USA > Minnesota > Lyon County > An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota > Part 16
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Arthur Heath left Marshall a few minutes before the storm struck with a load of manure to haul a short distance beyond the village. Ile heard the approach of the storm and, turning, saw it coming. He jumped off the load, unhitched the team, and turned them toward the barn, but the horses would not face the storm. Hle then went with them with the storm and fortunately brought up at the building at the fair grounds. He got his team inside, and his dog, which
western Minnesota, acting as agents for the Manitoba road, of which James J. Hill was the presiding genius." The officers and directors chosen at the time of organization were J. M. Spicer, of Willmar, president; D. E. Sweet, of Pipestone, vice president; C. C. Good- now, of Pipestone, secretary; C. B. Tyler, of Marshall, treasurer; J. G.
had followed, also eame within. Hatch had little clothing on, and, getting cold, he commenced to tramp around the building. Ilis feet beeame cold and he took the blankets from his horses, wrapped his dog in them, and lay down with his feet next to the dog. Alternately walking and warming his feet in that way. he passed the long night. In the morning it was still cold and blizzarding and he did not dare to try to get home in his condition. The man was missed Thursday evening, but it was out of the question to attempt to find him in such a storm. The next morning a res- euing party found him. His hands and feet were badly frozen, but with care he came out all right.
Josiah Clark's two sons were a mile and a half from home with four horses and were given up as lost by their father, but they pulled through, found the house, and the horses followed them in.
Hans Peterson, of Coon Creek township, and his fourteen-year-old son, Jay P. Peterson, now a resident of Russell, came near losing their lives. They had just finished watering their herd of horses in the Redwood river when the howling blizzard struck them. The horses were blinded by the whirling avalanche of snow and all except one blind marc fled with the storm to the southeast. The Peterson home was to the east and the man and boy finally succeeded in reaching the barn, bringing with them the blind mare. In order that they might not become lost in going from the barn to the house, one stayed at the barn and hallooed until the other made his way to the house; then the one at the house by his voice directed the other.
They had hardly entered the building when a rushing, pounding noise was heard outside, as if a hurricane threatened the destruction of the premises. Upon rushing out they discovered, to their amazement, the whole herd of horses within the open space about the house, they having plunged headlong into it from the summits of the encircling drifts. The animals were totally blind, the entire front of their heads being blocked with solid ice. They were rounded up and with great difficulty got into the barn. It is the opinion of Mr. Peterson that the horses heard the shouts of the men at the house and blindly made their way against the storm to where instinet told themn lay safety.
M. S. Faweett and his son, who lived near Balaton, lost a herd of eattle and only through good fortune succeeded in getting to safety themselves. The blizzard came upon them while they were driving the stoek to water, only a short distance from the house. In an unsuccessful attempt to get the cattle baek to the barn, they became lost. They finally came upon a hedge fence that led them to the barn.
James Harris and his son in Grandview had a close eall while watering their stock. The stoek turned and went with the storm. The boy was on a horse, without saddle, bridle or halter, and it was with the greatest difficulty that the father overtook and got the boy off the horse and then found his way home.
In Lynd township Messrs. Gilman and Gooder were out with their stock. Gooder became lost and sought shelter in a straw stack. By the merest accident Mr. Gilman ran across him and rescued him in a freezing condition. Each lost their stock.
Hans Solberg was with his team after hay. When the storm struck he unhitched the team, fastened the horses to the wagon, and after a great struggle reached home. HisTears and hands were frozen.
8The formal transfer of the Willmar & Sioux Falls to the Manitoba Company was made in September, 1887, before the line was constructed, and after January, 1890, the road was designated Great Northern.
105
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
Schutz, of Marshall; H. T. Carson, of new election notices were posted and Sioux Falls. ยบ
The information was given out that Mr. Hill was the promoter of the new road and that a proposition for the issuance of bonds as a bonus would soon be submitted. A preliminary sur- vey of the road, which was to run from Willmar to Sioux Falls, was begun in April, 1886, and the next month sur- veyors, working from the south, began working on the line in Lyon county. Then activities for the year ceased.
Early in the spring of 1887 surveyors again operated in the county, and it became evident that the road would be built. The promoters asked for town- ship bonds of all townships except Westerheim, Eidsvold, Nordland. Rock Lake, Custer, Monroe and Amiret, to the value of $35,200, in consideration of which they would have the line com- pleted by January 1. 18SS. The elec- tion notices were posted by committees from Marshall, which was the seat of the greatest interest in the campaign, and the first election was held in Stanley and bonds carried. Before the other elections were held the railroad authorities stopped proceedings for the purpose of presenting a new proposition.
