An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota, Part 11

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Jackson, Minn. : Northern History
Number of Pages: 720

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"It may be of Interest to know that only an unfavorable act of congress prevented Jackson county from being divided part to go to lowa and part to the future Minnesota, In 1811 : constitutional convention prepared a constitu- tion for the state of lowa which provided for lundaries in part as follows: From a point where the Sioux or Calumet river enters the Missouri, In a straight line to a point where the Watonwan enters St. Peter's (Minnesota) river (which it does not, but rather the Blue Earth, and thence down the St. Peter's to the Mississippi and down that river. This line de- fning the northwest boundary would extend, on a present day map, from Sioux City, lowa. to Mankato, Minnesota, and would pass through Jackson county. Had congress ratified this constitution, which it did not, the present Jack- son county would have been partly in lowa and partly in Minnesota

"Minnesota territory then extended to the Missouri river. In this mammoth county of Dakota there were the following present das counties for parts of counties) in Minnesota. in addition to many in what is now the state of South Dakota: Rock. Nobles, Jackson. Martin. Faribault. Freeborn, Steele. Waseen. Earth. Watonwan, Cottonwood. Murray, Pipe- stone, Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, Brown, Nicollet. Lesueur, Rice. Dakota (part). Scott. Sibley. Renville, Yellow Medicine, Inc qui Parle, Chip- powa. Kandiyohi (except small corner, Mocker part. Mcleod, Carver. Hennepin. Wright (parti, Stearns (small part), Pope (part), Swift, Stevens (parl), Big Stone and Traverse (parl).

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Although Dakota county was larger than many of the eastern states its popu- lation was almost nothing, and it was de- clared "organized only for the purpose of the appointment of justices of the peace, constables and such other judicial and ministerial officers as may be speci- ally provided for."

The future Jackson county remained a. part of Dakota county until March 5, 1853, when there was a readjustment of Dakota and Wabasha county boundaries. and Blue Earth county came into exist- ence. The boundaries of the latter were described as follows: "So much territory lying sonth of the Minnesota river as re- mains of Wabasha and Dakota counties undivided by this act." As the boundaries of the two older counties as defined by the act were very indefinite, it is impossible to state exactly what the dimensions of Blue Earth county were. It is known, however, that it included all of south- western Minnesota.

For two years the unknown Jackson county country remained a part of Blue Earth county, and then came another change. By an act approved February 20, 1855, the county of Blue Earth was reduced to its present boundaries, Fari- bault county was created with the bound- aries it now has, except that it extended one township farther west than now ; and the new county of Brown came into ex- istence. It was described as follows : "That so much of the territory as was formerly included within the county of Blue Earth, and has not been included within the boundaries of any other coun- ty as herein established. shall be known as the county of Brown." All of the ter- ritory 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, and Jackson remained a part of this un-

til two years later, when it became a polit- ical division of itself.'

Jackson county was only one of nine counties in southwestern Minnesota crea- ted by the act of May 23, 1854.5 Section two of the act described the boundaries :

That so much of the territory of Mine- sota as lies within the following boundaries be, and the same is hereby, established as the county of Jackson: Beginning at the sonth- east corner of township 101 north, of range 34 west; thence dne north to the northeast corner of township 104 north, of range 34 west; thence due west to the northwest cor- ner of township 104 north, of range 38 west; thenee due south to the southwest corner of township 101 north, of range 38 west; thence due east to the place of beginning.

Of the nine counties created only Mar- tin. Jackson, Nobles and Big Sioux were declared to be organized counties and "in- vested with all the immunities to which organized counties are entitled by law." These four counties were attached to the third judicial district for judicial pur- poses and to the tenth council district for legislative purposes. Provision was made for the early organization of Jack- son county. Residents of the county were to be named by the governor as commis- sioners to perfect the organization." These commissioners were to meet during the

4Brown county was not organized at once, but by an act of the legislature on February 11. 1856. it was permitted to organize. New Ulm was named as the county seat.

