USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 16
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The second meeting of the board was held on March 13, when the county was divided into commissioner districts and the three most thickly settled townships were authorized to begin township gov- ernment. These townships were Peters- burg. Jackson (Des Moines) and Bel- mont. The first township meeting was held April 2. 1866.
Petersburg township was named in honor of Rev. Peter Baker. the pioneer minister of the gospel and a settler of 1860. To it were attached. for township and election purposes. the other four. sparsely settled townships of the southern tier. Among the early residents of Pet- ersburg township who secured land pat- ents from the government, with the year in which the patents were issued, and the number of the section upon which the settler had his claim, were the follow- ing :15
"The act was approved by the governor February 14. 1865.
"For the names of the first officers and other Items concerning the organization the reader is referred to the political chapters of this volume.
"The year the patent was issued procedes the name: the section number follows the name and is in parenthesis.
119
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
1866, Isaac Belknap (6); 1868, M. W. Thompson (6-7), Charles W. Belknap (18) ; 1869, Menzo L. Ashley (18) ; 1870, Ira Cam- field (6-7), Samuel Hall (7), Miles J. Metcalf (27), Joseph Price (27), Peter S. Baker (27- 28), Daniel Baker (28) ; 1871. Ole Johnson (2), Ephriam Eby (14), John C. Hoovel (33), Ilo- gan Gilbert (34); 1872, Stephen E. Ford (6), John Logue (8), Eric Sevatson (34), Even Herbrandson (34); 1873, Albert D. King (4), Edward F. Mather (4), J. N. Thompson (6), James W. Dimm (6), Jesse A. Patterson (+), Andrew J. Patterson (8), JJohn L. Ashley (12), Chaney W. Cornish (20), Jolm llanney (24), . George D. Stone (34); 1874, Solomon Mid- daugh (20). George L. Fortner (28), Edward Gruhlke (30), Bottol Olson (32), Bjorn Bjorn- son (32); 1875, Samuel Clayton (12), Lyman W. Neely (22) ; 1876, Edward Bolter (14), Nel- son Graves (20), Hebrand Bjornson (22), James N. Newton (24), Eugene Logue (26), Martin Logne (26), Angust Gruhlke (30) ; 1877, Jared Haskin (24), James Il. Baker (28) ; 1878, Assor Olson (26) : 1880, Sever Knudson (26).
Jackson township (renamed Des Moines by act of the board of county commis- sioners May 16. 1866) had the other town- ships of the tier attached to it at the time of organization, as well as the tier north of it. It lost the northern tier early in 1867 by the organization of Belmont township, Wisconsin in 1869, and the townships to the west in 1822. Follow- ing are the early settlers of Des Moines who received titles from the government and the years the patents were issued :
1860, Danie! P. Cornell (2-3), Alexander Wood (24) ; 1862, Joseph Arthur (14-22-23), Israel F. Eddy (24); 1863. James E. Palmer (24-25) ; 1864, Stephen F. Johnson (13-23-24) ; 1865, Hans Johnson (15-22), Jo-eph Mnek (15- 22), Joseph Thomas (24), Stiles M. West (25), D. M. West (25) : 1866. Arthur L. Crane (23), Bartholmew McCarthy (24), Isaac Wheeler (27), Wilson C. Garratt (34) : 1867, Ann Olson (3). Edward Davies (10-11), Nathan 1. Woodin (10), Ole Larson (12), Henry Haley (22), llenry K. Evens (34) : 1868, Simon Olson (3-4), Ole Burreson (10-11-14-15), Heirs of John Olson (11), Palmer Ilill (14), Abram Kalder (20), Lewis L. Miner (22), Nathaniel Frost (23-24) ; 1869, John Olson (3), Mary D. Ashley (26) : 1870. Clark Baldwin (13). Otis S. Farr (26), Jeremiah Prescott (30), Benja- min W. Ashley (34), James S. Williams (35) : 1871. Oliver Stall (2). William Burreson (11- 14). Sylvester Kingsley (19). Thaddeus Ruck- er (20), Alonzo Blake (21), Ahimaaz E. Wood (23-26), Lars Halverson (25), Philip Yates (28- 29); 1872, Halver B. Lee (2), Darby Whelan (4). George W. Woodin (10), Andrew Monson (13), William A Stewart (18), Ilenry A. Wil-
liams (20), Hiram S. Bailey (23-24-25), Ben- jamin D. Dayton (26), Charles H. B. Greene (29), Matthew Smith (29); 1873, Milton Ma- son (4), Martin L. Bromaghim (12), Alpheus C. Marshall (12), Welch Ashley (12), Hans Ches- terson (15), Stanton F. Stone (18), Hiram Il. Stone (18), Emmet Miner (20-21), Joseph E. Fields (26-27), Iloraee L. Trumbull (27), Levi Bennett, Jr. (28), Henry Blakey (28), Edward J. Orr (29), Jesse E. Prescott (30), Orson Cook (30), Michael Smith (30), William R. Maddock (33), Edward Davies (34); 1874, Hans Stall (2). Hans Hanson (2), Erick Christianson (2), Edward Blakey (27-28) ; 1875, Harvey Page (4), Patrick Dailey (14), James Kerr (28) ; 1876, Alfred H. Cady (4), lliram Samson (10), Michael Riley (20) ; 1877, George P'. Lee (35) ; 1878, John H. Willing (18); 1879. Jacob Bas- tedo (18).
