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AN 



ILLUSTRATED HISTORY 



OF 



NOBLES COUNTY 



MINNESOTA 



BY 

ARTHUR P. ROSE 



NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY 

WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA 

PUBLISHERS 

1908 



;h>\ 



PUBLIC LIBRARY 

« 1912 I. 






DEDICATED TO THE 
PIONEERS OF NOBLES COUNTY 

TO THOSE WHO HAVE GONE, AND TO THOSE WHO REMAIN TO RECITE 

THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF I'HE PAST, 

THESE PACES ARE RESPECTFl'I.I.V INSCRIBELl. 



.;• 11 ic vy o {{ 



Probably uo historical work was ever put to jh-cfs whicli entirely satisfied 
its author. There are so many pitfalls in the path of him who seeks to record 
tiie events of the past; the human mind is so prone to err in recalling dates and 
names of a former day. So it happens tiiat the writer of local history, compiling 
his story from data of which only a part can be verified, knows that there must 
be errors in his work, albeit he may have exercised the greatest care. With no 
apologies, but with this brief explanation, and the realization tliat the work is 
not perfect, the History of Nobles County is put forth. 

With this volume is presented the first Nobles county liistory, and the ma- 
terial for its compilation is obtained from original sources. Friendly coadjutors 
have assisted materially in its preparation. To the editorial fraternity of Nobles 
county the author is under many obligations. The files of their publications 
have been of inestimable value in furnishing autlient'c data. Especially valuable 
were those of that pioneer journal, the Worthingtnn Advance, of wliich liberal 
use has been made, and without which much of historical importance must have 
remained unrecorded. Due acknowledgment is made to county* and village of- 
ficers, who assisted in the hunt for early day records, and to scores of citizens 
in private life, who interested themselves in the work to the extent of devoting 
time to the detailing of early day events. Special mention is due the assistance 
given by the late Judge B. W. Woolstencroft, who was one of the very first 
settlers of Nobles county, and who died at his home in Slayton, Minnesota, after 
this volume had been put to press. A large part of the history of the county's 
early settlement, of its organization and early political history was written from 
data furnished by Judge Woolstencroft. 

To Dr. George 0. Moore, of Worthington; Senator S. B. Bedford, of 
liushmore, and Mr. A. J. Kice, of Adrian, the committee of pioneer residents 
selected to review and revise the work, great credit is due. After the manuscript 
had been prepared these gentlemen devoted considerable time to the work of 
revision. Errors were discovered and corrected and suggestions for additions 
were made that resulted in a better Iiistory. In the work of gathering the data 
the author has been ably assisted bj Mr. P. D. Moore. 

The biographical sketches, forming the second part of the volume, were 
written, in nearly all instances, from facts obtained by personal interviews. 
Typewritten copies of the sketches were submitted to the subjects for correction, 
and nearly all made the necessary corrections and returned the manuscript to 
the publishers. This has resulted in reducing to a minimum the possibility of 
error in that part of the volume. 

AETHUR P. ROSE. 

Worthington, Minnesota, September, 1908. 



ENDORSEMENT 



Worthington, Minn., Sept. 14, 1908. 

We, the undersigned, chosen as a committee to review the History of Nobles 
County written by ;\li-. A. P. Eose and to be published by the Northern History 
Publishing Company, of Worthing, jn, have read the historical part of the work 
in manusei'ipt. We bear testimony that the history gives evidence of extensive 
reading and careful research and tJiat it presents — to our best knowledge — an 
accurate, comprehensive and impintial record of events. As such we endorse and 
ccmmend it. 

S. P.. PKDKdlMi. 
A. ,1. RICE, 
GEO. 0. MOOKE, 
Committee of Citizens. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

ABORIGINAL DAYS— 1834-1866. 

In Primeval State — An Imagery — Inhabited by Wild Beasts — And Wilder Red Men — 
A Contrast — The Sioux — Tribal Divisions — The M'daywakantons — The Lower Sis- 
setons Claimed Nobles County — Early Explorers — Nicollet Visits Nobles County — 
His Map — The Coteaus Des Prairies — '"Okebene" Lake — Ocheyedan Hillock, or 
Mourning Ground — "Karanzi" River — Surveyors Run Minnesota-Iowa Boundary 
Line — Nearby Settlements — Operations of Trappers — Jude Phillips and Brother — 
Effect of the Panic of 18.57 — Spirit Lake Massacre — Hostiles Retreat to Indian 
Lake — Southwestern Minnesota Depopulated — Incident of 1857 — Boom Days — Paper 
Railroads — Original County Divisions — Nobles a <y*art of Dakota, Blue Earth and 
Brown — Creation of Nobles County — Colonel W. H. Nobles — The Boundaries — Pro- 
visions for Organizaiion — Gretehtown Named County Seat — Organization Post- 
poned — Boundary Lines Surveyed — Settlers Return to Southwestern Minnesota — 
Census of 1860 — Names of Inhabitants — Their Conditions — The Sioux War — The 
County Deserted — Soldiers Established on the Frontier — The Military Road — Its 
Course — Trappers Appear — Evidence of Early Occujiation Disappear — Judge Wool- 
stencroft's Letter — First Railroad Survey — The Land Grant — Close of an Era S3 

CHAPTER II. 
EARLY SETTLEMENT— 1867-1871. 

Obstacles Overcome — Frontier Line Recedes — ^First Settlers Arrive— The Graham Lakes 
Country — Stephen and Joseph Muck — Planting Corn — Messrs. Woolstencroft, Drury, 
Rice and Barnett Arrive— Stake Claims — Build Shanties— Other Settlers of 1867 — 
Conditions Prevent Farming — Farmers Turn Trappers — Plentiful Small Game — Big 
Game — Bison — Elk— Deer— Township Lines Run — Mail Route Established— The 
First Postoffice— Settlers of 1868— First Birth — Andy Dillman Comes to Okabena — 
County Survey Completed — Indians Arrive — And Create Stir — A Scared Boy — 
Settlers on Indian Lake — Their Romantic Surroundings — Adventures in Blizzards — 
Three Perish — Indian Scare — Exciting Times — Company Formed — The Island For- 
tified — Cottonwood County Settlers Notified — No Indians — First Sunday School — 
Census of 1870 — Arrivals of That Year — Talk of County Organization — Decision 
Reached- — Governor Austin Appoints Commissioners — First Meeting — First Official 
Acts — Wandering County Seat — Organization Legalized — Court House Talk — Sad 
Death of Mrs. Palmer — Another Sunday School — Public Schools — Creation of Gra- 
ham I^kes Township — Its Organization — The Name — Indian Lake Settlers Peti- 
tion — Their Township Created — And Named — Settlers of 1871 — First Financial 
Statement 45 



xii TAP.T.K Ol- CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER III. 
UNDER COI.ONV RULE— 1872. 

A Remarkable Year— Birth of the Colony Idea— Miller, Humiston & Company— Visit 
Xobles County— Secure Control of Railroad Lands— Elaborate Plans — Thorough 
Advertising Carapaigu— Its Results — Hundreds Floek to Worthington- Their Char- 
acter — The Temperance Feature — Fate of the Colony Company — An Appreciatinii 
of Professor Humiston — Hard Winter — State Relief — First Jurors— Railroad Begins 
Operations — A\orthiiigton-.Siou.\ Falls Mail and Stage Route— Posloiriocs Esiali- 
lished — Dettald — llebbard — Westside — Mail Route Operated by Daniel Shell — A 
Beautiful Country — Kxperiences of Colonists— Roseate Prospects- Land Values - 
Worthington Township Organized — Petitioners — Bigelow Township— llersey — CranI 
— Name Changed to Ransom — Its History — Fairview— Renamed Lorain— Dewald — 
Early Settlers There — Little Rock — Elk — Conferring the Name — Seward — First 
Assessment — Real Estate— Personal Property — l^ivestock — Townships Compared — Li- 
cense Voted Down — Proposed Change in Boundaries — Xobles Votes to Add Four 
Townships — But Rejects Proposition to Cive Away Four — Vote by Precincts (il 

CIIAPTEK IV. 
CALAMITOUS DAYS— 1873. 

Days of Adversity — Professor Humiston's Charities — A Severe Winter — The Terrible 
Blizzard of January 7 — Samuel Small, Mrs. Jolin Blixt, John Weston and Taylor 
Perish — Weston's Ghost — School Cliildren Imprisoned — Joe Poots' Experience — 
Other Adventures — District Court Established — Jurors — First Grasshopper In- 
vasion — Relief Work — Wilson Township Organized — Petitioners — Name Changed 
to Akin — To Summit Lake — Hebbard Township Created — Petitioners — Name 
Changed to New Haven — Later to Olney — Grand Prairie Organized — Petitioners — 
Selection of Name — Wandering Life of County Seat— Located at Worthingfon-- 
Stephen Miller Fathers tlie Bill — The Act — Provision fur Permanent I-oeation — 
llersey Becomes a Candidate — Second Bill Provides for Vote on Question -County 
Offices Moved to Worthington — Buildings Rented — Railroad Company Donates 
Court House Square — Contest Between Worthington and Hersey — Former Wins 
Easily — Vote by Townships — Tax Levy — School Conditions -Social Conditions 71 

CHAPTEK V. 

THE GRASSHOPPER SCOURGE- 1874 1875. 

Large Acreage Sown — Fine Growing Weather — Ravages of Young Hoppers First In- 
vasion — Commissioners Appropriate Monej' for Relief - County Paper Sold — Flour 
and Pork Apportioned — Distributing Agents — Second Invasion — Fields Swept Bare — 
Discouraging Sight — Grasshopper Stories — Third Invasion-The Harvest — Average 
Y'ields — Auditor Bear's Estimate — Losses — A Prophesy — Rigid Economy — Hay for 
Fuel — Potatoes for Food— Preparing for Winter— Soliciting Aid— J. C. Clark Raises 
$1,800 — Solicitation for Private Account — Mass Meeting — Adopts Resolution Stat- 
ing Conditions — Three Hundred Destitute Families — Appeal to Governor — "No 
More Bonds" — Formal Ajipeal for Help — Clothing \\'orn to Rags — Bed Clothes of 
Prairie Hay — No Improvidence — Must Have Hell) — State Aid Received — Tax Paying 
Time Extended — Statement by Treasurer— Why Not Desert County?— Tax Levy — 
Reduced — Assessment— Schools in 1874 — New Mail Route— Posloffices — Matter of 
Taxes — State Furnishes Seed Wheat — Its Distribution --Anxious Days— Grasshop- 
l)ers on the Wing — Again Attack the Crops— Hersey, Graham Lakes and Seward 
Suffer Most — A Degenerate Breed— Census of 1875 —Assessed Valuation — First Dis- 
trict Court — Cases Tried — Jurors 81 



TABI,E OF CONTENTS. xiii 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE GRASSHOPPER SCOURGE (Continued)— 187G-1879. 

Kailroii'l Rumors — Soutliern Minnesota to Extend — Settlers Enthusiastic — $40,000 Sub- 
sidy Voted — ^Vote by Precincts — Project Fails — Sioux Falls Wants Railroad — Presi- 
dent Diake Favors \Yorthington for Terminus — So Does Sioux Falls — Nol)le<; 
Asked to Aid — Company Incorporated — Survey Made — Construction — Lively Times — 
First Train — Founding of Adrian — Miller Station — Grasshoppers Again — Myriads 
Appear — Crops Disajipear — Partial Wheat Crop — Damaging Setback — Relief Meas- 
ures — "The Indians Are Coming^' — Refugees Flock to Woriiiington — Cam]) on 
Public Square — Great Excitement — No Indians — Origin of the Scare — Scouting 
Party — Its Members — Lieutenant Plotts' Report — Settlement in West End — West- 
side Township Organized — Petitioners — First Town Meeting — Court House Elected 
— Thurber & Chandler, Builders — Hoppers Scarce in 1877 — Small Acreage — Weed- 
Grown Fields — Seed Grain Appropriation — Adrian Catliolie Colony — Bishop Ireland 
Visits Adrian Country — Decides to Locate Colony — Contract With Railroad C0711- 
pany — Father Knauf Arrives — Coming of First Colonists — Lands Sold — Rush in 
Spring of 1878 — Land, Land, Land — Grasshoppers — Partial Crop Failure — Organi- 
zation \^'illmont Township — Derivation of Name — Southern Minnesota Extends — 
Heron Lake-Pipestone Branch — Railroad War — Kinbrae and Dundee Founded — 
Last of the Grasshoppers — Organization Afton Township — Squabble Over Name — 
Plethora of Petitions — Name Changed to Bloom — Leota Organized — Petitioners — 
Named for Indian Maiden — Seney's Operations — Rushmore Founded — Activity in 
West End — Railroad Lands Bought — Improvements by Adrian Colony — Good Times 
Coming 91 

CHAPTER VII. 

ERA OF PROSPERITV— 1880-189.'!. 

Rcconstructidu- Dawn of a Brighter Day — Adrian Colony Active — The 1880 Crop — 
Census of 1880 Lismore Township Organized — The Name — Signers to Petition — 
The Long Winter — An October Blizzard — Railroads Blockaded — Snow Boats — Out 
of Fuel — Schools Close — Burning Grain — First Train in Six Weeks — Blockaded 
Again — April 13, Thermometer Zero — Roads Opened — First Freight Train in Eleven 
Week.s — Floods Stop Traffic — Burlington Road Makes Proposition — Subsidy Voted — 
Road Built — Last Spike Driven — Round Lake Founded — A Bumper Crop — The 
"Park Proposition" — Plan to Sell Part of Court House Block — Strong Opposition — 
Scheme Defeated — County Seat Contest — Adrian to the Front — Exciting Days — 
Legislature Petitioned -But Fails to Respond — Larkin Township Organized — 
Petitioners — Selecting the Name — Fraud Charged — Tornado — Cora Graf Killed — 
Pioperty Destroyed — Burlington Extends — And Founds Ellsworth — A Year of Jubi- 
lee — Diversified Farming Begim — Exports of 1884 — Real Estate Values Soar — Census 
of 1885 — County Seat Removal Talk — Big Crops — Another Railroad — Blizzard of 
1888— Three Perish— Hail Storm— Census of 1890— Plan to Divide the County— 
Rushmore Sees a Conspiracy — And Protests — Plan Defeated 105 

CHAPTER VIII. 

CLTRRENT EVENTS— 1893-1908. 

Panic of 1893 — Dull Times^Plans for New Court House— And Jail — Work Begim — 
Opposition — Temporary Injunction — Commissioners \\'in in Supreme Court — 476 
Residents Remonstrate — Contract Let — Corner Stone Laid — Building Accepted — 
County Seat Removal Again an Issue — Census of 1895 — Prosperous Period — Land 
Values Increase — Spanish-American War — Nobles County Furnishes Company^ 



xiv TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

Jklustcrcd In — Typhoid Fever Kpideinic — Three Deaths — Camps Ramsey, Siielling, 
Meade, MeKenzic — Mustered Out — Roster of Company — Ixjsses — Burlington Road 
Extends — Wilmont and Reading Founded — l.ismore Started— Census of 1900 — 
Disastrous Year 1903 — Destructive Hail Storm — Big Losses — Stories of the Storm — 
The Floods — Okabena Overflows — Streets Traveled in Boats — Kanaranzi on a 
Rampage — Sweeps Everything Before It — Fury of the Little Rock — Freight Wreck 
— Record of Precipitation — All Records Broken — Crop Failure -Dull Times — Census 
of 1905^ — By Precincts — Native and Minnesota Born — Foreign Born — Countries of 
Birth— Good Crops of 1906 and 1007— Prosperous Times— In 1908 115 

CHAPTER IX. 

POLITICAL— 1870- 1 874. 

Coveiiior .Viistin Ajiijoints First County Commissioners — The Missing Records— Other 
OtTicers Named — First County Convention — The Bolt — Violence Narrowly Averted 
at First Election — The Result — Auditor Harris Refuses to Canvass the Vote — 
Early Day Members of the Legislature- Difficulty Getting Officers to Serve — 
Election of 1871 — One Democrat in the County — List of Voters — Changed Condi- 
tions in 1872 — Voters of That Year — Polling Places — F^lection Officers — County 
Overwhelmingly Republican — Legislative History — Opposition to Republican Party 
in 187.'} — Republican Ticket ^^■ins — Politics Dull in 1874 -Democrats Put L'p a 
Ticket— It Meets Defeat : 123 

CHAPTER X. 

POLITICVL— 1875-1887. 

Passing of Pioneer Ways — Prohibitionists Enter Politics — Election of 1875— Big Vote 
in 1876 — Hayes Carries County — Republican Split in 1877 — Peculiar Conditions That 
Year — Result in Giving Democrats a Few Offices — Only One Ticket in 1878 — 
E.\citing Contests of 1879 — Republicans Bolt and Fuse With Democrats — Republi- 
can Ticket Defeated— Spectacular Contests for Sheriff, Auditor and Treasurer — 
Tie for Sheriff — Diumatic Scene When Lots are Drawn — Court Decides Two 
Contests — Garfield Gets Majority in 1880- Republican County Ticket Elected — 
Democrats and "Anti-Ring" Republicans Combine in 1881 — Crushing Defeat of 
Republican Ticket — Little Interest in 1882 — Fusion Forces Name Part of Ticket 
in 1883— Anrl l<;iect It— Blaine Carries County in 1884— New Element Enters Poli- 
tics — -Antagonism Between East and West Ends — Big Vote of 1886 Hepuljllcans 
Elect Majority of Ticket 131 

CHAPTER XT. 

POLiriCAL— 1888-1908. 

Vote Increases — Passing of the Indepeiulents — Election of 1888 — Alliance Party Com- 
plicates Matters in 1890 — Democrats and Republicans Break Even — Birth of Peoples 
Party — Its Part in. Polities — Australian Ballot Employed in 1892 — Harrison Car- 
ries County — Result Locally — Fusion in 1894 — Republicans Win — Fusion Forces 
Take Three OITices in ISOO .McKinley Gets Majority — Death of Peoples Party — 
John Lind Carries the County in 1898 — Republican County Ticket Elected — 
Kccoril Breaking Vote of 1900 McKinley Again Carries County — Three Offices 
for Democrats — Primary Election Law — Revolutionizes County Politics — Primary 
of 1902 — Nearly Clean Sweep for Republicans — Interesting Primary of 1904 — 
Roosevelt's Record Breaking Majority — Republicans \\in in County — Primary of 
1906- Democrats Carry County for Governor and Congressman — Primary of 1908 — 
Summary 141 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. xv 

CHAPTEE XII. 
WORXmXGTON— 1S7 1 - 1872. 

Location — Elevation— Population — A Bower of Beauty— First White Men Visit the 
Site— Infrequent Visits by Trappers— Andy Dillnmn's Sod Shanty— G. J. Hoff- 
man's Dug-Out— First Building of Wood — Railroad Construction— Original Town- 
site Abandoned — The Town Platted— Original Owners— Additions— National Colony 
Assumes Control — Professor Humiston and Doctor Miller Visit the Site — The 
Town Named — Incidents Connected with the Selection of the Name — The Historic 
Worthington Family— Kegrets that. "Okabena" Was Not Selected — A Hoax- 
Start of the First Building— Ceremonies When the First Nail is Driven — Business 
Houses Opened in 1871 — The 'Worthington Hotel — Postoffice Established — Post- 
masters—Winter of 1S71-72— Rush in the S])ring — Impressions Upon Early Day 
Visitors — The Town in August, 1872 — Building Improvements That Year — ililler 
Hall — ^Worthington Township Organized— The Temperance Feature — Petitions— Li- 
cense Refused 153 

CHAPTER XITI. 
WORTHINGTON— 1 873- 1889. 

Promises Fulfilled — Worthington Becomes Important Trading Point — 1873 Opens Aus- 
piciously — Okabena Flouring Mills — Their Importance — Incorporation — Provisions of 
Charter — Liquor Selling Prohibited — First Election — Those Who Voted — Charter 
Adopted — First Officers — First Acts of Council — Worthington Becomes County 
Seat — Grasshopper Days — In lS7-t — The Land Office— Election of 1874 — Voters Tliat 
Year — Census of 1875 — Big Business — Election of 1875 — Building Record for 1876 — 
Election That Year — Big Vote in 1877 — Immigiation in 1878 — The Town Lively — 
First Brick Block- Miller Hall Burns— Elections of 1878 and 1879— Census of 
1880 — A Comparison — Election of 1880 — Wrangling Over Temperance Question — 
Two Parties Born— Exciting Election of 1S81— Prosperous Times in 1882— A New 
Railroad — "The Elgin of Minnesota" — .\nnual Election — Boom Times in 1883 — 
Board of Trade — New Buildings — Repeal of Temperance Clause in Charter — Under 
Local Option — License Carries in 1883-^And .Again Next Year — Population in 
1885 — License Carries — Improvements in 1886 — Exports and Imports — Elections of 
188G and 1887— "Dry" in 1888— Likewise in 1889 165 

CHAPTER XIV. 

WORTHINGTON— 1890-1908. 

Steady Growth — Census of 1890 — License Again in Vogue — Water Works Plant In- 
stalled — Election of 1891 — Prosperous Days — Building Record — License Wins Again 
in 1892— The Panic— Its Effect— Election of 1893- Two Fires— Officers Elected in 
1894 — Big Gain in Population — Electric Lighting System — Temperance \\ave in 
1895— A Cyclone— Return to License in 1896— Elections of 1897, 1898 and 1899— 
A Prosperous Decadc-^Census of 1900 — Big Vote of 1901 — The Citizens' Movement — 
Three Years of DuUness^The Flood — Worthington "Dry" at tlio Time — Goes 
"Wet" in 1904— Census of 1905— Clean Sweep for License in 1905 and 1906— 
"Dry" in 1907— "Wet" by One Vote in 1908— The Contest 177 

CHAPTER XV. 
WORTHINGTON'S ENTERPRISES. 

I'liblic School — The First School — Early Day Teachers — The Attendance— Worthington 
Seminary — Its Promoters — Its Failure — Petition for Independent District — Formed 



xvi TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

— First Directors — First School Building — Bonds Issued — Robinson Gets Contract — 
The Hexagonal Building — Railroad Company Donates Land — High School Or- 
ganized — Alumni Association — List of Graduates — New School House — Present 
Condition of Schools — Fire Department — Early Day Protection — Cisterns — Bucket 
Brigades — Fire House — Department Organized — Chaitcr Members — The Tourna- 
ments — Xew Fire Station— Officers — Militia Company — Recruited — Mustered In — 
OlTicors — Knlistcd Men — State Bank of Wortliinston— Elilui Smith Starts First 
Bank — Thomas Parsons — George D. Dayton — Becomes State Bank — Later History — 
Worthiiigton Xational Bank — As Nobles County Bank — Founded by Thompson & 
Day — Evans &, Lynd Secure Control — Reorganised as National Bank — Citizens Na- 
tional Bank — Founded by C. T. Tupper — Changes in Management — First National 
Bank — Farmers and Citizens Bank — First County Fair — Association Organized — 
"Bull and Pumpkin" Story — (hounds Leased — Officers — W'orthington District Fair 
Association — Its Operations — Chautauqua Association — Organization- Officers — The 
Chautauquas — Commercial Club — Carnegie Library — The Directors — Bath House As- 
sociation — Bands — Gun Club — W'orthington Hospital 187 

CHAPTER XVI. 
WdKlIllNGTON'S CHURCHES AND LODGES. 

"City of Churches" — Ten Organizations — Colony Christian Union — Union Plan Adopted 
— First Religious Service — Church Organized — Born in a Saloon Building — Union 
Plan Fails — Three Churches Founded — L'nion Congregational — Charter Members — 
House of Worship Erected — Destroyed by Fire — The New Church — Pastors — 
Sunday School Superintendents — Methodist Church — Rev. Crever — First Trustees — ■ 
Many Places of Worship — Early Struggles — First Church Edifice — The New One — 
Later Church History — Pastors — Presbyterian Cliurch — Charter Members — Elders — 
Trustees — First Church Building — Pastors — The New Edifice — Sunday School Su- 
perintendents — Swedish Lutheran Church^First Members — Incorporated — Church 
Building — Pastors — ^^Parsonagc — Episcopal Church — Rev. Gunn — Church Building — 
Di/Vh-ulties Overcome — Catholic Cliurch — First Steps — Building Erected — Incorpor- 
ated -Evangelical Association — Members —Trustees — Church and Manse — Pastors — - 
Baptist Church — Initial Steps — Organization— .Members — Council of Recognition — 
Incorporaleil -'I'rustces — Building — Pastors — Swedish Mission Church — Members 
Church ;iii(l Parsonage — Pastors — Christian Church — Lodges — Grand Army Post — 
Mustered ln--First Officers — Later Officers — largest in Minnesota — Disbiinded— 
Reorganization — Charter Members — Relief Corps — First in Minnesota — Charier Mem- 
bers — First Officers — The Masons — Blue Lodge Organized — Certificate — f barter 
Members — First Officers — Chapter Organized — Its Prosperous Condition -Eastern 
Star — Workmen — Degree of Honor — Knights of Pythias .Modern Woodmen Royal 
Neighbors — Odd Fellows — Miucaliccs \'pimiicm III!) 

ClIAPrER -W 11. 

.VDRIAN. 

Location — Its Attractive Site — Settlers in West End— Railroad is Coming Selecting 
the Site — Surveyed — The Dedication — -Additions — The Name — Mistakes as to Origin 
■ — George II. Carr Erects First Building — And Opens Store — Other Enterprises of 
187(1 — Poslolfice Established — Postmasters — Bright Prospect-s — First School — First 
Church Services- — New Enterprises in 1877 — Business Directory of 1878 — Prosperous 
Times— Census of 1880 — Incorporation - (^barter (Jranted- First Election— Officers 
1881 to 1908 — Adrian's Big Trade Territory — Improvements in Early Eighties — 
Liveliest Town in the County — Flouring Mill Burns — Building Boom in 1891 — 
Panic of 1893 — Census Figurcs^Loss of Trade Territory — Quiet Times — Assessed 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. xvii 

Valuations — Coiiditiniis in 1008 — First School — Held in an Attic — The Teacher — 
First School House — District Formed — Officers — The New Building — Public and 
Parochial Schools — City Hall — Water Works — Electric Lights — Fire Department — 
National Bank of Adrian — Adrian State Bank — First National Bank — St. Adrian's 
Catholic Church — Its History — Fine Church Edifice — Methodist Church — Norwegian 
Lutheran Church — Peoples Church — Fraternal Orders 217 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
ELLSWORTH. 

Nobles' Third Town — Kiili Trade Territory — The Site — Settlement of Grand Prairie — 
"Uncle" Stillwell— His Prediction— Selecting the Site— Platted— Additions— The 
Name — Prospects — Sale of Lots — Rush to the Site — First Building — Henry Tor- 
rance Opens First Store — Business Houses of 1884 — The Depot — First Lady Resi- 
dent — Postoffice Established — Postmasters — Lively Times — Selected as a Division 
Point — Census of 188G — Petition for Incorporation — Petitioners — Incorporation Car- 
ries — Officers Chosen — Political History — On a Normal Basis — Census of 1890 — Cy- 
clone — Brings Disaster — Fire — City Hall — Population in 1895 — In 1900 — Prosperous 
Years — Biylding Operations — City Hall Burns — New Citj' Hall — Water A\'orks — 
Electric Lights — Census of 190.5 — Fire De])artment — Cerman State Bank — First 
National Bank — St. ilary's Catholic Church — Organization — Church Building — 
Pastors — Parochial School — Congiegational Clnirch — Charter Members — Building — 
Pastors — Methodist Church — Its History — German Presbyterian Church — Knights of 
Pythias Lodge — Workmen — Degree of Honor — Foresters — Modern Woodmen — Royal 
Neighbors 227 

CHAPTER XIX. 

WILMONT AND BREWSTER. 

Wilmont — Fourth in Size — Location — Trade Tenitory — Site Selected — Platted — Addi- 
tions — The Name — First Train — Rush to the Site — First Resident — Prophesies — 
First Business Houses — A Town in a Day — First Lady Residents — Prosperous 
Times — Incorporation — Petitioners — Village Officers — After One Year — Population — 
First School — District Formed — Fire Department — Water Works — Churches — Lodges 
— Brewster — Location — A Substantial Village — Old Town of Hersey — Station Es- 
tablished — Depot and Cottage — Platted — Addititms — W. R. Bennett is Agent — Found- 
ing the Town — First Business Men — The Postoffice — Grasshoppers Bring Disaster — 
Retrogression — Change in Name — Origin of "Brewster" — Prosperous Days — Petition 
for Incorporation — Petitioners — Granted — Officers — Steady Growth — Population — 
Walcr W(jrks Troubles — Drainage System — The Park — Schools — Churches — Lodges. 237 

CHAPTER XX. 
ROUND LAKE. UUSHMORE, BlGJ':i.O\\'. 

Round Lake— The Sixth Town— The Old Postoffice— Site Selected— Platted— Was First 
Indian Lake — Name Changed — Section House and Depot — E. A. Tripp C«mes as 
Agent — Postoffice — First Business Houses — Slow Growth — Replatted — Additions — 
The Awakening — Petitioners Ask for Incorporation — Municipal Life — Political His- 
tory — Building Boom — Small|)Ox Epidemic — Population — Cyclone — School — Church — 
Rushmore — Its Trade Territory — Business Houses — As Miller Station — A Quiescent 
Period — George T. Seney's Operations — S. M. Rushmore and Associates Arrive — 
And Found the Town — First Buildings — Pioneer Business Men — Name Clianged 
to Rushmore — Postoffice — Platting — Additions — Directory of 1879 — Flouring Mill — 
Slow Growth — Succeeded by Prosperous Times — Incorporated — Petitioners — Village 



xviii TABT.E OF CONTENTS. 

Oirifcrs — Prosperous lX'cn<le — Population — The Schools — Ch\irches — Bigelow — An Old 
Town— I.oi-ntion— The First Buihling— S. O. Morse Becomes First Resident — 
Platted— The Name — First Business Houses— Cheese Factory— Slow Growth— Booms 
in 1892 — Activity During: Nineties Petition — Incorporated — Political History — 
Population — The First Church— Woodmen Lodge 2-17 

rnAT'TFR \XT. 
nCXDKK. I.ISMOKK. KINMltAE. UKAUINti, ST. KII.IAN. l.KOTA. ORG. 

Dundee — Knterprises — As Warien Station — Surveyed — Founded — Postotlice— First Store 
— Slow Growth — Incorporated — Political History — Population — IJsmore — Youngest 
Town — Rich Territory — Railroad .\rrives — Selecting the Site — Farmers Donate $800 
— The Xarae — Platted — First Business Houses — Postoffice — Incorporated — Elections — 
Kinbrae — Location — In Early Days — Founded as Airlie — Later DeForest — Dundee 
Improvement Company — Fir.st Enterprises— Platting — Postoffice — Quiet Times — 
Fire — Named Kinbrae— Boom Days — Replatted— Incorporated — Village Officers — The 
Decline — Reading — Centrally Located — Business Houses — Site Selected — Xamed^ — 
The Start — First Buildings Postoffice — Postmasters — Townsite Surveyed — Telephone 
Company — Bank — St. Kilian — A Church Town — Building the Church— .l^hn Mock 
Starts Store — Postoffice — Business Houses — Bright Prospects — Railroad Misses 
Town — Retrogression — Church History — Leota — Founded by llcllanders — Business 
Houses — Churches — Postoffice — Townsite — Org — Smallest Town -.Many Xames — As 
Sioux Falls Junction— N. A. Call— His Operations — Station Established — Named 
Org— Boom of 1899— Postoffice— Trent 259 

CHAPTER XXII. 

THE PRESS. 

Over Tliirly Newspapers Established — Nine Now in Existence— Part Played by (he 
Colony Jounial — Founding the Western Advance — Changed to Worthington Advance 
— Estimate of A. P. Miller — Changes in Ownership- The Daily .\dvance — The Ad- 
vance-Herald- Claim Shanty \'indieator — Literary Triunijih — Romantic History of the 
Worthington .lournal — .-Vdrian .Advertiser — Adrian (iuardian— Its Veteran Editor — 
Worthington Record — Minnesota Home — Ellsworth News — Worthington (ilobe -Its 
Many Editors — Adrian Citizen — Nobles County Democrat — Outlives Its Rivals — 
State Line Sentinel — Nobles County Independent -Minnesota .Vllahanda — Kushmore 
f^azelte — Kinbrae Herald — Worthington Herald — Rvislinnirr Times — Mituicsota Sig- 
nal — Hound Lake Wave — Rushmore Magnet- Round Lake Craphic — Dundee 
.Advocate — Rushniorc' Knteri)rise- -Brewster Beacon — Brewster Tribune- Wilmnnt 
Initiator — Wilniont Tribune — Ellsworth Herald— Lismore Leader 27.'i 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

DESCRIPTIVE. 

Location — Boundaries — Area — Surface — Soil — Grand Prairie Plain — Geological History — 
Glacial Epoch — The Ridge — Forms Watershed — Elevations — Graham Lakes — Oka- 
bena — Ocheyda — Inilian — Summit — Creeks — Cliain|)epadan — Kanaran/.i — Little Rock — 
Ocheyedan— Okabena — Elk — Jack — An Agricultural County — Products -Average 
Yields — Live Stock — Numbers and Value — Dairying — Creameries and Their Output — 
Manufacturing — Banks — Schools — Churches — Railroads — Telephone Lines- Assessed 
Valuation — Prices of Land — Compared With Dakota and Canada — Proximity to 
Mai kets— Prospects— \\'anted, More Settlers 287 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. xix 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

REMINISCENT. 

The ]Jieadeil Piaiiiu Fire — Wiiat it \Vas — Methods of Figliting — The Fire of 187.5 — 
Origin — Damage — Pro.seeutioii — "The Wild Girl" — Her Aceoniplishments — Worthiiig- 
ton's First Saloon — Big Sale of Rainwater — Battle of Stony Point — Finding of Old 
Gun — Causes a Dream — Story Results — The Diagonal Road — Its Building — Early 
Day Importance — Petition for Abandonment — A Mirage — Produces a Fairy Land — 
The First Circus — Barnnm & Bail}' Draw Crowds — An Old Stove — Its Story — 
Early Day Trials — An Illustration — The First Democrat — Michael Maguire — The 
Father of Democracy — Incident of the Sixties — John Freeman Drowns 293 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



N'oIjIps County Coviit House Fiiiiilis]iiece 

.losc|)li Xicolas Xicollet 3:i 

\\'i>ithington Street Scene, 1874 o4 

W'ortliington Street Scene, 1908 54 

l^'MCsimile Letter, flovernor Austin (i4 

Soil Shanty S7 

OliI Map of N'obles County 87 

Kailv Day Adrian Street Scene !)4 

Old 'Court House and City Park !18 

N'obles County in Spanish-American War. . 1 IS 

\\ orthiagton .Militia Conijiany 118 

Scenes on Lake Okabena 127 

Sports on Lake Okabena LJo 

Worthington Chautauqua Grounds 146 

Worthinglon 153 

Worthington Street Scene. 1880 157 

I'acsimile Letter, Professor Huniiston 157 

Panoramic View of Worthington. 1875. . . . Ifi'.J 

bllewild Pavilion .' 169 

\'iew- 0! Worthington. 1882 174 

View of Worthington, 1884 180 

\'iew of W orthington, 1895 180 

Worthingto'i in Holiday Attire 184 

Winter Street Scene. Worthington 184 

Worthington High Scliool 192 

W oi tliington Carnegie Library 192 

Worthington City Hall "...-. 192 

Worthington's Churches 206 

Adrian in 1883 217 

Adrian in 1887 217 

Main Street Adrian 218 

Adrian in Winter Garb 218 

City Hall and Opera House, Adrian 22.3 

Adrian High School 223 

Adrian's Churches 225 

Ellsworth Business Street 230 



Catholic Church, Ellsworth 230 

Methodist ( hurch. Ellsworth 230 

Wilniont One Year Old 237 

Wilniont's Residence District 237 

Scenes in Wilniont 239 

Brewster Business Street 241 

tity Park. Brewster 241 

Residence Street, Brewster ....241 

Brewster Public School 241 

Brewster's Churches 244 

Round Lake Street Scene 249 

Historic Indian Lake 249 

Views of Rushniore 2.54 

Lismore Street Scene 262 

Catholic Church, Lismore 262 

Leota Village 270 

Typical Pioneer Home 270 

(Jrand Army Post 280 

Miller Block, Worthington 280 

Swedish Baptist Church of Indian Lake .2S!l 

Catholic Churdi of St. Kilian 280 

The Raging Kanaranzi 296 

Relic of the Early Days 296 

Professor R. F. Huniiston 303 

Peter Thompson 321 

Judge B. W. Woolstencroft 349 

JJr. and Mrs. Charles Saxon 369 

John H. Scott 386 

Father C. J. Knauf 41)3 

Ste])lieii .Muck 421 

(Governor Stephen Miller 421 

Henrv Bravton 421 

William Dwyer 421 

Home of August Anderson. Indian Lake.. 439 

An Old Orchar<l 439 

Farm Residence of J. H. Scott 500 

Farm Home of J. C. Hoskins 500 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 



Page. 

Abbott, A. A 373 

Abbott, L. W 4tj0 

Ackerman, Peter H 377 

Addington, James M 570 

Agei'. Wilson 540 

Albinson. John A 487 

Allen. Samuel 458 

Altlidtr. .Tohn 453 

Altlioir, William 60() 

Anderson, August 439 

Anderson, Carl A 572 

Anderson, Charles .1 607 

Anderson, Erick 428 

Anderson, Henry M 333 

Anderson, .lohn A 478 

Anderson, Oscar A 615 

.Ander-son, Peter (' 379 

.\nderson, Simon 476 

Anderson, S. J 593 

Anderson, Victor 397 

Andresen, D. .1 415 

Anton, Philip 418 

Antritter, Charles D 611 

Apel, Henry 526 

Asquith, Oeorge 410 

Haal. IJLnrv 637 

liahls, Theodore 604 

Haiid. .Tames 443 

liaker, Frank 44S 

Uaker, (!eorge W 535 

liaker, Thomas P 584 

Haiti win. James 600 

liarnanl. Charles 429 

I'.arron. Walter 50!l 

I'.assett, Edward H 359 

iieacom, (leorge 577 

lieeker. Casper 424 

liwker. C. W 431 

liicker, Henrv A 627 

Kecklev, L. H 453 

liedford, S. B 331 

Behr. Peter N 458 

Behrends, Hiram 580 

Behrens, K. K 558 

Beilke. A. R 569 

Beireis, Adam 577 

Bingham, Jonathan J 474 

Bird, C. A 420 

Bird. Robert 362 

Birkett. Miles 313 

Hixler, George C 631 

Blair, John S 430 



Page. 

Blomgren. B. C 47!l 

Blood, Oscar F .592 

Bloom, William E 422 

BUuiie, Henry 1 600 

J'.liime. William H 601 

J'xjbt'ig, John A 495 

Boden, Sidney 529 

Boecker, Henry 632 

Bofenkamp. Theodore 376 

Bofenkamp, W illiani 435 

Booth. Charles C 3.5(i 

Boots. Ernest 033 

Boots, Henry 528 

Bovle. M. S 348 

Brace. F. C 585 

Brandt. Ole A 410 

Bratager. Ollis B 417 

Bratsberg. .John A 385 

Brayton, Henry 421 

Bra'vton! Matt 505 

Brickson, Edwin 571 

Brinkhous, Charles 624 

Britt, James F 591 

Brommer. Lambert 473 

Brooks, Albert 592 

Brown. Edgar H 502 

Blown. Frank 006 

Brnns. John B 440 

111 van. Madison J 451 

Bryan. Oscjir 1) -. ". .320 

Bui-han. Andrew .355 

Huchan. Edward F 442 

Bulick. George T , .323 

Bullerman. Theodore 571 

Burc-hard, William 028 

Burfcind. Ernest H 477 

Burgeson. Henry 4.50 

Busfhman. -Tohn 449 

( anipbell, .lames P 330 

Carpenter. Will 1 537 

Carstensen, Hans C 407 

Cass, J. F .364 

Cederblade. Charles A 503 

Chaney, Allen 351 

Chaney,- William 439 

Chepa, .John 467 

Chermak. James 563 

Christenscn, William H 484 

(hnte, Daniel W 401 

Clark. Loren 568 

Clark. William. 461 

Claussen. Peter 505 



XXlV 



BIOGRAPnifAL INDEX. 



Page. 

Clinc, Western M 444 

Clower, I'Mwiird F 57S 

Comer. .Steplieii A 31- 

Conilon, .loliii 41() 

Coiilev. Timotli V ('• U13 

Cook," X. II 4(58 

Cook. I'aiil 317 

37;i 
. 4()!» 

473 

37-2 

440 

579 

(il7 
44S 

Crever. Beiijaiiiiii 11 340 

Crever. 'J'lioiiias II 488 

Cross, (.iraiit 381 

Crowlev. Dr. .Jay .M 32(i 

Crowley. John .' 403 

Criiit. '.MicliacI 371 

Cutler. Kiaiik W 5(14 



Cooper, Kilwaril 
Cory, Charles M 
Coughraii. Kraiik U. 
Cowin, Thomas (!... 
Cox, ,101111 S . . . . 
Coyoiir, .John. . . 
Cramer, Theodoir 
Cranilall. Charle.-^ M. 



Dalilheiin. Alli.-it 
Dalin. lail A... 
Darling'. Ai 
naii^'lierty. 
l)aiij.'luTty, 
JJau;.'herty. 
]>avey, VV. 

liavis. Henry 

Davton, (ieorge 1) 



Uealanil. (ieorge \\ 

Dean, Frank 

IJeBoer, .Tohn 

DeBoer. Xieholas... 
Denkmann, B. C. . . 
Denton, Charles II. 
DeV'aney. William. . 
Diilier. Alexander. . 
Didier. .lolin X 



!■:. 



. 3i)l) 

.-)24 

p (il2 

Albert 3fi7 

K. \. .333 

Stewart 542 

C 3!)() 

.331 

307 



414 
()3n 
411 
.4!i!l 
.404 
.4(14 
(iOT 
. 5(i(l 
..397 



Diekniann. Frank <>98 

Dierks. William...... 347 

Dillehav. Charles 311 

Dillman. W. A 322 

Dodge. Dr. Wilhert •) (i04 

Doe. Kufns K 447 

Doeden, Andrew 517 

Doedeii. Fred 524 

Doeden. 1 lerman G 335 

Dolan. Dr. C. P 340 

Diinniiifr. W. W fi35 

Durfec. Francis .\ 381 

Dnrfee. Howard L <'>1(; 

Diiwenhoefrfipr. 'I'heodore ,. . 488 

Dwvcr. William .32() 



, .(i20 
, .fi.3(i 
, ..308 
...351 
...331 



l*'ggleston, I'^rank 

Kide. Lars T. .-. . 

ICisele. Albert F . 

Klias, Christ 

Flliott. Xathan II 

IClIsworth. Frank 3G0 

Kly. John I) 380 

Kppers. Xick 404 

Friekson. Charles .\ 5(10 

Eriokson. John i: 5.33 



Page. 

Eriekson. Kobcrt 502 

Krlandson, Xels 522 

Krskine, Arthur II 537 

Frskine, H. L '. 315 

Krwin, Charles C C20 

Ksser, Lawrence 570 

Kstes, (iardner 338 

Kvans, VV. M 481 

Kvenson. Andrew 452 

Fagan. Thomas J 514 

I'aragiu.r. J. A 531 

Faragher, William 1! .544 

Fau>kce. Xewlon 400 

Fauskee, Ole 314 

I'auskee. Ole A 335 

Featliers, A. .\I ; 404 

Feeney. .lohn B 403 

Fellow.s, (luy ( 3.37 

Fields, Fdwaicl K 345 

Fiistman, Henry B 542 

Fink. Fred A. ! 382 

rinnerty, Martin 483 

Fiiistuen. Hans II .5()() 

Firth. Arthur S 383 

Fischeiiich. X'erris 'y>{) 

Fi.scher, Leonard E 510 

Fischer, Louis K 4.32 

I'ish, .Matson E 530 

Fitcii. .John J 3,30 

Fitzgibbons, Daniel 518 

Fletcher, Thomas 503 

Flynn, John F 454 

Foehr, Joseph. . . 504 

l"oelschow, Charl('~ 407 

Fngarty, Fdward 573 

Forrest. E. F 547 

Fii.x. Charles J.. .32(i 

!■ lemmini,'. Fred . 4(i2 

I'rink. .Tohn S ,5fn 

( lalbraitli. Andrew T 400 

r.vM. Hans H .-)05 

( ifi>cl. .jolin 532 

( ieranly, .Matt 57(i 

( ieyeriiian. Peter 305 

(Jp'verman. Dr. Peter T 625 

Cil'l. Dr. C. A 492 

(lilonien. .lolm K 455 

( ilasgow. Frank 427 

Clovka, Charles 508 

(Uovka, Henry 615 

Clovka, William ,500 

(Mvnn. Patrick 457 

(loir. Alfred J 609 

Coodrich. George 545 

Cordon. Charles A 484 

(iolmer. Herman IT 617 

Craf. A. C 631 

Craf. EnnI 344 

Craf. Emil F .520 

Craves. Frank T 372 

(ireen. J. Frank 385 

Creig. .fames ,382 

Creig. James A 609 

Critrin. Father W. E. F 586 

Orote. .Antcm .377 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



Page. 

Grundsten, Olof G 426 

Gundermann. Leonard 394 

Giuidei'son. Thomas 341 

Hacker, George 406 

Haegle, Frank 456 

I lagberg. Andy 5(!0 

Hagberg. Gust A 482 

Hagljei g. Louis 546 

Hagei man, Asher ,M 370 

llagerman. -James M 483 

Hagge, Tliomas H 417 

Hah erson, C. H 490 

Hamstreet. Charles 437 

Hansberger. .John 335 

Hansberger, William L 5.53 

Hansen. Joseph P 463 

Haidekopf. William .587 

Harding, C. E 436 

Harrington, .James H 623 

Hart. A. E 530 

Hart. John 314 

Hartman, Joseph 404 

Hartinann, Ferdinand 616 

Harvev. Daniel E 506 

Hasenian. H. F 633 

Hawkins. Levi H 454 

Hawkins. O. H .525 

Heffran. Tim 5.'i4 

Hein, .1. -J .522 

Heise. Hans G 539 

Heling. Herman 575 

Heliiig. .Joseph 554 

Hendel, Nicholas .540 

Uennekes. Henry 500 

Hcnsley, Edward 602 

Herbert, -John 474 

Herlein. David 426 

Hesselroth. E. \V .307 

Higgins. William .567 

Hildred. Charles R .583 

I I i nricks. Tlieodore 476 

Hobson. Harry S 408 

Hocking. William E 564 

1 lofJer. .Jacob G 455 

Hotl'man. (jeorge 485 

Hoffman. .John II 518 

1 biffmeister, George 453 

Ilofkamp. .John .581 

Hokeness. Xels H 606 

Hollaren. Michael 441 

Holmes, Henry .328 

Ilonnef. .John 575 

Hornstine, Henrv 415 

Horton, Frank H 623 

Horton. Isaac 310 

Hoskins, .Josiah C .500 

Hovey . Melvin W 478 

Hubner. William 511 

Hulser. Fred D 517 

Humiston. Dr. Edwin Rav 407 

llumiston. E. R ' ; .308 

Humiston. Fred J> 444 

Humiston. Prof. R. F 303 

Tfumiston. W. 1 396 

Hurd. Minor G 625 

Tlurd. R. S 622 



Page. 

Hutton. Thomas .588 

Hynes. James V 513 

Junes, George 556 

Isaacson. Isaac 464 

I\ ers. Henry 552 

•Tacobson. Severt A 353 

•James, .John F 510 

lay, George 375 

Jenkins. W. W 392 

Johnson. Albert .568 

•lohnson. Andrew 431 

■lohnson, August 588 

Johnson, Carl J 543 

.Johnson, Charles W 59(i 

Johnson, Frank J 585 

Johnson. Haken 410 

Johnson. J. H .566 

Johnson. L. W 48(i 

Johnson. Teeter G 617 

.Jones. Burgess 498 

Jones, Clyde S 608 

Jones, David; Jr 584 

Jones. David. Sr 553 

•Tones. Edw in .1 406 

•Jones. Xcd 520 

Jone>, Robert J 423 

■lorgensen, Jens .5.54 

•Joul. Gust ■ 432 

Joul. Ole B 380 

Kain. JIartiu 605 

Kallemven, Martin 448 

Kaufman. Nicholas 375 

Kellen, Dominick, Jr 629 

Kellen, Dominick, Sr 614 

Keller, G. A 6.32 

Kelley. Irwin F 627 

Kerr, Robert F 513 

Kerr, William 402 

Kiessling. Ferd .J .509 

Kiudlund. Svante 470 

King. Charles .526 

Kinsman. C. E .533 

Kizer. B. F 400 

Klenken. John B 473 

Klessig. Henry A .541 

Kleve, Henry .J .523 

Kleve. William J 506 

Kliffgard, A. A 303 

Klindworth. -John 408 

Kline. Henrv 575 

Klinkhammer. C. H 620 

Klontz. Math 580 

Kniese. B. F 479 

Ivnips. G 430 

Knowlton. Ed 561 

Kolp, Charles F 574 

Kopplow, Carl 635 

Kreun. La wrens 4.30 

Korgman. Herman H 598 

Kuhl, Charles .591 

Kuhl, Fi-ed .302 

Kunze, C. H 465 

Kunze, Henry 427 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



Page. 

Lais, Herman A 420 

l.uriiiioie, Wiiliam E 574 

l.arkiii, Tlioiiias 425 

J^aiooii, -Vxel E 4(il 

Larson, II. \V 44!) 

l^i'suM, Lewis 35li 

Latta, A. T 51li 

Lawrence, Allen H 559 

J^awton, .\L E 021 

Lc'bens, Peter 411 

Lcdine, Eriek 504 

Ledine, Peter 509 

Lees, a V 018 

LeGros, George H 501 

Lenz, John N 383 

Lenz, Peter. Jr 409 

Lenz, R. .M. V 583 

Lenz, Thomas, .)r 541 

Lenz, Tliomas, Sr 458 

Levine, Martin 510 

Lewis, Harry 11 013 

Lewis, (lorliard aSU 

l.inileiiiaiin. \\ illiam .595 

Liiidstroin, I arl A 559 

Little, Arthur \V 003 

Long, Uickson S 443 

Loosbrock, .lohn A 530 

Loveless, Capt. Charles B 310 

Loveless, William W 410 

Lovrien, Ernest E 528 

Liicht, Andrew l" 394 

Ludhiw, lloiaee .( 374 

Ludlow. J. Burr 440 

Luepker, L. H 034 

Lyon, Arthur W 491 

Lyon, Franklin II 37S 

Mackav. .lames 504 

Madison. William E 411 

Mahlberg, Alfred 482 

Mahlberg, Erick .'. .338 

Malcolm. William 4fifi 

Mangclson. .lohn L 579 

Mann. Milton 1' 418 

.Manson. Dr. F. .\1 523 

.\larr, Charles 554 

Marr. Thomas 599 

.Marten. \VilIiam F 472 

.Martens, Henry H 024 

Martin. Charles F 504 

.Martin. .Michael .1 024 

Mathcson, Klovd A 508 

Mathcson. Ilichard H 503 

Mauch. .Inhii 1 .529 

.Ma.\well, .lames II .' 358 

.McAulifle. Dennis 5.50 

McCann, .Martin M 442 

^McCarthy , .lohn 445 

MoChord, W. U. D 350 

MeConkey, .lames L 400 

McKenzie. John 471 

McLean, Francis E 399 

^lel.ean. Thomas 485 

McMaster. S. H 0.30 

Meester. Ike 555 

Meier, Fred 025 

Meier, John 550 



Page. 

Metz, Eugene 499 

Metz, Jacob 014 

.Millard, Charles T 512 

-Miller, Stephen 304 

.Milton, Isaac A 548 

Mishler, Ira 508 

.Mitchell. G. S 634 

.Mitchell. Hugh 420 

.Mitchell, .lohn G 483 

.Mitchell. T. L 514 

.Moberg, J. E 530 

Moberg, Nels 471 

iloberly, R. W 339 

Modisett, C. F 389 

.Mohr, Fred 530 

.Mohr, Herman .465 

MontgonuMv. Alexander 474 

.Montgomerv. .lames 38(1 

.Moore, Dr." George 309 

.Moore, Stanley 590 

.Morl.md, Kobert 1 398 

.Morrison, Grant 555 

.Morrison, William II 440 

Moss, William F 388 

.Muck, Charles S 440 

Muck, Stephen 329 

.Mulrov, Joseph 008 

.Mulro'v, .Matthew 490 

.Murpl'iy . Frank 489 

.Murphv. .loseph G 450 

-Myers.' Howard S 596 

Myrum, Hans H 606 

Xash, Austin 480 

Nash, Christ 413 

Xaylon, James 360 

Nazareuus, .Vsmus 423 

Nazarenus, Joseph 517 

Xeff, James 443 

Xelson, Albert 515 

Nelson, .Anton 384 

Xelson, Francis 366 

Xelson, Hans 341 

Nelson, Henry 345 

Xels(m, John 448 

Xewell, Dr. Thomas G 353 

Xeyens, Nick H 434 

Xienaber. Charles 390 

Nienkerk. August H 494 

Nilsou. Andrew 520 

Xolan. P. F 412 

Nolle. Henry 346 

X'oonan. Thomas P 468 

Xystrom. Hans 316 

Nystrom, Ole .351 

Nystrom, Ole II 537 

Obele. A 1 688 

Oberman, .\ilolpli 545 

O'Connor, .lohn F... 435 

O'Connor. Patrick 468 

Oliver. Will E 447 

Olsen. OIc 391 

Olson. Adam 407 

Olson, Ed 543 

Ol.son, Ou.st 429 

Olson, Henry 412 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



Page. 

Oppek, Florian J 522 

Osbon, Peter H 395 

Oxford, William 4.38 

Paine, Charles .1 489 

Paine, James il 472 

Paine, Walter H 500 

Palleseu, A. D 525 

Palm, Julius 542 

Palmer, Thomas A 559 

Pank, Frederick 347 

Pannell, Edwin C.....' 465 

Paradies, John 478 

Parry, William 312 

Pass, Hubert • 437 

Paul, Erick B .332 

Peterburs, Henry 543 

I'eters, Andrew 501 

Peterson, Charles .583 

Peterson, Charlie 596 

Peterson, E. L 541 

Peterson, John P 459 

Pettit, George V 635 

Pfeil, Henrv 377 

Pfingsten, H. P. W 475 

Pieper, .Julius 574 

I'ink, George 571 

Pint. Anton .536 

Pint, Matt 408 

I'loinp, Michael 597 

I'lotts, R. B 317 

Pridcaux. Tlinmas H 621 

Kaiiiage, John 614 

llamert, Adolpli 507 

Hamerth, .lohn 557 

Randolph, John S 495 

Uead, Henry H 334 

Itecker, Frank 480 

Recker, Ludwig .568 

Keekers, W. J 548 

P>cddy, .James 518 

Iteiter. Michael 365 

Roniackel, Jacob 618 

Renshaw, W. C 477 

Rice. Arthur J 318 

liichards, Frank D 552 

Riss, John .581 

Roetman, John 577 

Rogers, J. H 548 

Roll, Henry 376 

Rose, Arthur P 527 

Itose, Samuel N 521 

Roskain, Ollie J 496 

Ross, Perle C 593 

Ross. Robert 507 

Rowley. Charles L 482 

Rover. Lee W 538 

Rudman, E. R. L 613 

Ru|)recht, Harry 459 

Rusho, Charles 621 

Rust, Albert 506 

Rust, Arjen 357 

Sadler, A. M 486 

Sadler, F. M 466 

Sands. Charles A .432 



Page. 

Sanger, Edward 491 

Savig. Thomas 602 

Saxon, Charles 309 

Saxon, Charles R 629 

Saxon, John 422 

Sa.xon, John A 462 

Saxon, Wallace 573 

Saxon, Walter A 541 

Scharping, Emil W 532 

Schechter, Joshua, .Ir .5.34 

Schels, Father Sebastian 576 

Scherlie, H. A 489 

Schinkel, Fred 395 

Schinkel, Henry 424 

Schmidt. Anton R 510 

Schmidt, Arend O 010 

Schmidt, Oltman 604 

Scliniitz, Fred 425 

Schnieder, Henrv 557 

Scholtes, Peter .' 452 

Scholtes. Peter B 619 

Schraan. Edward H 633 

Schreiber, (iustaf 532 

Schreiber. Rudolph 57(i 

Schuck. .hicob H 388 

Schutz, John 628 

Schwartz, E. L 605 

Schwartzkopf. Michael 515 

Scott. John 11 386 

Scott, O. H .523 

Scott, W. F 471 

Scri ven, James M 497 

Selberg. Albert 588 

Selberg, Gust 480 

Selburg, John P 610 

Selby, .James R 401 

Sell,' Rol>ert 354 

Sevcrson, Albert t'. .' 515 

Seward, Henry 019 

Shanks, William X 022 

Shaw, John W 389 

Shaw, William .535 

Shell, Daniel .304 

Shelquist, A .509 

Shore, f ;harles 434 

Shore. Henrv 554 

Shore. John "E 402 

Shore. Robert 311 

Shore, Robert W 573 

Sieve, August 601 

Sievert, William H .- .556 

Sipes, Charles W 398 

Sisson, De H ,540 

Skillicorn, James 582 

Slade, George 344 

Slater, Henry 342 

Smallwood, Charles J 405 

Smith. E. K 413 

Smith, George W 487 

Sniitli. John R 625 

Smith. Milton S , 433 

Smith. Robert R .562 

Smith. Stelle S 400 

Smith, Zeno M 611 

Soehner. William 603 

Sorem. Ben E .526 

Sorem, Louis M 512 



BIOGRAPIIIf'AL INDEX. 



Page. 

Soreni, Jliclmel 396 

Sorein, Severt M 02G 

Sowles, Louis \V . .595 

Spairord, John .\ . . ssf, 

Spartz. IVter ...5(i.T 

Stnii<;olaii<l, Nels . . .51(J 

Stanton. K. \V... ...44.> 

.Stfinnian. C A. . . . .520 

Sterling. Oscar 609 

Stevi-ns. Krancis A 406 

.Stewart, Sam .\[ 511 

Stoutemyer, William B 597 

Stramer. Charles J 627 

.Strand. Thomas T 582 

Si iintebeck. Henry 46."{ 

SnnJberg. Cli.irles A 32.5 

.Swanberg, Custavus 37O 

.Swedberg. .\I 48S 

Sweiison. Alfred L 62!> 

Synkersen, 1'. C 505 

Taylor, W. K 538 

'IVnHroeik. Kev. Robt. C 558 

TenCate. .lames 457 

Tentler, William 384 

Terry, Edwin S 337 

Tliom, Arthur C! .500 

i'lioni. Kobert tiuy 001 

riiom. Hoy 597 

riiiiiii. William 319 

Thom. William C 594 

Thomas, Knute 309 

Thompson. Albert A 3,54 

Thompson. Anthony 3,39 

Thompson. F. H .303 

Thompson. Peter 321 

Thouisen. .lohn C ^ 397 

Thnesen. Ole B 603 

Tliurber. Benjamin F ,328 

Tiemeiis, Fred H 378 

Tilnian, W. O .500 

rinm-s. Ceorge R 592 

Tinnes. Sy\ rrt D 347 

Titenberg. 1 lenry .393 

Torranee, F. A 301 

Tow. Samuel 589 

Town. .1. A 306 

Tregoning. W. B 589 

Trijip. Kdgar A ."567 

Tripp. Marry R 419 

Trunk. Fridoliu 572 

Turner, Frank 402 

I uriier. Fredoriek A 473 

iunicr. Ira 378 

Tweet. Hans R 584 

Ullrich. .Toseph F 454 



Ulveling, Frank . 



Page. 

.vn 



\'all. .\mos 47(1 

Nail, .bdin P ;j,;i 

\ersteeg. .Jacob sk; 

\'oii Holt\im, Ludwig 383 

\'oss, H, A 492 

N'oss, Herman OOO 

V'oss, .lolin .599 

Voss, S. A 444 

Wagner, .John ( Bigelow) 494 

Wagner, .John ( Ellsworth) ,548 

Wahl, William A 545 

Walker, Dr. F. E 50I 

Wallgren. Peter A 503 

Wallricli. Peter .J 03(i 

Walters. Truman 610 

Ward, Charles B 610 

Waril, \A"illiam E 552 

Wass. August 401 

\\;a,ss, A.\el 630 

Weidnian, George V 623 

Weitgcnant, Charles 483 

Wellhauscn. EdwanI H 540 

Wells. Charlie O '533 

Wells. Frank D ; ....4,33 

Wemple. Kdwin S 462 

Weuiple. E. L 319 

\\'est. Charles '. 555 

West, Christopher R 408 

West, Fred ,553 

\\estenberg, Derk 030 

Wheatley. \\ illiam ; 405 

Wheeler, George W 602 

W'helan, .John 47.^ 

Whelan, William 620 

Whipkey, Edwin S 595 

NVickstrom. Andrew P ; . . .,502 

Wiekstroui, Charles .J ,340 

Wiedow, Dr. Henry 57s 

Wigham. Capt. William 310 

Williams. Dr. A. B 544 

Williams. Frank E 43s 

Williams. Henry G .....582 

Wilson. Alexander 534 

Wilson. George W 303 

Winchell. G. C !!!!.!^031 

Wnlven. Edwin -T 502 

Wood. Sherman T 493 

Wooilford. A. .J 503 

Woolstencrofl. Benjamin W .340 

Wulf. William 514 

\a\e. Bruce 587 

^onng. Benjamin F 330 



HISTORY OF 

Nobles County 



MINNESOTA 



1 PUBLIC i 



L 



TtLD^ 




JOSFPH NICOLAS NICOl 1 IIT 

lhi_- lirsl \\liile Man to Set foe. I On thf Soil of 
Nobles County. 



CHAPTER I. 



ABORIGINAL DAYS— 18;54-18(>(J. 

