  located  in  the  eastern  part  of  section  four,  on 
the  Southern  Minnesota  railroad,  about  Ave  miles 
from  Albert  Lea,  the  county  seat. 

It  came  into  existence  in  1878,  at  the  instiga- 
tion of  T.  H.  Arm.strong,  who  that  year  erected  an 
elevator,  and  a  store  building  was  also  built  the 
same  spring  by  Jason  T.  Goward.  A  Post-office 
was  established  in  1882,  and  G.  H.  Kenerson  was 
appointed  Postmaster,  and  still  holds  the  office. 

In  1879,  a  Mr.  Dewey  erected  a  blacksmith 
shop,  and  commenced  hammering  the  anvil:  but 
he  left  in  1880. 

The  railroad  company  erected  the  depot  in 
1879,  and  it  was  opened  with  P.  D.  Barticns,  sta- 
tion agent.     The  present  agent  is  F.  D.  Babcock. 

This  is  about  all  that  can  be  said  of  the  village; 
it  may  have  a  future  and  it  undoubtedly  has;  but 
as  to  what  that  future  will  be,  time  must  deter- 
mine. 

STATISTICS. 

We  have  gathered  from  the  report  of  the 
County  Auditor  to  the  Commissioner  of  Statistics, 
and  elsewhere,  a  number  of  items  which  we  pre- 
sent in  this  connection,  to  give  an  idea  of  the 
agricultural  resources  of  the  township,  and  from 
which  the  reader  can  determine  the  wealth  and 
productiveness  of  the  town. 

The  Ye.\r  1881. — Showing  the  acreage  and 
yield  of  the  various  crops: 

Wheat — 2,340  acres,  yielding  29,.550  bushels. 

Oats — 460  acres,  yielding  16,300  bushels. 

Corn — 517  acres,  yielding  18,850  bushels. 

Barley — 50  acres,  yielding  1,300  bushels. 

Potatoes-^'16  acres,  yielding  4,926  bushels. 

Cultivated  Hay — 6  acres,  yielding  10  tons. 

Other  products — 40  acres. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  the  year  1881 — 
3,459. 

Wild  Hay  gathered— 2,445  tons. 

Apple  trees — growing,  800. 

Sheep — 31  sheared;  yielding  489  pounds  of 
wool. 

Cows — 223,  yielding   14,200  pounds  of  butter. 

Bees— Five  hives. 

The  Year  1882.  —Wheat,  2,030  acres;  oats,  484; 
corn,  827;  barley,  85;  potatoes,  50;  cultivated 
hay,  27;  liax,  20;  total  acreage  cultivated  in  1882, 
3,523. 


Apple  trees  growing — 300;  apple  trees  bearing, 
100. 

Milch  cows — 346. 

Sheep — 220,  yielding  1,440  pounds  of  wool. 

Whole  number  of  farms   reported  in   1881  —50. 

Forest  trees — Whole  number  of  acres  planted 
and  growiag,  20. 

PoPt'LATiox. — The  census  of  1870  gave  Pickerel 
Lake  township  a  population  of  337.  The  last 
census,  taken  in  1880,  reports  it  as  having  533. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  John  Kulile,  in  section  twelve,  in  the 
year  1861,  by  a  German  Lutheran  divine,  the 
Eev.  Mr.  Charles  Bucholz.  Since  that  time  ser- 
vices have  been  continued  at  various  pla  'es  in  the 
township,  and  two  church  organizations  have 
come  into  existence,  a  sketch  of  each  of  which 
will  be  given.  It  is  stated  that  a  Rev.  Mr.  Smith 
held  services  in  the  town  at  an  early  day;  also  in 
Mr.  John  Buble's  house. 

Gekm.^n  Lutheran  Church. — This  denomina- 
tion held  services  at  an  early  day,  and  in  1874  an 
organization  was  effected  in  the  schoolhouse  of 
District  No.  57,  with  fourteen  members,  Rev.  H. 
Kretzchmer  being  the  officiating  minister.  In 
1878,  the  need  of  an  edifice  in  which  to  worship 
God  became  too  apparent,  aud  the  present  church 
building  used  by  the  Society  was  erected.  It  is 
a  frame  building  about  20x30,  12  foot  posts,  and 
cost  i81,200,  being  nicely  furnished.  The  present 
minister  is  Rev.  J.  Kettle,  and  the  Society  is  now 
composed  of  about  thirty  members.  The  church 
is  located  in  section  eleven. 

German  M.  E.  Society. — There  are  conflicting 
statements  as  to  the  organization  of  this  society, 
and  suffice  it  to  say  that  it  was  effected  prior  to 
1873;  for,  in  that  year  we  find  the  church  edifice 
now  in  use  by  this  denomination,  being  erected 
by  subscription  on  secticm  twenty-tree,  size  24x36, 
with  14  foot  posts.  The  first  preaching  was  done 
by  Rev.  A.  Bibighansen,  with  twenty  members 
constituting  his  audience.  The  present  minister 
is  Rev.  A.  H.  Koemer,  of  Albert  Lea. 

In  connection  with  this  church  the  society  have 
laid  out  a  cemetery  adjoining,  containing  four 
acres,  which  is  neatly  fenced,  well  kept,  and 
splendidly  located.  The  first  burial  here  was 
Pi'itz  Brantz,  in  the  winter  of  1876,  and  now  there 
are  about  thirty  headstones  marking  the  last  rest- 
ing places  of  those  departed. 


PIUKEREL  LAKE  TOWNSHIP. 


521 


MEDIUMS    OF    EDUCATION. 

As  to  the  facilities  for  the  gaiuing  of  knowledge, 
Pickerel  Lake  township  is  supplied  with  five  dis- 
tricts, which  are  all  in  good  running  order,  with  a 
good  attendance  of  scholars.  Their  numbers  and 
the  location  of  their  buildings  are  as  follows:  No. 
39,  schoolhouse  in  section  12;  No.  56,  in  .section 
7;  No.  57,  in  section  22;  No.  69,  in  section  19; 
No.  102,  in  section  24.  A  short  sketch  of  each  of 
the  districts  is  below  given,  showing  the  organiza- 
tion, and  history  of  their  progress. 

District  No.  39. — Was  the  first  district  to  come 
into  official  existence  in  the  township,  effecting  an 
organization  in  1862,  with  the  following  as  its  offi- 
cers; Directoi',  John  Murphy;  Clerk,  Charles  Nor- 
ton; Treasurer,  John  Ruble.  The  first  school  was 
taught  in  John  Ruble's  log  house,  by  Miss  Bassett, 
with  ten  scholars  present,  and  school  was  held  here 
until  1855,  when  a  frame  house  was  erected  on 
land  owned  by  George  S.  Ruble,  in  section  eleven, 
at  a  cost  of  .^700,  which  is  still  in  use.  The  last 
teacher  was  Miss  Norton,  with  an  attendance  of 
twelve  scholars.  The  present  officers  are:  W.  C. 
Norton,  Charles  H.  Ruble,  and  John  Ruble,  re- 
spectively Clerk,  Director,  and  Treasurer. 

District  No.  56. — Effected  an  organization  in 
1864  by  the  election  of:  Director,  Frederick  Rick- 
ard;  Clerk,  L.  L.  Lovell;  and  Treasurer,  N.  H. 
Spoon.  The  nest  year  a  school  building  was 
constructed,  14sl6  feet,  at  a  cost  of  S150,  which 
occupied  a  site  in  section  eight  until  1868,  when 
it  was  moved  to  the  present  site  in  the  southeast- 
ern part  of  section  seven,  of  which  the  district  as 
yet  has  no  title.  In  1879,  the  present  school 
structure  was  erected  on  the  same  location,  size, 
16x22  feet,  at  a  cost  of  |300.  The  first  school  in 
this  district  was  taught  in  the  fall  of  1864,  in  Mr. 
Lovell's  house,  in  section  eight,  by  Kate  Nichols, 
with  seven  scholars  present.  The  present  officers 
are:  Clerk,  R.  Hanf:  Director,  Benjamin  Randall; 
Treasurer,  Knute  Knuteson ;  Malon  Howe  was  the 
last  teacher,  with  twenty-three  pupils. 

District  No.  57. — Was  the  next  district  to 
effect  on  organization,  which  it  did  in  April,  1869, 
with  Messss.  Fred  Fink.  Henry  Weisser,  and  Hen- 
ry Eberhart,  as  its  officers.  The  schoolhouse  was 
constructed  the  same  year,  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  section  twenty-three,  Henry  Weisser  do- 
nating the  land.  The  size  is  16x20  and  cost  $300. 
The  first  teacher  was  Miss  Nancy  Ruble,  and 
there  were  twelve  juveniles  upon  the   hardwood 


benches.  The  last  board  consisted  of:  Director, 
H.  Drommerhauseu;  Clerk,  William  Schneider; 
Treasurer,  William  Weisser,  (now  deceased).  The 
The  last  teacher  was  Miss  Hannah  Daniels.  This 
house  has  been  used  a  great  deal  for  religious 
purposes. 

District  No.  69. — A  special  meeting  was  held 
at  August  Yost's  house  in  section  nineteen,  on 
the  16th  of  Aprd,  1881,  at  which  bonds  were  vot- 
ed to  the  amount  of  #300  to  build  a  schoolhouse 
and  organization  was  effected  by  the  election  of 
the  following  officers:  Director,  Fred  Fink;  Clerk, 
August  Yost;  Treasurer,  H.  Sohulenburg;  there 
were  ten  votes  cast.  In  the  same  year  the  house 
was  erected  on  land  belonging  to  C.  M.  McKee, 
size  16x24,  at  a  cost  of  |316.  The  first  school  was 
taught  by  Katie  Everhardt,  to  an  attendance  of  ' 
twelve;  the  last  was  taught  by  Miss  Ella  Ruble, 
with  thirteen,  The  same  officers  still  manage  the 
affairs  of  the  district. 

District  No.  102.— The  finst  taught  was  in  the 
summer  of  1876,  in  a  carpenter  shop  on  Mr. 
Widmans  land,  by  Katie  Eberhart,  with  eight- 
een or  twenty  scholars.  The  following  year,  1877, 
a  neat  frame  house  was  erected  in  the  southwest- 
ern corner  of  section  twenty- four,  at  a  cost  of 
$300.  The  district  was  organized  by  the  elec- 
tion of  the  following  officers:  Clerk,  George 
Widman;  Treasurer,  Mr.  Jeklin;  Director,  F. 
Schneider.  The  present  officers  are,  Messrs.  L. 
Jeklin,  Director;  George  Widman,  Clerk;  and 
John  Kaemmer,  Treasurer.  Miss  Carrie  Norton 
was  the  last  instructor,  to  an  attendance  of  about 
thirty  scholars. 

BIOGBAPHICAIi. 

F.  D.  Babcock,  is  a  native  of  Iowa,  born  in 
Bradford,  Chickasaw  county.  He  attended 
school  there  until  eighteen  years  old,then  removed 
to  Herseyville,  Wisconsin,  and  completed  his  edu- 
cation, residing  with  his  grand-parents  for  a  year 
and  a  half.  He  returned  to  his  native  State,  but 
in  a  year  returned  to  ^Visconsin  and  remained  six 
years.  He  then  came  to  Minnesota,  resided  in 
Hokah,  Houston  county,  Hayward,  and  Arm- 
strong, in  this  county,  returned  to  Whalen,  Hous- 
ton county,  and  in  July,  1882,  came  again  to 
Armstrong,  where  he  now  resides.  He  is  station 
agent  and  telegraph  operator,  having  learned  tel- 
egraphy in  Wisconsin.  He  was  married  in  the 
latter  State,  in  Herseyville,  in  December,  1880,  to 
Miss  Frankie  C.   Palmer,  a  native  of  Virginia,  in 


522 


irisTonr  of  fkbebohn  county 


thiit  State.  Her  fatber  was  killod  iu  the  army 
and  her  mother  still  resides  iti  Wisconsin.  Mr. 
Babcock's  father  died  in  South  Carolina  in  1881, 
aged  fifty  years,  and  his  mother  resides  in  Wis- 
consin, aged  forty-nine.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  M,  E.  Church. 

B.  \.  Cady,  was  born  in  Saratoga  county,  New 
York,  in  1849,  and  removed  from  his  native  State 
when  two  years  old,  coming  to  Omro,  Wisconsin. 
He  attended  school  in  the  latter  State  and  finished 
his  education  in  Minnesota,  having  come  to  Pick- 
erel Lake  in  1861.  He  was  married  in  Albert 
Lea  on  the  7th  of  February,  1875,  to  Mary  A. 
Kichards,  a  native  of  New  York.  When  a  child 
she  came  with  her  parents  to  Fox  Lake,  Dodge 
county,  Wisconsin,  and  resided  until  1872,  then 
moved  to  Albert  Lea,  and  remained  until  her  mar- 
riage. She  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 
Her  parents  still  live  in  the  latter  place.  Mr. 
Cady's  father  is  a  native  of  New  York,  and  now 
lives  in  Kansas.  His  mother  was  liorn  in  Ver- 
mont, and  died  in  Pickerel  Lake  in  1878,  aged 
fifty-nine  years.  He  has  a  brother  living  in  Al- 
bert Lea,  who  has  been  employed  in  the  Post- 
office  there  for  several  years. 

Barbara  Eberhaudt  is  a  native  of  Germany, 
born  in  1838,  and  emigrated  with  her  jjareuts  to 
America  when  seven  years  old.  They  located  in 
Wisconsin  where  Barbara  received  a  common 
school  education,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years  was  married  to  Henry  Eberhardt.  He  was 
born  in  Germany  iu  1838,  and  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  America  when  ten  years  old.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen  years  he  entered  the  ministry,  preach- 
ing for  three  years  in  a  German  Methodist  clmrch 
in  Wisconsin.  He  was  then  married  and  moved 
to  Des  Moines  county,  Iowa,  where  he  preached 
five  years  and  in  1865,  returned  to  Wisconsin ;  but 
two  years  later,  his  health  failing,  he  came  to 
Pickerel  Lake,  in  section  twenty-three,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming.  After  a  time  his  health  was 
restored  and  he  returned  to  the  ministry,  removed 
to  Hokah  and  was  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  church 
three  years  when  his  health  again  became  impair- 
ed and  he  returned  to  his  farm  where  he  died  in 
1875,  aged  thirty-seven  years,  and  is  buried  in  the 
cemetery  near  his  home.  He  left  a  widow  and  five 
children;  Annie  K.,  twenty -one  years  of  age;  Ed- 
ward H.,  eighteen  years;  Emma  E.,  fifteen; 
Amelia,  twelve;  and  Alfred,  aged  seven  years. 
Mrs.  Eberhardt  has  kept  her  children  all  together, 


educated  them  and  carried  on  the  farm.     She  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  church  in  this  place. 

Anson  Hanf,  one  of  the  old  settlers 
of  the  county  and  the  first  to  open  a  black- 
smith shop  in  .■\lbert  Lea,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many on  the  5th  of  June,  1833.  When  ten  years 
old  he  came  with  his  parents  to  America  and  first 
resided  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  a  short  time, 
then  moved  to  Kacine  county,  and  in  1848,  to 
Dodge  county.  He  was  married  there  on  the  17th 
of  June,  1856,  to  Miss  Verletti  Perry,  and  in  Sep- 
tember following  they  went  to  Kansas.  That 
State  not  suiting  tliem  for  a  home  they  returned 
to  Dodge  county,  and  in  May,  1858,  came  to  Min- 
nesota, locating  in  Mower  county,  but  in  less  than 
a  year  moved  to  Oakland  in  this  county.  In 
March.  1860,  Mr.  Hanf  removed  to  Albert  Lea, 
and  as  previously  stated  opened  a  blacksmith  shop 
where  he  continued  to  hammer  until  1864,  then 
purchased  a  farm  in  section  eleven,  Pickerel  Lake 
township,  moved  to  it  and  has  since  made  it  his 
home.  In  1870,  he  was  Chairman  of  the  board  of 
Supervisors,  but  since  that  has  taken  no  part  in 
politics.  He  is  the  father  of  si.x  children,  three 
boys  and  three  girls. 

KoBEUT  Hanf  was  born  in  Dodge  county,  Wis- 
consin, on  the  22d  of  March,  1852.  He  resided 
with  his  parents  until  March.  1874,  when  he  made 
a  trip  to  Nebraska;  remained  during  the  summer, 
and  iu  October  came  to  this  township,  buying 
land  in  section  seven.  For  several  years  he  spent 
the  summers  on  his  farm  and  in  the  fall  returned 
to  his  home  in  Wisconsin,  where,  on  the  18tli  of 
July,  1879,  he  married  Amelia  Suenther.  They 
have  since  made  this  place  their  home,  and  have 
been  blessed  with  one  child,  Minnie.  Mr.  Hnnf 
is  Clerk  of  his  school  district. 

EuMENES  Jennings  was  born  in  Jefferson  county. 
New  York,  on  the  6th  of  July,  1819.  He  grew 
to  manhood  and  was  married  in  his  native  State 
to  Miss  L.  C.  Haskins,  the  ceremcmy  dating  the 
24th  of  October,  1842.  In  July,  1858,  they  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  locating  in  Antioch,  Lake 
county,  where  they  remained  until  coming  to  Min- 
nesota in  the  spring  of  1861.  They  first  lived  m 
Olmsted  county  one  year,  then  came  to  Pickerel 
Lake  and  settled  in  section  two.  The  following 
September  they  returned  to  Illinois,  but  in  tlie 
spring  of  1865  again  sought  a  home  in  this 
township  where  they  have  since  remained.  Of  a 
family  of   nine  children,  seven  are  living.     Mr. 


PICKEREL  LAKE  TOWNSHIP. 


523 


Jennings  was  elected  Town  Treasurer  at  the  first 
town  meeting,  whicb  was  in  the  fall  of  18(!5,  and 
re-elected  the  following  year.  He  now  devotes 
his  entire  time  to  the  improvement  of  his  home. 

G.  H.  Kenekson  was  born  in  New  Hampshire 
in  1841,  and  lived  in  his  native  State,  attending 
school  until  seven  years  old.  He  then  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Troy,  New  York,  and  six  years 
after  to  Galesville,  Washington  county,  in  both  of 
which  places  he  attended  school.  In  1859,  he 
came  to  Fall  Kiver,  Columbia  county,  Wisconsin, 
and  completed  his  education.  In  the  fall  of  1860 
he  removed  to  Mower  county,  Minnesota,  and 
followed  farming  until  1875,  then  engaged  in  the 
grain  business,  buying  and  shipping.  He  was 
married  on  the  Ist  of  January,  1868,  to  Martha 
Williams.  She  was  born  in  Branch  county,  Mich- 
igan, and  when  fourteen  years  of  age  removed 
with  her  parents  to  Mower  county,  where  she  was 
married.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kenerson  have  had  five 
children,  of  whom  three  are  living;  Era  A.,  aged 
thirteen  years;  Roy  and  Ray,  twins,  aged  seven 
years;  Jessie  died  in  infancy,  and  Daniel  at  the 
age  of  two  years  and  five  months.  Mr.  Kener- 
son's  mother  died  in  Troy,  New  York,  at  the  age 
of  thirty,  and  his  father  in  Rochester,  in  this 
State,  in  1878,  when  seventy-five  years  old.  Mrs 
Kenerson's  parents  reside  in  Dexter,  Mower  coun- 
ty, and  she  is  the  eldest  of  their  ten  children.  Mr. 
Kenerson  came  to  Armstrong  in  the  fall  of  1881, 
and  is  engaged  in  the  grain  business,  and  also 
owns  a  grocery  store.  He  was  appointed  Post- 
master in  June,  1882. 

Fredrick  Leonhardi  is  a  native  of  Illinois, 
born  in  Pales,  Cook  county,  in  1856.  When  he 
was  three  years  old  his  parents  removed  to  Chica- 
go, and  ten  years  after,  a  short  distance  from  there, 
to  Lake  View,  where  Frederick  attended  school 
six  years,  then  clerked  in  the  Post-office  two 
years,  and  afterwards  in  a  grocery  store.  In 
1876,  the  family  came  to  this  county  and  settled 
in  Nuuda.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  joined 
in  marriage  on  the  16th  of  July,  1882,  to  Henri- 
etta Eikhorst.  She  was  born  in  Wheaton,  Du 
Page  county,  Illinois,  in  1864,  and  resided  in  her 
native  place  until  twelve  years  of  age,  then  came 
with  her  parents  to  Mansfield  where  the  marriage 
ceremony  took  place.  She  attended  school  in 
Illinois  and  also  in  Minnesota.  Mr.  Leonhardi 
moved  to  Pickerel  Lake  and  settled  on  a  farm  in 
the  spring  of  1882.     His  mother   died  in   Nunda 


in  February,  1877,  and  his  father  still  lives  in  the 
latter  place.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 

W.  C.  Norton  was  born  in  Chicago  in  1834, 
and  when  four  years  of  age  removed  with  his 
family  to  Burlington,  Wisconsin,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.  He  was  also  married  there 
to  Bell  Bradshaw,  a  native  of  Vermont.  In  the 
fall  of  1858,  they  removed  to  Pickerel  Lake,  aad 
located  a  farm  in  section  thirteen  which  is  now 
their  home.  They  returned  to  Wisconsin 
after  living  here  four  years,  and  remained  six 
years,  since  which  time  this  place  has  claimed  them 
as  residents.  They  have  had  four  children,  three 
of  whom  are  living;  Eva  C,  twenty-three  years 
of  age;  Cora  A.,  eighteen;  Willie  A.,  thirteen; 
and  Mattie  C,  died  at  the  age  of  one  year  and 
and  eight  months.  Mr.  Norton  has  been  Chair- 
man of  the  board  of  Supervisors  for  several  terms, 
Town  Assessor,  and  a  member  of  the  school  board 
several  terms. 

John  Ruble  is  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
the  county,  and  a  pioneer  of  this  township,  hav- 
ing come  in  the  spring  of  1856,  and  is  now  one  of 
the  most  extensive  farmers  in  the  county.  He  is 
a  native  of  Mifflin  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  on 
the  15th  of  September,  1827.  When  he  was  an 
infant  his  parents  moved  to  Ohio  where  his  father 
died  and  the  sons  carried  on  the  farm  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Ruble  was  married  on  the  20th  of 
August,  1849,  to  Miss  Harrietta  Fleck,  and  the 
same  year  came  to  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  where 
they  resided  on  a  farm  until  coming  to  Pickerel 
Lake.  He  first  took  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
about  three  miles  fiom  Albert  Lea,  and  it  has 
since  been  bis  home,  but  is  at  this  period  greatly 
changed.  The  homestead  now  contains  six  hun- 
dred acres  with  fine  buildings'and  a  beautiful 
yard;  our  subject  also  owns  a  farm  and  milling 
interests  in  Martin  county.  In  an  early  day  Mr. 
Ruble  commenced  the  sale  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments, in  which  business  he  has  been  quite  suc- 
cessful, having  an  office  and  warerooms  in  Albert 
Lea.     He  has  a  family  of  ten  children. 