Belmont township was created by the hoard of county commissioners March 13, 1866, at the same time as Jackson and Petersburg, but the organization was not perfected until January 5, 1867. At the time of organization the other townships of the tier were attached to it, and on April 10. 1869, all of the townships of the northern lier were given it for township purposes. The name was given in honor of the old Belmont townsite. Almost without exceplion the early settlers were Norwegians. The following were granted land patents in Belmont in the years named :
1860, Edward S. Love (6): 1868. Heirs of Lars Larson (8-17), James Murry (32) ; 1869, Simon Olson (33-34), John Olson (34); 1871, S. Amundson (22), Nicholas Olson (28), Hol- sten Olson (34) : 1872, Ole Johnson (8), Milo Larson (28). Anders Olson (34) ; 1873. Ole An- derson (4), Thomas Larson (4), Jolin Hanson (4), Paul Hanson (4), Knud Johnson (6), Nube Olson (8), Peter Amundson (8), Lars I. Brata- ger (20), Englebret Olson (21-22-27), Peter Larson (22), Peter Johnson (22), Thron Thom- son (26). Peter P. Haverl.org (34) ; 1874, Heirs of Joseph Thompson (14), Samuel Nelson (14), Andrew Johnson (20). Anders R. Kilen (20), Iver Thompson (24), Christian Olson Lilleberg (28), Ole O. Sandager (30). Even Larson Kjels- ven (32), Hans Stall (34) ; 1875, Nils Larson (2). Ole Peterson (12), Anders L. Kjelsven (20), Eriek Rasmusson (20), Johan Fransen (20), Ole Olson (24), Beret Olson (26) : 1876, John Johnson Serove (2), Claus Hanson (2). Lars Larson (2), Kriste Olson (22): 1877, En- glebret L. Thomson (12), Segar II. Chester (18) : 1878, Marie Halverson (20), Ole E. Olson, Sr. (22) : 1880, Ole S. Sogge (10). Andreas Johnson (18), John H. Johnson (24) ; 1881, Thore O. Fladgard (14). Bereth Olson (22) ;
120
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
IS-3. Ole H. Let (21), Paul II. Paulson (30) ; 15$5. 6. Tollefson tIst; 1856. Thron L. Thron -on (26).