Turn back, as it were, the leaves of deserl. The c-reeks flowed in tlie same 

'I'ime's great book to the period before cniu'ses as now; the lakes occupied the 

tlie all-conquering AYhite Man liad set same banks; the topography of the coun- 

foot on the soil of the present day county try was tlie same. But what a contrast ! 

of Nobles. We, of this generation, who Wild beasts and birds and wilder red 

play our part in the affairs of tlie pres- men then reigned supreme. Vast herds 

ent day, are apt to tliink of tliat lime as of bison, elk and deer roamed the open 

long jiast. Yet there are men and wom- ])rairies and reared their young in the 

en residing in Nobles county todav who more sheltered places. With that won- 

were living at tlie time of that event, derful appreciation of the beautiful 

B(>fore a civilized eye had gazed on the which nature has made an instinct in 

country we now call home, Lewis and H^e savage, the untutored Sioux had se- 

Clark, those intrepid explorers, had pen- lected the country as liis hunting ground, 

etrated ilie Rocky mountain regions If inanimate things could speak, what 

and pushed on to the Pacific coast, ob- wild tales of Indian adventure could be 

laining information of inestimal)le value; poured forth I 

Marcus Wliitman had planted his col- The country which such a short time 
ony in the wilds of Oregon and taken i'go was an uncharted wilderness is to- 
fhe first step to secure possession of the 'I'ly a prosperous land, fdled with an en- 
Northwest to the United States. While terprising, intelligent and liajipy people, 
knowledge was being gained of the far Cities and villages, the peer of those 
western country, southwestern Minnc- that were centuries in building, adorn 
sota, on the border of civilization, re- the former barren prairies ; civilization 
niained a terra incognita. and progress have supplanted savag- 

Let us imagine what this country was ^'^y '• schools, churches and libraries oc- 
in its primeval state, when all was as f^i'py the sites of the aboriginal's tepees, 
nature had formed it. The broad and That part of the North American con- 
rolling prairies stretclied as far as the tinent which is now designated on the 
eye could reach, presenting, in summer, map as Minnesota was occupied by the 
a perfect paradise of verdure, with its Dakota or Sioux Indians from the very 
variegated hues of flowers and vegeta- earliest days up to tlie time when the 
tion : in winter, a dreary snow mantled white man supplanted the red man in 

1 33 



34 HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 

till' iiiiiPtocnth c-t'iiturv. Indian trailition tlu' MiiuKsdla. not far Irom licllr I'laino. 

tells of no earlier inllal)itallt^;. (I'l'taJn Tlic lower Sissotons occupied the regions 

it i.< that when the first i'.\|ilorer,s, eeii- around Traverse des Sioux. Swan lake 

turies ago, eanie to the Northwest eoun- and the Cottonwood, extending to the 

try thev found the Dakotas or Sioux in ('otmn des Prairies. It was this hand 

possession. When • knowledge was first which claimed jurisdiction over the pres- 

gained of these people there were three ent day county of Xohles. The upper 

great tribal divisions, namely: 'J'he Isan- \\'ak]iaton tribe had its villages on the 

lis, I'cjiiding on the headwaters of the shores of ihe l.ae i|ni Parle. The u|i]ier 

ifississijipi ; the Y'anktons. who oecu- Sissetons were on Big Stone hiki' and 

pied the region north of the ]\[innesota lake Traverse. 

riv«r: and the Titonwans. wiio had their Portions of Minnesota had been vis- 
hunting grounds west of the Y'anktons. ited by whites at a very early day. i)ut 
The last named was the most powerful the southwestern portion was unvisited 
and numerous trii')e. uiilil long after other parts wcri' fairly 

Coming down to the year 1834, we well known. Catlin. Schoolcraft, Feath- 

find that definite knowledge had been erstonhaugh. Allen. Keating and Long 

gained of the tribal divisions of south- were early explorers to the wilds of 

ern ^^innesota, and that their ])laees of Minnesota, but they conlined themselves 

summer residence were known. Ceneral to the ready routes of travel. ])a.«sing 

IL II. Sibley, an authority on Indian (hrougli the lountry in a single season, 

affairs, described the Indian bands as he 15ut in the late thirties appeared one 

found them in lcS;j-l. There were seven who crossed the upper ilississi])pi c(uin- 

bamls of the Dakotas, known as the try in all directions, spending several 

M'daywakantons, or Peo]ile of the Tjcaf. years, winters included, in proeuring 

Their summer residences were in villages, data for his map. This was Joseph 

the lodges being built of clni bark upon Xicolas Nicollet.^ who. so far as T am 

a frame work of poles. These villages ahle to learn, was the first white nian to 

were situated at Wabasha Prairie, wliei'e ^et foot on the soil of Nobles county. 

the city of Winona now stands; at Red Jle gave names to many lakes inul phy- 

Wing and Kaposia, on the Mississippi; sical features or adopted those wliieb 

three bands on the lower Alinnesota, be- were current, and his map, issueil in 

low Shakopee; and the Lake Calhoun 1H42. shows the scope of his explorati(ms. 
hand, on the lake of that name. These The cfuintry of which .Nobles county 

bands could bring into the field about fornis a ]iart was labiled "Sisseton Coun- 

(!(I0 warriors. try" mh his iiki|i. he liruling that flint 

The Wakjjatootas, or Peo|iie of the ^I'-andi of (he Dakotas were in possession 

Shot Leaf, were in villages on Cannon '!(■ I'ound that the regicui west of the 

lake, a short distance from the present Mississi|)pi had several jilateaus. nv ele- 

city of Faribault, and at a few other vated praii-ies, which marked the limits 

jjoints. They lunnbered about 150 war- '<( the various river basins. The most 

riors. The lower Wakpatons, or People leni.-u-kahlc (jf these be called I'litli'iiu dii. 

of the Leaf, were located at Little |{a[)- Colriiii (/'v I'liiirii's (plateau of prairie 

ids, Sand Prairie and on the hanks of heights) and Colcdu dii (Irnnd Bois 

'Do not confound wUli Jean NicoUot. an counliy nearl.v 200 .years earlier. 
.Vmerlcan pioneer from France who visited the 



IILSTOUY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



35 



(wooded lieiglits). Nicollet deseribed 
the Coieau de-s- Prairies as a vast plain, 
elevated 1,91() feet above the level of 
the ocean and .SiK) feet above K\s. Stone 
lake, lying bet-ween latitudes 43 and 46 
degrees, extending from northwest to 
southeat^t for a distance of 200 miles, its 
width varying from 15 to 40 miles.- He 
described it as a beautiful country, from 
whose summit grand views were affordetl. 
and said that at the eastern border par- 
ticularly the prospect was magnificent 
beyond description, extending over the 
immen.se green turf tliat forms tlie basin 
of the Eed River of the North, the forest 
clad summits of tlie Baiilpurs des Terres 
that snrroiind flic sources of the Missis- 
sippi, the gigantic valley of the upper 
Minnesota, and the depressions in which 
are lake Traverse and Big Stone lake. 
That Nicollet visited Nobles county and 
other portions of tlie southwestern part 
of Minncsotn is evidenced by the fact 
that several physical features of the 
country with wliicli we are familiar were 
•given names and more or less accuratelv 
located. "Okcbene" lake has a place on 
the map, as also has "Spirit lake," 
"Ocheyedau bike.'" "Ocheyedan Hillock, 
or iMouruing Ground." "Okoboji river 
and lake," and "Karanzi river, where the 
Kansas were killed." 

For several years after the visit of 
Nicollet the future county of Vobles 
was visited by white men only occa- 
sionally. In fact the whole of southwest- 
ern Jlinnesotn remained the country of 
tlie red man up to the middle fifties and 
nearly to the time when Minnesota was 
admitted to the union as a state. Even 
then, although the settlements extended 
up to the liorders of Nobles county on 
the south, east and north, Nolilcs countv 

•On tlic map it is m;n-ked as exteiidinK 
from a point a short distance northwest of 
lake Traverse in a southeasterly direction into 



was without actual settlers. It was sev- 
eral years behind its neighboring coun- 
ties, and permanent settlement did not 
begin until 1807. 

While the settlement of the south- 
western part of the state-to-be was not 
attempted until a late day, other por- 
tions received some settlement, and Min- 
nesota territory was created in 1849. 
Tliree years later the boundai-y line be- 
tween the new territ(n'y and Iowa was 
surveyed. The territory from which, 
later, Nobles county was formed, being 
on the soTithern lioundary of Minnesota, 
was visited at that time by surveyors, 
and on August •"). LS.'iS, the first line 
was run that marked a l)oiindary of the 
county-to-be. That day the line along 
(irand Prairie township was surveyed; 
the following day that along Little Rock ; 
on the seventh the surveyors completed 
Ransom and part of Bigelow : on the 
eighth Bigelow was finished, and the line 
along the southern boundary of Indian 
Lake was completed, and the surveyors 
continued their way eastward.'' 

Altliough the perniani'iit settlement of 
llie western counties of s(nithwestern 
]\Iinnesota was backward, trapjiers oper- 
ated over liie whole couiilry for many 
years piior to actual settlement. The 
a.bundaiuc of game that roamed over the 
region drew hunters and trappers re- 
gularly to its lakes and streams. Some 
of these later took claims in the coun- 
try they had tra])]ied over and became 
the first .settlers. 

In 1856 there was a great tide of 
emigration "toward the setting sun" 
from the eastern states, and Jlinnesota 
territory grew rapdilv in population. 
This iii]>ouring of settlers continued dur- 
ing the following year. Then came the 

Iowa, and including: the present Nobles county. 
'Surve.vors' field notes. 



3fi 



I11ST()1;V OF XOl'.LKS COU.NTV 



panic of 185T, and the influx nf set- 
tlers almost completely ceasitl. Titiies 
were very harcl all tlirougli the coiuitiv. 
and especially was this condition of af- 
fairs felt in the Northwest. It was dur- 
ing this activity in the settlement of 
Minnesota that the first settlement was 
made in tlie southwestern part of tlie 
territory. During the years IS.'j."), IS.ifi 
and 18.57, a few harily jiioneors found 
their way to and made settlements in 
territory which now forms Faribault. 
Martin, Jackson and Cottonwood coun- 
ties, in Jfinnesota, and the Spirit Tiake 
countn',* in Iowa. In some of tliese 
counties substantial settlements were be- 
gun; villages were founded; counties were 
organized: civilization took its first ad- 
vancing stride into the frontier. 

During tliis period of activity in 
south we.etern Minnesota the future Xo- 
bles county had no active part : it was 
just beyond tli(> "jumping off place." 
The gi-eater ])art of the settlers engaged 
in trapping for furs, and in the ])ur- 
suit of this avocation tlicy fre(|ucntly 
visited llie lakes of Nobles county. TTn- 
fortunately data of the doings of these 
men have not been preserved. Tliey 
were trappers, not historians, and tlicy 
left no record of their adventures. Only 
a few of tliese early day trappers are 
left. Of a nomadic temperament, when 
permanent settlement was begun, the 
majority of these frontiersmen pushed 
on to still unsettled countries to the 
west. 

One of these trappers who nperaled in 
what is now the western part of Noble< 
countv was .Tude Pliillips. and one of 
his adventures is worth relating. Tn 
company with a brother, he was trap- 
ping one season on Kanaranzi creek, his 

•The Spirit I.ak? settlemftnt was only twenty- 



camp being near the present site of 
.Vdrian. His l)rother's camp was some 
live miles distant, also on the creek. A 
terrii)le cloudburst raised the Kanaranzi 
to a raging flood. .Tude Phillips bare- 
ly escaped with his life. The morning 
after the disa.<ter he started out to 
look for his brother, but found no trace 
of liiiu. and never did. The raging 
Kanaianzi hail claimed its first victim. 

.Vs before stated, the financial panic 
of 18.57 retarded the growth of the ter- 
ritr)ry and brought to a st-md-lill the 
activities in southwestern ^linnesota. But 
there was another event of tliat year that 
changed the whole history of tlie country. 
That was the Inkpaihitali massacre. The 
Indians, under tlie leaderslii|) of Ink- 
paihitali. went on the war patli and 
^lthl^^.-l\ iiiiirdered settlers at Sjiirit 
Lake, Iowa, and along the Des Moines 
river in Jackson and Cottonwood coun- 
ties. Minnesota. Had tlie settlement at 
that time been, extended to Xobles coun- 
ty there can be no doubt that its soil 
would have l)een drenched in lilood, as' 
the savages operated in tlie county dur- 
ing the famous massacre. 

The women and childi-i'ii nf iid<padii- 
tah's band wvrt^ eain|ii'il on Indian lake, 
in the soutlieastern corner of the county, 
while the warriors were committing their 
deeds of violence. .M'ter the massacre at 
Spirit Lake part of the murderers re- 
treated to the northwest and made tlieir 
camping place at the same jioint. It is 
said that a force of soldiers, who were 
in pursuit of the redskins, came as close 
to this liaiiil as Iowa lake. Had they 
struck the Indians on Iinlian lake. No- 
bles county would doulitless have played 
an im]iortant pari in the hist(n-y of the 
massacre. When the first white settlers 

five miles from the Nubles county line. 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES ■ COUNTY. 



37 



caiiie to the Indian lake eountn" in 18(59 
the remains of the Indian camp were 
plainly seen." 

The massacre proved to be a serious 
blow to the <jro\vth and development of 
this region. The counties in v\-hieh set- 
tlement had been made were depopu- 
lated. The pioneers fled for their lives; 
everything was aliandoned. Troops were 
soon stationed in the country, but it 
took time to restore confidence, and for 
some time all of those counties lying 
west of Faribault county remained al- 
most wholly devoid of inhabitants. 

During the iionm days of 1S.')() and 
the early part of 18.57 tlie people of 
Minnesota were optimistic. Thousands 
of people were pouring into the terri- 
tory and building themselves homes in 
the heretofore frontier sections. Elabor- 
ate schemes for big ventures were plan- 
ned ; nothing was done in a niggardly 
manner. Frenzied finance reigned su- 
]ireme. Ifailroad rumors filled the air, 
and it was indeed an out of the way 
place that did not look forward to the 
coming of the iron horse in the immedi- 
ate future. Paper roads covered the 
territory from one end to the other, and 
southwestern Minnesota was no excep- 
tion to the rule. The territorial legis- 
lature caught the fever, granted bonuses 
lo various conteniplatcd railways, and in- 
discriminately created counties in all 
parts of the territory — in many of which 
there was not at the time a single resi- 
dent. 

And Nobles county came into exis- 

^An incident of these days was recalled by 
the finding of a revolver on the shore of lake 
Okabena in 1872. The Western Advance of 
Aug. 31. 1872. said: 

"A revolver was found on the shores of the 
lake last week, which was lost there fifteen 
years ago by A. H. Bullis, of Winnebago City. 
Minn. Mr. Bullis. in company with a friend. 
had been to Yankton on horseback, and while 
on their return stopped at the lake to cook 



fence under these conditions. It had no 
settlers at the time, but abundant pros- 
pects. Had it not been for the panic 
and the Indian outbreak, there can 
be no doubt that the county would 
have been inhabited and in a prosper- 
ous condition within a very short time 
after its creation in the spring of 
18.57. As it was, it was ten years 
later when permanent settlement was 
iiegun and thirteen when the organi- 
zation was perfected. Before consid- 
ering the creation of the county let us 
take a backward glance and trace the 
stiuctural history of Minnesota territory 
from the date of its creation, insofar as 
is relates to Nobles county. 

When the first legislature convened 
after the organization of the territory in 
1849 it divided ^linnesota into nine 
counties, named as follows: Benton, 
Dakota, Ita-sca, Cass, rembina, Iiamsey, 
Washington, Chisago and Wabasha. The 
whole of southern Jlinnesota was in- 
cluded in Wabasha and Dakota, and of 
these two. Dakota had the bulk of the 
territory. Wabasha included that part 
of the territory "lying east of a line 
limning due south fi'om a ]iiiint on the 
ilississippi river known as Medicine 
Bottle village, at Pine Bend," to the 
liiua line." Dakota county (created 
Oct. 27, 18-19) was -all that part of 
said territoiT west of the ilississippi 
and lying west of the county of Wa- 
ba.'iha and s(nith of a line beginning at 
the mouth of Crow river, and up 
said river and the north branch thereof 



and eat some fisli. M'hile the horses were 
c;uietly grazing Mr. Bullis espied a party of 
Indians approaching, and as this happened 
near the time of the Spirit Lake massacre, 
the white men were naturally shy of the 
Sioux, so they hastily mouted their beasts and 
fled. The revolver is silver mounted, but rust 
and decay have ruined it for use." ■ 

'Near St. Paul. 



88 



Ills'ldKV OF NOBLES COFXTY. 



to its source, ami tliciiee flue west to 
the Missoui-i river."' 

Although Dakota cuimiv was larger 
than many of the eastern states its iwp- 
ulatiou was almost nothing,', and it was 
declared '"oriranized only for the purpose 
of the appointment of justices of the 
peace, constahles and such otiier judi- 
cial and ministerial olficers as may be 
specially provided for." For judicial 
])urposes it was attached to the county of 
Kanisey. 

The future Nobles county rrmaincMl a 
part of Dakota county until March .■>, 
1853, wlu^ii thci-c was a rcadjustincnt of 
Wabasha and Dakota county ixtundaries, 
and Blue Earth county came into exis- 
tence. The boundaries of the latter 
were described as follows : "So much ter- 
ritory lying south of the Minnesota river 
as remains of Wabasha and Dakota coun- 
ties undivided by this act." As the 
boundaries of the two older counties 
as defined by this act was very indefi- 
nite, it is impossilde to state exactly 
what the dinu'Utions of Blue Earth coun- 
ty were. It is known, however, that it 
included all of southwestei-n Minnesota. 

For two years the unknown Nobles 
county country remained a part of Blue 
Earth county, and then come another 
change. By an act ii|i|ii>ived Feb. 20, 
185.5, the eo\inty of Blue l']arth was re- 
duced t(i it> present boundaries, Fari- 
bault was created with the l)i)undaries 
it now has, except that it then extende(l 
i/iu' lownshi|) rarther west than now, 
and the new couidy of Brown canu' in- 
to being. It was described as follows: 

'Minnesota torrllory then extendt-d west to the 
Missouri river. In this mainninth county of 
Dakota wi-re the followinK prcsint day foiin- 
tie« (or i>arts of counties) In Mlnru'sot.a. in 
addition to^ many in what Is now the state 
of South I)al<otn: Rock, Nobles. .lackson. 
Martin. Farlliaull. Freeborn. Steele. Waseca, 
Blue Karth. Watonwan. Cottonwood. Murray, 
ripestcjue. Lincoln. I.yoii. Keriwood. Brown, 
Nicollet. I.esueur. Kice. Dakota (pari), Scolt. 
Sibley. Renville. Yellow Medicine, Lac <iul 



"That SO much of the territory as was 
formerly included withiu the county of 
Blue Earth, and has not been included 
within the boundaries of any other county 
as herein established, shall be known as 
the county of Brown."" .\11 of the terri- 
tory lying south of the .Minnesota river 
and west of a line drawn south from the 
western boundary of the present day Blue 
Earth county now became Brown county, 
anil .Xobles remained a part of this un- 
til two years later, when it became a 
jiolitical division of itself." 

The conditions which led up to the 
creation of Xobles county and the many 
otliirs ill the soutliwesteru coiner of the 
territory have been briefly referred to. 
.Vmong the other contemplated enterpris- 
es of the boom days of 18.")6-'i' was the 
building of a railroad into the southwes- 
tern part of the territory. This enter- 
prise was, of course, arrested by tlu' paiw 
ic. But it had not prevented the build- 
ing of air castles in the young country 
prior to tlie liiiaiieial crasli. .Vlthough 
no survey for the railroad had been made- 
it iiad been learned that it was to be 
built tliroueh the (iraliain lakes ctuintry, 
and ,■111 imaginary town came into ex- 
istence there. This was known as 
(irctchtown. and in the very early days 
it found itself on the ma])s of the fron- 
tier country. It was located on the 
south bank of West (Iraham lake — on 
laml wbieli in time came into the ]ios- 
scssion of Hon. .1. I!. Waketield, of 
Blue Earth City. (Irelebtown was lit- 
erallv a ""'iiajier town." It was never 
even ]dalti(l. nor did it rise to the dig- 

Parlc, Chippewa. Kandiyohi (except small 
corner), Meeker (pari). Mel.eod, Carver, Hen- 
nepin. Wright (part). Stearns (small part). 
Pope (part). Swift. Stevens (parti, Big Stone 
and Traver.se (part). 

"Brown county was not organized at once, 
but by an act of the legislature of Feb. 11. 
185C. it was permitted to organize. New I'lm 
was named as the county seat. 



HISTORY OF XOBLES COrXTY. 



39 



nity of having a trapper's hut there- 
on. Yet it liecanie the county scat 
of a county — a county without inhabi- 
tants. 

On the 23ti\ day of May, 18.37. the 
bill was passed creating the county of 
Xobles and eight others in the south- 
western corner of the territory." It was 
named in honor of Col. W. H. Nobles,'" 
of St. Paul. Section three of tlie act 
describes the boundaries : 

Sec. III. That so much of the territory 
of ilinnesota as is embraced in the followiiifr 
boumlaries be, and the same is herel)y, es- 
tablished as the 'ounty of Xobles: begin- 
ning at the siMitheas; corner of township 
101 north, of range 39 west; thence north 
to the northeast corner of township 104 
north, of range 39 west; thence west to the 
northwest corner of township 104. range 43 
west; thence .soiitli to the southwest corner 
of township 101 nortli. of range 43 west : 
thence east to the phice of beginninj;. 

Of the nine counties created by the 
act only Martin, Jackson, Nobles and 
Big Sioux were declared to be organized 
counties and "invested with all the im- 
munities to wliicji organized counties are 
entitled by law." They Avere attached 
to the thii-d judicial district for judi- 

'The territory at this time extended west 
to the Big Sioux river. The other counties 
created by the act were Martin. Jackson, 
Murray. Pipestone. Big Sioux. Cottonwood. 
Rock and Midway. The first three named 
were given the boundaries they now have. 
The boundaries of Pipestone county were de- 
scribed as including the present Rock county 
and the eastern portion of the present Min- 
nehaha county. S. D. The boundaries of 
Rock county were described as including the 
present Pipestone county and a small part 
of the eastern portion of the present Moody 
county. S. D. This transposition of the 
names Rock and Pipestone in the description 
of their boundaries in the original act of 1.S57 
may have been due to a lack of knowledge of 
the physical features of this part of the coun- 
try, or it may have been due to a clerical 
error. The mistake was corrected later. Big 
Sioux county took in part of the present 
Minnehaha county, S. D.. and extended from 
the Big Sioux river ea.stward to Pipestone 
(Rock) county. Cottonwood had the same 
boundaries as now, except that it did not 
then have three townshii)S in the northw'est 
corner which it now has. Midway count.v in- 
cluded that part of the present Moody county. 
S. D.. that lies beteen the Big Sioux river 
and the western boimdary of the original 
Rock (Pipestone) county. 

^^Col. Nobles was noted as the discoverer of 
the pass in the Rocky mountains which short- 



cial purposes, and to the tenth council 
district for elective purposes. Provision 
was made for the early organization of 
the four counties named. Commission- 
ers residing within the respective coun- 
ties were to be appointed by the governor 
to perfect the organizations." These 
commissioners were to meet during the 
first week in July, 185T, at the county 
seat and set in motion the machinery of 
the county government. The county seat 
of Xobles county was temporarily lo- 
cated at Gretchtown, that mythical city 
in Graham Lakes township, but provision 
was made for the selection of the per- 
manent seat of government by the vot- 
ers.'- 

It is needless to say that the organi- 
zation did not take place as provided. 
Only a short time later, there were not 
only no settlers in Xobles county, but 
the wliole of southw-estern Minnesota -was 
deserted. County government was not 
begun in Nobles county until 1870; then 
it was organized under tlie provisions of 
the act of 18.57. The ])anic and Indian 
troubles had caused a setback of thir- 
teen years. 

ened the emigrant route In the Pacific side 
some 500 miles, and through which the Tnion 
Pacific now passes. The people of California 
raised a purse of §10,000 and presented it to 
Col. Nobles in appreciation of this discovery. 
During the year 1S61 he was president of the 
Minnesota Old Settlers' association. The late 
Daniel Rohrer is my authority for the state- 
ment concerning the naming of the coimty. 

"Section eleven of the act reads: "The 
governor shall appoint three persons for each 
of the respective organized counties, being 
residents and legal voters thereof, commission- 
ers for each of said counties, with full power 
and authority to do and perform all acts a;:d 
duties devolving upon the board of county 
commissioners of any organized coimty in this 
territory, the said board of co:nmissioners shall 
have power to appoint all other officers that 
may be retiuired to complete the organization 
of their respective counties." 

'-"On the petition of twent.v legal voters 
in any of said coimties at any time after the 
passage of this act It shall be the duty of the 
county commissioners to order the legal voters 
of any of the said counties to vote at any gen- 
eral election for the location of the county 
seats of said counties, and the point receiving 
the highest number of votes shall be the 
county seat of said county." 



40 HISTORY OF NOBLES COTTNTY. 

it will be remeuihcivd that so early as sus July 16, 18()0. These were located 

1852 surveyors had established the line in the Graham Lakes coiuitn. :inil Jaik- 

between iliiinesota and Iowa, and lor a son was their postolliee address. 'i'lic 

Jew days had operated in A'obles county, enumerator stated that lu' had visited 

That was the only surveying done for eleven dwelling houses, and ihat there 

several years. But alter the territorial were the same number of families. On fol- 

legislature had divided southwestern lowing page are names of the inhabiants, 

Minnesota into counties, it was deemed their ages, occupations and places of 

advisable to establish their ijouudaries. birth as listed by Marshal Uruncr:'* 

A surveying j)arty visited the county in .\ll of these were white, free inhaiii- 

September, J.S.")S, and marked its bouii- laiits. Being squatters, they did not 

daries. Guide meridian No. o, along have tith,' to real estate, but four ol' the 

the eastern boundary of the county was numl)er had personal property, as fol- 

surveyed, as was also standard parallel lows: John Oleson, $200; Uriah Kush- 

No. 1, which was the county's northern man, $175; William Hertwinkle, $275; 

boundary. It was nine years later when John Hertwinkle, $100. Other informa- 

the county was divided into lownshii)S, tion contained in the schedule is to the 

and one and two years after that when ifl'ect that none had been married within 

the section lines wn-c run. the year, none had attended school with- 

So soon as coulidence was restored in the year, only one ])erson over twenty 
i\(Wv the Spirit Lake massacre, settle- years of age (Thomas Marks) could not 
ment was begun again in portions of read or write, and mini" was deaf and 
southwestern Minnesota, and in the late 'lumb, l)lind, idiotic, pauper or convict." 
fifties and very early si.xties quite a The development of this frontier re- 
number of settlers had founded homes in gion was destined to delay. It had only 
Martin, Jackson, Cottonwood, Murray faii-ly recovered fi-om the ell'eets of the 
and Nobles counties. Some of the conn- Inkpadiihili. or Spiril Lake, niassaere 
ties east of these had not been seriously and the hard times prrind when the 
affected by the Indian outbreak, ami bad outbreak of the c'ivil war in ISdl again 
substantial settlements.'^ set a brake on emigiation. Then in 

Eleven families, comprising thirty-li\e August, 1862, was inaugurafe(l the ter- 

people, had pushed out to the heretofore lihle Sioux war, which again depo|)u- 

unknown Nobles eoiiidy country. Thai lated the western |>art of Minnesota aiul 

was the numbei' found l)y Elias D. Brun- c rinisoned the fair soil witli the blooil 

er, assistant marshal, who took the ceii- of so many iniioeent men. women and 

"The- federal censu.s of ISGO show>-d thu fipl- "'It is greatly to be regretted that nothing 

lowing populations: further can be learned of this attempted early 

Faribault 1.335 settlement. AlthcmKh 1 have made extensive 

liUie I'larth 4.203 research for information ooncernlng it. I have 

Urown 2.339 been able to find little more than is contained 

Watonwan in the Ijare census returns. These people 

Martin • 151 doubtless came to Noljles county some time 

Jackson 181 after the Spirit Lake massacre, iind protiably 

Cottonwood 12 only a short time before llii' census was taken. 

Murray 29 This Is made evident from the fact that in 

Nobles 35 three different families were children of two 

Rock 23 years of age or younger, and none of tbem 

Pipestone was l)orn in Minnesota. How they happened 

to locate in this frontier land, stories of their 

"The list was obtained from the director of adventures, when and why they left, will 

the census at Washington through the kind- probably always remain a mystery. We can 

ness of Hon. W. S. Hammonii. only surmise. 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



41 



NAME 


Age 


Occupation 


Birthplace 


*John Oleson 


34 


Farmer 


Norway 


Barbara Oleson 


37 






Maria Oleson 


il 








H 






Betsey Oleson 


6 






*Uriah Kushman 


28 






Betsey Kushman 


2/ 






Hownis Kushman 


tj 






William Kushman 


b 






Ann Kushman 


2 




Wisconsin 


»John Bell 


•i9 


Trapper 


New York 


*Thomas Marks 


36 


Trapper 
Trapper 


Pennsylvania 


Henry Jordan 


39 




*George Wilkin 


24 


Indian Trader 


Wisconsin 


*George Bumgardner 


3t 


Farmer 


Bavaria 


Ann Bumgardner 


31) 




' ' 


Henrietta Bumgardner. 


11 




* * 


WiUmetto Bumgardner. . 


■1 




' * 


Maria Bumgardner 


2 






* William Hertwinkle 


40 


Farmer 


< ( 


Julia Hertwinkle 


40 




* * 


Thomas Hertwinkle 


18 




** 


Marie Hertwinkle 


16 




'* 


William Hertwinkle .... 


14 




ti 


•John Hertwinkle 


27 


Farmer 


** 


Joanner Hertwinkle 


20 




** 


Monnie Hertwinkle .... 


1 




Wisconsin 


Thomas Hertwinkle 


25 


Farm Laborer 


Bavaria 


*George Evert 


38 


Trader 


Maine 


Henry Hanson 


42 


Trader 


Tennessee 


*William Eavens 


M) 




Norway 


Maria Eavens 


49 




" 


Thomas Eavens . . 


26 




** 


•George McFarlane 


32 




Ireland 


Henry McFarlane. . . . 


30 




** 



•Heads of families. 



cliililren. Fiendish atroi-ity, blood furd- 
ling cruelty and red handed murder ran 
riot. At New Ulni was enacted one of 
the most atrocious massacres recorded in 
(he annals of Indian warfare. At lake 
>Shetek, in Murray county, and other 
]>hices in southwestern Minnesota the 
murder crazed redskins fell upon tlie 
settlers and enact(Ml lesser tragedies — 
lesser only because tlie victims were not 
so numerous. Those farmers, trappers 
and traders who had builded themselves 
homes in Nobles cotmty had taken their 
departure, and so escaped the fate that 
befell so many in southwestern Minne- 
sota. Whether they had departed of 
tlieir own volition or taken alarm and 
retreated when the Indians went on the 



war])atli is not certain. It is certain 
tliat they were not in the country dur- 
ing the war, and nearly every trace of 
tlieir occupancy disappeared. 

The growth of Minnesota received a 
set back from wliich it took many years 
to fully recover. After the inauguration 
of this fiendisli warfare the western fron- 
tier line receded eastward, and the great- 
er portion of southwestern ilinnesota 
was again left in the midst of the hostile 
Indian couijtry, and for many months 
no white man trod its soil. After the 
settlements in tlu' eastern part of the 
state had partially recovered from the 
first rude siiock of tlie Indian outbreak, 
wliich fell like a thunderbolt from a 
clear sky, steps were at once taken to 



42 IIISTOin' OF N()l!l,i:s COUNTY. 

(Icl'ond till' ex]lo^;(■(l siiiliniriits, to con- suclion 18. Lisniore township was en- 
quer tlie ruil.-kiiis :iiiil drivu tla'iii IjiU-k. tercil at i^ectioi) 13; tln-nce the road cnii- 
Thc civil war wa^^ in jirofircss. and the tinned its way through sectiims 11 and 
majority oj] the alilc i)odied settlers were 1.") and on to the west. 'J'he road was a 
in the smith lijrhtiiii;- I'or the iinii)n. It fiond oiu'. anil in al'lcr years was used 
therefore re(|uired ^oine tinir to muster a- the mail route I'rom Blue Earth City 
troops and place llitin in advantageous and .(ackson to l.uverne, Sioux Falls and 
positions to cope with the wily red foe. Yankton. 'J'n this (hiy evidence of the 
In the meantime the Indians carried on ulij inad can he seen in places, 
their hrutal warfare, murdering men, 'riic savages were soon subdued after 
women and children, anil burning as ti'oops were placed in the Held, Ijut for 
they Weill. Alter considei'alile dehiy the a nuiiilier of veai's the settlers on the 
Indians were driven back, soldiers were extreme frontier lived in a state of con- 
placed all through this western country, stant fear and anxiety, not knowing at 
and tlie prairies weri' constantly patroll- whal time the scenes of ISIiv' might be 
III by com|)anies which wei-e detailed lepeated. Soldiers were kept on the 
for this service. frontier for some time, and some of 
'The expeditions against the hostile ihem uci-e among the first settlers to 
Sioux lesulted in Xobles county being take up tlieii- homes in the new country 
frii|uently visited by militarv |)arties. when peace was assured, not a few se- 
()n one occasion a roi-<-e under Ceneral beting their claims while here in the 
Thomas puisiied a baiiil of tlie liostiles service. \Mien peace was cstablislied on 
to the shm-cs of Okabena lake and be- ihc border, settlement again began — de- 
yond. For convciiieme in operating -tiiieil this time to be |)ermanent — and 
against the savages inilitar\ roads were ihe fi'iinlii f line moved westward very 
construdiil in iliirereiil paii^ ol' the rapidl). 

connlry. Due oi the nuiin thoroughfares During the first halt of the sixties the 
was through Xobles county, extending settlement did not extend so far west as 
from .lackson to the present site of Tni- Xobles county, if we ex])cct a few trap- 
verne and on to Yankton. .Vnother one. peis who regularly plied their trade heri'. 
coming fioin Blue Harth City, united .\ iVw ,,{ these Imill shanties, which 
with this oil section 'i', . (irabani Lakes thcv oi'i-npied during the trap|iing sea- 
township. The road rnmi .lackson cross- son. Tliev would llien de])arf to their 
ed [jersey township, tia\ersing it in a homes farther ea-t or south and dispose 
iioi lliweslerly il i reel ion. it ci-o>seil .lack oF lliiii' calcli. .Sometimes they would 
creek and entend Crabam Lakes town- vciuiii lo tbe trapping grounds of Xo- 
slii|) in section .'31, coiiliiiiied in a iimtli- Mes eountv the next season; sometimos 
westerly direction to its junction with Ibev would not. in no sense of the 
the other trail on section 'i'i. ami then wm-d cmild they he called permanent set- 
bore to the >outhwest. It passed tlirougli tiers, Tbev neither laid claim to land 
the nortbern part of V.Ik and Sumiiiit (cxcepi under the unuritleii law goverii- 
l.ake townships and entered Larkiii a ing trapping rights) nor intended to 
short distance southeast of the present make their homes here. On the other 
village of Wilmont. Fyarkin townsbip band, while those first settlers who came 
wa.s traversed, the mad leaving it at in tbe earlv summer of lSli7 also en- 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



43 



gageil principally in trapping for a liv- 
liliood, they were permanent settlers;, and 
the settlement of the eoimty may pro- 
perly be said to date from that time. 
They came to build permanent homes for 
themselves and engage in agricultural 
pursuits so soon as conditions would per- 
mit, and they all took land claims. Their 
trapping was done because of neeessitv, 
not because they \^•cre trappers. 

When the settlers of 18G7 a|)peared 
they came as pioneers to a new country. 
Practically all trace of the former occu- 
pation had disappeared, and the only evi- 
dence found were a few trappers' shacks 
and dugouts. These early settlers knew 
nothing, or very little, of the people who 
had preceded thiMii. .-d cniupletely had the 
efforts at ci\iliz:ition been oblitei-ated. 
and few pcx)ple today know that there 
were settlers jirior to LSGT. 

For evidence of occupation of .Xohles 
county prior to the arrival of the settlers 
of 1S()7 I am under obligations to Judge 
B. W. Woolstencroft, nnw <if Hlayton, 
who became a resident of the count v 
July 4, IStiT. In his occu])alions of 
hunter, trajiper and surveyor he visited 
nearly all parts of the county in the 
early da\s, and knows whereof he speaks. 
The evidence of this letter and other 
sources of information lead to the be- 
lief that e\'iden(i' of foi'iner occupation 
had almost completely disappe;ir<'d. 
Judge Woolstencroft writes: 

8lavti)n. .Minn.. .Innc 24. 1IM»7. 
Ifr. A. P. Roii*., 

Woithington. Jlinn. 
Dear Sir: — So far as 1 l<now, and am i)f 
the opinion that no one l<no\vs Ijetter, IIiitc 
was no settlement in Xol)les county prior to 
1807— no village laid ,ivit or platted. 1 re- 
member seeing an old maj). upon wliicli 

'•"Early settlers also report the tinding of 
evidence of a trappers' camp in Klk township, 
on Elk creek, which had probably been in 
existence from an early date. 

"Mtich confusion has resulted becau.se of the 
peculiar naming of this road, which was 



(iretchtown was marked as being located 
near llie south end of West Graham lake, 
but there was no evidence of a plat or set- 
tlement when I came to the county. 

There was a trapper's shanty on' section 22, 
on the southwest bank of West Graham, and 
one on what has been called "the Island." 
These were made by digging two or three 
feet ill the groun<l, the walls built uj) of 
logs and covered with brush, hay and earth. 

There was also a trapper's shanty on the 
east bank of Gcheyedan lake and one on 
Indian lake, but I do not know the e.xaet 
location of the latter. These were all the 
evidences of settlement prior to lS(i7. 



Yours truly. 

B. W. WOOLSTlvVCROFT."' 

When the civil war closed, railroads — 
those great civilizers — began reaching out 
and intirlocking through the Northwest. 
For ilinnesota this was the starting 
jtoiut of. such an era of rapid gi-owtii 
ami . development as w as the marvel of 
the times. The iron hor.sc bad ivached 
the eastern ]iart of southwrslern Minne- 
sota late in the sixties, and e.-iriv in the 
next decade railroads were built through 
and beyo7id these counties. It was in 
!sn that the (irst railroad was built 
into Nobles county, altliougli the road 
\ias projected and the preliminary sur- 
vey made as early as ISGG. This was 
done by the Minnesota Valley Uailrnad 
company, which later became the St. 
Paul & Sioux City and the Sioux Citv 
& St. I'aul.'' The line of tlie proposed 
road eniei'ed Nobles county in section 13, 
(iraliam l^akcs township, and passed in 
;i southwesterly dii-eetion between the two 
Graham lakes. It left the township at 
section ;il. passrd through the northwest 
corner of liersey and into Worthington 
township, enntinning its general south- 
western direction, going along the north 
and west side of West Okabena lake. 

the snuthern end was officially known as the 
Sioux City it St. Paul. They were to all in- 
tents one road, owned by the same people and 
managed by the same officers, 
luiilt from St. Paul to I.eMars. The northern 
portion was the St. Paul & Sioux City, while 



44 MisiMin- oi' \()i;i.i-:>; fDrxTV. 

The route thus surveyed wsi? nnirli Ion- A coiintiv through which railroad sur- 

ger tiian the one linailv (li'ti(k'il on. Af- vevs arc bt-ing made is not destined to 

tcr the hind grant hail Iw'en secured — al- remain long without settlers, and tiic 

ternate sections in a strip of counUv on year ISiW; marks the eh)se of an era. 

each side of the survey — the route was At that time there was not a settler in 

changed to the shorter one. over which tlie county. Xobles had not yet been 

tlie Chicago, St. Paul. Minneapolis & divided into townships and smaller di- 

Oinalia is now operated. visions, it was an untamed country. 



CHAPTER II. 



EARLY SETTLEMENT — 1807-1871. 



Facts supplying the context of tlic 
preceding chapter lead to the conclusion 
that the settlement of southwestern Min- 
nesota, and particularly Nobles county, 
was exceedingly slow. Obstacles to its 
development were encountered that tried 
men's souls. Few communities in these 
Ignited States have been called upon to 
pass through struggles such as were en- 
countered by the early settlements (or 
settlers, rather) of southwestern Minne- 
sota. The hardy pioneers would push 
their way to tlie frontier and establish 
themselves nicely when the war who<ip 
would resound over the prairies. Then ■ 
the country would have to be abandoned, 
and the savages would remain in control 
until ihe oncoming tide of iuunigrants 
would again force its way westward. 

After this civil war was brought to a 
close immigration to the western states 
was large, and it was during this ]ieri()d 
that permanent settlement was made in 
Nobles county. It was in the month of 
June, 18G7, that Nobles county received 
its tirst settler. There is always some- 
thing connected with the settlement of a 
country that interests. Often there is a 
tendency on the part of the ehronieler 
to paint, polish and varnish the stories 
of early days. Sometimes those who 
were the ]}rinfipal actors in the drauui 
enacted are unable to recognize them- 

'For sketch of the life of Stephen Muck see 



selves or their pai't in the play. It is 
my intention to steer clear of this error 
and avoid fiction in dealing with the 
eiU'ly day events, and to rely solely upon 
the facts to make the narrative interest- 
ing. 

The beautiful (iraham lakes cduntry 
was the tir^t portion of the county to 
receive settlers. They were attracted by 
the natural beauty of the jjlace, as well 
as the fact that there were about sev- 
enty-five acres of timber on the lakes — ■ 
an important item to tlie first settlers. 
On the 19th day of June, 1SG7, Stephen 
and Joseph ^tuck (brothers) cauu' from 
Jackson and decided to nuike their 
homes in the beautiful lake country. 
Joseph Muck had resided at Jackson for 
many years, having been there at tlie 
time of the Spirit Lake massacre in 
18.57; Stephen Miick^ was a recent ar- 
lival. "I'he former had visited the Gra- 
ham lakes country prexiously and knew 
of its advantages. Arriving there, the 
brothers appropriated the old trapper's 
shanty on section 22, nu:'ntion of which 
has been made before. 

The land had not yet been surveyed, 
but these pioneers of pioneers were not 
to be deterred from becoming land own- 
ers because of that fact. Each laid claim 
to a homestead by "squatter's rights." 
Jose])h ^luck staked his claim on the 

biOErraphical section. 



45 



46 



llls■|■(l|;^■ oi-- Mii;i.i:s (dlXTV. 



south liaiik ol \\ i si (inilmiii hiko. wIulIi, 
when siirvfveil, proved to be llie soutli- 
tast quarter of section "21. Graham IjaUcs 
township. His hnitlicr laid claim to 
land on the cast hank of tlic lake, wliiili 
jnoved to he tlie northeast ((iiartcr of 
the northwest quarter and lots one and 
two. nf section 2'i. consisting of i:J3 
acres. TJie hrolhcrs al once plowed a 
(v\\ ai-i-cs of liiiiil. whii'li tlicy planted to 
corn.- Then tliev returned to Jackson 
to attdid to their harvest there. In the 
fall tlicy returned In their claims. Jos- 
e])h .Muck was accompanied by his fam- 
ily, and Stephen Muck by his five child- 
ren — Agnes, Klizabetli. .Iaiue>. flmina 
and Charles.^ 

Refnre the .Muck families cami' tliat 
fall, bowevir, a few other settlei's had 
come for llio pui-pose of aeqiiirinu' houies 
in the new couiitiT. While the .Miuks 
were at work on their <laims in dune. 
.Iiilin Hai-nctt and Mariiu llice. formcrlv 
of Fillmore county. Minn., arrived on 
the scene. Findinfi the land unsurvcyed. 
tlu>y were unwilling to locate lest they 
should happen to get on <ul(l ninnbered 
sections, which under the land grant bad 
become the property of the railroa<l cmn- 
pauy. 'rii(y starlcil oui with llic Mucks 
on their return trip tn .lackson during 
the first days oi' July. 

At the outlet o.f Heron laki' llii- parl\ 
was met by Benjamin W. Woolsteucrort.' 
formerly of Clayton counly. Iowa, aiul 
hi.- bi(ithcr-in-law. Charier- II. hrury. 
foi'iueriy of fillmiirc enunly. Minn., 
who were al-o nn llieir wav west lookinsj; 



for lumus in tlie unsettled sections. 
'I'he.se two infoiined Messrs. Bariiett and 
I?ice that congress liad made provisions 
for the protection of "s(|uatters" who 
might locate on I'ailroad land. They 
were convinced, and all four set out 
for Graham lakes, while the Mucks con- 
tinued their journey to Jackson. The 
p:!rty (if four arrived on July I. and 
all immediately staked claims. 

ifr. Woolstencroft located on the 
northeast bank of the west lake, which 
was afteiwards found to Uv the soulh- 
ea>t quarter of section I'l. .Mr. Hrury 
lo-;k land on the east baidc of the cast 
lal<e. wbii'ji was the southeast quarter of 
-eel ion 'i'.i. l.alei' in the vear he brought 
in his family. Mr. liice took tlie east 
half of the northeast ipuirter of section 
IT), anil Mr. Ilaiiietl ihe noilheasl i|nar- 
ler of <eelnin H. I'^ach of these four 
creeteil log cabins.'' ))ut up a small 
aniinint of hay and did some little break- 
ing. .\ It lough ilessrs. Kice and Bar- 
nett had uutde improvements on their 
claims, they deserted them after a short 
time and did not relnin to tlii' countv'. 
r>. F. TanniT arrived in llic settle- 
nieiil in Jul) with bis faniilv ami se- 
lected the islaiul in Faist Ci' l.am lake a:. 
his claim, imt made ii" improvements 
tliereon. .\ few iniii-i honu'seckers ar- 
rived in the fall, and the little settle- 
ment began to lake on Ihe aii's of civili- 
zatiiui. (). H. Lacy canu' and took up 
land in section 'i'i. but did not uuike 
inipri.\( menls. K. J. ('lark ai'riveil Xov. 
■.'(I. and II. M. Tanner Ihe same uKintli. 



'A (lUvstion lia.s \tvvn r.Uscd as to wlui was 
the lirst man It) put plow in Nobles count.v 
son. thf claim of one of the carl.v settlers of 
the IntHan lake coiintr.v ha\'iri^ been advanced, 
'rhere was no .settlement there whatever prior 
to 18651. and the fact that plowhiK was done In 
the Graham lakes <'Oiinty in 1S67 is beyond 
dispute. The honor belongs to the Muck 
brothers. If we leave out of the consideration 
the po.sslbillty that the carllei- settlers may 
have engaged in agricultural pursuits. 



■'Xow resiiles at Kinbrae. 

'See bioi;raphlcal section. 

■■■In the fall Mr. Woolstencroft learned that 
his house had been "removed" by one of his 
neighbors, and. therefore, he was eomiielled to 
delay the remr)val of his family until spring. 
at which time the neighbor "made kckhV by 
furnishing another and bettcj^ let .if lo^s than 
these he had taken. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



47 



Jnlin T-eitz and family aiTiveil in tlio 
fall and .seltk'd on tliL- claim wliicli lia(T 
hreii deserted by John Barnett. An- 
ntluT arrival of tlio year was W. H. 
Ingles. This com])k'tos the list nf all 
who came to the settlement durinij the 
vear. .MI of these did imt [jass the 
wint<'i' in their now homes, as several 
went out to make arrangements for 
liringing in their families or to remain 
awav permanently. Those who pa.ssed 
the winter of 1SG7-8 in Nobles county 
were ("lias. II. Drury and family, Steph- 
en Muck am! ejiildren, Joseph iluek 
and family. B. F. Tanner and family. 
John Leitz and family and 0. B. Lacy. 
All of the early settlers of Nobles 
county took land with the idea of ulti- 
mately engaging in farming, and most 
of tliem did so. But conditions were not 
pi-opitious for carrying on agricultural 
pursuits in anything but a meagre style. 
Here was a mere handful of men gath- 
ered togetliei' a long distance from civ- 
ilization and all that goes to make life 
comfortable. The nearest market was 
.lackson. a little inland luunlet on the 
frontier itself. There the Graham lakes 
settlers had to -go for their flour and 
other necessities of life. There were no 
thi-e>liing nuuliines in the country, and 
the nearest flouring mill was miles away. 
It would have been uniirofitable business 
to raise small grain, which could not 



"Big game was also quite plentiful fur a few 
years after the first settlers arrived, and oc- 
casionally some of it would be bagged for 
food. The bison had nearly all left the coun- 
try by the time these settlers arrived, but 
Nobles county's prairies were thickly covered 
with his l>leeching bones, and his wallows 
were seen in all parts of the county, indicat- 
ing that this had been a favorite pasture 
ground. So far as I have been able to learn, 
only two bison in native state were ever seen 
in the county after settlers arrived. These 
two were seen by B. W. Woolstencroft on the 
pr.'nrie at a distance. But quite a band of 
them undoubtedly had their home here during 
the summer of 18fi8, On land in Seward town- 
ship which is now the farm of W. H. Booth 
was found evidence that a herd of forty or 
fifty had spent the season there. The camp- 



luive been threshed and could not have 
liceu taken to market except after a 
long and rough journey. 

So the pioneers contented themselves 
with raising potatoes, corn and garden 
truck for their own immeiliate needs, 
and that was the extent of farming op- 
erations the first four years. Countless 
hardships were endured during these 
\ears. Almost witlmut exception, the 
settlers were jiooi- men. who had been 
attracted to the new comiti'y because of 
the desire to hecomc the ijw iiers of 
lionu's. Without means to accomiilisli 
this in the settled portions of thV-, coun- 
trv. thev resolutely pushed out onto the 
frontier, where free homes could be se- 
cured under the homestead laws. 

Not being able to earn a livlihood at 
farming because of the inconveniences 
before mentioned, they tui'iu'd thiir en- 
ergies in another directitui. The conn- 
ti'V was literally alive with small fur- 
bearing animals, including niusl<i'ats, 
fo.xes, martens, mink, badgers and 
skunks, and the taking of their furs of- 
fered profitable employment.'' So the 
farmer settlers became trap])ers. Inex- 
perienced in the art of setting traps, 
they had no easy task. They were often 
cauiihl in tlie blizzai'd iinles from home, 
sometimes being on the prairie during 
an entire storm, where nothing but cour- 
age and physical strength could save 

ing place and wallows were foumi, tint if 
the herd itself was seen it w.as not rt-portcd. 
Elk were here in more con.siderable numbers 
and remained for several years. In all parts 
of the count.v they were found. The first set- 
tlers in the Indian lake conntry saw many of 
them, and old settlers of that neighliorhood 
report h.aving seen them in bands of 100 or 
more, and they freriuently dined on elk 
meat. One of the Graham lakes settlers has 
told me that he counted a band of seventy- 
two at a point four miles north of the pres- 
ent village of Worthington. So late as 1.S72 
and 1873. after the settlers had begun i)onring 
in by the hundreds, elk were occasionally 
seen by the colonists who had made their 
homes on the prairies. Only on rare occasions 
were deer seen, a few having been reported 
seen in the Indian lake country. 



48 



IIISTOHV OF XOI'.LKS COrXTY 



tlu'iii. Bin ill tiim- all bccaiiie expert 
trappers. Generally the market for I'ur 
was good, and thousands of dollars worth 
was taken during the season. 

During the months of July and Au- 
gust, 1867, the county was divided into 
townships by a party of surveyors. This 
|)roved of little benefit to the settlers, 
however: hut next year the section 
lines wcrr run. ami tlu'rcal'ti'r Jininrstead- 
ers were alili' Id deliiiitcly loi-atc llieir 
claims. 

Dui'ing llic >iiiiinifi' of ISli; a mail 
route was estal)lisheil frnni Blue Hartli 
Citv to Yankton' over the old military 
trail, wliii'li ])a-;seil tlirougli the (iraliam 
lakes settlement. TIk" line was then 
complete from the ^lississippi In tlii' 
Missouri. I'liilo Ilawes was the couti-ai- 
tnr. and '"Stiu'ruy .Tack"" Grier was the 
mail carrier." In January. 18(iS, a post- 
olfice was estal)lislied for the benefit of 
the settlei's, and ('has. II. Di'ui-y became 
the county's first postmaster, lie was 
succeeded by TT. C. Ifallett. who also 
"kept tavern" in a log hut.'' In 1874 
the office was moved to tlir liome of X. 
IT. Smitli. on section iJ-l. and that gen- 
llrman served as postmaster until the 
office was discontinued in ISTll. Then 
the Graham lakes settlers were su|)]ilie(l 
from the Airlie (Kinbrae) office. 

There wore only a U'w additiims to 
the settlement in LSIIS. .lobu Woolsten- 
croft arrived in the Graliam lakes settle- 



''riii.s was an I'Xtetisitm u( th<- old i-out'» 
from R<'d VVlnK to Blue lOarth City, wliicli 
was oponed In IRSG. and of which Philn 
1-Iawes was the contractor. The ctmntr.v be- 
tween those towns wa.s ttien as wild as was 
Nobles county during ISfi". and there was onl.v 
one .stopping place along the route. 

•"One thing we must not forget to mention, 
and that is the mall route. I'nder the man- 
agement of Philo Hawes. It was one of the 
institutions of which we felt proud, and the 
many acts of kindness bi-stowed by the (•i)n- 
tractor will never be forgotten by Ih:it band 
of pioneers." — .\n lOarly Si'ttler. 

•A party of the National colony founders 
who spent the night there in 1S71 reported 
that Mr. Hallett Informed them that for- 



niiiit June ".; and settled on the claim 
that hail been deserted the year before 
by .Martin Ifiee. Jnl,,i .\nseiiiuli and 
family came that year, ami possibly a 
few others joined the band on (iraham 
lakes. Ill March the lirst white child 
born in the county arrived on the scene. 
She was Minnie licitz, daughter of Mr. 
and Mrs. John Leitz.'" 

'I'lie Okabena lake cduntry received 
Its lirst settlers on Se|iteinber 'il. ISGS, 
when W. .\. (Andv) Dillmaii." Frank 
l-i]iiiier and .Inlin WIImih. tra|i|iers came 
and erected a sod and log shanty on the 
east bank of East Okabena lake. Fortnor 
r'liiained (uilv two da\s, and then re- 
turned to Kliie l-;ailli City. Wilson 
staved a niiintli. and llien be. too. re- 
tiiiiieil 111 lllue I'lartli City. Dillman, 
biiwever. rrmaiiieil until Cbristnias. and 
be was rewarded with a tine catch of 
furs. .\round the Okabena lakes and 
the sloughs in the vicinity wei'e many 
kinds of fur bearing animals. During 
the three months be was there ^Ir. Dill- 
man secured about l.tmii miiskrat, Vi 
fox. fi\e mink and several other hides. 
Thesi' he ilis|iosed of at Jaeksnii and 
Spirit hake. lie then depart 'I I'nr the 
settlements farther east, but |-elurneil 
In Xiibles county early the ne.xt year.'- 

'I'lie running of the section lines dur- 
ing the fall of IStiS was an item of 
great importance to the ])eople then liv- 
ing in the county. Before that event the 

inerly he had kept the mail in his hat. but 
that recently the busini'ss bad grown so that 
a drawer was necessar.v. and that there was 
a prospect of his salary being raised to $10 
a year. 

"The first male child horn In the county 
was Arthur A. Woolstencroft. born July 20. 
18fi9. the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. \V, Wool- 
stencroft. 

"See biographical section. 

'=Mr. Dillman Informs me that during his 
residence here in ISfiS his nearest neighbors, 
excepting the settlers of Oraham lakes, were 
two families who lived where 1 ake Park, Iowa, 
now is. and two or three families who were 
located on Rock Creek, in Rock county. 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



49 



settlers held their hind by "'squatter's 
rights;" now they were enabled to defi- 
nitely locate their lands and make their 
filings ill the goveniment land ofFice at 
Jackson. Under contract, dated Aug. 
3, 1868, Surveyors E. H. L. Jewett and 
G. G. Howe undertook the work of 
making the survey. Accompanied by a 
man named Howard, they at once en- 
tered upon their duties, and from Aug. 
27 to Oct. 29 they were engaged in sur- 
veying the section lines and marking 
the corners of all the townships except 
the western tier.^^ The foiir townships 
on the western border were surveyed by 
R. H. L. Jewett, under contract of July 
30, 1869, during the fall of that year." 

There is no evidence that Indians ever 
had their permanent villages located on 
Nobles county soil, but such may have 
been the case. For a few years after the 
first settlers came, however. Indians were 
liermanently domiciled here. In Sep- 
tember, 1868, a band of seven or eight 
families came down from tlie Pembina 
countrv (from the Minnesota side of the 
river), and spent the fall trapping on 
Graham lakes. Part of fhc Indians 
were full lilooded Sioux; the others' were 
Iiair l>rci'ds (English and Chippewa). 

Although perfectly friendly, tlieir ar- 
rival ci'oated something of a stir, and 
at least one young man will remember 
them during his lifetime. He was the 
son of .Tolm Anscomb, one of the set- 
tlers of Graham lakes. He was return- 
ing from the postoflFice when he came 
suddenly upon a number of teepees erect" 
ed immediately in his patliway. He had 
pas.sed over the road le^^s tlian an hour 

"The surve\'K of the sevei-.nl towpshJDS v:(re 
riHde a.s follows: Hersey. .'Vus. 27-Sei)t. 1; 
Reward. Sept. 1-4; Blonii. Sent. 4-7: WIllTiont. 
Sept. S-10: Larkin, Sept. ll-l.^i: Summit Lake, 
Sent. 1.5-lS: Elk. Sept. 19-2.f; Worthingtoii. 
Sept. •23-2fi; Dewakl. Sept. 2B-.30: Olnev. Sept. 
•fO-Oct. 2; Little Rock. Oct. S-fi; Ransom, Oct. 
7-10; Bigelow, Oct. 12-16; Indian Lake, Oct. 



before, and his surprise was great. Ter- 
ror lent wings to his feet, and he lost 
no time in getting home. He left the 
road, waded the outlet of Jack lake, 
where the water was up to his chin, and 
came on a run to his father's place, his 
eyes bulging, and so out of breath that 
he could with difficulty tell of his find. 
.Messrs. Anscomb and B. W. Woolsten- 
croft set out at once to investigate. They 
found the Indians to be friendly and in 
possession of passes from the agent, per- 
mitting them to leave the reservation 
and to hunt and trap. 

The Indians spent a few months in 
the vicinity, and then returned to their 
northern homes. The next year they re- 
turned and made their camp on the west 
sliore of Ocheyda lake. They spent the 
winter of 1869-70 there. They were on 
very friendly terms with the whites, and 
more than one of the pioneer settlers 
could vouch for their hospitality. An- 
other band of Indians and half breeds 
made their home for a while on Indian 
lake. They had their tepees in the tim- 
ber of the lake when the first settlers 
located there in 1869, and were there 
two years. There were seventeen fami- 
lies of them, and they spent their time 
in trapping and hunting. Their rela- 
tions with the few whites there were al- 
ways friendly. 

More settlers arrived in 1869. In the 
spring of the year came H. L. Wallace, 
B. B. Brain and several others to the 
Graham lakes country. W. A. Dillman, 
accompanied by Aaron Fortner, returned 
(o the county in February to resume 
trapping operations. They took up their 

l.')-2(l: Lorain, Oct. 20-22; Graham Lakes. Oct. 
24-29. 

"The dates of survey of these four town- 
shiiis were as follows: Westside, Aug. 30- 
Sopt. 4; Grand Prairie. Sept. 6-11; Leota. Oct. 
l-K; Lismore, Oct. 7-13. 



50 



TTISTOIIY OF .NOllLKS COUATY. 



abode on the east shore of Ocheycla lake, 
taking possession of an old trajipt'i-'s 
shanty which they found at that point. 
They remained there until llio close of 
tlie fur taking season in the S|)ring, and 
made a good cateli. Tiicy divided ter- 
ritory with tiio Indians in the vicinity, 
and were the only whit(> men in the 
neighborhood. 

To the Indinn iiiko eomilry, in tlie 
southeastern ))iu't of tlie county, came 
a few resolute pioneers in ISGO. who had 
ail the experiences and suffered all tlie 
hardships of first settlers. Although the 
Oraham lakes country had been settled 
for two years, it was some twelve or 
fifteen miles distant, with barren coun- 
try intervening, and there was no in- 
tercour-se between the two communities. 
The Indian lake settlement was as iso- 
lated as had liecn that of Graham lakes 
two years before. 

Isaac TTortoii was the first in take a 
claim in the Indian lake country. Tie 
had moved to Spirit Lake in 1867, and 
during that year had visited Indian lake 
while on a hunting trip. He liked the 
looks of- the country and decided that 
some day lie would make his home there. 
On May fi he filed on land on the east 
side of Indian lake, and on October .S 
he moved his family there. About the 
middle of May, Henry Brayton, accom- 
panied by his family, came to the same 
vicinity and selected land on the west 
side of the lake, on section HI. There 
was at that time not an iiihabilant 
within many miles, and Mrs. Brayton 
was the pioneer white woman of In- 
dian Lake towmship. dias. W. Bullis 
also came that, spring and took a liome- 
.stead. I?. L. Erskine and fainilv. con- 
sisting of a wife and five children, ar- 
rived in the fall and located on the east 
liank of the lake, on tlie northwest quar- 



ter of section 35. Soon after, however, 
lie abandoned that and filed on land in 
section tHj, just to the north of his first 
location. He built a sod house, in whieli 
the family lived for several years. His 
trading point was tlie old town of Mil- 
ford, Iowa. Asal Horton came the 
same year, but departed in 1870. Myrus 
Johnson came in the fall and located on 
the southeast quarter of section 26, and 
made his liomc there until about 1S75. 
A. O. Campbell also eanic that year. 

The surroundings of these few settlers 
were romantic. Surrounding their homes 
were the cam])s of the redskins, who 
were then in that locality. Wolves 
howled in the timber skirting the shore 
of the lake and made night hideous. To 
build their homes lumber had to be 
hauled fri.m ^lankato, iiearlv lOd miles 
away, ov else log and sod shanties had 
to sufl'ice. 

^fany stories of hardships and dan- 
gers encountered by the first settlers have 
been told. An incident of the year 18G0 
is worthy of being placed on record. The 
following is from the pen of B. W. 
Woolsteiicroft : 

Tn Feliniiii-y. ISfiO. a company ennsiitins of 
.Totiii Aii^conib and his son, William, Clias. 
Ilinrs and C. M. Tliompkins (a Quaker wlio 
IkuI Ijotli his fppt frozen off on a former oi'- 
cision) started ont to find a slouj;h in town 
102, range 40 (now Wortliington lownslii])). 
They M'ere not eertain of its whereabouts, 
and did not understand traveling by the sec- 
tion, and eonseqiieiitlv got lost. The second 
day in the morning tliey were overtaken by 
a storm of blinding fury and could only 
guess their course. After wamlering about 
for two days on the prairie they happened 
to find the corner of a section of whicdi I 
had given them a ))lot with the section, 
town and range marked thereon. They then 
knew wlicie they were for the first time in 
two days. They turned their team around 
(for they were going almost directly away 
from home), and, although the ])oor cattle 
had been three days traveling in the snow 
with no roads, nothing to eat but a little 
cornmeal, and were snow blind, they had to 
he driven home to save the livc^ nf the men, 
as thev, too, were -snow blind \\j.h one ex- 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



51 



ception, nnd that one nearly so. The won- 
der was that they were not all frozen to 
death. 

The siime writer gives anothei' instance 
of adventure in a blizzard the next win- 
ter in which he was personally inter- 
ested : 

The other case was Chas. Derby and the 
writer. We were camped on the bank of 
Summit lake in a small tent. On the ni>rht 
of the 17th of .January, 1 870, a severe storm 
arose and ra<;od for three days and nights. 
The snow drifted terribly, covering the tent 
and crowding it down so that we had no 
i-oom to lay down. On the third night at 
nine o'clock we started home, having been 
ejected, .-o to speak. We had no road, no 
guide, and the thermometer at 27 degrees 
below zero. We got along very well until 
we got into a large slough, where the snow 
was verv loose and deep, and we could find 
no way out for some time. When we did 
my feet were frozen almost solid. We fin- 
ally arrived home about three o'clock in the 
morning. I could enumerate a nnmlier of 
instances of like adventures, b>it these are 
enough to satisfy me. and I judge will sat- 
isfy the reader. 

That winter was an exceptionally se- 
vere one, and "lingered in the lap of 
spring." The settlers suffered severely, 
and many were the narrow escapes from 
death in the storms. Early in March 
occurred one of the big blizzards, which 
lasted six days. This was followed on 
the 21st and 22nd by another severe 
storm, in which three lives were lost — 
the first of several in the county's his- 
toi'y. 

On Jfarch 21 there passed through the 
settlement at Graham lakes over the old 
trail two freighting outfits bound for 
Si(ui.x Falls. Three men were in charge 
of these outfits — two Johnsons, father 
and son. and a niari named Sharp. They 
hailed from Lesueur county and were 
freighting flour to the Dakota settle- 
ment. When the storm struck fear for 
the safety of the freighters was felt by 
the people of Graham lakes. On the 
23rd, the storm having abated, the whole 



community turned out to search for the 
strangers. That day the bodies were 
found. 

It appears that the storm had struck 
them when they had reached a point in 
Seward township, seven miles west of 
Graham lakes. They camped there that 
night, and the next day set out on their 
journey. Seven or eight miles farther 
„rest— in the township of Bloom— Sharp 
was stricken. His dead body was found 
beside those of his horses. Two miles 
farther on the Johnsons unhitched their 
team and tied the horses to the sled. 
Both were overcome by the blizzard and 
met death. The body of the elder man 
was found wrapped in bed quilts about 
two rods from the sled. The body of 
the son was discovered between that of 
the father and the sled. 

Two months after this disaster came 
another event of thrilling interest. In 
May, 1870, the settlers about Graham 
lakes were electrified by the rumor that 
the Indians were coming to "wipe them 
out," and although the rumor proved 
groundless there were exciting times 
among the little band. The scare was 
originated by John Leitz and Lyman 
Oaks, the latter from Cottonwood county, 
who went to New Ulm to dispose of 
their fur, the product of their winter's 
trapping. While there they were enter- 
tained with stories of the 1802 massacre, 
and on the way*liome they allowed their 
imagination to work to an extent suf- 
ficient to make them see Indians all 
over the prairie. Immediately upon 
their return they .spread the alarm and 
succeeded in creating considerable ex- 
citement. 

Some were in favor of abandoning the 
settlement and leaving for a more civil- 
ized community, others to stay and fight 
it out. The latter prevailed, and a com- 



52 



nTf^TOTJ^' ol' \<M!LES COUNTY. 



pany was organized to defend their 
homes. S. Hi. Harris was chosen captain, 
John Cnnninghani, first lieutenant; B. 
W. W'dolstencroft, second lieutenant; B. 
V. 1'anncr, sergeant. It was decided to 
fortifv the island in East Graham lake, 
and to accomplish this to builil a stock- 
ade acro.=s the two narrow strips ol' lund 
connecting it with the jnain land, and 
work was at once commenced to that 
end. 

The captain and first lieutenant de- 
tailed themselves to go to Jackson for 
aminiinition (which may not look very 
niiliiary: nevertheless it is true), leav- 
ing the command in the hands of Sec- 
ond Lieutenant Woolstencroft and Ser- 
geant Tanner. The officer in command 
was taken sick, the weather was exceed- 
ingly warm, and the men preferred sit- 
ting in the shade and telling stories to 
building stockades. So the work lagged. 
Lieulenant Woostencroft recovered some- 
what from his sick spell, returned across 
the lake, and took charge of the opera- 
tions. Work was at once resumed, but 
the hot weather had overcome the fright 
of the workers, and their work plainly 
showed that they were beginning to 
doubt the stories told by Oaks and Leitz. 