This was to the effect that as it would be impossible to have the road in operation when promised, an extension of time was asked to October 1, 1888, in consideration of which a slight re- duction in the amount of bonds asked would be made. Considerable feeling was aroused because of the delay, but
9The Willmar & Sioux Falls Railroad Company was incorporated with a capital stock of $2,000,000 by J. M. Spicer and G. H. Perkins, of Willmar: Gorham Powers, of Granite Falls; C. B. Tyler and J. G. Schutz. of Marshall; C. C. Goodnow and D. E. Sweet, of Pipestone; E. A. Sherman and H. T. Carson, of Sioux Falls.
10 Bonds carried.
11As a matter of fact only a part of the bonds voted ever passed into the hands of the railroad company. The Marshall News-Messenger of October 23, 1903, said :
"The village of Marshall bonds are the only bonds
the elections were held. Under the new terms the several precinets were asked to vote $31,600, but it was thought probable that at least one township would vote against the bonds, and the railroad officers let it be known that they would be satisfied with $30,000.
The elections were held in May and June. The amount of bonds asked of each precinct and the result of the vote were as follows:
PRECINCTS
Bonds Asked
For Bonds
Against Bonds
Lucas
$1700
20
16
Vallers
900
16
25
Grandview
2000
4-4
48
Fairview
2400
28
3
Clifton.
1400
27
1
Lake Marshall
3400
33
Marshall.
10000
203
()
Lynd 10
34400
:
Island Lake
900
36
11
Coon Creek
1000
22
0
Lyons
1500
36
12
Sodus.
1600
30
25
Shelburne.
1400
13
19
Total.
$31,600
The failure to vote bonds in Grand- view, Vallers and Shelburne resulted in raising only $27,300, or $2700 short of the sum demanded. To make up the deficiency the village of Marshall, on April 17, 1888, voted $3000 additional bonds, nominally . to furnish depot grounds and right of way in Marshall. The bonds were carried by a vote of 128 to 10.11
The roadbed of the Willmar & Sioux
ever issued and turned over to the railroad company. The towns of Lynd and Lyons issued their bonds but forbade their delivery to the railroad company until a like amount of stock value of the road was delivered to said towns in exchange for the bonds, meanwhile placing the bonds in trust with C. B. Tyler, who has retained their custody during the past fifteen years. None of the other towns issued the bonds they had so freely voted, and presumably for the same reason that the Lynd and Lyons bonds were held in escrow. . . It is a singular faet that neither the old Willmar & Sioux Falls Company, the Great Northern Company, nor any party having a elaim to the bonds have ever demanded the same during the fifteen years that they have been held in escrow."
106
IHISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
Falls railroad was graded during the summer and fall of 1887. not being com- pleted until early in December. The track was laid in August, 1888, Marshall being reached on the twenty-first . of that month. Trains were operated north from Marshall on September 11, and between that village and Pipestone early in October. The work of con- struction was somewhat delayed in the vicinity of Camden because of the large number of bridges necessary to build there.
The construction of the railroad had a wholesome effect on Lyon county. The villages of Cottonwood, Green Valley, Lynd. Russell and Florence were founded as a result. The northeastern and southwestern portions of the county, which before had not been thiekly settled, were rapidly filled with settlers. Adding to the prevailing active times, one of the best crops of years was harvested in 1888.
Another railroad that was projected in 1888 was the Minnesota & Northern, which proposed to build a line from the south through Tracy and thence to the north. In July Tracy and Monroe township voted bonds to aid in its con- struction, but the company failed to build because of lack of capital.
On July 22, 1890. a cyclone visited Lyon county and left a trail of death, ruined crops and wrecked homes in a narrow strip of country in Eidsvold, Westerheim and Grandview townships. The cyclone formed at about twenty minutes before six o'clock at a point about seven miles north of Minneota. The cloud formation is said to have been one of the most singular spectacles ever witnessed. The clouds concentrated in such a manner as to form the distinct outlines of a human head, of mammoth proportions, with the wind .apparently issuing from the open mouth.
