USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 41
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The third paper to begin life in Jack- son county was the Minnesota Citizen, started at Lakefield by Carl S. Eastwood, now of the Heron Lake News, on Novem- ber 30, 1883. The Citizen was a seven column folio, was independent in polities and sold for $1.50 a year. Mr. Eastwood published a very good paper and it was heartily welcomed by the little village of Lakefield. On July 1, 1885, Mr. East- wood sold to L. W. Seely, and that gen- tleman conducted the publication until October 9, 1885.
R. H. Imeneburg became the editor and publisher on the last named date. On April 14, 1886, he changed the name to Lakefield Standard and the form from a seven column folio to a five column quarto. Mr. Imeneburg sold the Stand- ard September 25, 1890, to HI. N. Dong- las and W. A. Funk, but bought it back again December 11, of the same year. John and Thomas Crawford became the owners October 15, 1891, and conducted the paper as partners until January 1, 1895, when John Crawford withdrew and Thomas Crawford became the sole pub- lisher. William Crawford bought a half interest Angust 21, 1897, and the firm be- came Crawford & Crawford, William Crawford being editor and Thomas Craw- ford business manager. There were many changes in the form of the paper under the management of the Crawfords. They published an excellent paper and took a leading part in looking after Lakefield's
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
interests during the county seat fights.
Crawford Brothers retired September 1. June.
1906, and were succeeded by R. H. Luene- burg and J. W. Daubney, the present pro- prietors. Mr. Lueneburg is the active member of the firm and issues a good pa- per. It is a seven column. six page paper and is printed entirely in the home office. The plant from which it is issued is a model one.
The Heron Lake Wave was founded by HT. L. Frost January 22, 1886. It was started as an independent paper and was a seven column quarto. Mr. Frost pub- lished an able paper but he and his pa- trons could not agree. and he sold out in August. 1886. Carl S. Eastwood was the buyer of the good will and subscription list of the Wave, the former publisher removing the plant. Mr. Eastwood put in a new plant. changed the name lo Heron Lake News and the politics of the paper from independent to straight re- publican. The next June he enlarged the News to an eight column folio and added to the equipment of the office.
August 15. 1893, Mr. Eastwood bought the Worthington Advance and moved to that city. From that date until March. 1891, the News was conducted by C. F. Mallahan, late of the Jackson Republic, under a lease from Mr. Eastwood. The paper was then bought by G. A. Fairfield. who continued its publication until De- comber. 1902. when Mr. Eastwood. the former owner. again moved to Heron Lake and purchased the plant. The News is republican in politics and is one of the strong papers of the party. \ linotype was installed in the office in January. 1908. from which is set the matter for many of the papers in the vicinity.
For a short time in 188; the Wilder Globe had an existence. It was edited by Rev. D. Griffin Gunn. of Wilder, and was printed in the office of the Heron Lake
News. The first number was issued in
The next paper to consider in the chronological order of founding is the Jackson County Pilot, which was started at Jackson by V. B. Crane on September 12, 1889. The plant was brought from Spirit Lake, where Mr. Crane had been publishing the Spirit Lake Pilot. At the time of its founding it was a seven column folio and democratic. It was enlarged to an eight cohunn paper in October. 1891. Mr. Crane conducted the Pilot un- til April 12. 1891, when W. Stanley Kim- ball became the owner and publisher. He made the paper a five column quarto and presided over its destinies until Angust 8, 1895. On that date James Manning became the editor and publisher. On March 26, 1896, he enlarged the journal to a six column quarto, a form it has ever since retained.
John L. King and J. C. McCroden bought the Pilot from Mr. Manning No- vember 26. 1896, and conducted it as partners until November 10. 1900, at which time Mr. King bought his partner's interest. Since that date Mr. King has been sole publisher. He conducts an ex- cellent journal and receives good support from the people of Jackson county. The Pilot is democratie and has been ever since its founding.