Mimmota township was quite carly settled an account of the numerous lakes within its borders. The residents peti- tioned for township goverment, and on October 15. 1866, the commissioners granted the request. By the same det there were attached to it the west half of the present Middletown township and all of the present townships of Sioux Val- ley and Round Lake. Minnesota is a Sioux word meaning "much water," and was so named because of its group of lakes. An carly settler by the name of Chandler suggested the name. Titles to land in Minneota were issued to the following early settlers in the years indicated :
1800, Martin D. Notcall (25): 1870, George Ellet (4), James S. Peter> (24-25); 1871. Ebenezer B. Millard (10). Samuel W. Burgess (11-23). Osman Burgess (23), John Richard-au (23 26), Timothy C. Johnson (24). Samuel Brown (31-35). Almer B. Stimson (35): 1872. Gideon K. Tiffany (8). Isador A. Moreaux (10). Francis lagraham (34): 1873. Walter A. Davi- (12). Isaac Greenwood (21), Herman P. Wilber (26). Lucius Bordwell (26) : 1874, Samttel Dav. i- (12). Henry Shapley (22). William C. Bates (22): 1875. Henry S. Graves (fr, Nathaniel B. Fletcher (D. H. P. Ballard (14) : 1877. John Lucas (22), Hiram 11. Simonds (26). Ole Wil- son (25), Jolm Amo (341: 1878. John F. Baker (i). Haus (. Overson (25), John Hillillan (25). Abram Giffillan (28), Oe Olson (32): 1879. lohn E. Bunker (20). Jacob Larson (30), Latr'- Christenson (32): 188). Lodawick Fader (2). Ly man Wilcox (30): IsSt. Charles L. Stoddard (1%): 1855. George Baker (18).
There was a large immigration in 1866. and Jackson county received new settlers from all parts of the cast. Nearly all of these were poor people who came for the purpose of lettering their condition in the new country, where they might be- come land owners. Conditions were as unlike those of the present time as night i- from dav. There were no wagon roads. and traveling wa- a difficult and often dangerous undertaking. The newcom- er- found only three of four schools in the whole county and no churches, al-
though traveling ministers of the gospel occasionally preached at private hon-e -. frame buildings were scarce. In the tim- bored districts Jog houses were built : in the prairie section- sad houses or dug- outs14 furnished the homes. Os teams, or perhaps an ox and a cow. attached to a hunber wagon provided the means of con- vevance. The seythe corresponded to our mower and the cradle and rake to our binder. There were no railroads, no tohe graph and telephone lines, and only one postoffice in the county. The people were not blessed with the advantages they now enjoy : their energies were exerted in the strife for existence : their ambition was to become the owner of a piece of land. John Davies, a pioneer settler, in after years re- called early day conditions and said :
How well do I remember seeing them clothed in dilapidated garments and out at their fors. driving their ox teams hitched to rickety back hard vehicles to town and elsewhere. and Whenever I sor their old roads which meander- ed over these undulating plains (over which they mogged along, often with lumps in their throats, but large hopes in their hearts) being obliterated by the plow I can hardly refrain from tears.
The records of the county government for the year 1866 furnish us many in- teresting items of the conditions and times. We learn from these that the first school district was created on March 13. 1866, and included part of Des Moines township cast of the river and several ser- tions in Wisconsin township.17
"To the pioneers of these days that word [dugout ] would explain itself, but to the road- ors of this worthy paper, who Live In elegant city homes and have never seen of been famil- Jar with frontier life, perhaps a word of ex- Manation will be necessary as to how these were butit. First a cellar was dug with steps lending therefrom; then logs were laid about the tops of this and a roof placed on the top of those; gable unds and a door were made; a squire was dug Into the side of the walls and a dry goods box inserted for a cupboard: a0- other madr an excellent clothes press, No need of a fire escape in a house like this! The rouf itself was of dirt." -Thomas Goodwin in Republic, March 1. 1895.
13The first twelve school districts were of- ganized on the dates given and with boundar- les as follows:
N. 1 March 13. 1566. Commencing at the northeast curner of section 17. Wisconsin ; Thener running west on that section line ta
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
121
DES MOINES.
H. S. Bailey. $32.66
A. E. Wood 27.10
Nathaniel Frost 14.40
Asa Sonthwell
16.00
II. R. Trowbridge
17.60
II. K. Evans
4.52
A. Miner
50.48
E. S. Love.
20.80
D. P. Cornell.
16.00
Clark Baldwin
20.68
Weleh Ashley
110.80
1. F. Eddy
38.46
M. Clongh
29.72
F. R. Lyman.
4.71
Even Herbrandson
6.60
Samuel Brown
1.50
16.60
Solomon Diekenson
2.83
James E. Palmer
16.24
Hogan Gilbert
2.39
D. M. West.
16.80
Levi Camfield
1.06
Jared Palmer
3.06
Jolm Hoovel
7.10
James S. Peters
5.06
I. Wheeler
2.00
M. J. Metcalf.
Lewis Lyman
.90
Martin Metcalf
R. N. Woodward.
.86
Erwin Hall
2.66
Ira Camfield
3.21
Charles W. Belknap
1.77
Joseph Price
.62
Il. L. Thomas
14.38
Ilolsten Olson
6.80
Jom Young
4.22
Il. H. Stone.
