USA > Minnesota > Lyon County > An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota > Part 14
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When it became apparent that Kile was lost, the men shouted and rang bells to guide him to safety and a diligent search was made. During the next three weeks searching parties scoured the entire neighborhood, dragged the Yellow Medicine river, and made every effort to locate the body. In the first part of November the body was found embedded in a snow drift, sixty rods northwest of the barn; his hat was found
16Samuel Kile was a son of George and Barbara Kile, who lived over the line in Lincoln county. During the fall of 1880 he was employed with a threshing crew operating north of Minneota and was so employed when he met his death. Samuel Kile was a strong
one and one-half miles southeast from the place. 16
There were several cases of severe freezing and many adventures in this remarkable storm. A Swede living near Ceresco was lost while going from his house to the barn and for three days wandered over the prairie. He was found thirty miles from home with both feet frozen. A son of Levi Craig, who lived near Amiret, had an exciting experience in the storm. He had gone to a neighbor's to get some matches and on the way home became lost. He came upon a wheat stack and, burrowing his way into it, remained there until Sunday morning. He reached home severely frozen.
For a short time after the initial storni the weather was calm but wintry. About the middle of November storms began to rage again, and wintry blasts continued from that time until late in April. For weeks at a time the people of Lyon county were absolutely isolated. They spent long weeks of weary waiting in the midst of the dreariest, gloomiest and most discouraging surroundings- waiting for the raising of the blockade and the arrival of the necessaries of life, of which they were deprived. Because of the fuel and provision famine which ensued there was considerable suffering in parts of the county. Severe cold weather began November 16 and during the remainder of the month the ther- mometer frequently registered sub-zero.
Following is the story of the winter, told in brief chronological order, from the beginning of December until the breakup in the spring:
DECEMBER.
2-3. Zero weather.
young man and weighed about 180 pounds. At the time of his death he was eighteen years, eight months and eighteen days of age. lle was a brother of Arthur J. Kile, who for many years has been a resident of Minneota.
*
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
4. Snow falling and drifting. Last train and mail for five days.
5-9. Below zero weather. Railroad block- ade raised on the ninth.
10-15. Milder weather.
23. Last freight train of the winter arrived.
25. Ten days' railroad blockade begun. 17
25-31. Extremely cold weather-thirty and thirty-five below zero-and blizzardy.
26. Ole Norton lost in blizzard and so severely frozen that he died later.18
JANUARY.
4. First train in ten days arrived. Big mail receipts.
5. Another train ran.
6. Railroad blockaded
S. Snow-fighting train got over the line.
10. Road eleared and first mail received since January 5. No freight trains.
12. Twenty-four hour blizzard raged. One week railway blockade begun.
19. Last train from the east for three months arrived.
20. Train ran from Marshall to Watertown in the morning and returned to Tracy in the evening-the last train over the line until April
17"We haven't seen business more nearly at a standstill for some years than it was here several days this week. We suppose it is necessary to state that we have had no eastern trains this week. Just when we will have one again is a matter still under dis- cussion."-Messenger, December 31, 1880.
18Ole Norton was thirty-two years old and lived alone in Vallers township. On the evening of December 26 he started out to go to the home of his brother, Michael Norton, a little over one-half mile away. The thermometer registered ten degrees below zero and the wind was blowing hard.
Mr. Norton passed a hay stack about thirty rods from his house and thereafter found it difficult to determine the directions. He continued on his way but soon became completely lost. After wandering about on the prairie two hours he again came to the same staek, but believed it to be another about two miles distant. He could see a few rods away the dim outline of what he took to be a house, and made an effort to reach it, but he could make little headway against the wind and returned to the stack. By this time his feet were freezing and to keep up the circula- tion of blood he began running around the hay stack.
