USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 6
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56
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
about in the storm for a long time and had covered considerable ground. Alone and in distress, she had left home in search of help, and had miserably per- ished in the storm.2"
In the spring of 1821 a second Sun- day school was organized in the Gra- ham lakes country, the one started the preceding year having been discontinued during the winter. The school was held in a sod shanty, which had been used by surveyors, and which was located on the north shore of the east lake. W. tl. Brown was superintendent and taught one of the classes. E. W. Hesselroth was the other teacher.
Public schools were also established, for a time supported by subscription. The first was held in the open, in the shade of a huge elm tree which stood on the island in Graham lake. The people of the Indian lake country also estab- lished a school. A log structure was built by the settlers at the inlet at the north end of indian lake; Miss Mary Jemerson was the first teacher.
The communities about Graham lakes and Indian lake asked for township or- ganizations in the spring of 1811, and favorable action was taken by the county commissioners. These were the only townships in the county with any consid- erable settlement at the time. Graham Lakes township has the honor of being the first to be granted local government. A petition had been circulated and pre- sented to the board. and on April 11 that body declared the township for- mally organized by the following pro- creding :
23An outgrowth of this death was one of the most noted law suits ever originated in Nobles county. Mr. Palmer brought sult against Warren Smith for slander, and after a prolonged trial judgment to the amount of SI was given the plaintiff.
"The Inkes In the township furnished the name. Although I have made diligent search
STATE OF MINNESOTA. Comty of Nobles. Pur-nant to the petition of the majority of the legal voters of township number 104, range 39, in said county, we. the county commissioners of said county. did on the 11th day of April, A. D., 1871, at the house ot Wm. H. Brown, in said county, proceed to fix and determine the boundaries of such new town and to name the same, and did then and there lay off said town and desig- nate the boundaries thereof as follows, to- wit: Commencing at the northeast corner of seccion one, township 104: thence west to the northwest corner of section six. town 104; thence south to the southwest corner of section 31; thence east to the southeast cor- ner of seetion 36; thence north to place of beginning.
The petitioners failing to designate the name of said town we, the commissioners, did name such town Graham Lakes? In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and cansed the seal of said board to be affixed this Ilth day of April, A. D. 1871.
CHAS. DRURY. B. W. WOOLSTENCROFT, Commissioners.
Attest:
Win. IL. Brown, Clerk.
The people were not slow in perfect- ing the township organization. A "town meeting" was held at the residence of H. (". Ilalleit on Friday, April 21, when of- fivers were elected, and township govern- ment began. The meeting was held in compliance with an order of the com- missioners.
The people of the Indian lake country were only a few days behind their neigh- bors to the north. On March 14 the following petition was cireulated :
STATE OF MINNESOTA. County of Nobles. To the Board of County Commissioners of Said County: The undersigned legal voters of said town in township 101, range 39, in said county of Nobles, which said township contains twenty-five legal voters, do hereby Iaddition your honorable board to be organ- ized as a town, and respectfully request that yon forthwith proceed to fix and determine the boundaries of such town and to name 'hir same as provided by law.
for the origin of the name "Graham," I have discovered not the slightest clue. The lakes were known by the name they now bear when the settlers of is&t arrived, and no one of them has been able to tell me for whom or what they were named. It is possible that they were named in honor of some trapper of the early days who operated in the vi- cinity.
57
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
Dated this 14th day of March, A, D. 1871.
[Signed ] I-aac Horton, J. D. Brown, R. L. Erskine, L. W. Brown, R. G. Brown, James Christianson, Gunder O. Joul, Frank HI. Mosh- er, Chas. B. Bullis, John Haggard. H. M. Johnson, John Haggard, Jr., Ole Ellingson, Albert L. Haggard.
[Addenda] By request of above legal vot- ers we petition that said township 101, range 39, be named Indian Lake. Also that said town 101, range 39, be organized with of- ficers eleeted.
