USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 15
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homes in Belmont, traveling in a little caravan of ox teams. Their return was brought about largely for the purpose of taking care of the cattle, which were re- ported to be roaming about without food. Most of the cattle had been driven off by the Indians, but the stock got away and returned to Belmoni.
Disaster overtook the little company when it had reached a point a little south of where the Milwaukee depot in JJackson now stands-on land now owned by Matt Tollefson. When that point was reached it was decided to make preparations for the night's camp, and, because of fear of possible lurking savages, the camp was to have been pitched on the prairie, instead of in the woods. The teams were left on the trail in charge of the women while the men went to get water. While they were gone a terrific prairie fire swept down from the northwest at race horse speed and enveloped the little caravan. The oxen whirled and overturned the wagons, and before the men could reach the dan- ger point the women were in a perilous condition, all of the wagons being on fire.
When the oxen whirled, Miss Olava Ol- son (now a resident of Jackson), the twelve year old daughter of the murdered Mikkel Olson Slaabaken, was thrown from one of the wagons into the flames. The
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
girl was badly burned about the knees and hand-, but a heavy soldier overevat saved her life. Mis. Englebret Olson Slaabaken with her baby jumped from one of the wagons and became separated from the rest of the party. Holsten Olson Slan- baken was burned so badly that the flesh fell off his hands and face, and he hore the marks of his injuries until his death. Miss Lena Olson, nos the wife of P. H. Berge, of Jackson, was in the fire, but was uninjured.
With the wagons on fire a retreat was made to the Thomas home, where, fortu- nately, the family was living for the time being. Seeing the danger the unfortunate people were in. Mrs. Thomas ran with water and extinguished the flames on the first wagon to approach, which was that driven by Simon Olson Slaabaken. Mr. Thomas and his son started back to as- sist the others. They upset the wagon of John Olson Slaabaken and extinguished the flames, thus saving the running gear : the rest of the wagon was destroyed. Has- tening still farther back to where it was
known that Mrs, Englebret Slaabaken had jumped from the wagon, Mr. Thomas found her dead body. On her breast, still living. was the baby. The infant lived until midnight and then passed away- one more vielim to the dangers of frontier life. The dead were buried in the Michael Miller comelery.1
The Thomas homestead was thrown open to the sufferers, and there the mournful band tarried two weeks, Mrs. Thomas nursed the injured back to life. and then all pushed on to their former homes. They found nearly everything except the cabins destroyed and all the loose property removed. White men from other settlements had completed the rav- ages begun by the Indians, Wagon load
after wagon load had been hauled from the deserted cabins. Clothing, cooking nten- -ils, machinery, grain and everything that could be moved had been taken. A thresh- ing machine had been brought up to Bel- mont from Spirit Lake and much of the small grain had been threshed and hauled away. The Slaabakens made what im- provements they could and spent the win- ter of 1862-63 there. Possibly some trap- per pitched his tent temporarily along the river or on the bank of some lake: other- wise these were the only ones to brave the dangers of the county.
Again in the spring of 1863 came In- dian alarms: a trapper was killed and another wounded by the hostile Sioux some sixteen miles up the river. The Slanbakens again deserted their homes and took refuge at Spirit Lake, where they lived under the protection of the sol- diers until the spring of 1861. Joseph Thomas returned again in the spring of 1863. but remained only a short time. Jared Palmer? came at the same time. look a claim a little south of the Thomas home, but left temporarily the same year. During the summer of 1863 they were the only settlers in the vicinity. In the fall of that year came Ira Camfield with his mother and a few orphan children. He took a claim a couple of miles south of Jackson. in Middletown township, and spent the winter of 1863-61 there. being the only residents of Jackson county that winter.3
Before military protection was given Jackson county a small party of Nor- wegian settlers returned to reside perma- nently in their former homes. They came early in June. 1861, and were the first to
"Two men with similar names took part in the early history making of Jackson county. Jarch Palmer was one of the Springfield set- ters. fought at the Springfield massacre, and now' lives at Lakefeld. Jared Palmer came as described In the text and was one of the first county officers
"Major H. S. Bailey In Republic, March 10,
"The account of this dis ster is written large- It from an article written by the fate Judge Simon Olson in May, 1890
THE NEW YOR PUBLIC LIBRARY
AITOR, LENOX AND TIDEN FOUNDATION.L.