"Minnesota territory at this time extended west to the Big Sioux river. The other coun- ties created by the act were Martin, Nobles. Murray, Pipestone, Big Sioux, Coltonwood. Rock and Midway. The three first named were given the boundaries they now have. The boundaries of Pipestone county were described as including the present Roek county and the eastern portion of the present Minnehaha coun- ty, South Dakota. The boundaries of Rock county were described as including the present Pipestone county and a small part of the east- ern portion of the present Moody county, South Dakota. This transposition of the names Rock and Pipestone in the description of their boun- daries in the original act of 1857 may have been due to a lack of knowledge of the physical fea- tures of this part of the country, or it may have been due to a clerical error. The mis- take was corrected . later. Big Sioux county took in part of the present Minnehaha county and extended from the Big Sioux river east- ward to Pipestone (Rock) county. Cottonwood county had the same boundaries as now, except that it did not then have three townships in the northwest corner which it now has. Mid- way county included that part of the present Moody county which lies between the Big Sioux river and the western boundary of the original Rock {Pipestone) county.

HISTORY OF JJACKSON COUNTY.

first week in July. 1856, at the county seat and set in motion the machinery of the government. The county seat was tem- . porarily located at Jackson, the townsile of Springfieldl having been renamed Jack- son a short time before. as will he told lat- er. Provision for the permanent hention was made in section twelve, which reads as follows :

On the partition of twenty legal voter- in any of -aid counties, at any time after the passage of this act. it shall be the duty of the county commissioner- to order the legal vaters of any of the said counties to vote at any general election for the location of the county seats of aid counties, and the point receiving the highest number of votes shall he the county seat of said county.

Jackson county was named in honor of lon. Henry Jackson. the first merchant of $1. Panl. according to the best authori- ties." The only discusion from this con- sensus of opinion is by Hon. William P. Murray. of St. Paul. who was a member of the legislature that established the county. Mr. Murray thinks the county was named in honor of President Andrew Jackson, but as he is not positive of this it is reasonably cortam the honor belongs to Henry Jackson."

It is perhaps needless to say that Jack- son county was not organized in July. 1852, as the act provided. It is doubtful if there were enough men in the county at the time, excepting the soldiers, to fill the necessary county offices. But within a short time permanent settlers again came to the county and the organization

"Section cleven of the act rends: "The gov- ernor shall appoint three persons for each of the respective organized counties, being resi- dents and legal voters thereof, commissioners for each of said counties, with full power and attthority to do and perform all acts and duties desolving upon the board of county commis- sloners of any organized county in this terri- tory, the said hoard of commissioners shall have power to appoint all other officers that may be required to complete the organization of their respective counties."

:Section 12: "

and the county seat of Jackson comty shall be temporarily estah- lished at the town of Jackson in sald county." "See article by R. I. Holcombe in Pioneer Press almanac for 1996; Warren D'pham's Min- nesota County names: Minnesota in Three Con- turies.

was duly perfected, as will be told in due chronological order.

The presence of Lieutenant Murry and hi- seventeen soldiers at Springfield was the only thing that kopt Jackson county from becoming entirely depopulated after the ma -- acre. AA> it was, only a few -peut the summer of Isit in the county, of the several families who were in the Springfield settlement at the time of the

proin the night of June 9. 1812, there landed from a steamboat at St. Paul's a man named Henry Jackson, whose advent proved to be epochal in the career and history of the place. lle was a Virginian and was born in Is]]. He had served as orderly sergeant in the Patriot AArmy'' of Sam Houston that achieved the in- dependence of Texas. In May, Isas, at Buffalo. New York. he married Angeline Bivins, a model wife for an enterprising and intelligent charac- ter, such as he was. Soon after his marriage he moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and thence 10 Galena, Illinois, where he engaged in busi- ness, but was unsuccessful. He had learned of the situation at St. Paul's and determined to establish himself there and with the rem- nant of his Galena stock to open a store for the sale of Indian and frontier gouds. It was a dark rainy night when he landed, he did not know a single person or a single foot of the territory in the place, and it required much search and effort to find a shelter for himself and wife until the morning. Quarters were finally found at the house of James R. @lowett. although his father-in-law's family, the Perrys. were at the time members of the household. Here Mr. and Mrs. Jackson remained for some days and then Jackson rented of Pierre Par- rant-und Pig's Eve-a cabin on the liver. which was his residence for some works. He soon jairchased of Benjamin Gervais about two aeres now lying in the Mock hounded by Jack- son and Robert on the east and west and Third and Bench streets on the south and north. The tract was then n high bluff bank. and on a point overlooking the river. Mr. Jackson built a,cabin of tamarack poles and coned a stock of goods especially selected for the local demand. In the summer of 1543 he enlarged and sold a half interest in his must- ness to William Hartshorn, and in September of that year the firm took Into their employ as clerk and French Interpreter Augusto Louis Larpenteur, a native of Baltimore, but of a prominent old French family and who Is (1905) yet an honored and honoring citizen of St. Paul.