'The first number of the Jackson Conn- ty Times was taken from the press at Heron Lake September 20. 1895. It was founded as a democratic paper, was a seven column folio, and Harry G. Max- field was the proprietor. John S. Wool- stencroft bought the paper January 24, 1896, and continued to conduct it as a democratic journal. C. L. Wing was managing editor for a time. but in July Mr. Woolstencroft assumed full manage- ment. The paper was made a five column quarto in February, 1896, and in May,
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
1899, was enlarged to a six column quar- to, the form it still retains. From Feb- ruary 21, 1903, io September, 1908, O. C. Hansell owned a half interest in the Times, the firm name being Woolstencroft & Hansell during this period. Mr. Wool- steneroft again became the sole owner and has since managed it alone. He wields a trenchant pen and has made the Times a factor to be reckoned with in the affairs of Jackson county.
The Lakefield Herald was founded November 15, 1895, by Louis N. Du- chaine as a republican paper. R. H. Luene- burg became the publisher in May, 1900, and put in a new office. Clifford S. Bell bought the Herald September 1, 1902, and conducted it until May, 1904. At that time Crawford & Crawford, publish- ers of the Standard, bought the Herald and consolidated the two plants.
For a few years the little village of Alpha supported a newspaper. This was
the Jackson County Argus and was found- ed May 30, 1901, by W. HI. Hassing. A. 1. Kruger became the editor and pro- prietor in May, 1902, and conducted the paper until March, 1905. On that date G. E. Robinson bought the plant. He conducted it until October, 1905, when publication was suspended, the field prov- ing too small to properly support a news- paper. The subscription list and good will were bought by the proprietor of the Jack- son Republie, and the plant was moved away.
The Jackson Tribune was the name of a paper which had an existence of one year. It was a six column quarto and was founded June 5, 1903, by C. F. Mallahan, who conducted it as an independent re- publican journal. One year later Mr. Mal- lahan purchased the Republic, consolidat- ed the two and continued publication un- der the name of Jackson Republic.
XXIV.
REMINISCENT.
I N GATHERING data for a volume of this kind one runs across many stories of the early days for which no place can be found in the historical part but which are truly interesting and in many instances throw vivid light on early day conditions. These have been pre- served and are here incorporated under the chapter heading "Reminiscent." Most of these stories have been written by early day residents and published in the local newspapers in years gone by; others are original. prepared by the author from data gathered from various sources.
INKPADUTA'S INDIANS.
After the massacre at Springfield Ink- paduta and his Indians proceeded west in- to Dakota, taking with them their white women eaptives. One of these was Abbie Gardner (now Mrs. Gardner-Sharp), the fourteen year old girl taken from the Spirit lake settlement. She was with the Indians over three months before being ransomed and had opportunity for gain- ing insight into the customs, manners and beliefs of this ruthless band of sav- ages. In her valued History of the Spirit Lake Massacre, she tells of many things learned during this enforced sojourn which proved of great value to those in- terested in gaining intimate knowledge
of this bloodthirsty band. I quote at lengthi from Mrs. Sharp's history :
"A male Indian never does anything that can be called labor; it is against his principles, and would lower his dignity. Work is only fit for women. Such is an Indian's sense of honor. The women are only slaves; and we, poor captives, were slaves of the slaves.
"The Indians have no equal as gorman- dizers; they are perfectly devoid of any- thing like delicacy of appetite or taste or decency in the matter. Every part of an animal is devoured, cooked or raw, clean or unclean ; the smaller game is sometimes cooked without opening; and if the en- trails are taken out they are thrown on the fire and roasted and eaten by the squaws, this being considered the right of the cook. Animals that have lain dead until putreseence has well begun are de- voured with avidity. Fish found along the beach that have lain until the flesh was actually dropping from the bone were eaten without even being cooked, and pro- nounced 'wash-ta-do!' (very good !). It was no unusual thing indeed to see the most delicate belles in Inkpaduta's train picking from the head of a papoose ver- min-such as Burns saw on the lady's bonnet at church-and cracking them in their teeth.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
"They have no regularity about their meals. It is always dinner time if they have anything to eat. They will eat un- til they can eat no longer; and then lie down and grunt and puff like cattle gorg- ed with grass in the spring time, or like overfed swine. Thus they will lie and sleep and snore for an hour or two; then get up and smoke, and eat again. This is especially the habit of the gentlemen' of the party ; the 'ladies' contenting them- selves with what their lords cannot eat, and resting their weary bodies by cutting wood and backing it up; or by preparing something more to please the taste of their ·better halves.'