4.22
Knute Johnson
.96
Nicholas Olson
17.86
B. W. Ashley
2.56
Orrin Belknap 7.30
Lars Halverson 5.20
4.28
Englebret Olson
17.86
Il. A. Williams
1.20
Anders Monson
5.26
Peter Johnson
2.20
John Hanson John Olson
3.32
Oliver Stall
5.40
John Johnson
2.48
.I. N. Thompson 8.20
28
Englebret Olson
4.96
Nels Larsman
3.28
Peter . Aa
9.98
Thomas Larson
3.50
Nuhe Olson
3.28
George Palmer
2.44
B. Kirkpatrick
1.84
Lars Rasman
3.64
N. J. Woodin
.SO
J. H. Lyman.
3.00
$661.73
Total for county $718.59
According to the return of products as
ing attached to them. The lists for these two townships include the names of all the tax payers in the county, the southern tier of town- ships being listed under Petersburg and the rest of the county under Des Moines.
7
The total taxable property in 1866 was less than $36,000, and was assessed in the names of 23 owners. The tax levied amounted to $718.59. The names of those assessed and the amount of each one's tax, as equalized by the county board, were as follows:
PETERSBURG.18
Peter Baker $6.82
W. C. Garratt 3.45
$56.86
the Des Moines river: thence running in a southerly direction, following the river, to the section line of 25 and 36; thence east to the southeast corner of section 29; thence north to the place of beginning.
No. 3-September 4, 1866. Commencing at the northeast corner of section 32, Wisconsin; thence running south to the southeast corner of section 17, Petersburg; thence west to the southwest corner of section 14, Middletown; thence north to the township line between Des Moines and Middletown; thence east on the township line to the Des Moines river; thence following the river in a northerly direction to the section line of sections 25 and 36, Des Moines; thence east to the place of beginning. No. 4-November 7, 1866. The south half of Petersburg township.
No. 5-March 17, 1867. The townships of Belmont, Enterprise, Heron Lake, West Heron Lake and Alba.
No. 6-May 25, 1867. Sections 22, 23. 24. 25, 26, 27, 34. 35 and 36, Minneota township.
No. 7-September 20. 1867. Sections 15. 16, 21 and 22. Des Moines township.
No. 8-September 25. 1867. Sections 17, 18, 19 and 20. Des Moines township.
No. 9-December 21. 1867. The east half of sections 20, 29 and 32 and all of sections 21. 28 and 33 and the west half of sections 22, 27 and 34. in Wisconsin township, and the north half of section 4 and the northwest quarter of sec- tion 3 and the northeast quarter of section 5, in Petersburg township.
No. 10-December 24. 1867. Sections 1. 2. 3. 4. 9. 10. 11 and 12. Des Moines township. No. 11-January 7. 1868. Sections 28, 29, 30. 31. 32 and 33, Des Moines township.
No. 12-March 10, 1868. The west half of Minneota township.
"It will be remembered that Petersburg and Des Moines were the only townships in which the township organization had been perfectrd in the summer of 1866, the other territory bc-
Hans Stall
2.96
Simon Olson
4.40
Edward Orr
4.30
Joseph Thomas
43.88
B. Il. Johnson
P. P. Haverberg.
1.96
L. II .. Lyman
7.97
No. 2-September 4, 1866. All that territory in Des Moines township which lies west of the Des Moines river.
Henry Haley
4.14
Andrew Olson
Samuel Hall 3 82
duced. Had the granted lands been placed
TOWNSHIP
Acres
ยท Acres
* Bus.
Acres
Bus.
Acres
Bus.
Acres
Bus.
Acres
Bus.
Acres
Gais.
Acres
Bus.
Pounds
Acres
Tom
Pounds| Pounds| Pounds
Des Moines
160
38
676
19.
.175
75 27.15
1
30 25
2085 1 581
50
1
10
300
713 1383
78
8595
100
Belmont
654
3-1
581
5
212
21
400
...
...
...
..