Their scepticism was short lived. 
About five o'clock in the evening Emma 
Muck, a girl of some fourteen years, 
who lived with her failicr on the east 
bank of West Graham lake, arrived on 
the scene and told the men she had seen 
five Indians on the west bank of tin- 
lake. The men required no one to urge 
them to work from that time, and more 
work was done from that moment un- 
til nightfall than during the whole dav 
previous to that time. B. W. Woolsten- 
croft and E. J. Clark mounted the only 

"Onp of the memtiPT's nt this plnni'i>r mili- 
tary company has facotioiialy remarked: "For 
this service we never received any pay; and 



horses in the place, except the team that 
had been taken to Jackson, and scoured 
the country west of the lakes, with the 
result that they found five sand hill 
cranes. This relieved the tension some- 
what, but that Indians might be in the 
country and on tiie war path had not 
liicn disproved. 

The suggestion that tlie settlers of 
Cottonwood county, living at liake Tal- 
ent t and nil the Dos Moines river, should 
1)0 notified was acted upon. .V courier 
took a horse, and, going first to lake 
Talcott, eight miles away, notified John 
Crapsoy's people, then rode down the 
river two miles and notified the Doore 
brothers. The latter came over the next 
morning, joined the company, and did 
excellent service in telling stories. By 
the time the Ciiptain and first lieuten- 
ant bad rcturncil frnm .Tacksnn the rest 
of the company bad worked upon Leitz 
and Oaks to a point wbei'e they were 
willing to admit that most of the story 
was imairinatiou. The stockade was 
never completed. The work was so ad- 
vaiici>d, liowever. that less than nne 
day's wcu'k would have put it in shape 
tn bnld it against niiv iiumbi'v of Jii- 
di:iiis. 'I"he coiii[)any was dislianded, 
lliiinkriil that tlic Indian scare bad 
been conducted without Indians.'"' 

Tlie ]ioople of Nobles county did imt 
put in all their time having experiences 
in blizzards ami |ilni)ning defense against 
Indians. bn\\e\cr. Most of the settlers 
were nf rrh'ginns and social disposition, 
:inil njir nf tlieir first cnnsidcratiniis was 
religious worship. In the spi-ing of 1S70 
John Crapsey, a Lutheran preacher who 
bad located on Crapsey lake in Cntton- 
\Miiiil comity — only a short distance from 
the Crahani lakes settlement — was in- 

I h;i\'e not heard of .-myone who received pen- 
sions for wounds I'ccelvod or Injm'les Incurred.",' 




WORTHINGTON 5TRLLT 5CLNE, 1874 

Looking Down Main Street from Ttiird Avenue, Wliere the State Bank of Worlhini>ton 

Now Stands. 




\\c.M<iHI.\C.ION sjKl.iJ SCI-NL. 19UH 
Sfiowing ttie Same Block Tliirty-four Years Later. 



niSTOKY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



53 



strumental in organizing the first Sun- 
day school in Nobles county. The school 
was held in a combination sod and log 
shanty on the island, the home of B. 
F. Tanner. Nearly all the settlers at- 
tended the meetings of the school, the 
average attendance being about 25 or 
30. John Crapsey was superintenderut ; 
Mrs. B. F. Tanner, assistant superin- 
tendent and primary teacher; S. E. 
Harris, bible class teacher. 

By an act of tlie legislature, approved 
March 7, 1870, the counties of Nobles 
and Eock were detached from the county 
of Martin, with wliich they had formerly 
been attached for judicial purposes. Pro- 
vision was made for holding court in 
Jackson county, and the two counties to 
the west were attached to that county'" 

The first federal census after settlers 
arrived in the county was taken in 1870. 
According to it there were 117 people 
residing in the county on the first day 
of June.^'^ Of these, 108 were native 
born ; nine were foreign born. Of the- 
108 native born, 2.5 were born in Min- 
nesota, 19 in New York, 14 in Wiscon- 
sin, eight in Illinois, one in Ohio, and 
41 in other states. Of the nine for- 
eign born, three were bom in Greait 
Britain, two in British America, two in 
Germany, one in Ireland and one in 
Sweden. Of the total population 63 
were males and 54 females. Of the 
adult population (over 21 years of age), 
the sexes were evenly divided, there be- 
ing 36 of each. 

Eumors that a railroad was to be 
built through Nobles county within a 
short time were responsible for a com- 
paratively large settlement during the 
year 1870. The Graham lakes and In- 



dian lake countries received the bulk 
of this immigration, but a few jjusheil 
out a little farther and made settlement 
in what are now Seward, Hersey and 
Bigelow townships. Being obliged to de- 
pend wholly upon the memory of the 
few surviving settlers of the early days 
(and memory is a fickle thing at best,) 
it is impossible to give a complete list 
of the arrivals. 

Among the first comers of tiie yrar 
were two parties from Eochester, Minn, 
both of whom arrived at Graham lakes 
on May 15. The p)arties were composed 
of J. II. Cunningham, E. W. Hessel- 
rotli, Eichman Morton, Chet. Cutting, 
Stephen Howell and a Mr. Stanfield. 
These men were on their way to Sioux 
Falls, looking for homes in the new 
western .country, and were traveling 
ovgr file old trail. When Jack creek 
was reached the party was met by 11. ('. 
Hallett, who advised them that ithey 
could do no better than cast their lot 
with the people about Graham lakes. Mr. 
Hallett, himself, had arrived only a 
short time before. The new arrivals 
decided to take a look at the country. 
They did so, and all except Stanlidd 
tiMik claims in what later became Gra- 
liam Lakes township. He remained in 
the s(.'ttlement about a monith and then 
returned to his old home. Capt. J. W. 
Miller came in June and settled near 
Graham lakes. A man named Bent 
came in the fall and located on section 
10 of the same township. Other seittlers 
of that year were Benjamin Harrison, 
S. E. Harris, Wm. H. Brown, W. G. 
Brown, .7. W. Palmer and John Hart.'' 
Nearly all these brought families with 
them. Three settlers, one of whom was 



"Nobles remained attached to Jackson un- 
til 1873. when a Nobles county district court 
was established. 

"Other nearby counties: Cottonwood, 5.'!4; 



Murray, 209; Jackson, 1,825. Aiken MiiiPr 
took the Nobles county census. 

""Took homestead in 1870, but did not make 
his permanent home there until the next year. 



54 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



\\ m. \V. Cosper, arrived in the fall and 
took claims in Seward towusliip. Ed- 
ward Jierreau toolv up a residuuce iu 
Hersey townsliip that year. 

To the southeastern portion of the 
county in 16 iU also came quite a num- 
ber oJ! settlers, many ol' whom were 
Scandinavians. The fiist of these were 
Ole Ellingson and John Christ Johnson, 
who came in the spring. Closely follow- 
ing these were two brothers, Ole Eauskee 
and Ule A. Fauskee, who filed on claims 
June 8. The former selected land on 
the north shore of Ocheyda lake (the 
northwest quarter of section U) ; tliu 
latter took a preemption claim on the 
same section. The brothers walked into 
Nobles county from a point iu northern 
Iowa, where they had left their families, 
then walked to Jackson, where they 
made their illings, and from tiiere back 
to where tlieir families hud been left. 
They constructed a combination log, sod 
and hay shanty, in which they lived live 
years. '° 

Henry Haggard arrived iu the same 
neighborhood on June 10, and became 
a permanent resident. Eric 15. Paul 
came to the county in May, and iu Au- 
gust took up land. Nelson Coyour located 
at the south end of ludiau lake ou sec- 
tion 34. John ljr<j\Mi took up laud in 
section 26, where he lived until about 
1874. Gundro Joul homesteaded on 
section 18, and lived there until tlio 
late seventies. Grove Lummis, a sin- 
gle man, located on the southwest quar- 
ter of section 20, Iniilt a cabiu, but soon 
after departed. A. A. Abbott took as 
bis claim the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 28 and became a permanent settler. 
Samuel Barnes took land in tbe vicinity. 
Nels Gilson seftled just over llie line in 
Higelow townsliip. A. M. 'Mcrolhim 

"See biographical section. 



and two boys located at lake Ocheyda., 
just south of tlie isthmus, and Lived in 
a dug-out. Nearly all of these settlers 
in the Indian lake and Ocheyda lake 
countries brought families with them 
and became permanent settlers. Many of 
them are today living upon the land 
they took in that early day. 

The census taken in the spring of 
1870 had shown a population of only 
117 people, but during the remainder of 
the year the emigration had been large, 
and by fall the population had very 
nearly doubled. This large increase and 
the prospects of very rapid settlement in 
the near future, due to knowledge that 
the railroad was coming, brought up the 
question of county organization. The 
act of 1857 creating the county was 
still in force, and all that was necessary 
to bring about the organization was to 
secure the appointment of three com- 
missioners by the governor. 

The matter was first discussed by the 
settlers during the first few days of Oc- 
tober. Nearly all the householders of 
the Graham lakes community had gath- 
ered at the home of H. C. Hallett, who 
was conducting a "house raising." There 
for the first time the matter was dis- 
cussed. There was uo formal meeting, 
no "wliereases" and "therefores;" the 
question was talked over, and afterwards 
a vote on the question was taken. There 
was no opposition, and the settlers tiien 
named Ciias. 11. Drnry. B. \V. W'ool- 
stencroft and IJenjamin Harrison com- 
inissionei's, wlio slioidd take the neces- 
sary steps lo bring about the organiza- 
tion. Mr. Woolstencroft wrote to Gov. 
Horace Austin, stating the facts and 
asking that official to name commission- 
ers who should be empowered to set the 
machinery of county government in mo- 
lion. 



HISTOKY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



55 



Governor Aiffitin responded proinjjtly. 
He named as commissioners the three 
gentlemen who had been selected by the 
settlers, and these, in accordance with the 
provisions of section 11 of the act of 
185T, at once proceeded to name the 
other county officers-" and perform the 
other duties of their offices. On Oc- 
tober 27, 1870, the commissioners met 
for the first time at the home of Chas. 
H. Drury, in Graham Lakes township,"^ 
and the government of Nobles county 
was under way. The first acts of the 
board were to make provision for the 
general election to be held in Novem- 
ber, for which notices were ordered post- 
ed; to divide the county into three elec- 
tion precincts — one in Indian Lake and 
two in Graham Lakes; and to appoint 
the county officers. This organization 
was doubtless legal, but to avoid any 
possibility of future trouble, the legis- 
lature on Feb. 17, 1874, passed an act 
declaring the organization legal. -- 

Hardly had the county organization 
been perfected when talk of erecting a 
court house began. S. R. Harris, the 
county auditor, was the prime mover in 
the mattei-, and lie proposed that the 
county should erect a suitable building 
in Graham Lakes township. The com- 
missioners, as well as the people in gen- 
eral, did not approve the idea. They 
held that when the county became set- 

="Fc)r the early political history see chapter 
nine. 

='Uncler the original act the county seat had 
been named as Gretchtown. But. as there was 
no such place when the organization was per- 
fected (and never had been), the commission- 
ers exercised considerable latitude in the mat- 
ter of selecting a county seat. ,^s a matter 
of fact, there was no county seat during the 
first few years. The county officers (what 
few had any duties to perform) transacted 
the coimtv business at their respective homes. 
T'ntil the' fall of 1871 the board met at the 
home of Chas. H. Drury. Then the residence 
of H. D. Bookstaver became the regular meet- 
ing place. There was no iron clad rule pro- 
viding that the "county seat" should be at 
any particular place, and the meetings of the 
board were held where it was the most con- 



tied, a more central location for the 
county seat would be selected, and that 
it would be folly to erect a county build- 
ing in Graham Lakes township, in the 
extreme northeastern part of the county. 
So no action was taken. 

The winiter of 18^0-71 was another 
one of hardship and suH'ering for the 
settlers of Nobles county. Again was a 
life sacrificed to the terrible blizzard. 
The one called was Mrs. J. \V. Palmer, 
of Graham Lakes township, one of ll;r 
county's most talented and highly re- 
spected women, and her tragic death 
was a terrible shock to the community. 
Mrs. Palmer, who was soon to become a 
mother, was alone with her small chil- 
dren in the family home when the bliz- 
zard struck. Her husband had been 
obliged to make a trip to Lake Sbetek. 
He had made arrangements to have one 
of the neighbor's boys come and stay 
with his wife during his absence, hut 
the boy did not put in an appearauce. 

Mr, Palmer was delayed and was ab- 
sent from home three days. WHien he re- 
turned he found the children in tlic 
house alone. Ho notified the neigh- 
bors, and a search was at once instituted. 
At daybreak the dead body of ]\Irs. Pai- 
mer was found, partly drifted ovci 
with snow, about one hundred rods from 
the house, By following 'the back track 
it was found that she had wandered 



venient. In the proceedings of Jan. 9, 1872. 
was an entry providing that the next meeting 
should be held at the home of J. H. Cunning- 
ham, 

--".\n act to legalize tiie organization of the 
county of Nobles and to legalize the official 
acts of the officers of said county. 

"Be it enacted by the legislature of the 
state of Minnesota. 

"Section I. That the proceedings for the or- 
ganization of the county of Nobles be and the 
same are hereby declared legalized, and the 
county of Nobles is hereby declared to be a 
legally organized county, and the official acts 
of the officers of said county since its or- 
ganization are hereby legalized. 

"Section II. This act shall take effect and 
be in force from and after its pasage. 

"Approved Feb. 17, 1874." 



56 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



about in the storm lor a long time and 
had covered considerable ground. Alone 
and in distress, she had leit home i". 
search ol help, and had miserably per- 
ished in the storm.-" 

In the spring of 1871 a second Sun- 
day school was organized in the Gra- 
ham lakes country, the one started the 
preceding year having been discontinued 
during the winter. The school was held 
in a sod shanty, which had been used by 
surveyors, and which was located on the 
north shore of the east lake. W. if. 
Brown was superintendent and tnught 
one of the classes. E. W'. lies^clrotii 
was the other teacher. 

Public schools were also established, 
for a time supported by subscription. 
The first was held in the open, in the 
shade of a huge elm tree which stood ou 
the island in Cirahani lake. The ])eople 
of the Indian lake country also estab- 
lished a school. A log structure was 
built by the settlers at tlie inlet at tlie 
north end of Indian lake; Miss .Marv 
Jemerson was the first teacher. 

The communities about Graham lakes 
and Indian lake asked for township oi'- 
ganizatious in the spring of 1871, and 
favorable action was taken by the county 
commissioners. These were the only 
townships in tlie county with any con.-^id- 
erable settlement at the time. Graham 
Lakes township has the honor of being 
the first to be granted local government. 
A petition had been circulated and \)vc- 
sented to the board, and on April 11 
that body declared the township for- 
mally organized by Die followinji- pro- 
ceeding: 

"An oulKi'owth of this death w.ts onn nf 
the most noted law suits ever originated in 
Nobli'H county, Mr. l^almer brouKht suit 
against AVarren Smith for slander, and after 
a prolonged trial Judgment to the amount of 
$1 was given the iilalnllff. 

"The lakes In the township furnished the 
name. Although 1 have made diligent search 



STATK OF MIXN'KSOIW. (i)unt.v of Nobles. 
Pursuant to the petition of the majority 
of tbe legal voters of township number 104, 
range 3'.1, in said county, we. ttie county 
commissioners of said county, did on the 
lltli day of April, A. D., 1871, at the house 
of W'ni.' If. Brown, in said enunty. proceed 
to fix and determine the boundaries of such 
new town and to name the same, and did 
then and there lay off said town and desig- 
nate the boundaries thereof as follows, to- 
wit: Commencing at the northeast corner of 
section one, township 104; thence west to 
the northwest corner of section si.x. town 
104; thence south to the southwest corner of 
section 31; thence east to the southeast cor- 
ner of section 3G; thenee north to place 
of beginning. 

The petitioners failing to designate the 
name of said town we, the commissioners, 
did name such town Graham I.«kes.=' In 
testimony wlicreof we have hereunto set our 
bands and caused the seal of said board to 
be alVixed this lltb day of April, A. D. 
1871. 

CUAS. DKl UV. 

B, W. WOOLST EN CROFT, 
Commissioners. 
Attesi : 

Wni. II. Brown, Clerk. 

The people were not slow in perfect- 
ing the township organization. A "town 
meeting" was held at the residence of H. 
(_'. llallett on Friday, April 2], when of- 
Jioers were elec-tcd, and touiishij) govern- 
ment began. The meeting was held in 
compliance with an order of the com- 
missioners. 

The people of the Indian lake country 
were only a few days behind their neigh- 
burs to the north. On March 14 the 
following petition was circulated: 

STAT'K OF MINXIOSOTA. County of Nobles. 
To the Board of County Commissioners of 
Said County: The undersigned legal voters 
of said town in township 101, range 30, in 
said county of Nobles, which said township 
contains twenty-tive legal voters, do hereby 
j.etition your lionorable board to be organ- 
ized as a town, and respectfully request that 
you forthwith proceed to fix and determine 
the boundaries of such town and to name 
the same as provided by law. 

for the origin of the name "Graham," I have 
discovered not the slightest clue. The lakes 
were known by the name they now bear when 
the settlers of IStiT arrived, and no one of 
them has been able to tell me for whom or 
what they were named. It is possiljle that 
they were named in honor of some trapper 
of the early days who operated in the vi- 
cinity. 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



57 



Dated this 14th day of March, A. D. 1871. 

[Signed | Isaac Horton, ,T. D. Brown, R. L. 
Erskine, L. \V. Brown, R. G. Brown. .James 
Christianson, Gunder 0. Joul, Frank H. Mosh- 
cr, Cha.s. B. Bullis, .John Haggard. H. M. 
Johnson, .John Haggard, Jr., Ole Ellingson, 
Albert L. Haggard. 

[Addenda] By reiiuest of above legal vot- 
ers we petition that said township 101, raiige 
39, be named Indian Lake. Also that said 
town 101, range 39, be organized with of- 
ficers elected. 

The commissioners acted favorably on 
the petition April 22, and the county's 
second township was organized and nam- 
ed Indian Lake."^ Soon thereafter the 
first town meeting was held and the or- 
ganization perfected. 

Following is a partial list of the set 
tiers of 1871, with the dates of arrival 
and place of settlement, when known :-'• 

GRAHAM LAKES. 

A. L. J. Cornish. 
John Hart.-' 
Henry Holmes. 
Michael Maguire. 
Anton Nelson. 
Joseph Stone. 
Peter Swartwoiit. 



^This township also took its name from 
its principal lake. The lake was so named 
by the first settlers because of the fact that 
when they arrived there in 1S69 there was 
quite a band of Indians camped there, who 
remained in the vicinity for several years. 

^Data for the preparation of this list has 
been obtained from many sources — from per- 
sonal interviews, from .a register of early 
settlers prepared by the Nobles County Old 
Settlers' association, from an historical atlas, 
and from the Nobles county poll list for the 
election of Nov. 7, 1871. It has been taken 
for granted that the names on the poll list 
were of men who were residents of the 
county. A few of these may l^ive been set- 
tlers of prior years. A few of those on the 
list came to the county in 1871, took claims, 
but did not become permanent settlers until 
the next year. 

='Took claim in 1S71. Became permanent 
settler in 1872. 

'"Mr. Church came to the county early in 
September and took as a homestead the south- 
west quarter of section 32. His home was in 
Missouri, but during the summer of 1871 he 
had been harvesting in the neighborhood of 
Rochester. Minn. Hearing of the railroad 
building through this part of the state, he 
decided to come and take land. It was his 
intention to take a claim at a point where it 
was believed the Sioux City & St, Paul and 



11. D. Bookstaver. 
S. W. Laythe, May 25. 
Warren Smith. 
Frank Zeiner. 
Englebrith Zeiner. 

HERSEY. 

Herman Berreau. 

Otto Berreau, June 2. 

John J. Fitch. 

Erastus Church.^* 

Jonathan Gordon, =" May 28. 

William Cunningham. 

Cha.«. Frisbie. 

LORAIN. 

Will. Dwyer,"" June. 
Robert Firth,=i Sept. 30. 

INDIAN LAKE. 

John B]ixt.^= 

Lars Johnson. 

John 0. Larson^^ 

E. Nordquist, May 23. 

Ole N. Langseth,''* June. 

Nels N. Langseth, June. 

Henry Solomonson,^^ December. 



the Southern Minnesota would cross. He 

walked from Winnebago City to Jackson, and 

then caught a ride to Graham lakes, Mr, 

Church was here eight days in 1871, In 

May of the following year he returned and 
has since made his home here. 



-•Brought his family with him. 
land in section 2, 



Filed on 



^°Mr, Dwyer and his eldest son had come 
from Albert Lea to Nobles county to work on 
the new railroad. In June he filed on the 
southeast quarter of section 10, and that has 
ever since been his home. His family joined 
him in the fall, 

^Homesteaded the northwest quarter of sec- 
tion fi. With him were his wife and four 
sons, R, .-\., William, Joseph and Arthur, They 
came from Whitewater, Wis, 

'-Accompanied by a wife and three sons, 

^Did not become a permanent settler until 
the next year, 

^^Came from Wisconsin with family consist- 
ing of the following children: Nels, Jens. 
Martin, Martina and Olof, 

^'' .Arrived just before Christmas with- wife 
and three children. Settled on ,southwest 
quarter of section 18, 



58 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



Charles Saxon.'" 

August Anderson,'' September. 

Petor Xy#t 10111. 

John Nystroni. 

Gust Nystrom.'' 

Albert Haggard. 

BIGELOW. 
.TaI^e^ WMlkcr.'" October. 
(_)tti) Burrotifilis/''-' October. 
Albert Pygall." 
Hosie Bryant." 
Ole Nystroni. 
Hans Nystroni. 
C. J. Wickstrom. 
Peter Wick.*troin. 
Erick :\[alill)org." 
Jonas Moberg,''- June 21. 
Peter Larson.^'' 
Lars Elofson," October 12. 
Lars Erickson.'"* 



\V(iiri'iiiN(;'i'(»N 

J. T. Wliillock. 



■I'OWNSHIP. 



W. A. Dillman." 
C. C. Whitney, June. 
E. F. Whitney, June. 

0. M. Wliitney," June. 
John Alley, August 12. 

Cyrus Clingensniith, August 13. 
B. E. Prince, August 12. 
L. B. Bennett, May. 
G. J. Hotfman.-' 
August Lang.^" 

Wdin'iTTXcrox yii,t,A( ;!•:.=" 

Prof. R. ¥. nuniiston.=i 

H. W. Kimball, September. 

S. C. Thayer, September. 

L. F. McLauriii. 

Levi Shell. 

Daniel Shell, December. 

Leslie. 

Henry Davis. 

E. C. Pannell,'"- September. 

1. N. Sater. 

Peter Tliompson,^'' September. 



""Did not become 
following year. 



permanent settler until 

"'Came to reside permanently in 1S72. 

'•The Kystroms had ju.st arrived from 
Sweden. They settled on the western edge 
of Indian Lake township. 

^'Both these gentlemen were accompanied by 
their families and came together, and both 
settled on sei'tion 20. Mr. Burroughs died the 
following summer. Mr. Walkc'r threw up his 
claim and took another one in Indian Lake. 

"Came together and took homesteads near 
the Indian Lake line. Mr. Pygall proved up 
on his homestead and later was a stage 
driver on the line from Worthlngton to Sioux 
Fall.s. Mr. Bryant had a contest and lost his 
claim. 

"A party consisting of Ole and Hans Ny- 
stroni. Charles J. and Peter Wickstrom. Krick 
Mahllierg and Elof Nord(|u!st In the spring of 
1S71 were engaged in working on the new 
railroad through southwestern Minnesota. 
They all left their work during the month of 
Ma.v. and. under the guidance of L. B. Ben- 
nett. Hied on homestead claims in Nobles 
county— all In BIgelow township except Mr. 
Nordciulst. who took his claim civer the line 
In Indian Lake. The Wlckstroms and Ny- 
Htroms took all of section 24; Mr. Mahlberg 
(lied on the southwest iiuarter of twelve. 
They took possession of their claims on 
Octobec 28. 



"Accompanied by his wife and two chil- 
dren. Jacob and Lewis. Took the northeast 
quarter of section 2G. 

"With wife and four children settled on the 
northeast quarter of 14. 

*^With his wife settled on the southwest 
quarter of 14. 

"Had been in the county since 1SG8. In the 
spring of 1S71 took a claim on section 34. 

*'The "Whitneys selected a quarter section 
each on section 30, and secured about as 
sightly locations as could be found in the 
county. 

*"Came very early in the year and was the 
first permanent resident in the township. First 
lived in a dug-out on the south bank of Oka- 
bena lake. Later he brought down a house 
from St, James, and started the now famous 
Ludlow grove, • 

"Mr, Lang took a claim on land that later 
came into the possession of Allen Chaney, 
He and Mrs, Lang lived in a dug-out about 
thirty rods from the house later erected by 
Mr, Chancy, He left the county In 1872. 

"Worthlngton was founded in tlu' fall, and 
nearlv all the residents of 1871 engaged in 
business or were there for the purpose of do- 
ing so In the spring following. 

'"Founder of Worthlngton, Was in the vil- 
lage only part of the time in 1S71, 

==H.Md visited the site early in the spring. 



"Took the northwest quarter of sec-lion 2(1. '-'Left soon after, but became a permanent 

Was later Joined by his family. resident the next sprmg. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



59 



Folsom. 

\Vm. B. Moore. 

E. E. Humiston, Nov. 3. 

A. P. Chamberlaic. 

C. C. Goodnow. 
J. C. Goodnow. 
Jerry Haines. 
Wm. F. Hibbard. 
Jerome Stewart. 

SEWARD. 
W. H. Booth, February. 
Pliilo Snyder. 

RANSOM. 
J. H. Scott, September 16. 

D. K. Gordon, September Hi. 
Joseph Hill,^'' September Ki. 

LITTLE ROCK. 

E. E. Fields. 
Kaute Thompson." 
Knute Thomas. 
Hans Paulson. 
Ole Gars. 

Hans Olson. 
Ole Peterson. 
Chris Peterson.^" 
J. D. Roberts. 
Henry Bostwiek. 
Anthony Thompson. 
Edward F. Erickson. 

OLNEY. 

S. 1). Tinnes,^' July. 

GRAND PRAIRIE. 
Miles Birkett. 

^^Messrs. Scott, Gordon and Hill came to- 
gether and took claims on section 24. Mr. 
Scott's family came about one month later. 
Hill left the county about 1S74; Gordon in 
1878; Mr. Scott is still a resident of the 
count.v. These three were the only settlers in 
the township in 1871. 

^Messrs. Fields and Thompson took their 
claims in July and were the first settlers of 
the township. 

=«A few days after the arrival of Messrs. 

Fields and Thompson, a party of six whose 

names are given above arrived in the town- 
ship and all took claims. 



James Walker. 
George Barnes.^' 
Oscar D. Bryan.^^ 
Oley A. Olson. 
Thomas Johnson. 
H. A. Swenson. 
John Butcher. 
C. C. Peterson. 

RESIDENCE UNKNOWN." 

Hans Halverson. 

Wm. Travis. 

Clias. H. Weise. 

John Meyer, June 2. 

T. G. Bigelow, September 19. 

Thos. Wills, May 12. 

C. L. Peterson, September 12. 
Jas. Hazard, November, 22. 

D. A. Reynolds, June. 
G. K. Middleton, June. 
S. P. Middleton, June. 
L. A. Lytle, June. 
Carl Nelson. 

A. W. Burnham. 
Wm. M. Bear. 

E. J. Bear. 
Henry Fullweiler. 
Al Fullweiler. 
Eli Fenstermaker. 
Knut Holden. 

N. V. McDowell. 
Phil Reynolds. 
P. G. Swanson. 
Jolin Upstrom. 
Asher A. Alien. 
L. Allen. 



^^Vas the first to take a claim in Olney 
township. He filed on land in section 34, but 
did not become a permanent resident until 
1872. 

^'The three settlers first named came to the 
township in the spring of 1871 and filed on 
claims on May 18. They were the first set- 
tlers of the township. 

'•"Took his claim on section IS in June and 
has resided there since. 

""Most of these settlers were in Graham 
Lakes and Indian Lake townships. 



60 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



Mark Amimdson. 
llartin Amundson. 
Rasmus Anderson. 
Caleb Blake. 
Orwen Blake. 
Alexander Clark. 
Nathaniel Co.x. 
Orange Chapman. 
Chas. 11. Cutler. 
Daniel Downy. 
Stephen A. Door. 
Selim Fox. 
TI. A. K. llesselroth. 
Hearth Bros. 
Johnson. 

E. F. Jackson. 
Bennett Ivinderman. 

J. Parshal and brother. 
Perkings. 
Joseph Stone. 
Irwin S. Swan. 

F. Umbrid. 
Isaac Waterhouse. 
Wm. Willcox. 
John Weston. 
Watting. 

J. Wcstiiighouse. 
Wolf brothers. 
Younkers. 



Frank Tucker. 

Elihue Ellis. 

Ole Johnson. 

Jas. Christianson. 

Louis Sundburg. 

.'\ndrew Sundburg. 

P. S. Swanson. 

Hanson Estrom. 

T/juis Hardo. 

Henry M. Johnson. 

The county officers had neglected to 
make a tax levy for (the year 1871, and 
as a result the annual financial state- 
ment for that year is an interesting 
(liicuiueiit. l'"i)llowiiig is the statement 
as recorded by the board of county com- 
missioners at the meeting of March 13, 
1872: 

(Iti motion (lie hnard proceeded to make 
tliciv annual statement, the following wliidi 
they certify to be full and correct for the 
year 1871:" 

Receipts during the year $ 0.00 

Expenditures ". 130.03 

DKBTS .\ND LIABn.iriES. 

Floating debt in county orders $130.03 

St.. Paul Pioneer Press Co., for books, 

stationery, etc 508.40 

Total indebtedness $038.43 

.\ssets $ 0.00 



CHAPTER III. 



UNDEPi COLONY EULE— 1872. 



A new epoch begins. 

We have seen Nobles county grow 
from an unpopulated and unknown coun- 
try in the early days of 1SG7 to a com- 
uuinity of some little importance in the 
closing days of 1871. Remarkable had 
been the changes wrought in less than 
five years. But how much more re- 
markable is the story of advancement 
we have to record for the year 1872. 
During that one year a revolution was 
accomplished. Where were found a pos- 
sible .300 or 400 men, women and chil- 
dren at the close of 1871, one year later 
were living nearly that many thousands. 
Nobles county had advanced from one of 
the least known and least settled coun- 
ties in southwestern Minnesota to a 
populous and the most talked of county 
in the state. Everybody was headed 
for Nobles county. In hundreds of 
liomes in New England, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and 
ether eastern and central states people 
were discussing the new county — its 
soil, its climate, its prospects — and plan- 
ning to cast their lot there. 

In- the office of the Toledo Blade, in 
Toledo, Ohio, was born the idea that 
brought about this abnormal interest in 



th<' heretofore unknown county of No- 
bles. It was during the year 1871. There 
were present when the matter was first 
discussed D. B. Locke (Petroleum V. 
Nasby), Prof. P. F. Humiston, of Cleve- 
land, Dr. A. P. Miller, editor of the 
Blade, and A. P. Miller, also connected 
with that publicaition.' The idea was 
to organize a company for the purpose 
of locating a colony of settlers in some 
western c-ountry. The name first pro- 
posed was Blade colony, but before an 
organization was perfected the name be- 
came National colony. 

^liller, Humiston & Company was 
the name of the company which con- 
ducted the colony enterprise. Prof. R. 
F. Humiston and Dr. A. P. Miller were 
the gentlemen who owned the maj(n-ity 
of the stock, and upon them devolved 
tiie management. These gentlemen had 
no place selected in which to plant their 
proposed colony, and they immediately 
set out to select one. They traveled 
over 20,000 miles,- examining the conn- 
try from Missouri to tlie Red River 
country, and from Iowa to Ftah. 

In a happy moment they wandered 
into Nobles county, and were so struck 
with the beauty of the location, the fer- 



'There were two men who took a prominent Miller, who was for many years publisher of 

part in the early history of Nobles county who the Worthington Advance, is referred to with- 

bore the name A. P. Miller, but who were not out any title, 
related. The one who asisted in establishing 

the colony is referred to as Dr. A. P. Miller -Worthington Advance, Sept. 28. 1874. 
in all places in this volume. The other A. P. 

61 



62 



IIISTOTtY OF XOBT,ES COT'XTY 



tility o£ the soil and the prospect for 
an immediate and convenient market for 
the products of the soil that negotia- 
tions were at once opened with the 
Sioux City & St. Paul 'Railroad com- 
pany, with a view to securing the rail- 
road land? in Xobles county for their 
colonization purposes. An agreement 
resulted, by the ■terms of which Messrs. 
Miller and liumiston secured, upon ad- 
vantageous terms, control of the rail- 
road lands^ (odd numbered sections) in 
twelve townships in Xobles county and 
three and one-half townships adjoining, 
in Osceola county, Iowa. The contract 
was closed in the fall of 1871. 

Almost immediately settlers began 
arriving, as has been stated in the pre- 
ceding chapter. Most of these secured 
claims on government land, and then re- 
turned to their homes for the winter. 
The colony company laid its plans on 
an elaborate scale. Almost as soon as 
the contract was signed the village of 
Worthington was founded, as a base 
from which to operate. During the 
winter the company carried on an adver- 
tising campaign, which for thorougli- 
ness has seldom been equalled in the his- 
tory of colonization projects. It was 
lilicral. hut judicious. By tliis means 
the company came into correspondence 
with thousands of persons who were in- 
terested in tlie scheme.'' A few came 
on at once and wintered in the new 
settlement; the many waited until spring. 
Then came the deluge. 

In the spring of 1872 hundreds flocked 
to Worthington and took up adjoining 
lands. The government lands within a 

*Whlch had been acquired from the govern- 
ment under the land grant, 

'In making the personal Interviews for the 
preparation of this work I Invariably asked 
each pioneer settler how It happened that he 
came to Nobles county. In nine cases out of 
ten the answer has been that It was because 



radius of eight or ten miles of the town 
were soon taken, and many had settled 
at other more remote points in the 
county, ^fuch of the railroad, or col- 
ony, land was also quickly disposed of 
and passed into the hands of people who 
had come to make tlieir homes here. 
Miller, Humiston & Co. expended be- 
tween $40,000 and $50,000 in locating 
the colonists and in setting on foot en- 
terprises designed to found a prosperous 
community. An idea of the settlement 
of the year is gained when it is known 
that between 10,000 and 20,000 acres of 
raw ]ira!rie land were broken out. Be- 
tween fwo luindred and seven hundred 
families arrived during the year, and 
many others purchased shares, took 
claims, and made preparations to come 
later''. 

The settlers were a homogenous class, 
being nearly, or quite, all American 
born, and with the current of their re- 
ligious failli tliiwing caliidy down be- 
tween the banks of an observably nar- 
row, but strikingly orthodox, stream. 
The evangelical denominations were all 
ie])resentcd. with Methodist, Presbyter- 
ian, Congregational and Baptist churches 
leading in point of numbers. The colony 
was organized upon a ti'in|)i'i'aiice basis. 
The authorities determined that no al- 
coholic or intoxicating beverages, nf 
wliatever kind or character, .ehould. un- 
der any circumstances, be sold within 
tlie limits of the purchase. This fea- 
ture was made a strong point in the ad- 
\i-rtising, ami aittracted a people who 
were strong in their religious and tem- 
perance beliefs. The standard of mor- 

of tlio National colony advertising. The ad- 
vertisements and "readers" had l)cen seen in 
tlie Toledo Blade or other papers patronized, 
or the settler had had his attention called to 
the project by some friend who had read 
the advertisements. 

'Minneapolis Tribune, Aug. 25. 1872. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



63 



nlity wns hi<;li (particularly so for a 
new coirimuiiity), and the courage and 
pluck of the first settlers is beyond ques- 
tion. 

The colony company operated in 
Nobles county until the spring of 1876, 
when it withdrew. The terrible grass- 
hopper scourge had practically bank- 
rupted its promoters. Litigation over- 
whelmed Prof. Humiston, and the earn- 
ings of a lifetime were swept 'away. 
When disaster overtook the company its 
liberal policy toward the settlers became 
a tiling of the past, and there was dis- 
satisfaction expressed in sonie quarters 
because of the policy of the National 
colony's managers. The conditions as 
they were during the active life of the 
company were summed up by tlie Win- 
dom Reporter of May, 1876, from which 
the following is taken : 

T.nriil jcalousv may have made some of 
us l(jok upon the colony enterprise with con- 
siderable prejudice, yet it is due to Prof. 
Humiston to say that he has accomplished 
a great deal for his town and county, and 
in a great measure his work and sacrifice 
are overlooked. Tie has spent probably not 
less than .$.'>0.flOO. the earnings of his life- 
time, and we infer has become seriously in- 
volve! in his attempts to develop Nobles 
county and build up a model commiuiitv. 
To aocomplish this end he has spared noth- 
ing. TTe h.as been fir=t in most of the en- 
terprises inaugurated in Worthington. giving 
of his resources freely, if not lavishly, to 
make successful the numerous enterprises 
that have from time to time called for as- 
sistance: the more public enterprises, the 
mill, the church. Miller hall, and kindred 
projects have in him met with the same 
generous and unselfish spirit. No doubt that 
to him the three magnificent institutions are 
indebted for life and success. He has in- 
duced hundreds of dollars of capital to in- 
vest at Worthington. and we guess that 
hardly a citizen but has derived more profit 
from his expenditures than he himself. His 
time and money have gone to build up the 
material prosperity of "Okabena." with a 
prospective view of profit in the future, to 
be derived from the sale of railroad lands. 



Others have thrived and prospered, while he 
has become somewhat involved in litigation 
as the result of his personal enterprise and 
indomitable determination to either sink or 
swim with his colony. The professor has 
made many investments, and large ones, 
thought by many at the time to be injudi- 
cious and impracticable, but what would have 
resulted if the grasshopper had not visit-ed us 
no one can tell: probably he would have met 
with better success, but having started, he 
was determined to go through with the un- 
dertaking if it took the last dollar. He has 
not worked without opposition, encountering 
it at home and in the neighboring towns, but 
he has worked for his life's idol against it 
all with an energy and perseverance that we 
ceriainly respect, and no doubt this is often 
overlooked by many who have cause to re- 
member his devotion to home prosperity. 
I'l'ofessor Humiston has done more to build 
up a barren and wild country than any one 
man in this part of the state. He has been 
the direct means of drawing to Nobles county 
a great amount of wealth, a refined and in- 
lelligent community. . . . Had it not 
lieen for the three years of grasshopper vis- 
itation the growth of this part of the state 
would have progressed, and prosperity would 
have abounded on every hand; then we 
could have seen whether Prof. Humiston's 
schemes were practicable, but since devasta- 
tion has been our lot it is surprising that 
.\lr. Humiston has come out as lucky as he 
has." 

Li giving the history of the National 
colony and its operations the clironologi- 
cal order of events has been interrupted. 
To return to the early day.s of 1S7"-?. 

The winter was cpiite severe. \ heavy 
fall of snow in the early part of the sea- 
.son blockaded the railroads and it was 
very difficult to obtain provisions for 
the settlers, many of whom were poorly 
]irovided therewith ; in fact there were 
times wlicn money would not buy pro- 
visions, and the man with money was in 
no better position than his less fortunate 
neighbor.' The exigencies of the times 
were increa,sed because of disasters to 
some of the settlers during the year 1871 
from prairie fires and hail. Governor 
Austin, early in February, 1872, sent a 



'For sketch of the life of Prof. Humiston 
see the biographical section. 

'"It was no uncommon thing." a gentleman 
of the early days has written, "to see chil- 



dren of all ages running barefoot during the 
coldest days of winter. A gentleman who lived 
in Graham lakes informed me that he had 
seen a boy skating on the ice barefoot, and he 
seemed to enjoy the sport." 



64 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



check for $100 to tlie count)' commis- 
sioners to' be divided among tlic needy.' 
There were several applications for por- 
tions of this state relief fund, and on 
March 13 it was apportioned as follows: 
Nelson Coyour, $2 .5.00; John 11. Ans- 
comb, $21.30; Irwin S. Swan, $17.50; 
II. D. Bookstaver, $1,5.00. The remain- 
der rif the money, $22.00, was given to 
]{. L. Erskine on April 30. 

Nobles county was called upon for tlie 
first time, in 1873, to furnish jurors for 
the district court of Jackson county, to 
whicli it was attached for judicial pur- 
poses. The following were selected by 
the board of county commissioners on 
January 10 : 

Grand Jurors — Orange H. Chapman, 
Isaac Horton, IT. D. Bookstaver, Frank 
Tucker, B. W. Woolstencroft, A. A. 
Abbott, A. A. Allen. Warren Fish. Peter 
Swan\'ont, II. W. 7\imbal], J. W. Miller. 
II. Borrean. 

Petit Jurors — John Weston, Henry 
Brayton. H. C. Hallett. Albert Hag- 
gard. Byron Brain, E. W. Branch , H. 
L. Wallace, Henry P. Davis, Anion 
Nelson. William Rhinehart. W. H. Booth, 
John Hart. 

Although the railroad had been com- 
pleted to Worthington in the fall of 
1871, and it had been the intention of 
the company to begin the operation of 
trains at once, it was the spring of 1R72 
before regular service was established. 



The heavy snows kept the road covered 
nearly all winter. Occasionally during 
the winter a construction train would 
get through, but not often. The first 
passenger train arrived in Worthington 
April 16, and thereafter there was regu- 
lar service. The road was opened to 
Sioux City in the fall. 

The coming of the railroad brought 
about a change in mail facilities. In 
Die spring of 1872 the old mail route 
from Jackson to Sioux Falls, via Gra- 
liam lakes, was discontinued, so far as 
that portion cast of Worthington was 
conccrncil. The mail was now brought 
by rail to Worthington, and an overland 
route from that village to Sioux Falls 
was established. Philo Hawes, that pio- 
neer mail contractor, was given the con- 
trncf. and "Stormy Jack" Grier was 
employed to carry the mail. Along this 
route came into existence a number of 
country postofTiccs and stage station?. 
In Nobles cDimty were three such. Tlio 
first out of Worthington was Dewald 
postoffice, located on section 20, De- 
wald township, less than a mile from 
the present village of Bushmore. .T. B. 
Churchill was the postmaster." H('bl)ard 
])ostofrico was on section 30, Olney towu- 
sliip. one mile east of the present vil- 
lage of Adrian. It was known as the 
C'hilds' place. The third postoffice was 
linmcd Westside. and was on section 18, 
of what is now Westside township."* 
Renselear Simmons was postmaster. 



""Treasurer Board of Commissioners. Noble 
County. 

"Sir: Please find check for JlOO, a dona- 
tion from the relief fund to sufferers hy (Ire 
or hail in the county of Nolile. T rerommend 
the investment of this sum and .'in equal 
amount donated hy the rouiilv in such sup- 
plies as will afford to destitute seHiers the 
most relief. And that the county hoard dis- 
tribute the supplies at ojice. Trusting that 
every effort will be made to do Bood. aiid 
prevent abuses, I place the matter in their 
iiands. Please acknowledge receipt on behalf 
of the county. 

"HORACE At-STIN. 
"Per Wallace." 



"Mr. Churchill located there in March, 1872. 
Early in 187.1 he established a small store and 
stoppinic: place, which was known as the 10- 
Mile house. 

"'Mr. Hawes retired Jan. 1. lS7i. when Dan- 
iel Shell secured the contract, and for five 
years thereafter he conducted the mail, ex- 
press ami passenger business over the line. 
l">urine: Ihe first two years he had only two 
ripTS, and made the trip tliree times a week. 
Tiiereafter trips were made daily, the 68 
miles being: made on a ten hour schedule. By 
the time the contract expired Mr. Shell had 
fifty horses on the route, and the rigs were 
drawn by four horse teams. He had barns 




EXECUTIVE DERVRTMEM 











LLTTLR FROM GOVLRNOR AUSTIN 

Enclosing Check for SI 00 (or the Relief of Sufferers 

from Fire and Flail During 1871 in the 

County of "Noble". 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



t55 



Because there was an eiiornious im- 
migration to the county in 1872 and the 
wliole order of things was changed, it 
must not be imagined that the country 
was changed in a day. Most of the set- 
tlors arrived too late to get a crop in 
the ground, and very little was raised the 
first season. Except for the fact that 
the prairies became dotted with the 
homes of settlers, it was largely the same 
virgin country it had always been. 

The game lover found himself in a 
paradise. Birds abounded. There were 
ducks, wild geese, brant, curlew, peli- 
can and prairie chickens. The local 
poet wrote: "Fleets on ileets of ducks 



float 'round the lake.' 



Occasionally 



glimpses were caught of some of the big 
game that formerly roamed the prairies 
in vast numbers. The summer was fine. 
The days and nights were frequently 
glorified by tliunder sitorms of terrific 
and inefi'able grandeur. At night the 
colonists often sat till midnight watch- 
ing the frolic of sheet-liglitning playing 
over miles of cloud banks, vividly sug- 
gesting the possible glories of another 
world. Vegetation grew rank. The far- 
mer rode along the creek bottoms or on 
the edges of the lakes and sloughs 
through seas of wild bluejoint grass up 
to the horses' backs. 

Tt was the experience of a lifetime, 
this breaking up the virgin lands and 
building a community from the ground 
up, and many have been the probable 
and improbable stories told of those days. 
T^etters went back to the old homos in 
the east telling of how the colonists 



at Child'.s place, at Luverne. and at Valley 
Springs. S. D.. where chnnses were made. 
James McRobert, now of Ellsworth. and 
I eonard McClintock, now an engineer on the 
Omaha road, were drivei-s on this route dur- 
ing all the time Mr. Shell was the contractor. 
After trains were put in operation between 
Worthington and Luverne. the contract for 
carrying the mail between those two places 



planted corn with an ax and caught fish 
with a pitchfork, and how the pianos 
were set up in the shanty and the li- 
brary stacked up under the bed. 

Of the conditions and prospects, as 
viewed by those who were casting their 
lot in the new country, the following ex- 
tract from an article appearing in the 
Western Advance of Aug. 31, 1872, will 
give an idea : 

But. railroad center or not, we 
are in the midst of one of the finest agri- 
oiiltural regions on the globe. The vast 
prairie rolls out on every side, covered with 
luxuriant grass, and we have only to put in 
the plow and reap the crop, fo tickle it with 
the hoe. and it will laugh with the harvest. 
Xo clearing, ditching, grubbing or stone 
gathering to be done here, but simple, beau- 
tiful farming, where the improved agricul- 
tural implements can be used, and the farm- 
er can sit aloft in the shade and direct his 
team to a competence or a fortune. Of 
course hard work can and needs be done 
here as elsewhere, but the farmer can ac- 
r|uire an independence here with one-fottrth 
the labor and one-fourth the time required 
jn dvstrict?^ where (Hearing is to be done. 
.Tlie government lands have been nearly all 
taken, but there will be for the first year or 
two claims to be had at moderate figures. 
In some instances they have sold high, ac- 
cording to the value of the location or the 
judgment of the purchaser. In some cases 
thev are held as high for cash as the raJl- 
road lands are held on five years time. The 
railroad lands arounil the town are grad- 
ually selling off, and by next year a large 
amount will undoulitedly be sold to men of 
means. 

The advertisements of the colony company 
throughout the eastern states are daily at- 
tracting the attention of substantial men 
who are writing for information or visiting 
the colony in person. To show the estimate 
that is put upon the value of certain lands 
about Worthington, we may state that one 
gentleman has refused one hundred dollars 
an acre for land fronting on the shore 
of lake Okabena. and lands have been sold, 
n mile west from town, and fronting on the 
lake, for thirty dollars an acre. Another 
tract of ten acres has been applierl for, and 



was sublet to the railroad company. There 
was a big rush to Rock county and the Sioux 
Falls country after the railroad building was 
begtm. and during the time Mr. Shell operated 
his coaches only from the end of the rail- 
road at Luverne to Sioux Falls, he did an 
immense business. His passenger list some- 
times ran as high as 75 or 100 per day. 



66 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



tlie owner asks fifty dollars an ncro and will 
not take a cent less. Bnt abundance of 
good farming land can be had within from 
one and a half to three miles of town at 
from eight dollars to ten dollars an acre. 
In some instances government land may ho 
had for less. 

The bulk of tlie settlement of 1872 
was in the eastern and sonthern part of 
the county, in tliat portion most acces- 
sible to the railroad. In nine of the 
townships tlie population had readied a 
point wliore the residents desired town- 
ship organization. Each of the town- 
ships of Worthington, Bigelow. Horsey, 
Grant (Ransom), Fairview (Lorain). 
Dewald. Little Rock, Elk and Seward, 
in the order named, asked for the priv- 
ilege of organizing, and in each case 
the request was granted by the county 
commissioners. All held meptings. elect- 
ed officers, and entered upon township 
government. 

The greatest settlament in the county 
■was in and around the village of Worth- 
ington. and the people of that commu- 
nity were the first to circulate a peti- 
tion asking for the organization of their 
tx>wnship. The petition was filed March 
30, 1879, and was signed by the follow- 
ing residents: William B. Moore. E. R. 
Humiston. .T. B. Haines. .Tr.. J. C. Hood- 
now. T. A. Jones, W. B. .\kins. J. M. 
Brown, J. N. T^emon, R. J. Cunding. B. 
P. Wickerstam, L. P. McTjaurin. .T. "NT. 
Fron. C. r. Hewitt. A. L. Perkins. W. 
S. Stockdalo. E. D. Southy, V. J. Sdiiih. 
H. W. Kimball. H. P. Davis. .1. W, 
Stonaker, W. H. Willmarth. W. IJ. Lau- 
rence, Levi Shell, Daniel Shell, Samuel 
Ixislie, R. D. Barber, Erastus Chureli, V. 
C. Goodnow, H. G. Foster, C. H. Stew- 
art. 



On .\pril 30 the commissioners grant- 
ed the petition and named the new town- 
ship Worthington. al'tL-r the village .of the 
same name." On the 20th day of May 
following the first town meeting was 
held, and from that liine dates the offi- 
cial existence of the township of Worth- 
ington. 

The roqueat for the organization of 
tlie township lying south of Worthington 
came on April 29, the petition being 
signed by James ilaloncy, Xels N. Lang- 
seth, Hans Nystrom, Charles John 
Wickstrom, Lars Elofson, P. A. Wick- 
strom. C. A. Tillander, Peter Larson, 
Ole Nystrom, Peter Nystrom, Erick Mahl" 
berg, Lars Erickson, P. G. Swanson and 
L. P. Hardow. Tliey asked thait it be 
called Oclicoda township, but the fol- 
lowing day. when the commissioners 
granted the petition, they named the 
township Bigelow. after the railroad 
station of that name in the township. '- 
The first town meeting was held May 
20. the same day that Worthington town- 
slii]) was organized. 

Hersey'^ was the next to begin lowii- 
sbip government. I^he pntition was 
filed ^lay 14. the board created the 
liiwnslii]) ^lay .30. and the first town 
mooting was held June 11. The signers 
to the petition were Geo. W. Pyne. Will- 
iam Grono. A. A. Parsons. D. Haffey. 
\V. R. Bennett. Joliii :\ranley. Ghas. 
Fri-bie. A. O. Gonde, A. J. Timlin. 
Matlliew Smith, Chas. Smith. Jos. S. 
Tlmrston. Wm. H. Berger, P. Haffey, 
Neil Mclhreavie and Matthew Smyth. 

The townships of Grant, Fairview, 
Dewald and Little Rock were all cre- 
ated bv the county commissioners on 



"For the history of the adoption of the H. Bigelow. of St. V'nul. 
name Worthington for the village sec chap- 
ter 12. "The township tnolc its name from the sta- 
tion of Horsey (now Brewster ». wliieh had 

"The station had been named in honor of C. been named in honor of General S. F. Hersey. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



67 



September 3, and the dates for the first 
town meetings, as set by the commission- 
ers, were September 30. The people of 
Grant were the first to present the peti- 
tion. It was filed Jime 14 and was 
signed by the following settlers: John 
H. Scott, Joseph Hill, T. J. Belknap, R. 
H. Belknap. H. Nelson. Richard Pri- 
dcaux, Benjamin Midboe. A. C. Giiern- 
sev, Leroy Cole, B. F. Condgon, D. K. 
Gordon. Geo. M. Smith, S. I. W. Alen, 
M. S. Belknap. The first settlers of the 
township were mostly veterans of the 
civil war, and at their request the name 
Grant was given the township in honor 
of the great commander. For nearly a 
year that was the name. Then it was 
found that there was another township 
in the state with that name, and on 
Jnly 10, 187.3, the commissioners re- 

"Mr. Robert Shorp furnishes a number of 
items concerning the early days in Ransom 
township: 

"The first settlers in the town of Ransom 
were John H. Scott. D. K. Gordon and Joe 
Hill, who came tog;ether from Tama coimty, 
Iowa, in September. 1S71, and took adjoining 
claims on section 24. At that time there was 
not a settler within miles of them. Mr. Scott 
and Mr. Gordon, with their wives, spent the 
winter of 1871-72 in the same house; and dur- 
ing that dreary winter, in that lone shanty on 
the prairie, far from neighbors and friends, 
was born to Mr, and Mrs. Gordon their first 
borp, fi boy (Edward), — the first birth in 
what is now Ransom township. As this was 
before the town was organized, there is no 
mention of it in the town records. The first 
liirth on record is that of Mary Scott, daugh- 
ter of John H, and Sarah A, Scott, born Sep- 
tember 27, 1S72. 

"The first town meeting was held at the 
house of M. S. Belknap on section 14, Satur- 
day. September 21, 1872. Dr. Geo. O. Moore, 
justice of the peace, of Worthington, was pres- 
ent and sv/ore in as judges of election F. W. 
Burdette. M. S. Belknap and H. R. Gray, and 
l.eioy Cole ;'.s clerk, .A.t the election which 
followed sevent?'.>n vot ^s wfre cast b.v the fol- 
lowing named persons: A. C. Guernsey, X). K. 
Gordon. M. S. Belknap. John H, Scott, L, S. 
Roberts. F. W. Burdette. Anthony Mutter. Le- 
rov Cole. R. Prideaux. Cole Guernsey. J, R. 
Dewey. James H. Hill. Geo, M, Smith, H, R. 
Gray, Hiram Norton. B. F. Congdon, S. I. W. 
Alen, 

"When the votes were counted it was found 
tliat the following persons had been chosen 
as first town officers of the town of Ransom: 
H. R. Gray, chairman of the board of sup- 
irvisors; M. S. Belknap and A. C. Guernsey, 
^^^upervisors: Leroy Cole, clerk; D. K. Gordon, 
treasurer; John H. Scott, assessor; F. F. Bur- 
dette and B. F. Congdon. constables; F, W, 
Burdette and Geo. M. Smith, justices of the 
pence. Of the men who were elected town of- 
ficers at the first election, but one remains 
with us in Nobles county today, John H. Scott. 



named' the township Ransom, in honor of 
Prof. Ransom F. Humiston, one of the 
founders of the National colony. This 
was done by the commissioners without 
consulting the wishes of the people of 
the town.ship.^* 

The petition for the organization of 
Fairview township was circulated July 5, 
and was signed by Richard D. Bagley, 
Albert Haggard, Lafayette Strever, A. 
A. Burton, Wm. F. Hamilton, Alfred 
Small, William Madison, James Hazard, 
Jeremiah T^ynch, William Dedgon, P. 
Ulveling, Stephen Horake, Joseph Hor- 
ake, H. McCollum. The topogi-aphical 
features furnished the name Fairview, 
which it bore until June 1-^, 1874. Then 
the name was changed to Lorain, after 
the town of Loraine, Adams county. 111., 
the superfluous "e" being dropped." 

who may also be said to be the first settler 
in the township. Of the seventeen who voted 
pt th<» first town meeting four onlv are in 
Nobles county today: John H. Scott. Cole 
Guernsey. R, Prideaux and J, R. Dewey. What 
memories are called up by the mention of 
some of these names! Of the seventeen who 
voted at the first election in Ransom, four re- 
main; where are the rest? Some have gone to 
their long home, and the rest are scattered to 
the four winds. Many left us on account of 
the struggle and poverty of those early days. 
In those times of grasshoppers, of blight and 
of blizzards, no wonder that men's hearts 
failed them. 

"I have endeavored to make a list of those 
who were neighbors in Ransom during the 
very early days. The list I have no doubt is 
far from perfect, but it is the best I could 
make at present: Settlers of 1871 — John H. 
Scott. D, K. Gordon. Joe Hill, Settlers of 1872 
— Leroy Cole. A. C, Guei-nsey, Cole Guernsey. 
M, S. Belknap. R. H. Belknap. H. R. Gray. 
F. Vf. Burdette, F, F. Burdette. R, Prideaux, 
C, W, W, Dow. S. I. W, Alen, I. S. Roberts. 
Hiram Norton. Anthony Mutter. ,T. R. Dewey. 
Geo, M, Smith, B, F, Congdon, Robert Shore, 
Thomas Jay, Geo. Jay. Frank Lane. John 
Tane. D. Davis, Jerry Twomey. D. C. Holmes. 
Dan Twitehell. David Twitchell, W^aters. C. 
Chamberlain, H, Toms. Hoff. G. Rhone, Farn- 
ham, Lewis Larson, Hans Nelson, Gould, Bow- 
ers. Settlers of 1873— Geo. W. Dow, Geo. W. 
Miner, Settlers of 1S74 — I. N. Wilson, Wm. 
Clark. Other years— E. W. Goff. James Goft, 
P. McCann." 

^^"A communication from the state auditor 
was presented, stating that older towns in 
the state bore the names of New Haven. Wil- 
son and Fairview, and requesting that the 
names of said towns be changed in conformity 
to law. The foUowing names, by request of 
residents of towns, were changed by the com- 
missioners: New Haven to Olney; Wilson to 
.-\kin [later Summit Lake]; and Fairview to 
I^rain." — Commissioners' Journal, June 15, 
1874. 



68 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



The Dewald township petition was 
filed July 15 with the following signers: 
Amos Dewald, Jos. S. Randall, Edmund 
Bedford Nathaniel Childs, Benjamin T. 
Ross, C. D. Snow, A. B. McChord, Jonas 
Bedford. R. W. Miller, N. O. Miller. 
Robert J. Daugherty, f. T. Shattuc. 
Thos. Wilson, Samuel F. Tepple. G. 
Grover Stoddard, P. A. Stoddard. J. B. 
Churchill, Iliram Dewald. Solon TTangh- 
ton, Wm. R. Lawrence. The name was 
given in honor of Amos and llirani De- 
wald. pioneer settlers.'" 

Tlie petition for the formation of 
Little Rock township was presented .\ii- 
gust 24 and was signed hy the following 
settlers: Ole C. Peterson, C. C. Peter- 
son. Knutc T. Thompson, Hans Paulson, 
P. Harrison, Hans Solherg, Hans Jen- 
sen, Edward E. Field, Christian Solherg, 
Hans N. Dahl, Gunder D. Tinnes. Will- 
am R. Queine, Gullick. T\nute Thomp- 
son, J. D. Roberts, Henry Paragher, W. 
H. Bostic. E. S. Wickerro. D. ^f. Sweet. 
W. R. Faragher. Wm. Cnlvin. Win. W. 
Jenkins. T. .\. Bunker. Sylvester Jen- 
kins, and (]. Gulliekson. The creek 
whieli flows through the township and 
its physical features furnished the name. 

Elk township was created September 
Ifi. the same day the petition was filed, 
and a short time afterward the govern- 
ment was begun. Those who asked for 
its formation were W. B. .\kins. T. L. 
Taylm-. R. B. Plotts. John P. Warner. 
Henry Baldwin. Chas. Wilkinson. Tsaae 
Allerton. M. L. Miller. T. D. Fowble. 
Gamaliel Scutt. Allen McLean. R. E. 
Covey and S. P. Bon. The noble ani- 
mal which once roamed the prairies of 
the future Elk township prompted the 
name. The creek which flows flirougli 

"The Dpwalds .ird John rhiirchlll ci'ti» tr 
the townshin toprother In April. 1R72, nnrt wore 
the first permnnent settlers. Thev wei-e fnl- 
lowed nlmo.st Immedintelv hv Messi's. Robert 
Daugherty, S. F. Peppio, Aaron Lambert. 



the township liad been named Elk by 
the early day trappers, and it was partly 
because of the name the creek bore and 
partly because of another event that 
caused the first settlers there to ask that 
the new town be called Elk. On the 
morning of September fi, 1872, a lone 
elk came across the prairie and close to 
the house of T. L. Taylor, sniffed at 
the unexpected sight, and bounded away. 
Ten days later when the petitinn was 
presented to llie board of couiitv com- 
mi.ssioners Mr. Taylor suggested the 
name Elk for the new township, and 
ii]i(ni a vote it was adopted. Several 
other names, including ^fcLean. were 
proposed. 

Seward was ilie last township or- 
ganized in 1872. The petition was filed 
September 28, and had the following 
signers: Wm. W. Cosper. M. Hill. 
TTiram Jankee. Jonas Parshall. Win. 
Sowles, Geo. Parshall, Philo Snyder, 
James Parshall. Julius Westinghouse. 
.Tnlin P. Tail. J. E. Walling. John Wes- 
ton. R. B. Tiinderman, C. Charles John- 
son. Horace Will. William H. Booth. II. 
N. Booth, Edward B. Cook and Phineas 
Gagcr. The commissioners acted fav- 
orablv in the matter, and the first town 
meeting was set for October -TO. The 
township was named in honor nf Wil- 
liam H. Seward, the noted statesman and 
spcrctarv of state under President Lin- 
coln during the civil war. 

The first Nobles county assessment 
was made in 1872. the officials having 
neglected to make a levy the year be- 
fore. .\ tax of fifteen mills was le^^ed 
for the use of the countv. of which ten 
mills was "for the general use of the 
countv." and five mills "for the payment 

Solon Pnu.ehton. Shevlie. Joe Mason. Joe 

Foots, W. R. n, MeChord, A. B, IVIcrhnrd. 

RIehard Berggraf, Tom Childs, S:im Child? 
and Chas. A. Sundberg. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



69 



of the floating debt and interest of the of over $1.50,000, of which $6-3.815.1.3 
count}-.'"' The assessment as equalized was real estate, 
b}' tlie county board showed a valuation 

The real estate assessment was as follows: 



TOWNSHIPS 


No. Acres 

except 

Town Lots 


Average 

Value 

per Acre 


Aggregate Value 
Real Propertyt 


Value City 
Lots and 
Buildings 


Total Value 
of Real 
Estate 


Land 


Buildingst 


Graham Lakes 

Indian Lake 

Worthington 

Bigelow 

Hersey . 

1st Assessment Dist* 
2nd Assessment Dist 


1379+ 
629+ 

1772 
166+ 
318+ 

160 


$5.94+ 
4.38+ 
7.88+ 
4.00 
5.50+ 

6.00 


$ 8,197.00 

2,7ii3.20 

13,979.29 

665.24 

1,750.40 

960.00 


$300 


$35,200 00 


$ 8,197.00 

2,7r,3.20 

49,17n 29 

6K5.24 

2,050.40 

960.00 


Totals 


4425+ 


$6.39+ 


$28,315.13 


$300 


$35,200.00 


$63,815.13 



* At the time the assessment wa.s made only five townships had ijeen organized. The rest of the county 
vvasdi.vided into two assessment districts. 
+ Exclusive of town lots. 
J Of a value greater than $100. 

Tlie personal property valuations were Tlie other items of personal jiropcity 
divided among the several townships as asse.ssed, and their value, were as fol- 



f ollows : 



TOWNSHIPS 



Graham Lakes 

Indian Lake 

Worthington .. 

Bigelow 

Hersey 

1st Assessment Dist. 
2nd Assessment Dist. 



Totals. 



Total Amonnt Taxable 
Valuation Exempted Property 



$14,218 
10,123 
29,166 
6,659 
10, .384 
753 
19,357 



t90,660 



$10,180 

6,478 

23,742 

3,914 

6,144 

453 

11,249 



$4,038 
3,645 
5,424 
2,745 
4,240 
.'00 
8,108 



$62,160 |$28,500 



The number and value of livestock 
by townships is shown in the following- 
table : 



lows : 

Sixtppn carriages $5!).) 

Sixt \ -nine watches ". . . . 057 

Three pianos 466 

.\ll personal property not inchuleil in 

foregoing 17. ('90 

Appertaining to merchandise 13,010 

Appertaining to manufacturing 711 

.Moneys, book accounts, credits, etc.. 2..i00 
Moneys invested in bonds and joint 

stock companies .300 

Gold and silver coin and bank notes in 

possession or on deposit 4,4!I4 

Value of improvements on and interest 
of tlie claimant in lands entei-ed un- 
der homestead act 1()..'!2,S 



TOWNSHIPS 


HORSES 


CATTLE 


MULES 


SHEEP 


HOGS 


No. 


Value 


No. 


Value 


No. 


Value 


No. 


Value 


No. 


Value 


Graham Lakes 

Indian Lake. 


.39 

39 
42 
12 
21 

2 
79 


$2,940 
2,403 
2,785 

733 
1,380 

200 
3,685 


173 

147 
63 
81 
91 
12 

245 


$3,574 
2,662 
1,413 
1,337 
2,334 
236 
5,530 


4 
4 

2 

10 


$400 
310 

100 
210 


2 
1 

27 


$ 4 
3 

37 


28 

17 

9 

1 

1 
15 


$82 

71 

24 

19 

2 

39 


Worthington 


Bigelow 

Hersey 

1st Assessment District.. 
2nd Assessment District. 