Failing to get relief, Mr. Norton dug a hole in the stack, with the intention of seeking shelter therein. Progress was painfully slow, as his hands were be- numbed and he had lost one of his gloves. He sue- eeeded in making an opening only large enough for his legs, which he hoped to keep from freezing. The unfortunate man remained at the hay stack until daylight and then with great difficulty made his way to his house, which he found was only a few rods away. With greater difficulty he succeeded in building a fire. Mr. Norton's cap was frozen to his head, but after awhile it thawed out enough to be removed. He got one of his boots off and found his feet were frozen solid. Becoming alarmed at his condition and not daring to remain alone while thawing out, Norton hobbled to his brother's house with one foot bare. There he was taken care of and hopes were entertained that his feet might be saved. Both feet were ampu- tated below the knee on January 9 by Doctors Andrews and Farnsworth and Mr. Norton died on the twelfth. His experience in the storm was given by him sub- stantially as recorded above.
19"During the past week Marshall has given a limited supply of fuel to the towns above and entirely exhausted her own supply. The former blockade was not broken long enough to get any freight through from the east and none of any consequence has arrived since the Christmas blockade. The last cordwood has been sold and the last of small coal has been sold. There is a plentiful supply of large hard coal in town,
19. Storm from the north. Fuel supply run- ning short. 19
21. Blizzard raging.
22. Still storming.
24. Railroad entirely covered with drifts, in places thirty or forty feet deep. Railroad has sublet the contract for carrying the mail between Sleepy Eye and Watertown, and mail from the west received.
26. Blizzard from the north.
27. Fuel famine at Minneota reported. 20
30. Heavy snow storm at night.
31. Blizzard.
FEBRUARY.
1. Fuel nearly gone at Marshall. 21
2. A little coal turned over to the dealer by Mr. Burchard, of Marshall, and sold in small lots.
3. Last overland mail for many days re- ceived. At evening began one of the worst storms of the winter, coming from the south- east. Lasted until the seventh. 22
7. Mild weather and thaw after the storm subsided. Froze at night and crusted all the drifts.
8. Fuel famine serious. Breaking roads to Camden woods. 23
which for use in cooking or parlor stoves requires to be broken up."-News, January 21, 1881.
20"A. M. Chadburn, of Minneota, was in town yesterday and says the people of that town are suffering greatly from cold, that there has been neither wood nor eoal there for a long time. He states that women and children and many of the men are compelled to lie in bed during the night and day in order to keep from freezing. Mr. Chadburn eame down to see if he could seeure any fuel, and finding a small quantity of eoal and some green wood, he says the citizens will at once come here for a supply."-News, January 28, 1851.
21The only dry wood on sale at that time were a few cords that were hauled in from the Youmania farm and sold at $10 or $11 per cord, and the supply was soon exhausted. What little hard coal there was sold for $13.75 per ton.
22"From Thursday night of last week [February 3] until Monday morning of this [February 7], this locality was visited by the heaviest and worst snow storm the oldest inhabitant, much as he hates to admit it, ever saw here. . . . On this occasion we had both snow and wind in uncommon quantities. Instead of coming from the northwest, as most of our winter storms do, this one came from the southeast. While not very cold for a winter storm, the severe wind and drifting snow made it impossible most of the time to do anything out of doors, and nearly all business was at a standstill. When it eleared off the roads were in the worst possible condition. Drifts on top of drifts so perfectly impeded travel that during Monday very few teams ventured out, although the snow was soft and melting."-Messenger, February 11. ISS1.
23"Tuesday morning [February S] the citizens were notified to assemble at the land office to take action toward breaking out the roads leading to town from the settlers' farms. It was resolved that the first duty was to open the road to the Camden timber lands, ten miles distant, as many families were destitute of fuel. Rev. Liscomb stated that the wood-chopping party, which started in the morning, had progressed only two miles and returned to dinner, but had gone out again. The resolution was followed by immediate action, and half an hour later three or four teams and thirty or forty men were on the road to Camden. They reached the morning party about five miles out, where they had been met by a Camden party led by V. M. Smith, with a small load of flour from the mill. The entire party returned to town, announcing an open road to the timber land and the probability of a supply of wood the following day.
"An adjourned meeting was held at the land office in
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HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
9. Roads broken from Marshall to Ceresco, AAmiret and other points. Farmers reported burning hay.
11. Severe blizzard from the north.
12. Blizzard all day. Measures for relief of destitute taken in Marshall. 24
14. Suffering reported at Minneota for lack of fuel and provisions. Burning railroad fence posts. 25
19. Ladies of Marshall raised money for supplies for the destitute.
22. Hard snow storm, the only one of any consequence for nearly a week. People of Grandview burning snow fences. 26
2-1. Snow and south wind.