Charles  H.  Ruble,  a  son  of  John  Ruble,  was 
born  in  Wisconsin  on  the  13th  of  July,  1852.  He 
came  with  his  parents  to  this  township  when  four 
years  old  and  has  since  made  it  his  home.  He 
was  elected  Town  Clerk  in  1879,  and  is  school 
Director  in  District  No.  39.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  on  the  29th  of  of  Novemlier,  1881,  with 


524 


HISTORY  OF  FREEB0R1<1  COUNTY. 


Miss  Eliza  Heising.     Their  farm  is  in  section  two 
and  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  township. 

WiiLiAM  Schneider  was  bom  in  Germany  in 
1833,  received  a  common  school  education  and 
learned  the  cabinet  maker's  trade  in  his  native 
coiintrj.  In  1853  he  came  to  America  and 
worked  at  his  trade  for  two  years  at  Batavia, 
New  York,  then  came  to  Farraington,  Iowa,  and 
resided  six  years.  He  was  married  in  1860  to 
Julia  Bruman,  who  was  bom  in  New  Orleans, 
where  her  father  was  the  first  German  Methodist 
preacher.  She  came  to  Iowa  when  young,  and 
there  received  her  education.  Her  father  died 
when  she  was  three  years  old,  and  her  mother 
DOW  lives  in  this  State.  In  1861,  Mr.  Schneider 
enlisted  iu  Company  B,  of  the  Third  Iowa  Cav- 
alry, and  served  sixteen  months;  was  theu  dis- 
charged in  Memphis,  Tennessee,  for  disability, 
and  returned  to  his  home  in  Iowa.  After  a  short 
time  he  removed  to  Pickerel  Lake,  and  located  in 
section  seven,  where  he  now  resides.  He  owns 
three  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  of  land,  with 
two  hundred  improved,  and  has  a  new  largo 
brick  house  and  a  good  bam.  He  has  held  every 
local  office  except  constable,  and  is  now  clerk  of 
his  school  district.  He  organized  the  first  Sab- 
bath school  in  this  part  of  the  town,  himself  and 
wife  being  members  of  the  (Jerman  Methodist 
church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schneider  have  had  nine 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  living;  Emma  H., 
aged  twenty  years;  George  A.,  eighteen;  Matilda, 
twelve;  Sarah  C,  ten;  Willie  K.,  eight;  Walter 
S.,  six;  and  Edward  H.,  four.     Annie  J.  died  at 


the  age  of  one  year,  and  William  F.  at  the  age  of 
one  year  and  four  months,  and  both  are  buried  in 
tlie  cemetery  near  their  liome.  Emma,  the  oldest 
child  became  deaf  from  the  effects  of  scarlet 
fever,  and  when  ten  years  old  entered  the  Fari- 
bault institute,  and  in  seven  years  graduated. 

John  Georoe  Wid.man,  is  a  native  of  Germany, 
born  in  1844  and  reared  on  a  farm.  He  emigra- 
ted to  America  in  1863,  located  in  Wisconsin  and 
engaged  in  farming  there  nine  years.  He  was 
married  in  1869,  to  Annie  Lampert,  a  native  of 
that  State.  They  came  to  this  township  in  1872, 
and  settled  in  section  twenty-three,  which  is  still 
their  home,  having  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
ten  acres.  They  have  seven  children ;  Margaret, 
aged  twelve  years;  Katie,  ten;  George,  eight; 
Annie,  six;  Lizzie,  four;  Frank,  two;  and  Lida, 
an  infant.  Mr.  Widman  has  been  Chairman  of 
the  board  of  Supervisors,  and  a  member  of  the 
school  board  six  years.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  German  Methodist  church. 

AuousT  Yost,  a  native  of  Germany,  was  born 
on  11th  of  February,  1849.  He  emigrated  to 
America  when  seventeen  years  old,  and  directly 
to  Minnosota,  locating  in  this  township.  He  was 
employed  im  farms,  and  made  his  home  with 
Christian  Pestorius,  until  buying  his  present 
place  in  1876.  He  was  married  on  the  1st  of  De- 
cember, 1869,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  C.  Pestorius, 
iiud  they  have  a  family  of  five  children.  Mr. 
Yost's  farm  contains  two  hundred  acres,  situated 
in  section  nineteen,  and  has  a  good  frame  house 
and  barn.     He  is  ('lerk  of  school   district  No.  69- 


BWELAND  TOWNSHIP. 


525 


RICELAND. 


CHAPTER  LXXII. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION — EARLY  SETTLEMENT ITEMS 

OF    INTEREST — POLITICAL — STATISTICAL — EDUCA- 
TIONAL FACILITIES — BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Rioeland  is  one  of  the  eastern  towns  of  Freeborn 
county,  lying  in  the  second  tier  from  the  north,  as 
well  as  the  eastern  county  line.  Its  contiguous 
surroundings  are  as  follows:  Geneva  township  on 
the  north;  Moscow  on  the  east:  Hay  ward  on  the 
south;  and  Bancroft  on  the  west.  It  is  a  full  con- 
gressional towQship  of  36  sections  or  square  miles, 
containing  about  23,010  acres. 

The  western  part  of  the  town  is  what  would  be 
called  burr  and  jack  oak  opening  land,  which  is 
interspersed  with  natural  prairies  and  meadow 
land.  The  general  inclination  is  to  rolling,  and 
here  and  there  are  many  egg-shaped  mounds  cov- 
ered with  timber.  At  one  time  the  lake  was 
bordered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  but  these 
miniature  forests  have  been  greatly  reduced.  The 
heaviest  timber  at  present  is  located  in  sections 
twelve  and  sixteen,  which  is  cut  up  into  timber 
lots  and  owned  by  various  parties.  The  north- 
eastern part  of  the  town  is  marshy  and  not  subject 
to  cultivation.  A  large  marsh  extends  across  the 
southwest  corner,  which  the  Indians  claim  was 
originally  a  lake  of  great  depth  and  large.  It  is 
also  said  that  the  water,  or  the  greater  portion  of 
it,  suddenly  ebbed  away  and  disappeared,  leaving 
boats  and  canoes  on  dry  land,  as  if  by  magic. 
There  are  several  places  in  this  slough  where  it  is 
claimed  no  bottom  can  be  found  to  the  water  sink 
holes. 

The  soil  of  the  town  is  generally  dark  loam;  but 
on  the  knolls  there  is  a  marked  tendency  to  clay- 
eyness.  A  good  acreage  is  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation;  yet  it  is  somewhat  below  the  average 
of  the  townships.  The  low  lands  are  brought  into 
excellent  use  as  hay  land  and  the  crops  raised  are 
as  abundant  as  valuable. 


Rice  Lake  is  one  of  the  larger  lakes  of  Freeborn 
county,  and  we  are  in  doubt  as  to  whether  the 
name  of  this  suggested  the  name  for  the  town  or 
vine  versa ;  but  it  is  certain  the  name  originated 
among  the  Indians  from  the  abundance  of  wild 
rice  in  this  locality.  The  lake  lies  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  the  town,  and  several  small  streams 
find  their  way  from  it  through  the  marshy  tract 
to  the  east. 

EARLY    DAYS. 

We  here  with  present  a  sketch  of  the  early 
events  of  the  town^  which  about  covers  the  ground 
we  should  have   filled    had  it  not   been  for  this. 

I   It  was  prepared  by    D.  G.  Parker,  and  read  by 

;   him  to  the  old  settlers  at  their  annual  re-union  in 

i   1877,  as  follows: 

"Ole  C.  Olson  and  Ole  Hanson  first  settled  this 
town  in  August,1856.  The  former  put  up  a  log  house 
in  the  same  month,  and  opened  the  first  farm  in 
the  latter  part  of  that  season.  Samuel  Beardsley,  a 
blacksmith,  commenced  business  in  the  same  year, 
and  was  the  first  mechanic.  George  P.  Bracket 
was  the  first  merchant,  and  opened  business  in 
1857-  In  1859  Amy  Baker  taught  in  a  private 
house  the  fir.st  public  school.  The  first  school- 
house  was  built  in  1864.  In  1858  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Mapes  held  the  first  religious  services.  The 
Methodists,  in  1859,  established  the  first  orgnniza 

1  tion.  Stephen  Beardsley  and  Sarah  Croy  were 
the  first  parties  married,  George  P.  Bracket  per- 

{  forming  the  ceremony.  In  April,  1858,  the  first 
child  was  born,  in  the  person  of  Caroline  Olson. 
The  first  death  was  that  of  Mr.  Shortledge,  who 
was  frozen  in  April,  1857.     Isaac  Baker  was  the 

j   first  Chairman  of  Supervisors,  and  a  Mr.  Snyder 

I  the  first  Clerk.  In  regard  to  the  first  acquired 
title  to  land,  there  is  some  question  whether  it  was 
Amy  Beardsley  or  Victory  B.  Lossee.  The  evi- 
dence seems  to  be  in  favor  of  the   latter,  who  se- 

I   lected  a  tract  upon  section  twelve,  and  proved  uji 


526 


HISTORY  OF  FREEBORN  .COVNTT. 


May  7,  1856.  The  town  was  organized  at  the 
January  session  ot  the  county  board  in  1858." 

While  the  above  is  in  the  main  correct,  yet 
many  points  will  be  found  corrected  in  another 
column.  The  statement  as  to  the  first  settler  is 
especially  criticised,  and  many,  in  fact  all,  say  it  is 
wrong,  and  that  the  Beardsleys  were  the  first  set- 
tlers. Among  others  who  were  prominent  early 
settlers  the  names  are  remembered  of  a  few  who 
will  be  briefly  mentioned. 

Samuel  A.  Beardsley  and  John.  Hull,  his  son-in- 
law,  together  witli  their  families,  came  by  ox  team 
from  Illinois,  brought  considerable  stock,  and  set- 
tled on  the  south  side  of  Rice  Lake.  Beardsley 
remained  until  about  1860,  when  he  removed  to 
Wisconsin,  and  from  there  went  to  Otter  Tail 
county,  Minnesota,  where  he  yet  is.  Hull  re- 
mained a  short  time  and  went  to  Wisconsin  where 
he  has  since  died,  through  an  accident  with  a 
gun. 

Ole  Halvorsen,  Hans  Larson,  and  Ole Christian- 
son  were  the  first  Norwegians  to  settle  in  tlie 
town. 

In  1858,  we  find  a  number  of  Americans  had 
settled  in  the  township  ,  among  whom  were 
Charles  Williams,  — • —  Brackett,  Joseph  Neil, 
Nels  and  James  Snyder,  Nick  and  John  Reims, 
and  Thomas  Walaska,  who  have  all  long  since 
gone  to  more  congenial  climes. 

In  1858,  quite  a  family  of  pioneers  put  in  an 
appearance  in  the  persons  of  Deacon  Isaac  Baker, 
his  good  wife  Phcebe  and  their  children,  William 
H.,  Charles  E.,  Margaret  N.,  Amy  J.,  Rhoda,  and 
Sarah  E.  Baker.  They  settled  upon  section  twenty, 
and  in  about  seven  or  eight  years  the  father  re- 
moved to  Austin,  where  he  has  since  passed 
away.  The  two  boys,  William  H.  and  Charles  E., 
still  live  in  Riceland,  and  are  among  its  most 
prominent  and  intelligent  citizens. 

Soon  after  this  party  had  got  settled,  Nathan 
P.  Amy  and  Charles  Bartlett,  from  the  eastern 
States,  arrived,  the  former  bringing  the  first  team 
of  horses.    They  have  both  left. 

William  L.  McNish  was  another  early  settler, 
and  still  lives  in  the  township. 

About  1860  the  Norwegians  began  crowding  in, 
as  the  Americans  crowded  out,  and  now  there  are 
only  three  of  the  latter  in  the  to>\;n. 

DECEASED. 

Deacon  Isaac  Baker. — On  the  24th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1879,  this  estimable  man  closed  the  book  of 


natural  life,  at  the  age  of  73  years.  His  first 
apppearance  on  this  stage  of  action  was  at  Wood 
Creek,  Washington  county,  New  York,  on  the 
2-ltli  of  December,  1806.  .\t  the  age  of  six  his 
fathers  family  moved  to  Pennsylvania.  When  22 
years  of  age  his  marriage  took  place  with  Mrs. 
Phiebe  Bear.lsley.  In  February,  the  year  of  his 
death,  the  golden  wedding  was  observed.  In  1843, 
he  removed  to  Shirland,  Winnebago  county,  Wis- 
consin, and  from  thence  to  Riceland,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1870,  when  he  removed  to  Austin. 
Mr.  Baker  and  his  wife  were  two  of  the  six  con- 
stituent members  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Shell 
Rock. 

ITEMS  OF    INTEREST. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  took  place  on  the 
23d  of  .■Vpril.  1858,  and  Caroline  Oleson  came  into 
existence.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ole  C.  Oleson,  who  lived  upon  a  farm  in  section 
thirty,  and  the  child  yet  lives. 

The  earliest  marriage  of  which  there  is  any  rec- 
ord, took  place  on  the  1st  of  January,  1858,  and 
joined  the  future  destinies  of  Stephen  Beardsley 
and  Sarah  Croy. 

It  is  claimed,  and  is  undoubtedly  a  fact,  that 
the  first  death  that  occurred  within  the  limits  ot 
Riceland,  was  that  of  Martha  Hull:  aged  about 
16  months,  in  October,  1857,  of  Scarlet  Fever. 

The  next  was  the  demise  of  Miss  Sarah  Baker, 
on  the  18th  of  July,  1859,  from  a  stroke  of  light- 
ning. It  seems  that  two  sisters.  Amy  and  Sarah, 
were  sleeping  near  a  stove,  and  toward  morning 
a  thunder-storm  arose,  which  scattered  its  bolty 
messengers  with  a  profusion  that  was  terrific,  and 
a  bolt  struck  the  house,  ran  down  the  stove  pipe 
and  glanced  across  the  room,  striking  the  girls 
and  instantly  killed  Sarah,  severely  wounding  her 
sister,  .Amy.  The  Ijolt  then  passed  through  the 
floor  and  down  a  studding  into  the  ground. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  district,  was  held 
at  the  residence  of  Harry  Beardsley  in  section 
sixteen,  in  the  summer  of  1859,  Miss  Amy  Baker 
being  the  instructor. 

The  first  religious  services  held  in  the  township 
were  presided  over  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Phelps,  in  the 
spring  of  1857,  at  the  residence  of  Samuel 
Beardsley. 

The  township  of  Riceland  originally  bore  the 
name  of  Beardsley,  in  honor  of  an  early  and  prom- 
inent pioneer;  but  it  was  finally  changed  by  the 


RICELAND  TOWNSHIP. 


V27 


residents  to  Riceland,  suggested  by  the  name  of 
the  lake. 

BLiCKSMiTH  Shops. — The  first  blacksmith  shop 
in  the  town  was  opened  iu  the  fall  of  18.57,  in  a 
little  log  hut  in  the  northern  part  of  section 
fifteen,  by  Samuel  A.  Beardsley. 

John  Peterson,  a  Norwegian,  in  1880,  erected  a 
one  story,  18x20  foot,  frame  building  in  section 
eighteen,  and  opened  a  shop  for  shoeing,  repair- 
ing, and  blacksmithing  generally,  which  he  still 
continues. 

Saw-Mill. — In  1857,  buildings  were  erected 
on  the  south  shore  of  Rice  Lake,  or  rather  a 
shanty,  by  Samuel  A.  Beardsley,  who  moved  ma- 
chinery from  Rice  county  and  commenced  operat- 
ing a  steam  saw-mill.  The  establishment  continued 
turning  out  lumber  for  about  one  year  when  it 
was  removed  to  Itasca,  When  the  machinery  was 
first  moved  from  Faribault,  Rice  county,  it  was 
jilaced  upon  a  wagon,  with  shelves  or  rnnners 
placed  underneath  to  prevent  the  load  from  drop- 
ping out  of  sight  in  the  deep  mud,  and  in  this 
shape,  behind  a  big  yoke  of  cattle,  the  trip  was 
made. 

Wind-Power  Mill.-  In  1880,  N.  P.  Bartelsoii, 
a  native  of  Denmark,  erected  a  structure,  put  in 
two  run  of  stones,  and  attaching  it  to  a  sixteen 
foot  winged  wind-mill,  commenced  grinding  feed, 
etc.  The  stones  are  what  is  here  termed  hard- 
heads, and  were  dug  from  the  ground  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  mill,  and  manufactured  into  buhrs 
by  Mr.  Bartelson.     The  establishment  cost  about 

»aoo. 

Fairfield  Village. — A  village  under  this  name 
was  platted  by  Samuel  Beardsley,  on  the  south 
shore  of  Rice  Lake  in  section  fifteen,  on  a  pro- 
posed road  from  Fairfield  to  Shell  Rock.  A  Post- 
office  was  established  and  a  regular  mail  route;  ij; 
was  on  the  same  section  as  was  the  saw-mill,  and 
everything  looked  lovely  for  rapid  growth;  but 
that  looked  for  railway  never  came  and  the  village 
became  a  thing  of  the  past. 

Riceland  Lodge  of  Good  Templars. — This 
society  was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1871,  at  the 
house  of  Frank  Ross  in  section  tnenty-eight,  by 
members  of  the  Moscow  Lodge.  The  society  con- 
tinued here  until  December  following,  when  the 
base  of  operations  was  changed  to  what  was  then 
the  village  of  Sumner;  but  the  following  year,  the 
interest  waning,  the  charter  was  surrendered. 

Seventh  Day   Adventists. — The  first  preach- 


ing to  the  adherents  of  this  faith  took  place  in 
186.5,  at  the  house  of  Nels  Hanson,  with  the  Rev. 
John  Mateson  as  minister;  and  after  this,  services 
and  Sabbath  school  have  been  held  regularly  in 
private  residences  and  schoolhouses.  In  1880. 
the  church  was  erected,  size,  20x30,  at  a  cost  of 
S500.  At  the  time  of  organization  the  society 
had  about  thirty-five  members.  Regular  (juar- 
terly  services  have  been  held  since  October,  1865. 
The  present  elder  is  Hans  Rasmusson,  and  the 
Sunday  school  Superintendent  and  Class  Leader 
is  Hans  Johnson.  The  Sunday  school  now  con- 
sists of  about  forty  members.  Preaching  is  held 
about  once  each  month  by  itinerants. 

There  is  a  burial  ground  in  connection  with  the 
church,  which  was  laid  out  in  1872.  The  first 
buriai  here  was  of  the  remains  of  Andrew  Pe- 
terson. 

POLITICAL. 

As  stated  elsewhere,  this  township  was  origin- 
ally known  under  the  caption  of  Beardsley.  The 
first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  residence  of 
Samuel  A.  Beardsley,  but  as  the  records  for  the 
early  years  are  entirely  destroyed,  or  effectually 
misplaced,  any  statement  we  might  make  as  to 
their  proceedings  would  be  merely  "hearsay."  It 
is  claimed  the  first  officers  were:  Supervisors, 
Isaac  Baker,  Chairman,  Charles  Williams,  and 
James  Harris;  Clerk,  James  Snyder.  The  names 
of  the  balance  of  the  officers  have  been  for- 
gotten. 

The  matters  pertaining  to  the  town  have  always 
been  in  capable  hands  and  have  been  attended  to 
with  commendable  zeal  and  honesty.  The  last 
town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  N.  P. 
Bartelson,  on  the  14th  of  March,  1882,  and  the 
following  township  officials  were  elected  and  are 
now  serving :  Supervisois,  John  J.  Jerde,  Chair- 
man; P.  Iverst)n,  and  William  H.  Baker;  Town 
Clerk,  Knud  Ingebretson;  Treasurer, C.  Jacobson; 
Assessor,  B.  K.  Winjum;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  L. 
T.  Bell  and  O.  O.  Bagaason;  Constable,  C.  E. 
Baker.  The  gentleman  named  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  L.  T.  Bell,  has  just  been  nominated  by  the 
Republican  County  Convention  for  the  position  of 
representative  of  his  district  in  the  lower  house  of 
the  Minnesota  Legislature. 

ST.\TISTICAL. 

The  Year  1881. — The  area  included  in  this  re 
port  takes  in  the  whole  town  as  follows: 


528 


niSTOBT  OF  FREKIiOHN  COUNTY. 


Wheat — 4,384  acres;  yielJing  55,376  busliels. 

Oats — 686  acres;  yielding  24,101  bushels. 

Com— 699  acres;  yielding  29,867  bushels. 

Barlev — 130  acres;  yielding  3,146  bushels. 

Potatoes — 49  acres;  yielding  3,735  bushels. 

Sugar  Cane — 6  acres;  yielding  511  gallons. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881 — 5,626    acres. 

Apples — number  of  trees  growing — 1086;  num- 
ber bearing — 399;  yielding  92  bushels. 

Grapes — 15  vines;  yielding  30  pounds. 

Sheep — 243  sheared;  yielding  948  pounds  of 
wool. 

Dairy — 417  cows;  yielding  34,750  pounds  of 
butter. 

The  Ykar  1882.--Wheat,  3,557  acres;  oafs, 
732;  corn,  230;  barley,  144;  rye,  6;  buckwheat, 
2;  potatoes,  57;  sugar  cane,  9;  total  acreage  cul- 
tivated in  1882—4,327. 

Apple  trees — growing,  874;  bearing,  419. 

Grapes — vines  bearing,  30. 

Milch  cows — 337. 

Sheep — 214;  yielding  836  pounds  of  wool. 

Whole  number  of  farms  cultivated  in  1882 — 
106. 

PoprLATioN. — The  census  of  1870  gave  Rice- 
a  population  of  633.  The  last  census,  taken  in 
1880,  reports  783  for  this  town;  showing  an  in- 
crease of  150. 

EDUCATIONAL  FACILITIES. 