The twisting formation started upon, its travels in an easterly direction and continued in that direction about one- half mile. Its width varied from two to ten rods. It suddenly took a turn to the south and ran a furious race to within three-quarters of a mile of Minneota; then. after seeming to rest for a second, it took a southeasterly course with more fury than ever.
Throughout its course in Eidsvold township the cyclone scattered grass, grain and dirt in the air, but struck no buildings. On the northwest quarter of section 20, Westerheim, the large barn of B. L. Leland was struck. The roof and two sides were torn out, but the house, in which was the family, eight rods distant, was not damaged.
The next place attacked was the home of Felix DeReu, on the southwest quarter of section 28. Westerheim, and here the storm commenced its deadly work. In the house were Mrs. De Reu and four children-Cyriel, Bertha, Julius and a baby. The house was struck with such terrific force that it was smashed into fragments, and beneath the ruins were buried the DeReu family. The mother had gathered the children and with the baby in her arms had started for the cellar when the storm broke.
Cyriel, the eldest child, was so badly injured that he died the following morning; Mrs. DeReu's limb was broken just above the ankle; Julius sustained a broken leg; and Bertha was so badly injured that for a time her life was despaired of. The other child, although carried a distance of over two hundred vards, was uninjured. Mr. DeReu was buried in the ruins of the granary and badly bruised but not seriously hurt. All the buildings on the place were leveled to the ground in almost an instant and seattered over the prairie; not a single thing that goes to make up
107
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
a farmer's home was left whole. Even the farm machinery that stood on the premises was broken up and scattered broadcast over the fields in six-inch pieces.
The cyclone continued its southeast- erly course and struck with awful vio- lence at the home of Andrew Opdahl, on the southwest quarter of section 34. Westerheim. The house, barn and gran- ary were whirled through the air and scattered over the prairie, not a board or timber being left in its original size. Mrs. Opdahl and her child were taken up by the storm and dashed back to earth. Both were badly bruised and cut but not seriously injured. Mr. Opdahl was returning from Ghent and saw the wrecking of his home. Two horses were lifted bodily, carried several rods, and deposited in a neighbor's field.
A little farther on its course the cyclone passed within a few rods of Thomas Carron's house, and then seemed to lift. A parting puff removed the chimney from a blacksmith shop in Ghent and then the twister vanished.
The census of 1890 showed a popula- tion of 9501 in Lyon county, an increase of 1523 in five years.12 Great progress was made in material advancement during 1890 and the following year. The News-Messenger of November 20, 1891, described conditions: "A season of healthfulness, a crop of remarkable bounteousness, a year of unparalleled growth for Marshall and Lyon county, enormous trade at all stores, unprece- dented payments of mortgages and old debts, and most promising prospects for the future."
Lyon county's court house was built in 1891, after many years' effort. Upon
12By preeincts the population in 1890 was as follows: Amiret, 294; Clifton, 245; Coon Creek, 258; Custer, 321; Eidsvold, 413; Fairview, 266; Grandview, 443; Island Lake, 300; Lake Marshall, 233; Lucas, 466;
the removal of the county seat to Mar- shall early in 1874, in accordance with their promise, the townsite owners, Messrs. Stewart, Jenkins, Ward and Blake, donated the block of ground upon which the building now stands. At the same time the free use of the office of J. W. Blake was given for the transaction of county business and for a time that was the Lyon county court house. Apparently it was not in use long, for on October 15, 1875, we find this complaint in the Marshall Messen- ger: "Just now, it seems, we are out of court house room, and our offices can be found lying around in cheap corners most anywhere."
The first official action toward the construction of a court house was taken by the Board of County Commissioners in July, 1874, when the following reso- lution was passed:
"Resolved that there be a special tax of one mill on the dollar, payable in money only, levied on the taxable property of Lyon county for the year 1874, and for eight succeeding years, for the purpose of building a court house in said county."
It was also provided that the money so raised should be loaned on Lyon county real estate, all loans to be made payable March 1. 1883. The times were such, however, that sentiment was against the levying of this tax, and on October, 1875, the action was rescinded and $68.83 in the court house fund was transferred to another fund.
The first county building, erected on the court house square, was put up in June, 1876. Its dimensions were 18x24 feet and it was twelve feet high. Joshua Goodwin was the contractor. This little building was occupied until the new
Lynd, 380; Lyons, 344; Marshall, 1203; Minneota, 325; Monroe, 252; Nordland, 357; Rock Lake, 395; Shelburne, 275; Sodus, 280; Stanley, 198; Tracy, 1400; Vallers, 397; Westerheim, 456.