25. Blizzard from the south.
26. Blizzard from the northwest.
28. Mail received. Oats used for fuel. 27
MARCH.
1-3. Mild weather.
4. Fierce blizzard all day.
the evening. There was considerable discussion as to the opening of roads to other towns and out upon the prairies to the settlers. It was said that settlers were out of fuel and provisions and it was quite impossible for them to break the roads and get to town. Rov. Liscomb favored opening roads to the hay and straw stacks near town, as horses and cattle were suffering for food. It was finally agreed that gangs of men and teams should operate Wednesday on the roads to the northeast, north and southwest, and the following morning work was begun. It was decided that on Thursday a combined effort should be made to open the road south to Tracy, it being reported that the towns above and below were opening connecting roads, in order to get the mail and freight on the railroad." - News, February 11, 1881.
24February 12 a meeting was held in Marshall to devise means of relief for those who were suffering for lack of fuel or provisions because of the blockades and severe weather. It was the general opinion that relief should come from the county commissioners and a committee was appointed to look into the matter of destitute persons.
25" People at Minneota have received permission from the railroad company to dig up and burn all the fence posts, and Station Agent Davidson is having a perplexing time in their distribution. Only Coats' store has been open for three weeks past, because there has been no fuel to warm the stores. As yet only a few cases of actual suffering for want of provisions have come to light and these have been attended to. About a dozen teams went to the Camden timber Monday morning [February 14] and that night suc- ceeded in bringing to town about eight cords of wood. It was tedious work and few teams could haul more than half a cord. Some who started with more had to leave part of it on the road. On Tuesday some fifteen teams went to the woods and brought in about ten cords. The wood sells here at $7.00 per cord."- News, February 18, 1881.
26"While we in Grandview have been poorly off for fuel, our supply long since being exhausted, we have kept from suffering by the aid of the snow fences along the line of the railroad, and these are well-nigh ex- hausted; but we live as all our neighbors do, in hope. We have heard of no cases of suffering for want of worldly goods and but little sickness."-Grandview Correspondent, February 25, 1881.
27"Mr. Humphrey and others east of here are burning oats for fuel and say that a bushel a day supplies a stove. This makes a cheap fuel."-Mes- senger, March 4, 1881.
28"Marshall came very near getting out of kerosene oil some three weeks ago and our enterprising grocer of the Twin Cash Stores, Mr. Waldron, sent W. A. Crooker and his mules down to Mankato after a load. This was about the only team that would try to make the trip, and bets were made that he wouldn't be back here to celebrate the Fourth of July. But it is never
5. Beginning six days of fine weather. Sup- ply of kerosene received at Marshall. 28
9. Roads open between most of the settle- ments. Deep snows reported in Custer town- ship. 29
10. Rain, hail and snow storm began at night.
11. Blizzard all day.
12. Continued blizzard. Heavy snowfall.
13. Fair weather.
14. Blizzard began at noon.
17. Snow drifting.
24. Second load of express matter since December arrived overland from Sleepy Eye. Marshall people attack snow fences. 30
30. Attempt made to open the railroad. 31
31. Severest blizzard of the winter raged. 32
APRIL.
1-7. Spring weather. Shovelers working on snow drifts between Tracy and Marshall. 33
6. Heavy mail overland from the east.
safe to bet on what Crooker and his mules can accom- plish, and last Saturday [March 5] they hove in sight over the hill. The band instantly turned out with a long rope, to which were attached nearly a hundred boys, to help haul him into harbor. Having hitched on and got the Twin Cash proprietor on board, they refused to let go and made a grand street parade, thus giving glory to the event and a good advertise- ment to the Twin Cash Stores. We have plenty of oil here now and can give our neighbors some if needed. Crooker made the trip in about twelve days, but had to stop two days at Lake Marshall on account of a blizzard. Mr. Waldron very generously paid him $14 more than agreed on to make up for the unexpected bad weather and other delays."-Messenger, March II, 1881.