The commissioners acted favorably on the petition April 22, and the county's second township was organized and nam- ed Indian Lake.25 Soon thereafter the first town meeting was held and the or- ganization perfected.
Following is a partial list of the set tlers of 1871, with the dates of arrival and place of settlement, when known:26
GRAHAM LAKES.
A. L. J. Cornish. John Hart.27
Henry Holmes.
Michael Maguire.
Anton Nelson.
Josephi Stone. Peter Swartwout.
"This township also took its nanie from its principal lake. The lake was so named by the first settlers because of the fact that when they arrived there in 1869 there Was quite a band of Indians camped there. who remained in the vicinity for several years.
"Data for the preparation of this list has been obtained from many sources from per- sonal interviews, from a register of early settlers prepared by the Nobles County Old Settlers' association. from an historical atlas, and from the Nobles county poll list for the election of Nov. 7. 1871. It has been taken for granted that the names on the poll list were of men who were residents of the county. A few of these may have been set- tlers of prior years. A few of those on the list came to the county in 1871, took claims, but did not become permanent settlers until the next year.
2"Took claim in 1871. Became permanent settler in 1872.
2.Mr. Church came to the county early in September and took as a homestead the south- west quarter of section 32. His home was in Missouri, but during the summer of 1Sil he had been harvesting in the neighborhood of Rochester, Minn. Hearing of the railroad building through this part of the state, he decided to come and take land. It was his intention to take a claim at a point where it was believed the Sioux City & St. Paul and
H. D. Bookstaver.
S. W. Laythe. May 25. Warren Smith.
Frank Zeiner. Englebrith Zeiner.
HERSEY.
Herman Berreau.
Otto Berreau, June 2.
John J. Fitch.
Erastus Church.29
Jonathan Gordon, 29 May 28.
William Cunningham.
Chas. Frisbie.
LORAIN.
Wm. Dwyer.30 .June. Robert Firth,31 Sept. 30.
INDIAN LAKE.
John Blixt.32
Lars Johnson.
John O. Larson33
E. Nordquist, May 23.
Ole N. Langseth,3+ June.
Nels N. Langseth, June.
Henry Solomonson."5 December.
the Southern Minnesota would cross. He
walked from Winnebago fity to Jackson, and then caught a ride to Graham lakes. Mr.
Church was here eight days in 1871. In
May of the following year he returned
and has since made his home here.
"Brought his family with him. Filed on land in section 2.
30Mr. Dwyer and his eldest son had come from Albert Lea to Nobles county to work on the new railroad. In June he filed on the southeast quarter of section 10, and that has AVer since been his home. His family joined him in the fall.
31 Homesteaded the northwest quarter of sec- tion 6. With him were his wife and four sons, R. A., William. Joseph and Arthur. They came from Whitewater, Wis.
3Accumpanied by a wife and three sons.
33Did not become a permanent settler until the next year.
34Came from Wisconsin with family consist- ing of the following children: Nels, Jens. Martin. Martina and Olof.
33 Arrived just before Christmas with wife and three children. Settled on southwest quarter of section 18.
58
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
Charles Saxon.30
August Anderson,37 September.
Peter Nystrom.
John Nystrom.
Gust Nystrom.35
Albert Haggard.
BIGELOW.
James Walker,39 October.
Otto Burroughs,30 October.
Albert Pygall.40
Ilosie Bryant. 10
Ole Nystrom.
Hans Nystrom. (. J. Wickstrom.
Peter Wickstrom.
Erick Mahlberg. 11
Jonas Moberg, 2 June 21.
Peter Larson, 13
Lars Elof-on.# October 12.
Lars Erickson. 45
WORTHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
J. T. Whitlock.
34Did not become a permanent settler until following year.
37Came to reside permanently in 1872.
3&The Nystroms had just arrived from Sweden. They settled on the western edge of Indian Lake township.