"The Indian is an inveterate smoker, and if he had whisky would go to the same extremes with that. They got a large quantity of tobacco from the whites, more especially at Springfield; but all this would not have lasted long if they had not extended it by a free use of kin- nikinic-a species of red willow that grows abundantly on wet soil throughout the northwest. They frequently smoke the leaves, but prefer the bark, which is much stronger. It acts as a narcotic. The squaws prepare the bark by scraping it off the twigs and drying it, in the win- ter by the fire on a grate made of strips of bark woven across a fraine, and in summer on a piece of buekskin in the sun. We were frequently compelled to help pre- pare it.
"Their lodges or tepces are conieal tents and vary in size from fourteen to twenty feel or more in diameter ; they are made of the thickest, heaviest kind of cloth. or skins, and kept in shape by nine poles. The fire is built in the center, and the smoke escapes through an aperture at the top, made for that purpose. They make their beds of straw, mats. blankets, buffalo robes, etc. These they arrange around the fire, and on them they not
only sleep, but eat and sit to smoke through the day.
"The dress of the males. ordinarily, consists of deer-skin leggings, having the resemblance of the lower half of panta- loons; moccasins cover the feet and com- plete the dress- of the lower extremities. A bel or girdle surrounds the waist, and under this is drawn a piece of blue broad- cloth. about a quarter of a yard in width and a yard and a half in length, or long enough to pass between the lower extrem- ities, and the ends fall over and form a flap in front and on the back of the lower portion of the body. A short skirt of buckskin-sometimes fringed around the bottom-and a blanket complete the out- fit of the men. In addition to this, how- ever. may be seen a fathom of scarlet or blue cloth. worn around the waist as a sash, and another of like material, or a shawl, around the head as a turban.
"With the female a calico chemise coy- ers the arms and body a little below the waist : a skirt of blue broadcloth is cou- fined around the waist by a belt or girdle and extends nearly to the ankles ; a pair of red or blue pantalets and moccasins complete the under dress. To this is added a blanket or fathom of red or blue broadeloth, to be used as an outer garment or wrap. With this the usual dress of the shaw is complete. Their blankets are white. red, blue or green, composed of fine wool and of superior fabrication,
"The principal root we had was wild artichoke. They also got two or three other kinds of roots: one. although grow- ing in the ground, resembled beans; an- other being longer and more irregular in form, and of a light color, nearly white. All these were roasted. boiled or caten law. as fancy or convenience led them to do. I'mpalatable as these roots were, but for them we must have famished.
"Among the game killed and greedily
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devoured were geese, ducks, swans, brants, pelicans and cranes of the fowl kind; and of quadrupeds there were beaver, otter, muskrat, skunk, etc., and fish. The fowls were prepared for the kettle by simply pulling off the roughest of the feathers, without washing or dressing. They were eaten without salt or seasoning. Beaver and otter were singed to free them of the thickest of the fur, pitched into a pot and boiled.
"When cooked these savory meats were dished out into wooden bowls, each bowl holding a quart or more. and eaten with spoons made of buffalo horns. Most sav- ory among these savory meats was the polecat or skunk.
"Each Indian has his place in the wig- wam, into which he drops as regularly as cattle into their stalls in a stable. The squaws dish up the food into these bowls and hand them to their lordly masters, who sit and eat at the meat and drink the soup and pass up their dishes for more until the supply is gone.
"We were absolutely compelled to eat whatever was given to us, or to dispose of it unknown to them. Frequently they would give me things I could not pos- sibly swallow, for instance, fish of which the flesh was so decomposed it was falling from the bone. In such cases I would watch my opportunity and drop it inside my blanket, from which I would throw it away when on the march. Possibly skunk meat might not be so bad if properly dressed, but singed and boiled entire it was almost too savory to suit my taste.