29"Most of the farmers are busy digging snow. Some have tunnels ton feet deep and forty feet long leading to their stables. We have seen a number of our neighbors going to mill with handsleds. Coal oil is very precious and the burning of tallow candles is considered a luxury. Mail is out of the question, which makes it very disagreeable for those who have distant sweethearts. Most of us are burning green wood, which is very hard on our patience."-Custer Correspondent, March 11, 1881.
30"Parties out of dry wood have lately been tearing down all the snow fences up this way for fuel. Green wood is plenty here yet, but high because of bad roads."-Messenger, March 25, 1SS1.
31"Superintendent Sanborn arrived here Wednesday [March 30] and proceeded to tear up things to heat the engine that has been stored here for several weeks and began work on the road between here and Tracy. As the company is now at work at both ends of the blockade and in the middle, we can hope to connect with the outside world in a few weeks. Later-This item was a little too previous. A slight change in the weather has delayed things some."-Messenger, April 1, 1881.
32" Wednesday evening [March 30] damp snow began to fall in this vicinity, with a constantly increasing wind, and by midnight the storm had assumed the title of blizzard. Thursday morning dawned upon the blizzard in full bloom and the old prophecy of March coming in like a lamb, sure to go out like a lion, was fully verified, for certainly no storm of the winter was more severe than that of the last day of March."- News, Apri! 1, 1881.
33"Since the last blizzard, March 31, the weather has been putting on the air of spring, and the work of opening the railroad has rapidly progressed. Volun- teer companies turned out here for two or three days, and the railroad company has since been hiring all the men they could get to shovel snow. The coal shed and other things that could be spared were chopped up for fuel to feed the engine that has been wintered here, and as long as that holds out fair progress will be made. The cuts are everywhere filled full, and the
96
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
7. Mail for the east sent out by way of Granite Falls. Marshall people burning lum- ber. 34 Began snowing at two o'clock.
S. Northeast blizzard and heavy snowfall.
11. Snowing.
12. North wind drifts snow.
13. Zero weather.
16. First night since early in November that iee did not form.
18. Railroad opened to Tracy and first train in three months-lacking two days-arrived.
19. Railroad opened to Marshall and freight train arrived at eleven o'clock in morning, bringing car load of wood. Two passenger trains also arrived, bringing first mail in two . weeks. These were the first trains from the east to reach Marshall in exactly three months.
20. Railroad opened to Minneota, but no trains run. 35
21. Floods washed out track and bridges and traffic on the railroad (after twenty-four hours' operation) was suspended until May 3.
The long winter of 1880-81 was over, but its results were not over, and after trains had been operated in Lyon county one day, the blockade was again in force by reason of floods and washouts, and no trains were run in the county until May 3.
The torrents of water from the melting snow overfilled the banks of the rivers, inundated the low lands, and carried away bridges and railroad tracks. Six bridges on the line of the Northwestern
between Sleepy Eye and Watertown were carried away and there were a dozen places where the track was washed out.
The melting snows began to cover the lower surfaces on April 20, but the over- flow of the streams did not take place until the twenty-second. Floodtide was reached Sunday evening, April 24. and on the following day the waters began to recede. On the twenty-eighth the streams were so reduced as to be nearly within their banks again.
The losses in different parts of the county were considerable. The dam of the Redwood at the Camden mill was swept away, as was also one in Lyons township. The streets of Marshall were traveled in boats, and trips; by boat were made from that village to points on the Minnesota river. part of the way over the inundated prairies. The bridges over the Redwood at Marshall were wrecked and several thousand feet of lumber and several small buildings were carried away. The loss in the village was estimated at $5000.36
snow is almost as hard as ice in some places. As there is no snow plow here every foot of the euts has to be shoveled out by hand. The work will therefore be slow and Tracy will not be reached before next week probably. At the Sleepy Eye end the drifts are much worse than here, and although as large a force as they ean get is employed, their progress west is not rapid. If the road is open by the last of next week our largest expectations will be realized."-Messenger, April S, 1SS1.
34"Considerable lumber is being burned here now, other fuel being searce and high. Mr. Sullivan has been selling lumber for fuel at first cost."- News, April 8, 1881.