District  No.  25. — The  first  board  of  school  offi- 
cers in  this  district  was  as  follows:  Clerk,  H.  lug; 
Treasurer,  O.  Henry;  Director,  John  Jolinsou. 
In  1872,  the  first  schoolhouse  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  S700,  size,  18x20  feet,  which  answered  the  pur- 
pose for  about  ten  years,  when  it  was  dispensed 
with,  and  the  present  neat  frame  building  was 
erected,  size  26x36  feet,  at  a  cost  of  S800,  the  lo- 
cation being  in  the  southeastern  part  of  section 
seven.  The  present  officers  are:  O.  Henrv,  J-  Ja- 
cobson.  and  John  Johnson. 

District  No.  26. — The  first  school  taught  in 
this  district  was  by  Miss  Williams,  with  twenty- 
five  pupils  present.  In  the  summer  of  1861,  the 
citizens  of  the  district  were  called  out,  and  the 
firsl  sehooUiouse  erected  in  section  twenty-nine, 
by  sub.scription,  size,  16x22,  of  logs.  A  new 
frame  building  is  now  in  process  cf  erection  in 
section  twenty-nine,  which  will  be  18x28  feet.  The 
last  school  was  taught  by  Mr.  Arthur  Grow,  with 
thirty-nine  pupils  present. 

District  No.  27. — This  is  one  of  the  younger 


districts  of  the  township,  and  embraces  the  terri- 
tory south  jof  Rice  Lake.  The  present  school- 
house  was  erected  in  1878,  a  frame  building, 
located  in  the  northeastern  jjart  of  section  twenty- 
seven. 

District  No.  88. — The  first  schoolhouse  was 
erected  in  1867,  of  logs,  in  section  nine,  size, 
16x20,  and  cost  .?250,  the  logs  being  furnished  by 
subscription  of  the  citizens.  The  last  term  of 
school  was  taught  in  this  district  by  Robert  En- 
glish, with  fifty-two  pupils  enrolled.  A  new 
schoolhouse  was  completed  this  year  at  a  cost  of 
S800,  size,  20x32  feet,  in  section  nine,  although, 
as  yet  no  school  has  been  held  there.  The  pres- 
ent school  officers  are  as  follows:  Clerk,  Christian 
Larsen;  Director,  Jonas  Ingvardson;  Treasurer, 
Christian  Hanson. 

District  No.  91. — Embraces  the  territory  in 
the  southeastern  part  of  the  township,  with  a 
schoolhouse  located  in  section  thirty-five,  which 
was  erected  in  1872. 

Norwegian  School. —  This  educational  medium 
originated  in  1869,  in  the  spring,  when  Knud  In- 
grebretson  called  the  first  school  to  order,  consist- 
ing of  about  forty  pupils,  and  the  institution  has 
continued  ever  since. 

biographical. 

WiLLi.\M  H.  B.\KER,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Riceland,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  bom  in 
1837.  When  he  was  about  five  years  old  his  par- 
ents moved  to  New  York,  and  a  year  later  to 
Winnebago  county,  Illinois.  In  1857,  the  family 
came  to  ]\Iinnesota  and  settled  in  this  place,  Wil- 
liam taking  land  in  section  twenty  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  He  was  married  in  1861, 
to  Mi.ss  Mary  E.  Stark,  a  uative  of  New  York. 
They  have  had  two  children,  one  of  whom  is  now 
living;  Frank  E. 

Christain  Ulirik  Chkistenson  was  bom  in 
tlie  central  portion  of  Denmark,  on  the  15th  of 
January,  1852.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he 
enlisted  in  the  Danish  army,  servid  one  year,  and 
then  after  a  period  of  six  months  reeulisted  for 
another  year.  In  \])ril,  1873,  he  came  to  .A.lnerica 
and  directly  to  this  county,  settling  in  Geneva. 
On  the  5th  of  July,  1879,  he  was  joined  in  matri- 
mony with  Carrie  Mary  Christensou  and  they  have 
two  children,  a  boy  and  a  girl.  In  1880,  they 
removed  to  this  township  and  bought  a  farm  in 
the  east  halt  of  section  ten. 

Nils  A.  Nflson,  deceased,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 


SHELL  ROCK  TOWNSHTP. 


529 


this  place,  was  born  iu  Norway  and  brought  up  on 
a  farm.  When  first  cc)miug  to  America  he  settled 
in  Wisconsin,  but  after  a  short  time  came  to  this 
place  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  iu  1869.  He  left  a  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren; Nils,  Bertina,  Andrew,  and  Martin. 

BoTiiER  K.  WixJUM  was  born  in  Bergen,  Nor- 
way, on  the  5tli  of  March,  1833.  When  he  was 
tweuty-one  years  old  he  emigrated  to  America, 
and  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  four 
years  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin.  In  the  fall  of 
1858,  he  was  imited  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Maria 
Bell,  and  the  same  year  they  came  to  this  town- 


ship. They  have  had  eleven  children,  eight  of 
whom  are  living.  Mr.  Winjum  owns  a  farm  in 
section  thirty-one.  He  has  served  as  Assessor  for 
several  years. 

Ole  Nelson  Wkidal,  is  a  native  of  Denmark, 
born  in  1853.  In  1871,  he  emigrated  to  America, 
landed  in  Portland,  Maine,  and  came  directly  to 
Dane  county,  Wisconsin.  He  was  married  in  1873, 
to  Miss  Mary  Wigdal,  and  the  result  of  the  union 
is  two  children ;  Susan  and  Annie  Christina.  In 
1877,  they  came  to  Kiceland  and  settled  on  the  farm 
which  they  have  since  made  their  home. 


SHELL  ROCK 


CHAPTER  LXXIII. 

Geneeal  Description — Early  Settlement- 
Early  Settlers  Deceased — Events  of  Inter- 
est— Statistics — Shell  Eock  Village — Gok- 
DONsviLLE  Village — Schools — Biographical. 

The  town  bearing  this  name  is  one  of  the 
southeastern  -of  Freeborn  county,  lying  contigu- 
ous to  Iowa  on  the  south,  London  township  on 
the  east.  Freeman  ou  the  west,  and  Hay  ward  on  the 
north.  It  is  a  full  congressional  township,  contain- 
-ing  23,010  acres. 

Shell  Piock  is  mostly  a  prairie  town,  although 
iu  many  places  is  found  the  oak  opening  land,  so 
common  throughout  this  region,  or  in  other  words, 
prairie  land  interspersed  with  groves  of  burr, 
lilack  and  scrub  oak  timber.  The  surface  is  gen- 
erally 1-olling,  but  there  are  no  hills  or  bluffs 
suffinently  abrupt  to  be  detrimental  to  agriculture. 
The  soil  is  a  light  loam,  well  adapted  to  the  pre- 
vailing mode  of  agriculture.  The  farmers 
throughout  tiie  town  are  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances, and  many  fine  and  costly  residences  dot 
the  valuable  and  fertile  farming  country. 

The  name  of  the  town  was  taken  from  that  of 
34 


the   river,  Shell   Rock,  which  flows  through  the 
eastern  part  from  north  to  south. 

The  Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railway  also  trav- 
erses the  same  part  of  the  town,  running  in  the 
same  direction. 

early  settlement. 

This  township  witnessed  the  first  actual  settle- 
ment ever  made  in  Freeborn  county,  and  con- 
tained for  about  one  year  the  only  inhabitant  of 
the  same.  The  settlement  first  began  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  town,  the  first  man  being 
Ole  Gulbrandson,  or,  as  he  was  often  called,  Ole 
Hall,  a  Norwegian,  who,  through  the  influence  of 
a  brother  in  Northwood,  was  induced  to  come  to 
this  locality  in  search  of  a'  place,  arriving  in  June, 
1853,  and  locating  upon  a  large  farm  in  section 
thirty-three.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  family, 
and  at  once  erected  a  log  house,  the  first  dwell- 
ing ever  erected  in  this  then  unbroken  county. 
This  house  is  still  standing,  and  at  present  is,  and 
has  been  for  years,  the  residence  of  P.  J.  Miller, 
Esq.,  one  of  the  well-known  old  settlers  of  the 
county. 

He  also  commenced  improvements,  and  by  the 


530 


HISTORY  OF  FKKEBOHN  COUNT 7. 


time  the  government  survey  was  made,  in  1854, 
he  had  broken  seven  iicres  of  lainl,  put  in  a  Prop, 
and  had  it  fenced.  This  plowed  and  cultivated 
field  being  the  only  one  in  the  county  it  was  en- 
tered by  the  surveyors  upon  the  government  sur- 
vey map.  In  the  fall  of  1855,  Mr.  (lulbramlsou 
and  his  wife,  having  had  trouble  and  discourage- 
ments, finally  separated,  and  it  is  said  her  father 
gave  him,  in  the  words  of  our  informant,  a  "h — • 
of  a  lickin"  for  treating  his  wife  so.  The  foHow- 
ing  spring  Gulbranilson  sokl  his  place  and  moved 
to  Decorah,  since  when  he  has   been   lost  trace  of. 

Thus  the  settlement  of  this  locality  remained 
until  September,  1855,  when  an  adilition  was 
made  to  it.  The  first  was  John  Stanley,  a  native 
of  the  New  England  States,  but  came  direct  from 
California  and  took  a  claim  on  the  corner  of  sec- 
tions nineteen,  twt>uty,  twentv-nine,  and  thirty. 
He  brought  with  him  quite  a  herd  of  cattle;  but 
as  he  had  but  little  very  poor  hay,  it  is  claimed 
that  all  of  the  stock  died.  The  farm  he  settled 
upon  is  now  the  property  of  T.  Porter. 

Stanley  remained  three  or  four  years.  He  then 
went  east  and  brought  back  with  him  the  two 
Smiths,  John  and  James  A.,  natives  of  Canada, 
who  both  took  claims  in  sections  twenty  and 
twenty-one,  but  have  since  left  the  localitv. 

Then  in  the  spring  of  1856,  came  the  next  set- 
tler in  the  person  of  William  Beighley,  who  had 
been  here  the  year  previous,  accompanied  by  his 
brother  Jacob,  T.  J.  Gordon,  and  E.  Maybee,  in 
November,  looking  for  a  suitable  location,  and 
decided  to  make  this  place  his  future  home.  So, 
as  stated  above,  in  April.  185(),  lie  again  n.ade  his 
appearance  upon  the  scene,  and  bought  the  claim 
which  Gulbrandson  had  settled  on.  In  May  his 
brothers,  Jacob  and  S.  P.  Beighley,  came  with 
teams,  bringing  William's  family,  and  they  at 
once  selected  claims,  the  former  in  section;4  thirty- 
two  and  thirty-three,  and  the  latter  in  thirty. three 
and  twenty-eight,  where  they  both  still  hold  forth. 
William  Beighley  is  still  living  in  the  township, 
and  is  one  of  the  prominent  olil  settlers  of  the 
county. 

With  this  party  came  J.  B.  Gordon,  who  selected 
his  claim  in  section  thirty,  west  of  the  river:  but 
when  his  father,  T.  J.  Gordon,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, arrived  in  the  fall  and  fall  made  himself 
comfortable  in  section  twenty-eight,  the  son 
moved  over  and  still  makes  his  home  tliere. 

A  little  later  in  the  season — 1856 — James  Allen 


'  came  iu  and  settled  in  section  thirty,  on  the  town 
line,  and  remained  for  about  one  year  when  he 
disposed  of  it  to  Peter  Beighley,  and  finally  went 
to  Tennessee.  The  latter  named  gentleman  also 
took  a  claim  in  .section  thirty-two,  where  he  lived 
until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1872  or  '7,S. 

Chris.  Oleson,  a  Norwegian,  late  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, made  his  arrival  substantial  by  planting  his 
stakes  on  a  farm  in  sections  thirty-one  and  thirt_v- 
two,  in  June,  185G.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade  and  still  holds  the  fort  on  his  original 
claim. 

In  the  spring  of  1857,  Warren  Barber,  a  native 
of  New  York,  pushed  his  way  within  the  limits  of 
the  townshi]),  and  taking  his  slice  of  the  govern- 
ment domain  in  section  twenty-nine,  continued  his 
sojourn  there  until  after  the  war,  when  that  insa- 
tiable mystery.  Death,  secureil  him,  and  he  was 
called  hence. 

But,  in  the  meantime,  the  northern  [jor- 
tion  of  the  township  began  its  evolutions 
toward  civilization,  and  by  the  time  of  the 
last  mentioned  arrival  it  counted  a  goodly 
number  as  a  neighborhood.  Early  in  the  spring 
of  1855,  William  Rice  came  from  Wisconsin  and 
commenced  the  settlement  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  townshij)  by  taking  a  claim  in  section  eight. 
In  the  spring  of  the  following  year  he  went  to  St. 
Nicholas,  in  Albert  Lea  townshij),  and  started  a 
hotel  there  under  the  sign  of  "St.  Nicholas  Hotel." 
He  was  mail  carrier  for  the  village,  and  on  one  of 
his  trips,  on  the  3d  of  December.  1856,  he  got 
lost,  and  after  wandering  abcuit  for  three  days 
brought  up  at  Plymouth;  but  he  was  so  baelly 
frozen  that  he  died  in  a  few  days,  and  his  remains 
were  deposited  in  the  Greenwood  cemetery.  This 
was  the  second  death  in  Freeborn  county. 

Almost  immediately  following  Kice,  a  little  col- 
ony from  Wisconsin  made  their  appearance  and 
swelled  the  Shell  Rock  settlement,  arriving  in 
June,  1855.  This  party  consisted  of  Gardner 
Cottrell  and  family,  George  Gardner  and  family, 
Madison  Rice  with  his  mother  and  her  family,  C. 
T.  Knapj)  and  family,  and  a  couple  of  others 
whose  names  have  been  forgotten.  The  first  men- 
tioned, Gardner  Cottrell,  stopped  for  a  time  on  the 
Rice  place,  which  he  soon  after  took  for  himself 
and  remained  upon  it  for  about  one  year  when  he 
opened  the  first  store  in  Shell  Rock  village.  After 
managing  the  business  for  a  number  of  years  he 
retired  and  has  since  passed  to  the  great  beyond. 


siTEn.  RonK  Towy.^rrrp. 


531 


while  his  wife  and  several  children  btill  live  in  the 
village. 

George  Gardner  located  upon  section  six,  where 
he  remained  until  1880,  when  he  went  to  North- 
wood,  where  his  lamp  still  holds  out  to  burn. 

Madison  Rice,  with  his  mother,  made  himself  at 
home  in  section  eight,  and  here  remained  until 
after  the  war  when  he  took  up  his  goods  and  chat- 
tels and  removed  to  Wisconsin  where  he  yet  lives 
He  married  the  daughter  of  G.  T.  Knapp. 

Mr.  Kuapp  was  not  behind  the  rest  of  the  party 
and  immediately  after  his  arrival  took  a  farm  in 
section  thirty-six,  just  over  the  line  in  Albert  Lea 
township.  Here  he  lived  until  1877,  when  he 
removed  to  the  village  of  Shell  Rock,  and  in  the 
year  following  opened  the  meat  market  which  he 
still  continues. 

The  next  spring — 1856 — F.  L.  Cutler  and  Johu 
Smith  came,  arriving  in  May.  Butler  was  an 
eastern  man  coming  from  Iowa  to  this  place,  and 
bought  the  claim  settled  by  Gardner.  He  finally, 
after  service  in  the  Minnesota  First  during  the 
war,  sold  his  place  and  went  to  Freeborn,  and 
from  there  drifted  down  to  Missouri.  He  was 
quite  a  sport  and  jockey,  and  took  great  delight 
in  fast  horses. 

John  Smith  took  land  on  both  sides  of  the  town 
lines  of  Shell  Rock  and  Freeman. 

About  this  time  came  Joseph  Marvin,  John 
Wood,  and  John  Eddy. 

In  May,  (18.56  ),  Mr.  Anthony  C.  Trow,  a  na- 
tiva  of  New  Hampshire,  came  from  Mitchell 
count'y,  Iowa,  and  after  looking  the  country  over 
on  foot  finally  located  on  section  seventeen, 
where  he  still  continues  his  sojourn.  He  selected 
a  quarter  of  the  same  section  for  his  brother, 
Elisha,  who  arrived  the  same  month  and  settled, 
remaining  a  couple  of  years  and  then  moved 
away.     He  now  lives  in  Kansas. 

Joseph  Marvin  and  his  son-in-law,  Daniel  R. 
Young,  natives  of  Massachusetts,  arrived  on  t!ie 
10th  day  of  July,  1856,  and  selected  claims.  The 
former,  in  1876,  was  called  upon  to  cross  the  dark 
river  of  death,  and  the  latter  still  lives  in  the 
township. 

With  these,  or  at  about  the  same  time,  came 
Aezel  Young,  Uriah  Grover,  and  Robert  Budlong, 
who  all  secured  homes. 

On  the  11th  day  of  July,  1856.  A.  H.  Bart- 
lett  made  his  appearance,  and  the  village  of  Shell 
Rock,  through  his  energy   and  capable  manage- 


ment, sprung  into  existence.  He  yet  resides  in 
the  village,  one  of  the  prominent  public  men  of 
Freeborn  county,  and  a  man  capable,  trustworthy, 
and  efficient  in  every  respect. 

E.  P.  Skinner  and  Blr.  Beattie  arrived  in  early 
days,  and  taking  a  good  deal  of  land  commenced 
speculating  and  continued  for  many  years.  The 
latter,  Mr.  Beattie,  was  for  years  known  to  the 
residents,  and,  in  tact,  everyone,  as  the  "One-Leg- 
ged Speculator." 

In  1857,  A.  M.  Burnham  drifted  upon  the 
scene  and  erected  the  first  bridge  thrown  across 
the  Shell  Rock  River,  and  with  him  came  a  num- 
!jer  from  Albert  Lea.  The  population  grew  very 
rapidly  and  the  country  settled  with  a  good 
class  of  inhabitants.  An  idea  of  the  ingress  can 
be  formed  from  the  fact  that  in  1857,  100  votes 
were  cast  at  the  general  election. 

EAKIiY  SETTLERS  DEOEA,SED. 

Rev.  Walter  Scott  was  an  eaaly  settler  at 
Shell  Rock,  coming  in  the  summer  of  1856.  In 
1857,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  On  the  24th  of  November, 
1877,  he  died,  at  the  age  of  53  years,  leaving  a 
wife  and  six  children.  He  had  removed  to  North- 
wood. 

John  S.  Corning  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence 
county.  New  York,  in  1827,  where  he  lived  until 
1855  when  he  came  to  Mnnesota,  and  erected  the 
first  frame  house  in  Shell  Rock,  and  for  two  years 
did  two  men's  work — run  a  saw-mill,  kept  a  storc^ 
and  managed  a  hotel,  and  afterwards  kept  the 
Webber  house  in  Albert  Lea.  For  twelve  years 
before  his  death  he  kept  a  hotel  in  Austin.  When 
52  years  of  age,  on  the  10th  of  October,  1879,  tlie 
gong  sounded  for  him  to  retire  from  this  world 
forever. 

Mrs.  Nancy  M.  Brown,  wife  of  Watson  Brown. 
A  singula!  ly  noble  character  with  an  even  dispo- 
sition. She  was  the  oldest  of  ten  children,  and 
was  married  in  1859.  New  York  was  her  native 
State.  Her  eyes  were  closed  in  death  on  ttie  10th 
of  February,  1881,  at  the  age  of  forty-eight 
years.  She  fully  realized  the  value  of  early  in- 
struction, and  was  particularly  active  in  Sunday 
school  work. 

Mrs.  Lucretia  Weeks,  grand-mother  of  Mrs. 
H.  T.  Chase,  of  Shell  Rock,  finished  her  earthly 
sojurn  on  the  7th  of  December,  1871,  at  her  home 
in  Pevinsylvaiiia,  at  the  age  of  93  years.  Her 
descendants  at   the  time  of  her  death  were,  nine 


532 


HISTORY  OF  FllfSEBORN  COUNTY. 


children,  fifty-eight  grand-children,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  four  great-grand-children,  and  six  of 
the  next  generation. 

''  Thou  hast  for  many  a  lengthened  year. 

Life's  weary  pathway  trod; 
Seen  generatioiiH  disappear. 
Laid  low  beneath  the  sod- 
****** 

We  bid  thee,  aged  friend,  adieu ; 

Our  friend  of  many  a  year. 
We  laid  thee  here  beneath  the  yew, 

And  leave  thee  with  a  tear." 

Hopkins  B.  Riogs  was  introduced  into  this 
world  in  the  state  of  New  York,  on  the  21st  of 
May,  1820,  and  transferred  to  the  next  on  the  9th 
of  June,  1675,  after  a  lapse  of  55  years.  At  14 
years  of  age  he  went  to  Michigan,  and  livel  there 
twenty-five  years.  At  first  he  joined  the  Metho- 
dist church,  and  then  the  Baptist,  and  was  a  true 
man,  considerate  of  the  rights  of  otliPrs.  As  he  was 
breathing  his  last  he  said,  "I  am  in  the  waters: 
let  me  go." 

VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 

Early  Births. — Early  in  the  spring  of  1854, 
the  first  child  born  in  the  county  came  into  ex- 
istence at  the  log  cabin  of  Ole  Gulbraudson,  the 
first  actual  settler,  who  lived  in  the  southwesteri] 
part  of  the  town,  as  treated  in  full  elsewhere.  The 
youngster  was  a  girl,  christened  Bertha,  and  at 
last  accounts  was  living  healthy  and  robust. 

Annther  early  birth  was  the  minor  arrival  of 
Susan,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William 
Beighley,  on  the  13th  of  April,  1857.  She  is  now 
married  and  living  in  Dakota. 

A  girl  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Luff, 
who  lived  in  the  village  of  Shell  Rock,  where 
they  kept  a  taveru.  The  child's  nativity  was  earl) 
in  the  spring  of  1857,  and  was  christened  Minnie. 
She  now  lives  in  the  West. 

In  November,  1855,  Willie  Andrews,  sou  of 
Oliver  and  Mary  Andrews,  who  the  July  previous 
had  located  in  the  township  of  Hayward,  was 
bom,  being  the  second  white  child,  and  the  first 
male,  to  commence  its  existence  in  Freeborn 
county. 

Early  Marbiaoes. — The  first  marriage  in  the 
county  took  place  here,  early  in  1857,  or  late  in 
the  year  previous.  Ilanuibiil  Bickford,  or  as  he 
was  generally  known  "Bunk,"  walked  to  the 
State  line,  where  he  procured  ahorse  and  brought 
his  proposed.  Miss  Maria  Colby,  to  Shell  Rock, 
where  the  ceremony  making  them  one  was  duly 
performed   by   William  Andrews,    Esquire.     Mr. 