Totals 


234 


$14,126 


812 


117,086 


20 


$1,020 30 


*44 


77 


$237 



"Commissioners' Journal, Sept. 16, 1872. 



70 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COTTNTY. 



Under the provisions of a state law, 
townships were given tlie privilege of de- 
ciding whether or not license for the sale 
of intoxicating liquors should be granted, 
and at the general election on Nov. 5, 
1872, several of the Nobles county town- 
ships voted on the question. The class 
of people who came as members of the 
colony were such that it is not surpris- 
ing that nearly all the voters registered 
against the licensing of saloons, and that 
all townshps voting decided the question 
in the negative. Following is the vote: 
Dewald, Iv to 0; Little Hock, lo to I; 
Bigelow, 23 to 1; Ilersey, 8 (u i); In- 
dian Lake, 10 to 2. 

Another question decided at that elec- 
tion related to a proposed change in the 
county's boundaries. Tlie legislature on 
February 29 passed two bills — one pro- 
viding that range 38 (four townships on 
tlie western edge) sliould be taken from 
Jackson county and attached to Nobles; 
the other tliat range 43 (the present 
townsliij)s of Leota, Lismore, Westside 
and Grand Praii'ie) should be taken 
from Nobles and added to Eock county. 
Neither act was to be put in force until 
both counties interested in each cast 
should, by a majority vote, ratify the 
acts. 



The proposition was almost a larto. 
Jn order to add the Jackson county 
townships to Nobles cinuity both {\\i- 
counties must vote in the alfirmative. 
Nobles county naturally favored the bill, 
but just as naturally Jackson county 
voted not to give, away any of its ter- 
ritory. In order to give to Rock county 
the western tier of Nobles county town- 
sliips, both these counties must so vote. 
Of course Rock county voted almost 
luianimosly to make the change, but in 
Nobles only eleven electors were found 
who favored the surrender of territory. 
The vote of Nobles county by precincts 
on these propositions: 



TOWNSHIPS 


.Ex 

H in 

O M 


bo-- 
•1 tn 

C3 C 
bOzS 


he 


Against Giving 
Range 4'i 


Dewald 

Little Rock 

Grant* 

Seward 

Graham Lakes . 

Fairview 

Bigelow 

Hersey 

Elk 


17 
5 

i;i 

29 

'9' 

10 
13 

25' 


14 

.... 

19 

16 

(i 

24 
29 


1 

;> 

•> 
1 

"4 


;6 
20 

13 

2.T 

20 
25 
23 
12 
29 
(i8 


Indian Lake . . 
Worthington . . . 


Totals 


121 


109 


11 


251 



* Vote not recorded. 



CHAPTER IV. 



CALA.MITUUS DAYS— 1873, 



Xow come the dark days of Nobles 
county history — the grasshopper days. 
For a period extending from 1873 to 
18711 the people of Nobles county, in 
cdinnion with those of all southwestern 
J\IJnnesota, suffered as few pioneer set- 
tlers in any country ever suffered. Ad- 
versity followed adversity. The frowns 
of fortune overwhelmed those who had 
come with so much hope in 1872 and 
cast them into the slough of despond. 
The picture cannot be painted too dark. 

The colonists had come to Nobles 
county because they were poor people 
and believed that the new country of- 
fered opportunities for securing a com- 
petence. Some liad started with a rail- 
road ticket as their only asset, and even 
before the grassliopper days a few were 
in sorry plight.' All set to work witli 
a will to break out the raw prairie land, 
and great were the expectations for the 
first crop — a crop destined never to be 
harvested. 

The winter of 1872-73 was the most 
severe one in the county's known his- 

'Prof. R. F. Humiston in a letter to the press 
in July, 1875. described his part in relieving 
the situation. Seldom did he speak of his 
rharitable deeds, and this exception was called 
forth by rumors questioning his sincerity in 
certain m.atters. He wrote: 

"From the advent of the colony in 1872. I 
found that a number of persons had come 
with barely sufficient means to brin.g them 
here. To many of those I furnished employ- 
ment, paying out therefor sums to the amount 
of several thousand dollars, and to others I 
loaned money without interest and with very 
remote prospects of payment, amounting in 



tory, before or since, and the settlers re- 
ceived their first experience of hardships 
to be borne in the new country. Winter 
began November 13. The day had been 
tine, but toward night those who knew 
tlie IS'orthwest saw indications of a bliz- 
zard. At dark a gale from the north- 
west struck the houses with a whack as 
distinct as if it had been a board in 
the hands of old Boreas. One of the 
famous northern blizzards w'as on, and 
it continued until the afternoon of the 
third day. Thenceforth it was winter. 
Snow covered the prairies and blockaded 
tlie railroad most of the time until late 
in the spring. 

On January 7, 1873, came the most 
violent storm known in the Nortliwest 
for fifty years, as the records kept at 
Fort Snelling showed. It extended over 
the whole Northwest, and all telegraph 
wires west of Chicago refused to work. 
For three days the blizzard raged. The 
temperature was about eighteen degrees 
below zero during the whole period of 
the storm, and on tlie prairie the air 

the aggregate to many hundreds of dollars. 
During the first winter [1872-73] and before 
any relief committee was organized, anticipat- 
ing the danger of a snow blockade of the rail- 
road, and knowing that many of our people 
were unprovided with fuel for the winter. I 
ordered several hundred tons of coal. This 
coal was distributed over a radius of twenty 
miles from Worthington. a large proportion 
being donated and a gi-eater portion of the re- 
mainder is still unpaid for. Those who spent 
the first winter here are familiar with these 
facts." 



71 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COFXTY. 



was tilled with snow as line as Hour. 
'I'lu'ougli every crevice, keyhole and nail- 
hole the tine snow penetrated, puifing in- 
the house like steam. Seventy human 
lives were lost in Minnesota, and iour 
of these were lost in Nobles county. 
Innumerable were the narrow escapes 
from dealli iu the storm, and many resi- 
dents of the county had experiences that 
will never be forgotten. 

The morning of the lirr^i day of the 
storm was beautiful and brigiit. The 
sky was clear, and lliere was no wind. 
It seemed as tliough a "January thaw" 
was imminent, and the settlers set out 
for town on business or wl-uI to neigh- 
boring fannhouses with their teams. 
While the general indications were for 
fair weather, an aneroid barometer, own- 
ed by Professor Humiston, foretold a 
storm. The instrument had been falling 
for twenty-four hours, and it had never 
been known to fall so low before. 

Toward noon a change was apparent. 
The sky lost its crystal clearness and 
became a trifle misty. Between twelve 
and one o'clock a white wall was seen 
bearing down from the northwest. The 
front uf the storm was distinct ami 
almost as clearly outlined as a great 
sheet. In a few minutes a gale, moving 
at the rate of thirty or forty miles an 
hour, was sweeping the country. When 
the storm struck Worthington the farm- 
ers began to scatter for their homes. A 
number, however, did not take the 
chance of death, and remained in the 
village during the three days of the bliz- 
zard. Some residents of the village, 
who were not in their lioines when the 
storm struck, remained until it abated, 
not daring to venture upon the streets, 
although only a few blocks from home. 

One of those who perished was Sam- 
uel Small, of Indian Lake township, a 



man about forty years of age. Just af- 
ter the storm struck he started out from 
Worthington with his ox team and sled 
for his home, four miles southeast of 
town, lie drove within a few rods of 
his own door, but in the blinding snow 
failed to discover his house. He wan- 
dered over the prairie until he came to 
some hay stacks, ai-iuuid wliiuli a rail 
fence had been built. He evidently al- 
lemptod to climb the fence and seek the 
shelter of the stacks, but he was too neai' 
gone to accomplish it. lie was found 
the day after the storm, standing with 
one hand on the fence, covered with ice 
and as stilf as an icicle. 

There was another fatality in the 
same neighboriiood. Mrs. John Blixt, 
\s\\i> lived uith hfr husiiand and cliild- 
ren on section 2, Indum Lake township, 
met a very sad death. Mr. Blixt lunl 
gone fishing, and when the blizzard 
struck, his wife, fearful that he would 
lose his way, started out to meet him. 
She became blinded by the snow, wan^ 
ilert'd nir on the |)i'airie and pci'ished. 
Mi-. Blixt returned in safety. 

The third fatal ca.=e was that of John 
Weston, a fai-ni<'r who residoil in Seward 
township. On that fateful morning he 
hitched his oxen to a sled and set out 
for Graham lakes to get a load of wood. 
While returning to his home the storm 
caught him. He drove across his own 
I'arm, but in the blinding gale missed 
the house. Weston then turm>d and 
drove in a circle, making the same cir- 
cuit twice, as was shown by the tracks 
of the sled. Ih' liore to the north and 
reentered Graham Lakes township. lie 
unhitched and abandoned his ox team, 
and the animals, after wandering awhile 
turned the yoke and choked to death. 
They were fouiul later on the bank of 
Jack creek. From this point Mr. West- 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



78 



on evidently concluded to walk with the 
storm, for he made a bee-line for Her- 
sey station (now Brewster). After walk- 
ing about twelve miles he was overcome 
by the storm and fell forward on his 
face, clutching at the long grass where 
he fell. 

Immediately after the storm the set- 
tlers about Graham lakes organized a 
searching party and scoured the country 
for the missing man. They found the 
oxen and sled, but the search for Wes- 
ton was fruitless, and toward evening 
they abandoned their efforts and return- 
ed home. Late in the following April, 
when the snow had disappeared from 
the prairies, the dead body of the miss- 
ing man was found by another party of 
searchers at a jjoint one and one-half 
miles northwest of Hersey. 

As a result of the death of Mr. Wes- 
ton there was originated a ghost story 
which becaiiic famous all over the coun- 
try, due largely to its reiteration by Mr. 
A. P. Miller. The story is here given 
as it was tnld by Mr. Miller in the 
Worthington Advance of Jan. 13, 1881 : 

The story of .Tohn Weston's ghost was 
tiist piiblishcil ill the Aihance and widely 
co|)ied, so tlial it became known through- 
out the eouiiti-y. \A'eston appeared to Mr. 
Co.-per. who is still a resident of Seward 
township, and was an intimate friend of 
Weston. \ few days ago we caught Mr. 
( osjier in town and had the story from his 
oivii lips. He is a practical, nnimaginative 
man and gives the story in a circumstantial 
way. 

The day after the storm Mr. Gosper had 
been out with some neighbors searching for 
\\'eston's body. He had returned to his 
home and was at his stable feeding his stock 

^During 1907. in the Swastika Magazine. Den- 
ver, Mr. Miller retold the story of John Wes- 
ton's ghost, and therefor received a prize of- 
fered for the best verified and corroborated 
psychic and ghost experience or story. In th.at 
article he says that Mr. Cosper came to his 
office to tell him the story, and that as ne.ar 
as he can remember it was in these words: 

"I went into my stable after the l^ucket. in- 
tending to water my horses. I came out and 
turned the corner to go down the path. \Vh<!ii 
about h.ilf way down the slope to the well I 
was surprised to see John Weston coming up 



just before sundown. He came out of the 
stable, and, passing around to the east end, 
saw John \^'eston coming up the path from 
the creek. Weston had on the blue soldier 
overcoat \^■hich he usually wore. His hands 
were tucked up under the cape, and he ap- 
proached Cosper with his usual smile and 
usual salutation, saying, "How goes ii.'i" 
Cosper said, "Why, Weston, I thought you 
were frozen to death!" Weston replied, "1 
am, and you will find my body a mile and 
a half northwest of Hersey!" Saying this, 
he vanished. Mr. Cosper says that even_ 
after \\ eston had gone it took him some 
time to realize that he had seen a ghost, 
and to "feel queer."" 

Before this, Weston had evidently an- 
nounced his death to his wife. Mrs. Weston 
related the incident, and it was confirmed 
by her son. The second night of the storm 
she was awakened by a knock at the door. 
She dozed off again and was aroused by a 
second rap, when she asked what was wanted. 
A voice answered, "Did you know that 
.John was frozen to death?" The voice 
soimded like tiiat of her brother, Mr. l^ind- 
erman, who lived in the vicinity. The boy 
heard the voice, and raising up in bed, said: 
"Mother, did uncle say' that pa was frozen 
to death?" ]Mrs. Weston went to the door, 
but there was no one there, and no tracks 
could be found iu the snow. Mr. l.inderman 
had not been there, and it seems that Wes- 
ton, wishing to announce his death, and at 
the same time not to frighten liis wife too 
much, assumed the voice of his brother-in- 
law. 

Now for the confirmation of Cosper's story, 
lie told it at once, and it was published 
throughout the country before the winter 
was over. Search was made for Wes;on"s 
body, but in vain. When spring came, how- 
ever, and the snow began to melt ofl', Wes- 
ton's body was found near a slough, where 
the snow had been deep, a mile aiul a half 
northvr'est of Hersey. We believe that .Mr. 
Erickson, who now lives at Worlhington, 
was the first to discover the body. 

Another man who lost his life in this 
storm in Nobles county (but knowledge 
of which was not gained until a year 
later) was a man by the name of Taylor. 
His home was in Lake Benton, from 



the path to meet me. He approached with 
his usual familiar smile, and his hands were 
tucked under the cape of his blue soldier over- 
coat, just as I had seen him approach many 
times. I called to him and said: 'Hello, Wes- 
ton! why, I thought you were lost in the 
storm.' Weston replied: 'I was, and you will 
find my body a mile and a half northwest of 
Hersey!' He then began to melt or fade 
away, somewhat like smoke thiriniug out. and 
disappeared. I had not time to realize what 
was occurring till it was over, and then I be- 
gan to feel mighty queer." 



74 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



which phicc lie and four other men liad 
gone to mill. When the storm struck, 
Taylor became separated from his com- 
panions and the ox team which they 
were driving, and wandered afoot a 
distance of about tliirty-five miles. 

It was during the next winter that 
the body was found in the northern 
part of Seward township, in a ban-en 
country, by Andy Dillnian mid George 
T. Bulick, who were out trapping. Cor- 
oner Cliurchill was uotilied, who took 
possession of the body, and finally, 
through advertising, the body was iden- 
tified. Mr. Taylor was one of four 
members of a family who froxe to death. 

A few of the adventures in this mem- 
orable storm are worth relating. In the 
little log school house at the north end 
of liidJiui lake the teacher, Jliss Mary 
Jemerson, and the scholars were obliged 
to stay for three days and two nights. 
The snow drifted in through the crevi- 
ces and soon covered the floor. The 
supply of w'ood was soon exhausted, and 
then the furniture had to be split up to 
ki'cj) alive a meager lire, which barely 
kept them alive until the storm abated. 
To keep up circulation the children 
I'oriucil ill Indian file and marched 
around tiie stove through the dreary 
(hiys and long nights. Being without 
food, except what little they had left 
in their dinner hiickets. they suffered 
greatly, but all escaped without damage. 
Joseph Foots was caught in the sloriii 
in the western ])art of the county and 
lay for several days in a snow drift. 
His feet, becoming exposed, were frozen 
and had to be amputated. .1. 11. Max- 

^Jnrors wore cho.sen In 1873 as follow.*?; 

Oi-arul — O. II. Chapman, Peter Swartwoiit. 
WaiTi'n Srrjith. Henry Hraytnn. R. I,. lOrsUine. 
.Mljert Mansaril. J. ('. Clark, Peter Tliomiisiin. 
H. C. Rlee. A. A. Par.'^on.'^. Jnn.ithan (jordori. 
\V. S. Stockdale. J. H. Churchni, F, \V. Bur- 
(lette. D. S. Law, B. S. I-angdon. 10. S. Mills, 
W. B. -Akins, J. H. Barnflfcld, J. D. Roberts. 



well drove four miles against the storm 
and then took refuge with a neighboring 
farmer, not being able to reach home. 
Kcv. Jlr. Stone walked five miles facing 
the storm between Worthington and 
Jackson, and finally took refuge in a 
sod shanty. A party of Worthington 
men, among whom were Dr. Langdon 
and Cornelius Stout, w^ere caught on the 
road between Jackson and Worthington, 
and also remained snowed up in a sod 
liouse. A man north of Worthington 
was caught on the trackless prairie, driv- 
ing an ox team. He unhitched his oxen 
,nnd took off their yokes. Then he took 
one of the animals by the tail, and by 
twisting tlie tail, kept the beast on a 
trot. The other ox followed, and the 
man in time brought up against his own 
wiHiil |iik'. 

.\ii act of the legislature, approved 
Feb. 'v'l, 18T;5, provided for the estab- 
lishment of a district court in Nobles 
county, the law to go into effect on July 
4, of the same year, but for some reason 
no court was held in the county until 
two years later, liock county was at- 
tached to the new district for judicial 
|uirposes. but in 1874 it bt^came a dis- 
trict by itself.^ 

^iaiiy new settlers arrived in the 
spi'ing of 1873, and the colony was in- 
deed in a flourishing condition. Those 
«ho had ai-rived during 18T2 put in 
cro]is, which had come up and were 
growing beautifully. The faith in the 
soil liad been justified. Everybody was 
enthusiastic over the prospects. 

Then came the never-to-be-forgolten 
plague — tlie grasshoppers — and the coun- 

Potit— N. H. Smith. B. B. Brain. E. \V. Hes- 
selroth. .Tulins Westinghouse, J. A. Cosper. 
C. I.. Johnson. W. R. Bennett. Chas. Fris- 
liie. \V. G. Brown. B. W. Woolsteneroft, 
Chjis. Wilkinson, Peter Swetzer. J. P. War- 
ner. M. S. I''inii. Richard Bagley. A. A. Kim- 
ball, ICdward Hear. S. D. Sprague, B. F. 
Congdon, J, B. Haines. 



HISTOEY OP NOBLES COUNTY. 



try that looked so bright and had been so 
prosperous was wrapped in gloom. Im- 
migration ceased ; farmers, mechanics, 
merchants, everybody became discouraged 
at ouce. 

It was on or about the 15th day of 
June that the people noticed something 
floating through the air from west to 
east, which some thought at first sight 
to be Cottonwood seeds. They seemed 
to be drifting with the wind, and some 
of them were at a great height. They 
kept increasing in numbers, and soon a 
few scattering ones began falling to the 
earth, where they were found to be grass- 
hoppers, or Rocky mountain locusts — 
forerunners of a scourge that for sev- 
eral years devastated this part of the 
country and resulted in the retardation 
of settlement for many years. 

The flight kept up for several days, 
and a gi-eat number of the hoppers came 
down and feasted on the growing crops, 
and deposited their eggs. They did 
great damage, but not so great as in 
later years, and a light harvest was 
gathered.-* Many families were left des- , 
titute, and in the early winter a relief 
committee was organized, which looked 
after the wants of those in greatest 
need. 

Three new townships were organized 
during the year 1873, Wilson (Summit 
Lake), Hebbard (Olney), and Grand 
Prairie. The petition asking for the 
creation of Wilson township was pre- 
sented May 9, and was signed by John 
Ward, Jas. F. Hollopeter, N. F. Gan- 
onny, Jas. Marden, Geo. W. Akin, J. ¥. 
Cannern, Henry C. Moore, John J. 
Weaver, Albert J. Ryan, A. B. Coe, D. 



Stone, S. Wass and Irwin L. Wass. The 
commissioners created the township May 
20, named the new township Wilson, 
and provided for holding the first town 
meeting at the home of J. ¥. Hollopeter 
on June 5. The state auditor notified 
the commisisoners that there was an- 
other township of the name of Wilson in 
the state, and that therefore it would 
be necessary to change the name of the 
Nobles county division. The name was 
changed to Akin, in honor of one of the 
settlers, on June 15, 1874. Upon re- 
quest of the settlers of the township the 
name was again changed, July 27, 1874, 
to Summit Lake. The name was given 
for the lake within the borders of the 
township, and the lake was named be- 
cause of its topographical location. 

The petition for Hebbard township 
was circulated January G, and was 
signed by R. C. Stillman, John John- 
ston, Jos. V. Bartow, John G. Culpm, 
R. W. Moberly, Benjamin F. Eenn, T. 
Thompson, Toor Anderson, Wni. V. 
Hebbard, Allen Simons, Alex Simpson, 
Chas. J. Fox, W. H. Forencrook and Ole 
Gunderson. July 10 the commissioners 
took favorable action on the petition, 
named the township Hebbard in honor 
of Wm. F. Hebbard, one of the settlers, 
and provided for the completion of the 
organization at the residence of Wias. 
J. Fox on July 29. The town meeting 
was not held at the appointed time, and 
the completion of the organization was 
postponed. October 14 Mr. Fox ap- 
peared before the commiss'ioners and made 
affidavit that up to that time no officers 
had been elected and no town meeting 
had been held. The commissioners then 



'Different from most of the accounts of this time, as tliere was not much crop for them to 

first invasion is that of G. L. Ellsworth, which eat. had they been so disposed. Their prin- 

was published in the Nobles County Demo- cipal business seemed to be the depositing of 

crat in 1896. Mr. Ellsworth wrote: "... their eggs, and after staying for a day or 

Although a great number of the hoppers came two, they all took flight again towards the 

down, they did not create much alarm at that east." 



IIISTOHY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



diangecl the name of the township to 
Now Haven and made further provision 
for the organization of the township. 
June 15, 18i4, another name had to be 
selected, because of a prior disposal of 
the name New Haven upon a township 
in another part of tlie state, and Olney 
was tlicn bestowed upon the new town- 
siii]), after the county seat of Kichland 
county, HI.'' 

The people of the southwestern cor- 
ner township asked for organization on 
August 30, the petitioners being Miles 
Birkett, M. S. Merriss, ■\1. .1. Bryan, 
Oley Olson, Edmond Olson, 1'. J. John- 
son, Thos. Johnson, H. A. Severson, 
Paine Stilniets, J. Spalding, Robert 
Williamson, John Bootcher, 0. D. 
Bryan, \Vm. H. lugraliam, Geo. S. 
Barnes, Clias. A. Barnes, A. W. Walters, 
Jas. Walker, P. M. Merriss and J. 
Pride. At a meeting of the board of 
county commissioners on September 33 
the township was created, and on Oc- 
tober 30 the organization was perfected. 
The name Grand Prairie wa.s selected 
by the coiiuiiissioners out of a list of 
three suggested by the petitioners," and 
the name selected is not a misnomer. 

It will be remembered that during the 
fii-st few years of the county's history 
the county seat was officially located at 
Gretchtown, but that, as Gretchtown had 
no actual existence, the county seat bad 
led a wandering life. The commissioners 
transacted their business at the homes 
of the dilTerent members (always in 
Graham Lakes township), and tlio var- 
ious county officers attended to their 

'■The name wa.s suggested by R. W. Moberly. 
.Sevei-iil other numes well' siiggesled by the 
residents of the township, among others t)e- 
Ing Sprliiglleld. 

""The name of Colfax we thhik appropriate 
to call our township, or If that will not do. 
call It Grand Prairie or Union township." 

'"The question now stands. Firstly: Do 
the voters of Nobles county desire the re- 
moval of the county seat from Gretchtown? 



olTiiial duties at their homes, or where- 
cver was most convenient. 

When Worthington was founded agita- 
tion for the establishment of the seat 
of government in that village was be- 
gun.' Through the efforts of ex-Gover- 
nor Stephen Miller, who was at the 
time the representative of southwestern 
ilinnesota in the lower house of the leg- 
islature, a bill was passed, early in 1873, 
providing for such action. Following is 
the full text of the act: 

An act to establish ami loealc the emiiity 
seat of Nobles county. 

Be it enacted by the leorislaturc of the 
state of Minnesota: 

Section 1. That the county seat of Nobles 
eonnty is hereby established and located at 
the village of VVorthiiifrton. in said county 
of Nobles, on section number 23. town num- 
ber 102. and range number 40. 

Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of all 
county officers who are required by law to 
hold their respective offices at the county 
seat to remove their several offices, with all 
the books, records and papers pertaining 
thereto, to the said town of Worthinpton 
within sixty days after the passage of this 
:icl. without further no'i(e; and each and 
every officer who shall fail to conijily with 
the provisions of this section shall forfeit 
the county office held or occupied by him. 

Sec, .■?, In the event of the pa.ssage of an 
enabling iict, during the present session of 
the legislature, authorizing the electors of 
said county to vote upon the question of 
the removal of said county seat at the next 
general election, no indebtedness shall be 
contracted on behalf of the said county by 
(he officers thereof for the erection of county 
buildings at the said Tillage of Worthington 
until the location of such county seat at 
said village of Worthington shall be con- 
lirmed by the vote of a majority of those 
who may vote upon the question of remov- 
ing said county seat, in pursuance of such 
enabling net, at the general election in Nov- 
ember next. 

Sec. 4. All acts and parts of acls incon- 
sistent with this act are hereby repealed. 

See. 5, This act shall take effect and be 
in force from and after its passage. 

Approved March 6, 1873, 

Secondly: Where is Gretchtown,? Can anyone 
tell us where to find Gretchtown? Is it a 
."seaport or a railroad center? Is it a manu- 
facturing town or a rural district? Did it 
vote for Grant? .-Vny infoi'matinn under tli<' 
sun of this lost sister town will in* tearfniiy 
received by the mourning friends, as well as 
other members of the unhappy famii.v. Gretch- 
town, Gretchtown, thou long lost sister, re- 
turn, re-e-turn, return." — Western Advance, 
Nov, 9, 1872. 



IIISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



77 



It was not the intention of tlie legisla- 
ture to arbitrarily locate the county seat 
at Worthington permanently, and on the 
same day the act was approved, another 
one became a law which left the matter to 
the voters. It was in the form of a 
law removing the county seat from 
Worthington to Hcrsey, which was at 
tlie time just budding into a village. 
But provision was made that before the 
law became operative a majority of the 
voters of the county must ratify it at 
the general election in November, 1873. 
The effect of these two acts was to put 
before the people the selection of the 
permanent county seat, limiting them in 
their choice to the two villages of 
Worthington and Hersey. The second 
act reads : 

An act to remove the county seat of 
Nobles countv from the village of Worth- 
ington to the village [of] ITersey. in said 

county- 
Be ' it enacted by the legislature of the 
state of Minnesota: 

Section 1. That the countv seat of the 
county of Nobles, in the state of Minne- 
sota, be and the same is hereby removed 
from the village of Worthington, section 2.1. 
township number 102, of range number 40. 
where the same is now lo -ated in said county, 
to the village or town of Hersev. on section 
number 25, township number 103. range 3!1 
west, in said county. 

Sec. 2. At tlie time of giving notice of 
the next general election it shall be the 
ihity of the officers of said countv of Nobles, 
rcqiiircd by law to give notice of said 
election, to give notice in like manner that 
at said election a vote will be taken on the 
(|i.estion of adopting this act removing the 
counly seat from the village of Worthington 
to the village or town of Hersey. as is pro- 
vided in the first section of this act. But 
no failure of. or irregularitv in, siich notice, 
or the giving of such notice, shall in any 
wav vitiate the vote on such question. 

Sec. 3. At said election the electors of 
.said county in favor of the remov.al of the 
said county seat as provided in this act, 
shall have distinctly written or printed, or 
I-artly written and partly printed, on their 
ballots "For removal of county seat;" those 



opposed to such removal, "Against removal 
of county seat," and such ballots shall be 
received by the judges of election and can- 
vassed at' the same time and in the same 
manner, and be returned to the same office 
as votes for county officers. 

Sec. 4. The county canvassing board of 
said county, to whom said election returns 
are made, " shall canvass the votes on said 
ipiestion, at the same time and in the same 
manner as returns of votes for county offi- 
cers, and if upon such canvass being made 
it shall appear that a majority of the votes 
cast at such election were voted in favor of 
the removal of said county seat, an ab- 
stract of the canvass of said votes shall be 
made on one sheet, signed and certified in 
the same manner as in cases of abstracts of 
votes cast for the county officers, and shall 
be deposited in the office of the county au- 
ditor of said county, and the said county 
auditor shall immediately thereafter trans- 
mit to the secretary of state a copy of said 
:ibslract, duly certified by said auditor. 

Sec. 5. If "this act shall be adopted by a 
majoritv of the electors of said county of 
N'obles ' voting at the said election at the 
next general election, the governor shall 
forthwith make proclamation, as provided 
by law in such cases, and it is hereby made 
the dutv of all officers who are required by 
law to 'hold their ofl'ice at the county seat, 
to remove the said offices, books and records 
to the new county seat at Hersey within 
thirty days, without further notice, and any 
failure to so remove said ott'ices shall oper- 
ate as a forfeiture of their said offices. 

Sec. 6. All acts and parts of acts incon- 
sistent with this act are hereby repealed. 

Sec. 7. This act shall take effect and be 
in force from and after its passage, except 
as to section one. which is to take effect and 
be in force from and after the adoption of 
the same as provided herein. 

Ajijtroved March 6, 187.". 

Tlie county officials made jirepara- 
tions to carry out the provisions of the 
first act. Arrangements were made to 
secure a building at Worthington for 
court house purposes, and on ^lay 7 a 
contract was signed leasing the back 
room of the building known as the post- 
office building. This was leased for a 
period of one year from Charlotte E. 
Goodnow for $150.' 

By resolution of the county board of 
May 20, the auditor officially gave no- 



»A para^aph of the contract read: " . . in the morning until nine o'clock m the 

that they shall have free access to said evening of each day of the week, Sundays 

room by use of the back door at all times and excepted." 
access by the front door from seven o'clock 



(8 



HISTOID' OF .\(JBLES COUNTY. 



tieo to the other officers that they must 
remove their offices at once to the 
county seat, and before the first ot June 
the county business was being transacted 
in Wortliingtou. On Jnne 10 the first 
meeting of the commissioners was held 
there.' 

When Worthington was founded the 
railroad company gave to the county the 
block of land in the heart of the city, 
still used for court house purposes, and 
now worth many thousand dollars. A 
dear title was not given at first. It was 
provided that a court house should be 
erected thereon within three years (from 
1871), and that in case the property 
ever ceased to be used for court house 
purpo.ses it should revert to the railroad 
company. When the hard times period 
came on it was found impossible to 
erect a court house within the time 
specified, and the railroad company 
granted an extension of two years. In 
1876 another extension of time was 
given, ami in 1877 a court house was 
erected. 

In accordance with the provisions of 
the second act of March H, the county 
seat question was decided at the general 
election on November 4, 1873. There 
was never much doubt as to the out- 
come, and the bitter animosities so of- 
ten engendered in county seat contests 
were lacking. Worth ington was the 
logical location. It was the center of 
population and the only town of any 
pretentions in the county. Hersey was 
on the extreme eastern edge of the 
county and a place of relatively small im- 
portance. Hersey and Graham Lakes town- 
ships returned majorities in favor of 

•After the first year the county rented of 
J. H. Johnson an orflce In a Uttlo building 
located on Ninth street, just west of the pres- 
ent court house, for a rental price of $37.50 
per quarter. There was only one room down 



the smaller place; in only two other 
precinets, Seward and Fairview (Lor- 
ain) did Hersey receive any considerable 
vote. The result in detail follows: 







1 
o 




le 


E 




> 


a> 


TOWNSHIPS 


2 >> 


-4.3 m 




<" £ 


2 " 




OS S 


c (u 




t.K 


•sac 




^5 


^5 


Pairvifw 'T^iOraint 


10 


o.> 




3 


96 


Seward* 


12 


13 


Wilson 1 Summit Lake) 




13 




29 


2 


Kigelow . . 


1 


45 


Dewald 




39 


Elk 


1 


25 


Grant i Ransom) 




:57 


Little Rock 




•11 


ll):i-4- lOlneyit 




13 


Hersey 


48 


I 


Indian Lake 




3:i 


Grand Prairie 




13 


Totals 


104 


379 





• Including.' township 104-41 (Bloom). 
+ A volinsr iirerint had been established, but the 
township oriiiini/.ation had not yet been perfected. 

.V lax of fifteen mills was levied in 
is;:i, of which eight mills was for the 
general ruml. two mills for road i)ur- 
poses. one mill for the poor ruml. ami 
four mills to be applied on tl'c ii;iyniciit 
of interest on the county's debt. 

The repoi't of school conditions during 
the year 187:) is very meager. From it 
we learn that there were fourteen dis- 
tricts in the county, in only three of 
which .sclbinls were held, however. The 
total number of pupils in Ihe county 
was 369. One frame school house was 
erected at a cost of $51.31. 

Despite the terrible times through 
which the early settlers of Nobles county 
passed, the pioneers made the best of 

stairs, and in that were gathered the principal 
functionaries of the county. There were two 
living rooms upstairs. Mr. Johnson later 
opened a harness shop in this building. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



their trials, and their social rehrtinns 
were always pleasant. I can give no 
better idea of the social conditions dur- 
ing these days of hardships than by quot- 
ing a letter written by Robert Sliore, of 
Ransom township, in 1901 1^" 

"Here in Nobles county some 27 or 
28 years ago the lonely settlers' cabins 
were few and far between, and in tjie 
long, cold winters of those early times 
the days often dragged heavily. . ■ ■ 

"In the rigorous winters of those early 
da3's there were no coal fires in the 
homes of the farmers on these prairies ; 
no carpeted floors : but few books and 
papers; and as for the luxuries or life, 
they were unknown. And yet people en- 
joyed themselves even then; ipdeed, I 
don't think I ever saw people enjoy 
themselves better than at some of the 
sociables, so-called, of tliose primitive 
times. It would be arranged that on 
some specified evening there was to be 
a sociable at the house, say, of Timothy 
Sharp or some other good neighbor, ancl 



at the appointed time people would coine 
from every direction for miles around to 
spend a pleasant evening together. And 
then would follow a time of as unre- 
strained enjoyment as I ever saw. It 
seemed as if all the pent up jollity o[ 
one's nature was let loose, and, as Byron 
says, 'joy was imconfined.' 

''One reason for this was, I think, 
that the little bickerings which too often 
disturb the peace of a neighborhood had 
not arisen ; people w^ere animated by a 
common purpose — the making of homes 
for themselves in this then new country. 
Then, too, people were all on an equal- 
ity ; there were no ricli and poor, con- 
sequently no social distinctions. Every 
man felt tliat he was as good as his 
neighbor, and his neighbor as good as 
lie. Then, again, people in those days 
were blessed, it seemed with abounding 
good health. People dived very plainly 
in those days — were obliged to — and 
plain living, we are told, is conducive to 
health. ..." 



"Published in thp Nobles Countv Democrat, 
of Dec. 20, 1901. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE GRASSHOPPEE SCOUKGE— 

1874-1875. 



] f llici-c had been a belief that the 
p;rassljo|)|)ev visitation of 1873 was only 
a temporary blight on the prospects, it 
was rudely dispelled. The story of the 
years to follow is one of heartrending 
misery. From Manitoba to Texas the 
grasshoppers brought desolation and suf- 
fering in 1874, the visitation being gen- 
eral along the whole frontier. Especially 
destructive were they in southwestern 
Minnesota and in Kansas and Nebraska. 

A large acreage was sown in Nobles 
county in the spring on land that had 
been broken the year before. Then the 
settlers commenced breaking, and plant- 
ing "sod corn.'' Wlien warm weather 
set in grasshoppers began to hatch from 
the eggs that had been deposited the 
summer before and began their ravages 
as soon as the first tender blades of 
grain appeared. Whole fields were strip- 
ped entirely bare in those portions of 
the county where the young hoppers 
were most numerous, principally in the 
northern and western townships. The 
southeastern part escaped almost en- 
tirely. 

Had this been the only damage, the 
county would have sur\'ived the inflic- 
tion. A fine growing season caused the 
crops in- many places to get ahead of 
the young hoppers. Wheat and oats 
were growing finely, "sod corn" was an 

* 81 



especially good crop, and all garden 
vegetables were growing as they seldom 
have since. Then on July 2 came a 
visitation of "foreign" hoppers out of 
the northeast, who made it evident that 
the country was not to escape with the 
ravages of the young, pests. 

Conditions were such in the early 
summer that the people realized that 
something must be done to assist those 
who had met misfortune. On July 1 
the board of county commissioners, com- 
posed of I. P. Durfee, chairman ; J. W. 
Miller and M. L. Miller, met at Worth- 
ington to consider the condition of the 
destitute and the sufferers from loss of 
crops by the grasshoppers, and to pro- 
vide for their wants. County Attorney 
M. B. Soule was present and offered the 
following resolution, which was adopted : 

Be it resolved bv the boarrl of county com- 
missioners of Nobles county anH state [of 
Minnesota] that an amount not exceeding 
two thousand dollars (.$2,000) be and the 
same is hereby appropriated for the immed- 
iate relief of those persons in said county 
who are in need of such relief, and that 
same be expended for this purpose alone, 
under the direction of said board of com- 
missioners, and in accordance with such rules 
and regulations as thev deem best. And 
that an order of said county be issued un- 
der the direction of said board, bearing in- 
terest at the rate of twelve per cent, for 
the amount of such part thereof as may be 
needed. 

County Auditor William M. Bear went 
to St. Paul, and, through the influence 



82 



HISTOin Ml- NOULKS COUNTY. 



of Governor Cushman K. Davis, sold 
one tliousanfl dollars woitli ol the coiin- 
t\'s paper at its face value to the Firs^t 
National Bank of St. Paul. It must 
not be imagined that this money was 
raised for the purpose of reimbursing 
the sufferers : it was to prevent actual 
starvation. One hundred barrels of flour 
and oightoen barrels of pork were i)ur- 
ehased and brought to the county for 
distribution. An informal meeting of 
the county board was held at the resi- 
dence of J. W. Miller, in Graham Lakes 
township, on July 7. when the following 
residents were named to act as distribut- 
ing agents in their respective townships: 

N. H. Smith,^ Graham Lakes. 

J. Westinghouse,' Seward. 

C A. Barrows.^ TTersev. 

W. B. Akins, Elk. 

S. Wass,' Wilson (Summit Lake). 

D. Fogo, Lorain. 

I. P. Dnrfce, Worthington. 
J. B. Churchill. Dcwald. 
R. Still man, 1 Olney. 
Jas. Atchcson, Indian I;ake. 

E. S. Mills, Bigelow. 
Leroy Cole, Ransom. 

■T. D. Polierts. -Little Pnck. 

H. S. Barnes, Grand Prairie. 

These gentlemen at once apportidncij 
the supplies among the most needy. 
They found many in a precarious con- 
dition: Ihc thousand dollars worth of 
provisions was only a drop in fhe 
bucket. 

The destruction to crops done by (lie 
young grasshoppers and those which 
came on July 3 was as nothing com- 
pared with what was to follow. .Miout 
ten o'clock on the morning of .Tulv I.") 
the grasshoppers were again seen coming 

'WfTP siinersedp(3 bv Jullii") Wp.stlnphouse. 

Graham I akps; Jnna.i Pnrshnll. Seward: A. A, 

Parsons, Hersp.v; J. J. Weaver, Wilson; .T. V. 
Bartow. Olney. 



out of the northeast. The sky was so 
full of them that the sun was darkened 
as with dense clouds, and the roar of 
their wings sounded like the approacli of 
a storm. This time they came down foi' 
good : and what havoc they wrought I 
Those tliat alighted on the prairies^ 
seemed to know where the grain fields 
and gardens were, and gathered in them 
from all directions. Every cornstalk 
lii'iil to the eartji with their wiiglit. The 
noise they made eating could lie heard 
for quite a 'distance and resembled tliat 
which might have been made by hun- 
dreds of hogs tliat had been turned into 
the fields. In fact, such was the de- 
struction that within four hours after 
ibev came down, wliole fields of corn 
and small grain were as completely har- 
vested as though they had been cut with 
a reaper and hauled away. It was a dis- 
couraging sight. 

After gorging themselves with the 
crops the hoppers became stupid and 
piled up in the fields and along the 
roads, often to a ■ depth of one or two 
feet. Horses coidd hardly In' driven 
tlirongl) ilieni. Stories have been told 
of railway trains becoming tdoekaded 
liv the pests, so as to be unable to move 
until the insects were shoveled fi-om the 
li'acks. After resting from tlieii- fensl. 
thev took their departure. 

0]i .\ugust 3 came anotliei- linrde, 
seeking to destroy what bad been left, 
and those settlers who had escaped with 
only a partial loss before were now 
called upon to go through the tortures 
of seeing their grain disappear, with no 
means of checking the disaster. It 
seems incredilde that any grain should 
have been left. Init such is the case.' 

=Th<> name applli'd lo these pests is a mis- 
noTner. They never ate grass. 

"" , . . We have stated that half a crop 
of wheat had been raised. Since threshing 



ITTSTO-RY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



83 



From a carefulh- prepared estimate 
made bv Auditor William M. Bear, we 
learn that out of a total of 16,410 acres 
planted to crop in 1874. only 83,183 
bushels of grain and vegetables were 
saved. Wheat averaged about five and 
one-half bushels per acre, oats seven 
bushels, corn two and one-half bushels, 
potatoes 3S biishels, while all other 
grain was nearly a complete failure. 
The old settled township of Indian Lake 
was the most fortunate, and escaped 
with small damage. The wheat average 
there was a little less than ten bushels.* 
The lowest wheat average was in Sew- 
ard, being less than two bushels. In 
Hersey and Graham Lakes the loss was 
also nearly complete. The largest acre- 
age sown was in Worthington township, 
where 1.46-5 acres were planted and 10.- 
916 bushels of wheat harvested. Fol- 
lowing is Auditor Bear's estimate of the 
number of acres sown, the number of 
bushels harvested and the average yield 
per acre of the different grains and vege- 
tables :' 



CROP 


Acres 
Sown 


Bushels 
Raised 


Average 
Per Acre 

5.57 
7.26 
2.70 
38 12 
1.03 
41 
1.26 
1.59 


Wheat 

Oats 


8,887 

2,285 

3,034 

357 

234 

135 

1,299 

179 


49,539 

Ifi.fiOO 

8.210 

13,612 

243 

56 

l,.-,39 

284 


Corn 

Potatoes 

Buckwheat . . . 

Beans 

Flax Seed . . . 
Barley ....... 


Total 


16,410 


82,183 





this will have to be slightly changed, for the 
crop falls a little below half a crop. Nobles 
county raised this year two or three times as 
much wheat as it needed to bread the county, 
but. as we stated before, those who have any 
surplus must sell to pay debts and procure 
other supplies. Those wiio raised nothing are 
left destitute and must be carried through the 
winter." — Worthington Advance. Oct. 3, 1874. 

*When relief supplies were distributed later 
in the year the people of Indian Lake re- 
quested that no supplies be sent into that 
township. 



The Minnesota commissioner of sta- 
tistics prepared a report of the estimated 
loss in the principal grain crops in 
Minnesota due to the grasshopper raids 
of 1874. His estimate for Nobles county 
was as follows : 



CROP 


Acres 
Damaged 


Loss in 
Bushels 


Wheat 

Oats 


7,718 
2,436 
2,678 


100,272 
73,690 
63,871 


Qorn 




Total 


12,832 


237,833 



The colonists had now been in the 
county over two years, and not a crop 
liad been raised. They were poor peo- 
ple when they came: not having realized 
a cent of income since their arrival, 
the result can well be imagined. The 
people were compelled to practice the 
most rigid economy. Hay furnished the 
fuel; potatoes, pumpkins and squashes — 
a few vegetables left by the grasshop- 
pers — furnished the food. Meat was 
not on the bill of fare, except for those 
who could use a gun and bag the prairie 
chickens and ducks that were in great 
abundance. In this manner a large 
number of the settlers were obliged to 
pass the winter. 

They bore their trials more cheerfully 
than might have been expected, and 
made preparations to try their luck 
again nest year. In preparing their 
land for the crop the following year, 
the farmers nearlv ruined their horses, 



'Said the Advance of Jan. 20, 1875: "These 
figures will be interesting to the future his- 
torian of the great grasshopper visitation. 
When Nobles county is annually turning out 
an average of from 17 to 25 bushels per acre, 
and when several more railroads will be de- 
manded to do the carrying for the fertile 
prairie regions of this latitude, these figures 
will be looked upon with a melancholy inter- 
est, and our children will wonder at the pluck 
and energy of the people who stuck it 
through." 



84 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



being without tlie necessary grain to 
feed them. About 18,500 acres of land 
was prepared that fall," which was 
more than had been sown in 1871. 

Many were left destitute and badly in 
need of aid. but during the summer and 
early fall the actual suffering was not 
severe. But a few realized what the con- 
dition wonlil be when cold weather set 
in. and steps were at onco taken to pre- 
pare for tlie time when food, clothing 
and fuel would have to be supplied to 
prevent starvation and freezing. It was 
apparent that such aid as the state would 
furnish would be wholly inadequate to 
meet the demands of the destitute. 
Several gentlemen concluded that the 
only safety lay in providing a fund to 
meet the emergency which was sure to 
arise in midwinter. To this end J. C. 
Clark was selected to visit the eastern 
cities for the purpose of soliciting aid. 
Assurances were given Mr. Clark by 
Professor Humiston and others that 
whether successful or not his expenses 
would be paid. He succeeded in raising 
about $1,800 in eastern cities, and, sub- 
sequently, about $300 in St. Louis. 
Others went nut soliciting on privnl'" 
account entireh-, and were more or less 
successful in relieving their own wnnts.'' 

Although precaution* had already 
been taken as outlined above, by the 
middle of October it was realized that 
a united and more thorouirh effort mu^-t 



Ijc made to secure funds to prevent ter- 
rible tragedies that otherwise would 
surely come with the wintry blasts. With 
this in view a mass meeting was held in 
Jlillcr hall, Worthington, on October K!. 
to devise means of meeting tlic emer- 
gency. I. P. Durfee was chairman of 
the meeting and J. A. Town was secre- 
tary. The following statement of condi- 
li(ms in the county, and the purposes of 
the meeting was adopted, one section at 
a ti me :' 

Whereas. There is iiigent and iimiiciliati- 
iieoessity for aid to many destitute families 
in our eoiinty; and 

Wlicrcas. The elVorts put fortli and .-u|i 
plies now on hand are totally inadequate to 
meet the demands wliich are eiinstantly made 
for help; and 

Whereas, We are fully eonvinoed that tlif 
nu)re favored portions of our own state ami 
other states do not appreciate the destitution 
in our midst; therefore 

I^esolved. That we appeal (1) to the ehari- 
talde of our own state for help; (2) to the 
p.eople of the I'nited Stales; (.3) to the state 
Rovernnu'nt; (4) to the government of the 
I'nited .States, for the preservation of wliii-h 
niauv of us offered o'.ir all during the late 
terrible cixil war. 

The conditions were discussed in de- 
tail. Estimates as to the possibh' num- 
ber of families that would re(|uire aid 
vai'ied from two liundrcd to llu-cc hun- 
dred. ]\lr. Durfee, who was cliairman 
of the county relief committee, reported 
tiiat 37,000 pounds of ihuir and a large 
(juantity of pork, furnished \)\ the coun- 
ty, had been distributed. Tie also stated 
that he liad appealed to the governor 



"Estimate by Auditor Bear. 

'It is possible that a few took advantnere of 
the terrllle eonrUtlons prevalllnpr. and. repre- 
sentlnpr themselves as dul.v authoi'lzod rol- 
Icctr.rs for tilt' reUef fund, were In vonlltv 
working for their own benefit. The .\dvance 
of September 26. 1874, snifl: 

, "Our correspondent mentions the fact that 
some one from Horsey township hns f?oae to 
St. Paul bpRpingr. and hns serured ouite a 
sum of money and a good supi>ly of other 
artlrles. We jiidgo from the tenor of the 
statement that this was done on private ac- 
count entirely. Of course if people will go 
abroad and beg there Is no way of pre\'entlnK 
them, but these persons are brinKlnK reproach 
upon the whole region and giving us the rep- 



Titntion of chronic mendicants. A\*e heard a 
few days ago that one man fror.i Graham 
Lakes township hed recently been throviKli 
Wisconsin and Michigan begging. This is 
his second liegging tour, and no di>ul)t he Is 
realizing a handsome sum. We wish to warn 
the pul lie asainst all boggers from this region 
who profess to have letters from responsible 
parties In this county. Th° papers are gen- 
erally forged, and when it Is k?iown that 
tliere Is an organized method of olitalning 
and distributing supi>lles, people ou:;ht to re- 
fuse those who are begging on private ac- 
count." 

'Pulillshcd In the Claim Shantv Vindicator 
of Oct. 21, 1874. 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



85 



for state aid. Governor Davis replied 
that the county government ought to do 
something for the destitute and sug- 
gested tliat an additional $1,000 bonds 
1)0 is^'ut'd. Mr. Durfee informed his 
excellency that in his opinion the peo- 
ple of Nobles county would sooner leave 
the state than issue more bonds. This 
opinion was somewhat borne out when 
the mass meeting passed a resolution re- 
questing that the county commissioners 
do not issue more bonds for tJie purpose 
of relief. 

Warren Smith favored the immediate 
distribution of the $1,800 which had 
been raised by Mr. Clark, and suggested 
that the reason the governor did not 
favor rendering assistance was because 
that fund was as yet unapplied. Prof. 
Humiston said that he was satisfied that 
the governor was not cognizant of any 
such fund, that the money had been 
placed in the bank against the extreme 
suffering which parties foresaw would 
exist during the coming winter, but that 
if the time had arrived when it should 
be given out, it only awaited the order 
of the proper officers. 

A committee was appointed to draft 
an appeal for aid, and soon thereafter 
was issued the following entreaty, in 
part: 

AI'PKAL IX BEH.^LF OF THE OR.'iSS- 
HOPI'ER SUFFERERS OF NOBLES 

COUNTY. 

A meeting of tlie citizens of Nobles county, 
Minnesota, was held at Worthington, Octo- 
ber 13. 1874, at which the undersigned were 
appointed a committee to draft an appeal 
to the charitable of our own state and to 
the friends in oiu' old home states, in be- 
half of the needy and destitute in our midsi:. 
Our people have suffered a calamity as real 
and overwhelming as if everything had been 
swept away by fire and flood. We refer to 
the raids of the grasshoppers during the last 
two years. Ours is a new country. Most 
of our settlers came here in the spring of 



1872 and since that time. The first year of 
settlement is necessarily spent in breaking 
the prairie in order to procure a crop the 
second season. . . Thus it will be seen 

that many of our people have raised no crop 
in the three seasons of their residence on 
these new lands. Their need is urgent and 
immediate. 

The question may be asked what things 
are needed. We answer: First, food. Many 
families have lived for weeks on such vege- 
tables as escaped destruction, and the sup- 
ply is almost exhausted. They have neither 
bread nor meat. Second. They need cloth- 
irg. They have raised nothing to sell, and 
the clothing they brought with them is worn 
lO rags. We would suggest that yirn for 
stockings, thread and material for children's 
clothing be sent. This will give help and 
employment at the same time — the best 
luiman charity. Third. They need beililing. 
There are tho-^e who are now sleeping under 
a covering of prairie hay, and winter is ap- 
proaching. Fourth. They will need seed 
grain next spring or another year will not 
relieve the destitution. 

Some may ask vrhy we do not abandon a 
country which is liable to such a plague. We 
answer: \^'e have seen enough in some 
favored portions of this and adjoining coun- 
ties to demonstrate the matchless fertility of 
the soil. In Mackson county, immediately 
east of us, more than fortv bushels of wheat 
and one hundred and ten bushels of oats 
per acre have been reaped in former years. 
Our climate is as agreeable as any in the 
world. We have a temperate, intelligent, 
induHtri()U>. moral class of people. Their 
misfortunes cannot be laid to any improvi- 
dence on their part. We came here to make 
homes for ourselves and our children, and 
most of us have invested our all here in 
improvements on our homesteads and have 
no means to get away, even temporarily, 
.^nd besides, where else can we go? Is 
there auv land on earth that is exempt from 
calamities of some kind? 

We feel that our destitution is only tem- 
porary. The grasshoppers did not deposit 
their eggs here the past season. They may 
not be seen here again in a genei-ation. We 
have faith that next year we will reap boun- 
tiful harvests. But in the meantime, many 
of our jieople must liave help or they will 
perish. Careful estimates warrant the state- 
ment that not less than half of the seven 
hundred families in the county are partially 
or wholly destitute. We call, therefore, upon 
our more fortunate brethren to help us in 
our distress. If this appeal should meet with 
a response, let the contributions be sent to 
[. P. llnrfee. chairman of the board of 
county commissioners. Worthington. Nobles 
county. Minnesota. He has the entire con- 
fidence of all our people, and will make ]n-op- 
er distribution of all that is sent. The 



86 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



receipt of all contributions will be promptly 

and tliankfullv acknowledged. 

J. A. '1X)\V"N,- 
T. C. BELL, 
\V. M. bi;ai{, 
WAiUtEN S.MITII, 
1!. K. irOllSTON, 

Conimittei". 

To this appeal there was quite liberal 
response, but tlie neuds were not over- 
supplied by any means, and tiiere was 
some suffering during the winter. 

The state came to the aid of the grass- 
hopper sull'erers when the legislatuic 
convened during the winter. On Feb- 
ruary 12, 1875, General Sibley reported 
that he had turned over to Nobles coun- 
ty $1,952.82." The distribution was 
under the direction of the governor. In 
Nobles county the work of distribution 
was delegated to tlie board of county 
commissioners, and they left the details 
of the work to I. P. Durfee, chaiMan 
of the board, and W. M. Bear, county 
auditor. . ■'■'.• 

To relieve the situation, the legisTa- ' 
ture granted an extension of time for 
the payment of taxes in some of the 
counties, and, of course. Nobles was 
among the number. Times not improv- 
ing, the extension was of little benefit. 
People who had not money to buy food 
and clothing could not pay taxes. An 
interesting relic of this period is the 
following notice published in the pub- 
lie press of Nov. 20, 1874, by County 
Treasurer Ilumiston: 

To Tax Payers: 

The noble efi'orts wliiili are being made 
by many of our settlers to pay their taxes 
is worthy of a public acknowledgment. Some 
are still in arrears, and although the time 
granted by the legislature last winter is 
past and the personal property tax of 187.3 
became delinquent on the first day of Xov- 

•The total amount distributed was $15,551.56, 
divided among the devastated counties as fol- 
lows: 

Plnewood $200.00 

Martin 1,363.87 

Rock 1,400 . 00 

Cottonwood 3,237 03 



ember, yet I am still receiving taxes at my 
olfice. I must very soon call on those who 
do not call on me, and I do not wish to 
make any unnecessary trouble or costs, but 
the laws compel me to make the effort, and 
it is hoped that it will not be necessary to 
perform this (to me) very unpleasant duty. 
H. D. HU.MISTON," 
Count}^ Treasurer. 

The question naturally arises: Why 
did the people of Nobles county stay in 
a country in which the grasshoppers 
wrought such damage? It is doubtful if 
they would have remained could they 
have looked ahead and foreseen what 
tliey still had to go through, for this was 
not the end of the scourge by any means. 
A few discouraged ones did depart for 
their former homes. All who could went 
away each summer to work in the har- 
vest fields of more fortunate communi- 
ties and earn enough to supply their ab- 
solute needs. 

The majority stayed with their claims 
.■ ancl . weatliered the storms of adversity. 
Hope was abundant that each year's visi- 
tation would be the last. The fertility 
of the soil had been demonstrated, and 
it was known that once tlie country was 
free from the pests, it would liccoine one 
of Die richest spots in the west. The 
settlers had invested all their accumula- 
tions of former years in improvements, 
and to desert the country meant that 
they must go as paupers. Many were 
literally too poor to pay transportation 
charges out of the country. 

.\ tax levy of 16 mills was made in 
July, 1874, divided among the several 
funds as follows: General, eight mills; 
poor, two mills; road and bridge, two 
mills; county interest, two mills; float- 
ing debt and county orders, two mills. 

Watonwan 1,808.83 

J.ickson 2.817.82 

Murray 1,902.82 

Nobles 1,952.82 

Brown 300.00 

Others 768.38 



TH 



Ttl.DFN ■' 




A SOD 5HANTY 

In Buildings Such as This Hundreds of Nobles Count\'s Pioneer Settlers 
Had Their Homes. 



^^^— -,-V 










.J ^f^^s^^-m 



SL 






(> I. ->( El Y 



s rjiMiT LAKi-: 



r MMi 



S liVAK l> ,' 



i:itAn.v.v£fT.v,filtKS 



rni L fti^ ' -■»: 



<) ■*.,-'-V..4 







It K W.41', i; 



itUuxiu 



"-"-m^ 



Ml ri.tiJ{pifK| Yj ^^ ,; s iigjM 1./ <; % I. « 

"I ,, '1 







^#^"Ii ' . --^ 



l: w 1 .N I 







AN Oil) ^i.W 01 NOliLLS LOUNi'> 
Reproduced from a Print Made in 1874. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



87 



The levy was revised in November, be- 
ing cut down to 13 mills, divided as fol- 
lows: General, seven mills; poor, one 
mill; road and bridge, two mills; county 
mterest. one mill: floating debt, two 
mills. 

The assessment showed a total valua- 
tion of $432,433, of which .$3oO,l-2.-, was 
on personal property and $182,308 on 
real property. The total number of 
acres of deeded and contracted land was 
37,444. Seven hundred forty-five per- 
sons were assessed. The population of 
the county, estimated from figures fur- 
nished by the assessors, was between 
3,000 and 3,500 — probably a slight over- 
estimate. 

Other statistics for tlie year 1874 
show that there were 86 births, 24 
deaths, 20 marriages, one divorce and 32 
first naturalization papers granted. 

Despite the prevailing hard times the 
])ublic schools showed a healthy growth. 
Ten new buildings were erected, and the 
attendance was greatly increased. The 
following items appear in the report of 
tlie superintendent of schools of Oct. 
31, 1874: 

Number of districts in county. .37. 
Nunibor persons five to 21 years, 7.51. 
Xuniber persons 15 to 21 years, 197. 
Xumber pupils enrolled in " winter schools 
10.5. 

.\verage daily attendance, 71. 

Average length of winter schools in niontlis. 

Number teachers in winter schools. 2. 

Number pupils enrolled in summer 7cliools 
28.5. 

Average daily attendance in summer 
schools, 221. 

Average length of summer schools in 
months, 3 1-7. 

Number teachers in summer schools, 16. 

Number pupils enrolled in schools within 
the year, ,311. 

School houses built during vear 1S74, 10 
flame. 



Value of schools houses built durinc the 
year, ,$2,435. " 

Total number school houses in county, 11 
frame. 

Value of all school houses in the county 
$2,485. •' ' 

Paid for teachers' wages in 1874, $875.81. 

Casli in treasurer's hands at close of school 
year. September 30, 1874, .$53.83. 

One improvement in this year of dis- 
asters was the establishment of a star 
Juail route in the southern part of the 
county. The route extended from Bige- 
iow to Ash Creek and passed through 
the townships of Eansom, Little iiock 
and Grand Prairie. This proved to be 
a great accommodation to the settlers in 
those townships. Two postoffices were 
established along the route in Nobles 
county. One was Little Rock, of which 
J. T. Green was postmaster;'" the other 
was Grand Rrairie, located first on sec- 
tion 10, Grand Prairie township, and 
conducted by a settler named Ayers." 

The legislature of 18:5 took prompt 
action to relieve grasshopper devastated 
southwestern Minnesota. An act approv- 
ed March 1, 1«;5, provided" for an' ex- 
tension of the payment of personal pro- 
perty tax in the counties of Martin, 
Jackson, Nobles, Rock, Murray, Cotton- 
wood, Watonwan, Renville, Lyon and 
parts of Blue Earth, Faribault and 
Brown to November 1. In order to se- 
cure this extension it was necessary for 
the residents to give proof that they 
were unable to pay their taxes because 
of loss of crop in 1874 from grasshop- 
pers or hail. 

Tlie commissioners of Nobles county 
also took action to relieve the hardships 
of taxation by abating the interest and 
costs on the delinquent real estate tax 
for 1874. All who should make satis- 



he hi w^ succeeded by W. T. Jones, and "Ayers was succeeded by Oscar Lund Geo 

nntif^^ t.^ „«.^'"'''-''' ^ho remained in charge Barnes. Oscar Bryan and John Butcher The 

until the office was discontinued Dec. 31, office was discontinued in 1884 when' Ells- 
worth yillag^e was founded. 



88 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



factory proof, on or bel'ore December 1, 
1875^ under oath to the county auditor, 
that they were unable to pay the lS7i 
real estate tax, should escape the penal- 
ties, providing the taxes were paid at 
the time of making proof.'- 

Notwithstanding the terrible exper- 
iences of the two preceding years, tlie 
people determined to put in a crop again 
in 1875. The ground had been prepar- 
ed, but the farmers were without seed 
grain and without the means to purchase 
it. The legislature came to their rescue 
witli an appropriation of $75,000, the 
act providing for the distribution of seed 
grain to that aiiiouiU, with certain jtro- 
visions for its repayment. A state board 
of commissioners was appointed to con- 
duct the distribution, and a local hoard 
was named in each of the stricken coun- 
ties to assist in the work. Daniel l?olir- 
er, I. P. Durfee and Peter Thomp- 
son served in Nobles county. The money 
market was tight, and the state was' not 
able, to procure the money to purcliii.«e 
more than $50,000 worth of grain. 

Applications at once began pouring in, 
there being between 250 and 260 in 
Nobles county. The state commissioners 
arrived in Worthington March 31 -and 
immediately began delivering the grain. 
Nobles county's share of the $50,000 was 
about $3,000, and to each applicant was 
given twelve bushels of wheat.'^ It was 
expected that po soon as the state could 
negotiate a luan for the other $25,000 
of the appropriation, it would be issued 
in corn, potatoes and other seed, but tiiis 
was not done. With the grain received 
from the state and that wliich was in tlie 
county there was enough to seed about 
I'igiity per cent of the prepared land. 
The seed grain liiniished by tlie state 

"CommlsfJlonera" Journal. June 10. ISTS. 
"The settlers were .slow In paying for IliLs 



was a Godsend. '"Our farmers never 
started with better prospects as to seed 
than they do the present year," said tlic 
Advance. 

The grain was sown; it germinated, 
and appeared above the ground. Then 
came anxious days. Would the grass- 
hopper scourge again come with its rum 
aud desolation? As the season advanced 
the people with deep concern scanned 
the skies for the appearance of the pests. 
Eggs had not been deposited in the 
county the preceding season, and thu 
only apprehension felt was in reganl lo 
another invasion. Tidings soon came. 
On Monday, June 28, it was reported 
that a vast army was on the way to the 
northwest from Iowa aud other states to 
the south, headed, it was said, for the 
Bad Lands of Dakota. They passed over 
Hioux City in great ntimbers, and ex- 
tended as far north as Sheldon. A few 
stragglers along the right Hank of the 
army were seen in Nobles county ami 
created some apprehension and caused a 
great deal of upward gazing. ISnt I hi.' 
settlers thanked Providence that, so far, 
they were in the suburbs of tlie move- 
ment. One curious feature of this move- 
ment was that it came from the south- 
east; before the hordes generally came 
out of the northeast. What few were 
seen passing over Nobles county did no 
damage whatever. 

But on Saturday afternoon, .luly ](•, 
the grasshoppers settled down in con- 
siderable nundjcrs in various parts of the 
comity. They came from the northeast, 
and as they were not full grown, it was 
believed they belonged to the Minnesota 
valley hateli, eggs having been deposited 
tiiere in great numbers the year before. 
Sunday morning they began eating in a 

^rain, and accounts were carried on the books 
of the county until November. 1303. when the 
last payment was made. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 89 

few fields of wheat and barley, but most July 30," and worked from there slow- 
of them waited until Monday before they ly southward, depositing tlieir eggs as 
tested the merits of the growing grain, they went. They invaded Lorain and 
On Sunday Ransom and Bigelow town- Elk townships and on tjie 31st put in 
ships were invaded from the southwest, an appearance about Worthington in 
and a few fine stands of grain in eat-ii considerably numbers. They were not so 
of those townships were badly damaged, numerous as they had been the year be- 
Tuesday, July 13, the greater part of fore, however, and were only enough 
the hoppers took their departure, flying to cover one tier of townships at a 
in a northwesterly direction. The dam- time. Neither did they eat so raven- 
age in Nobles county was not general or ously as formerly. 

great. In no part was there total de- They continued their way southward 
struetion, and probably not over 100 and spread out over several Iowa coun- 
acrcs were seriously damaged. By llie ties, where- they did little or no dam- 
IGth the graisshoppers had not only dc- age to the crops. It has been a ragamuf- 
parted from the county, l)ut from the fin FalstafEin army, compared with that 
state. of the ISTl army. Their appetities ap- 
Tlie settlers kept track of the move- peared to be poor, and they were of a 
ments of the grasshoppers as they would degenerate breed; bushels died after lay- 
have those of an invading army of sol- ing their eggs, and the exhausted rem- 
diers. They knew that- only by chance nant left the county in the first half of 
would they escape. They felt as though August. 

the sword of Damocles were suspended Oats and garden vegetables suffered 

•over them, ready to fall at any moment, most. Outside of the. three northeas- 

The pests M'ere absent only a short time, iei-n townships, where the loss was nearly 

In the latter part of July they invaded total, the damage was slight, and an es- 

the townships of Hersey, Graham Lakes timate placed the crop at nine-tenths 

and Seward — communities which had of a full one. Probably twice the quan- 

suff'ered so greatly the year before — in tity of farm products ever before raised 

great numbers. For several days they was marketed in 187-5. 

were there destrojdng the crops and de- The population of tlie county in 1875, 

positing their eggs. Some of the farm- according to figures taken by the asses- 

ers lost everything, and all in the three sors in the different precincts, was 2738, 

townships suffered considerable loss. It divided by precincts as follows: 

is needless to say that the farmers there Wortliinslon village 419 

were discouraged. Some parts of the VVorthington township 207 

'^ '- Little Rook 204 

county had escaped without great loss Biselow 192 

in 1874 and most of the county did in Oyaham Lakes 192 

rjlK 1 Oa 

1875; but these townships in the north- Sowarri ■. 184 

eastern part of the county had now suf- | o"'ii'" 182 

^ •' Itansom 17o 

fered two nearly complete crop failures. Hei-sey 170 

The grasshoppers began leaving the ?'!'^'<'" ^^^''''^ .■ V^ 

" ' ' " '^ Oliiey 108 

northern tier of townships on Friday, Oraml Prairie 107 

""We were at Grabani lakes on Wednesday the county. At present they do not extend 
[August 4], and found there was snareely a more than three or four mUes north of Worth- 
grasshopper in the whole northern portion of ington. — Worthington Advance, Aug. 6. 1875. 