"Henry Jackson became very prominent and serviceable In the carly affairs of St. Paul. Ilis store was a creditable establishment. was in- dependent of the fur company and popular among the settlers and the Indians, In 1843. while the Minnesota country east of the Mis- sissippi belonged to Wisconsin territory, he was appointed by Governor Henry Dodge a justice of the price for St Croix county In 1846 he Was appointed the first postmaster at St Paul's. In 1517 and 1814 he was a member of the Wis- consin legislature, representing the county of St Croix He was also a member of the first territorial legislature of Minnesota and of the first town council of St. Paul. In April. 1852. he moved to Mankato, becoming one of the first four settlers of the place, where he died July 21. 3457. Jackson street In St. Paul and Jackson county are named for him and also Jackson street in Mankato. His widow married John S. Hinckley, a pioneer of Mankato, and died in that city January 1. 1524." -Minnesota In Three Centuries.

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

massacre. only that of Dr. Strong ever re- turned to live, and Dr. Strong and family did not remain many years. The memory of the awful events was too clear in their minds to tempt back those families who had made settlement along the Des Moines riv- er in the summer and fall of 1856. A few of the unmarried men of the settlement, however, remained during the summer. Among them were Nathaniel Frost, John Dodson, Joseph Chiffin, Henry Trets and Adam Shiegley.

A few others came in during the sum- mer of 185% and took claims or bought from those who had departed. Alexander Wood, a brother of the murdered store- keepers, came to look after the claims. He fell in with a company of townsite sharks, who were operating extensively all over Minnesota at the time, and an agreement was made by the terms of which Mr. Wood was to come and hold down his brothers' claims and they were to secure a half in- terest in the holdings by reason of im- provements which they promised to make. Elaborate plans were made for building a town on the townsite selected by Wil- liam and George Wood, which was to be called Jackson, instead of Springfield. A sawmill and grist mill were to be built, and work on these improvements was com- meneed. The townsite company did not fulfil its part of the agreement by making the stipulated improvements, possibly be- cause of the panic of that year, and mis- understandings resulted which were after- wards settled in the courts to the benefit of Mr. Wood .. Mr. Wood did not wish to stay on the claim during the winter, so he entered the land as a farm claim, instead of a townsite claim, and spent the winter elsewhere.

Another abortive attempt to found a town in 1857 was made by Joseph Chiffin, John Dodson and James Whitchurch. Their "town" was located on Mr. Chiffin's

claim on section eleven. Des Moines town- ship, and was named Odessa. About this time there was a war between Russia and Turkey, and the name of the Russian city Odessa was much in the public prints. That furnished the name, and the name was all there was to Odessa. No improve- ments whatever were made, and Odessa as a Jackson county place name will be handed down simply as an interesting re- lic of the wildcat townsite days in Minne- sota's early history. The Norwegian set- tlers of 1860 report finding Odessa "a village of sticks, but without any build- ings." The proprietors of the townsite were trappers; they spent the winter of 1857-58 in the Skinner cabin.

Thomas Johnson came to the county in 1857, took a claim near Jackson, and some time later became a permanent resi- dent. Charles Mead came with Mr. John- son and became a resident of the county. Ned Lower took a claim on section 6, Bel- mont, in the summer but did not remain during the winter. Charles Kern, com- monly ealled "Dutch Charlie" (he was a Bavarian), was another arrival of the year 1851, and he spent the following win- ter in the settlement "holding down" the claim of Alexander Wood. Mr. Kern was a man of considerable ability-a news- paper correspondent and a physician as well as a trapper. He resided in the coun- ty several years. As indicated, only a few of these remained in the settlement during the winter; Jackson county was nearly depopulated during the winter of 1857-58.

The mail route between Mankato and Sioux City, which had been discontinued after the death of the carrier. Hoxie Rathban, and which had not been resumed in the spring on account of the massacre. was opened during the summer of 1857. Marsh & Babcock sublet the contract to David Pense, who lived on the Watonwan.