Bickford  etill  resides  in  Manchester,  one  of  the 
solid  men  of  the  county,  with  two  children.  Mrs. 
B.  died  several  years  ago. 

Early  Deaths.— We  will  let  A.  H.  Bartlett,  in 
the  words  used  by  him  in  his  recent  speech  to  the 
Old  Settlers  in  their  late  reunion,  in  Albert  Lea, 
relate  the  story  of  the  first  sad  event  of  this 
kind. 

"Mrs.  Fannie  Andrews,  wife  of  William  Andrews, 
Esq.,  a  well  known  and  prominent  early  settler  of 
the  county,  and  the  mother  of  a  large  family  of 
stalwart  pioneers,  who  accomjjauied  her  and  her 
husband  and  .settled  in  the  county  in  July,  1855, 
after  a  brief  residence  of  nearly  two  months,  liv- 
ing in  their  wagon  while  their  habitation  was  be- 
ing erected,  was  suddenly  called  for  by  the  inex- 
orable tyrant,  death,  and  her  immortal  spirit,  so 
lately  filled  with  grand  and  hopeful  expectations, 
winged  its  flight  to  its  eternal  home  above,  while 
the  entire  community,  aa  weeping  mourners,  fol- 
lowed her  earthly  remains  to  their  last  resting 
place,  the  gr.ive,  to  be  known  no  more  on  earth, 
forever.  The  sculptured  marble  (now  to  be  seen 
in  Greenwood  cemetery,  in  the  town  of  Shell 
K'jok  )  has  for  years  reared  up  its  front,  proud  to 
perpetuate  her  name  and  virtues,  and  rehearse  to 
the  passing  traveller  that  on  the  21st  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1858,  the  earthly  remains  of  death's  first  vic- 
tim from  the  pioneers  of  Freeborn  county,  was 
here  consigned  to  its  last  resting  place,  the  tomb." 
And  again  Mr.  Bartlett  adds: 

"On  the  3d  of  D.^ceraber,  A.  D.,  18.38,  William 
Rice,  ( the  second  settler  in  Freeborn  county  1  while 
carrying  the  mail  across  the  broad  and  bleak 
prairie,  lying  between  the  Cedar  and  Shell  Rock 
rivers,  was  caught  in  a  severe  snow  storm,  and  lost 
his  way.  He  wanlerel  around,  over  the  track- 
less prairie,  without  shelter  or  protection  from  the 
severity  of  the  storm,  until  he  froze  to  that  extent, 
that  he  died  of  his  injuries,  some  three  or  four 
days  afterward.  This  calamity  was  followed  in 
quick  8Ucce.ssion,  on  the  20tli  day  of  the  same 
month,  by  Byron  Packard  and  Charles  Walker, 
(a  part  of  the  company  who  hiid  out  and  founded 
Shell  Rock  City  )  being  caught  in  a  terrific  storm, 
on  the  same  broad  prairie,  while  hauling  a  steam 
boiler  to  its  destination  at  Shell  Rock,  and  both 
perished  from  the  severity  of  the  storm  and  the 
extreme  cold.  Their  bodies,  frozen  stiff  and  cold 
in  death,  were  found  four  days  afterwards,  lying 
upon  the  frozen  crust  of  the  deep  snow.     Their 


sitBLL  rOgk  township. 


533 


bodies  were  carried  to  Shell  Rock,  and  there  bur- 
ied upon  the  town  site  tbey  had  so  lately  helped 
to  lay  out  and  form.  No  relatives  were  there  to 
attend  the  funeral  obsequies,  and  mourn  their  sad 
fate,  yet  sorrowing  friends  and  brother  pioneers, 
composing  the  entire  community,  assisted  in  per- 
forming the  last  duty  to  the  untimely  departed. 
No  preacher  of  the  gospel  could  be  found  in  the 
county  to  speak  words  of  consolation  to  the  sor- 
rowing and  bereaved  friends  and  associates,  and 
our  friend,  Jacob  Hostetter,  one  of  Freeborn  coun- 
ty's earliest  pioneers,  feelingly  and  eloquently  ad- 
dressed the  early  pioneers  there  gathered,  upon 
the  sadness  and  suddenness  of  their  bereavement; 
upon  the  mysterious  and  inscrutable  ways  of  an 
overshadowing  providence,  in  which  no  one  can 
tell  why,  in  the  prime  of  vigorous  and  useful  man- 
hood, when  hope,  the  ministry  of  life  is  most  buoy- 
ant, and  future  expectations  in  the  com- 
ing life  of  usefiilnes  is  most  prominent,  that  a 
mysterious  power  should  step  in  with  its 
dread  mandates,  and  the  brightest  and  most  prom- 
ising life  should  be  consigned  to  oblivion  and  the 
grave.  These  sad  bereavements,  and  others  which 
happened  in  the  county  about  that  time,  caused 
by  the  unparalleled  severity  of  the  winter  of  A.  D 
1856,  oast  a  sad  and  sorrowing  gloom  over  the 
youQg  settlement  of  Freeborn  county.  Some  few 
of  the  settlers  became  disheartened  and  discour- 
aged and  early  the  following  spring  returned  to 
their  former  eastern  homes." 

Township  Officials  fob  1882. — Supervisors, 
G.  W.  Gleason,  Chairman,  I.  R.  Flatt,  and  M. 
Mackin;  Clerk,  S.  Messinger;  Trea.surer,  A.  C. 
Grow;  Assessor,  H.  H.  Gordon;  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  J.  W.  Prichard  and  James  Abbott ;  Consta- 
ble, Jud.  Randall. 

Shei,l  Eock  Grange  No.  310. — This  society  was 
organized  on  the  9th  of  July,  1873,  with  a  charter 
membership  of  thirty.  The  following  were  the 
first  officers  of.  the  lodge:  Master,  O.  C.  C.  How; 
Secretary,  Ira  A.  Town;  Overseer,  W.  G.  Barnes; 
Stewart,  G.  T.  Knapp;  Assistant  Steward,  E.  E. 
Budlong ;  Gate  Keeper,  E.  T.  Kelly ;  Ceres,  Mrs. 
E.  E.  Badlong;  Pomona,  Miss  Blatilda  Howe; 
Flora,  Mrs.  J.  Presswell;  Lady  Assistant  Steward, 
Mrs.  George  Hyatt.  This  grange  has  reached  a 
membership  of  135. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  Methodists  have  held  services  in  the  town- 
ship almost  since  the  first  settlement.     About  the 


first  gathering  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Wil- 
liam Beighley  in  the  winter  of  1857-58,  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Mapes,  an  itinerant  Methodist  preacher, 
with  a  congregation  consisting  almost  entii'ely  of 
Beighleys.  A  class  was  organized  about  the  same 
time  with  William  Beighley  as  leader.  Services 
were  continued  at  various  places  until  the  school- 
house  of  district  No.  50  wss  erected  in  the  north- 
eastern corner  of  section  thirty-two,  since  which 
time  services  have  been  held  part  of  the  time  every 
Sunday,  and  again  irregularly;  as  a  rule  by  the 
pastor  from  Shell  Eock  village. 

Dane  Cemetery.  —This  burial  ground  is  loca- 
ted in  the  southeastern  corner  of  section  twelve, 
having  been  laid  out  in  1878,  and  the  same  year 
the  remains  of  Mrs.  Marv  Nelson  were  deposited 
here,  making  the  first  interment.  The  grounds 
contain  one  acre,  well  fenced  and  neatly  laid  out 
with  groves,  occupying  a  high  point  of  laud. 

HoYT  Will  Cemetery. — Is  situated  upon  a 
high  rise  of  land  in  the  northeastern  part  of  sec- 
tion twenty-four,  containing  something  less  than 
one  acre,  which  was  laid  out  in  1872.  The  first 
burial  here  was  of  Daniel  S.  Hoyt,  in  1867,  and  it 
was  on  his  land  and  by  his  wish  that  the  ceme- 
tery is  located  here. 

STATISTICS^ 

Below  we  present  an  extended  list  of  the  acre 
age  and  product,  together  with  other  items  of 
interest  compiled  from  the  Auditor's  report  to  the 
Commissioner  of  Statistics  of  Minnesota,  and  else- 
where, which  will  prove  of  interest: 

The  Year  1881. — Showing  the  acreage  and 
yield  in  the  township  of  Shell  Rook  for  the  year 
named : 

Wheat— 4.076  acres,  yielding  35,362  bushels. 

Oats — 1,388  acres,  yielding  40,589  bushels. 

Corn — 1,162  acres,  yielding  46,860  bushels. 

Barley — 178  acres,  yielding  2,026  bushels. 

Rye— 82  acres,  yielding  444  bushels. 

Buckwheat — 8  acres,  yielding  43  bushels. 

Potatoes — 62  acres,  yielding  7,487  bushels. 

Beans — .V  acre,  yielding  13  bushels. 

Sugar  caue — ^0%  acres,  yielding  3,852  gal- 
lons. 

Cultivated  hay — 245  acres,  yielding  307  tons. 

Total  acreage  cultivated  in  1881  -7,232. 

Timothy  seed — 37  bushels. 

Apples — number  of  trees  growing  2,456;  num- 
ber bearing  532,  yielding  251  bushels. 

Grape  vines  bearing — 28. 


531 


HISTOir  OF  FHEEBOR^f  COUNTY. 


Sheep — 75  sheared,  yielding  559  pounds  of 
wool. 

Diiry — 302  cows,  yielding  32,792  pounds  of 
butter. 

The  Year  1882.— Wheat,  3,.596  acres;  oats, 
1,503;  corn,  2,337;  barley,  43fi;  rye,  39;  buck- 
wheat, 21;  potatoes,  100?^;  sugar  ca.e,  2^^;  cul- 
tivated hay,  99;  flax,  3.  Total  acreage  cultivated 
in  1882—8,321. 

Apple  trees — growing  2,259;  bearing  772;  grape 
vines  beariag,  18;  milch  cow-*,  321;  sheep,  72. 
Whole  number  of  farms  in  1882—100. 

Forest  trees  planted  and  growing — 118)^  acres. 

PoptJLATioN. — The  census  of  1870  gave  Shell 
Kock  a  population  of  512.  The  last  census,  taken 
in  1880,  reports  1,013  tor  this  town;  showing  an 
increase  of   501. 

SHELL    liOCK    VILLAGE. 

Or,  as  it  is  called  by  the  railroad  company 
Glenville.  lies  in  tlie  northwestern  part  of  the 
township  of  Shell  Rock,  in  sections  six  and  seven, 
on  the  river  bearing  the  same  name  and  on  the 
Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis  railway.  The  site  the 
village  occupies  is  all  that  could  be  desired,  the 
river  furnishing  a  limited  water-power,  and  tlie 
surrounding  country  is  rich  and  productive  to 
those  who  follow  agricultural  pursuits. 

Early  Days. — The  settlement  of  the  locality 
surrounding  the  village  has  been  treated  at  length 
in  another  place;  so  it  wiU  be  unnecessary  to  refer 
to  it  here.  In  July,  1856,  A.  H.  Bartlett  came 
through  this  region  in  search  for  a  village  site 
and  a  suitable  place  for  the  construction  of  a  mill. 
He  was  pleased  with  the  locations  of  both  St. 
Nicholas  and  Northwood;  but  money  would  not 
induce  the  proprietors  of  these  prospective  places 
to  quit  claim  to  their  interests.  In  following  the 
river  Mr.  Bartlett  came  to  the  site  of  Shell  Bock, 
and  commenced  laying  plans  for  the  establishment 
of  the  village.  John  Smith  and  Frederick  Cutler 
each  donated  20  acres  to  the  project,  and  Mr. 
Bartlett  at  once  proceeded  to  survey  and  record 
eighty  acres  in  lots  and  blocks  as  the  village  of 
Shell  Kock.  He  next  commenced  the  erection  of 
a  water  saw-mill  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  with  a 
building  20x80,  frame,  equijjpiug  it  with  a5G-inch 
buzz  saw.  The  water  power  did  not  succeed  as 
anticipated,  so  a  steam  power  of  30  horse  was 
placed  in  it  and  tlie  mill  for  two  years  continued 
piling  up  sawdust,  when  the  timber  became 
exhausted  and  the  property  was  sold  to  William 


Morin  and  moved  to  Albert  Lea.  from  where  it 
has  since  continued  its  journey  toward  the  setting 
sun. 

Just .  before  the  saw-mill  was  completed,  and 
while  Mr.  Bartlett  was  in  the  East  procuring  ma- 
chinery, E.  P.  Skinner  laid  out  a  town  under  the 
caption  of  Shell  Eock,  a  short  distance  north  of 
Mr.  B.'s  proposed  site,  in  the  town  of  Hayward. 
This  promised  to  be  quite  a  formidable  rival  to 
the  present  village,  as  a  Post-office  and  store  were 
established  there;  but  on  Mr.  Bartlett's  return 
negotiations  were  entered  into  which  were  finally 
completed,  bv  whicli  E.  P.  Skinner  got  one-fourth 
interest  in  Bartlett's  site,  and  the  Post-office, 
store  and  goods  were  removed  to  the  latter  place. 
At  that  time  the  store  was  run  by  R.  A.  Cornish, 
who  was  also  made  Postmaster.  This  store  was 
continued  for  a  number  of  ye^rs  under  the  man- 
agement at  different  times  of  Skinner,  Hall,  Brown, 
and  Smith;  but  finally,  soon  after  the  war,  the 
goods  were  removed  to   Albert  Lea. 

George  Whitman  next  put  in  a  stock  of  goods 
and  kept  a  store  for  about  one  year,  when  he  went 
out  of  business.  Hon.  A.  H.  Bartlett  then  bought 
the  buildimg    and    got    Victor    Gilrup  to  open  a 

I  store.     Mr.  G.   still  continues  in  the  mercantile 

'   business,  and  now  owns  the  entire  establishment. 

But  little  was  done  toward    the  development  of 

the  town  {intil  the  railroad  was   built   through  in 

I   1877,  when  the  progress  really  took  root. 

W.  H.  Peck  came  with  the  railroad,  and  opened 

I  a  provision  store  which  he  continued  for   three  or 
four  years.     He  is  now  in  Jackson. 

I       H.  G.  Koontz   also  came  about   the  same   time, 

I  and  opened  the  business  he  still   continues  under 

1   the  sign  o\  "Variety  Store.'" 

L.  B.  Woodruff  opened  a  general  merchandise 
store,  and  is  still  in  the  village,  although  not  in 
business. 

P.  F.  Brown  opened  the  first  hardward  store, 
and  sold  to  W.  H.  Peck,  who  in  turn,  in  1881, 
turned  it  over  to  Greengo  X-  Laudis,  the  present 
proprietors. 

John  Haugh  started  a  harness  .shop  here  which 
he  still  manages. 

In  the  spring  of  1878,  C.  T.  Knapp  opened  a 
meat- market,  and  still  handles  the  beefsteak. 

The  first  hotel  was  erected  in  1856,  by  James 
Luff,  and  consisted  of  logs  and  clay.  In  this  Mr. 
Luff  entertained  travelers,  and  supplied  them 
with  bad  whiskev.     When   the  railroad  was  con- 


SHELL  ROCK  TOWNSHIP. 


536 


Btruoted,  E.  P.   Kelly    remodeled  it,  and  it  is  now 
run  by  H.  T.  Chase. 

In  1877,  Dr.  H.  H.  Wilcox  opened  a  drug 
store  which  is  yet  in  operation. 

A  hotel  was  erected  the  same  year  by  William 
Beatty,  which  is  now  nin  by  his  wife,  as  he  went 
to  bed  soon  after  its  completion,  and  has  never 
since  been  up;  although  the  doctors  say  nothing 
ails  the  man. 

Hon.  A.  H.  Bartlett  is  the  tirst  and  only  lawyer 
of  Shell  Eock. 

Shell  Rock  Post-office. — This  office  was  es- 
tablished in  1856.  It  was  the  intention  of  A.  H 
H.  Bartlett,  who  laid  out  the  village  of  Shell 
Rock,  to  have  a  Post-office  at  once  established  at 
his  embryo  village;  but  while  he  was  in  the  East, 
purchasing  machinery  with  which  to  equip  his 
mill,  E.  P.  Skinner  took  time  by  the  fore  lock  and 
played  "check  mate,"  by  having  an  office  estab- 
lished at  a  point  in  Hay  ward  township,  a  short 
distance  north  of  Shell  Rock,  where  he  proposed 
the  commencement  of  a  village.  When  Mr.  Bart- 
lett returned  from  the  East  and  discovered  the 
state  of  affairs,  he  went  to  Skinner  and  offered 
him  one-fourth  interest  in  Shell  Rock,  provided  the 
office  should  be  removed  to  that  point  and  the 
proposed  opposition  town  site  abolished.  The 
offer  was  accepted  and  the  office  was  removed  to 
Shell  Rock  as  soon  as  the  papers  from  Washing- 
ton were  received,  with  E.  P.  Skinner  as  Post- 
master and  A.  H.  Bartlett,  deputy.  It  was  held 
in  Bartlett's  house,  on  the  river,  for  one  quarter, 
the  business  in  the  meantime  amounting  to  $18 
and  a  few  cents,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  store 
of  Skinner  &  Cottrell.  The  mail  was  carried  by 
William  Rice,  from  Mitchell  through  to  Albert 
Lea,  and  finally,  in  1857,  a  regular  mail  route  was 
established  from  St.  Ansgar  to  Mankato,  by  way  of 
Shell  Rock  and  Albert  Lea,  carried  by  A.  B.  Da- 
vis of  Albert  Lea.  Skinner  held  the  office  until 
the  spring  of  1858,  when,  through  the  influence 
of  A.  H.  Bartlett,  R.  A.  Cornish  became  Postmas- 
ter, with  the  office  at  the  same  place.  Nest  came 
Es(juire  William  Andrews, — who,  by  the  way,  was 
the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  county  and 
married  the  first  couple, — and  he  held  the  office 
for  three  or  four  years,  when  Edward  Town  re 
ceived  the  appointment,  and  following  him  came 
the  presnt  Postmaster,  Victor  Gillrup. 

VILLAGE  OF  GOEDONSVILLE. 

This  hamlet  is  located  on  the   Minneapolis  and 


St.  Luuis  railroad,  in  the  southwestern  part  of 
Shell  Rock  township,  and  about  one  mile  east  of 
Shell  Rock  River.  It  was  laid  out  in  1880,  by 
S.  P.  and  Jacob  Beighley,  containing  four  or  five 
acres,  divided  into  four  blocks;  two  of  them  on  the 
east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter,  belonging  to 
.Jacob;  and  two  on  the  west  half  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  thirty-two,  belonging  to 
S.  P.  Beighley.  It  was  named  after  the  Post- 
office,  which  was  established  years  before. 

In  the  year  1879,  John  Fallen  started  a  black- 
smith shop  which  has  since  been  running  under 
various  managements. 

Soon  after  the  railroad  was  finished  J.  W. 
Abbott  put  a  small  stock  of  groceries  in  one  end 
of  his  residence,  and  in  connection  with  the  Post- 
office,  which  had  in  the  meantime  been  removed 
to  this  point,  opened  the  first  business  house  in 
the  place. 

In  the  summer  of  1882,  Heman  Frost  erected 
a  one  story  building  24x30  feet,  and  put  in  a 
good  stock  of  general  merchandise,  also  taking 
the  stock  of  goods  mentioned  above  of  Mr.  Ab- 
bott.    The  Post-office  is  also  kept  in  this  store. 

There  are  two  warehouses;  one  run  by  Jacob 
and  S.  M.  Beighley;  the  other  is  owned  by  S.  S. 
Cargill,  of  Albert  Lea. 

There  is  also  a  good  depot,  which  is  well  kept; 
but  agents  do  not  stay  here  long,  as  it  is  a 
small  place,  and  they  are  promoted  to  larger 
places  as  they  become  efficient. 

GOEDONSVILLE    POST-OFFICE. This    PoSt-officC 

was  established  a  few  years  after  the  date  of  first 
settlement,  with  Peter  Beighley  as  Postmaster,  and 
office  at  his  house  in  section  thirty-three.  The  mail 
arrived  by  way  of  the  Northwood  and  Albert  Lea 
mail  route  and  was  carried  at  first  by  JohnP.Beigh- 
ley.  In  1S65  T.  J.  Gordon  was  appointed  P.  M., 
and  took  the  office  to  his  residence  in  section 
twenty -eight;  after  a  time  his  son,  W.  H.  H. 
Gordon  received  the  appointment  and  the  office 
was  kept  at  the  same  place  until  after  the  com- 
pletion of  the  railroad,  when  J.  B.  Abbott  was  ap- 
pointed P.  M.,  and  the  office  was  removed  to  the 
station  of  Gordonsville,  where  it  is  kept  in  the 
general  merchandise  store  of  Heman  Frost,  with 
Mr.  Abbott's  son,  William,  as  deputy  Postmaster. 

PUBLIC  INSTBUCTION. 

District  No.  50. — First  held  school  at  the 
house  of  Peter  Beighley  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Joseph   Miller,  section  thirty-two,   by  one  of 


536 


BISTORT  OF  FBBEBOKN  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Baighley'a  daughters,  then  by  Mrs.  Catherine 
Hawk  and  now  Mrs.  Charles  Grim,  of  Freeman, 
with  a  few  scholars  present.  This  commenced 
in  the  fall  of  18.58,  with  a  two  months  term,  and 
afterward  school  was  held  at  various  places  until 
1856,  when  the  frame  school  building  now  in  use 
was  erected  in  the  northeastern  comer  of  section 
thirty-two,  at  a  cost  of  about  S600.  The  first 
school  taught  in  this  house  was  by  Jane  Buch- 
anan to  au  attendance  of  about  twenty-flve.  There 
is  now  about  seventy  scholars  in  the  district  and 
an  attendance  at  school  which  will  average  about 
thirty-five  pupils.  The  schoolhouse  is  freijueutly 
used  for  the  purpose  of  public  meetings,  etc.,  and 
the  school  generally  goes  by  the  name  of  the  Gor- 
donville  district. 

District  No.  52. —  Embraces  the  territory  just 
southeast  of  the  village  of  Shell  Rock.  The  first 
school  in  the  district  was  hela  in  a  granary  owned 
by  J.  S.  Corning  on  section  eight;  it  was  taught 
by  Miss  Emily  Streeter  with  an  attendance  of 
eight  pupils.  In  1866  the  schoolhouse  was  erec- 
ted in  the  northeast  corner  of  section  eight,  size 
21x30  feet  at  a  cost  of  $765;  in  which  Miss 
Bennett  taught  the  first  school  to  an  attendance  of 
twelve  scholars.  The  present  attendance  is  thirty- 
five. 