90 HISTUKY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 

Uewald 103 '^'|ie Hist list diavvn was not signed by 

2nd Assessment District 67 ,, , . ,. ,, , ■, , ,, 

Summit Lake 62 '■'"^ cliairman oi tlie board, and the 

Kirst Assessment District 15 second list was not filed with the clerk 

Xotal 2,738 "f court. The grand jury was therefore de- 
clared not competent to find an indict- 
There was an increase in the as- ,),e„t^ an,] ^he prisoner was given his 
sessed valuation in 1875. The total was jjijerty. 

$65(j,363, of which $254,250 was lor o£ (lie seventeen civil cases on (lie 

personal property and $402,113 for real docket, several were (juite important, 

property. The levy was again placed 'j-),,-, only Jury case was that of Jesse 

at thirteen mills divided as follows: Gen- \v. Pahwcr against Warren Smith for 

eral, five mills; interest on bonds, etc., ijbel. 'J'he trial occupied several days, 

lliree mills; road and bridge, two and ,,„,i the case was decided in favor of 

one-half mills; floating debt, one and the plaintiff, who was given a verdict 

one-half mills; poor, one mill. of one dollar. 

The first term of court held in Following were the jurors who served 

-Nobles county convened at Miller hall, .^i ti,jg j[]-gj; term : 

Worthington, on Tuesday, Sept. 14, (jj-and jurors, .Michael Snyder, Jnlin 
1S75, and was in session until Saturday, 'r. Cwcu. A. Buclian, Charles Fake, T. 
Sept. 18. Judge D. A. Dickinson, of |>. Crowe, ('. H. Loveless, Coleman 
ilankato, judge (jf the Si.xth district, (luernsey, \V. (i. liandall, John D. Brown 
presided. Luring the term E. D. Had- B. F. Tanner, David Fogo, J. R. Dewey, 
ley, of Luverne, and Daniel Kohrer, of Alfred Tt-rry. James Tliom, .lolin De- 
WorthingtoUj- were admitted to practice. I'nos. W. B. Akins, (). A. Fauskee, (J. 
Besides the members of the Worthington M. riuml). G. T. Bnlick, A. W. Burn- 
bar there were present Daniel Buck, of ham, David Hates. William Cull', Otio 
Mankato; E. Clark, of Wiudom; Geo. Ik'rrcau. 

L. Otis, of St. Paul; Mr. Seegur, of IMit jurors — I'eter Sweil/.cr, J. Tar- 

St. James; J. \\. Knox, of Jackson, and bcrt, .lolm Alley, T. H. Parsons, Wil- 

Samuel Lord, of Mantorville. liani II. Parry, II. ('. Rice, H. M. John- 

Tiiere were two criminal cases on the son, Frank Densmore, E. W. Hesselroth, 

ilocket. One was against one Larson, Charles Peterson, Henry Brayton, B. D. 

charged with selling diseased nical. The Chui-cbill. Richard BergrafF, L. B. Har- 

grand jury failed to return a true bill, don, Itobcrt Firth, James Parshall. K. 

Andrew Jacobson, charged with burglary, J. Bear. A. O. Conde, Charles Driiry, 

was di.scharged, owing to the fact that William Ditty, V>. W. Lyon, L. E. Kim- 

thc grand jury was not properly drawn, hall. I!. !■'. Congdon. .hihu llail. 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE GRASSHOPPER SCOURGE 

(ContiiuKMl)--1876-18T9. 



The year 187G opened auspiciously. 
Despite the forpbodings of disaster from 
another grasshopper visitation, the peo- 
ple were in tine spirits. This was caiis- 
ed by tlie prospects of another railroad 
building into the county. Everybody 
was worked up over the matter, and the 
iK'lief WHS almost unanimous that upon 
the onming of another railroad depended 
the future welfare of the county. 

I'lie Soutlici'n Minnesota^ was the 
name of fhe road that caused the flurry 
in Nobles county. It had a road com- 
pleted and in operation as far west as 
Winnebago City and let it be known 
that till.' line would be extended to the 
west, provided sufficient money was rais- 
ed as a bonus. Nobles county was 
asked to vote bonds to the amount of 
$40,000 as a subsidy to be paid subject 
to the condition that the road be com- 
• ])lcted to Worthington and in opera- 
tion on or before September 1, 1877. It 
was also made known that the road 
would later be extended. Mass meet- 
ings and conventions were held to bring 

'A company formed by Chicago. Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Interests. The road is now a 
branch of that system. 

^In the light of present conditions. thi.s pre- 
diction is amusing. The Southern Minnesota 
did build north of Worthington; the point of 
crossing with the Sioux City road is at Prairie 
Junction, or Milonia; and anyone who has 
spent his time there waiting for ti-ains will 
corroborate the statement that it is not a 
metropolis. 



about the desired condition, and very 
little opposition to voting the bonds 
developed. The Worthington Advance 
of Jan. 13, 1876. said of the necessity 
of having the new road, and thereby 
voiced the sentiment of the people of 
Worthington, at least : 

The Southern Minnesota is Wortliiiigton's 
oi.iportunity. If the road comes here, Wdrth- 
ingion becomes from that day a railroad 
center and an important inland city. If it 
goes north of us, the railroad center for 
this section of country will be at the point 
of crossing the Sioux City road.' Worth- 
ington can better afford to pay the whole 
bonus herself than to let the road go north 
of us. About one-half the tax will fall 
upon Worthington in any event, for aboiic 
that per cent of the realty on the tax list 
is in Worthington. . . . But of course 
Worthington will not be askeil to do this. 
The suiTOunding country will, if anyihing. 
be benefited more than the town, and will 
not hesitate to hear its share of the small 
burden lu^cessary to secure the road. 

A petition was presented to the board 
of county commissioners on February 
11), asking that the Nobles county law 
makers call an election to vote on the 
c[uestion of issuing bonds. ^ The same 
day the commis.sioners took favorable ac- 

'The petition was signed by Daniel Shell, H. 
W. Kimball, H. J. Grant, L. E. Kimball, Otis 
Bigelow, C. P. Hewitt, R. F. Baker, Geo. O. 
Moore, H. Davis, S. A. Davis, E. C. Hill. A. 
M. Smith, Elihu Smith, C. B. Loveless, C. T. 
Pope, B. N. Carrier. T. C. Bell. A. P. Miller. 
M. B. Soule. J. P. Moulton, 'V\^ S. Stockdale, 
R. D. Barber, H J. Ludlow, C. Z. Sutton, M. 
Grinager, L. B. Bennett, Daniel Rohrer. J. A. 
Town, C. Johnson and I. N. Sater. 



91 



92 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



tion, and called a special election for 
the village of Worthington to be held 
>rarch 14. Provision was made for vot- 
ing on the question in the townships on 
the same day, that being the date of the 
regular township elections. Bj' a vote 
of 353 to 199 the bond issue was au- 
thorized. Following is the result by 
precincts : 



PRECINCTS 


For 
Bonds 


Against 
Bonds 


1 

Worthington Village 

Worthington Twp 

Lorain 

Dewald . 

Olney 

Hersey 

Elk 


108 
40 
23 

23 

Hi 

7 

30 

l(i 

1 

3 V 
25 
21 
10 


1 

3 
35 

2 
3ii 
41 

() 
18 
10 
25 


Summit Lake . 


Seward 

Indian Lake 

Bigelow 


Little Rock 


Total :.. 


353 


1!)9 



That was the end oi: the matter for 
the time Ijeing. The ro;ul was not ex- 
tended until three years later, and tlien 
it barely touched Nobles county, passing 
througli tlie northeastern corner of Gra- 
ham Lakes towrishi]). 'J'he bi)iiils for the 
subsidy voted were nut issued. 

But the Southern Minnesota was not 
the only railroad that showed activity 
in 187G. Simultaneous with the agita- 
li(]n for the extension of that line, the 
people of Siou.x Falls and vicinity were 
laying plans to have a road luiilt iulo 
that prosperous community. Jn the fall 
of 1875 several public meetings were 
held in Sioux Falls, the object of which 
was to secure a road, either by building 
one with local capital or by inducing" the 
Sioux (!ity & St. Paid Pailroad com|)any 
to constiMU-l a branch from some ])ciint 



on its main lino. The point favored 

was Sibley or some station in Iowa. 

Tiie wants of the Dakota town were 

made Icnown to the officials of the 

Sioux . City & St. Paul road. President 

E. !•'. Drake responded as follows: 

St. Paul, Minn., Oct? 28, 1875. 
Sir: Vour favor of the 21st duly reeeiveil. 
.\ljseiiie has prevented an earlier reply. It 
<ecni.s to me your proi)er line of road is 
from W'orihington, or a point on our road 
at the state line. The great product of your 
(ountry is to be wheat, ami our route to 
Lake Superior is always to be the best route 
for it. Had the west escaped grasslioppei ■- 
we would have long since taken up this 
project, but our stockholders have sunk in 
operating oin- road about as much as would 
be required to build to Sioux Falls. Foreign 
aid cannot be had until the state of Iowa. 
l>y some act of her legislature, can assure 
investors that they will be free from un- 
friendly legislation. I think, as matters now 
stand, our prcferonce will be to build from 
fonw. point in Minnesota. While we are not 
ready to begin to build, and would desire 
(in case we do) the cooperation of Siou.x 
Falls, still we are not losing .sight of the 
importance of the proposed route, and will 
give it every encouragement in our power. 
1 am of the opinion that the road can only 
be built by local aid liberally voted. It will 
not be in my power to be with you at your 
meeting, but whatever may be its result, 
and whatever route you may determine on, 
I shall wish you success. Your people are 
entitled to a road out in some direction, and 
when you develop your plans and determine 
what you wish to do, I shall be iilad to have 
further correspondence. 

Yours. 

E. F. l)i;.\KK. I'rcst. 

The information contained in the let- 
ter did not prove entirely satisfactory to 
the progressive people of Sioux Falls ; 
they wanlfid a road at once, and Presi- 
dent Drake had stated that the company 
was not in position to build at once. 
Tliey conliiiued tlie agitation, determin- 
ed to construct a road themselves if nec- 
essary, and an association was formed, 
composed mostly of people of Minne- 
haha county, Dakota territory. Presi- 
dent Di-nkc had given n hint as to the 
jiropcr place from which to build, and 
late in December. 1875, the Dakota 



HISTOIJY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



93 



boomers met and designated Worthing- 
ton as the eastern teriuimis of the pro- 
posed road. 

A preliminary survey of the country 
adjacent to Big Sioux river and Brown 
creek from Sioux Falls to the Minnesota 
line near Talley Springs was made. The 
surveyors reported a route favorable for 
construction as well as operating. The 
people of Minnehaha county very strong- 
ly urged the people of Eock and Nobles 
comities to unite with them in further- 
ing the work.* But the people of No- 
bles county were at the time too much 
iibsorbed iji the Southern Minnesota to 
be aroused in the interest of the Dako- 
tans. 

During the month of January, 1876, 
tlie Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad 
company decided to build the road. This 
action was taken because of the evident 
intention of the Southern Minnesota to 
invarle the territory. The decision was 
reached, ostensibly, through the efforts 
of the Minnehaha county committee, who 
visited the officers of the railroad com- 
pany and secured from them the promise 
to Iniild the road.' Tlie railroad com- 
]iany asked that tlie three counties 

■"'Valley Springs. Dec. 27. 1875. 

"A. P. MiUer. Dear Sir: ... Of course 
it is idle for this co"jnty to attempt the enter- 
prise urless the Noble«; and Rock county peo- 
ple will unite with them. By solicitation of 
the committee appointed to forward the pro- 
ject. I write to ascertain if we may expect 
prompt action on the p^rt of your people. 
. T am confident that if Nobles and 
Rock counties will act with as much effect as 
our own people, and as promptly, we can be- 
fore the next harvest show a line three- 
fourths of the entire distance graded and 
ready for the ties. Of course this can only be 
done by the most active work in organization 
and in subsequent prosecution of the work. 

"I hope and trust that you will, with such 
others of your people as should enlist in the 
work, extend to us the hand of greeting in 
the most liberal manner, and aid in binding 
our little commmunitics together with bands 
of iron at the earliest day practicable. I verj' 
much wish a personal interview with you and 
your people, and will, if you desire, under- 
take to come to Worthington with some two 
or three of our Sioux Falls friends if by so 
doing we may reasonably hope to secure ac- 



through which the road was to run pay 
a bonus. 

The company was incorporated in 
March as the St. Paul & Dakota Rail- 
road company" by President E. F. Drake 
and his associates of the Sioux City & 
St. Paul. The capital stock was $600,- 
000, there being 6,000 shares of $100 
each. As told in the incorporation act, 
the company proposed to build a branch 
roTjd "from some point on the line of 
the Sioux City & St. Paul railroad, in 
Nobles county, state of Minnesota, to 
the west line of tlie state of Minnesota, 
in Rock county." 

The preliminary survey was started 
west from Worthington on March 31, 
the original lines being run on the 
north side of Okabena lake. Later this 
course was abandoned in order to avoid 
the heavy grade that would have to be 
overcome in building directly out of 
Worthington. It was decided to leave 
the main line at a point about three 
miles southwest of Worthington known 
as the summit, later known as Sioux 
Falls Junction. 

Preparations were ru,shed. funds were 
secured, bonuses wore voted in ^linne- 



tive cooperation. 

"Very truly yours. 

"M. S. WOOD. 
"Chairman Com. Sioux Falls R. R. Co."' 

'"'Editor Advance: Permit me through the 
medium of your verj' excellent paper to state 
to your people that as a result of a visit of 
the Minnehaha railroad ^committee we have 
the pleasure to state tha't our interview with 
the president and several of the directors of 
the St. Paul & Sioux City railroad was of a 
highly satisfactory character. 

"Briefly, let m.c say that as a result we 
bring with us a written proposition bearing 
the signature of president Drake, which we 
regard as highly reasonable, and we may say. 
liberal, which, by prompt acceptance and ac- 
tion on the part of Nobles. Rock and Min- 
nehaha counties, promises to give us a rail- 
io;id to Luverne in time to move the crops qf 
this year, and final completion to Sioux Falls 
before the close of the year 1S77. . . M. 

S. Wood, Chairman." 

"The name was changed to Worthing-ion & 
Sioux Falls Railroad company in July, 1876. 



94 



IIISTOUY OF XOBLES COUNTY. 



halia auJ Kock counties, and in May 
grading was begun.' The work of eon- 
striietion on the branch made business 
lively. Nearly every train brouu;iit work- 
.nicii to Worthington, and the hotels there 
were filled to overtlowinji;. The lumber 
yardSjblacksniith shops and hardware stores 
also did a good business. It was the 
first time in several years that ready 
money had circulated in tlie county. The 
track was completed to the present site 
of Adrian in August, and October 2 the 
track had been laid to the crossing of 
Rock river at Luverne, and the first re- 
gular train was run over the line.' 

The stage line between Worthington 
and Luverne Avas discontinued. The 
village of Adrian was founded, and at 
once became an important trading 
point." A station named Miller, in 
honor of e.x-Govcrnor Stephen Miller. 
was established at i\\o ]m\nt where 
Euslmiore now stands. The postoffiee 
of Hebbai'd was moved to Adrian, and 
that at Dewald was discontinued. The 
road was extended from Luverne to 
Sioux Falls in the summer of 1878. 

• 

The grasshoppers again brought des- 
truction to the crops in 1876. The de- 
posit and hatch was confined mainly to 
those townships which jiad been invaded 
tlie year before. The pests began to 
hatcli, and late in May commenced their 
ravages. They were quite tliick in Ora- 
ham Lakes, TTersey, Seward. Elk and 
Worthington townships, and there were 

"'LeMars, April 3. 1S7G. 
"A. P. Miller. Esq. Dear Sir: Upon ooncli- 
tion that we secure the stipulnted bonus in 
Rock county we have secured every dollar of 
the sum required to complete our branch 
road from yt)ur place to Luverne by or before 
the first day of October next, and If the t)onus 
liv voted It will be so completed. Col. Drake. 
Col. Merrlam and Horace Thompson. Esq.. 
teleKraph from New York that the money 
is I'eady so soon as the bonus is voted; and 
General Bishop writes that if the vote be 
favorable, he will Immediately thereafter 
finally locate the road, and will commence Its 
construction so soon as the frost is out of 



a few in Indian Lake, Dewald and Sum- 
mit Lake. For a time they ate quite 
ravenously: then during the fii*st week 
in June they appeared to become inac- 
tive. They scattered through the prairie 
grass, became apparently demoralized, 
and appeared to have lost their appe- 
tites. As usual, tlie three northeastern 
townships were the most severely hurt, 
and the other portions of the county 
were not damaged to any great extent 
by the early operations of the pests. 
About the middle of June the young 
lioppers recovered their appetites and re- 
turned to the charge. The local hatch 
was not considered numerous enough to 
do any extensive damage, and the great- 
east anxiety was the fear of another in- 
vasion. The Advance of June 22 said : 

In tliis county the damage is still slifrlit. 
We liear lioiu "Seward that nearly all tin- 
grain there is clestroyecl. Our Ilersey cor 
resiionclent writes that in that t(]wn the in 
jury is not great. ^Ir. .Xnie^. of this town 
ship |\Vorlhingloul. thinks his crops are 
half taken. .Mr. Kulweiler. of Bigelow. ha^ 
lest a good j)ortion of liis grain. 

The invading hosts appeared July 8, 
dropped down upon the county, ate a 
few days. :iiid disappeared. Then on 
July 22 they cainc in countless numbers. 
The country was invaded again I They 
extended as far east as Mai'tin county, 
south to Sibley, west tn '^'aiikton, and 
north an indefinite ilistance. They re- 
mained until July 29, when they nearly 
all migrated. Oats, barley, corn, vege- 
tables, and all crops except wheat, wore 

the ground, and will ohcorfully furnish em- 
ployment for all the men and their teams 
in your county and Rock that are desirous to 
labor. . . . — S. Miller. Agent." 

"The train consisted of one coach and a 
caboose, and carried a party of visitiuB rail- 
road officials. Peter Becker was conductor; 
Frank Swandollar, engineer; Matt Dulan 
fireman. John McMillan was roadmaster in 
charge of the branch line when it began 
operations. 

'For the early history of .Vdrian see chap- 
ter 17. 










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HISTOI^Y OF NOBLES COrNTY. 



95 



almost entirely destroyed in all parts of 
the county. For some reason the wheat 
was not so seriously damaged, the loss in 
that crop being no greater than it had 
been during the previous year.^" 

There was no disguising the fact tliat 
Nobles county had met another damag- 
ing setback. Tlie people were discour- 
aged, and some left the country. Tlie 
hoppers had again deposited their eggs, 
and there seemed no prospects that the 
country would ever be free from them." 
The majority of the settlers remained, 
determined to tight to a successful end 
or meet utter failure in the attempt. 
The result of the invasion of 187G was 
to change tlie tactics. Instead of stak- 
ing all on gi'ain farming, many now 
turned to stockraising. 

During the winter following the in- 
vasion, it was again necessary to extend 
relief. Early in January the county 
commissioners began issuing siTpplies to 
relieve actual suffering. Captain E. S. 
Mills distrilnited at Bigelow and Worth- 
ington, A. C. Eoljinson at Wortliington 
and A. 0. Conde at Hersey. This 
coimty aid was given only to bridge over 
the time until supplies could be received 
from the state, after an appropriation 
had boi<n made l)y tlie legislature. The 
]\rinnesiita law-niaking body appropriat- 
ed .$100,nOO to be used in bounties to 
pay for the destructioTi of grasshoppers 
and their eggs, $75,000 to furnish seed 
grain, and another sum as a common 
relief fund. A rule was e.?tablished in 
Nobles county that parties desiring re- 

""Ttiey [the grasshoppers] will of course 
harve.st the wheat next unless farmers can 
pret in ahead of them and cut their wheat. 
There is a bare possibility that the wheat 
crop, in the main, will escaoe. and we are 
sure of our cattle and other live stock. Really 
we shall be grateful if they do not eat the 
shirts off our backs. Our hope is that a 
friendly tornado or a three days' blizzard will 
come and blow them away. How long! — 
Worthington .\dvance. July 27. 1S76. 



lief should apply to the township super- 
visors and make their statement, no af- 
fidavit being required. These statements 
were then sent to the state authorities, 
and supplies were sent direct to the 
needy parties, thus dispensing with the 
need of a county distributing commit- 
tee. 

During tlie days that the grasshoppers 
were feasting on Nobles county grain 
came the last Indian scare. It seems 
Iiardly creditable that such an event 
could take place so late as 18?(i, when 
the whole surrounding country had be- 
come cpiite thickly settled, but such is 
the fact, and those who lived in tlie 
northern part of the county at the time 
will never forget it. Needless to say, 
there were no Indians within a long dis- 
tance of Nol)les county, and no hostiles 
within several hundred miles. But it 
was only a short time after the fearful 
(\ister massacre in Montana, and the 
rumor that Indians were on tlie way to 
wipe out the settlements of southwest-- 
crn ^finnesota came to credulous ears. 

It was on the inoriiiug , nl' .July 12, 
ISTT), before daylight, that some settlers 
frniii the nnrtli liurricdly rude iutu 
Worthington and repoilcd that the In- 
dians were coming, ll was stateil that a 
baml of .-)rtfl was camped on one of the 
lakes of ^Iiirray county. The scare spread 
through the southern part of Murray and 
the northern part of Nobles counties, 
and the evil done to nervous woman and 
children (and some men) was great. 

Soon after the arrival of the first 



"There was really very little that the set- 
tlers could do to destroy or check the pests, 
although many schemes v/ere tried. N'othing 
availed against the invading hordes, but in 
the case of the young hoppers the farmers 
waged a more or less successful war by the 
use of tar. A sort of drag, made of sheet 
Iron and wood, would have tar spre-^d over it 
and would then be dragged over the ground. 
The young hoppers would be caught in the 
tar and destroyed, but if there was an in- 
vasion all the work would be for naught. 



96 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



refugees people began to pour into Worth- 
ington from tlie country to the north. 
They had been aroused from their slum- 
bers by the startling announcement that 
the Indians were coming, had driven 
all night, and were in a high state of 
nervous excitement. Tlie roads through 
Elk and Seward townships were lined 
with wagons, the occupants of which 
were all bound for the county seat. Ar- 
rived there, they camped on tlio public 
square. The same evening some of the 
settlers returned to their homes when 
it became evident there was no truth in 
the rumor. Others waited for more 
substantial proof than had been obtained. 

The scare had originated with a hoy 
named Hemphill, in southern Murray 
county. He had been sent out to rake 
hav, but not being of a very enterpris- 
ms nature, he conceived a plan to es- 
cape the work. He rushed to the house, 
crving that the Indians had attacked 
him. A man named Hampton, who was 
preparing to leave the country, spread 
the alarm, and within a short time a 
full fledged Indian scare was on. 

.\ scouting party was at once organ- 
ized at Wovthingfon bv Lieutenant K. B. 
Plotts. iiimle up of the following gen- 
ilcTiicn: Oco. Brant. Prof. P. P. Hum- 
iston, A. P. ^filler. Will Bus.hnell. Phas. 
Covey. Captain .Mken Miner and Alex 
Dickev." Thev scoured the country to 
the north looking for Indians or Indian 
signs. They found notliing but a lot 
of scared people. After the return 
Lieutenants Plotts made the the follow- 
ing report of the expedition. 

fiontlomon of tlvo Cniiiicil nf t)io Villafro of 

Woilliiiiclon: 

.\{;rocMl>lo to instiiiclioiis. I linvo tlio honor 
lo report the foHowiiip faots gathered by our 
party wliile scouting the country on Wednes- 

^*Sonie nf the scouts wore mounted, others 
went In buggies, and a few of them were 
prepared to meet Indians. Those with Prof. 



(lay, July 12, .xnd Thur.sday, l."ith. After 
leaving Worthington we proceeded north of 
the lake Shetek road, accompanied by a 
considerable party in wagons and on horse- 
back. The whole party proceeded as far as 
.Tack creek, wliero we found the first occupied 
house, but no news from occupants of In- 
dians. We next stopped at the house of Mr. 
Alexander, on the north edge of the county, 
where some men were gathered who had 
just returned from a scout around the coun- 
try a number of miles, and who had been 
i;nable to find anything. They informed us 
that they thought the whole thing had 
originated with a boy named Hemphill, of 
that neighborhood, and followed by the re- 
ports of a man named Hampton a few miles 
further north and in Murray county. The 
whole party then proceeded to the bank of 
Seven Mile lake, \inhitched. fed our teams 
and lunched, after which it was decided, in 
consultation, that I'rof. llumiston and his 
immediate party, with two of the horsemen, 
should return with the news as gathered. 

The remainder of the party then proceeded 
norih till we came to the house of Mr. King, 
town of Bondin, Munay county. Here is 
quite a large settlement, and most of the 
men were at Mr. K.'s house_. which contained 
the only woman in the township. Here we 
found that it was unnecessary to proceed any 
further north, as a man had just arrived 
from lake Shetek a short time before our ar- 
rival, and he re|iorted everything quiet north 
of this immediiio neighborhood. Scouts also 
came in from the surrounding country while 
we were there, and all reported that no In- 
dians or signs of Indians coiild be found any- 
where. The report of Hampton, following 
the report of the boy Hempliill lias caused 
the whole of the trouble, and no small 
amount of damage to us as a people. 

Having thus traced the alarm to its foiui- 
tain head. Messrs. Clark, Shirley and Chase 
leturned to town from this place, and ouv 
guide and interpreter, Afr. Brint, accompanie 1 
by two men from Bondin om herpes, and twn 
of my own neighbors from Elk, pushed out 
west lo lone Tree or Badger lake, where wt 
spent tlie night at the house of Mr. Ander- 
son. This place is close to the Beaver Creek 
settlement, which knew nothing of Indians, 
and were pursuing the even tenor of their 
ways, unalarmed bv Indian scares. 

From Badger lake we pushed west across 
the country to Cora Belle lake, one of the 
old camping grounds of the Indians, and 
here we found no trails fresh, or new camps, 
neither of them having been used at least 
since last Mav or .Time. From Cora Belle 
we pushed across to that trail leading across 
Sunken Timber, as that is the only place 
anyone can cross without going way north 
or coming in south by T.uvcme. Before 

Humlston were armed with para.sols, high col- 
lars and kid gloves. 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



97 



getting there we met a man just from it, 
who hail not been more than one hour's 
time awa}', and te informed us that he had 
seen notliing of any Indians, nor had heard 
of any until seeing us 

In conchision, I would add that should I 
ever be so unfortunate as to have another 
such duty as this to perform, I should cer- 
tainly like to have in my party such men 
as accompanied me through, and especially 
siich a one as our interpreter, Mr. Brant. 
And now. trusting this report may allay the 
fears of all our people throughout this coun- 
try, I beg to remain. 

Very truly your servant, 

R. B. PLOTTS, 
Late in Charge of Scouting Party. 

Hail it not been I'or the terrible gras.'S- 
hopper scourge there can be no doubt 
that the whole of Nobles count}' woulrl 
have been rapidly settled during the 
first half of the seventies. A big set- 
tlement had been nutde in the eastern 
half of the county because of the prox- 
imity to the railroad and because of 
the activities of the National colony, and 
a ffw had pushed out to the fertile 
lands in the western portion. If the 
hard times had not come there is no rea- 
son to doubt that a railroad would have 
lieen built through the west end and that 
that portion of the county would have been 
as thickly settled as the east. But im- 
migration had ceased when the scourge 
came, with the result that the extreme 
western and the wliole of the north- 
western part of the county was left 
with a very small population. 

From 1873 to 1877 no new townships 
were organized. At the close of the for- 
mer year 14 of Nobles county's minor 
divisions had been granted local govern- 
ment : the otlier six were unorganized, and 
had but small population. When the 
braiuh road was built during the summer 
and fall of 1876, resulting in the 
founding of Adrian village, the lands 
along the new road were settled to a 
considerable extent. In township 103- 
4.3 was located part of the new village, 



and there also was the greatest farm- 
ing settlement in any of the unorgan- 
ized townships. 

A petition praying for the organiza- 
tion of that township was presented to 
the board of county commissioners Jan. 
24, 1877. It was signed by Thos. H. 
Childs, G. E. Otis, J. C. Ludlow, 0. 
Klock, E. Washburn, Horace Westbrook, 
H. M. Moffatt, David W. Hovey, Isaac 
Emerson, Matthew Emerson, Nils Elias, 
Thron Gunderen, Henry Myiees, Ira E. 
Crosby, J. V. Bartow, Wm. Wigham, 
John Ellsworth, Geo. L. Ellsworth, 
John Nesh, A. E. Calkins, M. 
J. Klock, Peter Doltsmark, S. K. 
Hovey, L. C. Long, J. W. Yost, 
John Misemas, F. W. Ellsworth. The 
•board took favorable action February 6, 
and named the township Westside, the 
name being given because of its geo- 
graphical location. The organization 
was perfected Feb. 24, when the first 
town meeting was held at the Childs' 
hotel in Adrian. 

Twenty-three votes were cast at this 
initial election of Westside township. 
Thomas Childs and J. A. Ellsworth 
were judges of election, and Ira Crosby 
was clerk. The following officers were 
elected: Chairman. J. A. Ellsworth; 
supervisors. John Wiseman and Isaac 
Emerson ; clerk, L. C. Ijong : treasurer, 
Ira E. Crosby ; assessor, J. V. Bartow ; 
justices of the peace, T. H. Childs and 
E. Simmons ; constables, Geo. L. Ells- 
worth and Thomas Baltuff. Another 
election for the selection of township of- 
ficers was held March 13, 1877, when 
eighteen votes were cast and the foU 
lowing officers were elected: Chairman, 
Ira E. Crosby; supervisors, John Wise- 
man and A. E. Harris; clerk, L. C. 
Long; treasurer, P. Voigtlaender ; as- 
sessor, J. V. Bartow; justices of the 



98 



HISTOin' OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



peace, J. A. Ellsworth and T. 11. 
Cliilds; constables, Geo. L. Ellswurth 
and Geo. Slade. 

Nobles county's first court house was 
erected in LS7?. Tt was ]iui \\\i :it that 
time in order to .secure title to tiie block 
of land which had been donated bv the 
railroad company willi the ]irovision 
that a county i)uilding should be erected 
thereon within a certain time. The 
l)uildin<j put up was intended to serve 
as a temporary affair, but the build- 
ing was destined to be used as a court 
house — with some modifications — for 
eighteen years. 

The question of its construction was 
first officially discussed by the board of 
county commissioners on Feb. 6, 1877, 
when CommissiQner A. C. T?obinson was- 
instructed to prepare plans." The plans 
submitted were accepted March 20, and 
the auditor was authorized to advertise 
for sealed proposals to furnish material 
and erect the building, which should 
be completed by .Tune 28. Several bids 
were submitted, and the contract was 
let to Thurber & Chandler (B. F. Thur- 
bor and S. E. riiandlc>r) on n bid of 
$1124.'* Tlie building was completed 
and accepted liy the commissioners June 
20, and on .Tune 27 the county officers 
took up their quarters in tlie court 
house. 

The annual dread of grasshopper visi- 
tation was again fell in tlie spring and 
summer of 1877 — and this time the set- 
tlers were agreeably disappointed. The 
season was admirably adapted fo two 
ends: the best possible development 
of small grain, and the worst pos- 
sible development of the locusts. 

"A. O. Condo movcci that A. C. Robinson bo 
and Is hereby Instnictod to prepare a plan 
and estimate the cost of a temporary building 
for eounty offices and report the same at the 
next meeting of the board." — Commissioners' 
Journal. Feb. C, IS77. 



The cool, rainy weather of the 
s])ring and early summer .seemed to 
have been sent on purpose to give wheat 
and other small grain a rapid and hcalthv 
growth, and at the same time giv( 
the grasshoppers a slow and feeble de- 
velopment. After the young grasshop- 
jjcrs hatched, here and there a field was 
somewhat damaged by them, but the 
people knew that unless raided again by 
the invading hordes there could not 
be universal destruction. And the inva- 
ders did not come. July 26 the Wor- 
thington Advance said : "The deeper we 
get into the magnificent harvest of 
1877, the more we realize that this is 
our year of Jubilee." 

Yet conditions witc not so rosy as 
one might imagine. The several years 
of grasshopper invasion had discouraged 
the farmers of Nobles county to such 
an extent that each year saw less and 
less grain sown. The spring of 1877 
witnessed the planting of a very limit- 
ed acreage, and the big yield per acre 
did not result in the bountiful time- 
that would have come had the farmers 
sown as in former years. 

The state of affairs in Nobles coun- 
ty is described by a gentleman who visi- 
ted it that fall. In XoveniUer he wrote: 

"The country around Worth ington, as 
well as for a long distance before reach- 
ing there along the line of the St. Paul 
it Sioux City road, gives evidence of 
the sad effects of the grasshopper plague 
in the thousands of acres of land that 
have ouee been broken ami ])ei1inps a 
crop or two taken from ii. and the 
owners have left it to grow uji to weeds, 
not daring to risk the chances of bar- 

'*'rhe liids submitted were as follows: 'I'hur- 
bi r & Chandler. $1124: Edwin Huniislnn. 
Ji:!.3n; G. Anderson. $1100. C. B. I.aiittdon 
offered to sell the I'armers hotel or si nne-h 
as might be needed and move It to er>unty 
grounds for $800. J. H. Johnson offered to 
.sell the building then in use for county pur- 
poses for $1,000. 




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HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



99 



vestinc; their crops. Nothing so forcibly 
brings to the mind of the visitor the 
reality of the grasshopper scourge as 
the sight of these desolate, weed-grown 
fields, with occasionally a deserted home 
standing cheerless and lone in the midst 
of the broad prairie." 

The legislature of 1878 passed another 
appropriation bill (approved February 
13) providing for furnisliing seed grain. 
The Nobles county officials received 
■$l,6Sfi..')0 of tins appropriation in cash, 
purchased the grain, and made the dis- 
tribution. There were 91 farmers who 
made application for grain. They had 
prepared 3,344 acres of land and de- 
sired 2,374 bushels of wheat and 1,1 fi9 
bushels of oats.^° 

The population of the county in 1877 
according to an estimate made by the 
Minnesota conimi.'^sioner of statistics 
was 1,-596. This was undoubtedly an 
underestimate. The population was 
nearer 3,000. 

By far the most important event of 
the year 1877, and one of the greatest 
moment in the county's history, was the 
founding of the Adrian Catliolic colony 
and its beginning of operations in the 
western part of the county. It was 
to the west end what the temperance 
National colony had been to the east 
end five or six years earlier. The sav- 
ing of the 1877 crop was largely respon- 
sible for several leading Catholics se- 
lecting western Nol)les county as the 
place in which to plant a colony. 

It was in the first few days of Sep- 
tember, 1877, that Bishop .John Ireland, 
of St. Paul: Father C. J. Knauf, of 
Jordan: and Father A. I'hit. of Shako- 
pee, arrived in Xoljles county to look 
over the country with a possible view 
to selecting it as the place to establish 



their followers. These gentlemen were 
pleased with the location, and immediate- 
ly decided that they had found the place 
which they sought. Bishop Ireland and 
the railroad company entered into a 
contract, whereby the former was given 
the exclusive sale of the railroad lands 
in Grand Prairie, Little Eock, Westside, 
Olnoy, Lismore and Larldn townships,^" 
under the following plan : Wlien a mem- 
ber of the colony selected his land a 
permit was to be isued by Father Knauf, 
who at once took up his residence at 
Adrian and became local manager of the 
company and the resident priest. The 
settler was then to take his permit to the 
railroad company, which was to issue a 
contract for the sale of the land. 

The people who composed the colony 
were principally German and Irish 
Catholics from Minnesota, Wisconsin, 
Michigan and other central states. Be- 
fore the close of September several of 
the colonists arrived and contracted for 
land, and by October 5 Father Knauf 
had issued permits for the purchase of 
1.780 acres of land. Before the year was 
over this had been largely increased. 
The Worthington Advance of Oct. 4, 
said : "Tlie influx of people into tliis 
section of country reminds us of the 
first year of our settlement here. The 
hotels are full nearly every night." 
Only a few of these arrivals located per- 
manentlv that winter. They came, se- 
cured their permits, and then returned 
to their former homes to make prepara- 
tions for moving on in the early spring. 

To the Adrian colony, to northwestern 
Noliles countv, to eastern Nobles coun- 
tv, to the Sioux Falls country, to all 
parts of Minnesota, the settlers flocked 
in the spring of 1878. It was be- 
lieved that the graJishopper days were 



">Report of Count.v Cotnmis.sioners to State 
Auditor, March 5, 1S78. 



"'Thr' two last named hart not thon been 
named or organized. 



101) 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



past, and out-e more the new country 
was the goal for thousands of immi- 
grants. They came by railroad and in 
the primitive prairie schooner. During 
one day in April 32 heavily loaded cov- 
ered wagons reached Worthington. The 
new settlors thus arriving had their 
families with them , and were ready to 
commence operations on their farms. Of 
the ni.sh to the once more promised 
land Mr. T. McClcary in March wrote 
to the Mankato Eeview: 

T rame to Luvornp on Friday, March 1. 
All the war from Mankato the oirs woro 
rrowflcd with people hoinifl for the west. 
Manv of tliom were vonn"; men seekin? land 
at Worthinffton. The hotel was full, four 
of n« sloening in one room. The jn'eat ery seems 
to he for land, land, and the crowds are 
pnshinsf to Sioux Falls and . vioinity. One 
cannot have mueh idea of (he masrnitude 
of this prairie oountrv without a trip over 
it. What a population it can support, and 
how it invites the starving multitude that 
lianfT ahout the cities, to come and make 
themselves independent. 

The grasshopper days were not yet. 
over. Late in ihe season they appeared 
in small numbers and did some little 
damage in parts of the county, but the 
destruction they wroiight was as noth- 
ing compared with that of the early 
days. A partial crop failure also re- 
sulted frnni n.ntnral causes, and nftc. 
harvest, times wore not sn prnsnerous as 
thev had promised to be in the snrinsr. 

One more township w'as orsanized 
that year. Tn fbo fall a Tnainritv of 
the lc?al voters of that township which 
later became Willmont sin-ned a petition 
nslcin? for orjianization and sussrestiufT a 
name for the same. The name sus- 
ffested was not satisfacton' to some of 
the settlers, and a petition of remon- 
strance, simed bv 18 voters, w-as pre- 
sented, asldncr that the county commis- 
sioners do not name the town as su<r- 



gested, but that tliey select the name. 
One faction \vantcd the township named 
Wilhimet, the other Laniont. When the 
commissioners, on November 22, pro- 
vided for the organization, they named 
the town.ship Willmont," a combina- 
tion of parts of the names suggested by 
the two factions. The first town meet- 
ing was held at the residence of Wil- 
liam Moody Dec. 12, 1878. 

Two new railroads touched Nobles 
county in 1879, both passing through 
the extreme northeastern corner. One of 
these was the Southern 'Minnesota (now 
the ]\Iilwaukee), the proposed exten- 
sion of which caused so much stir in 
1876. The line of the road was defi- 
nitely located in the spring, and con- 
tracts for its construction were imme- 
diately let. The Sioux City & St. Paul 
road again resented the proposed en- 
croachment on what it considered its own 
lorritory. To head off the Southern 
Minnesota that road hurridly made a 
survey for a branch line from TTcron 
Lake to Pipestone, paralleling tlie sur- 
vey of the other road. 

Tlien began a lively race in construc- 
tion. Side by side the construction 
crews of the two roads worked. .\t 
times violence was narrowly averted be- 
tween the worlanen. so bitter bad be- 
come the strife between the two com- 
panies. It was admitted that it was 
a cut-throat policy to continue the 
work of buildin? the parallel roads, but 
neither would iriye in. Late in May a 
conference was held at St. Paul belwecn 
representatives of the Milwaukee and 
Sioux City S^ St. Paul interests, when an 
attempt was made to come to an un- 
derslandin? and to reconcile diflFerences. 
The conference served only to make 
matters worse, and the work of con- 



"Fnr the naming of the vlllapre of Wllmont word see chapter 19. 
and the change In the spelling of the original 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



101 



struction on both roads was rushed to 
completion. 

Not only did they run their roads side 
by side; they laid out their towns 
almost within a stone's throw of each 
other. Two of these were in Nobles 
county, about a mile apart, Airlie (Kin- 
brae) was laid out on the Southern 
Minnesota; Warren (Dundee) was built 
on the Pipestone branch of the Sioux 
City & St. Paul. 

The grasshoppers reappeared in the 
summer of 1879 and ate their last No- 
bles county grain. They were not pres- 
ent in great numbers, but they re- 
iiiained several weeks. A few farmers 
lost whole fields, b\it the destrucllon 
was not general. The only crop damaged 
to any considerable extent was wheat, 
and the hoppers were generous enough 
to divide that with the farmers. About 
the middle of July they departed, never 
to appear again. The great grasshopper 
scourge was a thing of the past. 

The townships of Afton (Bloom) and 
Leota were organized in the spring of 
this last grasshopper year, both com- 
ing into existence at the same time. 

An abortive attempt had been made 
to organize township 104-41 (Bloom) 
during the summer of 1878. The meas- 



'*To the Honorable County 
of Nobles County: 



Commissioners 



"We, the undersigned, do offer a remon- 
strance against the action of a certain meet- 
ing held at the residence of Peter Bloom, on 
the southwest quarter of section 22 in this 
town, on the 31st day of May, said meet- 
ing being called for the purpose of naming 
said town and signing petition to your hon- 
orable body for permission to organize. 

"Charge 1st. That there were no notices 
posted in the town giving due notice of the 
meeting. 

"Charge 2nd. That deceptive language was 
used at said meeting to induce certain per- 
sons to sign petition who had already signed 
one. 

"And as there is the town of Center in 
Murray county we are opposed to the name 
of North Center as a name for the town. 

"[Signed] G. Larchinger, Daniel Larchin- 
ger. Thos. J. Lynch, William Sanger, Paul 



ure was defeated that year largely be- 
cause of the inability of the settlers to 
agree upon a name. Prom the spring 
of 1878 until the township was organ- 
ized the following year, petitions and re- 
monstrances were poured in upon the 
county commissioners, urging the selec- 
tion of one name or protesting against 
the bestowal of some other. A meeting 
was held at the residence of Peter 
Bloom, May 31, 1878, when a peti- 
tion was drawn up and signed, asking 
the county commissioners to grant town- 
ship government and name it North Cen- 
ter. This at once brought forth a pro- 
test from those residents who were not 
in favor of the name, and on June o they 
presented a remonstrance to the county 
board.'* The commissioners, evidently 
concluding that they would wait until 
harmony should be restored, took no ac- 
tions on the petitions. 

The contest for the choosing of the 
name resulted in the formation of two 
factions, one favorable to the name 
North Center, the other to Hamberg. 
Early in the year 1879 the "Hamber- 
gers"' became active and circulated a 
petition. This was followed on .lan- 
uary 30 by a remonstrance fi-diii the 
"Xorth Centers.'"'" The opposition i-.iiiir 
to the front with anotlier petition .Mai-<'li 

Sanger, Jacob Sanger, Ernest Sanger, Stephen 
Naylor, Lemuel Eby, Aaron Eby."' 

'""To the Honorable Board of Commissioners 
of the County of Nobles and State of Min- 
nesota: 

"We, the undersigned, citizens of the town- 
ship 104, range 41. in the county and state 
above named, would respectfully remonstrate 
with your honorable body to a certain peti- 
tion that is said to be presented to you, re- 
questing ttiat you name the said town Ham- 
berg, and for the purpose of convincing you 
of the wishes of the people, we, a majority 
of the actual residents of said township, do 
respectfully pray that you wiU name said 
township North Center. 
"Dated January 30. 1ST9. 

"Signed: Geo. B. Fellows, Guy C. Fellows. 
S. C. Chrestenson, Charles Chrestenson, Levi 
H. Baxter, Byron Gage, V. Krier, John Krier, 
Sr., Nicholas Bertrand, John Krier. Jr.. J. O. 
Bathen, Thomas Murrey, Peter Krier." 



Iu2 



HiSTUKY OJb' NOBLES COUNT!'. 



15j demaudiiig tlie seluctiou oi Hamberg.-" 
Ihree da)'S later a comproiuisu was 
readied, all jommg lu a peiiuou asiuug 
lliat tile lowiioUip De uauicd Aitou. lius 
was sigued by Geo. W. Cale, Geo. 15. 
fellows, i'eler Ivrier, Joliii i\.rier, br., 
\ aleutiiie Jirier, iS. C. Cliristenson, 
Jomi Krier, Casper iiloom, John Jiloom 
i'eter iJlooui, Lemuel Lby, Geo. Gage, 
btephen Najlor, Jolin II. Hall and G. 
C. li'ellows. The comiuissioiiers took la- 
vorable action the same day, named the 
township Alton, and selected April 5 as 
the date, and the home of Caspar Bloom 
as the place, i'or holding tlie hist town 
meeting. 

The new township was destined to have 
trouble in tiie matter ol a name. 
March 31 State Auditor 0. T. Whit- 
comb wrote to the Nobles county offi- 
cials, stating that Alton was inad- 
missable because of tlie fact that a 
township in Washington county liad 
been so named several years before. 
This put the selection of the name up 
to the commissioners, wlio on April tJ 
named the township Bloom, in honor 
of I'eter Bloom and family.-' The com- 
missioners had troubles of their own 
in making the selection. As the Blooms 
were the first settlers it was decided that 
the township should be named in their 
Iionor, and the names Bloomljerg, Bloom- 
villc, etc. were suggested. County Au- 
ditor Jaiues Walker advocated the droji- 
ping of the "bergs," "villes," etc., and 
suggested the name Bloom. The com- 
missioners accepted the hint. Fred Bloom, 
who was a rehitive of the Blooms of 
tlie new township, but who was him- 

""To the Honorable Count.v Commissioners 
of Nobles County, in the State of Minnesota: 

"We, the undersigned legal voters, being de- 
sirous of organizing said town, petilion your 
hf)norable body for permission to do so, and 
that It be known as the town of Hamlierg, 
Ijr-ing bounded as foiiows; 

"Signed; Caspar Bloom, Thomas J. Lynch, 
Horace G. Norman, Aaron S. Eby, Geo. W. 



self a resident of feeward, was a mcin- 
uer 01 tue county boam at iiie lime. 

ine petition lor tue orguuizaiioii ui 
Jjeota townsuip, was niea i.-eoruar\ ii 
auti was sigueu oy i'. A. bteveus, u. A. 
liolbrooli, iLtlward Gray, j. J^. licuows, 
lliram V\ . i'ordney, jolin Lay, C. 1'. 
\ argason, Warren ClarK, August Joseph 
ivmps, James llackett, G. l^uips, N. L,. 
iSellows, T. il. i'^ay, A. J. itice, ii. J. 
Uarber. The township was created -March 
18, and the commissioners named April 
5 as the date for holding the hrst 
town meeting, it was held at tlie home 
of Gerhard Knips. The name wa^s sug- 
gested by W. G. Barnard, one of the 
township's earliest settlers, it is the 
only township, village or pliysical fea- 
ture in Nobles county named in honor 
of an indian. Leota was an Indian 
maiden who figured in a story of indian 
adventure. 

There was a general feeling of dull- 
ness in the eastern part of the county 
during 1879, caused by the ijartial crop 
failure. in the central and western 
poriiuus events were taking place that 
bode well for the future, and quiet but 
steady progress was made in lliose por- 
tions during the season. A basis was 
laid for a large influ.v of sturdy set- 
tlers. 

In the central part of the county 
Messrs. I. N. Seney and S. M. Euslimore 
had the year before founded I he village 
of liu.shmore at Miller station, in the 
summer of 18?!) they broke out several 
thousand acres of prairie land and in- 
duced quite a number of settlers from 
New York and other eastern states to 



Cale, AVilliam E. Norman, Peter Bloom. Ijem- 
uel Eby, Peter Krier. Casper Bloom, carpen- 
ter; J. O. Bathen, John Krier, Jr., John Bloom, 
Stephen Naylor. 

"Petition filed March 15, 1879." 

='Peter Bloom and three sons, Casper, Peter, 
Jr.. and John, located on section 22 in 1S74, 
and were the first settlers in the township. 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



103 



locate in the vicinity. The}- cut up the 
railroad lands there into small farms 
and sold them to settlers of limited 
means. 

In the vicinity of Adrian the progre.ss 
was more marked. Bishop Ireland, the 
head of the Adrian colony, visited the 
east and was successful in forming a 
stock company, the object of which was 
to purchase the railroad lauds in the 
west end. The company purchased out- 
right all the lands still owned by the 
railroad in Grand Prairie, Little Rock, 
Leota and tlic still unorganized Lis- 



more townships. Instead of inviting 
settlers to come onto these laud in their 
raw state the colony managers decided 
to improve them. On each of fifty 
quarter sections tliirty acres of break- 
ing was done and preparations were 
nuide for erecting fifty farm houses lui 
the lands. This was not done until the 
following spring, however. This ac- 
tivity made times lively in the Adrian 
country. The fact that at least fifty 
families were expected to arrive in 
the spring tended to create an optinus- 
tic feelinff regarding the future. 



CHAPTER VII. 



EEA OF PKOSPERITY— 1880-1893. 



Henceforth the story of Nobles coun- 
ty is one of advancement. The dark and 
gloomy days are past. No longer do the 
grasshoppers tlireaten the very existence 
of the settlement; no longer is it found 
necessary to solicit aid for the relief 
of the inhabitants. The days of adver- 
sity have become a memory. 

Beginning with the year 1880 came 
the reconstruction period. People began 
anew the work of progress that had 
been interrupted when the first army of 
grasshoppers came and placed a mort- 
gage on the country in the summer of 
18715. In some ways the people were in 
better condition than they had been be- 
fore the scourge. Those who had taken 
government land now had title to their 
homes — and land began to have a value. 
Some had escaped with small loss dur- 
ing the three preceding years, and were 
already in position to begin the forward 
march. But others found it necessary 
to free themselves from debt before the 
effect of tlie prosperous times became 
apparent. 

Of vast importance during these days 
of reconstruction was the work of the 
colony under Bishop Ireland. Hun- 
dreds of settlers were brought into the 
county and located upon the lands in 
the western part, which otherwise might 
have remained unsettled for several 



years. In February, 1880, the colony 
company let the contract to John Tim- 
mons, of Adrian, for the erection of 39 
houses on the farm lands owned by the 
company. The cost of the houses was 
about $200 each. During March and 
April 50 families arrived from New 
York and other eastern states and be- 
came permanent settlers. The houses 
constructed were not enough to supply 
the demand, and several more were put 
up by the new arrivals. 

Nobles county harvested a good, 
though not a large, crop in 1880. Wheat 
and oats were not an extraordinary crop, 
but, taking the county as a whole, aver- 
aged pretty well. Corn and flax were 
unusually good. Here and there the 
crop of some one farmer was a com- 
parative failure, and some who had fair 
crops were not permitted to enjoy the 
fruits of their harvest because of the 
debts contracted during grasshojipcr 
days. But in the main crops were good, 
and tlie fact that hoppers did not put 
in an appearance led to a cheerful feel- 
ing. 

The federal census showed a popula- 
tion of 4,43.5, a gain of 3,700 per cent 
in ten years. ^ This population was di- 
vided among the different precincts as 
follows: 



'Population of adjacent counties according son. 4.795: Murray, 3,609; Pipestone, 2,093; 
to the 1880 census: Cottonwood, 5,554; Jack- Rock, 3,669. 

105 



106 HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 

Bigelow 215 witli tliis one in duration, continued ?e- 

lj^.„,,l^l 210 verity, depth or snow and damage to 

KIk 170 property. From tlie middle of October 

(iialiiim I^ikcs 300 , n i . • , i ■, ■ t i . 

(;n.n,l Pniirie 301 ti'l l''^^' "^ -^^''1 '^ "a* ^viiiter nearh 

llcisey l!)'J every minute of the time. 

liidiim Lake 200 ,, • , ,-, j. i i- • ji I'l- „ .. 

j,„..,j„ 159 Friday, October 1-), m the alternooiu 

lA'oia 97 a heavy rain set in. Tlie downpour 

OInev ^^"'^'^ 2Si continued until evening, when a strong, 

Kaiisom ic.i chilling wind came down from the north, 

Summit i:ak>i'\y.\\V.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.^^ turning the rain into a fine snow. A 

Willmont Ill severe blizzard now took the place of the 

W'oitliinjrioii Tciwiiship ' 182 i i i i i ii i i n „„„ 

Wortl.initon Village C3C ^nnu and it lasted three days and three 

\\'c>tside 339 nights. It was tlic first and only bliz- 

lu:i-43 (Usmori) ';;';"!!""!1'""'''.'':: 119 ^^rd ever experienced in tlie country in 

— - October. The county fair, which was 

'^"°''"' *'"*^' being held at the time, had to be aban- 

Township 103 of range 43 received a doned. The railroads were blockaded, 
large settlement of Irish Catholics, due and there were no trains or mail until 
to the activities of the Bishop Ireland Tuesday, the ISJlh. When tlie storm sub- 
colony, and the summer of 1880 that sided great drifts of snow filled the 
township was organized. It was named roads and other places, which did not 
Lismore, after a village of that name in disappear until the following May. 
county Waterford, Ireland, the name be- Following this storm came a few 
ing suggested by Father Knauf. The weeks of nice weather. On Friday, No- 
petition for organization was filed July vember 19, a cold snap set in, the mer- 
17, and was signed by Geo. A. Beireis, cury getting down to 19 degrees below 
Gustave Frick, Alex Roach, Conrad zero on the night of the 30th. Anotliei- 
Beireis, James Orkney, Charles Lord, blizzard came up December 3, which 
M. S. Boyle, K. (>"l)ay. \\ . .T. Ileaney, blockaded trains from the cast uiilil the 
Joseph ITaegle, John Travis, Charles A. oth. Mondaj', December 27, came a se- 
Blako, Thomas McLean, Allen Pieason, vere cold spell, the thermometer regis- 
.\ustin Nash, William jjandes, William tering 30 degrees below zero. The fol- 
]f. Welch, John II. Sands, William lowing day it was 3-i below, and an- 
Wclch, A. A. Boyce, S. W. Swanman, other blizzard was raging. All trains 
Henry Carlson, Albert .V. Thompson and were stopped iiiilil the 30th. 
Peter Havican. The township was creaL- Thereafter the winter was an extreme- 
cd by the county commissioners July 21, ly severe one. Blizzard followed bliz- 
and the first town meeting was hold at zard. 'J'hc railroads were blockaded for 
the lious(,' of Moses Kurd on August 9. weeks at a time. Fuel and food wore 
One of the dates from which time is nearly exhausted. People burned hay 
reckoned in Nobles county is the winter and grain, and went without lights. In 
of 1880-81^tlu' time n[' the long, severe some jilaees there was suffering from 
winter. There have been worse storms lail< nf food. Itoads remained unbroken 
than any that occurred that winter, but all uiiiler, and tlie fanners obtained 
never was tliere a winter to compare their supjilies frmii the villages by means 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



107 



of liandsleds. Snow sail boats came into 
requisition, being employed to bring in 
supplies and for sport. - 

Following is the story of the winter 
from Jan. 1, ISSl, until tlie breaku]i in 
tjie spring, given in chronological or- 
der :^ 

Jan. 4. Eain. 

Jan. 7. Freight train breaks through 
Bigelow bridge, ditching cars and kill- 
ing some cattle. 

Jan. SI. Snow storm. Eoad blocked 
until 2.3rd. 

Jan. 26. Blizzard. Trains again 
stopped. 

Feb. 1. Eailroads again blockaded. 

Feb. 3. Longest snow storm of the 
winter sets in from the southeast. Con- 
tinues four days. Fifteen days' block- 
ade begins. 

Feb. 11. Another blizzard. Contin- 
ues two days. 

Feb. IG. First train from the east 
for fifteen days arrives at Worthington. 

Feb. 18. Blizzard. Last eastern train 
arrives. 

Feb. 22. Snow storm. 

March 4. Blizzard all day. Worth- 
ington schools close for lack of fuel. 

March 5. Fair weather begins, last- 
ing five days. Main line road opens ex- 

^"Hiram Allen arrived on Tuesday from 
Fulda. having made tile trip in about an hour 
and a half on a snow boat. The structure is 
a simi>Ie one. having: merely a pair of snow 
shoes for runners, with crosspieces, a board 
to sit on and a light mast to support the sail. 
Mr. A. tells us that he has made a half 
dozen trips, one of eighteen miles to Luverne 
in an hour and a half. Also that a few days 
ago a party of six left Fulda for Fairmont on 
one of these snow sail boats. They left Fiild.a 
about five o'clock in the evening and reached 
Fairmont at nine the next morning, a distance 
of seventy miles. 

"Messrs. Loveless and Day are now having 
one made of considerable size, and if the 
snow lasts a few weeks longer, men will be 
sailing over the prairies at the rate of seven 
knots an hour as easil.v as they can sail on 
our lakes." — Worthington Advance, March 24, 
1881. 

^Compiled largely from newspaper accounts. 



cept strip between St. James and Win- 
dom. 

March 11. Terrific blizzard, continu- 
ing two days. All roads blockaded 
\M)ive than ever. 

.Marcli 24. Fuel famine at Adrian. 
People burning screenings, tailings, hay, 
straw, oats, corn; rags and anything that 
will burn. 

March .30. Main line road shoveled 
out and train arrives from the east — 
iirst in nearly si.x weeks. West end and 
l)ranch roads still blockaded.'' 

April .5. First train arrives from 
Sioux City. Carries letters dated Feb. 
21. Eoad open three days.^ 

April S. Snowed again. Traffic stop- 
\K'd. Train from St. Paul tied up at 
Wiiidom. Train from Sioux City gets 
as far as Sibley. 

April 11. More snow. 

April 12. North wind drifts snow, 
making complete blockade. The block- 
ade has now been in force ten weeks, 
with only five trains from the east. 

.Vpril 1.3. Thermometer registers zero. 

April 16. First train in frcjin the 
cast. 

.\pril IT. ^lain line opened. First 
freight train for 11 weeks readies 
Worthington and delivers 50,000 pounds 

^"The east end of the main line was cleared 
on Tuesday [March 29], and yesterday [March 
30] a train left here for St. Paul. A train also 
lett St. Paul and reached here last evening. 
Yesterday the road was clear on the west end 
from Bigelow west, and the forces doubled on 
the big cut this side, and today a train is ex- 
pected from Sioux City. The branch is open- 
ing up rapidly and will probably be open to 
T.uverne today or tomorrow and to Sioux Falls 
by Saturday. The long blockade Is over 

It lacked just two days of being six weeks 
since we had a train from the east." — Worth- 
ington Advance, March 31, 1881. 

""Our old friend Boreas sticks closer than 
a brother. We did hope that the Advance 
would miss it in predicting that we would not 
have regular trains before the middle of April, 
but it looks OS though we could extend the 
time somewhat and still be correct." — Worth- 
ington Advance, April 7, 1K81. 



108 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



of freight. Several freight trains pass 
during the day. That night first train 
to pass over the Sioux Falls branch for 
nine weeks makes its way from Worth- 
ington to Luverne. 

April 20. Worthington schools re- 
open. 

For four days there was fairly regular 
service on the railroads. Then came the 
floods, caused by the melting snow, and 
on April 20 traffic was again suspended. 
For ten days not a train ran over the 
line of the Siou.x City & St. Paul, and 
not until Jlay 2 was regular service es- 
tablished. 

Talk of the construction of another 
railroad into Nobles county was begun in 
1881, and the road was built the next 
year. In .May it was given out that the 
Burlington system was planning to build 
a branch line north into Minnesota. The 
first intimation the people of Nobles 
county had of this was when a pre- 
liminary survey was tnndo to Worthing- 
ton in May. 

This was followed in September by 
the appearance of agents of the road, 
who submitted a proposition to the resi- 
dents of eastern Nobles county. They 
asked that $15,000 and a free right of 
way be pledged, in which case the road 
would be built to Worthington during 
1882 and the depot located within a 
half mile of the business center of the 
village. The proposition was accepted. 
The amonnt was pledgeil, the agreement 
lieing signed by nearly all the business 
and raonied men of the county seat town. 

The railroad officials' were not jiroinpt 
in beginning the work, and there was 
much speculation as to whether or not 
the road would be built. In June, 1882, 

"In Worthlnston vMlage Ihe vote was 145 
to 2; In Worthington township 21 votes were 
cast, aU In favor of the bonus; Lorain town- 
ship was .solid for the bonus; and In Blge- 
low It liad two majority. 



the matter was definitely decided. Bur- 
lington officials came to Worthington 
and submitted a new proposition. They 
stated that the road would be construct- 
ed at once providing the people would 
vote a bonus of $21,300. Again did the 
people of eastern Nobles county agree 
to the terms. The bonus to be voted 
was divided among the several interested 
townships as follows: Worthington 
township, $5,500; Worthington village, 
$C,300.; Indian Lake, $3,000; Bigelow, 
$2,000; Elk, $2,000; Lorain, $2,500. 
The elections were held on different days 
in June, and the bonus was voted." 

Grading contracts were let for the line 
north from Spirit Lake in July, and an 
army of workers was' at once put in the 
field. The road was completed to Worth- 
ington October 7, and the driving of the 
last spike was made a memorable oc- 
casion. It was a gala day, and the peo- 
ple were present en masse. The driving 
of the spike that united the new road 
with the Omaha was driven with cere- 
monies by Rev. D. G. Gunn and ilayor 
C. H. Smith, of Worthington, amid the 
ringing of all the bells of the village 
and the firing of cannon and anvils. 
Regular train service was established 
October 18.' As a result of the build- 
ing of this load another Nobles county 
town. Round Lake, came into existence. 

But the building of the new road was 
not llif only thing that brought glad- 
ness to the hearts of the people of No- 
bles county in 1882. The farmers gath- 
ered the largest and best crop ever be- 
fore seen in the county, and as good as 
was ever grown anywhere. Said the Ad- 
vance on August 31 : 

"To sum up: \\'e have a big crop in 

'The road is now a branch of llir Rock Is- 
land system. 



HISTOKY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



109 



the stack and a prospect of the best, 
briskest and livliest times we have ever 
seen in this county. We are sure of a 
lively fall and winter trade, and farm- 
ers, merchants, laborers, everybody, will 
feel like 'human bein's.'" 

An event of not great importance in 
itself, but which resulted in quite an is- 
sue, was the park vacation matter, which 
troubled the people of Nobles countv^ 
early in 1883. The prevailing good 
times had brought activity in business 
and improvements. All the towns in 
tlie county folt the effect of prosperity, 
and out of the good times grew the 
strife over the "park proposition." 
Messrs. Miller & Thompson, of Eock 
■Rapids, wanted to engage in business in 
Worthington and were prepared to" erect 
a handsome business block there. They 
could find no site suitable, and coveted 
the court house square. They submitted 
a proposition, agreeing to erect a brick 
block, 50x100 feet, with a public hall 
in the second story, providing the east 
corner of the public park (the property 
of the county) could be secured as a 
site. 