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

and that gentleman carried the mail over one on the Little Sioux, in Clay county, the old route until about November 1. At that time the route was changed to go bay way of the Spirit lake settlement. and two carriers were employed, a Mr. Johnson for the northern end and Mr. Jarch Pal- mer for the southern end. They carried the mail until April. 1858, when Mr. Pease again resumed the duties of carrier.

The departure of the soldiers in the fall of 185; and the removal of most of the white settlers for the winter left those who remained in some apprehension of Indian attack. Although none of Inkpaduta's band came back, there were occasionally seen other Indians who created some alarm. In Buena Vista county, lowa, about the last of December, 185%, a party of eleven white men attempted to drive a band of Indian> from the country. The Indians led the whites into an ambuscade and wounded one of the attackers, and the whites then with- drew and gave up the chase. A few In- dians appeared at the Spirit lake settle- ment during the winter and caused much uneasiness among the few families who were wintering there. A petition was drawn up, signed by every adult in the Spirit lake settlement. and carried to Des Moines by Jareb Palmer, The petition asked the Iowa legislature to send a force of volunteers for their protection. 10

Governor Lowe authorized the raising of a company of volunteers to go to the frontier. and Mr. Jarch Palmer reerui- ted a company of thirty men, which was mustered in at Webster d'ity and named Frontier Guard. H. B. Martin, of Web- ster City, was captain. and William L. Church, the former Springfield settler, was first lieutenant. The Frontier Guard arrived in the exposed settlements on March 1 and was divided into three squads -- one at Spirit lake, one on the Des Moines, seven miles above Estherville, and

The guard remained on the frontier un- til the last of June, and then, as there appeared to be no Indians near the settle- ments, the soldiers returned to their honks. The country had been thoroughly searched, but no Indians found. On one occasion. at Skunk lake, in Sioux Valley township of Jackson county, there was found the dead body of an Indian laid upon the nearly horizontal branch of a large but somewhat serubby oak tree. From the profusion of ornaments found on his person he was supposed to have been a chief or warrior distinguished among his fellows.

Owing to the presence of these lowa 10"Spirit Lake, January 3, 195%. To the lion- orable, the General Assembly of the State of lowa. The undersigned citizens, residing in the vicinity of Spirit lake, would respectfully present for the consideration of your honorable body the condition of the people on the fron- tier in the northwest part of the state. We are exposed to the attack of Indians under cir- cumstances affording little hope of relief. Tho settlements are sparse and widely scillered, with but little or no communication with cach other. A hostile incursion has already been made and depredations committed in the vicin- ity where the outrages Were committed last winter, and with a result to encourage renewed attempts, At any hour this may be repeated at points utterly unprotected and but poorly supplied with means of defense, Some of the surrounding settlements have already been abandoned for the winter, and all are much weakened in numbers by persons who have left. Many of the settlers remaining cannot have without abandoning their all and cannot collect in sufficient numbers to withstand attack, and depending-as nearly all the remaining settlers do -upon their own exertions for sustenance. must either enduro great suffering or remain "Xix sed to danger. If we apply to the general government, relief, If obtained, would he 100 late. Help for us, to be efficient, mist he prompt. A small body of soldiers placed near the Little Sioux river, in the vicinity of the state line, would nfford protection to all the settlements on the Little Sioux, about Spirit lake, and on the west fork of the Des Moines river and their vicinity. We would respectfully pray that a law be passed authorizing the rals- ing of one hundred volunteer troops for the term of three months, to be stationed in the north part of the state, Your petitioners also pray for such other means of protection as cir- cumstanees demand."

The petition was signed by Orlando (. Howe. William D. Graylord. Jarch Palmer, William D. Parsley, Joseph Miller, 11. 11. Packard, Dan Colwell. T. S. Riff. C. L. Richardson, Rosalve Kingman. W. B. Brown, Charles F. Hill, Jos- eph M. Post, William Lamont, Lawrence Fos- leer, Lovi Daugherty. George Rogers, E. E. Longfellow James I. Peters. E. Thurston. Thomas Miner. James D. Hawkins, George S. Pust R. I. Wheelock. William Donaldson, Rod- erick A. Smith. George Detrick, Agnes I. King- man. Melissa A. Peters, Mrs. M. W. Howe, Elizabeth Thurston, Mrs. K. Massey.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

SOME OLD TIMERS

JANE THOMAS

JACKSON'S FIRST BUILDING

DUGOUT-H.O.GILLIE FARM

BUFFALO SKULL FOUND IN PETERSBURG

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

guards there was quite a large immigra- tion to the Spirit lake country, to Jackson county, and to other nearby settlements in the spring of 1858. The appearance of small bands of Indians about the first of September again created apprehension, and the guard returned to the frontier about the middle of November and re- mained all winter.