3Both these gentlemen were accompanied by their families and came together, and both settled on section 20. Mr. Burroughs died the following summer. Mr. Walker throw up his claim and took another one in Indian Lake.
"Came together and took homesteads near the Indian Lake line. Mr. Pygall proved up on his homestead and later was a stage driver on the line from Worthington to Sioux Falls. Mr. Bryant had a contest and lost his claim.
41\ party consisting of Ole and llans Ny- strom, Charles J. and Peter Wickstrom, Erick Mahlberg and Elof Nordquist in the spring of INTI Were engaged in working on the new
rallrond through southwestern
Minnesota. They all left their work during the month of May, and, under the guldance of L. B. Ben- nett, filed on homestead claims in Nobles county-all in Bigelow township excent Mr. Nordquist, who took his claim over the line In Indian Lake. The Wickstroms and Ny- stroms took all of section 24; Mr. Mahlberg filed on the southwest quarter of twelve. They took possession of their claims October 28.
"Took the northwest quarter of section 26. Was later joined by his family.
W. A. Dillman, 46
(. C. Whitney, June.
E. F. Whitney, June.
O. M. Whitney.17 June.
John Alley, August 12. Cyrus Clingensmith, August 12.
B. R. Prince, August 12.
L. B. Bennett, May.
C. J. Hoffman. 49
August Lang. 19
WORTHINGTON VILLAGE.50
Prof. R. F. Humiston.51
HI. W. Kimball, September.
S. C. Thayer, September.
L. F. MeLaurin.
Levi Shell.
Daniel Shell, December.
Leslic.
Henry Davis,
E. C. Pannell,52 September.
1. N. Sater.
Peter Thompson,53 September.
43 Accompanied by his wife and two chil- dren, Jacob and Lewis. Took the northeast quarter of seetion 26.
4With wife and four children settled on the northeast quarter of 14.
"With his wife settled on the southwest quarter of 14.
"Hlad been in the county since 1868. In the spring of 1871 took a claim on section 34.
#The Whitneys selected a quarter section each on section 30, and secured about
as sightly locations as could be found in the county.
"Came very early in the year and was the first permanent resident in the township, First lived in a dug-out on the south bank of Oka- In.na lake. Later he brought down a house from St. James, and started the now famous Ludlow grove. .
"Mr. Lang took a claim on land that later came into the possession of Allen Chaney. lle and Mrs. Lang lived in a dug-ont about thirty rods from the house later erreted by Mr. Chaney. He left the county in 1872.
Worthington was founded in the fall, and nearly all the residents of 1871 engaged in business or were there for the purpose of do- ing so in the spring following.
"Founder of Worthington. Was in the vil- lage only part of the time in 1871.
"Had visited the site early in the spring. MLoft soon after, but became a permanent resident the next spring.
59
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
Folsom.
Wm. B. Moore.
E. R. Humiston, Nov. 3.
A. P. Chamberlain. C. C. Goodnow.
J. C. Goodnow. Jerry Haines. Wm. F. Hibbard.
Jerome Stewart.
SEWARD.
W. H. Booth, February.
Philo Snyder.
RANSOM.
J. IT. Scott. September 16.
D. K. Gordon, September 16. Joseph Hill,"4 September 16.
LITTLE ROCK.
I. E. Fields.
Knute Thompson.55
Knute Thomas.
Hans Paulson.
Ole Gars. Ilans Olson.
Ole Peterson. Chris Peterson.56
J. D. Roberts.
Henry Bostwick.
Anthony Thompson.
Edward F. Erickson.
OLNEY.
S. D. Tinnes,57 July.
GRAND PRAIRIE.
Miles Birkett.
"Messrs. Scott. Gordon and Hill came to- gether and took claims on section 24. Mr. Scott's family came about one month later. Hill left the county about 1874: Gordon in 1878; Mr. Scott is still a resident of the county. These three were the only settlers in the township in 1871.