108
IIISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
court house was erected. It was sold December 7, 1892, for $281.
Early in 1881 an effort was made to build a court house and jail. A bill passed the Legislature and was approved March 7, which authorized the issuance of bonds, not to exceed $15,000, for the purposes, but it was not to become operative until it had been ratified by a vote of the electors. Sentiment was still against the expenditure and the question was not submitted to the voters.
In December of the same year the commissioners purchased of George Nichols for $1500 a building on Main Street, which for the next nine years was used for court purposes.13 It was sold in July, 1891, for $2500.
Not until 1889 did the court house question again become a live issue. Then Representative A. C. Forbes in- troduced a bill which provided for the repeal of the 1881 measure (authorizing a bond issue of $15,000) and for author- ity to issue bonds to the amount of $50,000. There were several restrictive provisions: the bonds were not to be issued unless the act was ratified by majority vote at a special election, and the election was not to be called unless a petition (naming the amount of bonds to be voted for). signed by at least five resident freeholders who were legal voters in each voting precinct in the county was filed. If the bond issue were defeated at one election, another might be called to vote on the same question.
The bill was passed and approved by Governor Merriam, but not without opposition. An indignation meeting was held in Tracy and a committee of three
was sent to St. Paul to protest against the signing of the bill. Remonstrances were liberally signed in parts of the county and forwarded to St. Paul. It soon became known that the people of the county generally were opposed to the expenditure of so great a sum, and as in former cases the matter was not voted on.
The final struggle for the court house came in 1891. Prosperous times were then enjoyed and there was a surplus of $18,000 in the county treasury. The matter was taken up early in the year by the farmers alliance organizations, which at the time were powerful in the county. They passed resolutions in favor of the erection of a building to cost in the neighborhood of $25,000, but were opposed to the expenditure of $50,000, as the former bill provided.
A bill was introduced in the Legisla- ture by Representative C. H. White providing for the erection of a court house at a cost of not more than $25.000. The County Board was authorized to use the funds on hand and to issue bonds for the balance. Again the question was to be submitted to the people and the county auditor was directed to call a special election.
Again the people of Tracy and those parts of the county opposed to the measure raised a protest and threatened to bring on a county seat contest. An offer was made to build and donate to the county a court house at Tracy, providing the county seat should be moved to that village. The bill passed the Lower House under suspension of the rules, and a delegation from Tracy made an effort to have it reconsidered, but was unsuccessful. A fight was then
13"Those who advocate the building of a court house think this purchase an unwise one, but those in favor of delaying the court house building until we know what we want think the purchase of the Nichols Building an economical and safe investment. . . The lower part of the building makes a good court
room, and above there are two good jury rooms. This building will furnish ample accommodation for court business for some years to come and can be let for other purposes between terms . if desired."- Marshall Messenger, December 15, 1881.
100
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
made before committees of the Senate and for two weeks the bill was one of the principal topics of discussion at the capitol. The court house adherents were successful; the bill passed the. Senate in March and was approved by the governor.
The election to decide the question was held on Saturday, May 9, 1891, and was the fiercest fought battle of ballots ever witnessed in Lyon county. It was in a measure a sectional fight, with Marshall and adjoining territory on one side and Tracy and adjoining territory on the other. The result was 939 votes in favor of building the court house and 862 against. The several precincts voted as follows:
PRECINCTS
For Building
Against Building
Marshall.
350
0
Tracy
0
305
Minneota
33
32
Amiret.
4
56
Clifton.
50
0
Coon Creek
21
12
Custer .
0
69
Eidsvold
3
.
45
Fairview
54
1
Grandview
49
14
Island Lake
10
30
Lake Marshall.
60
0
Lucas.
50
23
Lynd
55
8
Lyons
28
14
Monroe
0
66
Nordland
5
49
Rock Lake.
20
62
Shelburne
17
9
Sodus.
20
31
Stanley
41
0
Vallers
47
5
Westerheim.
22
31
Total.
939
862
There was a big celebration by the people of Marshall on election night, and Monday there was a bigger celebration in honor of the victory, in which people from many parts of the county partici- pated. The committee under whose direction the campaign for the court
house was waged was composed of A. C. Chittenden, V. B. Seward, M. Sullivan, C. F. Johnson, A. R. Chace, Olof Pehrson, R. M. Addison and F. E. Persons.