511
12
25
3
76
311
1000
300
Petersburg
14
18
116
..
18
-165
...
Minneota.
.. .
...
...
....
.. .
...
1/2
.10
. ..
...
...
...
...
Total.
270
90 1373
24
687
114 3610
1
30 3712 3217 112
75
2
18
300
919 1966
174
11,775
800
1
*Under the "acres" columns is given the number of acres sown; in the columns immediately following is given the number of bushels, pounds or other units of measurement of the products raised.
homesockers were therefore greatly re-
Jackson county which were left for the
was selected by the state. The lands in
60,000 aero- of internal improvement land
ritory of Jackson county. The same year
to the Southern Minnesota Railroad com- pany, binding the company to complete the road to the state's western boundary by February 25. 1876. As soon as the bill became a law. the railroad company put surveyors in the field and located a line. Then the company selected the odd numbered sections for a distance of ton miles on each side of the surveyed line. and the land was withdrawn from home- stead and preemption entry. About the same time another large grant was made to assist in building the Sioux City & St. Paul road, the two grants taking from the government nearly one-half the ter-
An act of the national congress in 1866 had a disastrous effect upon the far off county of Jackson-an act which resulted in retarding the settlement of the county to a great extent and for a great many years. By the act. approved July 1, 1866. entitled "an act making an additional grant of lands to the state of Minnesota. in alternate sections, to aid in the con- struction of railroads in said state." cer- tain lands were granted to the state of Minnesota for the purpose of aiding in the construction of the Southern Minne- sota railroad from its then western termi- nus, Houston, to the west line of the state. The Minnesota legislature on February 25, 1867, accepted the trust created by this act of congress and granted the lands
prepared by AAuditor Clark Baldwin from returns made by the township assessors. there were only 320 acres of land put into erop jn Jackson county in 1866. The abstract of the acres under cultivation and the field bo townships of the various crops is shown in the next column.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
122
Cultivated
Wheat
Oats
Corn
Barley
Potatoes
Sorghum
Beans
Maple Sugar
Hay
Wool
Butter Cheese
96
2180
100
1/2
. ..
~
....
130
272
.....
....
57
THE NEW YO PUBLIC LIBRARY
AITOR, LEVAY AND TADEN FOL 1- 2Na
COUNTRY SLENES
CROSSING THE DES MOINES
LOWERS LAKE
ELBE MINNEJEKA
SWASTIKA BEACH, FISH LAKE
123
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
upon the market at a reasonable price the results would not have been so disastrous. The railroad lands were not placed on the market until years afterward.
By 1866 the settlement had reached such a point that its permanency was as- sured. Not again could a handful of In- dians cause the abandonment of Jackson county. The most thickly settled com- inunity was along that part of the Des Moines river which flows through Des Moines township, and here, in the latter part of the year, was founded the village of Jackson by Welch Ashley and Major HI. S. Bailey. The sawmill began opera- tions, a store was started, stage lines be- gan operations, and a few of the conveni- ences of the outside world came to the heretofore isolated settlers.
Time is required to put a new country on a self-sustaining basis, and the prod- uct returns for the year 1866 show that Jackson county had not yet reached that point. The bulk of the immigration had come in 1866 and the big majority had, of course, not raised a. crop. Supplies were from necessity brought in from the outside-principally from Mankato and Garden City-and as there were no roads or bridges and the streams almost im- possible to eross in time of high water, much difficulty was encountered in pro- viding the necessary supplies. What is known as the "starvation period" in Jack- son county's history resulted.
The snow was very deep and the weath- er severe during the winter of 1866-67, and the new settlers were illy prepared for it. Many had come late in the season, bringing but few supplies with them and with small means to purchase more. Dur- ing the fall and early winter most of the provisions that had been brought in were exhausted, and on account of the difficul- ties of travel it was almost impossible for
even people who had the means to obtain the necessities of life. Starvation stared many in the face. The abundance of fish, which the lakes and streams supplied, saved many from actual starvation. For weeks some families lived on absolutely nothing but fish and milk. Major H. S. Bailey has written of the conditions that winter :
I know of some families who became so weak they could scarcely move around. One woman was so weak before relief came to her that she could not even sit up, and one William McClelland, who lived on the state line near Spirit Lake, when going past, saw the condition of this woman. acted the part of the Good Samaritan, and took her to his own home and bad her nursed and supplied with such food as her appetite craved, and thus saved her life.