OLD FORT BELMONT
From a Pen and Ink Drawing by Margie Malinda Lee from Specifications Furnished from Memory by B. H. Lee and Others.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
make permanent settlement after the massacre. The party drove through from Houston county, Minnesota, and was com- posed of the following people: Anders O. Slaabaken (single), who had just been discharged from the army ; Simon Olson Slaabaken and wife; Mrs. Anders O. Kirkevoldsmoen and her three small chil- dren, Ole (Anderson ), Christina and Ber- tha. Without having knowledge that steps were being taken to protect Jackson conn- ty, they decided to push on to their for- mer homes in the frontier regions. The first night in Jackson county they camped at a point a little south of the present site of Jackson. There they met a small party of men, including some of the Slaa- baken family, who were on their way from Spirit Lake to Mankato for provis- ions, and were informed that Lars Hal- verson and family intended to move im- mediately onto their claim, near their camping place.
The little party from Houston county continued the journey the next morning and arrived at the claim of Simon Olson Slaabaken, who had earlier in the spring bought of Taral Ramlo that gentleman's claim to the southwest quarter of section 34, Belmont. A lesson had been learned, and now all carried guns and were pre- pared to make defense against the In- dians. On the second night after their arrival a child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Simon Olson Slaabaken-the first child born in the county after the massacre.5 At the time of this event came an Indian scare. All night long the dogs barked, and the people were in constant fear of attack by Indians. The men of the party
4Simon Olson Slaabaken had departed from Spirit Lake in the fall of 1863 and gone to Spring Grove. Houston county, Minnesota, where some of the Norwegian refugees had gone, and there married Bertha. the daughter of Mrs. Anders O. Kirkevoldsmoen.
"This child was named Christina and is now Mrs. George Omberson, of Murray county.
stood guard all night, but they failed to discover any Indians.
Two days after the birth of the child, their fears continuing to increase, the alarmed people could stand the suspense no longer, and all set out for the settle- ments. They proceeded down the river to Lars llalverson's place, where they found that gentleman and his family. After a few days spent there, the whole party went to Spirit Lake. A little later. accompanied by several others of the Slaabaken family, the return to Belmont was made.
Bravely they determined to hold their claims and made such preparation for de- fense against attack as best they could. A fort, the main building of which was 18x 26 feet, surrounded by a stockade, was erected on the southwest quarter of section 34, Belmont. The stockade was built of logs and covered with sods, through which holes were left to serve as portholes. For two summers all the settlers of the com- munity lived within its protecting walls, spending only such time outside as was necessary to work the farms; during the winter months the settlers generally lived in their own cabins. At no time during this period were they entirely free from fear of attack.
Except for the cabins, most of which were vet standing, these settlers of 1864 found the country in practically a wild state. and were obliged to begin again at the beginning to improve their claims. When the sudden departure had been made in 1862 most of the hogs of the settlement had been left. The people re- turning found these roaming the woods in a wild state. For several years the hunting of wild swine furnished sport for the settlers, and many of the former do- mestie animals were killed.
It will be seen that the Belmont mas- sacre resulted in the practical abandon-
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
ment of Jackson county for nearly two · years, only a few having the hardihood to attempt resettlement, and they only in- termittently. But events were so shaping themselves that protection was to be af- forded and the county again made safe for settlement.