District  No.  59. — This  district  eSected  au  or- 
ganization in  1856  and  embraces  the  village  of 
Shell  Rock  and  surrounding  country  as  its  terri- 
tory. The  first  school  meeting  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Lawyer  A.  H.  Bartlett,  and  the  board 
elected  at  that  time  consisted  of  C.  T.  Kuapp,  A 
M.  Young,  and  A.  H.  Bartlett.  The  erection  of  a 
schoolhouse  was  at  once  commenced  under  the 
supervision  of  Mr.  Bartlett,  and  it  was  finished  on 
Sunday  the  18th  day  of  August,  1857,  at  a  cost  of 
$500  it  being  a  neat  and  substantial  frame  build- 
ing which  still  stands  and  is  in  use  as  a  wood 
house.  The  day  the  house  was  completed  Elder 
Lowry  held  the  first  religious  services  in  the  town- 
ship at  the  house  of  A.  H.  Bartlet,  ignorant  of  the 
fact  that  at  the  same  time  the  boys  were  hard  at 
work  on  the  schoolhouse,  and  no  one  took  pains 
to  inform  him.  One  week  from  the  completion  of 
the  house  the  first  school  was  commenced  by  Miss 
Emily  Streeter,  who  is  now  in  Oregon.  The 
schoolhouse  just  mentioned  was  the  first  erected 
in  Freeborn  county.  The  school  Iniildiug  now  in 
use  was  erected  in  1878,  by  A.  H.  Bartlett,  size 
26x24,  and  cost  $2,200.     The  last  term  of  school 


was  taught  by  Daniel  Palmer,  principal,  to  a  large 
attendance.  The  present  school  board  consists  of 
F.  F.  Carter,  George  Hyatt,  and  O.   C.  C.  Howe. 

District  No.  77. — The  first  school  taught  in 
this  district  was  in  1866,  at  a  granary  owned  by 
Mr  Bailey,  the  teacher  being  Miss  Lena  Doris 
with  an  attendance  of  eight  scholars.  The  atten- 
dance up  to  the  present  time  has  grown  but  little. 
The  schoolhouse  is  a  neat  struture,  16x20  feet,  and 
cost  about  ^400.00. 

District  No.  100. — Embraces  the  territory  in 
the  northeastern  part  of  the  township.  The  pres- 
ent school  edifice  was  erected  in  1876,  size  18x20 
feet,  at  a  cost  of  about  .?500.  lieing  furnished 
with  folding  desks  and  the  most  improved  furni- 
ture. The  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Hannah 
Buchanan  to  an  attendance  of  eight  scholars, 
which  has  now  grown  to  fifteen.  The  school- 
house  is  located  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  sec- 
tion two. 

District  No.  104. — Embraces  as  its  territory 
the  southeastern  portion  of  the  township.  The 
schoolhouse  was  erected  in  1878,  being  a  neat 
frame  building,  24x30  feet,  and  cost  about  ^850. 
seated  with  patent  seals  and  equipped  with  all 
necessary  apparatus.  The  first  school  was  taught 
by  Miss  Elizabeth  Beighley  to  an  attendance  of 
about  twenty  scholars,  which  is  about  the  same  as 
at  the  present  time.  The  schoolhouse  is  located 
in  the  southeastern  corner  of  section  twenty- 
seven. 

BIOGBAPHICAIi. 

Alonzo  Alford  was  born  in  Clinton  county 
New  York,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1842.  In  1854, 
he  came  to  Wisconsin  where  hfl  grew  to  manhood. 
He  returned  to  his  birth  place  when  twenty  years 
old,  and  the  following  year  married  Miss  Helen 
Richards,  a  lady  of  Canadian  birth.  He  returned 
west  with  his  wife  and  resided  in  Hastings  until 
1876,  when  he  came  to  Glenville  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes,  which  has 
since  been  his  business.  His  wife  died  in  1878, 
leaving  a  family  of  seven  children. 

James  W.  Abbott,  a  native  of  Morgan  county, 
Ohio,  was  born  on  the  9th  of  January,  1843. 
When  two  years  old  he  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Athens  county,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  enlisted  in  the 
Eighty- seventh  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Com- 
pany H,  went  south,  was  in  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac, and  served  over  three  years.     After  receiv- 


SHELL  BOCK  TOWN  SB  IF. 


537 


ing  his  discharge  he  returned  to  the  scenes  of  his 
childhood  where  he  married  Miss  Sarah  E.  Pierce 
in  1864.  Mr  Abbott  having  lost  his  health  during 
the  hardships  and  exposures  of  the  soldier's  life, 
sought  a  home  in  Minnesota  soon  after  his  mar- 
riage. He  located  a  claim  in  Oakland  and  re- 
mained until  1872,  when  he  removed  to  this  place 
and  started  in  the  lumber  business,  afterward 
opened  a  grocery  store,  and  three  years  later  sold 
out  and  engaged  iu  buying  grain  and  general 
produce.  In  1878,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster; 
has  held  the  principal  town  offices,  aud  is  at  pres- 
ent J  astice  of  the  Peace.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abbott 
have  five  children. 

Edward  E.  Budlong,  a  native  of  Columbia 
county.  New  York,  was  born  on  the  22d  of  May, 
1829.  At  the  age  of  five  years  his  parents  re- 
moved to  the  western  part  of  the  State,  where 
they  remained  untd  1844,  then  removed  west  and 
settled  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin.  Edward  was 
united  in  marriage,  in  18.54,  with  Mi-ss  Almira 
Skinner,  a  native  of  Essex  county.  New  York.  In 
1856,  they  moved  to  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  re- 
maining during  the  summer,  and  in  the  fall  came 
to  this  county,  settling  in  the  town  of  London. 
In  1864,  they  came  to  Shell  Rook,  and  have  a  fine 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres.  Mr.  Bud- 
long  takes  an  interest  in  all  public  matters  and 
has  held  different  local  offices.  He  has  a  family 
of  three  children. 

Eldad  Barber,  one  of  the  old  and  respected 
citizens  of  this  place,  was  born  in  New  York  on 
the  21st  of  December,  1835.  His  father  being  a 
lumberman,  he  followed  the  same  until  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  when  he  went  to  Hartford,  Connec- 
ticut, and  learned  the  wheel-wright  trade.  In  1857 
he  moved  to  Iowa,  and  a  year  later  to  Minnesota, 
where  his  father  took  the  claim  Eldad  now  owns. 
His  parents  have  both  died  since  coming  here. 
Mr.  Barber  takes  a  general  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  this  place,  and  has  held  several  offices  of 
trust. 

William  Beiohley,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
was  born  on  the  23d  of  Novemljer,  1824.  He 
was  employed  at  various  occupations  and  grew  to 
manhood  at  his  home.  In  1851,  he  married  Miss 
Emily  Gordon  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  his 
father's.  He  sold  out  aud  camt  west  in  1855, 
locating  first  in  Iowa,  but  soon  after  came  to  this 
township  where  he  was  among  the  first  settlers, 
taking  a  claim  in  April,  1856.     In  1865,  he  pur- 


chased his  present  farm  in  section  twenty  and  now 
has  it  well  improved. 

Jacob  Bbighlby  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  on 
the  5th  of  March,  1829.  In  1856,  he  came  west 
and  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  place,  stak- 
ing out  a  claim  in  section  thirty-three,  now  own- 
ing a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  all 
improved.  He  was  married  the  year  after  coming 
here  to  Miss  Susanna  M.  Miller,  also  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  union  has  been  blessed  with 
one  child,  Ruth  E.  Mr.  Beighley  owns  a  ware- 
house on  the  B.  C.  R  and  N.  Railroad,  about  three 
minutes  walk  from  his  residence,  and  deals  exten- 
sively in  grain  and  general  produce.  His  home 
has  always  been  open  to  ministers  of  any  denom- 
ination and  in  an  early  days  was  used  for  relig- 
ious services.  As  there  is  no  hotel  within  five  miles 
it  is  also  a  convenience  for  travelers,  and  none 
have  ever  been  turned  from  his  door  unfed  or  un- 
cared  for. 

S.  P.  Beighley,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Shell 
Rock,  was  born  in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania. 
on  the  12th  of  July,  1833.  At  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  tanner 
and  currier,  which  he  followed  several  years.  He 
was  married  in  1854,  to  Miss  Louisa  M.  Miller. 
Two  years  later  they  came  to  this  place  and  set- 
tled in  the  southern  part  of  the  township,  where 
they  have  since  made  their  home.  In  1862,  Mr. 
Beighley  enlisted  in  Company  C,  of  the  Fifth  Min- 
nesota Volunteer  Infantry,  served  in  the  Indian 
Massacre,  then  went  south  and  remained  in  serv- 
ice three  years.  After  receiving  his  discharge  he 
returned  to  his  home  and  has  since  devoted  his 
time  to  tilling  the  soil.  He  has  a  family  of  ten 
children,  all  of  whom  reside  in  this  township. 

A.  H.  Bartlett,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  this 
place,  was  born  in  New  York  on  the  28th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1829.  At  the  time  of  his  birth  his  parents 
were  living  in  a  saw-mill,  their  house  not  having 
been  completed.  His  father  died  in  1833,  and 
when  A.  H.  was  eight  years  old  the  family  moved 
to  a  place  twenty  miles  from  their  former  home, 
where  he  attended  school.  At  the  early  age  of 
sixteen  years  he  began  teaching,  and  subsequently 
entered  the  Arcade  Academy  in  Wyoming  county, 
remaining  two  years.  In  1852,  having  for  some 
time  been  troubled  with  a  lung  disease,  he  was 
advised  by  the  physician  to  take  an  overland  trip 
to  California,  and  after  a  period  of  one  hundred 
and  seventeen  days  he  reached  Placerville,  where 


538 


tllSrOIiV  OF  FHEBBORN  GOUNTt. 


be  ix-miiineil  two  anil  a  luilf  years.  Tii  1854.  he 
returned  to  New  York,  where  he  had  previously 
married  Mis.s  Auiia  D.  Peet,  a  uative  of  the  same 
State.  In  the  latter  year  they  cume  to  Iowa,  ami 
in  1850,  to  thi.s  county,  and  Mr.  Bartlett  platted 
the  town  site  of  Sliell  Rock.  In  an  early 
day  he  read  law,  and  in  18G0.  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  last  Territorial 
Legislature  in  1857,  and  also  the  fii-st  State  Leg- 
islature. He  has  been  -Judge  of  Probate  several 
terms  and  takes  an  interest  in  all  local  iiffairs.  He 
is  the  father  of  four  children:  Sam,  Ida.  Jay.  and 
Eva. 

T.  A.  Clow  is  a  native  of  Canada,  born  on  the 
23d  of  October,  1843.  His  father  is  a  minister 
and  in  1861  moved  with  his  family  from  Illinois 
to  Minnesota.  After  a  few  years  A.  F.  moved  to 
Winona  county,  thence,  three  years  later,  to  Olm- 
sted county  and  in  1863,  took  a  homestead  in 
Blue  Earth  county.  The  same  year  he  enlisted  in 
the  Second  Minnesota  Cavalry,  Com))nnY  H,  and 
after  his  discharge  returned  to'his  farm.  He  was 
married  in  185H,  to  Miss  Caroline  M.  Paine  and 
they  have  a  family  of  four  children.  Mr.  Clow 
came  to  tliis  township  in  1877,  opened  a  black- 
smith shop  and  niw  has  a  good  business.  He  is 
the  father  of  four  children; one  son  having  died  in 
April,  1875,  aged    seven  years  and  three  months. 

V.  GiLLBUP,  one  of  the  oldest  and  successful 
business  men  of  this  plaae,  was  born  near  Copen- 
hagen, Denmark,  on  the  29th  of  May,  1840.  In 
1862,  he  came  to  America,  arriving  in  New  York 
City  and  soon  after  enlisted  in  the  First  New 
York  Volunteer  Eug.,  Company  (x,  serving  three 
years.  After  his  discharge  he  came  to  Watertown, 
Wisconsin,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness for  two  years,  then  in  Albert  Lea  a  short 
time  and  from  there  to  Shell  Kock,  where  he  was 
one  of  the  first  to  open  a  substantial  mercantile 
business.  He  was  married  in  1872,  to  Miss  Lilly 
I.  Carter,  a  native  of  Wisconsin.  They  have  had 
five  children,  'Tlour  of  whom  are  living;  Hattie, 
Prank,  Harry,  and  Walter.  Burt,  aged  five  years, 
died  in  February,  1882. 

O.  C.  C.  Howe  is  a  native  of  Allegany  county. 
New  York,  born  on  the  23d  of  November,  1823. 
He  learned  the  millwright  trade  when  a  young 
man  and  in  1852.  came  west  to  Iowa.  He  built 
a  saw-mill  which  he  conducted  and  also  farmed  un- 
til 1.SG4,  then  came  to  tliis  township  and  bought 
his   present  land.     He  is  engaged  principally  in 


stock  raising.  Has  held  most  of  the  local  oflices 
and  is  a  staunch  democrat. 

Daniel  S.  Hoyt  a  native  of  Ohio,  was  bom  on 
the  3d  of  March,  1847.  At  the  age  of  six  years 
he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Iowa  and  two  years 
later  to  this  State,  locating  first  in  Fillmore  coun- 
ty and  in  1862.  came  to  this  township,  where  they 
were  among  the  first  settlers.  His  father  died  in 
1878,  leaving  a  large  circle  of  friends  to  mourn 
his  loss.  Daniel  came  into  possession  of  the  home- 
stead at  the  death  of  the  latter  and  his  mother  re- 
sides with  him. 

Ch.\bles  T.  Knapp  was  born  in  Medina,  Medina 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  1st  of  November,  1820.  He 
was  married  in  1838,  to  Miss  Mary  Hamilton.  In 
1851,  they  moved  to  Dane  county,  Wisconsin, 
and  four  years  later  came  to  Minnesota,  settling 
in  Freeborn  county,  and  Mr.  Knajjp  was  the  first 
to  use  a  breaking  plow  in  Albert  Lea  township. 
His  first  wife  died  in  1870,  leaving  five  children; 
Betsey  E.  M.,  Jane  J.  A.,  Chloe,  and  Margaret  E. 
He  afterwards  married  Miss  Jane  Wilsey,  who 
died  in  1875,  leaving  three  children;  J.  H.,  Ada, 
and  Ida.  The  maiden  name  of  his  present  wife 
was  Catherine  Bates  whom  he  married  in  1877. 
The  same  year  lie  miveil  to  this  township  and 
opened  a  meat  m:irket  in  Glenville. 

WiLLAKD  F.  Marvin,  one  of  the  |)ioneers  of 
this  county,  was  born  in  Rutland  county,  Ver- 
mont, on  the  13th  of  May.  1825.  He  resided  in 
his  native  State  until  1846,  when  he  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  soon  after  to  Wisconsin.  In  1859, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Hnldah 
Wilco.x,  a  native  of  New  York.  They  came  to 
Shell  Rock  in  1857,  and  pre-empted  land  in  .sec- 
tion eighteen,  which  has  since  been  tiieir  home. 
They  have  a  family  of  five  children;  Nancy,  Cur- 
tir,  Cynthia,  Viola,  and  Clara. 

Morris  Marshall,  one  of  the  old  and  respected 
citizens  of  this  place  was  born  in  Monroe  county, 
New  York,  on  the  8th  of  October,  1830.  At  the 
early  age  of  sixteen  years,  he  enlisted  in  the 
Mexican  War,  serving  in  'Company  F,  of  the 
Eighth  United  States  Infantry  for  a  period  of 
sixteen  months.  He  sailed  for  the  .scene  of  action, 
and  landed  at  Vera  Cruz,  on  the  5th  July,  1847; 
joined  the  command  of  Franklin  Pierce  and  went 
to  Pueblo,  participrting  in  many  hard  fought  bat- 
tles. After  his  discharge  he  came  home,  and  in 
1849  came  to  Wisconsin  but  soon  returned  to  his 
native  State.      He    removed  to   Jackson   county, 


SHELL  ROCK  TOWNSHIP. 


539 


Michigau,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  sev- 
eral years.  There  he  was  joined  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Joliett  Scofield.  In  1862,  they  came  to  Min- 
nesota, and  settled  on  their  present  farm,  which  is 
well  cultivated.  They  have  a  family  of  seven 
children. 

Peter  J.  Miller  was  born  in  Westmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  6th  of  September, 
1807.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  and 
learned  the  art  of  coverlet  weaving.  In  October, 
1829,  ha  mirried  Misa  Sirah  Cribb^,  and  fur  sev- 
eral years  was  employed  in  the  above  occupation. 
In  1836,  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Mercer, 
Mercer  county,  in  the  same  State,  and  engaged  in 
carpet  weaving  until  the  Rebellion.  In  18G6,  he 
cams  to  Minnesota,  and  purchased  "Pdot  Grove" 
farm  in  Shell  Bjok  township,  which  has  ever 
since  been  his  home,  his  house  being  the  first 
built  in  the  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have 
a  family  of  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five 
daughters. 

Christopher  Olsen,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  place,  is  a  native  of  Norway,born  near  Chris- 
tiania,  on  the  '20th  of  June,  1817,  and  when  six- 
teen years  old  began  to  learn  the  blacksmith 
trade,  He  was  married  in  1840,  to  Miss  Nellie 
Evenson,  who  has  borne  him  two  children.  In 
18.53,  Mr.  Olsen  came  to  America,  engaged  at 
his  trade  a  short  time  in  Montreal,  Canada,  then 
moved  to  New  York  City,  and  later  to  Virginia, 
thence  to  Iowa  first  living  in  D>ibuque,  and 
afterward  in  St.  Ansgar.  In  185G  he  came  to  this 
place,  locating  in  sections  thirty-one  and  thirty- 
two,  where  he  built  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in 
the  township,  and  has  since  carried  on  the  same  in 
connection  with  his  farming. 

Jo.sEPH  K.  Page  wa.s  born  in  Lycoming  county, 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  13th  of  September,  1838. 
When  he  was  five  years  old  his  parents  moved 
to  Indiana,  and  located  on  a  farm  in  La  Ports 
county,  where  Joseph  grew  to  manhood.  In 
1866,  he  married  Miss  Matilda  Minuinm,  who  was 
born  on  the  26th  of  January,  1841,  in  Crawford 
county,  Pennsylvania.  They  have  six  children; 
Joseph  S.,  born  on  the  24th  of  March,  1867;  Ada 
A.,  the  ilth  of  December,  1868;  John  J.,  the 
19th  of  July,  1870;  True  R.,  the  31st  of  July, 
1872;  William  A.,  the  29th  of  January,  1875;  and 
Hugh  D.,  the  21st  of  October,  1879.  Mr.  Page 
is  a  highly  respected  citizen,  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  always  takes  an  active  part 
in  the  welfare  of  the  town. 


Thom.4s  Pobtee,  an  early  settler  of  this  town- 
s»hip,  was  born  in  Canada,  on  the  6th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1829.  He  was  married  in  1855  to  Miss  Al- 
mira  Smith,  and  they  have  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren; Albert,  Bennett,  Arvilla,  Georgiana,  Cyn- 
thia Maria,  Carrie  Viola,  George  I.,  Rolau,  Alice 
Minnesota,  and  Amy.  Three  are  dead;  Kilburn, 
who  died  on  the  14th  of  June,  1882;  William  H., 
the  15th  of  October,  1862;  and  Morella,  the  13th 
of  April,  1876.  Mr.  Porter  moved  from  Canada 
to  Minnesota  in  1859,  and  settled  on  land  in  sec- 
tion thirty.  Shell  Rock,  which  has  since  been  his 
home,  his  farm  containing  two  hundred  and 
eighty  acres,  the  greater  portion  of  which  is  un- 
der cultivation. 

W.  H.  Rathmell,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
was  born  in  Lycoming  county,  on  the  5th  of 
May,  1820.  He  attended  school  in  the  town  of 
Williamsport,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  began 
learning  the  harnessmaker's  trade,  at  which  he 
was  engaged  several  years.  He  was  joined  in 
matrimony  with  Miss  Ann  Page,  in  1844.  Mr. 
Rathmell  was  for  several  years  Captain  of  a 
steamer  on  the  Pennsylvania  Canal.  In  1850  he 
went  to  California,  but  two  years  later  returned 
and  settled  on  a  farm  near  La  Porte,  Indiana. 
After  a  residence  of  about  twenty-five  years  in 
the  latter  place,  he  came  to  Iowa,  and  in  1871  to 
Shell  Rock.  He  bought  a  tract  of  land  contain- 
ing over  five  hundred  acres,  and  it  is  now  well 
improved.  He  erected  the  first  warehouse,  as 
well  as  some  of  the  finest  buildings  in  the  place, 
having  since  sold  most  of  his  real  estate,  and  for 
the  past  nine  years  has  made  a  business  of  loan- 
ing money.  He  has  raised  a  family  of  three 
children;  Mary,  Sarah  J.,  and  H.  C,  the  latter 
being  located  in  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin. 

John  E.  Skinner  was  born  in  Essex  county, 
New  York,  on  the  6th  of  September,  1838.  When 
fifteen  years  old  he  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Dane  couuty,  Wisconsin,  and  in  1855  came  to 
Minnesota,  but  soon  returned  to  Wisconsin.  He 
made  another  trip  to  this  State  in  an  early  day, 
remained  during  one  winter,  and  returned  to  his 
home  in  Wisconsin.  In  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the 
Twenty-ninth  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry, 
Company  G,  taking  part  in  several  important  bat- 
tles, and  served  three  years.  In  1865,  he  came 
again  to  Minnesota  and  settled  in  this  township. 
He  was  married  the  following  year  to  Miss  Jane 
Gardiner,  who  has  borne  him  four  children.     Mr. 


51(1 


HISTORY  OF  FUREBORN  GOUNTT. 


Skinuer  has  held  several  offices  of  trust    siuce  his 
resilience  in  this  place. 

Anthony  C.  Trow,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Shell 
Rock,  is  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  born  in  New 
London,  Merrimac  county,  on  the  14th  of  July, 
1833.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  began 
working  for  himself,  when  not  needed  iit  home. 
In  1855,  came    west  to   Iowa.  an<l    the  following 


spring  to  Minnesota.  After  traveling  over  a  por- 
tion of  the  State  in  May,  he  located  in  Shell 
Rock,  and  has  since  been  one  of  its  residents, 
owning  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres, 
well  improved.  He  came  in  company  with  his 
brother,  and  they  experienced  all  the  hardships  of 
a  jiioneer's  life,  using  burnt  corn  for  coffee,  and 
grinding  corn  meal  in  a  coffee-mill. 