55Messrs. Fields and Thompson took their claims in July and were the first settlers of the township.
56A few days after the arrival of Messrs. Fields and Thompson, a party of six whose names are given above arrived in the town- ship and all took claims.
James Walker. George Barnes.58 Oscar D. Bryan.59 Oley A. Olson. Thomas Johnson. II. A. Swenson. John Butcher. C. C. Peterson.
RESIDENCE UNKNOWN.30
Hans Halverson.
Wmn. Travis.
C'has. H. Weise.
John Meyer, June 2.
T. G. Bigelow, September 19.
Thos. Wills. May 12.
(. L. Peterson, September 12. Jas. Hazard, November, 22.
D. A. Reynolds, June.
G. K. Middleton, June.
S. P. Middleton, June.
L. A. Lytle, June.
Carl Nelson.
A. W. Burnham.
Wm. M. Bear.
E. J. Bear.
Henry Fullweiler.
Al Fullweiler.
Eli Fenstermaker.
Knut Holden. N. V. McDowell.
Phil Reynolds.
P. G. Swanson.
John Upstrom. Asher A. Allen.
1. Allen.
37Was the first to take a claim in Olney township. He filed on land in section 34, but did not become a permanent resident until 1872.
The three settlers first named came to the township in the spring of 1871 and filed on claims on May 18. They were the first set- tlers of the township.
BOTook his claim on section 18 in June and has resided there since.
Most of these settlers were in Graham Lakes and Indian Lake townships.
60
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
Mark Amundson.
Martin Amundson.
Rasmus Anderson. ('aleb Blake.
Orwon Blake. Alexander Clark.
Nathaniel Cox.
Orange Chapman. C'has. Il. Cutler. Daniel Downy. Stephen A. Door.
Selim Fox. 1. A. E. Hesselroth.
Hearth Bros.
Johnson. E. V. Jackson.
Bennett Linderman. J. Parshal and brother. Perkings. Joseph Stone. Irwin S. Swan. F. Umbrid.
Isaac Waterhouse.
Win. Willcox.
John Weston.
Waiting. J. Westinghouse. Wolf brothers. Younkers.
Frank Tucker. Elihue Ellis. Ole Johnson. Jas. Christianson. Lonis Sundburg. Andrew Sundburg. P. S. Swanson. Hanson Estrom.
Lonis Hardo.
llenry M. Johnson.
The county officers had neglected to make a tax levy for the year 1821, and as a result the annual financial state- ment for that year is an interesting document. Following is the statement as recorded by the board of county com- missioners at the meeting of March 13, 1812:
On motion the board proceeded to make their annual statement. the following which they certify to be full and correct for the vear 1871: Receipts during the year. $
0.00
Expenditures 130.03
DEBTS AND LIABILITIES.
Floating debt in county orders .... $130.03 St. Paul Pioneer Press Co., for books, stationery, etc. 508.40
Total indebtedness
$638.43
Assets
$ 0.00
CHAPTER III.
UNDER COLONY RULE-1822.
A new epoch begins.
We have seen Nobles county grow from an unpopulated and unknown coun- try in the early days of 1862 to a com- munity of some little importance in the closing days of 182t. Remarkable had been the changes wrought in less than five years. But how much more re- markable is the story of advancement we have to record for the year 1872. During that one year a revolution was accomplished. Where were found a pos- sible 300 or 400 men, women and chil- dren at the close of 1821, one year later were living nearly that many thousands. Nobles county had advanced from one of the least known and least settled eoun- ties in southwestern Minnesota to a populous and the most talked of county in the state. Everybody was headed for Nobles county. In hundreds of homes in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio. Indiana, Illinois and other eastern and central states people were discussing the new county-its soil. its climate, its prospects-and plan- ning to cast their lot there.