During the year 1863 United States soldiers continued operations against the Sioux Indians, driving them beyond the Missouri river. In the fall of that year most of the Minnesota regiments were sent south to fight the battles of the civil war, but the Sixth regiment of Minne- sota volunteers remained in the state to hold the land that had been freed from savages. To protect the immediate vicin- ily Major (then Captain) II. S. Bailey's company of that regiment was stationed at Fairmont and at Elm creek, in Martin county. They were supplied with horses and were instructed to scout and patrol as much country as they could cover. In the month of March. 1861. some of the scouts came so far west as the Des Moines river, and upon their return reported that they had found as nice a country as they over saw. Major Bailey accompanied an- other party to Jackson county the same month and was so well pleased with the location that he selected a claim just south of the present village of Jackson proper, filed his claim in the land office, and de- cided to make his home there as soon as he should leave the army. Sergeant John Hutchinson and possibly other soldiers se- lected claims at the same time.
Many of the former residents of Jack- son county were anxious to return and were ready to do so if military protection were given. In the month of April, 1861. Joseph Thomas took a petition, signed by several of the former residents, to Fair- mont and presented it to Major Bailey. They asked that a force of soldiers ho stationed at some point in Jackson coun-
ty. Major Bailey endorsed the petition and forwarded it to his commanding offi- cor, General H. H. Sibley. The general referred the matter back to the company commander with instructions to send part of his company to Jackson county and establish a post if he thought it advisable. Major Bailey accordingly sent a force of twelve men, commanded by a sergeant, to the present location of Jackson. The sol- dier, took possession of a vacant house, which was used for quarters, and chris- tened it Fort Bailey. The soldiers ro- mained at Fort Bailey only a few weeks. Then orders were received for the cam- pany to proceed to Fort Snelling to join the regiment, preparatory to going south. Fort Bailey was abandoned and never heard of afterward."
Ipon his arrival af Fort Spelling Ma- jor Bailey had a conference with General Sibley in regard to the Jackson county country, and as a result the company which relieved Major Bailey was ordered to take its station on the Des Moines ris- er. Lieutenant H. J. Phillip- was the commanding officer of this company. Ile created a log stockade with a building at either end at a point on the hill on the east side of the river about eighty rods southeast of Joseph Thomas house. This stockade was occupied by the soldier- until September, 1865.
About the same time, or a little later than, the troops were stationed on the Des Moines, two small bodies of United States troops were stationed in other parts of Jackson county. Part of a company of the Second Minnesota cavalry took post on the west shore of Little Spirit Jake. one-quarter mile north of the state line. They came late in the fall of 1861 or early in the spring of 1865 and remained about a year. The post was established on a little peninsula and was nearly sur-
(From the writings of Major H. S. Bailey.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
rounded by water. The headquarters were in a large log house which was erected for the purpose.
The other post was established in 1865 on the east shore of Heron lake, on see- tion 13, West Heron Lake township. The fort building was 22x24 feet and was built of large logs. It contained one door and two small windows. There were also five smaller buildings, built of logs and all located some forty rods from the lake shore. The fort was occupied by a few soldiers until danger from the Indians was past.7
The presence of these troops resulted in the return of a few of the former resi- dents late in 1864. A number of the Norwegian families came back and re- claimed their lands in Belmont, a few others reclaimed their homes along the river farther south, and a few new settlers came in and took claims.
A new era in the history of Jackson county began in 1865. The Indians had been driven from the country; the civil war was brought to a close and thousands of soldiers had been discharged from the service and sent forth to engage in peace- ful occupations. It is a noticeable trait of discharged soldiers that they are not content to accept the quiet lives they en- joyed before their army service, but in- variably push out into new countries. All parts of the great northwest were rapidly settled, and to Jackson county came many of the discharged soldiers looking for new homes.
A census of the county, showing the number of inhabitants on the first day of June, 1865, discloses the fact that there were 234 residents,8 divided among 47
"When Abraham Johnson took the site of the post as a homestead claim about 1870 the build- ings were still standing. He tore down the fort building and used the logs in the erection of a stahle, which was put up on the lake shore.