During the spring and summer of 1858 many who had been in the county the year before returned to make permanent settlement and several new settlers arrived. Among the more prominent of the settlers of this year was Joseph Thomas, who be- came one of the best known men of Jack- son county.11 It was during the month of March that Mr. Thomas, accompanied by his son. Lansing, then a youth of nine- teen years, James Palmer, his son-in-law, and P. P. Holland, drove into Jackson county by ox team from Newton, Iowa. Mr. Thomas had bought the Wheeler elaim and cabin from a man named Kellogg, and made his home there until his death. He returned to Newton for provisions and household goods, but came back at once. Lewis Thomas arrived at the new home in July. The rest of the family came the next spring. James Palmer took as a claim the southwest quarter of section 19, Wisconsin township, and continued a resident of the county until his death.

Nathaniel Frost came back early in the spring to become a permanent settler. George Bradbury came from Newton, lowa, and took as his elaim the north half of the south half of section 30, Wisconsin township, upon which he lived until his death that fall. James Townsend also came from Newton with his family and located on the southeast quarter of section 25. Des Moines township, making his home in the James B. Thomas cabin. Dur- ing the winter of 1858-59 he went to Man- 11See biographical section.

kato with two yoke of oxen for provisions. On his way back, while near Elm creek, his wagon became sinck in a slough so that the oxen could not pull it out. Mr. Townsend unhitehed the oxen, turned them loose, and camped in the slough for the night. In the morning he started out to look for his oxen, but a storm came up and he lost his way. When nearly ex- hausted from wandering about on the prairie, he came upon an empty cabin near the west chain of lakes, in Martin county, and sought shelter there. He was too badly frozen to make a fire and perished in the cabin. His body was found ten days later by trappers. In the spring of 1859 Mrs. Townsend and the children re- turned to their old home in Newton.

James Meddleson was another unfortu- nate man who came to the settlement carly in 1858, only to meet a violent death. Soon after his arrival he started down the river in a canoe to take a few traps to John Dodson and Charles Kern, who were trap- ping in Emmet county, lowa, and never returned. He had been murdered and his head severed entirely from the body. From this circumstance it was thought that he had been murdered by Indians.

Benjamin Hill, with his family of a wife and three children, came from Man- kato early in the spring, took a claim on the river in Belmont township, and re- mained several years. Charles Kern was also in the county in 1858 and remained for several years. John McEwen took a claim on section 30, Des Moines township, remained only a few months, and then sold to a Mr. Miller, of Newton, Iowa. The latter remained only a short time. Adam Shiegley, one of the trappers who had come before the massacre, was in the county again in 1858, and was an inter- mittent resident for several years. Frank Wagner also came to the settlement from Webster City and remained a few years.

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Messrs. Dodson, Chiffin and Whitchurch, of "Odessa," continued to hold their land claims and engage in trapping during the wear. James Haughton and wife came during the summer and located on section 36. Des Moines township. but remained only about one year. Bartholomew Me- Carthy, who had been to the Springfield settlement before the massacre, returned in the spring of 1858 and became a per- manent resident.

Israel F. Eddy, who had previously selected a claim near where the Milwaukee depot in Jackson is now, came with his family in April, 1858, and became a per- manent resident. Charles Clark came from Newton, lowa, and took a claim in Bel- mont township. Morris Lester came from Mankato in the spring and took a claim on the west side of the river in the southern part of the county, but remained only a short time. Elisha Hill took a claim in Belmont, but departed from the county in the fall. Dr. E. B. N. Strong and bis family continued to reside in the county during 1858 and for some time afterward. Joseph Mock and his large family located near the present site of Jackson, where he lived until 1862.12 Al- esander Wood returned to look after his interests.

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An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota, Part 11

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970 Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Jackson, Minn. : Northern History Number of Pages: 720

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Jackson, Minn. : Northern History
Number of Pages: 720