On December 29, 1883, a petition was 
circulated among the business men of 
Worthington, the prayer of which was 
that the county commissioners should 
lay off into lots 125 feet of the public 
square, facing Tenth street, and sell the 
;;ame. They were asked to take this ac- 
tion only on consideration that the Siou.x 
City & St. Paul Eailroad company, which 
liad conditionally donated the block to 
the county, would relinquish its rights 
for a small consideration, and that the 
building as outlined above should be 



erected during the year 1883. The peti- 
tion was signed by most of the leading 
business men of Worthington.^ 

The commissioners considered the peti- 
tion Jan. 2, 1883. The motion pre- 
vailed that the request of the petitioners 
be complied with. Commissioners Daniel 
Shell, Maurice O'Hearn and P. Blaine 
voting in the affirmative and T. L. 
Taylor and James Cowin opposing. Afr. 
Shell was directed to confer with the 
railroad officials to obtain their assent to 
tlie sale. The latter offered no serious 
objection. Many of the residents of the 
county did, however, and the inatter 
became a much mooted question. Those 
favoring the plan argued that the county 
would realize several thousand dollars 
from the sale of the lots and that Worth- 
ington would secure several himdred 
th.ousand dollars worth of improvements 
in a short time. Those opposed pro- 
tested from a sentimental viewpoint; 
they flesired not the abridgment of the 
beautiful public park. Strong opposi- 
tion developed, especially in the west 
end. and the park was kept intact. 

This was not the only question that 
troubled the people of the county in 
the earlv days of 1883. During the time 
the park vacation argument was at its 
licight, there came the agitation for the 
removal of the county seat to Adrian. 
The west end had been making vast 
strides during the few years preceding, 
and Adrian had become a town of con- 
siderable importance. When the peo- 
ple of the west end metropolis decided 
to have a try at the county seat they 
went at it in earnest. 

No satisfactorv county seat removal 



'The sigtiPi-.s were C. P. Hewitt. W. G. Mar- Twitchell. W. F. Thayer, W. A. Peterson. H. 



tine, Otis Bigelow. Geo. M. PtJmb. Henr\' 
Davis, C. H. Smith, Mons Grinager, J, A, 
Town. H. H. Anderson, H. E. Torrance, Azom 
Forbes, C. W. Smith, S. S. Hewitt, M. S. 



C. Shepard, R. D. Barber, A. S. Husselton, A. 
P. MiUer. E. S. Mills, F. H. Wells. Thos. H. 
Parsons. L. B, Bennett, B. F. Johnson and 
S. McLean. 



no 



JIISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



law graced the Minnesota statute books, 
and the residents of western Nobles 
roiinty set to work to secure the passage 
of a special law allowing the people to 
vole (in tiie question of removal to Ad- 
liiin. Excitement was at fever heat in 
the west end. Men witli teams scoured 
the western and central portions of the 
countv' securing signatures to a petition 
to be presented to the legislature, ask- 
ing for the passage of such an act. 
Something less than (500 signatures of 
voters were obtained. 

The plan for a special law, such as 
Adrian first ]jroposcd to advocate, was 
abandoned. But through the efforts of 
Nobles county pcoi)le a general county 
seat removal law was introduced and 
passed the senate. It failed to pass tlie 
house, and (lie legislature adjourned 
without complying witli the request of 
tlie citizens of western Nobles county. 
Tlie question was definitely settled for 
two years at least. 

Nobles county's last township was or- 
ganized in 1883. The following set- 
tlers of township 103-43 asked for its 
organization: Andrew Thompson, Jnlin 
J. Thompson, Geo. TTmbaugh, .\brnliain 
.Vbrahamson, Oundcr Hansen, AT. S. 
Conley, Oco. Kudge, TTcnry Slater, .\n- 
ton Titenberg. Franz TCurchel, TT. 1). 
TTosmcr, .Tojm W. Johnson, Peter Wiese, 
Samuel J. Hamilton, Sam Nelson. J. P. 
Hosmer, Timothy Conley. James Cowin, 
Tlios. Bamett, Ed. Cooper, Jos. Cowin, 
C. J. Swanson, Alphonso Spitz, .Joscpli 
O'Grady. John J. McCormack. The 
board granted tlic petition March fi, and 
on March 27 the first town meeting was 
held at tlie residence of .Xmlrcw Tlioiii|i- 
son on section 32. 

The new township was nainod fjiirkin. 
in honor of Joiin Larkiii, of New York 



city, one of the prominent workers in 
the Catholic Colonization association, 
and a brother of Mrs. Maurice OUIearn, 
who recently died at her home in Grand 
Prairie township. ^fr. O'Hcaru was 
county commissioner at the time tlie 
township was formed. As was the case 
witli several of tlie last townships or- 
ganized, a name was not selected with- 
out contention. Soon after the name 
was designated by the commissioners, a 
resident of the new town wrote : 

"Xow it is certain that a gross fraud 
has been committed in this case, as the 
petitioners requested it should be named 
Grove, and it was so stated in the peti- 
tion when signed by tliem. the name be- 
ing changed on the face of the petition 
by a certain party who has no authority 
to do so, and who makes his home and 
carries on his business in the village of 
Adrian. The petition has been tampered 
with, and criminal proceedings will be 
taken against tlir man for so doing. 
The only cDinn'clion lie liolds with the 
inwii is by liolding a quarter section 
hy sufrrance. As to .lohn T,arkin. 
Ill' ina\ 111' a vcrv good and chari- 
tablr man. luit a large majority knmv 
niitbing of him. never having heard lii> 
name liefore." 

.\ tornado visited tlie northwestern 
part of the county on Monday, July 21. 
1884, and did considerable damage. Miss 
Cora Graf, daughter of County Com- 
missioner Emil Graf, of Willmont, was 
killed, anil D. F. TTfTord, of Larkin. was 
.seriously injured. The storm was most 
severe in Larkin and Lismore townships, 
^fanv buildings were destroyed, stock 
was \()M and killrd. and cropR worf I'uiii- 
ed. The school house in district 43, con- 
laining teacher and students, was car- 
ried several feet bv the force of the 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



HI 



wind, but fortunately no one was hurt. 
Of the results of the storm the Adrian 
Guardian said : 

Cora Graf, daughter of Emil Graf, county 
commissioner of Willmont. was Ivilled by be- 
ing struck on the head by a piece of heavy 
timber. She was at the barn and started to 
go to the liouse when the storm struck the 
large barn, 40x54, blowing off the roof and 
scattering the heavy timbers, one of which 
struck her, with the result recorded above. 
She was tliirteen years of age. . . An- 

other sad accident occurred at .Jas. Barry's 
in Larkin township. The new house which 
they recently moved into was completely torn 
to pieces, and D. F. Ufford, Mrs. Barry's 
father, was carried a considerable distance, 
and when found was unable to speak. Dr. 
Sullivan was immeiliately sent for, and upon 
his arrival found him in a critical condition — 
several ribs broken, shoulder dislocated, and 
shoulder lilades shattered; there was also 
severe bruises about his head, and at first it 
was thought that his injuries would prove 
fatal, but the doctor now lias hopes of his 
recovery. 

Another raih'iiail was built through a 
portion of the county in September, 
1884. The Burlington constructed a 
line northwest from Lake Park, which 
passed through tlie soutliwest cornel- of 
Grand Prairie township. The viUage of 
Ellsworth was founded tluit fall, and soon 
took its place as one of the best towns 
in the county. 

The year 1884 was one of tlie most 
prosperous in the county's history, and 
was a year of jul)ilee. Exclusive wheat 
farming had been found unprofitable, 
and only a limited acreage was sown. In- 
stead of raising only wheat, farmers 
raised flax and hay, and turned their at- 
tention to stock raising and dairying 
more than formerly. Flax growing be- 
came one of the big industries. There 
was an immense crop in this year of jub- 
ilee, and it commanded a big price, 
Hav was also a big price, and an un- 
usual quantity was put up, pressed and 
shipped. Flax, hay. butter and cattle 
were the principal exports; other pro- 
ducts shipped out of the county were 



wheat, oats, barley, wool, hides, eggs, 
potatoes and timothy. The following 
table shows the shipments (car loads) 
of principal exports during the year 
from tlie various railroad stations: 



STATION 



Worthington 

Bigelow 

Hersey 

Kinbrae 

Adrian . 

Rushmore 

Ellsworth 



Totals.... 



Flax 


Live 
Stock 


Hay 


85 


48 


lir, 


40 


4 




12 




21 


n 




3(i 


185 


21 




35 


If) 




101 


3 




472 


92 


172 



The excellent crops liad a good ef- 
fect on the real estate market, which 
was more active than it had l)e(Ui at any 
time previous, with the jiossible excep- 
tion of 18T2. The value of lands sold 
during the year was $.549, G39. The re- 
sults of prosperous times were seen in 
building improvements in all parts of 
the county and in the prompt payment 
of debts. The farmers were at lasr 
firmly on their feet, and the high road 
to wealth was henceforth open. The re- 
covery from the grasshopper scourge was 
almost coin|)lete. 

The census of 188.5 gave the countv a 
population of .5.{)42, a gain of 1.207. 
or about 2.5 per cent, in five years. The 
population was divided by precincts as 
follows: 

Adrinu Village !53.'? 

Biselow 2.52 

Bloom 115 

PewaM ISI 

Elk OS 

Grahnm Lakes 202 

Grand Prairie 580 

Hersey '. 1 9(t 

Indian Lake 2.'?4 

Larkin S4 

Lcota 174 

Lismore 182 

Little Rock .182 

Lorain lOfi 

Olney 204 



112 HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 

Ilaiisoiii' 208 eiglitic's with those of the decade before. 

slmunu Lake:::::::::::::::::::::::::: ^89 <^omp--^ve this item from the worthinj.- 

Ui-stMcl.. 228 ton Globe at the close of the vear 18s; 

w:!S.oMTo„.;ship ::::::::::::::::: i^ ^'th some of ten years eanier; 

\\iiitliiiii.'ton Vilhigc 997 "Tn our own iiiimodiate vicinity all 

,., I „- j.^., branches of industry have been unusu- 
ally prosperous. Mechanics have gener- 

The legislature of 1885 passed a ally been busy, labor has been in dc- 

county seat removal bill, providing for mand, and the weather has been favor- 

tlie submission of the question of re- able for all kinds of business, and the 

nioval to liie voters in any cnnniy in counU'v is very rapidly recovering fnmi 

the state after certain formalities had the grasshopper scourge, which impov- 

been complied with. The act provided erished so manv people a few years 

for till' r(>innval if the tnwn seeking the a"-o." 

honor should receive oo per cent of the During the history of the Northwest 

vote. There was some talk of the west there liave been a few winter storms of 

end metropolis entering flie race, but no such unn;itural severity tliat they stand 

formal action was taken. The rapid ad- out as events of historical importance, 

vancement of the west side during the -y^p ,nost severe of these awful storms 

early eighties caused Adrian to be hope- „:;,,, fbe blizzard of January 7, 8 and 9, 

ful of some day securing the honor. x87;5. an account nf which has been giv- 

The vigorous growth is shown by the (,j^_ Ranking second was the terrible 

census figures. In 1880 the eight wes- i,iij,zard of January 13, 1888, when scores 

tern tnwiiships had a |Mi|iulnli(in of only ,,f people perished in the country. In 

KUC, to '2,193 to the eastern eight, yobles county three lives were sacri- 

while there were '>2C, in the middle tier, j;,.,,,] .,„,] many iieople became lost in 

In 1885 the west end liad distanced tlic ,i„. ^j,,,.,,, .,„,] ^.g^e badly frozen, 

east end. Then there were 2,573 in the 'i'^^.,, Hollanders, Jacob DeYries and 

west, to 2,177 in the east, with 593 Dmiwe Postma, were caught in the 

in the middle tier. storm and froze to death, one in Bloom 

Another cxeclleni eniii was hnrvesteii fownsliip, the other iu Siiiiimit Lake. 

in 1885, and everyljody made money. As The tinrd death was iliat of Seselia 

a result there was a big innnigration ICnutsou. wife of Knui Knutson. She 

in the fall. New settlers jioured into perished in the enuiiiry near RuslniKH-e. 

the county, and the real estate transfers People caught in tlu' sinnii in dilferent 

«(!■<■ numerous. The iie.\l year was al- ])art of tlie edunti'v uand(i-ed fur n\iles 

s(i a |)i'os])orous one, the real estate over the prairies, not knowing whei-e 

transfers ainoiinting to $565,799. Tlie they were. Several were so htidly frozen 

Hurlington road that year built a branch tlial it was necessary to amputate hands, 

line from Ellsworth to Rock I'apids, feet or limbs. Even people in the vil- 

thus adding another railroad to the lages were, in some instances, unable 

.county, although only a short distance to reach home and took refuge in the 

of the road was in Nobles county. A nearest houses. 'Much stock was lost. 

.strange contrast were these days of the In August. 1S,S8. eanu' one of the 

. .^ . n D v most severe hail storms ever witnessed 

•Populations of other nearby counties: Rock, 
5,243; Murray. 4.216; Pipestone. 3,897. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



113 



in the county, causing much damage ture convened that year when a num- 
to crops in the southwestern portion her of the representative citizens of 
of the county. In places the fall of Adrian requested a conference with a 
liail was remarkable.^" like number of the prominent citizens 
During the late eighties the people of Worthington for the piarpose of talk- 
were blessed with good crops and pros- ing over certain matters, about which 
perous times. The result was a big their interests and views were supposed 
increase in population. In 1890 the feder- ' to differ — notably the matter of the re- 
al census disclosed the fact that there moval of the county seat. It was made 
were 7,958 people residing in the county, known that it was the desire of the west 
This was a gain of 3,523 in ten years end people to arrive at an amiable set- 
and 3,316 in five years. The population tlement of the controversy, 
by precincts was as follows : The Worthington people accepted the 

Adrian Village G71 invitation, and a conference was held 

Bigelow 408 Saturday, January 14. The subject of 

Pg°"_"jj, 3.20 the division of the county was brought 

Klk 24S lip and discussed. In a neighborly wav 

cr!Zn Yles""' .:::::::::::::::;:::::: m the feasibility of dividing Nowes county 

Kersey 2S2 and creating another one was debated. 

Imlinn Lake 320 ^j^^^^ ^^^ ^^ inclination to take hastv 

i>a.rKiii xoo 

Leota. 185 action in the matter. The proposition 

llttlTllock '■ 438 ^^^ ''' ^^^ °^^' ^^^ ^^ "^^^ deemed best 

Lorain 234 to take more time for consideration. The 

^'""^y ?5n Rubiect matter was left in the hands of a 

Kansom 249 ■' 

Seward 324 committee for further investigation, and 

Snmmjt Lake 148 arrangements were made for future con- 

U estside 310 '^ 

wiiimont 329 ference." 

Worthington Township '289 j^ -^^^ j^^^,! ^^^ conference adiourned 

u orthington Village 1,164 • •' 

' — before the people of the central part of 

'^°^^^ '^-•"58 {.^^g county were up in arms against the 

TliG citizens of the west end of the movement. They saw what thev believed 

county adopted new tactics concerning to lie a conspiracy. Here were the 

the county seat question early in 1893. erstwhile rivals. Worthington and Adrian, 

Instead of agitating the removal of the in earnest and friendly consultation, se- 

seat of government to Adrian, a plan eretely planning to divide the county 

of dividing the county and forming a without consulting the wishes of the peo- 

new one, with Adrian as the county seat, p'e through whose country the boundary 

was fouceived. Hardlv had the legisla- 'i^P niust run." They arose in their 



'"An Ellsworth cUizen tells me that in that 
village he saw hail stones piled up to the 
depth of about four feet where they had 
fallen between two buildings. 

""Changes were spoken of which may. if 
they are oarried. add another county to the 
.state of Minnesota. The matter will doubtless 
be discussed for a considerable time before 
any measure will be matured to ask the con- 
currence of the people interested. We shall 
give further details when we are in posses- 
sion of further light. The committee to 



whom the matter is referred must consult be- 
fore any further movement is made." — Worth- 
ington Advance. Jan. 19, 1S93. 

'-The fact that such .a meeting was held was 
known, but the deliberations were not made 
public. The Worthington Advance resented the 
statement that it was a secret meeting and 
said: "There was no secret for anybody to 
keep. The Advance stated the substance of 
the talk in its next issue, nor was there any 
suggestion made from any quarter th.it we 
should not make the matter public. There was 



114 HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 

might and denoiinced the iiroposed uarv 28." The plMii rrsultocl only in 

(lisnieiiibernu'ut, calling a mass moot- "tiilk,"' and no such inoasiire as pm- 

ing to be held at Kiishniorc Jan- |)(iscd was presented to the legislature. 

no conspiracy thoueht of against any portion tlio bpst interests of the county at large, and 

of oiM' county, and the Interests of the people call upon all honest men to oppose the .scheme, 

of all parts of the county were kindly and and b" it further 

thoughtfully spoken of. In fact, nothing was "Resolved, that all citizens of .^aid county 

said that anybody would be ashamed of." who are interested In their own welfare be, 

and they are hereby, requested to attend a 

""Whereas It has been announced that the mass meeting to be held in the Rushmore 

citizens of Adrian and Worthington are hoUl- " school house on Saturday, Jan. 28, 1893, at 

ing a .series of secret meetings for the pin-- two p. m. 

jtose of dissecting Nobles county for their own "A. SC'H.-MOI'^FKR. 

seihsh ends, be It therefore "W, DOflJ. 

"Resolved, that we, the citizens of the cen- "A. W, FERRIN', 

ter tier of town.ships, in council assembled, de- , "Committee." 
nounce such action as a conspiracy against 



CHAPTER VIII. 



CURRENT EVENTS— 1893-1908. 

Prosperous times continued up to the introduced in tlie legislature, the pur- 

suiiuiier of 1893. Then came the mem- jiort of which was to allow the people 

orabic panic and the few years of hard of the county to vote on the question of 

times. Two banks, one at Worthington bonding for the purpose of erecting a 

and one at Ellsworth, closed their doors; court house and jail, but tlie bill was 

several business houses failed; business killed in committee. 

w^as for a time paralyzed ; and a period In the summer of 1893 a majority of 

of dull times set in which was not en- the county board were in favor of erect- 

tirely broken until the late nineties, ing a building, and they took the matter 

The depression was not so keenly felt in their own hands and proceeded with 

in Nobles county, however, as it was in the plans. By a vote of three to two 

many of the less favored portions of it was decided, on Jan. 13, 1893, to 

the country. The panic was preceded by build a jail and sheriff's residence at a 

a decade of flourishing times. Every- cost not to exceed $10,000, and to issue 

body had prospered and was in position bonds for that amount.^ On the same 

to weather the financial crash and its day and by the same vote tlie following 

resulting period of depression. resolution was passed : 

The building of a suitable court house Resolved, Tl-.it we take immeiliate steps to 

had long been a mooted question. Time l^"'''' "■ "p^^' ^"rt house in the court house 

. jiark at ft orthington, and that the same be 

and again grand juries had investigated b„i]t without nnnpoossavy delay, and that $8.- 

the county building, made known its in- ™0 '"^''^ ^'' "'"^' levied" for that purpose, the 

~„,' work of buililiiig to be commenced this fall 

adequacy for the proper care of the re- if the money can be procured for that pur- 
cords and for the transaction of busi- l'"^''- 

ness, and recommended the building of a Six davs later it was decided to in- 
new court house. The jail, which was crease the lew from .$8,000 to $12,000. 
in the court house building, had often Commissioners H. M. Palm, John Mock 
been condemned by state officials as an nud Chas. L. Peterson were named a 
unsafe place for the holding of prison- building committee for both the court 
ers. Prisoners of very ordinary expert- house and jail. As a majority of the 
ness were able to break out almost at board of commissioners they instructed 
will. In the spring of 1891 a bill was ^themselves to proceed at once with the 

'July IS the resolution was amended. It was to the state for a Joan of $10,000. 
decided not to issue the bonds, but to apply 

115 



116 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



construction of the jail and to employ 
an architect to prepare plans for the 
court house. 

Opposition developed so soon as the 
first steps were taken. The commission- 
ers had only fairly started with their 
work when a suit was brought against 
the county by D. J. Forbes, of Adrian,^ 
who asked for an injunction to restrain 
the county officials from proceeding with 
the erection of either the court house or 
jail. A temporary restraining order was 
granted, and work was necessarily sus- 
pended. The case was carried to the 
supreme court, the county being repre- 
sented by Geo. W. Wilson. The proceed- 
ings of the county officials were upheld, 
and the injunction was dissolved. 

.Vrchitect Geo. Pass drew the plans for 
the jail, which wore approved Jan. 3, 
1894. The contract for its erection was 
let to John D. Carroll, of St. Paul Park, 
on a bid of $9,6-55, and on October 19 
the building was accepted. 

A remonstrance against the building 
of the court house was presented to the 
county board Feb. 15, 1894. It contain- 
ed the signatures of 47G residents. Tlic 
commissioners responded by passing a 
resolution to tlio cfTect that application 
be made to the state for a loan of $30,- 
000 to help pay for the court house. ^ 
Albert Bryan was the architect selected 
to furnish the plans. May 5 the con- 
tract was let for the erection of the 
court house and the installation of the 
heating plant to J. D. Carroll on a bid 
of $42,469. Mr. Bryan, the architect, 
was employed by the county to superin- 
tend the construction. 

Work on the building was rushed. 
The corner stone was laid with interest- 
ing ceremonies August ]. In January 
the contracts were let for furnishing the 

'Entitled n. J. Forbes vs. J. J. Kendlen. 



building, and on May 28, 1895, the new 
court house was turned over by the con- 
tractor and accepted by the county. 

While the legal proceedings against 
the erection of the court house were in 
progress the talk of county seat removal 
was resumed, and the subject again be- 
came a live issue. Some preliminary 
work was done with a view to having the 
matter submitted to the voters, but those 
interested, not securing the encourage- 
ment necessary to guarantee the success 
of the movement, soon abandoned their 
efforts. This was the last lime the ques- 
tion of removal was brought up. Dur- 
ing the eleven years, 1883 to 1893, that 
the county seat question was an issue, 
the question was not once brought to a 
vote. 

By 1895 the population had increased 
to 11,905, which was 3,947 more than 
it had been ten years before. Bv pre- 
cincts : 

.\rlrinn Village i 072 

Bijrolnw 577 

Blonni 325 

Dpunld 514 

KIk ."ifiR 

Kllswortli Villnge S'lj 

Craliam Lakes 6lfi 

Craiul Prairie 48" 

T fersey 4^)-, 

Tiuliaii T.aUe 47 1 

Larkin 3ns 

T.pota f 31,-, 

Li'iiiore 41s 

T.iltlp I^D.k W '' .5.-,ti 

T.ora i II oSS 

01 ney 394 

Ransom 30R 

Seward 4S0 

Summit Lake 9.50 

\Vcstside 43.'5 

Willmont .54.5 

Worfhiiifrton Township •^7,'^ 

WordiinpfJon Village l.Dls 

Total 11.00.-, 

The latter half of the nineties was a 
very prosperous period in Nobles county. 
Excellent crops brought hundreds of new 
settlers. Land values jumped several 

•Passed by the usual vote of three to two. 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



li; 



hundred per cent; farm lands that had 
!<old lor $10 to $20 per acre now brought 
$30 to $;0. It was a time of unpre- 
cedented prosperity. The forward move- 
ment continued into the present decade. 

In 1898 Nobles county furnished a 
company of soldiers, who took part in 
the Spanish-American war, serving a lit- 
tle less than ten months within the 
United States. Alter the Minnesota mi- 
litia had been called out under the 
president's iirst call for troops, steps 
were taken in various parts of the state 
lo raise volunteer companies to be in 
readiness to enter the service should 
there be another call for troops. The 
first steps toward this end in Nobles 
county were taken April 19, when a 
inas.s meeting was held at G. A. R. hall, 
Worthington. The initial proceedings 
were then taken toward enrolling a com- 
pany. 

When it became /evident that another 
call would soon be made further steps 
were taken. On May G another meeting 
of citizens was lield in Worthington, 
wlien forty names were enrolled. An- 
other meeting was held May 24, when 
the list of members increased to 60, and 
these officers were elected: Edward Dol- 
an, captain; Fred Bitner, first lieuten- 
ant; James McGee, second lieutenant.* 
Tlie company was quickly recruited, the 
villages of Worthington, Adrian and 
Euslimore furnishing the bulk of the 
company. 

President Mclvinley made the call on 
May 25, but owing to the necessity of 
recruiting the skeleton companies of the 

*Sooii after the election it wa.s made known 
I hat Gov. Cloujjh reserved the right to name 
ilie second lieutenant, and the name of James 
.\rcGee was dropped. 

'•Resigned Deo. 13, 1S9S. Was succeeded by 
Lucius V. Hubbard on Dec. 31, 1898. 



former Minnesota regiments, the troops 
waiting to respond under the second call 
were not mustered in at once. Finally 
Gov. Clough issued the long awaited or- 
ders for the mobilization of the Fif- 
teenth Minnesota regiment, and on July 
G the Nobles county company departed 
for St. Paul. There was a grand de- 
monstration at Worthington when the 
company took its departure. 

The Fifteenth Minnesota regiment, of 
which the Nobles county company be- 
came company H, was mustered into the 
United States service July 18. The 
commissioned ofEicers of company H 
were Edward Dolan, Worthington, cap- 
tain; Fred Bittner," Worthington, first 
lieutenant; Lucius V. Hubbard," Eed 
Wiug, second lieutenant. The company 
and regiment were stationed at Camps 
llamsey and Snelling, near St. Paul, 
until September 15. During that time 
the regiment went through a fearful 
typhoid fever epidemic, when about GO 
men of company H, out of a total of a 
few over 100, were ill with the disease, 
resulting in three deatlis in the com- 
pany' and several others in the regiment. 

From Minnesota the regiment went to 
Camp Meade, near Harrisburg, Pa., 
wjiere it was assigned to the third bri- 
gade of the first division of the second 
army corps. There it remained until 
Nov. 15, when the regiment was trans- 
ferred to Camp McKenzie, near Augusta, 
Ga. The regiment and company were 
mustered out at that camp March 2i', 
1899. Following is the roster of the 
company at the time of mustering out, 

"Was succeeded by James G. Kennedy, 
Adrian, who was promoted from first ser- 
geant Dec. 31, 1898. 

■Everett Calvert, of Plattsville, Wis., died 
Aug. 15. 1S98; George L. Michael, of Bigelow, 
Minn., died Sept. 5, 1S9S; Joseph R. Mottitt, 
of Burchard, Neb., died Sept. 5, 1898. 



118 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



with the rank of the soldier at that time, 
and his place of residence as given in the 
original muster roll : 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 

Edward Dolan (captain), W'oithingtoii. 

T.iicius V. Hubbard (llrst lieutenant), Red 
Wing. 

dames G. Kennedj- (second lieutenant), 
Adrian. 

SERGEANTS. 

I>oren B. Town (first sergeant), Worthing- 
ton. 

Samuel A. Copeland (ipiartermaster ser- 
geant), Adrian. 

Russell 15. Mobcrly, Worthington. 

Charles i'. Tinnes, Adrian. 

Arthur P. Rose. Wortliington. 

Howard Childs, Adrian. 

CORPORALS. 
Leo A. Dewey, Worthington. 
William F. Xornian, Adrian. 
Henry M. Twitchell, Worthington. 
dohn W. Rogers, Worthington. 
Austin T.. Kindred, Worthington. 
dames D. Cummings, Worthington. 
Thomas ^Maloney, Worthington. 
John E. Bass, \Vorthington. 
John Butler, Dayton, Ohio. 
Cliarlcs 11. Johnson. Wortliington. 
John J. Soanlon, Worthington. 
Lee H. Wetherb}', Adrian. 
Ward A. York, Missouri Valley. Iowa. 
Bert H. Woolson (musician), Windom. 
Frank R. Marrs (ariificer), Lakefield. 
Hurr Randall (wagoner), Adrian. 

PRIVATES. 
William Apel, Worthington. 
.lohn H. Ballard, Jackson. 
Henry Bassett, Rushmore. 
Andrew L. Bigelow, Worthington. 
John Bierman, I'nlda. 
Charles Blackburn, Worthington. 
William F. Brabetz, Adrian. 
Walter Briggs, Kushmore. 
Irving Briggs, Worthington. 
Henry Bruner, Bigelow. 
Carl Ruttschau, Worthington. 
James F. Byrnes, Worthington. 
Eugene Campbell, Adrian. 
Joseph Collins, Chicago, 111. 
Patrick Cox, Adrian. 
Timothy Cox, Adrian. 
John A. Dahlberg, Rushmore. 
Nelson DuBois, (iruceville. 
.loseph S. Eastman. Rrainard. 
William A. I<:astman, Braiiiard. 
Simon Ebaugh, \\'orthington. 
.lohn Edwards (Erickson), Worthington. 
Lincoln M. Erhardt, White Bear. 
t;larencc T. Faragher, Adrian. 
Henry W. Forder, Rushmore. 
.lames F. Gallagher. Waukesha, Wis, 
Garrick M, Green, Wdrthington, 



Olaf Hanson, Rushmore. 

Charles G, Ilawkinson, Wortliington. 

Louis H. Herzig, Kinbrac, 

Clarence C. Holton, Laketield, 

Geo. V. Hovey, Worthington. 

Frank Irwin, (Jracevillc. 

William H, Kilpatrick, Adrian. 

Charles Klunder, Toledo. Iowa, 

F'redcrick Knuth, Brewster. 

ICdward E. Libaire, Adrian. 

.\mos Lund, .\drian. 

Gust Lundquist, Worthington. 

Otto R. McChord, Rushmore. 

Vernon Markham, Bigelow. 

Morris V.. Miller, Worthington. 

Archie L. Moberly, Worthington. 

David L. Monroe, Adrian. 

Walter Mundweiler, Adrian, 

Hernuui J. Xaegeli, St. (loud, 

Roscoe B, Palmer, Worthington, 

William Panno, Fulda, 

Aubrey Patton, Memphis, Tenn, 

William A, Patterson, Worthington, 

.loseph Paulson, Adrian, 

Louis I'aulson, Minmapolis. 

Henry F, Peters, Browns \"alley, 

Charles Peterson, Laketield. 

Andrew Pierce, Worthington, 

Albert C, Pike, SpolTord, 

William Phrindable, Adrian, 

Ralph Richar, Worthington, 

Henry M, Roberge, St, Paul, 

Theodore Sundstrom, Worthington. 

Lionel Vought, Wind^ni, 

Robert G, Welsh, il.irris. 

Earl C, Wigham, Adrian, 

John A. Winchell, Jlaiion, Ind, 

Ivan .M. \V:irn'n, ()» atimiiii, 

Ju additiuu to tlie three deaths al- 
ready mentioned, the company sustained 
tlic following losses during the period 
of enlistment: 

Joseph E, Stearns, Brewster, Sept, -^d, 18U8, 
ordei' secretary' of war, 

Jidm F, Tinnes, Adrian, Oct, 24, 1898. dis- 
ability. 

Edward Brooke (corporal), Owatonna, Nov. 
l;j, 18i),S, disability. 

.Icdni Fixenu^r, \\ uitliiugliin, l)cr, '.). ISD.S, 
transferred to hospital corps, U, S, army, 

Daniel O'Neil, Adrian, Dec, 12, 1898, dis- 
al)ility, 

Walter E. Black, Pipestone, Dec, 17. 1898, 
transferred to company I. 

William J, May, Graeeville, Dee, 22, 1898, 
transferred to hospital corjis, U, S, army. 

James G. Kennedy (sergeant). Dec. 30, 1898, 
order of secretary of war. to accept commis- 
sion. 

.lames J. Walsh, St. Paul, Jan, 2, 1899, 
transferred to company B, 

Harry K. Bonsall, Minneapolis, Jan, 6, 
1899, transferred to signal corps, U, S. army. 




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HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



119 



llany H. Burmeister, Maukato, Jan. 15, 
isyy, order secretary of war. 

Guss Taylor, ilinneapolis, Jan. 27, 1899, 
order secretary of war. 

John F. Johnson, Red Wing, Feb. 10, 1899, 
order secretary of war. 

Jacob A. Glerm, Worthington, Feb. 15, 1899, 
disability. 

Ciiarles F. Humes, Ues Moines, Iowa, Feb. 
15, 1899, disability. 

Fred E. Tuttle, Worthington, Feb. 25, 1899, 
transferred to signal corps, U. S. army. 

The Burliugtun brauuk road (uuw 
the Kock Island], the northern termi- 
nus of which had been. Worthington for 
so many years was extended northwest- 
ward in the fall of 1899. Grading on 
the line was commenced in October, 
tracklaying was begun the next month, 
and iu December regular trains were run 
to the temjjorary terminus at Wilmont. 
Two new towns were added to the coun- 
ty tliat fall as a result of the building 
of the road — Wilmont and Reading. Tlie 
former soon took its place as a prosper- 
ous village, and now ranks fourth in 
tlie county in population. Work on the 
road was resumed in March, 1900, and 
three months later the line was complet- 
ed to Hardwick, where it joined the 
main line. The village of Lismore was 
founded that spring. 

The census of 1900 sbowed a total 
jiopulation of 14,932, a gain of 3,037 in 
hve years. The population by precincts 
follows : 

Adrian Village 1.258 

Bigelow '^l" 

Bloom 51!' 

Brewster Village 234 

IJewald 654 

Dundee Village 217 

Elk 484 

Ellsworth Village 454 

( Iraham I..akes 485 

Crand Prairie 464 

Hersey 386 

Indian Lake " 373 

Kinlirae Village 137 

Larkin 49fl 

Leota -552 

Lismore 479 

Little Rock 532 

Lorain 378 



Olney 486 

Ransom 428 

Round Lake Village 226 

Seward 558 

Summit Lake 497 

Westside 438 

Willmont 699 

Worthington Township 393 

Worthington Village 2,386 

Total 14,932 

The year 1903 was one of disaster. 
The most destructive hail storm iu the 
county's history visited the western town- 
ships on July 20, and did awful damage. 
An estimate placed the damage to crops 
in western Nobles cotmty at $260,000, 
covered by abotit $100,000 insurance. 
Ellsworth people estimated the crop loss 
in trade territory of that town, which 
extends into Rock county and Iowa, at 
$350,000. The story of tlie storm is told 
iu the Nobles County Democrat of July 
24: 

Jlonday morning [July 20] the sky was 
clear with the exception of a long, low line 
(if dark looking clouds in the north. As the 
wind was from the south, it looked for sev- 
eral hours as if the clouds would be driven 
farther to the north, and few thought there 
was any <laiiger of the storm coming this 
way. But despite the south wind, the cloud 
bank moved slowly in this direction, and 
finally, about noon, it was evident that a 
terrific storm was apiiroaching. The dark 
clouds were tinged here and there with 
streaks of green — a sure indication of hail. 
-Vt one o'clock hugh raindrops began to fall, 
and a few minutes later the hail, driven by 
a strong wind, came thick and fast, cutting 
the leaves from the trees, breaking windows 
and beating giain to the ground. The hail 
was accompanied by torrents of rain, which 
aided in the work of destruction. But it was 
all over in ten minutes, and where the ruin- 
laden clouils had been, blue sky appeared, as if 
nature wished to show how quickly she could 
do the trick and smile at a man's misfortune. 
For some minutes after the storm had passed 
the roar of the falling hail could be heard 
far to the south — and then the sun .shone, 
not on fields of waving grain and laughing 
corn, but on flat masses of tangled, broken 
straw and corn blades cut to ribbons. Here 
and there on the north, west and south were 
patches comparatively uninjured — oases in 
the desolation. 

Leota, Lismore, Westside and Grand Prairie 
townships were hit hardest, while Willmont, 
Larkin, Olney, Little Rock, Dewald, Ransom, 



120 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



Jiigelow, Bloom and Summit Lake were dam- 
aged only in spots. So far as the Democrat 
lias been able lo learn, there was no loss to 
speak of in the other parts of the county. 

The general direction of the storm was 
from northwest to southeast, though it 
frequently changed its course for short dis- 
tances, and split up into several parts or 
streams. Its entire width here was more 
than twenty miles, the path of greatest de- 
struction being between here and Luverne, 
with Kenneth, Magnolia and Ellsworth in 
line for the worst of it. 

The Democrat qualified its previous 
article somewhat in the issue of July 
31. It said: 

According to reports there are many fine fields 
of grain in the counuy northeast, east and 
southeast of Adrian that escaped serious 
damage by hail. On the west there is not 
much that is worth cutting, but still there 
is some, and we are not so everlastingly 
wiped out after all. 

The Ellsworth News o£ July 24 told 

of the storm in that part of the county: 

The most destructive hail storm that ever 
visited this section struck here Monday at 
one o'clock in the afternoon, and half an 
hour later hundreds of thousands of dollars 
worth of grain and corn crops were w'orthless. 
As one fanner remarked: "Our harvesting, 
stacking and threshing was all done quickly 
and all together." Where but a half hour 
before stood magnificent fields of rich, waving 
grain and luxuriant coin, now only the 
broken straw and stalks, pounded into the 
ground by the ruthless hail and presenting a 
chaotic apearance, greeted the eye. 

The storm came from the north. It first 
appeared seven miles south of Watertown 
early in the morning and came on over Clear 
lake, going southeast to Woodstock and 
thence over Kenneth, Lisinore and Adrian. At 
the latter place much damage is reported. 
The most of Grand Prairie township suf- 
fered heavy loss; also the west part of Little 
Kock. 

There appeared to be two divisions of the 
storm here. The west division ajipcared first 
five miles northwest of Kanaraiizi and came 
on over that place. From the Ole Fostenrud 
and .Miller jilaces to the creek everything was 
hailed out. This branch of the storm passed 
just west of town and on south toward 
George. . . . From east to west the 
storm appeared to be about eight miles wide, 
and must have covered a tract of country over 
100 miles long from north to south. 
The hail fell in torrents and in many places 
are reported as large as hens' eggs. . . . 
This blow will be severely felt both by the 



farmers aud business men. A great many are 
uepeiiuing on this crop to pay debts iu- 
currea last year on account oi luc corn fail- 
ure. . . . i-ismoie ana w eslside tOMii- 
slups are nearly wiped out, as well as Grand 
rrairie and the larger portion ol l-illle Kock. 

The clemcuts seemed determined tiiai 
the crops should be a total lailurc in 
lyoa. 'ihc hail storm had been a ser- 
ious blow to the western halt ol lUu 
county, and the floods of rainfall that 
continued all season brought destruction 
to crops in all parts of tne county, par- 
ticularly in the eastern half. 

Ihe climax of llie long wet season was 
readied bcplembcr fl. During the after- 
noon aud evening of that day about 
six inches of water fell in as many 
hours. The ground was already thor- 
oughly saturated, and the precipilaliou 
of bUU tons of water to the acre iu su 
short a time made it look as though 
an ark might come handy. Every ditch 
and gutter became a raging torrent; 
every stream a raging river. At VVorth- 
iuutou Ukubena lake overflowed its 
banks, and many of the streets were 
covered with water, so that they had 
to be traveled in boats. Houses on low 
n-round were hlled with water, and sonic 
of the residents had to flee for then- 
lives. Thousands of dollars worth of 
]jroperty was destroyed.' 

Much damage was also done in the 
western portion of the county. The Jian- 
aranzi river rose so rapidly that before 
miduight it was running over the Oma- 
ha track just west of Adrian. So swift 
was the current that more than 100 feet 
of the grade was washed away, leaving 
the rails and ties hanging in the gap. 
Approaches to wagon bridges over the 
usually peaceful river were carried away. 
Heavy timbers were torn from their 
places, and even telephone poles were 



'For a more detailed account of the ttood In VVorthington see chapter 14. 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



121 



washed out of the ground. But the fury 
of the Kanaranzi was as nothing com- 
pared with the frenzy of the Little Koek, 
which swept everything before it. As 
a result of the flood there was a bad 
freight train wreck on the Omaha be- 
tween Worthington and Org. 

An idea of the dampness of the sea- 
son is gained from the following table 
of the rainfall for the eight months 
ending October 31, prepared by Weather 
Observer J. H. Maxwell: 

Month — Inches. 

March 2^/2 

April 1% 

May 12'/a 

June 6V4 

July 5% 

August 5Vi 

.September IOV3 

October 4 

48 Va 

The crop was a failure that year. Wet 
weather continued for two or three years 
afterward, and partial crop failures re- 
sulted. Depending almost entirely on 
its agricultural industries, Nobles coun- 
ty was hard hit. A period of dull times 
set in. Immigration ceased, and the re- 
sult is seen in the census figures of 
1905. The total population then was 
15,056, a gain of only 134 in five years. 
Worthington, Adrian and some of the 
small villages showed a small decrease. 
The population by precincts, according 
to this last census, was : 

Adrian Village , 1,184 

Bigelow Township 458 

Bigelow Village 194 

Bloom ■ 496 

Brewster Village 273 

Dewald 481 

Dundee Village • . . . 182 

Elk 464 

Ellsworth Village 537 

Graham Lakes 453 

Grand Prairie 476 



Hersey 421 

' Indian Lake 348 

i\inl>rae V'illage Ill 

Larkin 395 

Leuta 586 

Lismore Township 450 

Lismore Village 181 

Little Kock 594 

Lorain 370 

Uhiey 446 

Ransom 458 

Round Lake Village 245 

Rushiuore Village 228 

Seward 523 

Summit Lake 473 

Westside 417 

Willmont Township 645 

Wilmont Village 279 

Worthington Township 412 

Worthington Village 2,27G 

Total 15,056 

Of the total population 11,977 were 

native born — 5,845 born in Minnesota; 

6,132 born in other states. The foreign 

born population was 3,079, divided 

among the various countries as follows: 

Germany 1,311 

Sweden 570 

Norway 313 

Canada 138 

Ireland 145 

Denmark <)2 

England KK! 

Bohemia ; 11 

Scotland ; 48 

Wales 17 

.Austria 62 

All other countries 263 

Total 3,079 

The setback caused by the wet sea- 
sons was only temporary. A good crop 
was raised in 1906 and a bountiful one 
in 1907. Good prices prevailed during 
the latter year, and the financial flurry 
that came late that fall caused no anxi- 
ety among the people of Nobles coun- 
ty. The year 1908 opened with the 
people feeling happy and contented. 
They live in the best country the bright 
light of heaven, ever shown upon. 



CHAPTER IX. 



POLITICAL— 1870-1874. 



The political history of Nobles coun- 
ty dates from the fall of the year 1870. 
When the settlers residing in the vicin- 
ity of Graham lakes determined that 
their needs warranted the organization 
of the county they asked Governor Hor- 
ace Austin to appoint commissioners, 
who should perfect the organization un- 
der the provisions of the act of May 23, 
1857, — the act of the legislature creat- 
ing the county. The governor complied 
with the request of the settlers, and in 
September, 1870, appointed Benjamin 
W. Woolstencroff, CUiarles H. Drury and 
P>enjaiiiin Harrison commissioners, giv- 
ing them authority to name the other 
county officials.^ 

The three commissioners met Oct. "27, 
1870, elected Charles Drury chairman 
and B. W. Woolstencroff secretary, and 

'Knfortunately the early county records have 
not been preserved, and the data for the 
poUtical history prior to the election of No- 
vember, 1871, is furnished by Judge B. W. 
Woolstenoroft. of Slayton, who gives the facts 
from memory. These are supplemented some- 
what by data obtained from a historical atlas 
of Minnesota, published in 1874, the compilers 
of which doubtless had access to the records. 
The early day commissioners' proceedings 
were kept on legal cap paper and were not 
transcribed into a permanent record. The rec- 
ord is complete from January, 1872. 

On January 9, 1872, the commissioners took 
official note of the fact that the papers were 
missing, as follows: 

"Complaints having been made to the board 
that Charles Drury, one of the former com- 
missioners, retained certain records of the old 
board of commissioners in his possession and 
refused to deliver them up on demand, the 
board passed the following resolution; 

" 'Whereas, One Charles Drury retains in 
his possession certain records of the board of 
county commissioners and refused to deliver 
them to the proper officer. 



appointed the following officers : Simon 
Jl. Harris, auditor and county attorney; 
John H. Cunningham, treasurer; Steph- 
en Howell, register of deeds; E. W. 
Hesselrotli, judge of probate; Kichard 
Morton, clerk of court; Captain Miller, 
surveyor.- 

Theso appointments were intended to 
be temporary, as the general election of 
November, 1870, was only a few days 
away. Active preparations were at once 
begun for this event, and a mass con- 
vention was called to be held at the 
lioiiie of Edward Berreau, on section 14, 
Hersey township. In the log house of 
that pioneer settler, in the closing days 
of October, gathered the voters, who 
put in nomination a complete county 
ticket. Then, as now, all was not har- 
mony in a political way. Because of 

" 'Resolved. That proper action be com- 
menced by the board immediately against the 
said Drur.v to recover the said records.' " 

The next day the journal records the fol- 
lowing proceedings: 

"Papers purporting to be the records of the 
board of county commissioners from Oct. 27, 
1870, to Jan. 5. 1871. inclusive, were presented 
to the board by the auditor as received from 
Charles Drury. On examination of the papers 
it was ascertained that they were not the 
original, but altered copies of the original rec- 
ords. On motion of Mr. Tucker the auditor 
was instructed to employ competent legal 
counsel and to proceed against the said 
Charles Drurj' immediately for unlawfully de- 
taining the property of the county." 

This is the last mention of the matter. If 
the original records were recovered they have 
di-sappeared again. 

=The historical atlas before referred to 
states that at this initial meeting Hiram L. 
Wallace was apointed sheriff and B. F, Tan- 
ner and William Hesselroth Justices of the 
peace. 



123 



124 



IlISTOR'i: OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



llie nomination of S. E. Harris for au- 
ditor there was a bolt. A few days 
later the dissatisfied ones met at the 
home of B. W. Woolstencroft, in what 
is now Graham Lakes township. All of 
the nominees of the first convention were 
endorsed with the e.xception of Mr. Har- 
ris for auditor; the name. of B. W. Wool- 
stencroft was substituted for that of 
Mr. Harris. 

The election was only a few days 
away, and the contest between the two 
noiiiineiss for auditor became spirited. 
The board at its first meeting had di- 
vided the coimty into three election pre- 
cincts, the polling places for which were 
al the homes of S. Ji. Harris and H. L. 
Wallace, in Graliam Lakes, and the home 
of Isaac Hortoii, in Indian Lake. There 
was no red tape connected with lliis 
first election held in Nobles county. At 
tlie Harris home a cigar box with a slit 
cut in the top served as a ballot bo.x'. 
Into this opening a jack knife was 
stuck; wliou the polls were declared 
open the knife was withdrawn and vot- 
ing began. So bitter was the contest 
between the friends of the nominees for 
auditor that violence was narrowly avert- 
ed at the Harris polling place. Ecvol- 
vorg were worn conspicuously, knives 
were displayed, and intimidations were 
indulged in. Despite these manifesta- 
tions of hostility the situation was con- 
trolled by the cooler heads, and the day 
passed without bloodshed. The home of 
Isaac Horton — the Indian Lake polling 
place — was on section 34, on the east 
bank of Indian lake. Mr. Horton had 

'This was the case for several years during 
the county's early history, and was the cause. 
(loi;t)tlPss. for the many chanBCs during the 
early days. N'or were there duties attached 
to some of the offices, and some of the of- 
ficers did not qualify. Mr. E. W. Hcsselroth, 
stiil a resident of the county, tells me that 
during the time he was probate Judge he did 
not have a case; neither did he liave any 
duties to perform during the years he served 
as Justice of the peace. 



made a ballot box which was used at 
that election and for several electiouB 
thereafter. It was three and one-half 
inches deep by four inches wide, and 
was twelve inches long, fitted with a 
sliding cover in which was a slit for 
receiving the ballots. 

Thirty-two votes were cast, and there 
were possibly at the time twelve or four- 
teen other electors in the county who 
did not use their franchise. The party 
favoring Mr. Woolstencroft for auditor 
was successful. The officers elected 
were: B. W. Woolstencroft for auditor; 
John H. Cunningham, treasurer; Steph- 
en Howell, register of deeds; E. W. 
Hesselroth, judge of probate; Eicliard 
Morton, clerk of court; H. L. Wallace, 
sheriff; Stephen Muck, coroner. 

Dissatisfied with the result of the 
election, Mr. Harris as auditor (which 
he held by appointment) refused to can- 
vass the vote. While he was undoubted- 
ly wrong in taking such a course and 
could have been compelled to make the 
canvass, conditions were such that no 
action was taken, and for the time be- 
ing there was no change in the person- 
nel of the county officers. No salary 
was attached to any of the offices,^ and 
the officers-elect were not ambitious 
enough to compel the canvassing of the 
vote, which would result in placing 
them in office. There was a spirited 
contest between Messrs. Thompson and 
Whalen for state senator and Jlcssrs. 
Chamberlain and Patchen for represen- 
tative, and the votes for these offices 
were canvassed by Auditor Harris.* 

•While this was the first election In which 
the electors of Nobles county were permitted 
to vote for legLslatlvo candidates. It may be 
of Interest to know who our legislators had 
been previously. Under the legislative ap- 
portionment of ISGO southwestern Minnesota. 
Including the counties of Faribault. Martin. 
Jacljson, Cottonwood, Murray, Nobles, Pipe- 
stone, Roclt and Brown west of range 34. was 
designated as the Twentieth district. In the 
Icglslatines of 1861 and 1SC2 Guy C. Cleveland 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



125 



So the election of 1870 resulted in 
no change. But between the date of 
organization and the time when the of- 
ficers elected in the fall of 1871 took 
office there were numerous changes. It 
seemed difficult to find men willing to 
serve the county in an official capa- 
city,'^ and several appointments were 
made for some offices before men could 
be found who would qualify. Soon af- 
ter the organization Origen B. Lacy was 
named register of deeds, Henry Bray- 
ton, county attorney; S. E. Harris, 
judge of probate; Benjamin Harrison, 
coroner; Edward J. Clark, clerk of 
court ; Cliarles H. Drury and John 
Leitz, justices of the peace. At a 
meeting of the board in January, 1871, 
W'illiam H. Brown was appointed coun- 
ty attorney, James W. Miller, surveyor; 
Charles W. Bullis, Samuel Barnes and 
Ole Ellingson, constables. About this 
time there was a change in the board of 
commissioners, W. G. Brown being ap- 
pointed to fill the vacancy caused by 
the removal of Benjamin Harrison from 
the county. At a meeting on April 1.5, 
1871, there was a change in one of the 
important offices. S. E. Harris, who 
had held the offices of auditor and coun- 
ty attorney from the date of organiza- 
tion, resigned, and in his place was 
installed W. H. Brown, auditor, and J. 
W. Palmer, county attorney. These are 

was senator, and he was succeeded in the 
next four legrislatures by D. G. Shillock. The 
Twentieth district was represented in the house 
as follows: 1861. A. Strecker; 1862. B. O, 
Kempfer: 1863. J. B. Wakefield; 1S64, J. A. 
Latimer: 18i).5. J. A. Kiester: 1866. J. B. Wake- 
field, Another apportionment was made in 
1866, in which Nobles county was not men- 
tioned. It was doubtless intended, however, 
that it should still be a part of district No, 
20, In the legislatures of 1S67 to 1869, 
inclusive. J, B, Wakefield was senator, J, A, 
Latimer served in 1S70. and C, W, Thompson 
in 1871, During this period the district was 
represented in the house by A, Andrews, A, B, 



the only changes that resulted prior to 
the election in the fall of 1871." 

The election of Nov. 7, 1871, brought 
about an almost complete change in 
county officers. There were contests for 
only a few of the county offices, and 
for state offices there was almost an 
unanimity of choice. Almost without 
exception the first settlers of the coun- 
ty were republicans, and out of the total 
of 73 votes cast 72 were for Horace 
Austin for governor and one for Win- 
throp Young. This democratic vote was 
east by Michael Maguire, still a resident 
of Nobles county. There was no poli- 
tical division on county offices, the nomi- 
nees being put forward by independant 
conventions. There were only two town- 
ships organized at the time — Graham 
Lakes and Indian Lake. The polling 
place for Graham Lakes was the resi- 
dence of H. C. Hallett. The judges of 
election were E. W. Hesselroth, Asher 
Allen and C. H. Cutler, and the clerks 
were Henry D. Bookstaver and B. W. 
Woolstencroft. In Indian Lake the poll- 
ing place was the residence of Isaac 
Horton, where E. L. Erskine, Frank 
Tucker and Isaac Horton officiated as 
judges and Clias. W. Bullis and Henry 
Brayton as clerks. 

Following is the vote by precincts, as 
certified to by Auditor William H. 
Brown : 



Colton. J, W, Hunter. M, E, L, Shanks and A, 
L, Patchen, 

=It may not be out of place to note the 
fact that conditions have changed since then. 

'Although W. H, Brown was nominallj- 
county auditor for the rest of the term he 
had very little to do with the office. He neg- 
lected to have a tax levied for the year 1871. 
and in the summer H, D, Bookstaver took 
charge of the office and was. to all intents, 
cotmty auditor. He was formally appointed 
auditor Jan, 10, 1872, to serve until March 1. 
1872. when th*^ new officers qualified. 



126 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



OlJ ^J 1= 



Governor- 
Horace Austin (rep) 4.i 28 71 

Winthrop Young (dem) 1 .. 1 

Lieut. Governor- 
William H. Yale (rep) 43 ;"9 "2 

D. L. Buell idem) 1 .. 1 

Secretary of State— 

S. P. Jennison (repi 43 2'.i 72 

Eric Nelson Falk (dem) .... 1 1 

Treasurer — 

Wm. Seeger irep) 43 29 72 

Barney Vosberg (dem) 1 1 

Attorney General - 

F. R E. Cornell rep) 43 29 72 

John L. McDonald (dem). .. 1 .. 1 

Asso. Justices — 

S. J. R. McMillan (rep) 43 29 72 

John M. Berry (rep) 43 2li 72 

Daniel Buck idem! 1 ., 1 

Wm. Mitchell (dem) 1 .. 1 

Auditor — 

H. D. Bookstaver 21 29 51t 

Walter G. Brown 22 . . 22 

Treasurer — 

Henry Brayton 44 29 73 

Sheriff- 

H. C. Hallett 23 . . 23 

Charles W. Bullis 19 29 48 

Scattering 2 .. 2 

Register of Deeds — 

Selim Fox 44* 29 G9 

O. B. Lacy 4 . . 4 

Surveyor— 

B. W. Woolstencroft 31 28 59 

Chas, Frisbee 7 .. 7 

Scattering 3 . . 3 

Clerk of Court— * 

John H. Cunningham 44 29 73 

Probate Judge — 

E. W Hesselroth 41 29 70 

Court Commissioner — 

Warren Fish 23 28 51 

Coroner- 
Stephen Muck :.. 41 29 70 

Scattering 1 1 

Senator — 

Wm. D. Rice 43 29 72 

C. C. Sylvester 1 . . 1 

Representative — 

Geo. C. Chamberlain 43 29 72 

O. Nason 1 . . 1 

Commissioner Dist 1 — 

Irving S. Swan 13 

Orange Chapman li 

Commissioner Dist. 2 

J. W. Miller 15 

John II Cunningham 4 

Scattering 1 

Commissioner Dist. 3 — 

Frank Tucker 28 

•Kvideiill.v a niist:iUe In luklltlon. 

+Iii the liruliain Lakes lownslilii abstract this voto 
Is jrlvcn as 10. and was incorrecll.v put on tlie county 
aljstiact. 

"Citizens of NiiWes county rosiidiuK out- 
side these two towHsliips were allowed to 
vote. A few citizens of llie new town of 
WorthiiiBton cast their ballots in Indian Lake. 
The few settlers of Hersey and Seward voted 
In Graham Lakes. 



The sevent^'-three voters who cast 
ballots at this election were as follows: 

Graham Lakes precinct' — J. Anscomb, 
A. A. Allen, L. Allen, II. D. Bookstaver, 
\V. 11. P.niwn, W. G. Brown, Byron B. 
[irain, W. H. Jiooth, Caleb Blake, Or- 
wen Blake, ICdward Clark, Nathaniel 
Cox, A. L. Y. Cornish, Orange (Tliap- 
man, .1. U. Cunningham, Chas. Cutler, 
Chas. Druiy, Stephen A. Door, Selim 
Fox, Chas. Frisbio, John J. Fitch, Hen- 
ry C. Hallett, E. W. Hesselroth, H. A. 
E. Hesselroth, 0. B. Lacy, Micliael Ma- 
giiirc, Joseph Muck, Stephen Muck, J. 
W. Miller, Stephen Muck, Jr., J. W. 
Palmer J. Parsliall, Joseph Stone, Ir- 
win S. Swan, Philo Snyder, B. F. Tan- 
ner, F. Umbrid, Isaac Waterhouse, B. 
W. Woolstencroft, H. L. Wallace, Wil- 
liam Willcox, J. Westinghouse, Frank 
Zeiner, Englebrih Zeiner.' 

Indian Lake precinct — K. L. Erskine. 
Frank Tucker, Henry Brayton, Isaac 
llnrton. C. W. Bullis, Albert Haggard, 
Henry Davis, Elihue Ellis, Erick Paul, 
Will. .\. Dillman, Ole Johnson, Moulton 
]\le(!olluns, .James Christiansen, Louis 
Sundberg, Gundro Joul, Ole N. Lang- 
seth, Ole Fauskee, N. N. Langseth. Ole 
\. Fauskee, Andrew Sundlnirg, P. S. 
Swanson, Hanson Estrom. Charles Wick- 
slrom, Peter Wickstroiu, Louis Ilanhi, 
l<h-ick Mahlberg, Tlniry 'S\. Johnson. 
John Pygall, Nelson Coyour. 

The officers elected in 1871, wiiii few 
exceptions, servi^d tlicir i'liil Iri-ms. ,T. 
W. Miller, who liad been elected com- 
missioner from the second district, did 
not qualify. in his place appeared 
.Toliii 11. Cunniiigliain. who had lieim his 

"Olhei-s i-egistered in Gi'aham Lakes town- 
ship, but who did not vote, were Mark 
Amundson. Martin .\mundson. Rasmus .\n- 
der.son, Edward Berreau. Alexander Clark. W. 
Cosper, Daniel Downy. Hearth. Hearth. 
.Johnson, H. F. Jackson, .1. Leitz, Bennett 
Lindcrman, Parshall, Terkins, Peter Swait- 
wout, Weston, Watlng, Wolf, Wolf, Younker. 



SCENES ON 
LAKE OKABENA 




HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



127 



opponent at the polls. Mr. Cunning- 
ham was elected chairman of_ the board 
Jan. 2, 1872, he resigning the oifiee of 
treasurer to accept the position on the 
board. ■ He resigned the latter office, 
and on May 30 Irwin S. Swan was 
elected chairman. C. C. Goodnow took 
the oath of office as commissioner from 
the third district, replacing Frank Tuck- 
er, and M. L. Miller replaced Mr. Cun- 
ningham on the board. There had been 
no candidates for the office of county 
attorney, and J. W. Palmer continued 
to hold the office by virtue of a former 
appointment. He resigned the office 

°Those who voted in the several townships, 
excluding Little Rock and Dewald, were as 
follows: 

Worthington. SH — S. F. Sheppard. W. K. 
Fish. Chas. Fletcher. R. H. I*utnam, Wm. 
Wallace, J. C. Clark, Chas. Newton. L. M. 
Cha.se. Geo. O. Moore. John Alley, J. B. 
Haines, L.. B. Bennett, Frank Stringham. 
Wm. E. Martin. A. P. Miller, L. F. McLaurin, 
Jas. Marden, L. Griswold, R. F. Humiston. 
David Bennett, H. C. Duggen. M. H. Stevens. 
E. Dilabangh, Otis Bigelow, T. C. Trimble, 
Daniel Stone, H. M. Farnam, Wm. H. Will- 
marth, T. C. Bell, James Gibson, Cyrus Kling- 
ensmith, J, T, Shaw, J. S. Shuck, C. B, Love- 
less, M. B, Odell, James S. Stone. I. N. 
Sater, C, P. Stough, I. P. Durfee. C. D. Will- 
iamson. B, R. Humiston, Chas. H. Stewart, S. 
D. Sprague, David Stone, E. S. Terry, A, J. 
Wilcox, Mons E. Distead, H. Davis, W. S. 
Langdon, E. W. Branch, C. P. Hewett, Jas. 
Gould, .\ndrew Buchan. John F. Humiston, 
H. W. Kimball, L. D. I-aythe. C. B. Lang- 
don, .\llen Cho.ney, Ole Hanson, Edward Gill- 
en, John Herzig, C. C, Whitney, C. W. Lewis. 
B. F. Thurber. Wm. N. Phillips, Chas. E. 
Tourtelotte. Oscar Whitney. C. C. Goodnow, 
A. C. Robinson, W. A. Dillman, Edwin F. 
Wliitnev, A. J. Manley, J. A. Town, A. L. 
Clarke, J. C. Goodnow. B, R. Prince, M. B. 
Soule, Peter Thompson, O, G. Grundsten, C. 
Hill, C. J. Miller, Cornelius Johnson. Geo, 
Cline. A. P. Chamberlain. Osmond Parkland. 

Indian Lake, 29 — R. M. Small. C. Saxon, O, 
Langseth, A. Anderson, John Haggard, Sr., L. 
Johnson, G, O, Joul, O. M. Skinner, O. 
Ellingson. O. Anderson, A. C. Lofstedt, John 
Blixt, E, Paul. J. Cristesson, John Saxon, L. 
Wheeler, G, Horton, R. L. Erskine, Henry 
Brayton A. A. Abbott, James Acheson, S. W. 
Bolton, J. D. Brown, H. M. Johnson, Andrew 
Sunburg, Lewis Sunburg, Charles Peterson, 
John Haggard, Jr., Nelson Coyour. 

Elk, 15 — T. D. Fowble, Cyrenius Alley, S. P. 
Bon, "W. B. Akins, M, L. Miller, Peter Swet- 
zer, John P. Warner, Chas. Wilkinson, R. B. 
Plotts, Peter Kleven. Andrew Nord, T. H. 
Barnfleld, Allen McLean. Elliott Covey, D. 
P. Baird. 

Hersey, 31— W, R, Bennett, Daniel Hoffy, 
A. A. Parsons, J, W. Dyer. Louis Gotthelf, 
Chas. Smith, W, G. Brown, John Myers, 
Jermeiah Lynch, Otto Berreau, John Polster, 



Sept. 16, 1872. Prior to Feb. 9, 1872, 
the county had been without a superin- 
tendent of schools, but on tliat date W. 
H. Cunningham was appointed. He 
served until September IG, 1872, when 
T. C. Bell was appointed to the office. 

There was a big change in conditions 
in Nobles county between the time of 
the elections of 1871 and 1872. From 
the seventy-three votes cast in 1871 the 
number at the election of Nov. 5, 1872, 
liad increased to 321 ;" the number of 
organized townships had increased to 
eleven, and in each of tliese, polling 
places had been established and elections 

Chas. Hartoon. Herman Berreau. Levi Wright- 
son, Erastus Church, Caleb Blake, Orwell 
Blake, Geo, Payne, Chas, Frisbie, W. H. 
Berger, O, B. Lacv. Jonathan Gordon, John 
Parsons, Pat Haffy, I. K, Cole, Wm. Grono. 
John Newberry, Wm. Ditty, A. J. Timlin. 
A. O. Conde, C. A. Barrows. 

Bigelow, 34 — J. Ruprecht. Wm. G. John- 
ston. N. McDowell, S. O, Morse, F. J. Peace, 
J. I'pstrom, E. J, Bear, Adolph .\nderson, Ole 
Lienquist, Wm. M. Bear, Ed. Sprague, T, T. 
Reynolds, H. B. Tripp, A. A. Kimball, Hugh 
Mitchell, A. C. Esker, P. Larson, Lars Erick- 
son, J. Moberg, E. Kain, H. Mitchell, S. 
Elofson, H. Nystrom, Erick Mahlberg. C. J. 
Wiekstrom, Oley Mastrom, John T. Preuett, 
E. S. Mills. P. G. Swenson. L. R. Hollenback, 
Cniarles A. Tellander, Thos. Wills, Robert 
Frothingham, Geo, M. Plumb. 

Fairview fLorain). 22 — Champlin Brown. 
William Hannah. H. D. Humiston. Dr. J. 
Craft. W. L. Shoemaker, B. S. Langdon. T. 
H. Parsons, David Fogo. Richard W. Eagley, 
William Madison, Crasey Key, Wm, F. Ham- 
ilton. Abram A. Burton, Rol^ert Firth, Alliert 
Haggard, James Hazard, Hamilton McCoilum, 
H. S. Finn, B. H. Crever, William Stockdale, 
Daniel Shell. Alfred Small. 

Graham Lakes. 32 — J. H. Anscomb, Jere- 
miah .\nscomb, H. D. Bookstaver. W. H. 
Brown. O. Briggs, Alexander Clarke, Edward 
J. Clark, A. L. Y. Cornish, O. H. Chapman, 
J, H. Cunningham. Chas, Drurv, A, L. Dun- 
lap, N. Erickson, Selim Fox, H. C. Hallett, 
E, W, Hesselroth, John Hart, E. F. Jackson. 
M. McGuire. Stephen Muck, J. W. Miller, A. 
Nelson, J. W. Palmer, Joseph Stone, Warren 
Smith. N. H. Smith, I, S. Swan, B, F. Tan- 
ner. H. L. Wallace. W. Willcox. F. Zeiner, B. 
Woolstencroft. 

Seward, 13— W. H. Booth, W. W, Casper. P. 
Gagoe, C. C, Johnson, James Parshall, James 
Parshall, Jr., Jonas Parshall, P, Snyder, J. P. 
Vail, J, Westinghovise. J. M. Weston, J, G, 
Walling, W. Sowles. 