Other counties in southwestern Minnesota had population as follows: Blue Earth, 9,201; Faribault, 4,735; Watonwan, 248; Martin, 1,430;
families. Of these 123 were males and 111 females. The census was taken by. Joseph Thomas.9 Following are the names of the inhabitants as listed by him :10
Joseph Thomas,
Jane Thomas,
11. L. Thomas,
E. G. Thomas,
E. J. Thomas,
Joseph Thomas, Jr.,
M. A. Thomas,
William Webster,
John McConnie,
Aaron Hollenbaek,
Frances Hollenback.
John R. Ilollenback,
James Hollenback,
Ransom Woodard,
Ursula Woodard, Emily Woodard, Ellen Woodard,
May Woodard, Bennett Woodard,
Charles Belknap,
Lydia Belknap,
Minnesota Belknap,
Sarah Bland,
Henry Haley, Harriett Haley,
Alexander Haley,
William C. Haley,
Martha E. Haley,
George R. Haley,
E. A. laley,
O. O. Hlaley,
Henry K. Evans,
Elmira Evans,
George Evans,
Rock, 23. In Cottonwood, Murray. Nobles and Pipestone there were no inhabitants.
""County auditor's office, Fairmont. August 4. 1865.
"I. Albert L. Ward, auditor of the county of Martin, state of Minnesota, do hereby certify that Joseph Thomas, the within named assist- ant assessor, was by me appointed as such on the 24th day of June. 1865. for the county of Jackson, the same being attached to the coun- ty of Martin for judicial purposes. And I do further certify that the within is a true and correct duplicate of census rolls as returned by the said Joseph Thomas to me, and that he is entitled to three cents for each person en- rolled. Total, 233x3 cts .. $6.99.
"Witness my hand and seal of office.
"ALBERT L. WARD."
10The list is obtained from the office of the secretary of state. On it many of the names . are improperly spelled; in some cases to such an extent is the spelling incorrect that the name is hardly recognizable. Through the kind- ness of Mr. Ole Anderson and other residents of 1865. I have changed the orthography of such and give the list as revised. In addition to the names contained in the census return. I am informed that there were living in Jackson county at the time of the enumeration Mr. and Mrs. Nels Larson and their family of nine child- ren, named as follows: Ole. Lewis, Levina. Marie, Bertha, Isahel. John. Lena and Caroline. It is said also that Thora Halverson, wife of Lars Halverson, should be on the list.
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HISTORY OF JJACKSON COUNTY.
Laura Evans. May Evans, Emily Evans, Benjamin Dayton. Alima Dayton.
Martha Lee,
Brownell Lực, Henry Lee,
Martin Ler.
John Lee. Peter P. Haverberg,
Edmund W. Dayton,
Engebor Haverberg,
Spencer Dayton.
Marguerite Marren,
Andrew Olson.
Samuel llall.
Engebret Olson,
Kristi Olson,
Ole E. Olson.
Lucretia Hall.
Andrew E. ON-on.
James IS. Palmer.
Anne Olson.
Arminda Palmer.
Kristri Helgeson.
George Palmer.
Simon Olson.
Leonida- Palmer.
Betsey Olson.
Andrew Monson.
Anna C. Olson.
Betret Monson.
Oliver Stall.
John Monson (Anderson).
Helen Stall.
Mons Monson,
John Olson.
Dorethy Alonson.
Anna Olson.
Mary Monson.
Kristi Olson.
Anna Monson,
Anna Olson.
Lena Olson.
Ole Olson.
l'ethria Olson,
Peter Ofson,
Lars Halverson.
Sarah Halverson.
Halvor Halverson.
Anna Halverson.
Lars Halverson. Jr ..
John Halverson.
Kair Halverson.
Arthur Halverson.
Ann O]son.
Christina Olson.
Bertha Olson.
May J. Dickenson,
Ole Olson (Anderson).
Peternilla Olson.
Olive Olson.
Kistriv Olson.