The state came to our rescue and furnished us some flour and provisions, but the condi- tions of the road were such that it was almost impossible to get supplies here, as they all had to be hauled from Mankato and Garden City. However, we got something they called flour from lake Shetek that was destined to starve Indians upon; but it got left there and our commissioners sent teams and got some of it. It was noi much of a luxury, but it kept soul and body together until we could get something else.
George C. Chamberlin also told of per- sonal experiences during the starvation winter:
What provisions were brought in were left at Mr. Thomas' on the east side of the river, and the settlers on the west side brought their little parcels in a boat. Every day. and nearly every hour of the day, 1 | who was liv- ing on the Jackson townsite] went over to help across parties in a small boat and often en- countered danger in the swiftly running wa- ter.
Around Loon lake was quite a settlement, and I shall never forget the disconsolate look of the lank and cadaverous man from there as he emerged from the boat, held up his sack and remarked, "Twenty-five pounds of flour. seven children-nine of us in the family-and I know not where the next mouthful is coming from." Buffalo fish without salt was a fre- quent meal during that starvation season. Al- though many came out "spring poor" that sea- son, there were no cases of actual starvation.
When the snow went off in the spring. traveling was even worse than it had been in the winter. All the streams were swol- len and out of their banks, and the ground
124
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
was so soft that even empty wagons mired. Realizing that something must be done to prevent starvation, the settlers held a meeting, raised money to purchase flour and other supplies, and sent teams and men to make an effort to get them into the county. Jesse F. Ashley, who was one of the men to undertake this difficult task, tells of the trip :
Lant Thomas, Pete Kingsley and myself started for Garden City for flour April 20. 1867. The snow being about four feet deep but melting rapidly, we went with wagons. When we got to the Blue Earth river. the ice had gone ont on the west side. so we drove to the center and ent a channel through for our teams to eross. all getting wet to our waists. We reached Shelbyville about eight o'clock with our clothes frozen. Pete and I roomed together that night, and he piled into hed with his brecches on, giving me knowledge of how to dry clothing withont a fire. He said he learned that in the pinery. We reach- ed Garden City next day. and the next morn- ing loaded our wagons and started home. When we got back to the Blue Earth river it was nearly half a mile in width and full of floating ice. Here we camped with our teams and wagons three days, waiting for the ice to move and for the ferry boat, which was at Blue Earth City, to come down. While there we saw a man on the opposite side trying to eross in a row boat. When quite a way from shore his boat capsized near a tree. He was able to grasp a limb and saved himself by climbing the tree. This was in the afternoon. and he was there all night calling for help. The next morning another man Was seen go- ing out to him. When he was near the tree the current became so swift that it upset his boat, too, and he climbed the same tree. By this time the first man had nearly perished from hunger and cold. When up the tree No. 2 out a whip and began whipping No. 1. which he continued until the other was aroused and warmed. They were rescued by two men go- ing up the stream in a boat with another boat tied behind. After securing their own boat to a tree, they let the other float down to the captives, holding it by lines. The lines were ent after the captives had got into the boat. and the men rowed themselves ashore. The ferry boat came down that evening and ferried us over, one team and wagon at a time, the work taking nearly all day. The re- maining part of the hip was rough, crossing ereeks without bridges, taking thirteen days for the round trip.
Then I went back for another load. By thi- time the ferryman had a rope across the river. so i had no trouble in crossing. 1 got through very well and my flour was put in grain sacks, the weight, varying from 125 to 130 pounds
per sack. being marked on the sacks in red chalk. I had no trouble until 1 got near Ver- non. There the country was flat and the frost was coming out of the ground, so that i soon got stuck in a slough. I managed to get the team through the mud and water. i then unloaded my flour and carried it on my back to a dry place. I had this to do seven times before I reached Winnebago, I was a lad of seventeen and weighed ninety pounds. When ] got to Winnebago City I found A. Miner there after a load of sved wheat : then 1 had company the rest of the way home. De had a balky team, so we could not double team -. and both had to unload and carry the loads through the sloughs. The flour cost $13 per hundred laid down in Jackson.
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