There was no delay in the construc- tion of the building. On May 19 Frank Thayer, of Mankato, was employed as architect and superintendent of con- struction. The contract was let June 11, 1891, to D. D. Smith, of Minneapolis, on a bid of $22,290, increased later by $700 by reason of changes in plans. Other contracts were let for vaults, etc., in the sum of $1058. Work of excava- tion for the court house was begun early in July, the corner stone was laid under the auspices of the Masonic order September 3, and the structure was com- pleted and was to have been dedicated January 15, 1892.
Early in the morning of January 8 the new building was discovered to be on fire and within a few hours only the walls of the building were standing. The sum of $14,622 was secured in insurance. A contract for rebuilding the court house was let in March, 1892, to J. D. Carroll, of St. Paul, on a bid of $13,893, and the building was accepted by the Board of County Commissioners on November 14.
There were prospects for an enormous crop in 1892 and a continuation of prosperous times, but the march of progress was interrupted by a series of storms which brought destruction to a big part of the crop.
Early in the morning of August 5. 1892, a tornado did some damage in Marshall, demolishing a residence, bring- ing a $1500 damage to the court house in course of construction, and twisting barns and overturning several small buildings. The loss was about $2500.
The next disaster of the season came August 8, when a wind and hail storm,
110
HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.
within the space of ten minutes, brought damage in Lyon county to the amount of nearly a half million dollars. The amount of hail and the size of the stones were without precedent. In Mar- shall the storm took the same course as the one of three days before. Several buildings were wrecked, including the Icelandic church, one or two residences, and several barns. The damage in the village was only $3000 or $4000.
The storm was from five to eight miles wide and extended across the central part of the county from west to east. The townships of Island Lake, Lynd and Lake Marshall were completely covered, although in rare instances here and there a quarter section escaped with little damage through a freak in the elements' course. The loss in those townships was nearly total. About three-fourths of Nordland township was covered, as were also the two southern tiers of sections in Grandview and Fairview, the eastern and central parts of Clifton, and the north tiers of sections of Sodus and Lyons. It was estimated that one-sixth of the county's grain crop was lost. The acreage of grain de- stroyed was placed at 39,280 and the money loss $471,360.
On August 13 a heavy wind storm. general over the county, brought another loss. The grain still standing was pounded down, so that much of it was absolutely worthless.
The memorable panie of 1893 and a few years of stringent times followed; the decade of development was rudely interrupted. There was a period of partial crop failures and low prices and the county passed through a time of depression. Several firms failed and business was paralyzed. The preceding years of plenty had induced many to enlarge their holdings. Farmers had purchased more lands, increased their
stock, erected new buildings, largely on credit, and on them fell a heavy hand.
On July. 5, 1893, came a most de- structive hail storm, which, however, brought loss to only a small part of the county, in the extreme southwestern corner. The damage in Lincoln and Murray counties was great, and in the southern half of Shelburne township all exposed plant life was destroyed. The fields were left blackened and only the roots of the crops were left.
Another hail storm visited parts of the county on August 19, 1893, and brought some loss. The principal dam- age was done in the southern and western portions. Most of the small grain was in shock or stack and escaped injury, but late flax and corn were badly damaged.
When winter approached the effects of the times were apparent. The Mar- shall News-Messenger of December S, 1893, told of conditions:
The first whisperings of destitution in our midst are being heard, and the low murmurings will soon increase to emphatic demands upon the charitably inclined. The conditions point to a winter of suffering among the poor.
There are today in our midst a half dozen families, large in numbers, who are in want of food, fuel and clothing, and in the tributary territory there are scores of such families; their numbers here and around us will increase as cold weather continues. Many may easily be found and others will not make their wants known until after much suffering and the danger line is reached. In the country are men, at the head of large families, strong in physique and proud in spirit, who have never known poverty or needed aid, who today are penniless, without supplies for their families, feed for their stock, or even seed for the next erop. In most cases the fault is not theirs, but their condition follows storm-swept fields, an unremunerative market, and collections pressed by the necessity of creditors, demanding the last bushel of grain and last head of stock. In other cases unwise methods have proven quite disastrous that under ordinary circumstances might have proved fairly profitable. Others are destitute owing to their own improvidence and shiftless- ness, and in some cases to dissipation.
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