Karena Olson.
Isabella (1]son,
Ole Olson.
Ki-tri Olson.
Mille Olson.
Nube Of-on.
Aun ON-on.
Orin Belknap.
Naomia Belknap.
Heury Lyman,
Isaac Belknap.
June Belknap.
Elijah Belknap.
John J. Belknap.
Edmund Belknap.
Isaac Belknap.
Elizabeth M. Cantell.
John Canfichl. Lewis A. Cantich).
Nancy Canfield).
Ugenia Tailor,
George Tailor. Baldwin Kirkpatrick. Minchab Kirkpatrick.
Martha Baldwin.
Solomon Dickenson.
Catherine Peters.
Sanford Peters.
Stephen Dickenson, David Dickenson.
Sarah Dickenson,
Electa Dickenson.
Harris Dickenson, Lydia Dickenson. John Dickenson. James S. Peters. Stenrench Wood.
Anna Wood. William S. Wood. Marquis Loucks,
David Bright.
May A. Bright, Inmer Bright. Martha Bright, Vaney Bright. Noah Bright. Victoria Bright. Frederick Bright.
Charles Brown.
Minnie Brown. George Brown, May William, Oliver Lee (Brynildson).
Berret Monson.
Frederick Lyman,
Martha E. Lyman.
Naomia Lyman.
Lewis Lyman,
Israel F. Eddy,
Rolly D. Eddy. William D. Eddy,
Francis Eddy.
Perry E. Eddy.
Emma M. Eddy.
Clark Baldwin.
Christena Monson,
William Dayton.
louisa Hall. Enoin Hall,
Laurie Dayton,
Marion Haverberg,
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Thomas Kirkpatrick, Amanda Kirkpatrick, Adaline Kirkpatrick, Milo Kirkpatrick, Jute Kirkpatrick, James Palmer, Nancy M. Palmer, Joseph Palmer, George Palmer, Eliza Palmer, William Palmer, Miles J. Metcalf.
Fanny M. Metcalf, Emery G. Metcalf, Harriet K. Metcalf,
Arnold N. Metcalf,
Charles II. Metcalf, Joseplı Priee, Sarah Price. Almea Price, Peter Baker,
Marion C. Baker,
Lon J. Baker,
Sofronia N. Baker.
Harriet E. Baker,
May J. Baker,
Eliza A. Baker, Daniel Baker,
Eliza Baker, Cheeny M. Cormick, Lafayette Cormick, Emma Cormick,
Ervin Helberon,
Ilogan Gilbert,
Engebret Olson. Carney Olson,
Ole Olson,
Landen Olson, Holsten Olson, Ingebri Olson. Ole II. Olson, Enor II. Olson,
Nel, H. Olson, Tina H. Olson,
Cornelius H. Olson,
Martinus II. Olson,
Julia H. Olson,
Betsey 11. Olson,
Nelson O. Huron. Len Olson, Ole Nelson. Lor Nelson. John Nelson, Levena Nelson, May Nelson,
Betsey Nelson, J. Mabella Nelson, Lena Nelson, Cornelia Nelson,
Nicholas Olson.
John N. Olson, Samuel N. Olson, Lenah Olson,
Betsey C. Olson, May A. Olson.
Many more came during the summer and fall, and the choice lands along the
Des Moines river were all staked. A few families took claims this year on the banks of Loon lake and the other lakes in that vicinity, being the first to locate any dis- tance from the river. Quite an addition to the county's population this year were Major H. S. Bailey and family and twen- ty men of his company.11 The newcom- ers favored the lands upon which there was timber, as had the earlier settlers, and the greatest population was along that part of the river which sustained the most timber. Consequently the most thickly settled portion of the county was in the vicinity of the present village of Jackson. At that point, in 1865, William Webster began the erection of a sawmill. which, however, was not finished until the next year.12
Despite the large increase in population and the presence of the soldiers, appre- hension of Indian attack was again mani- fest in the spring of 1865. Indians ap- peared in the north part of the county and attacked two trappers in their shanty.