Grant (Ransom), 14 — Richard Prideaux, 
Stillman I. W. Alen, F, W, Burdett, A, C, 
Guernsey, H, S, Belknap, J. H. Scott, Leroy 
Cole, Coleman Guernsey, Hiram Norton, H, 
R. Gray, D. K. Gordon, Geo. M, Smith. B. F 
Congdon, Anthony R. Mutter, 



128 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



were held." The count)' was overwhelm- 
ingly republican, as was shown by the 
vote for president and congressman. 
Following is the oflficial abstract of the 
vote : 

Presidential electors — republican 
(Grant), 276; democratic, (Greeley), 
45. 

Congressman — M. 11. Duiuiell (rep.), 
374; Morton S. Wilkinson (dem.), 43. 

Representative" — Stephen Miller, 2-57; 
H. Anderson, 55. 



"■The election officers of the several pre- 
cincts were as follows: 

Dewald (polling place at the house of 
Leander Shirley). Thos H. Childs. Andrew O. 
Miller and Tliom.as Wilson, judges: Leander 
S. Shirley and Samuel F. Pcpple. clerks. 

Little hock (polling place at the house of 
Ole C. Peterson). Sylvester Jenkins, J. D. 
Roberts and Ole C. Peterson, judges; J. T. 
Green, town clerk. 

Grant (polling place at the house of M. S. 
Belknap), H. R. Gray, M. S. Belknap and A. 
O. Guernsey, judges; Leroy Cole and Cole 
Guernsey, clerks. 

Seward Spoiling place at the house of Jos. 
Willing). John P. Vail. C, L. Johnson and 
Jonas Parshall. judges; Julius Westinghouse 
and Philo Snyder, clerks. 

Graham Lakes (polling place at the house 
of H. C. Hallett). O. IL Chapman. E. W. 
Hesseiroth and E. F. Jackson, judges; N. 
H. Smith and H. C. Hallett. clerks. 

Fairvlew, B. S. I.angdon. Thos. H. Parsons 
and W. L. Shoemaker, judges; R. D. Bagley 
and Wm. F. Hamilton, clerks. 

HIgclow (polling place at the house of Lars 
Elofson), E. S. Mills. P. T. Reynolds and P. 
G. Swenson. judges; William M. Bear and A. 
A. Kimball, clerks. 

Hersev. Walter G. Brown and A. A. Par- 
sons, judges; W. R. Bennett and Ira K. 
Cole, clerks. 

Elk. Samuel P. Bon, W. B. Akins and Allan 
McLean, judges; Chas. Wilkinson and Thos. 
D. Fowble, clerks. 

Indian Take (polling place at the house of 
C. W. Bullis), R. L. Erskine, Geo. W. Bottom 
and John Haggard. Jr., judges; James Ache- 
son and A. A. Abbott, clerks. 

Worthington (polling place at the village of 
Worthlngton), Benjamin R. Prince. M. B. 
Soule and Benjamin F. Thurber, judges; Jor- 
rle B. Haines and L. B. Bennett, clerks. 

"For the want of a better place I shall here 
give the legislative history of Nobles county. 
The legislature of 1871 reapportioned the 
state Into legislative districts. Nobles county 
became a part of the ."iSth. the other counties 
comprising the district being Martin. Jackson. 
Rock. Watonwan. Cottonwood, MvuTay and 
Pipestone. The district was entitled to one 
senator and three members of the house. The 
sen.ator was to be elected from the district at 
large; Martin county was entitled to one rep- 
resenlallve, Watonwan to one. and the rest of 
the district to the other. ITnder this ppor- 
tlonment the district was represented ,r\ the 
sevei-al legi.siatures as follows: 

lS72--Senalc, Wm. D. Rice; house, E. TBerry, 
W W. Murphy, G. C. Chamberlain. 

1873— Senate, W. D. Rice; house. J. W. 



County Attorney— M. B. Soule, 274; 
Ole Hansen, 22. 

Commissioner First District'^ — J. ^\'. 
^[illcr, 33 ; Scattering, 5. 

Commissioner Second District — M. L. 
Miller, 32. 

Commissioner Third District — I. P. 
Dnrfee,^' 113; John Alley, 91. 

Court Commissioner — J. S. Shuck, 
270; Joel A. Pegg, 20. 

Such were the election laws in the 
early history of Nobles county that elec- 

Seager, Edwin Berry, Stephen Miller. 

1871 — Senate. E. P. Freeman; house, J. F. 
Daniels. Ole O. How. N. H. Manning. 

1875 — Senate, B. P. Freeman; house, Chas. 
F. Crosby. E. Berry, Thos. Rutledge. 

1S7G — Senate. I. P. Durfee; house. J. A. 
Everett. Lee Hensley, W. H. Mellen. 

1877— Senate. I. P. Durfee; house, H. N. 
Rice. Lee Hensley, Christopher H. Smith. 

1S7S — Senate. Christopher H. Smith; house, 
Frank A. Day, L. H. Bishop. Alex FIddes. 

1S79— Senate, A. D. Perkins; house, M. E. 
L. Shanks. T. Lambert. P. J. Kniss. 

ISSl — Senate, A. D. Perkins; house, J. A. 
Armstrog, W. D. Rice. P. Kniss. 

A new apportionment was made in 1881. 
under which Nobles, Murray, Rock and Pipe- 
stone counties were made to form the seventh 
district, entitled to one senator and two rep- 
resentatives. In 1SS9 one more representative 
was given to the district. The seventh dis- 
trict was represented in the Minnesota legis- 
latures as follows: 

1S83— Senate. A. M. Crosby; house, W. H. 
Johnson. W. A. Crawford. 

1SS5 — Senate, A. M. Crosby; house, Peter 
Peterson. W. B. Brown. 

1SS7 — Senate. W. B. Brown; house. J. F. 
Shoemaker. B. M. Low. 

1889— Same as 1887. 

1891 — Senate, Jay LaDue; house. Larned 
Coburn, Wm. Lockwood. Patrick Glldea. 

1893 — Senate. Jay LaDue; house, Daniel 
Shell, Wm. Lockwood. Ole O. Holman. 

1S95— Senate. H. J. Miller: house. Daniel 
Shell. Wm. Lockwood. Ole O. Holman. 

1S97 — Senate. H. J. Miller; house. Daniel 
Shell, Ole O. Holman, .\. S. Dyer. 

In 1897 Nobles and Munay counties were 
m.ade one district, the fifteenth, entitled to one 
senator and one member of the house. The 
district has been represented as follows: 

1899— Senate, Daniel Shell; house, Henry C. 
Grass. 

1901— Same ns 1899. 

1903 — Senate, Daniel Shell; house George W. 
Wilson. 

1905— Senate. Daniel Shell; house, S. O. 
Morse. 

1907 — Senate, S. B. Bedford; house, S. O. 
Morse. 

"On M.av 30. 1872. the county commissioners 
had redistrlcted the county. District one In- 
cluded the northern tier of townships and 
Hersev; district two Included the present 
townships of Elk, S\immlt Lake. Lismore, 
Larkln. Westslde. OIney and Dew.ald; dis- 
trict three included the southern tier of 
townships and the townships of I.or.Tin and 
Worthlngton. 

"Served as chairman. 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



129 



tions were held every year. All the of- 
fices were for two year terms, but only 
part of the officers were elected each 
year. This condition prevailed until 1885, 
when a new law went into effect, making 
the elections only in even numbered 
years. During the seventies and early 
eighties the more important county offi- 
cers were chosen in odd numbered years. 

The election of Nov. 4, 1873, brought 
out a vote of 527, a big increase over 
that of the preceding year. A lively in- 
terest was manifested in the election, 
and for the first time there was organized 
opposition. The democrats, as a party, 
were not yet strong enough to enter the 
field alone with any prospects of a suc- 
cessful outcome, but conditions were such 
that quite a strong opposition party was 
formed, which went into the campaign 
with the hope of defeating the regularly 
nominated republican ticket. The ticket 
which was put up in opposition was 
labeled "peoples" and was made up of 
democrats and republicans. The re- 
gular republican nominees were generally 
successful. Following is the official vote 
of this election : 

Governor — Cushman K. Davis (rep.), 
371; Samuel Mayall, 40; Ara Barton, 
100. 

Senator— E. P. Freeman (rep.), 490; 
Scattering, 5. 

Eepresentative— Nelson H. -Manning, 
(rep.), 315; Warren Smith (dem.), 191. 

Auditor— W. M. Bear (rep.), 493; 
Scattering. 12. 

Sheriff— C. W. Bullis (rep.), 333; A. 
Miner (peo.), 174; Scattering, 4. 

Judge of Probate— Dr. J. Craft, 253; 
B. S. Langdon, 244; Scattering, 1. 

Clerk District Court— B. N. Carrier, . 
294; J. A. Town, 213; Scattering, 1. 

Surveyor— B. W. Woolsteneroft (rep.), 
355; Otto Berreau (peo.), 153. 



Treasurer — H. D. Humiston (rep.), 
263; Peter Thompson (peo.), 242; Scat- 
tering, 1. 

Eegister of Deeds— T. C. Bell (rep.), 
369; B. F. Thurber (peo.), 133. 

Court Commissioner — B. S. Langdon, 
242; Dr. J. Craft, 252; Scattering, 1. 

Coroner — J. B. Churchill (rep.), 350; 
Dr. LeM'is Gotthelf (peo.), 161; Scat- 
tering, 1. 

Commissioner First District — M. L. 
Miller, 23; T. H. Childs, 21. 

The grasshoppers and the prevailing 
hard times had an effect on the politics 
of the county in 1874. Owing to these 
causes and the fact that only a few 
officers were to be chosen, not a great 
deal of interest was manifested, and 
there was a falling off in the vote — 
only 448 votes being cast. To such a 
small extent did the people interest 
themselves in politics that it is said the 
republican nominating convention was 
attended by "eleven persons, including 
one little boy." Nor was there a much 
better sliowing at the democratic con- 
vention. For the first time in the coun- 
ty's history the voters met with straight 
republican and democratic tickets in the 
fichl. While the republicans were in 
each case successful, the democrats made 
a good showing, compared with the re- 
sults of previous elections. The vote: 

Congressman — Mark H. Dunnell 
(rep.), 336; Franklin H. Waite (dem.), 
105. 

Judge Sixth Judicial District — D. A. 
Dickinson (rep.), 345; Daniel Buck 
(dem.), 99. 

Senator — Niel Currie (rep.), 259. 

Eepresentative — Charles F. Crosby 
(rep.), 32G ; Leonard Aldrich (dem.), 
121. 

County Attorney — Martin B. Soule 
(rep.), 322; B. N. Carrier (dem.), 119. 



130 



HISTOKY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



Commissioner Third District — I. P. 
Durfee" (rep.), 196; L. B. Bennett 
(dcni.), 80. 

Tiie only changes resulting before the 
next election were in the board of coun- 
ty commissioners, two members being 
legislated out of office by their own acts. 
The board on Oct. 19, 187"), redivided 
the comity into commissioner districts. 
The whole of the north half of the 
county was made district No. 1 ; tlie 
townships of Lorain, Worthington, Dc- 
wald, Olney and Wcstside were made 

"Was Plectcd chairman of the board. 



district No. 3; the southern tier of 
townships was designated district No. 3. 
This made vacancies in districts No. 2 
and 3, which were represented by Messrs. 
jr. L. Miller and I. P. Durfee, and 
those gentlemen withdrew. The regis- 
ter of deeds and probate judge filled the 
vacancies by the appointment of A. C. 
Eobinson from district 2 and Edward 
trills from district 3. They took office 
October 23, and Mr. Robinson was chos- 
en chairman of the board. I To served 
until Jan. 3, 1877, when Mr. Mills was 
chosen chairman. 



CHAPTER X. 



POLITICAL— 1875-1887. 



Pioneer days and ways were passing 
away. Cigar box ballot boxes with jack 
knife locks were out of date. In the 
middle seventies voting precincts were 
to be found in nearly all parts of the 
county. Salaries were now attached to 
the different offices, and no longer was 
it necessary for the offices to so besT- 

A temperance wave spread over Min- 
nesota in 1875. A' reform party was 
organized and made an excellent show- 
ing at the polls. Prof. E. F. Humis- 
ton, one of the founders of Worthing- 
ton, became the nominee of that party 
for governor and received a largo vote 
in the state at large, as well as in his 
home county. The temperance senti- 
ment had always been strong in ISTobles 
county and enthusiasm was unbounded 
among its adherents here. It was de- 
cided to enter the local field of politics 
and endeavor to capture the county of- 
fices. With this in view a reform or 
temperance party came into existence, 
which complicated the political situa- 
tion in the campai,cm of 1875. The 
party was known officially as the "in- 
dependent reform party." It held a 
convention on Oct. 9 and placed a ticket 
in the field. Nearly all the nominees 



refused to make the race, but a com- 
mittee appointed for the purpose placed 
another ticket in the field, made up of 
one republican, several democrats and 
a few of the reform party. The repub- 
licans had a complete ticket in the field, 
the democrats a partial one, and the en- 
trance of the new party added interest 
to the contest. 

The republicans were successful in 
electing all their nominees with the ex- 
ception of one commissioner, who had 
the support of both the other parties. 
Four hundred thirty-five votes were cast. 
Following is the result of the election': 

ftovernor — John S. Pillsbury (rep), 
243: D. L. Buell (dem), 77: R. F. 
Humiston (reform), 109. 

Senator^—!. P. Durfee (rep). 236; 
Ceo. S. Thompson (reform), lfi9. 

Representative — W. H. Mellen (rep), 
•?86: E. L. Brownell (reform). 137. 

Auditor — Wm. M. Bear (rep), '267; 
0. A. Fauskee (reform), 157. 

Treasurer — H. D. Humiston (rep and 
reform), 372; B. W. Lyon (dem), 52. 

Sheriff— J. A. Town (rep). 244: W. 
S. Stockdale (dem and reform), 177. 

Register of Deeds— T. C. BelP (rep), 
251; G. M. Plumb (reform), 172. 



■ ^l: ^"'■f'^? >"preivea a majority of the votes the senate. ,nnd in Januarv. 1876, was given 

in the district, but owing to the failure of the seat bv a unanimous vote, 
some of the county auditors to make return =Mr. Bell also served as superintendent of 

10 the state authorities Mr. Thompson was schools, receiving the appointment January 

seated. Mr. Durfee began a contest befprf) 4, 1876. 

131 



132 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



Surveyor' — B. W. Woolstencroft (rep , 
222; Otto Berreau (dem and reform), 
195. 

Probate Judge — U. D. Barber (rep), 
269; L. B. Bennett (reform), 1.52. 

Coroner— J. V. Bartow* (rep), 25.3; 
Lewis Gottbelf (dem), 71. 

Commissioner First District — J. 
Westinghouse (rep), 63; A. 0. Conde 
(dem and reform), 75. 

Commissioner Second District — A. C. 
Kobinson (rep), 97; Peter Thompson 
(reform), 78. 

Commissioner Tliird District — E. S. 
Mills (rep). 73: A. A. Abbott (dem), 
28. 

Tlie presidential election of Nov. 7, 
1876, brought out the largest vote that 
had yet been polled in the county, 545 
votes being east. The county was again 
found to be overwhelmingly republican 
on national issues. The opposition to 
the republican ticket on county offices 
was slight, and the republicans had a 
walk away for the few officers chosen. 
The vote: 

President — Republican electors (Hay- 
es), 479; democratic (Tildcn). 63: pro- 
hibition (Smith), 1. 

Congressman — Mark TT. Dunndl 
(rep), 488; E. C. Stacy (dem), 57. 

County Attorney — M. B. Soulo (rep). 
508: Scattering. 10. 

Surveyor — Allen Chaney (rep), 117: 
Otto Berreau (dem), 121. 

Court Commissioner — Henrv D. 



Humiston (rep), 391); 1^. B. Bennett 
(dem), 140. 

Coroner — Asher Allen° (rep), 532. 

Commissioner Second District — A. C. 
Robinson (rep), 218. 

Representative — Christopher H. Smith 
(rep), 464; B. N. Carrier (ind), 78. 

A split in the republican party of 
Nobles county gave the democrats a few 
.iirices in 1877. The two factions of 
the majority party were very bitter in 
their denunciations of each other. Each 
declared the other to be a ring, which 
ought to be downed. To accomplish 
the downfall of the controlling faction 
alliance was sought with the democrats, 
with the result that party organiza- 
tions were badly demoralized." The 
cani])aign was the most exciting one 
that had been witnessed in the county 
up lo that time. The figlit was most 
bitter over the offices of auditor, sheriff 
and judge of probate. Personalities 
were indulged in. and the cry of "ring" 
was heard on all sides. Five hundred 
thirty-nine votes were cast on election 
day. The official vote: 

C.overnor — John S. Pillsbury (rej)), 
167: W. L. Banning (dem). 52; Au.s- 
tin ^Yiley (pro). 4. 

Senator— C. H. Smith (rep), 299: 
Wm. R. Bennett (dem), 232. 

Representative — Alex Fiddes (rep). 
466: A. A. Cliffor.l (dem). 55. 

.\udi tor''— James Walker (ind), 280; 
!•]. S. Mills (rep and dem). 241. 



'Mr. Woolstencroft did not qualify, and Jan. 
13. 1876. Mr. Borreau was appointed to fill the 
vacancy. 

*Mr. Bartow did not qualify, and the office 
of coroner was declared vacant by the com- 
mlssioner.s Jan. 13, 1876. 1-. B. Bennett was 
appointed on that date. 

"Did not qualify. I.eroy Cole appointed Jan. 
3, 1877. 

""We have this campaiprn a peculiar state of 
affairs so far as county politics are concerned. 
Both the republican and democratic conven- 
tions Ignored party lines in their nominations. 



The republican convention put on a liemncrat 
for the leadlnp county office and also nomi- 
nated .1 democrat for coroner. The 
democratic county convention nominated 
three republicans, viz: for auditor, 

sheriff and reRlster of deeds. The result, 
therefore, cannot fail to be a mixed set of 
county officers for the next term."— Worthlng- 
ton Advance. Oct. 11. 1S77. 

'There was a holt In reptibllcan ranks over 
the nomination of Mr. Mills, and Mr. Walker 
was put forward as an independent niiididate. 
winning out over his opponent, who had the 
endorsement of bolb parties. 



illSTOKY OP NOBLES COUNTY. 



133 



Treasurer — Peter Thompson (dem 
and rep), 422; A. 0. Conde (ind), 52. 

Sheriff— J. A. Town (rep), 323; B. 
F. Johnson (dem), 191. 

Register of Deeds — Joseph Chadwick' 
(rep and dem), 505. 

Superintendent of Schools" — J. C. 
Ogle (rep), 30-1; N. ■ Jordan (dem), 
132. 

Clerk of Court — B. N. Carrier (dem), 
3:!2; (J. T. Pope (rep), 182. 

Probate Judge — E. D. Barber (rop), 
285; J. Craft (dem), 233. 

Coroner — L. B. Bennett (dem and 
rep), 485. 

Commissioner Third District — Rob- 
ert Shore!" (rep), 99. 

A. 0. Conde was elected chairman of 
tbe board of county commissioners Jan. 
1, 1878. On the last day of February 
he resigned the ofEice of commissioner 
and Jonathan Gordon was selected to 
complete the unexpired term by the 
probate judge, register of deeds and au- 
ditor. A. C. Robinson was elected 
chairman on March 1. 

There was not much interest taken 
in the election of 1878, and only 473 
votes were cast. The democrates did 
not place a county ticket in tbe field. 
Tbe vote : 

Congressnuui — Mark H. Dunnell 
(iv]i). 338; William Meigben (dem). 
128. 

Senator — A. D. Perkins (rep), 348; 
W. V. King (greenback), 125. 

Representative — P. J. Kniss (rep), 
282; J. H. Brooks (greenback), 171. 

County Attorney — M. B. Soule (rep), 
193; Daniel Rohrer (ind), 277. 

Surveyor — A. M. Chaney (rep), 467. 

"Took office Nov. 12. 1877. a few days after 
his election. T. C. Bell, former register of 
deeds, left the state and the office was de- 
clared vacant. Mr. Chadwick was then ap- 
pointed to fill the short unexpired term. 

'Prior to this date the county superintend- 
ents of schools had been appointed by the 



Court Commissioner — ii. D. ilumis- 
tou (rep), 405. 

Commissioner First District — Fred 
Bloom' ^ (rep) J 59; Jonathan Gordon, 
34; S. P. Bon, 28. 

The split in the republican party of 
Nobles county was in working order 
when the campaign of 18v9 began, and 
as a result the election of Nov. 4, 1879, 
was the most hotly contested and clos- 
est election ever held in the county. 
Seven hundred eighty-seven votes were 
cast, a gain of 248 over the vote of two 
years before. 

The democrats were the lirst to enter 
the field with a ticket, which was nom- 
inated at a convention held at VVorth- 
ington September 20. The republi- 
cans met in convention at Worthing- 
tou October 9, and nominated a ticket. 
The convention was controlled by the 
faction which was in oifice, and very 
little consideration was given to the 
wishes of the other faction. A bolt re- 
sulted, and there soon appeared another 
ticket, labeled "independent peoples tick- 
et." An understanding had been 
reached with the democrats which made 
po.ssible the success of the bolters. Many 
of the democratic nominees withdrew 
from the contest. Those that remained 
Vk'ere given assurances of support, and 
in turn, the democrats generally sup- 
ported the independent nominees. A 
merry campaign resulted. The offices 
of sheriff, auditor and treasurer became 
tbe center of strife, and the result was 
so close that it took the courts to de- 
cide who had been elected for two of 
the offices. The democrats and bolting 
republicans were generally successful ; in 

commissioners. Mr. Ogle took office Nov. 12. 
to fill the unexpired term of T. C. Bell, who 
had left the state. 

"Wa.s chairman in 1S80. 

"Served as chairman in 1881. 



134 



HISTOKY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



oaly two cases did the straiglit repubii- 
eau uouiiuues win wliure lliciu wuru op- 
posing candidates. Thu olliciul vulu 
was as follows : 

(jovuruor — Jolm S. i'illsbuiy (rep), 
561; Edmuud itice (deiii), '^Oi. 

Auditor — Jas. Walker (repj, oSi); E. 
a. iiiils (ind peoj, 391. 

Treasurer — Wni. M. Bear (repj, 3lJU; 
11. U. She^iard (dem aud iud peo), 

•iiy. 

Slierill — J. A. Town U'epj, 'M'S; 1\. 
1{. Miller (ind peoj, 393. 

I'jobate JudgL — E. D. Barber (rep), 
■iWi ; B. A'. Carrier (dem aud iud peo), 
3(JU. 

Coroner — Geo. 0. Moore (rep), 381; 
L. B. Beuuelt (dem and iud peo), 397. 

Commissioner Second District — A. M. 
Crosby (rep), 199; \V. A. Turner (dem. 
aud ind peo), 176. ' '^ 

Superintendent of Schools — J. C. Ogle 
(rep and ind peo), 765. 

liegister of Deeds — Jos. Chad wick 
(dem, rep and ind peo), 786. 

The most spectacular contest was that 
between J. A. Town aud E. E. Miller 
for the office of sherill. From the day 
of election until Saturday, when the 
linal result was known, the interest was 
intense. Wednesday the suspense hung 
upon the result in Graham Lakes town- 
ship, which was the last to report the 
result. It was in favor of Mr. Town, 
and cut Mr. Miller's lead down to one 
vote, according to the unofficial figures. 
The official count was then made, which 
left the vote a tie, each having received 
393 votes. Saturday at four o'clock tlie 

"". . . The lntere.st now became so In- 
tense as to be almost painful. The law pro- 
vides that In case of a tie on any county 
office thf board shall cast lots to di'cido who 
shall tai<e the cortlllcatp, Mr. Durfcc retired 
Into the treasurer's office and Mr. Ilumiston 
turned his back, while Auditor Walker pre- 
pared two ballots whericm wore written the 
names of the two candidates. The ballots 
were (flven to Mr. Ilumiston. who placed them 
In a hat and 'raffled' them up. Then Mr. 



matter was decided by lot by the board 
of coimty commissioners, Mr. Miller 
wiuning.'- 

.\.ppeals from tlie decisions of the can- 
vassing board were taken by J. A. 
Town, coutesting the election of li. E. 
Miller for the office of sheriff'; James 
Walker, contesting the election of E. S. 
Mills, who had been declared elected 
auditor by a plurality of three votes; 
and \V. A. Turner, who doubted the 
election of A. M. Crosby, who had been 
tieclared elected county commissioner 
from the second district by a plurality 
of twenty-three votes. Tlie last named 
withdrew his contest before it came to 
trial, but the other contests resulted in 
more excitement than liad the election. 
The cases came to trial in district court 
at Wgrthiugtou in February, ISSU, be- 
••^f!Di?e. J udge; !£:- St. Julian Cox, of the St. 
i'eter district. Daniel Eohrer appeared 
for the' contestants, while Emery Clark, 
•of Worthin^ton, and James N. Castle, 
of Stillwater, represented the respond- 
ents. In the latter part of March 
Judge Cox handed down his decision in 
ilie contest for the office of sheriff". He 
licld lliat J!. E. Miller had been elected 
by twenty-six majority. A few ihi\-.s 
later he sustained the action of the can- 
vassing board in seating Mr. "Mills, hold- 
ing that that officer had received a ma- 
jority of thirty-eight. 

There was a large increase in the vote 
in 1880, nnd 945 ballots w'ere cast in 
the county for presidential electors. The 
two leading parties had tickets in the 
field for the few county offices to be 

Durfee was called in to draw one of the 
ballots. We suppose ever.v man In the room 
held his breath as Mr. Durfee's hand went 
down into that hat. But down it went, and 
up came a ballot. At this point the anxiety 
was absolutely painful. Mr. Durfee unrolled 
the paper with nervous fingers, hesitated a 
moment, and then read the name In a dis- 
tinct voice: 'R. R. Miller?' "— Worthlngton 
Advance. Nov. 13, 1879. 



I5P0RT5 ON 
, LAllE OKABENA 




IHHMMR^tti^J^^' 




HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



135 



filled, and again did the "peoples" party 
(opposed to the dominant faction of the 
repuLiliean party) enter the contest. 
That party nominated Moses A. Strong 
for representative and endorsed the dem- 
ocratic nominees for county offices, 
but the combination did not succeed in 
electing any of the officers. The vote: 

President — Kepublican electors (Gar- 
field), 093; democratic (Hancock), 227; 
greenback (Weaver), 25. 

Congressman — M. H. Dunnell (rep), 
543; Henry 11. Wells (dem), 180; W. 
G. Ward (ind rep), 118; C. H. Rob- 
erts (greenback), 23. 

Representative — 1*. J. Kniss (rep), 
474; Closes A. Strong (peo), 455. 

('(iiinty Attorney — Geo. W. Wilson 
(rep), GIG: L. S. Nelson (dem and 
peo), 320. 

Surveyor — Allen Chaney'^' (i'ep)j 584; 
Otto Rerreau (dem and peo), 359. 

Couif Comimssioner — H. D. Humis- 
ton (rej)), 617; Thos. H. Parsons (dem 
and peo), 320. 

Commissioner Third District — Miles 
Birkett (rep), 137; J. T. Green (peo), 
95. 

Although Nobles county has been 
stnmgly republican ever since its organi- 
zation, the dominant party has on sever- 
al occasions met disastrous defeat. One 
of the most remarkable instances was in 
1881, wlien the democrats, in combina- 
tii>n with one faction of the republican 
party, carried the county by big majori- 
ties, the republicans saving only two 
commissioners, one of whom was with- 
out opposition. 

No sooner had the republican conven- 
tion adjourned than there was a demand 
for a "peoples" ticket, as formerly, it 

"Resigned Jan. 1. 1882, and the office was 
vacant until after the election of 1882. 

"In 1S85 the district was divided and Nobles 



being alleged that the "ring" had again 
controlled the republican convention. A 
call was issued and the opposing forces 
met at Worthington Saturday, Oct. 15. 
The deliberations of the convention were 
participated in by the democrats and the 
■"anti-ring" republicans, so called, and a 
complete county ticket was put in the 
field. The campaign was a spirited one, 
enlivened by charges of mismanagement 
on the part of some of the officers who 
were seeking reelection. The Worth- 
ington Advance, as usual, took the part 
of the peoples ticket, wliile the republi- 
can ticket was supported by the new 
Worthington Journal. A perusal of the 
files of these publications lead one to 
the belief that the future welfare of the 
nation depended upon the outcome in 
Nobles county. When the ballots had 
been counted and it was found that the 
fusionists had been successful by decided 
majorities there was great joy among 
those who had been instrumental in 
bringing about the victory. Nine hun- 
dred thirty-eight votes were cast. The 
battle in detail : 

Governor — L. F. Hubbard (rep), 632; 
R. W. Johnson (dem), 281; 1. C. 
Stearns, 12; Scattering, 3. 

Judge Sixth Judicial District'^— M. 
J. Severance, 917. 

Auditor— E. S. Mills (peo), 603; 
Fred Bloom (rep), 334. 

Treasurer — H. C. Shepard (peo), 538; 
Robt. Shore (rep), 397. 

Sheriff— R. R. Miller (peo), 548; J. 
C. Thom (rep), 345; Chas. Chase (ind), 
13. 

Register of Deeds — B. F. Johnson 
(peo), 542; Jos. Chadwick (rep), 392. 

county became a part of the 13th di.strict 
A. D. Perkins was then appointed to fill the 
unexpired portion of Judge Severance's six 
year term in the new district. 



136 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



Surveyor— Otto Berreau'" (peo), 921. 

Clerk oj; Court — L. B. Bennett (peo), 
5G6; H. D. Humiston (rep), SCO. 

Probate Judge — L. S. Nelson" (peo), 
540; I. P. Durfee (rep), 380; Jonathan 
Gordon, 10. 

Court Commissioner — L. S. Nelson" 
(peo), 539; I. P. Durfee (rep), 375. 

Coroner— J. S. McManus (peo), 531; 
E. Coleman (rep), 398. 

Superintendent of Schools — M. A. 
Doane'" (peo), 526; Ira K. Cole (rep), 
412. 

Commissioner First District'" — P. 
Blaine (peo), 73;' John Upstrom (rep), 
30; Jonathan Gordon, 13. 

Commissioner Second District — T. L. 
Taylor (rep), 61; Emil Graf (ind), 44; 
J. W. Read (ind), 32; Thos. Wilson 
(peo), 27. 

Commissioner Third District — James 
Cowin (peo), 166; L. C. Long (rep), 
9L 

Conxmissidner Fourth District — Maur- 
ice 0'Hearn=° (peo), 120; Miles Birk- 
ett (rep), 75. 

Commissioner Filth District — Daniel 
Shell" (rep), 204. 

The only thing that kept the 1882 
election from being a very uninteresting 
affair was the legislative campaign. Be- 
cause of the nomination of W. H. John- 
Commissioner First District — A. E. 



'"Did not qualify, and owing to the refusal 
of Mr. Chaney to continue in the ofCice, there 
was no surveyor until after the election of 
1882. 

"Resigned Nov. 13. 1882, to accept office of 
superintendent of schools. Wm. Wigham was 
appointed and filled the unexpired term. 

"Resigned Nov. 13, 1882, to accept office of 
superintendent of schools. Frederick Bloom 
filled the unexpired term. 

'•Died during his term, and I.. S. Nelson 
appointed by the commissioners Nov. 13, 1882, 
to complete unexpired term. 

'•In conformity with a new law, the county 
commissioners had on July 19, 1881, divided 
the county Into five commissioners' districts, 



Tuttle (ind), 16; P. Blaine (rep), 53; 
Jonathan Gordon, 33. 
son, of Murray county, for the house 
there was a split in the republican ranks. 
An independent convention placed T. D. 
M. Orcutt in nomination, and he was 
indorsed by the prohibitionists. Other 
independent candidates entered the race, 
but all withdrew before election day ex- 
cept Dr. J. Craft. Dr. Craft caiTied 
Nobles county but Mr. Johnson was 
elected. There was also dissatisfaction 
over tiie republican nomination for sena- 
tor, and C. C. Goodnow, of Pipestone 
county, became an independent candi- 
date. The regular nominee was elected. 
The olficial vote: 

Congressman — Jas. B. Wakefield 
(rep), 538; Felix A. Borer (pro), 97; 
J. A. Latimer (dem), 139. 

Senator — A. M. Crosby (rep), 465; C. 
C. Goodnow (ind), 211; Charles Sax- 
on (pro), 73. 

Representative — W. H. Johnson (rep), 
314; T. D. M. Orcutt (ind and pro), 
73; Dr. J. Craft (ind), 387. 

County Attorney — Geo. W. Wilson 
(rep), 750. 

Surveyor^^— J. W. Miller, 774. 

Again in 1883 did the republican 
ticket have opposition, although that 
party was practically the only one in 
tlie county with anything like an or- 

as follows: No. 1, Graham Lakes, Hersey, 
Lorain, Indian Lake; No. 2, Seward, Elk, 
Bloom, Summit Lake, Dewald, Willmont; No. 
3, OIney, Westside, Llsmore, Leota, Town 103, 
range 42 (Larkin); No. 4, Blgelow, Ransom, 
Little Rook, Grand Prairie; No. 5, Worth- 
ington township and village. 

*Dled July 14, 1S83, during term of offica 
No successor appointed. 

^'Served as chairman of the board from 1882 
to 1886, inclusive. 

-Surveyors wore elected in odd numbered 
years, but the county had been so unfortu- 
nate in selecting a surveyor who would hold 
the office that in 1882, by mutual agreement. 
Captain J. W. Miller, of Hersey, was put on 
both tickets and elected without opposition. 



HISTOKY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



137 



ganization. But, as formerly, the inde- 
pendents decided to put an opposition 
tieliet in the field. The call was issued 
to '"all the independent voters of No- 
bles county, irrespective of party." The 
convention, which was held at Worth- 
ington September 29, was attended by 
the democrats and those republicans who 
were dissatisfied with the actions of the 
republican organization. A ticket, which 
included some of the republican nomi- 
nees, was put up, and a lively cam- 
paign followed. Personalities were in- 
dulged in, and for a few offices the fight 
was bitter, this being especially true as 
to offices of auditor and superintendent 
of schools. Every nominee of the inde- 
pendent convention was elected, and 
again the republican organization met 
defeat. On the state ticket the demo- 
crats made a better showing than they 
had done at any previous election. Nine 
hundred four votes were cast. The re- 
sult : 

Governor— Lucian F. Hubbard (rep), 
547; Adolph Biermanm (dem), 311; 
Chas. E. Holt '(pro), 41. 

Auditor— Fred Bloom (rep), 304; E. 
S. Mills (peo)," 589. 

Treasurer — Wm. Wigham (rep and 
peo), 556; A. Forbes (ind), 348. 

Eegister of Deeds— B. F. Johnson 
(rep and peo), 890. 

Sheriff— R. R. Miller (rep and peo), 
865. 

Superintendent of Schools — Maud 
Graves (rep), 357; J. Craft" (peo), 
521. 

Probate Judge— J. A. Town (rep), 
380; Emery Clark" (peo), 509. 

^Candidates so labeled were nominees of the 
nidependent, or people's, convention. 

=<Resigned Dec. 8, 1SS4. Albert Campbell 
was appointed Jan. 7, 1885, to complete the 
term. 

^Resigned Jan. 20, 1885. Gov. Hubbard ap- 



Court Commissioner — J. A. Town 
(rep), 389; Emery Clerk,-"^ (peo), 469. 

Surveyor — W. A. Peterson-' (rep and 
peo), 880. 

Coroner — L. W. Warren (rep and 
peo), 883. 

Commissioner Second District — S. 
Wass (rep), 54; Emil Graf (peo), 63. 

Commissioner Third District — Geo. 
Slade (rep), 54; Jas. Cowin (peo), 136; 
L. C. Long (ind), 62. 

Commissioner Fourth District — Rob- 
ert Shore (rep), 72; W. R. Faragher 
(ind), 103. 

Nine hundred thirty-seven votes were 
cast in the presidential election of 1884, 
which was within one as high as had 
ever before been voted in the county. 
For the few county offices which were to 
be chosen the democrats made no nomi- 
nations, but the prohibition party devel- 
oped some strength in county politics, 
as it also did in the state at large. A 
county convention was held, at which 
candidates were nominated for court 
commissioner and county commissioner 
from the fifth district. The nominees 
of that party for president, congressman 
and representative, as well as the county 
nominees, received much support. The 
vote: 

President — Republican electors 
(Blaine), 491; democratic (Cleveland), 
246; prohibition (St. John), 131; green- 
back (Butler), 38. 

Congressman — J. B. Wakefield (rep), 
553; J. J. Thornton (dem), 238; Wil- 
liam- Copp (pro), 146. 

Representative-* — Peter Peterson 

pointed I. P. Durfee in March to complete the 
term. 

^''Resigned September, 1884, and J. A. Town 
was appointed to complete the term. 

^'Resigned July 26, 1886. 

^Mr. Shepard carried Nobles county, but 
Mr. Peterson was elected. 



138 



inSTOKY OF XOBIvES COUNTY. 



(rep), 344; H. C. Shepard (dem), 437; 
W. J. McAllister (pro), 137. 

County Attorney — L. M. Lange (rep), 
769. 

Court Commissioner — I. P. Durfeo 
(rep), 753; C. C Christiansou (pro), 
138. 

Commissioner Fifth District — Daniel 
Shell (rep), 175; Peter Thomijson 
(pro), 77. 

Commissioner Fourth District — Wm. 
Parry (rep), 99; H. B. Tripp (ind), 54; 
Butcher, 37; A. W. Ferrin (pro), 9. 

In accordance with the provisions of 
a new state law, no county elections 
were held in 1885. After that date elec- 
tions were held every two years only, in 
even nmnbered years. An entire new 
set of officers was elected in 188G, and 
the campaign of that year was an excit- 
ing one. A new element entered into 
the political life of the county, a feeling 
of antagonism between the east and west 
ends. 

The republicans were the first in the 
field with a ticket. Residents of the 
west end claimed that the convention 
was controlled by the Worthington 
"I'ing," and that the Adrian country 
was not given just recognition. This 
led to the calling of another convention, 
which was held at Adrian, participated 
in by democrats and many west end re- 
publicans. A few of I he republican nom- 
inees who were not from Worthington 
were endorsed, and the rest of the ticket 
was made up largely of democrats.'-" 
This ticket was supported by democrats 
from all parts of the county and almost 
solidly by republicans from the west end 
of the county. The prohibitionists en- 
tered the field witli nininpt a complete 



ticket, and there were a number of in- 
dependent candidates, making the cam- 
paign one of much interest and uncer- 
tainty. The republicans elected the ma- 
jority of their ticket, although the inde- 
pendents captured some of the import- 
ant offices. On state and congressional 
tickets the democrats made the best 
showing in the party's history in Nobles 
county up to that time, their nominee 
for governor being only about 250 votes 
boliind. Thirteen hundred eighty-six 
votes were cast, by far the largest ever 
recorded, being 449 more than the vote 
of two years before. The vote as offi- 
cially canvassed : 

Governor— A. E. McGill (rep), 758; 
A. A. Ames (dem), 503; J. E. Childs 
(pro), 122. 

Congressman — John Lind (rep), 7(59; 
A. H. Bullis (dem), 334;=*" Geo. J. 
Day (pro), 132. 

Judge Thirteenth Judicial District — A. 
D. Perkins'' (rep, dem and pro), 1,385. 

Senator — W. B. Brown (rep and pro), 
1,188; Fred Bloom (ind), 188. 

Representative — B. M. Low (rep), 
1,23G; A. E. Tuttle (pro), 144. 

Auditor— R. R. Miller (rep), 306; D. 
Ryan (dem), 431; T. Ji. Taylor (pro). 
48; E. S. Mills (ind), 58S; John O. 
Larson (ind), 3. 

Treasurer — R. AV. Moherly (rep and 
dem), 1,381: J. ('. Boddy (pro), 102. 

Sheriff— M. J. Bryan (rep), 326; Gil- 
bert Anderson (dem), 658; W. Tl. Li- 
graham (ind), 392. 

Register of Deeds — B. F. Johnson 
(rep), 570; A. R. Harris (dem), 522; 
A. O. Lofstedt (pro), 191; I. B. New- 
kirk (ind), 95. 

County Attorney — L. M. Lange (rep). 



"In glvlnR tho result of this flection I li.ive -'"Not inoUidfrl In this, were 150 votes cast 

markoci the nominees of this convention for H. C. Bnllls. 

democrats, although one or two of the luimi- -"Served until early In 1891, when he reslgn- 

nees never affiliated with that party. id. P. E. Brown was appointed to till the 

oiflce for the unexpired term. 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



139 



7.54; C. 0. Dailey (clem), o4G; C. B. 
Loveless (pro), 76. 

Surveyor — W. D. Smith (dem), 861; 
L. Foote (pro), 134. 

Clerk of Court — W. W. Herrou (rep), 
260; F. A. Stevens (dem), 452; A. 
Hamilton (pro), 344; L. B. Bennett 
(ind), 313. 

Probate Judge — E. L. Wemple (rep 
and dem), 1,103; J. W. Lewis (pro), 
280. 

Coroner — B. W. Lyon (dem), 575; 
L. W. Warren (rep), 680. 

Superintendent of Schools — A. Camp- 
bell (rep, pro and dem), 1,360; E. B. 
Plotts (ind), 59. 

^Was chairman of the board from 1SS7 to 
IS92, inclusive. 



Commissioner First District — ^ 0. 
Thompson (pro and dem), 64; J. H. 
Denton (rep), 91; William Firth (ind), 
16. 

Commissioner Second District — S. B. 
Bedford (rep), 89; C. Fritz (dem), 25; 
Emil Graf (ind), 20; W. IL North 
(pro), 48. 

Commissioner Third District — 0. S. 
Meliek (rep), 166; J. Blesius (dem), 
126; E. Copper (ind), 86. 

Commissioner Fourth District — J. De- 
Boos (rep), 112; E. O'Heai'n (dem), 
161; Wm. Wigham (ind), 74. 

Commissioner Fifth District — J. A. 
Town== (rep), 145; 0. G. Grundsten 
(dem), 84; S. S. Morton (pro), 66. ■ 



CHAPTER XI. 



POLITICAL— 1888-1908. 

An index of the progress of retrogres- who had not received prior nomination 

sion of a community is the increase or in one of the other conventions declined 

decrease in the vote cast. That there to make the race. The independents 

was an advancement diiring the middle endorsed several of the republican and 

eighties in Nobles county is plainly prohibition nominees. The contest was 

shown. In 1882 the total vote was 774, very close for several of the offices, es- 

in 1883 it was 904, the next year 937, pecially for sheriff and auditor. The 

in 1886 it had advanced to 1,38G, and democrats captured both those offices, 

in 1888 the handsome total of 1,754 was while the republicans elected the rest of 

readied. The last named year marks the ticket. The result in detail : 

the passing of the strong independent President — Eepublican electors (Ben- 

moveinont which had been a power in jamin Harrison), 896; democratic eleo- 

the politics of Nobles county for so tors (G rover Cleveland), 682; prohibi- 

many years. Its place was taken by the tion electors (Clinton B. Pisk), 143; 

democratic party, which for the first union labor electors (A. J. Streeter), 

time in the county's history developed 34. 

enough strength to insure its perma- Governor — William E. Morriam (rrp), 

ncncy. That it had become a factor to 859; Eugene M. Wilson (dom), 710; 

be reckoned with in county politics is Hugh Harrison (jiro), 1.59; J. IT. Paul 

shown by the vote for president. Har- (union labor), 22. 

rison electors received 896 votes; Clave- Congressman— John Lind (rep), 896; 

land electors-, 683. Morton S. Wilkinson (dem), 673; D. 

The republicans, democrats and pro- W. Edwards (pro), 179. 

hibitionists had tickets in the field for Eepresentative — B. M. Low (rep), 

county offices in 1888, and an interest- 833; Thomas Johnson (dem), 674; C. 

ing campaign and close election resulted. S. Bond (pro), 236. 

Besides the regular parties there was an Auditor— 0. S. Melick (rep), 580; J. 

attempt made by the old independent J. Kendlen (dem), 694; H. W. North 

forces to get a ticket before the people, (pro), 193; E. S. Mills (ind), 374. 

A mass convention was held at Worth- Treasurer — E. W. Moberly (rep), 

ington for this purpose, and several 1.015; H. C. Shepard (dem), 612; Al- 

nominations were made. With the ex- bert Hector (pro), 135. 

ception of A. M. Thorn for sheriff, all Eegister of Deeds— E. E. Humiston 

141 



142 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



(rep), S93; J. A. Kennedy (deni), 644; 
A. Hamilton (pro), 195. 

Sheriff— C. C. Peterson (rep), 713; 
Gilbert Anderson (dem), 777; P. A. 
Christianson (pro), 117; Alex M. Thorn 
(iud), 118. 

Probate Judge— C. W. W. Dow (rep), 
^64; J. W. Crigler (dem), 610; C. W. 
Hildreth (pro), 279; Daniel Rohrer 
(ind), 78. 

County Attorney — L. M. Lange' 
(rep), 866; H. E. Jeffers (dem), 654; 
E. B. Hall (pro), 287. 

Surveyor— W. D. Smith= (rep), 936; 
J. W. Abbott (dem), 661; Lewis Foote 
(pro), 153. 

Coroner — R. D. Barber (rep), 957; 
A. E. Tuttle (pro), 310; R. O'Hearn 
(dem), 48. 

Court Commissioner — C. W. Hildreth 
(rep), 1,075; J. W. Crigler (dem), 607. 
Superintendent of Schools — A. Camp- 
bell (rep), 1,039; Edward Mott (dem), 
423; J. W. Lewis (pro), 243. 

Commissioner First District — J. H. 
Denton (rep), 126; C. S. Bond (pro), 
110. 

Commissioner Third District — A. G. 
T^indgrcn (rep). 236; John Blesins 
(dem), 205. 

Commissioner Fifth District — J. .\. 
Town (rep), 190; R. H. Matson (dem), 
129; C. B. lioveless (pro), 44. 

State, congressional, legislative ami 
county politics were complicated in 1890 
by the entrance of a new party whicli 
was made up of members of the farmers' 
alliance and knights of labor. The for- 
mer had maintained an organization in 
Nobles county for a number of 3-ears 
and liad a large membership. When it 

'Resigned Oct. 16, 1S89, to accept the posi- 
tion of register of the Marshall land office. 
C. O. DallPy appointed to complete the term. 

'Milton S. Smith was appointed surveyor 
July 81, 1891. 



was decided to enter politics it was real- 
ized that the alliance was to be a factor 
of no small importance. A ticket was 
put in nomination, and it received added 
strength by the action of the prohibi- 
tionists, who endorsed most of the nomi- 
nees. Both the democrats and republi- 
cans put up strong tickets, and the elec- 
tion was an exciting one. The state 
ticket was carried by the republicans, 
but the alliance forces carried the coun- 
ty for congressman and state senator. 
For representative the race in Nobles 
(tounty was close; two republicans car- 
ried the county; the third member, who 
liad the support of both democrats and 
alliance, carried tlie county by a large 
pluralitA'. The alliance party fared not 
so well on the county ticket, and did not 
elect a single nominee. Six democrats 
and five republicans were elected to coun- 
ty offices. There was a falling off from 
tbe vote of two years previous, the total 
vote being 1,596. As officially canvas- 
sed: 

(lovernor — William R. Merriam (rep), 
611; Thomas Wilson (dem), 498; Sid- 
ney M. Owen (all), 423; J. P. Pink- 
ham (pro), 57. 

Congressman — Jnlm LimI ( icp), 688: 
James H. Baker (all), S58 : Ira B. Rey- 
nolds (pro), 56. 

Senator— PI. J. Miller (rep), 604: A. 
51. Becker (dem), 111; Jay LaDue^ 
(all), 762. 

Representatives — Geo. W. Wilson 
(rep), 635; Larned Cobnrn' (rep), 630; 
William Lockwood' (rep), 038; E. L. 
Rork (dem), 404; C. P. Shepard (dem), 
526; Jolin Pemberton (all), 442; Pa- 
trick Gildea'' (dem and all), 877; C. 
Gustafson (all), 457. 

'Elected. 
•Elected. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



143 



Auditor — Jolm J. Kendlen (on all 
tickets), 1,548. 

Treasurer— E. W. Moberly (rep), 757; 
H. C. Shepard (dem), 511; C. S. Bond 
(all and pro), 318. 

Register of Peeds— E. L. Wemple 
(rep), 582; J. A. Kennedy (dem), 6G5; 
0. G. Grundsten (all), 318. 

Sheriff — James P. Boardman (rep), 
511; Gilbert Anderson (dem), 735; 
Frank Ellsworth (all and pro), 304. 

Probate Judge— C. W. W. Dow (rep 
and all), 1,-533. 

Clerk of Court — F. A. Stevens (rep), 
661; L. B. Bennett (dem), 545; A. E. 
Tuttle (all and pro), 380. 

Superintendent of Schools — John W. 
Shaw (rep), 423; Thos. B. Maguire" 
(dem), 699; Mrs. M. J. Barron (all 
and pro), 679. 

Coroner— W. S. Webb (rep), 653; C. 

C. May, 341; M. Sullivan (dem), 517; 

D. L. Kenyon (pro), 63. 

County Attorney — 0. W. Freeman 
(rep), 586; C. 0. Dailey' (dem), 640; 
Daniel Rohrer (all and pro), 350. 

Commissioner Second District — S. B. 
Bedford" (rep), 104: John Mock (dem), 
141. 

Commissioner Fourth District — F. T. 
Graves (rep), 149; R. O'Hearn (dem), 
142; J. T. Green (all and pro), 80. 

An outgrowth of the alliance party 
was the peoples party, otherwise known 
as the populist party, which made its 
first appearance in Nobles county poli- 
tics in 1893. Now only a memory, the 
peoples party was an important factor in 
the politics of the county during the 
nineties. While it never became the 

'Mrs. Ban-on started contest proceedings 

against Mr. Maguire for the office, but they 

were dropped before the matter came up for 
trial. 

'Resigned Nov. 22, 1892, and O. W. Free- 
man, attoi-ney-elect, was appointed to com- 
plete the short unexpired term. 



dominant party here, its strength was 
such during several campaigns that by 
forming alliances with, and endorsing 
nun)inecs of, other parties it was able 
to control the situation. 

In 1802 the new parly was the first 
ill the field with a county ticket, select- 
ing as its nominees several of the demo- 
cratic office holders. These the demo- 
crats promptly endorsed. Tlie repulili- 
cans put up a strong ticket and the 
prohibitionists selected a partial ticket. 
Tlie republicans were generally success- 
ful in the county field, although some 
of the most important offices were cap- 
tured by the opposition. The Austral- 
ian ballot system was employed for the 
first time in this election. Tlie hand- 
some total of 2,159 ballots were cast, 
which was a big increase, but the sys- 
tem being so poorly understood, not 
more than 1,991 were able to be counted 
for any one office, many voting for one 
presidential elector only. The vote: 

President — Republican electors (Har- 
rison), 886; democratic electors (Cleve- 
land), G;53; peoples party electors (Weav- 
er), 305; prohibition electors (RidwcU). 
137. 

Governor — Knute Nelson (rep), 810; 
Daniel W. Lawlei: (dem), C14; Ignatius 
Donnelly (pp), 373; Dean (pro), 126. 

Congressman — Jas. T. MeCleary 
(rep), 793; W. S. Hammond (dem), 
584; L. C. Long (pp), 446; E. H. 
Bronson (pro), 135. 

Judge Thirteenth District— P. E. 
Bi-own (lion partisan), 899. 

Eeprrecutatives'' — Daniel Shell (rep), 
1,003; Ole 0. Holmau (rep), 726; Wm. 

'Although two of the fusion candidates 
received pluralities in Nobles county the lead 
was overcome in other counties of the dis- 
trict, and the three republican nominees were 
elected. 



144 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



Lockwood (rep), 753; J. H. Maxwell 
(dein and pp), 928; Patrick Gildea 
(deni and pp), 798; Geo. McGillivray 
(dem and pp), 839. 

Auditor — J. J. Kendlen (dem, rep 
and pp), 1,616. 

Treasurer — R. W. Moberly (rep), 959; 
E. W. Goff (dem and pp), 968. 

Register of Deeds — Wm. Parry (rep), 
707; J. A. Kennedy (dem and pp), 
1,191. 

Sheriff— J as. C. Thom (rep), 841; 
Gilbert Anderson (dem), 819; J. B. 
Green (pp), 325. 

Probate Judge — C. M. Cory (rep), 
766; C. W. Hildreth (pp), 578; C. W. 
W. Dow (ind), 401. 

County Attorney — 0. W. Freeman 
(rep and pp), 967; C. 0. Dailey (dem), 
958. 

Surveyor— M. R. Smith (rep), 1,192. 

Coroner- C. C. May, 37; W. S. Webb, 
20; R. B. Plotts, 53; M. Sullivan, 31. 

School Superintendent — Geo. W. Cale 
(rep), 782; T. B. Maguire* (pro, dem 
and pp), 1,193. 

Court Commissioner — C. M. Cory 
(rep), 53; L. B. Bennett (dem), 83. 

Commissioner First District — C. L. 
Peterson" (rep), 141 ; J. M. Paine (pp), 
110. 

Commissioner Third District — A. G. 
Lindgren" (rep), 303; Geo. Knips 
(pp), 198. 

Commissioner Fifth District — Peter 
Thompson" (rep), 290; 0. G. Grund- 
sten (p|i). 126. 

Fusion was accomplished between the 
democrats and peoples party on part of 
the county ticket in 1894, but the re- 

'Died during term. John Ireland appointed 
Oct. 19, 1894. to complete the term. 

'Served only part of term. The office was 
declared vacant hecauso of removal from the 
district, and Jan. 2. 1894. K. .\. Tiipp was 
chosen to complete the term. 



publicans captured the majority of the 
offices. There was another increase in 
the total vote, 2,283 ballots being cast 
for the office of governor. Following is 
the vote: 

Governor — Raute Nelson (rep), 1,112; 
Geo. L. Becker (dem), 632; S. M. 
Owen (pp), 427,; Hilleboe (pro), 112. 

Congressman — Jas. T. McCleary 
(rep), 1,094; Geo. H. Baker (dem), 
605; L. C. Long (pp), 453; Kollam 
(pro), 91. 

Senator— H. J. Miller (rep), 1,207; 
.1. C. Marsluill (dem and pp), 972. 

Representative — Daniel Shell (rep), 
1,179; Ole 0. Holman (rep), 947; Wm. 
Lockwood (rep), 988; John E. King 
(dem), 693; J. J. Ryder (dem), 675; 
J. T. McKnight (pp), 613; Norwood 
(pp), 366; Jayco.x (pp), 285. 

Auditor— R. W. Moberly (rep), 1,093; 
J. J. Kendlen (dem), 1,140. 

Treasurer — J. P. Peterson (rep), 
1,181; E. \V. Goff (dem), 1,015. 

Sheriff— J. C. Thorn, (rep), 1,014; 
Gilbert Anderson (dem), 1,000; B. G. 
Lagrange (pp), 258. 

Register of Deeds — Wm. Wigham 
(rep), 938; J. A. Kenncdv Clem), 
1,286. 

Probate .hidge — C. M. Cnry (rc])). 
1,469; M. E. Foley (dem), 707. 

County Attorney — 0. W. Freeman 
(rep), 1,325; Z. R. Cheney (dem), 848. 

Surveyor— M. S. Smith (rep), 1,660. 

Coroner— R. B. Plotts, 1,458. 

Clerk of Court— P. A. Stevens (rep), 
1,368; Chas. Fritz (dem), 704. 

School Superintendent — Maud Graves 

"Was chairman of the board from July 10. 
1893. to Jan. 1, 1894. 

"Resigned July in. 1S93. Had served as 
chairman up to that time. H. M. Palm chosen 
to complete the term. Mr. Palm served as 
chairman of the board from 1S94 to 1900, 
inclusive. 



1 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



145 



(rep), 1,459; Julia Hyland (dem), 
1,361. 

Commissioner First District — E. A. 
Tripp (rep), 205; Otto Berreau (dem), 
128. 

Commissioner Second District — B. W. 
Pope (rep), 197; John Mock (dem), 
82; Fred Pank (pp), 113. 

Commissioner Fourth District — Chas. 
Hallas (rep), 184; Eichard O'Hearn 
(dem), 193; Henry Nolte (pp), 56. 

Commissioner Fifth District — H. M. 
Palm (rep), 338; Walter Aagaard 
(dem), 138. 

The democratic and peoples party 
forces combined again m 1896 and elect- 
ed tliree officers on the county ticket. 
One independent candidate was elected ; 
The other offices were captured by the 
republicans. The free silver agitation 
was at its height, and Nobles county 
fusinnists brought out a large vote for 
William Jennings Bryan for president, 
coming nearer carrying the county for a 
democratic nominee for president than 
had ever been the case before or has 
been since. The state, congressional and 
legislative tickets of the fusionists were 
also given big votes. The total vote of 
the county had now reached 3,937. which 
was the number ca.=t for sheriff. The 
vote : 

President — Eepublican electors (Mc- 
Kinley). 1,568; democratic electors 
(Bryan)'. 1.201 ; prnhibition electors (Lev- 
ering) , 48 ; gold democratic electors 
(Palmer), 33: socialist labor electors 
(Matchett), 7. 

Governor — D. M. Clough (rep), 
1,430; John Lind (dem and pp), 1,315; 
W. J. Dean (pro), 54; A. A. Ames 
(ind). 9; Wm. B. Hammond (soc-lab), 
7. 

'-The three republicans were elected. 
8 



Congressman — Jas. T. McCleary 
(rep), 1,558; F. A. Day (dem and pp), 
1,193; E. Price (pro), 71. 

Eepresentatives'- — Daniel Shell (rep), 
1,509; Ole 0. Holman (rep), 1,343; 
A. S. Dyer (rep), 1,373; M. Sullivan 
(dem and pp), 1,295; Thos. Lowe (dem 
and pp), 1,136; F, M. Payne (dem and 
pp), 1,117. 

Auditor— E. A. Tripp (rep), 1,609; 
J. T. McKnight (dem and pp), 1,254. 

Treasurer — J. P. Peterson (rep), 
1,862; B. F. Young (dem and pp), 
1.002. 

Sheriff — L. L. McCartney (rep), 929; 
Gilbert Anderson (dem and pp), 1479; 
J. G. Murphy (ind). 529. 

Eegister of Deeds — A. J. Lindgren 
(rep), 1,460; J. S. Blair (dem and pp), 
1,029; W. J. Parry (ind). 415. 

Probate Judge — C. M. Cory (rep), 
1,778; W. E. Kyle (dem and pp), 
1,080. 

County Attorney — C. M. Crandall 
(rep), 1,659; 0. W. Freeman (dem and 
pp), 1,217. 

Surveyor— M. S. Smith (rep), 2,047. 

School Superintendent — John Ireland 
(rep), 1,045: Wm. Finley (dem and 
pp), 1,017: Maud Graves (ind), 1,350. 

Court Commissioner — L. B. Bennett, 
34; C. M. Cory, 16: Scattering, 12. 

Coroner— E. B. Plotts (dem), 1,699; 
Scattering, 28. 

Commi.ssioner First District — F. D. 
Lindquist (rep) , 343. 

Commissioner Third District — M. S. 
Boyle (rep), 338; A. J. Eice (dem and 
pp), 375. 

Commissioner Fifth District — H. M. 
Palm (rep), 370; H. C. Shepard 
(dom), 169. 

There was a decrease in the vote for 
the off A'ear 1898, the total number poll- 



146 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



ed being 2,038, and the highest number 
east for any one office being 1,966 — for 
sheriff. In the election of 1896 the fu- 
sion ticket had been labeled democratic 
on tlic ballot.*. Under the election laws, 
therefore, there was officially no peoples 
party in Nobles county, and the nomi- 
nees of that party could not have their 
names placed on the official ballot ex- 
cept by petition. The third ]iarty hold 
a county convention, nouiinatod nearly 
a complete ticket, but only one nf the 
nominees, that for school superintendent, 
was able to obtain the necessary sig- 
natures, and that was the only one to 
appear on the ballot.' 

For the first time in the county's his- 
tory the democratic nominee for govern- 
or carried the county. The republi- 
cans carried the county for congressman, 
senator and representative by small ma- 
jorities and elected tlie whole county 
ticket except the nominees for sheriff 
and coroner. The vote: 

Governor— W. H. Eustis (rop), SI?: 
John Lind (dem and pp). 99:?; Tlig- 
gins (pro), 63; Wm. B. Hammond 
(soc-lab), 7: L. C. Long (middle of the 
road populist) , 77. 

Congressman — Jas. T. McClcary 
(rep), 9.54; D. H. Evans (dem), 874; 
T. P. Grout (pro), 103. 

Judge Thirteenth District— P. E. 
Brown (non partisan), 1,4)3. 

Senator— Daniel Shell (rep), 1,038; 
John Butler (dem), 857. 

Representative— H. C Grass (rep). 
1,067; Edward Mott (dem), 833. 

Auditor— E. A. Tripp (rep), 1,033; 
J. A. Kennedy (dem), 930. 

Treasurer— J. P. Peterson (rep), 
1,622. 

Sheriff— M. .1. I'.iynn (rep), 890; 
Gilbert Anflcrson (dem), 1,076. 



Register of Deeds — A. G. Lindgren 
(rep), 1,051; C. W. Schultz (dem), 887. 
Proliati' Judge — C. if. Cory (rep), 
1,210; John F. Flynn (dem), 712. 

County Attorney — C. M. Crajulall 

(rep), 1,283; J. J. Parsons (dem), 644. 

Surveyor — M. S. Siriith (rep), 1,526. 

Superintendent of Schools — Maud 

Graves (rep), 945; V. S. L. Owen 

(dem), 718; Clara Knips (pp). 396. 

Clerk of Court— F. L. Humiston 
(rep), 871; Jas. Co.x (dem). 785: V. 
A. Stevens (ind), 308. 

Coroner— J. N. ATallory (rep). 904; 
R. B. Plotts (dem), 970. 

Commissioner Second District — Fred 
Tiemens (rep), 230. 

Commissioner Fourth District — John 
W. Shaw" (rep). 208: 0. D. Bryan 
(dem), 180. 

High water mark was reached in the 
total vote cast in the presidential election 
of Nov. 6, 1900. Then 3,109 ballots 
were deposited in the ballot boxes, but 
the highest nunilier of votes cast for 
any one office was 2,963. This is the 
largest vote recorded in the county, be- 
fore or since. The republican national 
ticket polled a larger vote than it did 
four years before and the democratic 
ticket a smaller vote, with the same can- 
didates. .Tiilm Liiiil. the democratic-peo- 
ples party nominee for governor, who 
had carried the county two years lie- 
forc. now lost it by 58 votes, and Ihc 
fusion nominees for congressman and 
representative wove from 300 to 150 
votes behind. 'i'iie peoples iiarty was 
cliniinnlcd from county politics, and the 
two old parties lined up for the cam- 
paign. The republicans elected all offi- 
ces except treasurer, sheriff niid one 
commissioner. The vote: 

President — Repidilican electors ( Mc- 



•JWas chairman during 1901 and 1902. 



■iVI 


Mehv- 


" \^H - ^~ Jf^H 


% 


j^^^^^^BV'^^ — ''^^^^^^^H 


\ 


■man^^^^EA"^*?^ 


^^^^^^^^t^^Kmm^t^E* '-"fuM V^B 


^^^H ^j^yRi'^ 


1 


^B '^l^ 


; 


IL _r^^S 







HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



147 



1,614 ; 
(rep), 



Kinlcy). 1,709; democrat-peoples party 
electors (Bryan). 1.101; prohibition 
electors (Wooley). 137; socialist demo- 
crat electors (Debs), 14; socialist la- 
bor electors (Malloney), 2. 

Governor — -Samuel E. VanSant (rep), 
1,369; John Lind (dem and pp), 
1,311; Bernt B. Haugen (pro), 109; S. 
M. Fairchild (middle of the road popu- 
list). 5: Thos. H. Lucas (soc-dem), 26; 
Edward Kriz (soc-lab). 2. 

Congressman — Jas. T. McCleary 
(rep). 1.618; M. E. Mathews (dem and 
pp). 1.158; S. D. Works (pro), 137. 

Eepresentative — H. C. Grass (rep), 
1.592; L. C. Long (dem and pp), 
1,292. 

Auditor — E. A. Tripp (rep), 
I. T. Branigan (dem), 1,344. 
Treasurer — J. H. Denton 
1,355; E. W. (dem), 1,575. 

Eegister of Deed.s — B. L Tripp (rep), 
1505; C. W. Schultz (dem), 1,446. 

Sheriff— C. W. Slade (rep), 1,389; 
Mike Eoiter (dem), 1,495. 

Probate Judge — C. M. Cory (rep), 
1,836; Gilbert Anderson (dem), 1,109. 

County Attorney — C. M. Crandall 
(rep), 1.831; 0. W. Freeman (dem), 
1,107. 