In- the office of the Toledo Blade. in Toledo, Ohio. was born the idea that brought about this abnormal interest in
the heretofore unknown county of No- bles. It was during the year 18:1. There were present when the matter was first discussed D. R. Locke (Petroleum V. Nasby), Prof. R. F. Humiston. of Cleve- land, Dr. A. P. Miller, editor of the Błade. and A. P. Miller. also connected with that publication.1 The idea was to organize a company for the purpose of locating a colony of settlers in some western country. The name first pro- posed was Blade colony. but before an organization was perfected the name bo- came National colony.
Miller. Humiston & Company was the name of the company which con- ducted the colony enterprise. Prof. R. F. MImmiston and Dr. A. P. Miller wore the gentlemen who owned the majority of the slock, and upon them devolved the management. These gentlemen had no place selected in which to plant their proposed colony, and they immediately set out to select one. They traveled over 20,000 miles.2 examining the coun- try from Missouri to the Red River country, and from lowa lo Utah.
In a happy moment they wandered into Nobles county, and were so struck with the beauty of the location, the fer-
"There were two men who took a prominent part in the early history of Nobles county who bore the name A. P. Miller, but who were not related. The one who asisted in establishing the colony is referred to as Dr. A. P. Miller in all places in this volume. The other A. P.
Miller, who was for many years publisher of the Worthington Advance, is referred to with- out any title.
^Worthington Advance, Sept. 28, 1874.
61
62
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
tility of the soil and the prospect for an immediate and convenient market for the products of the soil that negotia- tions were at once opened with the Sioux City & St. Pant Railroad com- pany. with a view to securing the rail- road lands in Nobles county for their colonization purposes. An agreement resulted. by the terms of which Messrs. Miller and Humiston secured. upon ad- vantagens terms, control of the rail- road lands3 (odd numbered sections) in twelve townships in Nobles county and three and one-half townships adjoining. in Osceola county, Iowa. The contract was closed in the fall of 1871.
Almost immediately settlers began arriving, as has been stated in the pro- coding chapter. Most of these secured claims on government land, and then re- turned to their homes for the winter. The colony company laid its plans on an elaborate scale. Almost as soon as the contract was signed the village of Worthington was founded. as a base from which to operate. During the winter the company carried on an adver- tising campaign, which for thorough- ness has seldom been equalled in the his- tory of colonization projects. It was liberal, but judicions. By this means the company came into correspondence with thousands of persons who were in- terested in the scheme.' A few came on at once and wintered in the new settlement : the many waited until spring. Then came the deluge.
In the spring of 1822 hundreds flocked to Worthington and took up adjoining lands. The government lands within a
"Which had been acquired from the govern- ment under the land grant.
'In making the personal interviews for the preparation of this work } Invariably asked each pioneer settler how it happened that he came to Nobles county. In nine cases out of ten the answer has been that it was hecause
radius of eight or ten miles of the town were soon taken, and many had settled at other more remote points in the county. Much of the railroad, or col- ony. land was also quickly disposed of and passed into the hands of people who had come to make their homes here. Miller. Humiston & Co. expended be- tween $40,000 and $50,000 in locating the colonists and in setting on foot en- terprises designed to found a prosperous community. An idea of the settlement of the year is gained when it is known that between 10,000 and 20,000 acres of raw prairie land were broken out. Be- tween five hundred and seven hundred families arrived during the year. and many others purchased shares, took claims, and made preparations to come later5.
The settlers were a homogenous class, being nearly. or quite, all American born, and with the current of their re- ligions faith flowing calmly down be- tween the banks of an observably nar- row. but strikingly orthodox. stream. The evangelical denominations were all represented. with Methodist, Presbyter- ian. Congregational and Baptist churches leading in point of numbers. The colony was organized upon a temperance basis. The authorities determined that no al- coholic or intoxicating beverages. of whatever kind or character. should. un- der any circumstances, be sold within the limits of the purchase. This fea- ture was made a strong point in the ad- vertising. and altracted a people who were strong in their religious and tom- perance beliefs. The standard of mor-
of the National colony advertising. The ad- vertisements and "readers" had been seen in the Toledo Blade or other papers patronized, or the settler had had his attention ealled to the project by some friend who had read the advertisements.