■  ■*^-^— 


INDEX. 


511 


INDEX. 


EXPLOEEES  AND   PIONEERS   OP  MINNESOTA. 


EASE 

Abraham,  Plainsof 1 

Accault  (Ako)  Michael,  compan- 
ion of  Hennepin,  in,  18,  20, 23,  24,    26 

Described  by  La  Selle 18 

Leader  of  Mississippi  Explo- 
rations  \ ,    19 

Achiganaga  arrested  by  Perrofc. . .    12 
Tried  for  murder  before  Da 

Luth 13 

Aiouez,  see  loways 

Albanel.    Jesuit    missionary    at 

Sault  St.  Marie... 11 

Allouez.  Jesuit  missionary  visits 

La  Pointe 4 

Meets   the  Sioux   at  the  ex- 
tremity of  Lake  Superior..      4 

Ames,  M.  E.,  early  lawyer 122 

Anderson,  Captain  in  British  ser- 
vice     81 

Andrewp,  Joseph,  killed  by  Sisse- 

ton  Sioux 02 

Aquipaguetin.  Sioux  chief  men- 
tioned by  Hennepin 21,    27 

Assineboines 2,  9,  23.  43,  46.    65 

Augelle,    Anthony,  alias    Picard 
du  Guy.  associate  of  Hennepin 

10,  18,23,24,    26 

Ayer,  Frederick,  missionary    to 

Ojibways 107 

Baker,  B.  F.,  Indian  trader 112 

Bailly.    Alexis,   drives  cattle  to 

Pembina 93 

Member  of  Legislature 93 

Balcombe,  St.  A.  D 127 

Balfour,  Captain 62 

Baas,  J.  W.,  early  settler  at  St. 

Paul 116 

Beauharnois,    Governor,    favors 

■*"  Verendrye 68 

Beaujeau,  urged   by  Langlade  of 

Wisconsin,  defeats  Braddock..    61 
Bellin  alludes  to  Fort  Rouge  on 

Red  river 87 

Fort  on  St.  Croix  river 112 

Beltrami,  G.  C,  notice  of 93 

Discovers  nortbern  sources  of 

the  Mississippi 94 

Bishop,    Harriet   E.,  establishes 

school  at  St.  Paul 114 

Blue  Earth  River  explored 45,    47 

D'Evaque  visits 48 

Boal,  J.  M.,  early  settler  at  St. 

Paul 116,  118 

Bottineau,  J.  B.,  exposed    in  a 

snow  storm 102 

Boisguillot,  early  trader  on  Wis- 
consin and  Mississippi 32 

Boucher,  Pierre,  described  Lake 

Superior  copper  mines 7 

Father  of  Sieur  de  Le  Per- 

riere 51 

Boudor  trades  with  the  Sioux 4J- 

Attacked  by  the  Foxes 49 

Bougainville,    mentions    Indian 

tribes  seen  by  Verendrve 6m 

Boutwell    Rev.  W.  T..  Ujibway 

missionary 106,  113 

Removes  to  Stillwater Ill 

Notice  of  Stillwater 114 

Braddock's  defeat 61 


PAGES  1  TO  128. 

P.AGE 

Bremer,  Frederka,  Swedish  nov- 
elist in  Minnesota 122 

Brisbin,  J.  B 127 

Brisbois,  Lieutenant  in  British 

service 81 

Brissette,  Edward,  notice  of 114 

Brown,  Joseph  R..  drummer  boy 

at  Fort  Snelling 95 

Trading  Post  at  Lake  Trav- 
erse   102 

Keeps  a  grog  shop  for  sol- 
diers   103 

At  Grey  Cloud  Island Il3 

Member  of  Wisconsin  Leg- 

ishature 113 

Makes    a    town  site     near 

Stillwa*er 113 

Secretary  of  Council  1849..  119 

Bruce,  trader  at  Green  Bay 63 

Brunson,  Rev.  A.,  Methodist  Mis- 
sionary   Ill,  113 

Brunson,  B.  W 119 

Brusky,  Charles,  Indian  trader. .    77 
Bulwer,  Sir  E.  L..  translation  of 

Sioux  Death  Son" 67 

Cameron,  Murdock,  sells  liquor 

to  Indians 74 

Campbell.  Colin,  interpreter !I2 

Carver's  Cave  mentioned 66.  78    81 

Carver,  Capt.  Jonathan,  early  life 

of 64 

In  battle  of  Lake  George 64 

Arrival  at  Mackinaw 61 

Describes  the  fort  at  Green 

Bay 61 

Visits  Wine bago  Village 61 

Visits  Fox  Village 64 

Describes  Prairie  du  Chien.. .    ol 
Describes     earth     works    at 

Lake  Pepin Ci.') 

Describes  cave  at  St.  Paul 66 

Describes  Falls  of    .St-    An- 
thony     66 

Describes  Minnesota  river...    66 

Describes  funeral  rites- 67 

Translation   of    Bulwer  ana 

Herschell 67,    68 

His  alleged  deed  for   Sioux 

Land 70 

Grandsons  of,  visit    Minne- 
sota     82 

Charlevoix  on  La  Hontan's  fab- 
rications      86 

On  Le  Sueur's  mining  opera- 
tions        45 

Chatlield,     A.     G.,     Territorial 

Judge 125 

Chouart,  Medard.  see  Groselliers 

Christinaux  mentioned 43,    44 

Clark,  Lt.  Nathan,  at  Fort  Snel- 
ling     90 

Letters  from  Gen.  Gibson 94 

Coe,  Rev.  Alvan,  visits  Fort  Snel- 
ling in  1829 106 

Convention  to  form  a  State  Con- 
stitution    128 

Cooper,  David,  Territorial  .Judge  118 
Copper  mines  of  Lake  Superior, 

Early  notice  of 7 

Notice  of  Isle  Royal 7 


PAOK 

Notice  of  Ontanagon 7 

Copper     mines     spoken    of    by 

Talon   A.  D..  1669 .'.      7 

Coquard,     Father,    accompanies 

Verendrye (Jo 

Mentions    Rocky     Mountain 

Indians 61) 

Dakotahs  or  Dah  kotahs. see  Sioux 

D'Avagour.  Governor  of  Cannda. 

opinion  of  the  region  West  of 

Lake  Superior i 

Day,  Dr.  David ....'.'.  124 

De   Gonor,    Jesuit,  visits    Lake 

Pepin 51,    .^8 

Return  to  Canada .M 

Converses  with  Verendrye...     58 
De  la  Barre,    Governor,  notices 

Du  Luth 11 

De  la  Tonr,  Jesuits  missionary.. .     13 
Dela  Tourette.  GreysoUm,  broth- 
er of  Du  Luth 10 

Denis,  Canadian  voyageur,  joins 

Le  Sueur 42 

DenonviUe.    Governor,     attacks 

Seneccas 15 

Orders  Du  Luth  to  build  a 

Fort 16 

Send-*  for  western  allies 3ii 

Commissions  Du  Luth \',1 

Denton,  Rev.  D.,    missionaJy   to 

Sioux Ill 

D'Esprit,  Pierre,  seeRadisson.... 
D'Evaque,    in    charge    of    Fort 

L'Hnillier m 

Devoticm.    M  ,    sutler    at     Fort 

Srielling 91 

D'Iberville,  Gov.,  criticises  Hen- 
nepin       S8 

Relative  of  Le  Sueur 39 

Dieskau,  Baron 61 

Dickson.  Col.  Robert,  visits  Lt. 

Pike 77 

Trading  post  at  Grand  Rapids    7H 

At  Mendota 7s 

During  war  of  1812 80,    81 

.\t  Lake  Traverse 89 

At  Fort  Snelling 93,    % 

William,  son  of  Robert 96 

Du  Chesneau.  intendaut  of  Can- 
ada, complains  of  Duluth II 

Dii  Luth,  Daniel  Greysolon,  early 

lifeof 11 

Various  spellings  of  his  name      ti 
Establishes  a  Fort  at  Kaman- 

istigoyrt 9 

Descends  the  St.  Croix  river 

11.  112 
Arrests  and  executes  Indians 

at  Sault  St.  Marie 11 

Brings  allies  to  Niagara,  for 

De  la  Barre 15 

Establishes  a  Fort  on  Lake 

Erie 1.". 

Returns  to  Lake  Erie  with  his 

cousin  Tonty 16 

Brother  of,  from  Lake  Nepi- 

gon 16 

In  command  at  Fort  Fronte- 

nac 16 

Death  of 17 


542 


uisTonr  OF  vnEEBonx  couxtt. 


AtFallsof  St.  Anthony.... 18,    2« 

Meets  Hennepin 25 

Tribute  to 27 

His  tour  from  Luke  Superior 

to  I^Iississippi 112 

Meets  .^ccault  and  Hennepin  112 

Uu  Pay,  a  voyascur 10 

Uurantayc,  commander  at  Mack- 
inaw      33 

At  Ticonderoga .!!!!....'.    62 

At  Niagara ].]    15 

Ely,  E.  v.,  missionary  te.icher.!.  110 
fc-njali .  ;.   Jesuit    missionary   at 

Sault  St.  Maire H,     13 

I'affart.  interpreter  for  Uu  Luth    lu 

visits  tile  Sioux H 

Kails   of    Saint    Anthony,    first 

white  man  at 2r> 

First  mill  at .ilij,    iil 

Described  bv  Li  Sulle '    IH 

Described  by  Honiiepin, 21.25,    2« 
Described  by  Lt.Z.M.Pike,  75.    7tj 

Described  by  .Major  Long 85 

First  newspaper  at 123 

Bridge,    first    across    Missis- 
sippi   126 

Fisher,  traier  at  (irecn  Bay! .'.'.'.    G3 
titch,  pi-ineer  in  bt.  Croi.t  Val- 
ley   J12 

Flat  Mouth.  Oiiliway  f'hief.  vis- 
its Fort  SiieUin;;,  A.  D.  1N27....    »7 
lorsyth.   Major  Thomas,  accom- 
panies first  troojis  to  Fort  Snel- 

ling gi 

Pays  Indians  for  reservation. . .    91 
lort  Beauliarnois  established  A. 

IJ   1727,  at  Lake  Pepin 51,    ,V2 

Commanded  by  St. Pierre,  56,    57 

rort  Crawfiivd  nvt 

La  Reine,  on   River  Assine- 

,  borne...   33,    87 

Le  Sueur,  below  Hastings  ...     37 
L  Huillier    on    Blue    Earth 

river 43 

Left  in  charge  of  D'Evaque    47 

McKay gj 

Perrot.  at  Lake  Pepin  ..'.'.'.'.'.'    2« 
Shelby,  at  Prairie  du  Chien 

Fort  Snelling  site  secured  by  Lt." 

Troops    for,    at    Prairie    dii 

Chien yj 

Birth  of  Charlotte  OuisconI 

sin  Cl.irk 90 

Col.  Le:  venworth  arrives  at 

Mend  ti 91 

First  i.ffioers  at  cantonment. .  91 
Major       Taliaferro       Indian 

agent  .at 91 

Cass  and  Schoolcraft  visits. .  92 
Col  Spelling  succeeds  Leav- 
enworth   92 

Events  of  A.D.  1821 '.  93 

Advance  in  building 93 

Events  of  A.  D.  1822,  A.  D 

1823 93 

First  steam  boat  at '.  93 

Beltrami,  the  Italian,   at.. 9,%  91 

Major  H.  S.  Long  arrives  at. .  94 

Government  mill  near HI 

Sunday  School  at 94 

Events  of  A.  D    1821 95 

General  Scott  suggests  name 

for  fort 9,5 

Euents  of  A.  D.  1825  and  Isiiii!  96 

Mail  arrival  at 9(i 

Great  snow  storm  March, 1836,  96 

High  water  at,  April  21.  1826,  97 
Slaves  belonging   to  officers 

at 97 

Steam  boac  arrivals  to  el"se 

of  lS2'i .  117 

General  Gaines  censures  Col- 
onel of c; 

Events  of  A.D.  1827....!!!!"    98 

Flat  Mouth.  Ojibway  chief. 
visits,  in  1827 98 

Col.  Snelling  delivers  mur- 
derers for  execution 99 

Construction  of,  criticised  by 
General  Gaines lOO 

Kev.  Alva  Coe  in  1829  preach- 
es at 108 


J.  N.  Nicollet  arrives  at 102 

Marriages  at Iir2,  1(8,  120 

Steamer  Palmyra  at,  in  July, 
1^3-1.  with  notice  of  ratitica- 

tion  of  Indian  treaties 112 

Indian    council  held   at,  by 

Governor  Ramsey 121 

*'"'J.?'v,'^''""'°y'  now"Snelling. .    95 
ot-  Charles,  on  Lake  of  the 

Wooas -,g 

St.  Joseph,  on  Lake  Eric,  es- 

tablished  by  Du  Luth 16 

St.  Pierre,  on  Rainy  Lake....    ."kS 
Interview  with  Perrot  SI 

Mentir.ned.  33.  37,  38,  48,  46.  5l',    55 
I'lanklin.  Sir  John,  relics  of,pas8 

through  St.  P.iul 126 

I'ronteiiac.  Governor  of  Canada,     in 

Friend  of  IJuluth n 

Encourages  Le  --ueur 39 

Hr.azer,  trader 7jj 

t  uller,  Jerome.  Territorial  Chief 
Justice..   .. 

Furber,  J.  VV.. ...'!! 

Gaitier,     Rev.     L.,   buVlds 
chapel  in  St.   Paul 


first 


123 
127 


114 
111 


100 


81 
6 
2 


(Taviii,  Rev.  Daniel   missionary., 
(nbson.  General,  letters  relative 

to  St.  Anthony  mill 91 

Gillan,  Capt.  Zachar.v,  of  Bos- 
ton, accompanied  by  Grosel- 
li""",  ind  R  idisson,  sails  for 
Hudson's  Bay  in  ship  None- 
such    5 

Goodhue.  James  M,',  first'  Minnel 

sota  editor J17 

Death  of :............"  124 

Goodrich,      Aaron,      Territorial 

Judge ug 

Gorm.an,  Willis  A.  Governor!.'.'.';  125 
Gorrell,  Lieut,  at  Green  Bay....  02 
Graham,  Duncan,  arrives  at  Fort 

Snelling 

Grant  trader  at  Sandy  Lake,  vis- 

itedby  Pike 77 

Gr.-ivier,  Father  James,  criticisea 

Hennepin 28 

Greeley,  Elam .,". 109 

Griffing   LaSalle'sship '.'.'.'..'.    10 

.     Voyage  to  Green   Bay 19 

Griguod.  Cabtain  in  British  ser- 
vice  7g 

Groselliers.  Sieur,  early  life!!!. 1,' 

Visits  Mille  Lacs  region 

Meets  the  .\ssiaeboiues  .  ■> 

Visits  Hudson's  Bay 4 

Name  given  to  what  is  now 

Pigeon  river .r, 

Visits  New  England '      6 

Encouraged    by   Prince    Ru- 
pert   5 

Death  of ""      g 

Guignas.  Father,    missionary  'at 

I'ort  Beauharnois 51 

Guignas,  Father,  captured  by'l'n- 

dians 54 

Returns  to  Lake  Pepin.!!!"    50 

Gun  grandson  of  Carver 82 

Hall.    Rev.     Sherman.    Ojibway 

missionary 107 

Moves  to  Sauk  Rapids. ..'.'.'  HI 
Havner,  H.  Z.,  Chief  Justice  of 

lerritorv loj 

Hempstead   accompanies    Major 

Long,  A.  D.  1817 

Hennepin, Louis.  Franciscan  inisl 

slonary,  early  life  of 

Depreciates  .Jesuits  . . 
At  Falls  of  St,  Anthony 

'«•  22,  24, 

Denounced  by  La  Salle la 

Chaplain  of  La  Salle 20 

At  Lake  Pepin •>2 

MetbyDuLutti !.!!'    25 

Career  on  return  to  Europe. '.    25 

His  later  davs 28 

Opinion  of  Jesuit  Missions!!  li»i 

Henni.^s,  C.  J.,  Editor 1-1 

Hersehell,    Sir  John,   translates 
Schiller's  song.  Son  of  Sioox 

Chief gg 

Historical    Society,  firBt"p'u'bii'o 

meeting ng 

Hobart,  Rev.  0......'.!!.'.'.' 119 


82 


19 

18 


25 


Holcomb,  Capt.  Wi  1  Ham ."iio 

Hole  in-the-Day,  the  father  at- 
tacks the  Sioux 103 

Hole-in-the-Day.  Junior  attacks 

Bioux  near  St.  Paul 121 

On  first  steamboat  above  fails 

of  St.  Anthony ]21 

Howe,  early  settler  at  Marine!!!!  113 
Uiiggms,      Alexander,      mission 

:  arnier yyj 

Huronsdrvento  Jiinne.sota 2 

At  war  with  the  Sioux 4 

Indiana  Territory  organized 73 

Indians    of    Mississippi     Valley, 

earliest  communication  about. 

Upjior  Missouri,  seen  by  Ver- 

..'.'"''■ye  80 

Minnesota i(u 

loways,  visited  bv  Hurons. . !! "  ' '      2 

visit  P.-rrotat  Lake  Pepin...    29 

iroqucus.  Virgin,  her  intercession 

sought  by  Du  Luth 

isle,  Pelee,  of    the    Mississippi' 

below  St.  Croix  River 

Isle  Royal,  copper  in  1667,  noticed 
I'asca.  orijjin  of  word. 


46 


17 


37 

7 

107 


115 


Jackson,  fienry,  early ' set'tle'r  'i'li 

ot  Paul \n 

Jemeraye,  Sieur  de  la,  with  the 

bioux •. 513 

Explores  to  Rainy  Lake..58,    59 

Death  of eg 

Jesuit.  Father  Allouez. .!!!!!.'.'.".■      4 

Cnardon "    r^tj 

De  Goiior '.',',',    51 

De  la  Cha.S8e ! ! ! 51 

Guignas .51,  54,'55!    56 

Marquette 5 

Menard .2      3 

Mes.sayer .'.V.'.'.V.'. ,'    58 

Jesuit  missions  unsuccessful.!!"  106 

Johnson.  Parsons  K 119 

.Judd,  early  settler  at  Marine.""  113 
Kaposia,  Chief,  requests  a  miel 

Biimary ,,, 

Kennerman,  Pike's  sergeant  79 

Kickapoos,  at  Fort  Perrot..      '"    30 

Ciijiture  French    from  Lake 

Pepin 54 

King,  grandson  of  Carver!!!!'.!'.'    82 

La  Hontau.  his  early  life ...   '    3.^ 

Ascent  of  the  Fox  River."!!'    35 

Criticised  L'arlevoix ""    36 

Noticed  bv  Nicollet.  ""    38 

LaidlowtravelsfroniSelkirkset- 
tlement  to  I'rairiedu  Chien..  .    91 

At  Fort  Snelling 33 

Lac  qui  Parle  .Mission 1U9 

Lake    (Jalhoun,  Indian  farm'esl 

tablished iQg 

Lake  Harriet  mission  ilescrihed!!  1U9 
Lake  Pepin,  called  Lake  of  Tears 

Described  in  A.D.  1710 41   ' 

Fort  Perrotat 29 

Fort  Be.'uiharnois  at !.!  "    58 

Lake  Pokeguma  Mission  ! ! ! ! !  109 

La  .Monde,  a  voyager ig 

Landsing,  trader,  killed,.     63 

Lambert.  David,  early  settler  i'li 


St.  Paul. 


La 


mbert  Henry  A„  ear'ly'settier 
n  St.  Paul 


118 


Langlade,  of  (Jreen  Bay,  "urges 

attack  of  Braddock gi 

La  P.  rriere,  Sieur  de,  proceed's't'o 

Siouxeountry 51 

Son  of  Pierre  Bftueher.!!!!  , 

Arrives  at  Lake  Pepin !!. 

La  lorte,  see  Lovigny 

La  Potherie  describes  Fort  Per- 
rot at  Lake  Pepin 

Larpeiitcnr,  A.,  early  settler  iii 

St    Paul 

I  .a  .Salle  licensed  to  trade  in  Buf- 
falo robes 

Criticises  Du  Luth. ...!...  ii)! 
First  to  describe  Upper  Mis- 
sissippi   ^^ 

.Describes  falls  of  St.  Anthony    19 

La  laiipine.  see  Moreau 

Laurence.  Phineas,  pioneer  at  St. 


.51 


18 


Croix  Valley .'  n;. 

h.  Calvin,a  founder  of  Stiiil 


Leac 
water 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Lead  mines  on  MiRsissippi 33 

Lr-Mvcn  worth,  Colonel,  estab- 
lishes Fort  SuelUng _. . . .     90 

Letrardcur,  Auprustine.  associate 

of  Ferrot 32 

Legislature.  Territorial 119  to  127 

First  State  Legislature 128 

Leslie,  Lt.,  command  at  Macki- 
naw      62 

L'Huillier,  Fort   why  named 43 

Lc  8ueur.  associated  with  Per- 
ri't,  builds  a  Fort    below  Has- 

tiDss 82 

At   Lake   Pepin    in  1683  and 

l&^'J. 37,    40 

At  La  Ponte   of  Lake  Supe- 
rior, 1(592 37 

Brings  first    Sioux  chief    to 

Montreal 37,    83 

Visits  France 38 

Arrives  in  Gulf  of  Mexico...    39 
Passes  Perrot's  lead  mines...    40 

At  the  Kivcr  St.  Croix 42 

Holds    a    council    with    the 

Sioux 44 

Returns  to  Gulf  of  Mexico. 45,    74 
Libbev,  Washington,  pioneer   at 

St.  Croix  Falls 113 

Lignery.  commands  at  Macki- 
naw.  , 50 

At  Fort  Duquesne 61 

Linctot.  commander  at  Macki- 
naw      51 

Little  Crow,  Sioux  chief,  goes  in 

lN2t  to  Washington 95 

Long,  Major  Stephen  H.,  tour  to 

St:  Anthony.  A.  D.  1817 82 

Burial  place 83 

Kaposia  Village 86 

Carver's  cave S4 

St.  Anthony  Falls 85 

Opinion  of  the  site  of  Fort 

Snelling 86 

Loomis.     Captain   Gustavus    A., 

U.S.  A 108 

Loomis,  D-  B.,  early  settler  of  St. 