Surveyor— M. S. Smith (rep). 2,133. 

Court Commissioner — F. A. Stevens, 
94; J. E. Jones, 3. 

Superintendent of Schools — L. W. Ab- 
bott (rep), 1,887; V. S. L. Owen 
(dem), 1.339. 

Coroner — G. E. Curran (rep), 1,551; 
B. B. riotts (dem), 1,244. 

Commissioner First District — Henry 
Haggard (rep) , 405. 

Commissioner Third 
Thorn (rep), 302; .7. 
(dem), 392. 

Commissioner Fifth 
Swanberg'^ (rep), 445. 



District — Wm. 
G. Murphy" 

District— Gust 



,„''Sfrved as chairman of the boara during- 

190n, 



The primary election law went into 
effect in 1902, and thereafter party nom- 
inations have been made by direct vote 
of the people, in place of the old style 
county convention. This has resulted 
in revolutionizing county politics. No- 
bles county being normally strongly re- 
publican, the principal campaign is now 
for the republican nomination. Under 
the law anyone can become a candidate 
by filing his name and paying a small 
fee, and there have been as high as 
eight candidates for one office. Gener- 
ally there are only a few contests at 
the general election for county offices, 
but at the primaries there are more con- 
testants. 

At the first primary, held Sept. 16, 
1902, the following were nominated on 
the republican ticket without opposition : 
Congressman. Jas. T. McCleary; treas- 
urer, J. W. Shaw; register of deeds. B. 
T. Tripp ; judge of probate. C. M. Cory ; 
surveyor. M. S. Smith ; clerk of court, 
F. L. Humiston. school superintendent, 
L. W. Abbott; commissioner second dis- 
trict, Fred H. Tiemens. The result of 
the election for officers where there was 
more than one candidate was as follows: 

Senator— H. C. Grass. 284; Daniel 
Shell, 767. 

Eepresentative — S. 0. Morse. 501 ; 
Geo. W. Wilson, 547. 

Auditor — Jas. Co-win. 260; H. M. 
Palm. 379; E. C. Pannell. 444. 

Sheriff — Newton Fauskee, 449; Chas. 
King. 133; L. L. McCartney. 263; Levi 
Eue. 219. 

Countv Attorney — C. l^f. Crandall. 
504; E. .T. Jones, 561. 

Commissioner Fourth District — P. C. 
Pratt. 142; Jas. H. McEobert. 37. 

The following were chosen for the 
democratic ticket without opposition: 
Con.srressman. Chas. N. .\ndrews ; audi- 

«Was chairman during 1903, 1904, 1905 and 
1907. 



148 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



tor, E. L. Scliwartz: treasurer, E. W. 
Goff: ?herifT, ^like Peiter; probate jufljie, 
C. W. :\Iraci: clerk of court. II. .1. 
Bluine; .superintendent of .«cliool.=. A. J. 
SchaefTer: commissioner fourth rlistriet, 
Jos. Roll. For three nominations there 
were contests, as follows: 

Senator — I. T. Branitran. 14(5: .Tolm 
F. Flynn, 193. 

Register of Deed.« — TT. R. Kainp. 120: 
J. A. TCennedy. 201. 

County .\ttorney — John B. Gerpen. 
i:.T: J. J. Parsons, 164. 

At the jr^neral electiqp 2,602 votes 
^\'ere polled, although the highest cast 
for any one office was S..^.'?.?. The re- 
publican party was found to have re- 
gained some of the loss sustained dur- 
ing the previous campaigns, and car- 
ried the county by hig majorities. 
E. W. Goff. for treasurer, was the onlv 
democrat elected. The vote: 

Governor — Sa7iinel TJ. VanSant (rep). 
1.515; Leonard A. Rosing (dem), 871; 
"Nfeighen. 20: Scanlnn. 83: T^Tash. 4; 
Vanlear, 8. 

Congressman — Jas. T. McCleary 
frep), 1.506; Chas. N. .\ndrews fdem). 
846.. 

Senator— Daniel Shell (rep). 1,183: 
John F. Flynn fdem). 1,020. 

Representative — Geo. W. Wilson 
(rep), 1,-109; Walter Sweetman (ind), 
816. 

Auditor— E. C. Pannell (rep). 1,628: 
E. L. Schwartz (dem). 927. 

Treasurer^ John Shaw (rep). 1.112: 
E. W. Goff (dem), 1,404. 

Sheriff — "NTewton Fauskee (rep). 1.310; 
Mike Reiter (dem), 1,215. 

Regi.ster of "Decd.s — B. T. Tripp (rep), 
1.483: J. A. Kennedy (dem). 1.037. 

Probate Judge — C. M. Cnrv (rep). 
1.701: C. W. ATend (dem). 804. 

'"Rpslenpfl July 13. 1003, and O. D. Drvan 
was named to complete the term, meeting 



County Attorney — E. J. Jones (rep), 
1.52G: John B. Gergen (dem), 996. 

Surveyor — M. S. Smith (rep), 1,929. 

Coroner — F. M. Manson. 40. 

Clerk of Court — F. L. llumiston 
(rep), 1,585; H. J. Blunio (dem), 900. 

Superintendent of Schools — L. W. Ab- 
bott (rep). 1,771; A. J. Schaeffer 
(dem), 1,211. 

( oiiimissioner Second District — Fred 
Tieniens (rep), 366. 

Commissioner Fourth District — P. C. 
I'nitf" (rep). ?.-)9: Jos. Roll (dem), 
20-1. 

The 1904 primary resulted iu many 
contests for the republican nominations, 
some of which were very cIqsc and hard 
fought battles. The following were 
chosen without opposition : Judge thir- 
teenth district, P. E. Brown; auditor, 
E. C. Pannell; superintendent of schools, 
L. "W. Abbott; commissioner fifth dis- 
trict, Gust Swanberg. The result where 
there was more than one candidate was 
as follows : 

Congressman — Jas. T. McCleary, 993 ; 
H. J. Miller, 615. 

Representative— S. 0. Morse. 831; Tf. 

C. Grass, 638. 

Treasurer— E. K. Smith. 7G0 ; E. C. 
Stit.ser, 709. 

Sheriff— Newton Fauskee, 1,120; M. 
J. Bryan, 3.51; W. TT. TTcitritter, 145. 

Register of Deeds— TT. Hawley, 338; 
B. T. Tripp, 288; J. M. Messer, 210; 
W. -Z. Newell, 210; Loren Clark, 168; 
J. C. Thorn, 166: C. H. TTah.Mvnn. 12.".; 

D. R. Chancy, 99. 

Probate Judge— C. M. fory. 1.012; 
TT. C. Carter, 515. 

County Attorney — C. M. Crandall. 
834 ; E. J. Jones, 769. 

Coroner — E. M. Manson, 879; TTcnry 
Wiedow, 556. 

wUli thi' iKi.nrd fi)r the first tiiiip Jul.v 22, 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



149 



Commissioner First District — J. L. 
McConkey, 158; Albert Hector, 115. 

Commissioner Third District — 0. W. 
Freeman, 160; G. Gulliek, 94. 

There were no contests for the demo- 
cratic nominations and candidates for a 
few only of the more important ofEices. 
The following were nominated: Con- 
gressman, Geo. P. Jones; representative, 
Wm. O'Neill; treasurer, E. W. Golf; 
register of deeds, Jas. F. Cox; sheriff, J. 
N. Holbrook; commissioner third dis- 
trict, J. G. Murpliy ; commissioner fourth 
district, 0. D. Bryan. 

Two thousand iive hundred fifteen 
votes was the liighest cast for any one 
office in the general election of 1904. 
President Roosevelt received a record 
breaking majority, but the republican 
nominee for governor carried the county 
by a bare plurality of 14 votes. The re- 
publicans carried the county for con- 
gressman and representative by big ma- 
jorities and elected every coimty officer 
with the exception of two commission- 
ers. The official vote: 

President — Republican electors 
(Roosevelt), 1,733; democratic electors 
(Parker), G";!l; peoples party electors 
(Watson), 21; prohibition electors 
(Swallow), 68; public ownership elec- 
tors (Debs), 12. 

Governor — R. C. Dunn (rep), 1,167; 
John A. Johnson (dom), 1,153; Chas. 
A. Dorsett (pro), 79; J. E. Nash (pub 
own), 6; A. W. M. Anderson (soc-lab), 
8. 

Congressman — Jas. T. McCleary 
(rep), 1.593; Geo. P. Jones (dem), 
879. 

Judge Thirteenth District— P. E. 
Brown (rep), 2,090. 

Representative — S. 0. Morse (rep), 
1,647; Wm. O'Neil (dem), 796. 

Auditor— E. C. Pannell (rep), 2,073. 



Treasurer— E. K. Smith (rep), 1,278; 
E. W. Goff (dem), 1,230. 

Sheriff — Newton Fauskee (rep), 
1,829; J. N. Holbrook (dem), 675. 

Register of Deeds — H. Hawley (rep), 
1,390; Jas. F. Cox (dem), 1,125. 

Probate Judge — C. M. Cory (rep), 
2,138. 

County Attorne}- — C. M. Crandall 
(rep), 2,076. 

Surveyor— M. S. Smith, 85. 

Coroner — F. M. Manson (rep), 1,888. 

Court Commissioner — F. A. Stevens, 
55. 

Superintendent of Schools — L. W. 
Abbott (rep), 2,068. 

Commissioner First District — J. L. 
McConkey (rep), 363, 

Commissioner Third District — 0. W. 
Freeman (rep), 279; J. G. Murphy 
(dem), 283. 

Commissioner Fourth District — 0. D. 
Bryan (dem), 281. 

Commissioner Fifth District — Gust 
Swanberg (rep), 387. 

At the primary election of Sept. 18, 
1906, there were many contests for the 
republican nominations. The result was 
as follows: 

Congressman — Gilbert (Juttersen, 
1.0;54; Jas. T. McCleary, 858. 

Senator— Daniel Shell, 717; S. B. 
Bedford, 1,201. 

Representative — S. 0. Morse, 1,418. 

Auditor— E. C. Pannell, 1,681. 

Treasurer— E. K. Smith, 1,668. 

Register of Deeds — Harry R. Tripp, 
958; H. Hawley, 903. 

Sheriff — Newton Fauskee, 1,327 ; 
Western M. Cline, 414; J. M. Scriven, 
] 56. 

County Attorney — E. J. Jones, 780; 
C. M. Crandall, 751; S. S. Smith, 362. 

Probate Judge— C. M. Cory, 1,643. 



15U 



iiiSTUl!!' OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



(Jlerk oi (Jourl — i'". L. liumislon, 
1,-^UO; E. F. Clower, G3-i. 

iSchool iSuperintendent — L. \\. Ab- 
bott, 1,413; Maud Uraves, 9?7. 

Coroner — A. B. Williams, 1,543. 

(Joiuiiiissioner Second District — W. F. 
Moss, 147; Fred 11. Tiemens, 124; 
James Montgomery, 81; 11. J. Wcstrip, 
70. 

There were no contests for the demo- 
cratic nominations and only two candi- 
dates on the county ticket. The demo- 
cratic vote: Congressman, W. S. Ham- 
mond, 59;" senator, John F. Flynu, 58; 
register of deeds, J. H. Kew, 58; com- 
missioner fourth district, 0. D. Bryan, 
10. 

At the general election of 1906 2,133 
votes were cast. For the second time in 
history Nobles county returned a ma- 
jority for a democratic nominee for gov- 
ernor, and for the first time gave a ma- 
jority for a democrat for congress. The 
republican county ticket was endorsed. 
One democrat, for commissioner, who 
was without opposition, was elected. The 
vote: 

Governor — A. L. Cole (rep), 769; 
John A. Johnson (dem), 1,855. 

Congressman — Jas. T. McCleary 
(rep), 911; W. S. Hammond (dem), 
1,123; Tucker (pro), 67. 

Senator— S. B. Bedford (rep), 1,100; 
John F. Flynn (dem), 1,033. 

Eepresentative — S. 0. Morse (rep), 
1,542. 

Auditor— E. C. Pannell (rep), 1,717. 

Treasurer— E. K. Smith (rep), 1,692. 

Register of Deeds — Harry E. Tripp 
(rep), 1,110; J. H. Rew (dem), 987. 

"The smallness of the democratic primary 
vote Is easily accounted for. There being 
no contests In their own party, the democrats 
a.«islsted the republicans in the selection of 
nominees, and under the primary law they 
are legally entitled to do .so. For instance: 
The law provides that a primary voter shall 
vote the ticket of that party, the majority 



Sherilf — Newton Fauskee (rep), 1,833. 

County Attorney — E. J. Jones (rep), 
1,;31. 

Surveyor — M. S. Smith, 16. 

Frobate Judge — C. M. Cory (rep), 
1,748. 

Clerk of Court — F. L. Humiston 
(rep), 1,722. 

Superintendent of Schools — L. W. Ab- 
bott (rep), 1,717. 

Coroner — A. B. Williams (rep), 1,625. 

Commissioner Second District — W. h'. 
Moss (repj, '6b2. 

Commissioner Fourth District — 0. D. 
Bryan (dem), 287. 

The republican primary election of 
September 15, 1908, resulted as fol- 
lows: 

Congressman, I'aul A. Ewert, 348; 
Gilbert Guttersen, 474; James T. Mc- 
Cleary, 479; representative, S. 0. Morse, 
524; Herman Nelson, 731; auditor, E. 
C. Pannell, 1,122; treasurer, E. K. 
Smith, 1,115; sheriff, Newton Fauskee, 
1,138; register of deeds, Harry Tripp, 
1,125; judge of probate, C. M. Cory, 
1,090; county attorney, C. M. Crandall, 
598; E. J. Jones, 762; coroner, A. B. 
Williams, 999; school superintendent, 
L. W. Abbott, 1,093; commissioner, first 
district, T. B. Maguire, 110; J. L. Mc- 
('onkey, 142; fifth district. Gust Swan- 
berg, 269. 

The democratic primary election re- 
sulted as follows: Congressman, W. 
S. Hammond, 55; commissioner third 
district, J. G. Murphy, 14. 

The prohibition primary election re- 
sulted as follows : Representative, H. L. 
Blake, 8. 

of whose nominees he supported at the pre- 
ceding general election. A democrat might 
have voted for every nominee of his party in 
the general election of IDOl (also voting for 
the republicans who had no opposition) and 
yet vote the republican ballot at the primary 
election of 1906. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



151 



And now the political history of No- 
bles county is brought to a close. It 
covers a period from the time in 1870, 
w1r-ii the first county official took the 
uath of office — wlien there were '62 men 
iu Uie county who availed themselves 
of the privilege of voting — up to and 
including the last general election before 
the date of publication of this volume, 
during which time the total vote reached 
over 3,000. A brief summary of the 
conditions during this time may not be 
out of place. 

The county has always been normally 
republican. During the first year of 
its political history there was only one 
voter who registered against that party. 
Tliere has been an increase in the demo- 
cratic vote since. But, although the 
party of Jefferson polled over 1,200 
votes at one presidential election, it has 
never carried the county for the na- 
tional ticket. For many years the coun- 
ty was overwhelmingly republican, and 
it was not until the eighties that the 
democratic party nuiintained an organi- 
zation. But during this time there was 
a strong independent movement, kept 
alive by one faction of the republican 
party and the democrats, which opposed 
tlie republican organization and on sev- 
eral occasions gained control of the 
county offices. 

With the settlement of the west end 



of the county came a change. The 
democrats increased in numbers, and 
during the eighties the democratic party 
took its place as a factor in county poli- 
tics, which it has ever since retaineil. 
Ihiring the free silver days of the nine- 
ties the peoples party came into existence 
and for several years was a power in 
politics. When its power began to wane 
fusion was accomplished with the demoi 
erats, and for several years more, there 
was strong opposition to the dominant 
party. 

Since 188-t there has been quite a 
prohibition following. For many years 
a county organization was maintained, 
and county tickets were regularly placed 
in nomination. The socialists have nev- 
er had much of a following here, and no 
organization has ever been effected. 

While the county is strongly republi- 
can the voters are independent and not 
party bound, as the vote for governor 
and congressman at the 1906 election 
sbows. and as is made evident by the 
fact that in many instances tlie opposi- 
tion candidates have been elected. 

Nobles county has been fortunate in 
its selection of county officers. During 
its political history of nearly 40 years 
tliere has not been a defaulting county 
officer. Nor has there been a removal 
because of criminal action or incompe- 
tence. 



3 ^ 

- O 

z 




CHAPTER XII. 



WORTHINGTON— 1871-1872. 



Worthington, the capital of Nobles 
county, is the oldest and largest town in 
the county. It is located on the east 
shore of lake Okabena, and its eleva- 
tion above sea level is 1,593 feet.^ It 
is in the eastern part of the county, the 
business center of the town being 16 
miles from the county's northern boun- 
dary, eight miles from the southern, sev- 
en and one-quarter from the eastern and 
twenty-two and three-quarters from the 
western. Otherwise described, it is 178 
miles southwest of St. Paul, the state 
capital, and is located on three lines of 
railroad — the Chicago, St. Paul, Min- 
neapolis & Omaha, the Worthington & 
Sioux Falls, and the Chicago, Eoek Is- 
land & Pacific. 

The population, according to the last 
census,— that of 1905— was 2,276. There 
has been an increase since that date, and 
tjiere are now about 2,500 people resid- 
ing in the village. It is one of the 
most progressive and prosperous towns 
in southwestern Minnesota. All lines of 
business tliat are to be found in the prai- 
rie communities of the Mississippi valley 
are represented. It is noted for its 
schools, churches and social organiza- 
tions, and in this respect it is the peer 
of anv town of its size in the state. It 



is the kind of town in which one pre- 
fers to live. 

The location of Worthington, consid- 
ered in its natural state, is one of un- 
usual beauty, and with the embellish- 
ments that have been added by the 
hands of its residents, it stands at the 
present time as one of the prettiest lit- 
tle cities of a state distinguished for 
its pretty towns. Especially is one 
charmed with its loveliness in the sum- 
mer season. Then the broad avenues 
and parks are clothed in emerald fol- 
iage. Trees are everywhere. Due to 
the foresight of the town's founders, the 
spot which was once barren prairie is 
now a bower of beauty. Picturesque 
lake Okabena, upon the shores of which 
the city is builded, is another beauty 
spot that adds charm to the location. 

One can hardly realize that less than 
lialf a century ago this spot was an 
uncharted wilderness; yet such is the 
case. Time was when the dusky red 
men pitched his tepee where now our 
churches are located; vast herds of 
bison moved about lake Okabena and 
made their wallows where now our 
courts are held; timid deer browsed 
where now the student studies his nat- 
ural history; elk in countless numbers 



'This is the elevation as given by tlie C. At the point of crossing of the two roads it 
St, P. M. & O. Ry. The elevation as given is 1.573 feet. 
by the B. C. R. & N. engineers is 1,585 feet. 

153 



154 



lllSTUKY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



roamed the adjacent prairie and saw 
their antlers reflected in the cleai- wa- 
ters ol' Okabcna as they bent down to 
di-ink. 

The lirst wiiite muu lu set foot on 
tlie site of the town, so far as shown 
b}- any records 1 ajii able to liud, was 
the party of explorers luider Joseph Ni- 
cholas Nicollet, mention of whose ex- 
plorations has been made in a previous 
chapter. On the map wliich he issued in 
1842 "Okebeue" lake is accurately lo- 
cated, showing that in the late thirties 
or very early forties the site of tlie 
town had been visited by white men. 
Between that time and the date of the 
permanent settlement of the country the 
site was visited infrequently by e.xplor- 
erers, military parties, scouts, and trap- 
pers. The latter were the more frequent 
visitors. During the late fifties and 
early sixties the country a short distance 
to the east and south was settled, to a 
very limited extent, by trappers. The 
abundance of game which overran the 
region drew hunters and trappers regu- 
larly to its lakes. The Okabenas were 
on the itinerary of these nomadic fron- 
tiersmen, and the site of Worthington 
was visited occasionally by these men 
long before there was any thought of a 
town there. Their permanent abiding 
places were further to the east in Min- 
nesota or in the settled portion of north- 
ern Iowa, about Spirit Lake, and until 
the late sixties none claimed even a 
temporary home within the limits of 
what is now Worthington. 

It was in the month of September, 
18G8, that the first building was erected 
iin hnul which is now within the cor- 
porate limits of the town. On the 34th 
of that month, there came to the Oka- 



bena Lake country, from Blue Earth, 
three trappers — W. A. Dillman- Frank 
Fortner and John Wilson. They erect- 
ed a combination sod and log shanty 
on the east shore of East Okabeua lake. 
Fortner remained only two days, Wil- 
son a month, but Mr. Dillman occupied 
. the shanty and engaged in trapping un- 
til Christmas, and became Worlhinglon's 
first citizen.' 

Although over 100 people became set- 
tlers of Nobles county during the years 
1867 to 1870, inclusive, on the site of 
the future village of Worthington not 
one established his permanent home. 
During the winter of 1870-1871 U. J. 
Ilofi'man engaged in trapping on lake 
Okabena and succeeded in taking $UUU 
worth of furs. He spent the winter in 
a dug-out on the south shore of the 
lake, a few paces to the west of what 
is known as the "swimming hole." In 
the spring of 1871 he walked to Osage, 
Iowa, and back again, carrying on his 
return trip a bundle of willow cuttings — 
the start of the now famous Ludlow 
grove. That summer Mr. Hoffman went 
to St. James, bought a small house there, 
and hauled it down to the future city 
of Worthington on wagons. That house 
constitutes a part of what has been the 
Ludlow home up to the present year. 
It was the first building of wood within 
rhe corporate limits of the town. Mr. 
Holl'man's f;imily, consisting of a wife 
and two children, came to the new 
home as soon as the building was ready 
for occupancy, and was Worthington's 
first family. 

Although both the Dillman shanty 
and Mr. Hoffman's house were within 
what is now the corporate limits of 
Worthington, they were located outside 



"Still a resident of Worthington. 



'A more detailed account of this event Is to 
be found In chapter 2. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



155 



the present platted portion of the town, 
and the construction of those buildings 
had nothing to do with the founding of 
the village. 

Worthington came into existence as 
the result of the building of the Sioux 
City & St. Paul railroad.* The perman- 
ent survey was made early in 181 1. 
Immediately thereafter graders and 
bridge builders were put to work, and 
before the winter set in the grading was 
completed to LeMars, Iowa, and the 
track was laid as far as. the present town 
of Worthington. During the time grad- 
ing was in progress one of the camps 
was located at the point where the vil- 
lage afterwards made its appearance. 
The contractors erected a shanty just 
across the track from the present loca- 
tion of the freight depot, which was 
used as a boarding house for the grad- 
ers. Immediately after the grading was 
completed the shanty was torn down. 
It was early the intention of the rail- 
road company to locate a station and 
Imild a town on land at or ' near the 
point where the road passed Okabena 
lake. The site first selected was on the 
south side of the lake, where Mr. G. J. 
Hoffman luid taken his claim. That 
gentleman refused to sell his property 
to the railroad company for what the 
company considered a reasonable figure, 
and that site was abandoned.' 

The railroad company, of which E. F. 
Drake was president and guiding spirit, 

'Now the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & 
Omaha. 

"Worthington Advance, Nov. 29, 1S83. 

"The railroad company was the owner of 
the greater part of the original platted town- 
site (on section 23). which it had acquired 
through the land grant. A small three cor- 
nered piece of the original plat (on the south- 
west quarter of section 24) was the property 
of Mr. Drake, personally, he having come 
into possession of it by purchase. The quar- 
ter had been filed on by Geo. E. Stewart on 
Dec. IG, 1871, and that gentleman had secured 



then selected the site at the east end of 
the lake and made the sui'vey. Although 
the original townsite was surveyed in 
tiie summer of 1871, the plat was not 
put on record until the following year. 
The original plat extended from Eighth 
street to Fom-teenth street, and from the 
railroad track (along which ran First 
avenue) to Eighth avenue. Blocks two 
to 25, inclusive, were sm-veyed by Alex 
L. Beach, and blocks 26 to 45, inclu- 
sive, by T. P. Gere. The Gere certificate 
of survey was dated May 22, 1872. The 
dedication was in the following words: 

The Sioux City and Saint Paul Rail Road 
company by Elias F. Drake, its president, and 
the said J!,lias F. Drake, on behalf of him- 
self, proprietors, hereby acknowledge that so 
much of the plat of tlie town or village of 
W orthington, as is shown hereon has been 
made by said proprietors and is acknowledged 
and tiled in accordance with the requirements 
of "an act providing for the record of town 
plats" now in force. The streets and alleys 
indicated on said plat are dedicated to 
the use of the public for streets and alleys 
only and in case of the vacation of any such 
saeets or alleys b}- any competent authority, 
the reversion and title in fee of such vacated 
streets or alleys is hereby expressly reserved 
and declared to be in said proprietors, and the 
fee of any part of any street or alley is 
declared not to be included in or as part of 
anv lot herein. 

ELIAS F. DRAK:E, I'rest. 

ELIAS F. DRAKE. 

The acknowledgement was made June 
24, 1872, before G. A. Hamilton, a no- 
tary public of Ramsey county. The in- 
strument was filed in the office of the 
register of deeds of Nobles county June 
27, 1872, by Selim Fox, register, per 
John II. Cunningham, deputy.' 

the patent from the government on May 20, 
1S74. The property was deeded to Mr. Drake 
the same day the filing was made. 

Clary's addition, which, however, was not 
platted until later, comprises parts of the 
northwest quarter of section 24. The east 
half of that quarter was filed on June 1. 
1872, by Elias D. South. The west half was 
filed on May 27, 1872, by Veeder J. South. 

'Additions to this original townsite have 
been platted as follows: 

Park — Surveyed by O. D. Brown June 12, 

'1876; dedicated by the S. C. & St. P. R. R. 

Co., by E. F. Drake, president, and G. A. 



156 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



Before the lots were placed on the 
market, before a building was erected 
on the townsite, an event occurred which 
vitally affected the liistory of the town- 
to-be. This was the formation of tlie 
National colony and the assumption by 
it of the control of affairs in Nobles 
county. It is not necessary here to re- 
peat the story of that organization, 
which has been told in a preceding chap- 

Hainilton. assistant secretary, Sept. 29, 1876; 
mod Oct. 4, 1876. 

Second — Surveyed by John O. Brunius; dedi- 
cated by the S. C. & St. P. R. R. Co., by K. 
F. Drake, president, and G. A. Hamilton, 
secretary, Nov. 1, 1879; filed July 8, 1S80. 

Anderson's — Surveyed bv T. Linus Blanlt 
Oct., 1882; dedicated by Henry H. Anderson 
Oct. 25, 1882; Hied Oct. 26, 1882. 

Clary's — Surveyed by F. L. Diserens Octoljer, 
1882; dedicated by Timothy F. Clary and Eliza 
F. Clary Dec. 2, 18S2; filed Dec. 12, 1SS2. 

Subdivision or Blocks 20, 21 and 22— Sur- 
veyed by Orrin Nason; dedicated by the S. C. 
& St. I". R. R. Co., by Elias F. Drake, presi- 
dent, and (3. A, Hamilton, secretary, Aug:. 24, 
1883; tiled Sept. 7, 18S3. 

Drake's — Surveyed by Wm. A. Peterson; 
dedicated by Ellas F. Drake Feb. 11, 1884; 
filed Feb. 20, 1884. 

Anderson's Subdivision of Blocks 1 and 6 
of Clary's addition — Surveyed by L. L. Palmer; 
dedicated by Daniel Shell, Henry H. Ander- 
son and Otis Bigelow April 23, 1884; filed 
April 23, 1884. 

Smith & Shell's—Surveved by L. ly. Palmer; 
dedicated by C. H. Smith and Daniel Shell 
June I. 1SS7; tiled June 1, 1887; corrected plat 
filed June 29, 1895. 

Moulton's Resurvey and Subdivision of 
Clary's Addition — Surveyed by Myron Shep- 
ard July, 18S7; dedicated by Minnesota I,oan 
& Investment Co., by Geo. D. Dayton, presi- 
dent, and Geo. O. Moore, secretary, Aug. 24, 
1887; filed Aug. 25, 1887. 

Lots A, B, D and E of Block 8— Surveyed 
by W. D. Smith; dedicated by Minnesota 
Loan & Investment Co. (by Geo. D. Dayton, 
president, and Geo. O. Moore, secretary), R. 
I-'. Baker, I.. Singer, W. S. Lewis and J. H. 
John.son Dec. 19, 1887; filed May 9, 1888. 

McLean's Subdivision of Block 49 and Part 
lit r,0, Second Addition — Surveyed by M. S. 
Smith; dedicated hi- Wm. McLean March 16, 
1892; filed March 18, 1592. 

Okabena— Surveyed by M. S. Smith; dedi- 
cated by Benjamin F. Johnson, C. H. Alford. 
Adella A. Prince, Alex Sterling, Gilbert An- 
derson and Wm. McLean Aug. 30, 1892; filed 
Oct. 7, 1892. 

East— Surveyed by M. S. Smith; dedicated 
by H. T. Drake, A. M. Drake and W. H. 
Llghtner, executors of the will of E. F. Drake, 
deceased, Oct. 16, 1894; filed Oct. 22, 1894. 

Nobles Street Crossing and Siilidivislon of 
Block 3 of East Addition— Surveyed by M. S. 
Smith; dedicated by H. T. Drake, A. M. 
Drake and Wm. H. Llghtner, executors of 
will of E. F. Drake, deceased, Sept. 17, 1895; 
filed Sept. 28, 1895. 

Southwest (luarter of section 24, Worthing- 
ton township, embracing all lands In that 
(luarter not already platted, including several 
additions and plats. Amended plat filed Sept. 
28, 1895. 
Smith & Shell's Division of Block A, of 



ter. With the purchase and subsequent 
manipulation of the railroad lands by 
tlie company, arose the necessity for a 
town in the new country to be used as 
its headquarters — a town builded in ac- 
cordance with the temperance beliefs of 
its founders, who had extensively adver- 
tised that the community to which they 
were to bring emigrants should be moral 
and temperate. Prof. E. F. Iluniiston 

Meander Lot 1, in Section 25. Worthington 
Township — Surveyed by M. S. Smith May 13. 
1894; dedicated by C. H. Smith and Daniel 
Shell July 6, 1895; filed Nov. 13. 1895. 

Hansberger's Subdivision of Block 39 — Sur- 
vei'od by M. S. Smitli March, 1896, by order 
of county auditor tor \V. I. & F. L. Humis- 
ton, Jas. S. Itamage, Susan Ditty, U. F. 
llansberger and Minnesota Loan & Investment 
Co.; filed Aug. 5, 1897. 

Shell's Subdivision of the Southeast 48 
feet of Hotel Lot, Block 1 — Surveyed by M. 
S. Smith; dedicated by Daniel Shell Dec. 30, 
1899; filed Dec. 30, 1899. 

Kraft's Subdivision of Block 11, Clary's Ad- 
dition — Surveyed by M. S. Smith Feb. 13, 
19U0; dedicated by Geo. Miller, Samuel N. 
Rose ahd John G. Kraft May 18, 1900; filed 
June 5, 1900. 

Barnes' Subdivision of Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 
Block 50, Second Addition — Surveyed by M, S. 
Smith April 21, 1900; dedicated by Nathan 
Barnes, Carl A. Anderson and Wm. McLean 
June 27, 1900; tiled July 26, 1900. 

Shell's Reanangement of Lot 26, Block 1, 
of Anderson's Subdivision of Block 1, of 
Clary's Addition — Surveyed by M. S. Smith 
July 20 and 21, 1900; dedicated by Daniel 
Shell July 23, 1900; filed Aug. 16, 1900. 

Paulson's — Surveyed by M. S. Smith; dedica- 
ted by Anna B. Paulson, S. A. Paulson, 
Mary Wass and J. E. Darling April 27, 1901; 
filed April 30, 1901. 

Clifton — Surveyed by M. S. Smith; dedicated 
by Minnesota Loan &. Investment Co., by 
Geo. D. Dayton, president, June 27, 1901; filed 
July 17, 1901. 

Scott's Subdivision of East Half of Block 
3, Clary's Addition — Surveyed by M. S. Smith; 
dedicated by Minnesota Loan & Investment 
Co., by Geo. D. Dayton, president, Aug. 
9, 1901; filed Sept. 9, 1901. 

Clement's— Surveyed by M. S. Smith; dedi- 
cated bv Walter L. Clement, Sept. 30, 1901; 
filed Oct. 14, 1901. 

Kamages Subdivision of Lots and -Mleys 
In Blocks 3 and 7— Surveyed by M. S. Smith; 
dedicated by Jas. S. Ramage Dec. 6, 1901; 
liic-d Dec. 26, 1901. 

Clement's Subdivision of Block 55, of the 
Second Addition— Surveyed by M. S. Smith; 
dedicated bv Walter L. Clement Sept. 30, 
1901; filed April 16, 1902. 

Block 1, N'orth Worthington— Surveyed by 
M. S. Smith; dedicated by L. M. Bliss 
May 31, 1902; filed June 4, 1902. 

Albinson it Boberg's Subdivision of Lots In 
Block 52, Second Addition— Surveyed by M. 
S. Smith; di'dleated by John A. Albinson and 
John A. Boberg June 4, 1902; filed June 

11, 1902. 

McLean's Subdivision of Block 47 Second 

Addition— Surveyed by M. S. Smith; dedicated 

• by Wm. McLean June 2, 1902; filed July 

12, 1902. 



THEN. 

PUBLIC LIBRARY 



;TOK, LENB' 

■>€.« fOWNC*.rit'l>l», 





^ 



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UORTHINGTON 5TRtET SCLNE,. 1880 

Cornor of Main .Street and Third Avenue. The'Building in the Center i.s One of 

the First Lrected in the City. To th<> Riglit iN Seen thi- Old Congregational 

Church. thejTown's first C hurih l.dificc. 













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NAMI.NC. Ol WOKTITINC/ION 

facsimile I cllcr. Written in 1888, From Professor R. F. lluniiston to t.lias \. I)raki>, 
in Which is I old the Story of the Naming of Worthington. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



157 



and Dr. A. P. Miller, who were the 
leading spirits of the colony company, 
at once assumed the duties of founding 
the town, and late in the summer of 
18T1 they paid a visit to the site. The 
land upon which the town was built a 
few months later did not then have a 
sign of habitation on it, nor had it yet 
been definitely named. 

The party consisted of Professor 
Humiston, Dr. Miller, Mrs. Miller and 
Captain Aiken Miner, who made the 
trip by team from Jackson. They came 
to view the lake and the site of their 
future labors. As they stood on the 
shore of tlie lake they viewed the coun- 
try as it had been since time begun; the 
hand of man had not changed the work 
nf nature.' The two promoters made 
tlie trip around the west lake on foot on 
an exploring expedition. At the inlet 
at the west end of the lake they con- 
structed a raft and floated across the 
stream. It was nearly nightfall when 



they finished surrounding the lake, and 
the part}' then went to Graham lakes, 
fifteen miles away, to spend the night. 
Shelter was secured in the log hut of 
H. C. Hallett, who "kept tavern" and 
was the postmaster. 

During the time the railroad was be- 
ing graded through southwestern Min- 
nesota the site where afterwards tlie 
town of Worthington was built was 
known as Okabena. When the colony 
company became interested, and before 
the town was founded, the name was 
changed to Worthington, which was tlie 
name of Mrs. Mary Dorman Miller's 
(wife of Dr. A. P. Miller) mother be- 
fore her marriage. The name was sug- 
gested by Prof. Humiston." The Worth- 
ington family was a prominent one in 
Ohio. Among its members were Thomas 
Worthington, -once governor of the state, 
for whom the town of his name in 
Franklin county was named ; and Gen- 
eral .7. T. Worthington.^" Not alone is 



»"In tho early autumn of 1S71, in company 
with Piofe.ssor Humiston and my husb.nnd. I 
stood on the shore of lalce Okabena, loolfinp 
westward at the unaccustomed spectacle of 
the sunset on the prairie and its glorified re- 
flection in the water below. There was not a 
house then where Worthington now stands, 
and the professor, with his accustomed gal- 
lantry, jocosely iuvited me to baptise the new 
townsite with the crystal water sparkling 
at my feet. But with what I now sec to 
ha.ye been an excess of modesty, I declined." 
— Extract from letter written liy Mary Dor- 
man Miller, dated New York, Deo, 11, 1888, 

"Although I haye a mass of data concern- 
ing the naming of Worthington, including 
letters written by eyeryone connected with 
the naming, I have been unable to learn the 
exact date the pame was conferred. Prof. 
Humiston. Mrs, Miller and Mr, E, F, Drake 
haye written detailed accounts of the eyent. 
but not one has mentioned the time the 
christening was made, 

"Correspondence in 18SS between Prof, R, 
F, Humiston, B, F, Drake, Mrs. Mai-y Dorman 
Miller and A, P, Miller of the Advance, has 
brought forth many incidents connected with the 
naming of the town, A St, Paul paper made the 
statement that the Minnesota town was named 
in honor of the Worthington family. of 
Toledo, Ohio, To this the Worthington Ad- 
vance took exception, declaring that it was 
in honor of that branch of the family residing 
at Chillicothe, Ohio, Mr. Drake defended the 
statement of the St. Paul paper and erron- 
eously declared that the name was given in 



honor of Prof. Humiston's wife's family, who 
lived at Toledo, Again the .Advance corrected 
the statement of Mr, Drake, The latter 
then appealed to Prof, Humiston for a state- 
ment concerning the naming of the town. 
Prof, Humiston, in a letter dated Boston 
Oct, 13, 1888, wrote: 

"Dr, Miller, my partner, wanted to name 
the town 'Doi-man,' after Mary Dorman, his 
wife. You [Drake] and the railroad directors 
obiected, saying that 'Dorman is a sleepy, 
dull, uneuphonius name," and asked me to 
select something else. Wanting to please Dr, 
Miller, I concluded that if I could not give 
the town Mary Dorman's father's name, T 
would give it her mother's maiden name, 
which was Worthington, her father being 
the brother of Gov, Worthington, I believe, 
and General Worthington, of Chillicothe. be- 
ing her first cousin. When I suggested the 
name of Worthington, it was satisfactory 
to you and the directors, you remarking that 
you had relatives by marriage of that name: 
so. then and there, the name of Okabena was 
changed to Worthington." 

Mr. Drake added the following to Prof, 
Humiston's letter: ' 

" , , , When he [Prof, PTumiston] pro- 
posed the name Worthington I said to him 
that I had relatives of that name, but 
neither he nor I supposed they were of the 
same family. You [Worthington AdvanccT 

were probably right that the person in whose 
honor the name was gi\'en w.is related to the 
Chillicothe family, and I was right in say- 
ing that the name was not given for Governor 
Worthington or any of his descendants, all nf 
which I know intimately," 

Mrs, Mary Dorman Miller, in a letter to 



158 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



the name distinguished for its Ohio con- 
nections. It is one of the oldest in 
America. From a member of the Worth- 
ington family" it is learned that the 
name can be traced back of the time of 
the Norman conquest in England. It is 
a Saxon name and originated before the 
time of William tlie Conqueror. The 
Saxons bearing the name lived in Derby, 
and there was a town of the same name. 
Some member of the family came to 
.\merica on the Mayflower, and the 
.\nierican branch is founded from that 
ancestor. 

The name was not entirely satisfac- 
tory, and several times in the early days 
suggestions were made that a change be 
made, but no action to that end was 
ever taken. Many regretted that the 
Indian name "Okabena" was not given.^- 

So soon as it was definitely settled 
tliat the colony company was to build a 
town on Okabt'na lake preparations were 
begun to start the town. Before winter 
set in quite a little town had made its 
. appearance on the spot where late in 
the summer there was not a sign of hab- 
itation. Construction on the first build- 
ing was begun on Sunday, the first day 
of September, probably only a few days 
after the Miller-IIumiston party had 
visited the site. It was a frame business 



house erected by TF. W. Kimball for a 
hardware store. A detailed, and appar- 
ently authentic, account of the building 
of this first structure is furnished by a 
letter written by S. C. Thayer, the car- 
penter who did the work on the build- 
ing, and it is here reproduced. The 
letter was dated Liberal, Mo., Jan. fi. 
1885: 

Tho first nail was driven with I lie following; 
ceremonies: 

First I fjo back a little that you may under- 
stand it. .\t that time (August to September. 
1871) I was living on a claim in Jackson 
county and had been living in Jackson. Had 
done some work for one, W. S. Kimball, of 
that place. At this time said Kimball had 
a nephew come from Illinois, who was to 
start a kind of branch hardware store at 
Worthington. which at this time was an unin- 
habited prairie, not a stick or house within 
some distance, the railroad not yet completed 
to \\'orthington. 

So, on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 31, 1871. 
said nephew (Herb Kimball) came to my 
claim "shanty" with a span of horses and 
wagon loaded with lumber for the commence- 
ment of his new hardware store at Wortliing 
ton. He had with him a carpenter from .lack- 
son by the name of Stephen Ford, who was 
to assist me in the erection of the building. 
As it was getting late in the afternoon and 
I had some arrangements to make in order 
to leave my wife and one child comfortable. 
T prevailed on the "ship's crew" to stay with 
me over night, and take a fresh start on 
Sunday morning, which was done. 

On Sunday morning all was ready, and we 
set out for our long journey (some tliirtv 
miles or more) across the wild prairie, with 
shot guns, carpenter tools, lumber, wagons 
and horses, with plenty of the necessaries of 
life for a week or two. On we went. Noon 



the Advance, dated New York. Dec. 11, 18S8, 
wrote: 

"Tou and Mr. Drake are far 'at sea' in 
your attempt to give a historical account of 
the naming or Worthington: l>ut I come to 
.your rescue, thougli not as tht? traditional 
.straw to the drowning man. My mother's 
maiden name wa.s Worthington. Her father 
was Robert Worthington. of Chillleothe. Ohio, 
who was the l)rothcr of Thomas Worthington, 
governor of Ohio; and the now beautlfui. pros- 
perous town of Worthington. Minn., was nam- 
ed for 'the Chlllicothe family.' " 

Tile correspondence was clo.sed with tho 
following from Mr. Drake in the Advance 
of Dec. 27. 1888: 

"It will now be well enougli to consider the 
name of your thrlvjng village .settled, as to 
the question for whom it was named. Mrs. 
Miller, hy virtue of her sex. is entitled to 
the last word. An Rip Van Winkle .says. 
'We win not count this.' My memory was at 
fault In saying the name was in honor of 



Mr. Humiston's family, instead of Mrs. Mil- 
ler's. It was given, doubtless, in honor of her 
immediate ancestors, and not the family at 
large. So. it seems Mrs. Miller, you and T 
were nil right, only differing as to wliethnr 
the name was for the Worthington family 
.at large or her branch of it . . . The 
controver.sy is ended. Let us have peace." 

"George E. Worthington, student of history 
at the Wisconsin University, 

"Some credence has been given to a hoax 
on the naming of Worthington. originated in 
the early days. It was said that when set - 
tiers first came here and the Question of a 
name for the town came up it was suggested 
that as the county had such a noble name, it 
■was but fitting that the first town in It 
shoiild have a name worthy of the county— 
and that Worthington was derived from the 
word worthy. Of course there is no truth in 
the statement. 



HISTOEY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



159 



eame, and yet we were on wild prairie. 
Stopped and fed, took a lunch, and we went 
toward the New .Jerusalem. On, on, on until 
about five or half past we passed a kind of 
swamp lake, and a beautiful southern slope 
of another little sheet of water, and very 
close to it we stopped. It was a most beau- 
'liful evening and also a beautiful spot of 
ground. Nothing to be seen except land and 
water. 

Then aro.=e the question in what n^inner we 
could best fit up our temporary quarters un- 
til we could get our building enclosed, 
or partly so. I suggested the wedge shaped 
-hanty with ridge pole, which was adopt- 
• •d. Now for a couple of stakes to rest our 
ridge pole on. but lo! we were not in a tim- 
bered country. So we took a piece of 2x4x14 
and cut it in two, sharpened the ends of each, 
drove them into the ground. Then for the 
ridge pole took another of the 2x4. Here it 
rt-as found that it would take a 20d spike to 
fasten the ridge to the poles of our building. 
So out of the wagon was rolled a keg of 
spikes, and .Mr. Kimball suggested that, inas- 
much as I was a carpenter, I had better do 
the nailing. I took the hammer and nail and 
stepped upon the keg, which had been placed 
at the foot of the post, it being a little too 
high to reach. At this moment it occurred to 
me that I was to be the man to drive the first 
nail in the (what was to be) city of Worth- 
ington. So with these remarks I "sent the 
nail home" that fastened the ends of the 
two first pieces of wood together in vnvir 
city: 

"Be it recorded and liy these witnesses (H. 
Kimball and S. Ford) " remembered that I, 
Solon Cassiiis Thayer, who was born in 
Bloomfield. Ohio, on the 21st day of August, 
1S43, now a carpenter and joiner, and hav- 
ing no faith whatever in the popular Cliris- 
tian religion,. Gods or devils, but do believe in 
doing justice at all times and in all places, 
and for the purpose of the upbuilding of a 
little city that may bud and blossom for the 
good of its inhabitants, do on this beautiful 
Sunday evening, the first day of September, 
1871, drive the first nail that shall fasten 
the ends of two pieces of wood together for 
the protection of its inhabitants from the 
weather.'"'' 

Ofl" and up went the three hats and cheers 
for the citv of Worthington. 

On the next morning we went at the frame- 
work of the new store, while Mr. Kimball went 
to Heron Lake for more lumber. About the time 
we got our frame up the lumber was on the 

"Extract from Mr. Thayer's diary. 

"'■I also built the first sail boat that sailed 
on lake Okabena (a.s it was then called), a 
little six- foot beam by about twenty feet in 
length, which I sold my interest in to Prof. 
Humiston. It was called the Pioneer. I did 
considerable in and about the village, and 
about June 25, 1872, I left there tor Jackson, 



ground for a large hotel and so on. and by 
the time we had ours done there was quite 
a village." 

The site of this first building was on 
Tenth street, where Devaney's billianl 
hall is now located. As stated by Mr. ■ 
Thayer, that fall there were a number 
of others who came, erected buildings, 
and added to the population of the town. 
The railroad was not yet completed to 
Worthingion, and the maierial for all 
the buildings erected in the fall of 1871 
was hauled from Heron Lake, then the 
terminus (temporarily) of the road. The 
building that fall was nearly all done in 
October and November. Nearly all the 
buildings were under way at the same 
time, and it is impossible to give the 
order in which they were completed. 

One of the first buildings started and 
completed was a store building put up 
at the corner of Tenth street and Third 
avenue by L. P. McLaurin,'^ who opened 
a general stock of goods, including dry 
goods, groceries, etc. A man by the 
name of Leslie erected a little building 
on Ninth street, between Third and 
Fourth avenues,'" where he opened a 
store and sold whiskey as a side line. 
Henry Davis & Brother opened a gen- 
eral store in a tent, carrying tobacco, 
.shoes, shirts and other articles, which 
found a ready market among the graders 
who were then at work there. This tem- 
porary affair was discarded that fall, 
when Henry Davis erected a one and 
one-half story building on Tenth street." 
Although their stock had to be hauled 
in on wagons from Heron Lake, tliree 
lumber yards were opened that fall. One 

and have never seen your city since." — Ex- 
tract from Mr. Thayer's letter. 

'■'"The McLaurin building still stands, and is 
iiwned and occupied by PtHer Thompson. 

''•On the lot upon which T. A. Palmer's 
house now stands. 

''Where the Davis brick block now stands. 



160 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



of these was in charge of I. N. Safer j 
another was owned by Crocker Bros. & 
Lanioraux, with a man by tlie name of 
Folsoni in charge; the third was owned 
by Henry Young & Co., of wliieli Levi 
Shell was the manager.'' 

The most pretentions building erected 
in Worthington in 1871 was the Worth- 
ington liotel. Excavation work was be- 
gun in October, the building was com- 
pleted that fall, and was opened during 
the winter. It was erected jointly by 
the railroad company and the National 
colony, and its management was vested 
in the latter. The cost is said to have 
been about $30,000. It was three stories 
high and was, practically, the front half 
of the present day Worthington hotel. 
Wm. B. l\roore was the first manager.'® 

Tlie postofTice was established in Dc- 
coriibcr, 1871, and TI. W. Kimball, the 
hardware merchant, was appointed post- 
master. Regular trains were not then 
running to Worthington, the mail being 
brought in by stage by "Stormy Jack" 
Grier, over the route from Jackson to 
Luverne." 

Times were lively in the little village 
during the building days in the fall of 
1871. When cold weather set in some 
of those who were not in business left 
the town to spend the winter in their 

""The mt*ml)ors of this firm were Henry 
YouiiB. Levi Shell and Daiiii^l Shell. The office 
was opened in November, having temporary 
quarter.s with Crocker Bros. & Lamor.aiix. 

"Mr. Moore did not give satisfaction to the 
colony company, and after having been in charge 
about ten months he gave up the lease. lie 
was succeeded by Captain A. P. Lyon, who 
conducted the business only two or three 
months, working for a salary for the own- 
ers. W. S. Stockdale was the next landlord. 
He was succeeded shortly after by .Tonathint 
Ames, who leased the property and ran it 
about one year. On May 1. 1S7I. Daniel Shell 
took n. five years' lease on the piopert.v and 
became Its manager. At the end of the sec- 
ond year he purchased the properly, which 
had come Into the hands of Peter Thompson. 
who had secured a judgment against Miller, 
Huml.ston & Co. Mr. Shell conducted the 
laislness until ISS.S. Samuel Kspey then 
leased the propert.v. and after being Its man- 
ager ten months, died. He was succeeded 



old homes, and limes were dull during 
the cold weather season. A man who 
visited the town in January, 1872, said 
of the conditions at that time: 

"I counted thirteen buildings all told 
and was informed that there were thir- 
teen inhabitants at that time. It was 
one of the 'snow winters/ and drifts 
were piled all around the houses. I 
think tliere were seven snow steps lead- 
ing down to the depot platform. There 
was in the hotel one newspaper and a 
lot of greasy pieces of pasteboard with 
heart shaped devices on them and other 
devices. Several men boarders were 
waiting for spring to open." 

-Mmost all the inhabitants were men-' 
who had established business enterprises 
and could not leave them. They amused 
themselves with the newspaper, the heart 
shaped devices, and practical jokes. 
.\bout twenty men resided in the town 
during the whole winter. Among these 
was a "mess" of five — E. R. TTumiston, 
A. P. Chamberlain, C. C. Goodnow. J. 
C. Goodnow and Jerry Haines — who, 
soldier-like, went into barracks in a 
boarding house near the railroad and 
boarded them.selves. Besides those in 
the village proper were 6. J. ITofFniau. 
who spent the winter on his claim on the 
south side of the lake: Wm. E. Tlih- 



by John Fisher, who co]Klucted the business 
foin* >*ears imder a lease. Mr. Shell then sold 
the property to F. R. Coughron and others, 
.and Mr. Coughran was the landlord for .sev- 
eral years. The propert.v then passed Into 
the hands of Geo. W. Lear, who had charge 
of it personally for a short time. W. H. 
Doollttle became the leasee and was landlord 
for .a number of years. He was succeeded 
In recent yenrs by Geo. W. Lear, Thomas 
Dorgan and Stanley Moore. 

■'The Worthington office has been held by 
the following postmasters: H. W. Kimball, 
C. C. Goodnow. M. B. Soule, R. D. Barber, 
L, B. Bennett. Frank Lewis. K. L. Schwartz 
and F. R. Coughran. 

-■'Mrs. Herbert W. Kimball was the first 
woman to come to Worthington. She came 
here with her husliand in the fall of 1871. 
but retiu-ned to her old home for the winter. 
Mrs. Daniel Shell was the second lady to be- 
come a resident of Worthington. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



161 



bard, wlio wintered in a small house on 
the east lake; and Jerome Stewart, a 
blind man, who lived in a shanty just 
across the track from the town. 

While times were dull during the win- 
ter it was known that with the opening 
of spring Worthington would be one of 
the liveliest towns on the frontier. As- 
surances were received from the colony 
managers that hundreds would pour into 
the country in the early spring. Some 
of the colony immigrants arrived be- 
fore spring set in, and even during the 
month of January quite a few came and 
took up their residence in Worthington 
in order to be in on the ground floor. 
Among these were some of the best 
known citizens of Worthington today. 
The people who were looking for the big 
rush were not disappointed. The first 
regular passenger train ran into Worth- 
ington April 29, 1872, bringing with it 
many settlers, and thereafter each day 
the train was filled with families who 
came to find homos in the new country. 
Mrs. Clark, who was among the advance 
guard of the colony, has written of the 
conditions in Worthington as she found 
them : 

"We were among the first members of 
a colony to arrive at the station of an 
unfinished railroad, which was to be the 
nucleus of the colony and the county seat 
of the coimty. There was a good hotel, 
well and comfortably furnished, one or 
two stories neatly furnished and already 
stocked with goods, several others in pro- 
cess of erection. A few rough board 
tenements, temporary shelters, to serve 
the occupants until better ' houses could 
be built. The streets, scarcely to be de- 
fined as such, were full of prairie schoon- 
ers, containing families, waiting until 
the masters could suit themselves with 
'claims,' the women pursuing their house^ 



wifely avocations meanwhile — some hav- 
ing cooking stoves in their wagons, 
others using gypsy fires to do their cul- 
inary work; all seeming happy and hope- 
ful." 

Freeman Talbott, in a letter written 
July 20, 1886, tells of the impressions 
he received of the new town during the 
rush time in the spring of 1872: 

"Fourteen years ago last May I made 
my first visit to Nobles county, intend- 
ing, if the surroundings suited me, to 
make Worthington my future home. 
Quite a number of the first settlers had 
arrived. Some were living in comfort- 
able houses, some in rough board shan- 
ties, 12x14, others in tents, and still 
others on the bleak prairie, about to se- 
lect the site of future independence on or 
near the banks of the beautiful lake 
Okabena." 

The arrival of the colonists had a 
magical efl'ect upon the village, and new 
business enterprises sprang into exist- 
ence. On the last day of August, 1872, 
there were 85 buildings on the town- 
site, where a year before the plat had 
been located. Of these nearly all were 
permanent and much more substantial 
than is usually the case during the rush 
of starting a new town. A list of tlie 
business houses in Worthington on that 
date is furni.shed by a directory publish- 
ed in the first issue of the Western Ad- 
vance. Certainly an excellent showing 
had been made in one year: 
HOTELS. 

A. P. Lyon, Worthington Hotel. 
C B. Loveless. 

DRY GOODS AND GROCERIES. 

Peter Thompson, Ninth street. 
L. F. MeLaurin, Tenth street, corner Third 
.avenue. 
Davis & Brother, next door to postoffice. 
Davis & Morrison, "Colony Store." 

HARDWARE. 
C, P- Hewett & Co., opposite the park. 



162 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



H. W. Kimball, near Worthington hotel. 
If. D. Humiston, "Colony Store." 

LUMBER. 
I. N. Sater, with Uarrison's, 
J. A. Town, with Crocker Bros. &. Ijinior- 
aux. 

DRUGGISTS. 
A. K. Vcitz, opposite Worthington hotel. 
• Barber & Lawrence, opposite park. 

FURNITURE. 
Heilljurn & Pratt, Tenth street, ojiposite 
the park. 

GROCERIES. 
S. D. Sprague, Ninth street, opposite park. 
P. B. Crosby. 

FLOUR AND i'i-:i;i). 
S. F. Shcpard, Tliinl avenue. 
Peter Thompson, Ninth street. 

BAKERY. 
Hugh & Porman, Ninth street, opposite 
park. 

RESTAURANTS. 
Fred Hascall, Tenth street, near tlie post- 
office. 

C. P. Stough, Ninth street. 
Hugh & norman. Ninth .street. 

LIVERY. 
Daniel Slioll, Tenth street. 

MEAT MARKET. 
Bigelow & Co., Third avenue. 
ATTORNEYS.' 
M. B. Soule. Tliird avenue, opposite park. 
J. S. Shuck, Tenth street, opposite jwrk. 

PHYSICIANS. 
Geo. O. Moore, corner Fifth avenue and 
Tenth street. 
,T. Ciaft. 
U. 1). Barber, Tenth street, at drug store. 

NOTARIES PUBLIC. 

C. C. Ooodnow, postoH'ice. 

M. B. Soule. Tliiril avenue, njjposite park. 

C-OLONY COMPANY. 

Millfr, Ihuiiiston & Co. 

LAND AGENTS. 

A. Miner, at postoflice. 
C. C. Goodnow, at postoffice. 
Soule & Langdon, Tliird avenue, opposite 
i)ark. 

PAINTERS. 

L. F. Margrat and — . — . Shaw. 

NEWSPAPER. 
Western .'\<lvanec. 

"A contributor to the Advance of Aug. 31. 
1872 said: "From frequent conversations with 
gentlemen of different parts of the state, 
we are assured that Worthington today has 



HARNESS MAKER. 

C L. .Tohnson, Ninth street, opposite park. 

BLACKSMITHS. 

C. B. I.oveless, Eleventh street. 
W. Hodgkinson, Eleventh street. 

SHOEMAKERS. 

C. Moore, Eleventh street. 
J. S. Stone, Fourth avenue. 

PRINTING. 

.\dvance Printing Co. 

The improvements for the year foot- 
ed lip to ^SO-.^i.^O. Tnclurled in this 
iiinouiil was the puhlic liall huildin?, 
known as Jliller hall, which wa.s erected 
hy the colony company at a cost of about 
.$7,000. The building was 48x80 feet, 
was two stories high, and had three 
large store rooms below. For several 
years the hall served the purposes of 
church building, lodge rooms, school 
room, and was the place of all social 
gatherings. It was destroyed by fire 
in 1878. The town was extensively ad- 
vertised, and during 1873 gained the 
reputation of being one of the be?t 
towns in southern Minnesota.^^ 

One nf the events of the year was the 
organization of Worthington township. 
A petition was filed on March 30, ask- 
inir the board of county commissioners 
to take action toward liringing about the 
organization, and on .'\pril 30 the peti- 
tion was granted. On May 20 the first 
town meeting was held, and the village 
was under township government for the 
first time. 

The temperance question was a very 
live issue in Worthington during the first 
year of its existence. One of the first 
things determined on by the founder? 
of the National colony was that the 
colony should be a moral community, 
and to secure this end it was decided to 

the best reputation of any new town in Min- 
nesota, and that grcnt expectations have been 
raised in the minds of the better class. 



HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY. 



163 



exclude the liquor traffic from the town 
and country over which it had jurisdic- 
tion. This fact was emphasized in all 
the advertising, and the result was that 
the majority of the first settlers were 
temperance people, who had been drawn 
to the colony largely by the promises 
made. A large sum of money was set 
aside by Prof. Humiston and his asso- 
ciates to prosecute liquor dealers should 
the traffic be started in the new town. 
A large part of this fund was expended 
during the year 1873 in bringing actions 
against three men who made attempts to 
establish liquor saloons in Worthington. 
The saloons were promptly closed, and 
thereafter for many years there was no 
liquor sold in the village. 

The village government had not been 
organized in 1872, and license legisla- 
tion was enacted by the board of county 
commissioners. To that body the peo- 
ple of Worthington went with their re- 
quest that no saloons be licensed in 
Worthington township. A petition was 
circulated AugTist 30, and was worded as 
follows : 

To the Honorable Board of County Commis- 
sioners of Nobles County, State of Minne- 
sota: 

We. the undersignefl. citizens of the town 
of Worthington. in said county, respectfully 
represent that we believe that a majority of 

^The petition was signed by the foUowing: 
John A. King, L. S. Roberts, Ed. Chandler, 
L. C. Chaney. James S. Stone, M. H. Stevens. 
E. T. Dillabaugh. M. B. Soule. W. B. Akins, 

A. P. Miller, Wellington Sherwood. John H. 
Johnson. I. N. Sater, M. E. Distad. H. "W 
Kimball. H. Davis. C. E. Tourtelotte. Z. 
Keller. A. P. Lyon. A. L. Perkins. B. s. 
T angdon, Otis Bigelow. W. Hodgkinson. I. 
.\llerton, Jas, McKirahan. John Alley. A. J. 
Willcox. D. S. Law. Benjamin R. Prince. C. 

B. Langdon, Stephen Miller. W. S. Langdon, 
R. D. Bagley. Daniel Shell. E. J. Bear, J. B. 
Haines. John V. Herzig. A. L. Clark. J. S. 
Goodnow. George. O. Moore. James Gibson, L. 
H. Farnham, R. D. Barber, D. Stone. C. B. 
T oveless. W. S. Storkd;'le. B. H. Crever, C. S. 
Newton. J. C. Clark. E. R. Humiston. Levi 
W. Chase. Benjamin F. Thurber, E. S. Terry. 

C. P. Hewitt. C. H. Stewart. R. F. Humiston. 
J. S. Shuck. J. P. Shaw. J. F. Humiston. A. 
C. Robinson. S. D. Sprague. H. M. McLean, P. 
A. Stoddard. C. P. Stough. Peter Thompson. 
T. L. Taylor, Hugh Kilpatrick. James Harden, 
John Ward, Benjamin Midboe, Chas. B. 



our citizens within our said township are op- 
posed to the granting of license for the sale 
of any kind of intoxicating liquors — either 
spiritous, vinus or malt — in our said town as 
a beverage. And whereas the statute authoriz- 
ing towns to vote on the question of license 
provides that such vote shall be taken at a 
general election. And whereas the next gen- 
eral election at which such vote can be 
taken will not be holden nntil November 5. 

We therefore petition your honorable board 
that they rescind the vote of the former 
board of eommisisoners so far as it affects 
the said town of Worthington, and that your 
honorable board refuse to grant licenses for 
the sale as a beverage of any kind of in- 
toxicating liquors within the limits of our 
said town of Worthington until after the next 
general election. 

Dated this .3r>th day of August. A. D.. isyi^' 

Attached to the petition was a memo- 
randuiji as follows: "Will Mr. Miller 
[county commissioner] please present 
this petition? Many more names could 
have been secured if there had been time 
to circulate it throughout tlie township. 
The wish is almost universal that no li- 
cense should be granted. I have asked 
but five to sign it who have refused. — R. 
F. H." 

At the same time the ladies of the vil- 
lage presented a petition of similar im- 
port^* with the following attached mem- 
orandum, evidently made by Prof. Hum- 
iston: "These are all from the village 
of Worthington, and there are other la- 
dies who would have signed the petition, 

Moore. C. L. Chandler. F. C. Ecker. A. J. 
Manley, E. B. Hull, J. E. Riley. Wm. M. 
Bear. 

=*Signed by Mrs. M. B. Soule. Mrs. Mary 
Herzig, Mrs. Harriett A. Lyon, Mrs. R. F. 
Humiston, Mrs. E. R. Humiston. Mrs. C. 
Davis, Mary H. Crever, Mrs. S. C. Crever. 
Mrs. L. J. Foster. Clara F. Moore, Sarah 
Humiston. Mrs. M Stone, Mrs. A. Taylor. 
Mrs. Daniel Shell. Mrs. H. M. Farnam. Miss 
Celia E. Farnam, Mrs. B. Morsdem. Almira 
Weaver. Jane Moore. Ann Miller, Mrs. Mar>' 
Chandler. Mrs. A. C. Robinson. Mrs. A. J. 
Manley. Mrs. A. S. Huff. Mrs. N. S. Roberts, 
Mrs. E. B. Akins. Mrs. A. Shuck. Mrs. M. D. 
Barber. Mrs L. H. McKirahan. Mrs. M. E. 
Bear. Emma Bear. Mrs. R. L. Langdon, Mrs. 

B. E. Parks. Mrs. Mary Shaw, Mrs. D. S. 
Law. Mrs. M. Stewart. Miss Mar>' Tangleson. 
Miss Susan B. Langdon, Mrs. Mahala Lang- 
don, Mrs. Olive Clark, Mrs. C. Stougle. Mrs. 

C. B. Loveless, Mrs. Mattie Johnson, Mrs. 
Mary E. Gould, Mrs, C. B. Davis. Mrs. Hattie 
H. Bigelow. 



164 



ITTSTOIIY OF XOP.LES COUNTY. 



but they were absent from home. Only malt liquors be granted to any person in 
two have declined to sign and they on the township of Worthington before the 
account of their husbands. — E. F. H." next general election." At the electioii 
This overwhelming sentiment on tin' in November only four votes were east 
part of the people of the village and in favor of the licensing of saloons. TIm 
township was not disregarded by tlie promises of the colony managers tn inn- 
commissioners, and at a meeting held vide a temperance town li;id liccn ful- 
September 3 they resolved "that no li- filled, 
cense for the sale of spiritous, vinus or 



CHAPTER XIII. 



WORTHINGTON— 18;3-1889. 



Worthington had come into existence 
under unique conditions. At the time 
ol its founding the surrounding country 
liad not been settled, nor was tliere any 
settlement until several months after the 
village made its ajjpearance. Such con- 
ditions were unusual, even in the early 
(lays, when town founding was an art. 
Other towns in southwestern Minnesota 
were built contemporary with the settle- 
ment of the country surrounding ; Worth- 
ington was builded on the promises of 
the National colony. That orga