Minneapolis Tribune, Aug. 25, 1872.
63
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
ality was high (particularly so for a new community), and the courage and pluck of the first settlers is beyond ques- tion.
The colony company operated in Nobles county until the spring of 1826, when it withdrew. The terrible grass- hopper scourge had practically bank- rupted its promoters. Litigation over- whelmed Prof. Humiston, and the earn- ings of a lifetime were swept away. When disaster overtook the company its liberal policy toward the settlers became a thing of the past, and there was dis- satisfaction expressed in some quarters because of the policy of the National colony's managers. The conditions as they were during the active life of the company were summed up by the Win- dom Reporter of May, 1876, from which the following is taken :
Local jealousy may have made some of us look upon the colony enterprise with con- siderable prejudice. yet it is due to Prof. Humiston to say that he has accomplished a great deal for his town and county, and in a great measure his work and sacrifice are overlooked. He has spent probably not less than $50,000. the earnings of his life. time, and we infer has become seriously in- volved in his attempts to develop Nobles eounty and build up a model community. To accomplish this end he has spared noth- ing. He has been first in most of the en- terpri-es inaugurated in Worthington, giving of his resources freely. if not lavishly, to make successful the numerous enterprises that have from time to time called for as- sistance; the more public enterprises, the mill, the church. Miller hall. and kindred projects have in him met with the same generous and unselfish spirit. No doubt that to him the three magnificent institutions are indebted for life and success. He has in- duced hundreds of dollars of capital to in- vest at Worthington, and we guess that hardly a citizen but has derived more profit from his expenditures than he himself. His time and money have gone to build up the material prosperity of "Okabena." with a prospective view of proft in the future, to be derived from the sale of railroad lands.
6For sketch of the life of Prof. Humiston see the biographical section.
"""It was no uncommon thing." a gentleman of the early days has written, "to see chil-
Others have thrived and prospered, while he has become somewhat involved in litigation as the result of his personal enterprise and indomitable determination to either sink or swim with his colony. The professor has made many investments. and large ones, thought by many at the time to be injudi- cious and impracticable, but what would have resulted if the grasshopper had not visited ns no one can tell: probably he would have met with better success, but having started, he was determined to go through with the un- dertaking if it took the last dollar. He has not worked without opposition. encountering it at home and in the neighboring towns, but he has worked for his life's idol against it all with an energy and perseverance that we certainly respect, and no doubt this is often overlooked by many who have cause to re- member his devotion to home prosperity. Professor Humiston has done more to build up a barren and wild country than any one man in this part of the state. He has been the direct means of drawing to Nobles county a great amount of wealth, a refined and in- telligent community. Had it not been for the three years of grasshopper vis- itation the growth of this part of the state would have progressed, and prosperity would have abounded on every hand; then we could have seen whether Prof. Humiston's schemes were practicable, but since devasta- tion has been our lot it is surprising that Mr. Humiston has come out as lucky as he has.“
In giving the history of the National colony and its operations the chronologi- cal order of events has been interrupted. To return to the early days of 1872.
The winter was quite severe. A heavy fall of snow in the carly part of the sea- son blockaded the railroads and it was very difficult to obtain provisions for the settlers, many of whom were poorly provided therewith; in fact there were times when money would not buy pro- visions, and the man with money was in no better position than his less fortunate neighbor.7 The exigencies of the times were increased because of disasters to some of the settlers during the year 1871 from prairie fires and hail. Governor Austin, early in February, 1822, sent a . dren of all ages running barefoot during the coldest days of winter. A gentleman who lived in Graham lakes informed me that he had seen a boy skating on the ice barefoot, and he seemed to enjoy the sport."
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