35A Minncota citizen, writing to the Marshall News of April 25, ISSI, told of conditions at that point during the winter, as follows:
= . . That although we have passed so far a very unpleasant winter and have suffered great incon- veniences, there has been no loss of life or property in consequence of the severity of the weather. Our village has not known what it is to enjoy the luxuries of a good wood pile or well-filled eoal bins during nearly the entire winter.
"Farmers about Minneota have fared worse than the people in town, in not having wood or coal, but better in having plenty of hay and straw to feed and burn. . A great many farmers have stables so located as to be completely covered over with snow. A large number have an opening only at the top and the farmers go down into their stables by means of a ladder, the animals being completely confined in a snow prison. We have heard of no instances of farmers having been out of fuel. . . . At one time there were three familics that had nearly exhausted their supply of provisions during a stormy spell, but they were
soon supplied again and have suffered no ineon- venienees since.
"There has been no attempt to keep open the roads for teams except along the railroad track. Snowshoes and handsleds on wide runners have taken the place of horses and sleighs in this vicinity. On Tuesday of this week four men on snowshoes hauled a corpse on a handsled a distance of about ten miles to the burying ground of this place for interment. The corpse had been kept two or three weeks buried in a snowbank awaiting an opportunity for burial. Pleasant days during the past two months have been signaled in town by hundreds of feet of snowshoes. All seem to have fallen in with the Seandinavian idea of going to town on snowshoes and taking their goods home on hand- sleds or paeking them on their backs.
"The stores of our town have suffered but little inconvenience as yet for supplies of provisions; at least they continue to serve their customers as usual."
36The Marshall News of April 29, 1881, told of the flood in the village as follows:
"The Second Street bridge, leading to the railroad, was not high or wide enough to carry off the surplus water. Almost as soon as the area between the street and Nichols' stable was filled, the water burst over the street, from between the bridge and the corner of the Merchants Exchange, cutting off communication for teams and pedestrians. At the same time Main Street at the lower bridge had been overflowed, cutting off communication in that direction. Early in the day water backed up between the railroad bridge and Main Street, soon cutting across the street and making a broad, deep and rapid current past the Bagley House, Watson's residence, and across to the bend of the river. This outburst relieved the main channel and saved the entire main street and its business blocks from inundation.
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LBOuts. 1885.
A PIONEER HOME
Log Cabin Erected on Section 4, Custer Township, in 1870, by Zibe Furgeson, and Purchased the Following Year by Benjamin B. Thomas. The Engraving is Made From a Painting.
1
97
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
The work of repairing the railroad and raising the blockade was put under way as soon as the waters permitted. The reconstruction crew, working from the east, reached Tracy May 1, and on the afternoon of the third Marshall was reached. The same evening a well- loaded freight train brought supplies to the several villages along the line and the next day passenger, mail and freight service were established. Train service on the branch west from Tracy was begun about the same time.
The long blockade was broken and the people of Lyon county were again able to purchase the necessities of life. The Marshall News of April 6 said:
Every store in town hung out its banner labeled "sugar" this week. The town has been without it for a week or two, along with many other things. Towns west of us have been much more destitute, very nearly approaching suffering in some cases. The doeile coffeemill has furnished all the flour and meal of many families.
A gentleman living at Minneota wrote at the time of the arrival of the first train :
We have just received our first freight since January. The arrival of the train with the bridge carpenters was the signal for the citizens to turn out and run to the depot. The railroad company sent in a freight train right away after the work train. A joyful smile overspread the countenanees of our citizens when they heard that Coats had some sugar on the train, and what a rush there was by the sweet-toothed members of our community!
Most of the 1880 grain crop was
"The street afforded a rapid watercourse from the News office, past the Bagley House, to the end of the street, and from the Merchants Exchange the water reached to the hill beyond the bridge. The passage of the water past the Bagley House and Watson's place to the river left the business part of town entirely surrounded by water and accessible only by boats. On Saturday [April 23] the high walks west of the News office and barber shop were carried away, leaving the Bagley House, Gary's building, Wetherbee's store, the marble works and Mrs. Farnsworth's building each surrounded by rapid eurrents of water, through which it was difficult to navigate boats. Temporary bridges were eonstrueted ou Monday to reach these points. All of the cellars on the south side of the street were flooded and stables and cattle buildings generally were abandoned.
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