Croix  Valley 122 

Loras,  Bishop  of  Dubuque 109 

Louisiana,  transfer  of 73 

Lowry.  ^ylvanus.  early  settler...  127 

Macalester  College 125 

Mackinaw  re-occupied 5U 

Presbyterian  mission  at 106 

Rev.  Dr.  Morse  visits 196 

Robert  Stuart  resides  at 106 

Eev.  W-    M,  Ferry,  mission- 
ary at .^ 106 

Ma<nnnis   makes  a  claim  at  St. 

Croix  Falls 112 

Map  by  Franquelin  indicates  Du 

Lutli's  explorations 3 

Marest,  James  Joseph,  Jesuit 
missionary,  signs  the  papers 
taking  possession  of  the  Upper 

Mississippi •  •    32 

Letter  to  Le  Sueur 39 

Marin,  Lamarque  de,  French  offi- 
cer      60 

Marine,  early  settlers  at 112 

Marshall,  Hon.  W.  K.  mentioned, 

115,  126 

Marquette.  Jesuit  missionary  at 

La  Pointe.         -1 

Martin,  Abraham,  pilot 1 

Maskoutens  mentioned 37 

Massacre    Island.   Lake    of    the 

Woods  origin  of  the  name 59 

McGillis,  Hugh.N.  W.  Co- Agent, 

Leech  Lake 78 

McGregor,  English  trader  ar- 
rested      15 

McKay,  trader  from  Albany 63 

Lt.     Col.     William      attacks 

Prarie  du  Chien 81 

McKean,  Elias,  a  founder  of  Still- 
water   113 

McKenzie,  old  trader 87 

McKusick  J.,  a  founder  of  Still- 
water   •  •  •  •  113 

McLean,  Nathaniel,  editor 119 

McLeod,  Martin,  exposed  to  snow 

storm 102 

Menard  Rene,  Jesuit  missionary 
letter  of 2 


PAGE 

Among  the  Ottowas  of  Lake 

Superior 3 

Medary,  Governor,   Samuel 127 

Meeker,  B.  B  ,  Territorial  Judge 

118,  119 
Messaver.    Father,    accompanies 

the  Verendrye  expedition Ii8 

Miami  Indians  visited  by  Perrot,    30 
Ask  for  a  trading  post  on  Mis- 
si  ppi  33 

Mill,  first  in  Minnesota 93,    98 

Mille  Lacs  Sioux  visited  by  Du 

Luth 9 

Hennepin 22 

Minnesota,  meaning  of  the  word,  116 

River,  first  steamboat  in 122 

Historical  Suciety 119 

Territory,  proposed  bounda- 
ries.   11  ij 

Convention  at  Stillwater 115 

When  organized 117 

First  election 118 

First  Legislature 118 

First  counties  organized 119 

Recognized  as  a  State 12.S 

Mitchell,    Alexander   M.,    U-    S- 

Maishal 118 

Candidate  for  Congress 125 

Missions.  Jesuit 5.  It).  106 

Mission  Stations 106  to  111 

Missionaries.     Rev.     Alvan     Coe 

visits  Fort  Snelling 1"  '7 

Frederick  Ayer 107 

W.  T.  Boutwell 107 

F.  F.  Ely,  (teacher J lOS 

Mr.  Denton Ill 

Sherman  Hall 107 

Daniel  Gavin  Ill 

John  F.  Alton Ill 

Robert  Hopkins 117 

Gideon  H.  Pond  107 

Samuel  W.  Pond 107 

J.  W.  Hancock HI 

J.  D.  Stevens 107 

S.  R.  Kiggs Ill 

T.  S.  Williamson,  M.  D 107 

M.N.  Adams Ill 

Moreau,  Pierre,  with  Du  Luth  at 

Lake  Superior 9 

Morrison,  William,  old  trader, 73,    67 
Moss,   Henry  L.,    U.  S-   District 

Attorney 118 

Nadowaysionx,  see  Sioux 

Newspapers,    first    m    St.    Paul 

117  to  123 
Nicolet.  Jean,  first  white  trader 

in  Wisconsin  *   1 

Nicollet.  J.  N.,  astronomer  and 

geologist 102 

Niverville,    Boucher  de,  at  Lake 

Winnipeg 60 

Norris,  J.  S 126 

North,  J.  W 122.  128 

Northwest  company  trading  posts    73 
None.  Robt-rtal  dela.  re-occupies 
Du  Luth's  post  at  the  head  of 

Lake  Superior 50 

Ochagachs,  draws  a  map  for  Ve- 
rendrye       58 

Mentioned  by  the  geographer 

Bellin 87 

Ojigways  or  Chippewas.  ...30,  31,    37 

Early  residence  of 105 

Principal  villages  of 105 

Of  Lake  Pokeguma  attacked  110 

Treaty  of  1837 112 

Oliver.  Lieut.  U.  S.  A.,  detained 

by  ice  at  Hastings 91 

Olmstead.  .S.  B 126 

Olmsted.    D:ivid,    President  of 

first  council 119 

Candidate  for  Congress 122 

Editor  of  Democrat 125 

One  Eyed   tSioux.  alias  ''ourgne 
Original  Leve,  Rising  Moose..     85 
Loyal  to  America  during  war 

of  18i2 81 

Ottawas.  their  migrations 2 

Ottoes,  mentioned 42,  43,    44 

Ouasicoude,     {  Wah-zee-ko-tay  ) 
Sioux  chief  mentioned  by  Hen 

nepin .- 23.    27 

Owens.  John  P..  editor 123 


543 


PAGE 

Pacific  Ocean,  route  to 

36,  fO,  rj8,  60,    H'.t 

Persons.  Rev.  J.  P lilt 

Petron.  umle  of  Du  Luth 11 

Puiucaut  discribes  Fort  Perrot. .     29 
Fort  Le  Mueur  on  Isle  Pelee. .     '.Tt 

Mississippi  river 12 

Describes  Fort  L'Huillier...     47 
Pennensha.  French  tiuder  among 

the  Sioux 53 

Pere  see  Pej  rot. 

Perkins,  Lt.  U.  b.  A.  in  charge  of 

Fort  Shelby 80 

Perriorre.  see  L  Perrierre. 
Ptrrot.  Nicholas,  aiic^ts  Achiga- 

na"a  at  Lake  Superior 12 

Early  days  of 20 

Account  of  Father  Menard's 
ascent   of    the    Mississippi 

and  Black  Rivers ..      2 

Susp- cted    of    poisoning    La 

8;ille 29 

Associated  with  Du  Luth 29 

Presents  a  silver  ostensorium    3o 

In  the  Seneca  expedition 31 

His  return  to  Lake  Pepin 31 

Takes  possession  of  the  coun- 
try      32 

Condn  cts  a  convoy  from  Mon- 

^  treal 34,     38 

Estal^lishes  a  post  on  Kala- 

maz'io  river 31 

Threatened  with    death     by 

Indians 38 

Pctert.,   Rev.  Samuel,  interested 

in  the  Carver  claim ''0,71,    96 

Petuns,  seeHurons. 

Phillips.  W.  D.,  early  lawyer  at 

St    Paul llti.  119 

Pike,  Lt.   Z.    M.,   U-  S.  army  at 

Prairie  du   Chien ,.     74 

Addre.ss  to  Indians 74 

Description    of  Falls  of  St. 

Anthony 75,    76 

Block  house  at  Swan  River..    77 

At  Sandy  Lake 77 

At  Leech  Lake 7.8 

.\t  Dickson's  trading  post...     7« 

Confers  with  Little  Crow 78 

Pinchon. see  Pennensha. 
Pinchon,    Fils  de,  Sioux    chief, 

confers  with  Pike 78 

Editor  of  Dakotah  Friend...  122 
interpreter  at  treaty  of  1851.   124 
Pond,   Rev.    Samuel  W-    notifies 

the  agent  of  a  Sioux  war  party  103 
Porlier,  trader  iwvt  Sauk  Rnpids 

76,    78 

Poupoii,  Isadore,  killed  b>  Sisse- 

ton  Sioux ". 92 

Prairie   du  Chien    described   by 

Carver 64 

During  war  of  1812-1815 8il 

McKay  at HI 

PiTBcott,  Philander,  early  life...    91 
Provencalle,  loyal  to  America  in 

warof  1812 81 

Quinn,  Peter 103 

Raclos.  Madeline,  wife  of  Nicho- 
las Pej  rot 34 

Radisson,    Sienr,    early  life  and 

nmrnage 2 

Rae,  Dr.,  Arctic  explorer  at  St. 

Paul 124 

Rams  y,   Hon.    Alexacder,    first 

Governor 117 

Guest  of  H.  H.  Sibley  at  Men- 

dota 118 

Becomes   a    resident   of   St. 

Paul 118 

Holds  Indian  council  at  Fort 

Snelling 121 

Randin.  visits  extremity  of  Lake 

Superior 110 

Kavoux,  Rev.  A.,  Sioux  mission- 
ary   109 

Reaume,  Sieur.  interpreter 52 

Red  River   of  the    North,  men- 
tioned       87 

Renville,  Joseph,  mention  of.. 76,  109 

Renville,  John 109 

Republican  convention  at  St. An- 
thony    126 

.^ice,  Hon.  Henry  M.,  steps  to  or- 


544 


nisTnnr  of  FREEnnnN  rorxTV. 


■        ..■  PAOE 

'  ganizo  Minnesota  Territory,!  15,  116 
Klected  to  Congresn  ....     125,  126 

U.S.  Senator i23 

Kirhards,  F.  S.,   trader  at  Lake 

Pepin 117 

Kiggs,  Kev.  8.  K.,  Sioux  mission- 

ary.  letter  of m 

Kobbinette,  pioneer  in  St.  Croix 

Valley n2 

Robertson,  Daniel  A.,  editor,. 124,  125 
Kogers,  ('aptain.  at  Ticonderoaa    112 

In  charge  at  Mackinaw 82,    (ili 

Uolette,  Joseph,  Sr.,  in  the  Brit- 
ish service 81 

Itolctte,  Joseph.  Jr '.  127 

Koseboom,    English    trader,    ar- 
rested near  Macninaw 1.5 

KoBcbootn,  trader  at  Green  Bay.    03 
Kos«er,  J.  T.,  Secretary  of  Ter- 

ritiiry I25 

Russell,  Jeremiah,  pioneer  in  St. 

Croix  Valley loo,  112 

Becard,  in  1K3'6  notices  Lake  Su- 

I>erior  copper 7 

Saint  Anthony  Express,  first  pa- 

Iier  beyond  St.  Paul ife 

Saint  Anthony  Falls.  Suspension 

bri  djie  ov<-r i2fi 

Ooyernment  millat 93,    91 

St.  Croix  ctiunty  organized lit 

Court  in nt 

Saint     Croix     river,     origin    of 

nam^ 42,  112 

l>u  Luth  first  explorer  of....  112 

Pi'ine.-rs  in  Valley  of  ]12 

_  Early  preachers  in  valley  of.  ll:l 

Saint  Paul,  origin  of  name 114 

Early  Settlers  of ]i4 

High  water  in  18■^^^ 121 

Fir»t  execution  for  murder  ..  124 
Effort  to  remove  seat  of  gov- 

(  rnment  therefrom 127 

Saint    Pierre,   Captain,  at   Lake 

Superior 50 

At  Lake  Pepin  .55,    H5 

Commander  at  Mackinaw l!l 

At  Fort  La  Reine (ID 

!■   N.W.Pennsylvania (io,    (ji 

Visited   by  Washington 611 

Saskatchewan,   first    visited    by 

French ,59 

Fort  at 1.    80 

Schiller,  versifies  a  Sioux  chief's 

speech 67 

Scott,  Dred,  slave  at  Fort  Snell- 

11? 97 

ocntt  (leneral  Winfield.  suggests 

the  name  of  Fort  Snelling 163 

Selkirk.  Earl,  Thomas  Douglas..    87 
Semple,  Governorof  Selkirk  set- 
tlement, killed..   88 

Senecas  defeated  bv  the  French,    15 
Shea,  J.  Q.,   on   failure  to  estab- 
lish Sioux  mission 108 

Sherburne  Moses,  Judge 125 

t^hields.  Gen.  James,  elected  U. 

S.  Senator .  128 

SibUy.  Hon.  H.  H.,  at  Stillwater 

convention 115 

Delegate   to   Congress  from 


WT.  .     _       .  TkOB 

Wisconsin  Territory 116 

Elected  delegate  to  Congress  122 

Sioux,  origin  of  the  word 1 

Peculiar  language  of ]      4 

Villages  visited  by  Du  Luth.,      9 

Described  by  Cadillac  16 

Meet  Accault  ^nd  Hennepin, 

19,    2. 1 

Of  Mille  Lacs 22 

Nicolas  Perrot 29 

Described  by  Perrot 31 

Meaning  of  the  word '..  101 

Different  bands  of Ui4 

Warjiaytwawns 105 

Seeseetwawiis 105 

Mantanlaws 32,    44 

Sissetons 32 

Oujalesptntons 43^    44 

Chief's  speech  to  Frontenac.     88 

Chief's  death  at  Montreal 38 

Chief  visits  Fort  L'lluillier.    13 

In  council  with  Le  Sueur U 

Visited  by  Jesuits 51 

A  foil  to  the  Foxes 55 

Bands  dcsciibed  by  Carver. ..     65 
Chief's  speech    described  by 

Carver 67 

Language,  Carver's  views  on    89 
Chief.  Original  Leve,  Pike's 

friend 7.5,    81 

Formerly    dwelt    at     Leech 

Lake 7s 

Sisseton  murderer  brought  to 

Fort  Snelling 92 

In  council  with  Ojibways 94 

Sioux  Delegation    in   A.  D.  1824, 

go  to  Washington 95 

Delivered  by  Col  Snelling...    99 

Executed  by  Ojibways 99 

Killed   by    OJibways,    April, 

18.« ...  103 

Attack  Lake  Pokeguma  band 

in  1811.. 110 

Are  attacked  m  1842 in 

Treaties  of  1851 . .   123 

Attacked  in  St.  Paul  by  Ojib- 

ways 125 

Simpson,  early  settler  in  St.  Paul  114 

Slaves,  African,  in  Minnesota 97 

Smith,  C.  K.,  first  Secretary  of 

Territory us    ug 

Snelling,  Col.  Josiah,  arrives  at 

Fort  Snelling 92 

Delivers  Sioux    assassins  to 

Ojibways 99 

Death  of lol 

W.  Joseph,  son  of    Colonel, 

career  of 97 

Pasquinade  on  N.  P.  Willis'.!!    98 
Steele,  Franklin,  pioneer  of  St. 

Croix   Valley 112,  113 

At     Stillwater     Convention! 

18W H5 

Stevens,  Rev .  J.  D .iijfi   108 

Stillwater,  battle  between  Sioux 

and  Ojibways 103 

Founders  of 113 

Land  slide  in  1852 .' ! !  124 

Stratton,    pioneer   in   St.   Croix 
Valley 112,  113 


Stnart.  Robert,  at  Mackinaw,  in. 

fluence  of jog 

Swiss  emigrants,  at  Red  River!!!     89 
Taliaferro.  Maj.  Lawrence,  agent 

for  the  Sioux,  notice  of 91 

Letter  to  Cid.  Levenworth..    92 
Takes  Indians  to  Washington 

A.  D.    1824 ii5 

Tanner,  John,    stolen   from   his 

parents 88 

Tannery  for  Buffalo  skins 46    48 

Taylor,  Jessie  B..  pioneer  in  St. 

CroiT  Valley J12 

Joshua  L !...!  118 

N.    C.   D.,  Siieaker  House  of 

Representatives  18.54 12H 

Spi'cch  to  Gov.  Frontenac...     38 
Tegahkouita,  Catherine,  the  Iro- 

rjuois  virgin 17 

Terry,  Hlij.ih.  murdered  by  Sioux 

at  Pembina ". 121 

Thorn  p.son,    David,     geographer, 

N.  VV.  Co 78 

lonty.   Henry,  with  DuLuth  at 

Niagara 15 

Treaties  of  1837  with  Sioux  and 

Ojitiways ll'. 

Tuttle,  C   \.. at  Falls  of  St.  Croix  112 
University  of  Minnesota  created  122 

Van  Cleve,  Gen.  H.  P ii' 

Varennes,    Pierre    Gualtier,   see 

Verendrye. 
Vercheres,  in  command  at  Green 

Bav 81 

Verendrye,  Sieur,  early  life  of .. .     58 
Expedition  west  of  Lake  Su- 
perior      58 

Return  to  Lake  of  the  Woods    95 
Sieur.    Jr.,    accompanies    St. 

Pierre 59,    61 

Wahkautape,  Sioux  chief  visits 

liC  Sueur 43,    4i 

Wahmatah,  Sioux  chief 95 

Wait,  L   B Ill) 

Wakefleiri,  John  A 118 

Wales,  W.  W 127 

Washington  visits  St.  Pierre...!     81I 
Welch.   W.  H.    Chief  Justice   of 

Territory 125 

Wells,  James,  trader,  married.!!  102 

At  Lake  Pepin 117 

Wilkin.  Alexander,  Secretary  of 

Territ^iry ]24 

t'andidate  for  Congress        '     125 
Willianis<m,    Re».   T     8,  M.  D. 

early  life 107 

Organizes    church    at     Fort 

Snelling 108 

Missionary  at  Lac  qui  Parlo 

Kaposia 114 

Willis.   N.   P.,   lampoons  Joseph 

Snelling 97 

Winnebagoes  mentioned 40,    52 

Wisconsin  River  called  Meschetz 

Obeda  by  La  Salle 18 

Wolfe,  General,  death  of 1 

Wood,  trader  among  Sioux 78 

Yeiser.  Captain  at  Fort  Shelby..    80 
Yuhazee,  executed  at  Bt.  Paul...  124 


IND/SX. 


545 


INDEX. 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA, 


PAOB 

AdmisBion  of  the  State 129 

Agricultural  Building 147 

Austin,  Horace,  sketcH  of 156 

Aldrich.  Cyrus,  sketch  of 159 

Averill,  John  T-.  sketch  of 159 

Battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing 133 

Fair  Oaks 133 

Savage  Station 133 

luka 134 

Corinth 134 

Gettysburg 137 

Biennial  session  of  the  Legisla- 
ture    140 

Bancroft,  George,  speech  of 141 

Blind,  Kducation  of  the 148 

Cavanaugh.  James  M.,  sketch  of.  159 

Cavalry  Companies 133 

Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution 147 

Davis.  C.  K.,   sketch  of  157 

Donnelly,  Ignatius,  sketch  of 159 

Dunnell,  Mark,  M.,  sketch  of..,,  159 

Kdi^'erton,  A.  J.,  sketch  of 158 

Kignth  Minnesota  Regiment 137 

First  State  Legislature 129 

First  steamboat  on  the  Red  River 

of  the  North 130 

First  white  person  executed 130 

First  Minnesota  Regiment. . . .  181,  137 
Fifth  Minnesota  Regiment... 134,  137 
Fourth  Minnesota  Regiment 137 


Page  129  to  160. 

PAGE 

Fifth  State  Legislature 138 

Fillmore,    ex-President,    speech 

of 141 

Flag  presentation 143 

Goraian,  Willis  A.,  sketch   of 153 

Hubbard,  Lucius  F.,  sketch  of. ..  157 

Insane  Hospital  at  St-  Peter 149 

Rochester 150 

King,  Wm.  S.,  sketch  oE 159 

Miller,  Stephen,  sketch  of 155 

Marshall,  W.  R.,  sketch  of 156 

McMillan,  S.J.   R.j  sketch  of ....  158 

Minnesota  in  the  civil  war 131 

Normal  School  act 13U 

Northfield  Bank,  raid  on 139 

Noyes,  J.  L.  sketch  of 149 

Norton,  Daniel  S.,  sketch  of 158 

Page,  Judge,  impeachment  of —  140 

PiUsburv,  J.  S.,  sketch  of 157 

Phelps,  Wm.  W.,  sketch  of 159 

Poehler,  Henry,  sketch  of 160 

Railroad  land  grants 129 

Ramsey,    Governor,  tenders   the 

services  of  his  fellow-citizens 

to  the  President 131 

Religious    instruction   excluded 

from  schools 14<!) 

Ramsey,  Alexander,  sketch  of 151 

Rice,  Henry  M.,  sketch  of 158 

(Second  State  Legislature 130 


PAGE 

State  railroad  bonds  issued 130 

Capital,  history  of 141 

In  flames 144 

Penitentiary 14 1 

University 14'> 

Faculty 147 

Campus  and  buildings 147 

Rettjrm  School 150 

Normal  Hcho<jls 151 

Second  Minnesota  Regiment.. 132.  137 

Sharpshooters 132 

Sioux  Outbreak 135 

Seward,  Wm.  H.,  speech  of 14'! 

School  for  the  Feeble-minded..  U9 

Sibley,  H.  II..  sketch  of 1.5a 

Swift.  H.  A.,  sketch  of 155 

Shields,  James,  sketch  of 15a 

Stearns.  O.  P.,  sketch    of V<n 

Strait.  Horace  B.,  sketch  of ir.'l 

Stewart.  Jacob  H..  ■Pkt-trli  of . . ..  11,^ 

Third  Minnesota  Ue^nnu-iit l:i3 

The  Rocky  Mountain  Lucust I'i'J 

Women     al  lowed     to     vote    for 

school  officers 139 

Wilkinson.  Morton  S.,  sketch  of .  InS 

Windom,  William,   sketch  of 15rt 

Wilson,  Eugene  M.,  sketch  of...  1^9 

Wasnburn,  W.  D..  sketch  of 16  i 

Yorktown,  siege  of UJ 


INDEX. 


BTATB   EDUCATION. 


PAOB 

Introduction 161,  162 

Colonial  Period 163 

Education  in  1787 164 

State  Aid 164,  16ri 

Education  in  Minnesota 1C6 


Page  161  to  176. 

PAGE 

Boird  of  Regents 16<) 

Ijand  Grant 167 

State  University IfH 

Uelated  System'. ItJli 

State  School   Fund 171 


PARE 

Loral  Taxation 172 

(ir.-ided  School  System 172 

l'"qiial  rights 174 

A  Coramon  foe 175 

Uesults  hoped  for 178 


35 


.Hfi 


ffrsTonr  of  fuweborn  corxrr. 


INDEX. 


THB  SIOUX  MAS3A0BE  OF  1862. 