"The long poles used in the construc- tion of their tepees are made into small bundles by being bound together at the ends. Then two of these bundles are at- tached to a strong thong of rawhide long enough to go around a horse's neck where the collar usually goes. The poles are so attached as to be a foot or more apart,
and when the thong is fastened at the horse's neck, the smaller ends of the poles will be at his shoulders, while the others will drag on the ground. The travies, a large hoop, oval in shape and woven across with bark or buckskin, are attached to the poles, just back of the horse's heels. On this were placed such articles as they did not choose to carry or such persons as were not able to walk. The loads which even ponies were made to haul in this awkward manner were immense. Besides these heavy loads on the travies, it is not unusual to see an Indian on the back of the pony and heavy laden baskets at the sides. Even the dogs were made to hanl smaller travies, yet large enough to be perfectly barbarous. The creatures would pull as if for dear life until perfectly ex- hausted, when they would drop to the ground, as if dead, and lie there a few minutes, then get up and trudge on again. Thus, day after day, these half-fed ani- mals were made to toil to the utmost lim- it of possible endurance for their lazy masters.
"Their death song is a wild, hideous succession of cadences, utterly unlike the plaints of despair or grief, but rather a wild, unearthly sound, expressive of only savage passion, impressive to witness and startling to hear. Every night at the same hour, for several weeks, this passion- ate wailing was repeated. The mother wouldl begin; then others, one after the other, would break out in the wild wail, until not only those in the tepee where the death occurred, but also those in other tepees who were related to the deceased, had joined in the lamentations. Thus, for weeks, the twilight hours were made hideous by these horrible sounds, which once heard can never be forgotten.
"After death the body was still borne on the travies for several days, closely wrapped in a blanket. When we reached
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
the desired grove, a platform was con- which each has participated are recited in structed of poles laid across two horizon- a manner that might tal limbs of a large oak tree, and, by Stir a fever in the blood of age means of strips of bark tied to the body, Or make an infant's sinews strong as steel." it was hauled up for burial. There the poor emaciated body was laid to rest, after having been dragged around so long. And thus the Sioux bury their dead.
"A Sioux mother binds her infant to a small board when a few hours old. It is first imbedded in the feathery heads of the cat-tail flag (picked to pieces), and wrapped around with strips of cloth or buckskin, commencing at the feet and extending upward until all but the head is enveloped. It is then placed on a board and firmly bound with a blanket. This keeps it straight, protects it from injury in the rough treatment it receives, and is altogether more convenient for their mode of living than any other arrangement. From this confined position they are re- lieved only for a few minutes at a time, and this only at long intervals.
"When old enough to run alone it is relieved of its swathing bands, and if the weather it warm it is turned loose, with- out an article of clothing to protect or impede the action of its limbs. In the tepees the papooses are stood up against the wall, even from the first, and are al- most no trouble at all. On the march they are stuck in the panniers on the horses, or on the backs of the squaws, in- side of their blankets, or in any manner convenience may suggest.
"When I came to see how the children were educated and what was the carly home training (if home they can be said to have). I ceased to wonder at their sav- agery. From their earliest childhood they are taught that fighting and killing are the highest virtues. The war-dance is a school eminently adapted to this end. There all the fierce and cruel deeds in is regarded as "Wakan' (most sacred),
Not only this, but the private recitals, around the fire in the tepees, and all the intercourse of the children with cach other, their sport (if sports they may be called ), tend to the same end.
"Occasionally there would be a day so stormy and cold that even a Sioux would not travel. These were to me more dread- ed, even, than the wearisome marches, because of being crowded in the tepee by the side of the young scions, with their dirty faces and noses. who here had a good opportunity of developing their true nature. There were 'wars and rumors of wars' from morning till night. They would fight, pull hair, scratch and bite un- til their faces were smeared with blood, the squaws not only making no attempt to restrain them, but actually cheering and urging them on, laughing in great glee when they got in some lucky hit, or if they showed fierce or revengeful disposi- tions. With such training is it strange that they grow to be what they are? 'As the twig is bent the tree is inclined.'
"The highest ambition of the young warrior is to secure the feather, which is the testimonial of bis having murdered some human being: but securing one feather only whets his zeal for more, as his rank or standing depends upon the number of his feathers. These are worn in the hair until enough are obtained to make a cap or headgear. No one would be allowed to wear a feather which did not represent a life taken, any more than in our regular army a captain would be allowed to wear the shoulder straps of a colonel. The head-dress, filled with these cagle feathers and other insignia of blood,
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and no unhallowed hand of man or wom- an dare touch it.