11The company had left Fairmont in June, 1864, with 101 vigorous and healthy men. It went south and was stationed at Helena, Ar- kansas. Within six weeks the health of nearly everyone was ruined by malaria, and eighteen men later died from its effects. Of the eigh- teen, seven were among those who located in Jackson county.
12George C. Chamberlin, writing in 1888, gave the following history of this pioneer sawmill:
"In these historical sketches we must not for- get Jackson's first enterprise. I allude to the old sawmill that so long did duty at the east- ern end of the mill dam.
"It was in 1864 or 1865 that a man by the name of Webster commenced its construction, but so many obstacles intervened that he soon sold out to Mr. Welch Ashley, who in 1866 put it in condition for duty. He and B. W. Ashley operated it for two or three years, and here from morning until night would farmers await their turn for a few rough boards and dimen- sion lumber, which readily soid for $25 per thousand. Here the neighbors became ac- quainted, discussed with newcomers as they appeared upon the scene, and talked of the prospective town, the crops and the country.
"Mr. Ashley sold the mill to Philemon Farr. a hrother of O. S. Farr, and Mr. Farr sold to an eccentric old bachelor named David Card- well, who afterwards was found dead upon the prairie near Le Mars, Jowa, and it is sup- posed committed suicide. When rallways near- ed the vicinity the occupation of the old mill was gone, and the site was purchased by Hunt- er & Strong for a flouring mill, and the ancient structure. I presume, was converted into stove wood."
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
The alarm was given by a boy named Kirk- patrick, who had been trapping in north- ern Belmont township with a man named Haskins, of Estherville. Haskins was shot through the hip, but managed to crawl into hiding in the brush above Brownsburg. The boy made his escape and notified the soldiers down the river. A scouting party found Haskins and brought him in. but no Indians could be found. The soldiers notified the settlers and assisted them to the stockade. where most of them remained for a few days. Then, being satistied that the Indians had left, all departed for their homes. A per- sonal incident of the alarm has been told by Mrs. Clark Baldwin (now Mrs. . A. B. Allen) :
The spring [of 1865] also brought an uneasi- ness about the Indians, as this was on the ex- treine frontier. We had the soldiers stationed here, to be sure. but the stockades were far apart and there were so few settlers that we were but a handful in comparison with the hordes that might come upon us. And at one time we thought they were upon us. I think it was in May. About three o'clock one morn- ing we heard a rap at the door and on in- quiring found it to be a squad of soldiers who had been sent out to warn and take into the stockale all the settlers for protection from the Indians, and it was supposed there were many in the vicinity. When the warning came to us we were not long in responding. One of the soldiers afterward said he had always heard it took a woman so long to dress, but he knew of one that wasn't long about it. After that knock on the door it wasn't three minutes before I was ready and on the horse behind a soldier, ready lo march to the stockade, where it was thought best we stay for a few days, which I did.
The population of Jackson county had reached such a point in the fall of 1865. with such excellent prospects of a con- timmation of immigration the following year, that it was decided to bring about the reorganization of the county govern- ment. The legislative had. early in the year. attached the county to Martin roun- ty for judicial purposes.13 but there was
1 All judicial ofleers of Martin county were granted full jurisdiction over Jackson county, the same as if it were a part of that county.
necessity for other branches of govern- ment than the judicial.
At the request of some of the residents. Governor Stephen Miller named Israel F. Eddy, Charles Belknap and Jared Palmer commissioners to call and preside over an election for the purpose of choos- ing county officers. The election was held at the home of Jared Palmer on Novem- ber 2. thirty-six ballots were cast, and a set of county officials was chosen." Ow- ing to difficulties in having the returns canvassed and election certificates issued. it was not until January 22. 1866. that the machinery of county government was sct in motion. On that date the first meeting of the board of county commis- sioners was held at the home of Major H. S. Bailey.
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