AMack  on  the  Upper  Agency 186 

Attack  on  Fort  Abercrombie 239 

Battle  of  Birch  Coolie 249 

Wood  Lake 249 

New  Ulia .'....*.*.*.  2J7 

At  Lower  Agency  Ferry...."!  221 

Near  Glencoe 228 

Of  Fort  Ahercromljie 285 

Baker,  Mrs.,flightof 195 

Byrnes,  Lieut.,  with  forty-seven 

men  utarts    from    Minneapolis 

for     Meeker    and     Kandiyohi 

counties 228 

Carver,  Jonathan !."!"."  177 

Causes   of    irritation    preceding 

the  massacre 180 

Covin's  Mrs  ,  statement  ....'.'.'..'.  209 
Chittenden's    Captain,  letter  to 

the  "New  Haven  Palladium"..  213 
Cox,  E.  Ht.  .Julien,  arrives  to  the 

relief  of  New  Uhn 217 

Camp  I'lelease,    white   prisoners 

brout;ht  into 250 

Dodd,  Capt.  William  B.,  death 

of 218 

Dead  bodies  are  found  and  bur- 
ied in  Meeker  county 225 

Davis.   Captain,  ordered  to  the 

relief  of  Fort  Abercrombie 235 

Expedition  to  Fort  Leavenworth  319 
Fugitives  on  the  wav  to  St.  Peter  213 

Fight  at  Lake  Hhetek    215 

Fiebt  at  the  wind-mill  at  New 

Ulni 217 

Fort  Kidgely.  siege  of *  222 

Forest  City,  troops  arrive  at.!!!'.  225 
Freeman,    Capt.un,     ordered    to 

the  relief  of  Fort  Abercrombie  235 

Fort  Abercrombie  relieved 239 

Fortifications  erected  at  Paynes- 

ville,  Maine  Prairie,  St.  Joseph, 


Page  177  to  256. 

and  Sank  Centre 131 

Galbraith,  Major,  statement  of!!  18t 

Hennepin,  Louis 177 

Detained  by  Indians!!.'!!!!!'!  177 
Henderson,  Mrs.,  horrible  death 


of. 


201 


Hayden  s.  Jlrs.  Mary,  statement.  2ii2 

Horan  .s.  Kearn.  statement 202 

Husbands  and  fathers  search  for 

their  lost  families 

Harrin;;ti>n's    M 

derings 

Hurd.  Mrs 


weary    wan- 


210 
211 
215 
231 


177 

178 


starts  for  the  settle- 
ments with  her  naked  children 

Hostilities  in  the  Red  Uiver  Val- 
ley   

Indian    tribes   in    Minnesota   iii 

Indian  treaty  at  St!  Loiiis!!!!!!!  „,-, 

Indian  reservations 17H 

Indian  life,  sketch  of !'  17H 

Indians,  efforts  to  civilize  ...!!!!  179 

Inkpaduta  Massacre !!  I8I 

Indians,     thirty-eight     hung   at 

i\Iankato o.M 

Indians,  annuity,  paid !!!!!!  183 

Indian  chiefs  at  church 188 

Indian  officials  changed !. !  188 

Indians,  large  numbers  of,  ar- 
rive at  Yellow  Medicine 193 

Indians  forcibly  enter  the  ware 

house  of  Yellow  Medicine 193 

Indian   atrocities 2^)4 

InclKiiis  iittack  Colonel  Sibley's 

caiupat  Wood  Lake 2Ji) 

Indian  syjtipatlii/ers 2'il 

Jones'.  .Servant  faithful  vigil..!  187 

Jones,  Mr.,  the  hrst  victim 195 

Koch's  Mrs.,  escape "15 

Little  Crow,  death  of  ..!!!!!!!! ! !  ix 
Statement  by  son  of 258 


Mnrmuring3   of   the  impending 

storm ]9j 

Massacre  liegins !!.!!!!!!!!  v.\'t 

Massacre  at  the  L».wer  Agency.!  Ii'l7 
Mas.sacre  at  the  Oerman  settlc- 

^mpnt 201 

JMassacre  at  Lake  Shetek 215 

Mas.sacre  extends  into  Dakota...  218 

iilassacre  at  Norway  Lake 230 

Murder  of  .\mos  Ifuggins 21li 

Marsh,  ('apt.  killed    2'1 

Memorial  to  the  President 2.i2 

Nicollet     county    the     scene   of 

bloodshi'd 212 

New  Ulm,  citizens  evacuate.!!!!!  2l(i 
Other  Day,  John,  rescues  whites.  2u'i 

Death  rif , .- .^^i^ 

Prichette,  Major,  at  Yeilow'liledl 
icine  in  1.8:>7,  holds  a.  council 

with  the  annuity  Indians 1S2 

Prescott.  Philander,  murdered..  Iii8 

Patoile's  escape 205 

Robert's.  Louis,  store  attacked!  Iii8 
Kedwood  Kiver  Agency  attacked  WJ 
Iiiggs.  liev.  S.I!.,  escape  of,  and 

otbert- 2**7 

IJetugees  at  St.  Peter !!!!!!!  217 

Uescue  of   women   prisoners  by 

^  the  Wapetou  Si(ui< 182 

Spencer's  Mrs.,  story J97 

Stronts',  Capt..  party  attacked.!  227 
rr.arting  post  at  Big  Stone  Lake 
destroyed     and      the     whites 

killed 214 

Thomas,  Ualph.  statement 219 

War  dance  at  the  Upper  .\gency.  186 

U  hiton's,  Mrs  8t.atement 211 

Walia-ha  surrenders  and  is  fol- 
lowed by  over  2,000  wairiors...  250 


■^-^o—- 


~^: 


<=-^ 


INDEX. 


547 


INDEX. 


HISTORY    OP    FBEEBOEN    CODNTT. 


GENERAL  HISTOBY. 


Area 

Assessors'  returns... 

Bible  society 

Centennial    History 

Parker   

Coal, 


hy     D. 


...  -263 
...  331) 
...  333 
G. 

281-29'2 
267-2«S 
272 


Coal  mining  Company ■  •  ■  -'' 

County  Government ,ik1ih 

County  seat  contest Jlb-oin 


329 
263 
273 


C'  op  reports 
Drainage —     . 

Karlv  explorations ■■••■;  ^'^ 

Early  settlements  and  events  274-2/9 

Educational viq  om 

General  remarks .)RK_5fi7 

Geological  structure 'OO  ^^' 

Internal  Revenue h'lhX'n 

Items.of  Interest -ji^-Jj',;, 

Judicial 263 

Lakes 271 

Lime. 263 

Location 039 

Meteorological ■  •  ■  ■  ■  •  ■. a;;  ,,o 

Names  of  officers  and  .■'oldiers  343-346 

Old  Settlers'  Association 292  m 

Patrons  of  Husbandry ^''271 

Peat ..■•■ 264-265 

Praine  land 27-329 

Railroads ■     oocokr 

Soil  and  timber •i63 

Surface ' " '  ^.^^ 

Taxes 269 

The  drift. 4«-346 

War  record **•" 


CITY  OF  ALBERT  LEA. 


377 
377 


Educational ., ;Ai Jnq 

Official  record. . . .- %^^ 

Posi-o£Bces «9-*l" 

Statistical  .     iiA-Fil 

Village  of  Alden ""  "1  . 

BANCROFT. 

Biographical 120-423 

EirTy  settlers  "5-41 , 

Embryotic  villages. *      ,i^ 

Location  and  description ..;  -{la 

Matters  of  interest I,h 

Official  record Wn  i.)n 

Schools "9-tf' 

Soil "^ 


Alber  Lea  route •. 

Anti-horse  thief  association. 

Biographical  387 -4(L 

Cane  growers ^' ' 

Cemeteries    qrs-W) 

Creamery  Company *»  •*■ 

Descriptive .»||4™' 

Early    settlers Slq?; 

Educational  .   '''  •^'■ 

Fraternal  orders  •■o??:,?! 

Government •••jjl^^j 

Kstriai::.::;-:::  - 367-370 

Lea,  Col.  A.  M 3hl-3b. 

Military.....  ■■■•  ■ifii-qfi: 

Necrologioal fjifl 

Periodicals VmVA 

Religious..... »™-|«5 

Ruble,  Geo.   b •■•  ^t 

Taxes ^""•'''' 

ALBERT  LEA    TOWNSHIP. 

Biographical  . 40^ 

i;arly  events * 

Educational J^^ 

Location   ■ Jin-4(U 

Town  government «"  *"* 

ALDKN. 

Biographical 

Descriptive 

Early  settlement 


.412-414 
....  407 
.407-108 


Associations 

Biocjraphical 

Early  settlement. . . . 

Educational 

General  description 
Items  of  interest  — 

Official 

Religious 

Statistical 


....   426 

427-428 
.423-424 
....  427 
....  423 
. .424-425 

425 

428 

.  .425-426 


CARLSTON. 


Biographical 

Churches 

Description  of 

Deceasea  pioneers „ 

Early  settlers ^^'fS, 

Schools  *'*2 


432-434 
...  431 

429 
43l)-431 


Statistics  . 


431 


FREEBORN . 

Biographical *'^  Iqi 

Descriptive -j^i 

Early  settlers •  ■  •  ^;» 

Educational M"*  "^^^ 

V  reeborn  village 


438 


432 


Government--.. 

Historical  sketch ;i;  Tqr 

Honored  dead 435-436 

Matters  of  interest \ik  Tm 

Reiigi".""* t,?::,I 


Statistics  . 


.437-438 


FREEMAN. 

Biographical i«-449 

Early  events iikJu 

Early  settlers **^  ,  ,J 

Official.... *{» 

Pioneers  deceasi  il "^ 

Religious «° 

Schools "*" 

Statistics ,■•;•■■■•■'■■ 

Topography  and  location 


Biographical.... 

Early  settlement *" 

Geneva  villaiie *''^ 

Honored  dead "' 

Manufacturing •  *■''' 

Patrons  of  Husbandry 
Political 


Religious *^? 

Statistical *°i 

Schools «* 

HAYWAKD. 

Biographical ^''^"tljn 

Cemetery |™' 

Early  settlement -..  *•;» 

Early  events ■  •  *''" 

Hay  ward  village... *3; 

Patrons  of  Husbandry 4Wi 

Political *™ 

Statistics j£' 

Schools *1 


445-446 
443 


. .554-458 
419 


HAIITLANU. 

Biographical 

Early  settlers 

Eflucational         .      

Hartland  village 

Matters  of  interest 

Official  records 

Statistics 

LONDON. 


Biographical 

Early  settlers 

Educational  

Events  of  inte'-est.. 
Statistical  


.468-470 
....  465 
....  468 


452 
451 


....  465 
. ...  466 
....  467 


..473-474 

471 

473 

..  472 
...  472 


MANCaESTER. 

Biographical  ^^'^\ 

Early  settlers • ^'Jl 

Farmers'  Insurance  Company.  ..  4i8 

Honored  dead..... ■}'» 

Matters  of  interest.. *'» 

Mediums  of  education *'» 

Manchester  village  4(» 

Official  organization *;^ 


Statistics 
Town  name 


479 


MANSFIELD. 

Biographical 487  ■ 

Eai  ly  settlement 

Lutheran  Church 

Matters  of  interest 

Political 

Post  office 

Statistical 

Schools 

'Topography ■  • 

MOSCOW. 

Biographical ''^^'im 

Early  settlement toi 

First  death •.•  ■ 

First  store 

First  mill 

Honored  dead 

Moscow  village 

Religious 

Sumner  village 

Societies 


489 
434 

485 
485 
4S5 
485 
486 
486 
484 


494 
494 
494 
491 
493 
493 
494 
40.1 


548 


HT STORY  OF  FREEBORN  COUNTY 


NUNPA. 

Business  matters 502 

Bioftraphical  '.'.'.'.'.'.'. isOS-SOS 

Cemeteries 502 

Events  (if  interest ]".'."!!  501 

Early  settlers  (ieneased . . . .  .^ . . .' .  501 

Early  settlement 4!i9 

Location  anil  topography 498 

Keligions 5(12 

Schools 5(^ 

Statistics v.'.'.'.'.'.'...  503 

Twin  Jjake  village 503 

Town  organizatiin 501 

„.  NEWRY. 

Biographical 51] 

Early  settlement 509 

Educational 511 

Matters  of  interest ...........  510 

Relieious sn 

Statistical 510 

Town  organization 510 


OAKLAND. 

Biographical 515-516 

Descriptive 512 

Early  settlement 512 

Events  of  interest 513 

Official  record.'. .'..'.'.'.  513 

Oakland  village 514 

Kel i(fi»tus 514 

Statistics .'.','.'..  514 

Schools !V..  515 

PICKEREL    LAK£. 

Armstrong  village .519 

Biosraphieal 521-524 

First  settlement .518 

Items  "f  iiit'-rest 519 

Indust'-ial  enterprises 519 

Official  record 519 

KeligiouB .520 

Statistics 520 

Schools 521 


BICELAND, 

Biographical 528-529 

Deceased 528 

Educaticmal 529 

Early  days '.V.'.'.'^.'.'.'.'^'  526 

Items  of  interest., 526 

Political 527 

Statistical 527 

SHELL    BOOR. 

Biographical .536-.54fl 

Early  settlement .■>29 

Early  settlers  deceased .'.  .5,'31 

Gordonsville  village 535 

Location  and  topography 529 

Matters  of  intere-t ..'.  532 

Religion'* 533 

Statist  cal !!.'.'.'.'!!...'  .533 

Shell  Rock  village 534 

Sch(»ol8 53.5 


Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis  R'y. 


The  Albert  Lea  Route" 

FOR  ALL  POINTS    IN 

THE]  <3-X_.0:F^I0XJS  KTOIFLTlBai^'^A^EISa?. 


Close  connections  are  made  in  Union  depots  both  in  Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul  with  trains  of  the 
Northtim  Pacific  and  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  &  Manitoba,  and  St  Paul  &  Duluth  Railways  for  Uuluth, 
Brainerd.  Fergus  Falls.  Moorhead,  Crookston,  St.  Vincent,  Winnipeg,  Grand  Forks,  Jamestown,  Bis- 
marck, Billings,  and  all  points  in 

MANITOBA 

—AND   THE— 

Red    River   and    Yellowstone   River  Valleys. 

THE  DIEECT  LINE  TO 

CENTRAL  IOWA  AND  SOUTHWESTERN  POINTS 

Through  traims  are  run  between  Minneapolis  and  Dee  Moines,  via  ALBEBT  LEA,  connecting 
at  Des  Momes  with  the  various  roads  centeriug  there  FOR  SUCH  POINTS  AS 

Ottum-nra,  Albia,  Knoxville,  Council  Bluffs  and  Omaha. 

Two  trains  daily  between  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Chicago.  Solid  trains  between  Minneapolis 
and  St.  Louis.  Running  EXCLUSIVELY  PULLMAN  PALACE  SLEEPING  CAKS 
between  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Chicago. 


TICI^ET 


are  for  sale  via  the  "ALBERT  LEA  ROUTE,"  at  all  the  principal  ticket  offices  throughout 
the  West  and  Northwest. 


TICKET  OFFICES: 
MINNEAPOLIS:  ST.  PALL: 

UNION  DEPOT,  City  Office  TSo.  8  Washing'tone  Ave.  VNION  DEPOT, 

City  Off  ice  Cor.  Third  and  Sibley  Streets. 

C.  H.  HUDSON.  SAM.  F.  BOYD, 

General  Manager.  Oen'I  Ticket  and  PassAgt. 

J.  A.  McCONNELL,  Trav.  Agent. 

MINNEAPOLIS,  MINN 


Sf ! 


U    D 


,  ] 


^THE 


f ' 


IS  i-  Ml 


RAILWAY  COMPANY 

OPERATES 


1  TWO  GREAT  TRUNK  LNES*- 


RUNNING 


NORTH  AND  WEST 

FROM 

ST.  PAUL    AND   MINNEAPOLIS 

UNITING  AT 

Forming    the    only   line   which   reaches    every  part    of    the  Red    River 

Valley.    It  touches    the  Red  River  at  three  difFerert 

points  and  connects  at  either  with  4,000 

miles  of  inland  navigation, 

AND  IS  THE  ONLY  LINE  REACflING  THE  FAMOUS  DEVILS  LAKE  AND  TURTLE  MOUNTAIN  REGIOM, 

It  traverses  a  section  nf  ('(mntrv.  wliifli  oli'ers: 

TO  THE  FARMER 

A  soil  wliioh  in  richness  and  variety  is  unequaled. 

TO  THE  BUSINESS  MAN 

An  agricultund  cruunuuity  who  have  been  blessed  with  a  saocession  of  bountiful  harvests. 

TO  THE  SPORTSMAN 

In  its  forests,  on  its  prairies,  in   itn  numberless  lakes  or  streams  an   abundance  of  game,  and    fish 
of  every  variety. 

TO  THE  TOURIST 

Not  only  the  most  attractive   Summer  Kesort  on    the  Continent— Lake    Miniietonka~'"'* 
the  matchless  beauties  of  the  famous  Park  Region. 


A.  MANVEL, 


W.  S.  ALEXANDER, 


S.   R   STIMSON. 


H.  C.  DAVIS, 


Oeneral  Manager.  General  Traffic  Manager  Ocn'l  Snperintcndent.      Ass't  General  Pasfenger  Agent 


ST,  zp^TJL,  iMiinsritT. 


T    lEi    E] 


Northern  Pacific  Country, 


FROM   THE 


Great  Lakes  to  the  Pacific, 


TRAVERSES 

The  G-reat  Wheat  Belt,  Glrazmg  Range, 

and  the  Vast  Gold   and 

Silver  Regions 

OF 

Minnesota,  Dakota,  Montana,  Idaho,  Washington,  and  Oregon. 

The  most  attractive  regions  f(ir  Dew  settlement  are  unquestionahly  tho  grain  and  grazing  lands  alouy  the  Hue  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  railroad  in  Minnesota,  Dakota.  Montana,  Idaho,  Orewon  and  Washington  Territory.  No  Recti  on  is 
settling  so  rapidly.  None  offers  such  advantages  to  the  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  The  Northern  Pacific  Kailroad  com- 
pany now  offers  for  f-ale 

4,000,000  Acres  of  the  Mcst  Productive  Wheat  Lands 

la  the  world,  adjacent  t(»  its  completed  road  in  Dakota  and  Mianesota,  which  lands  are  now  ready  for  the  plow.  No 
failure  of  crops  to  apprehend.  Average  yield  of  twenty-two  bushels  of  whe^t  to  the  acre  in  Dakota  last  year. 
Twenty-five  to  thirty  bushels  of  wheat  not  an  exceptional  crop.  No  agricultural  industry  is  more  profitable  than  wheat 
farming  wpon  these  rich  and  roiling  plains.  The  couatrv  is  well  watered.  Plenty  of  timber  for  domestic  purposes. 
Low  f  reigiit  rates  on  farm  products  and  settlers'  household  '^oods. 


T^T5  TOT?  OTI'  T  A  ^T^^  East  of  the  Missouri  Itiver,  in  Dakota  and  Minnesota,  $4  per  acre,  with  a  rebate 
4^XwXU  Jj  W^  .UAXN  UQ,  of  25  percent,  for  acreage  cultivated  within  two  years  from  purchase.  West  of  the 
Mirisouri  Iliver,  along  its  completed  road  in  Western  Dakota  and  Montana,  and  in  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Yellow- 
stone, the  company  offers  a  large  area  of  fine  farming  lands  at  the  government  price  of  $2.r)l)  per  acre  (with  a  charge  of  10 
cents  per  acre  to  cover  cost  of  surveying,  cfec.)  admirably  adapted  for  stock  raising  and  general  farming  purposes.  The 
Northern  Pacific  is  now  completed  and  in  operation  to  a  point  niu'^ty  miles  west  of  Miles  City,  on  the  Yellowstone 
River  in  Montana,  and  will  soon  be  opened  2iK'  miles  further  west.  Settlers  who  go  into  this  new  region  will  have  the 
advantage  of  a  choice  of  locations  and  lands,  and  of  the  rapid  rise  in  the  value  of  property.  The  climate  of  the  Pacific 
country  is  bracing  and  healthful. 


IN    THE     MOUNTAIN     REGION    OF     MONTANA 

Soon  to  be  traversed  by  the  road  there  are  many  lovely  and  fertile  valleys  awaiting  settlement,  and  va-it  wealth  in 
Gold,  Silver,  Copper  and  Iron  offers  fine  openings  in  every  kind  of  mining  enterprise.  Upon  the  Pacific  slope  the 
Northern  Pacific  railroad  is  now  in  operation  from  Puget  Sound  to  Pen  d'Oreille  Lake  in  Northern  Ldaho.  10,000,00- 
acres  of  magnificent  timber  and  wheat  lands  of  unparalleled  fertility  in  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory  are  offered 
for  sale  by  the  company  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  rail  and  water  transportation  at  the  rate  of  $2  bl)  per  acre. 

PACIFIC  COAST  LANDS. 

B'or  information  relating  to  the  lands  of  the  company  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  address  J.  H.  Houuhton.  Genera 
Land  Agent.  New  Tacoma,  W.  T.or  Paul.  Sohulze,  General  Immigration  Agent,  Portland,  Oregon,  or  A.  S.  Stokes,  Geu 
eral  Agent,  vt'Z  Clark  street,  Chicago. 

THE  NORTHERN   PACIFIC  COUNTRY, 

From  Lake  Superior  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  has  unsurpassed  attractions  to  the  tourist.  It  offering  an  unrivalled  rield  for 
tishinf?  and  hunting.  For  information  and  reduced  rates  for  round-trip  tourist  and  excursion  tickets,  address  G.  K. 
Barnes,  General  Passenger  and  Ticket  Agent,  St.  Paul,  Minn.  H.  Haih-t,  General  Manager.  .1.  M.  Hannaford,  General 
Freight  Agent.    G.  K.  Barnes,  G.  P.  &  T.  A.,  St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 

MINNESOTA.   DAKOTA,  AND    MONTANA  LANDS. 

For  land  seekers' and  colonists' rates  of  fare  and  freight,  and  in(iuirios  relating  to  movements  of  colonists,  and  with 
reference  to  traveling  and  land  agencies,  address  P.  B.  Groat,  General  Immigration  Agent. 

For  all  information  referring  to  location,  description,  and  prices  of  the  millions  of  acres  of  cheap  lands  for  sale  by 
this  company,  and  for  maps  and  descriptive  publication-*  relating  thereto,  address  H.  M.  Newport.  General  Land  Agent. 


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