"The Sionx believe in one great spirit, the maker of heaven and earth. They also believe in subordinate spirits, both good and bad, and in the immortality of the soul .. The great spirit, they believe, created everything except wild rice and thunder. The rice they believe to be be- neath the workmanship of the great one, and attribute it to chance. Thunder they believe to be the sound of the wings of an immense bird.
"They believe that somewhere in the heavens are cities and villages where the spirits of the departed remain at war with their enemies, and where the Sioux will always find plenty of game. They be- lieve the spirits of the dead have power to inflict injury. They therefore offer sacrifices to appease them.
"They adore the great spirit, although they have distorted conceptions of the at- tributos of the deity. Various objects, animate and inanimate, are worshipped. Sometimes they think the great spirit an- gry with them, as when storms do them harm. They then make sacrifices of ani- mals and other things to pacify him, that they may prosper in life.
"They support a non-hereditary sacer- dotal order, the same person being both priest and medicine-man. They have also what may be termed jugglers, who, they believe, have power to confer blessings or curses. They have little conception of re- wards and punishment after death.
"In cases of sickness they perform ceremonies, which are expected to cure the sick. They also believe in dreams and omens. When they have a good dream, they suppose some friendly spirit has been near them : but bad dreams indicate that of an enemy. The bat they regard as an evil omen, and dread the ignis
fatuus, believing it a certain sign of death in the family of the one who sees it.
"In war and hunting they are directed by signs and dreams. The signs may be the running of animals, flying of birds, or sounds at night. They think some ani- mals have souls and that the bear has four, but do not believe in the transmi- gration of souls as do some of the people of Asia.
"Their fabled monsters are Haokuk, the giant, and Unkatahe. The giant eould stand astride the tallest pine tree or the broadest river, lives on the fat of animals. and is armed with a huge bow and arrow. They believe he yet lives and can kill them with a look from his piercing eye. The Unkatahe is an animal of two kinds, one of the water and one of the land. They are supposed to possess great power and can even kill the thunder. They also believe in fairies who inhabit all strange places, in rivers, lakes, eliffs, mountains and forests.
"The manners, customs and institu- tions of the Dakotas have many of the patriarchal features of the ancients. They strictly observe the feast of the first fruits, and all animals offered in sacrifice must be the best. In some of the feasts they are obliged to eat all that has been cooked. After a religious feast incense is offered, the host taking a large coal from the fire, upon which the foliage of the cedar is laid, and with this the vessels are per- fumed. Certain animals they regard with great veneration, among these the ser- pent, turtle, wolf, grizzly bear and eagle."
A TRIP TO SLOCUM'S.
Illustrative of the hardships endured and the dangers encountered by the Springfield settlers during the long and severe winter of 1856-57 is the follow- ing account of a trip to the home of Isaac Slocum, who lived on the Watonwan, written by Mr. Jareb Palmer. The events
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described occurred just prior to the mas- driving the now through the cracks of the sacre :
"Bright and early on the morning of the tenth of March John Dodson and I started on our long and lonely journey of more than fifty miles across the trackless prairie, covered with at least three feet of snow. We had discarded our boots and put on Indian moccasins that our feet might be the lighter for the long tramp. There had been a slight thaw a few days before, and now there was a crust on the snow that bore our weight most of the time, and we were able to make pretty fair progress notwithstanding the great depth of snow.
"Soon after we started a brisk wind arose from the northwest, but the hard crust prevented the snow from flying much. Dodson proved to be a swift walk- er and I was kept busy trying to keep up with him, but I managed to do it, not without great effort. About one o'clock we passed to the north of Cedar lake, but did not stop as we were anxious to press on, in order to reach a vacant cabin sit- nated on the Watanwon, about twelve miles from Cedar Jake. A short time be- fore sundown we reached the cabin. It was one of the cabins built for the ae- commodation of the mail carrier, and if all of them were of the same character as this one it is no wonder that the car- rier perished. It was built of small logs with large cracks between them, which had not been chinked, and no attempt at plastering had been made. The roof was of hay, supported by brush. There was a doorway but no door to close it. There was no chimney or other place to build a fire, except what little might be made in the middle of the cabin, and then there was danger of setting fire to the hay overhead.
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