USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 8
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TOWNSHIPS
For Taking Range 38
Against Taking
Range 38
For Giving
Range 43
Against Giving Range 43
Dewald
17
1
16
Little Rock
5
14
220
Grant*
Seward
13
13
Graham Lakes
29
1
25
Fairview
19
20
Bigelow
9
16
25
Hersey
10
6
1
Indian Lake
24
29
Worthington
25
29
.1
68
Totals
121
109
11
251
* Vote not recorded
. .
Elk ..
13
CHAPTER IV.
CALAMITOUS DAYS-1873.
Now come the dark days of Nobles tory, before or since, and the settlers ro- county history-the grasshopper days. For a period extending from 1873 to 1849 the people of Nobles county, in common with those of all southwestern Minnesota, suffered as few pioneer set- tlers in any country ever suffered. Ad- versity followed adversity. The frowns of fortune overwhelmed those who had come with so much hope in 18;2 and rast them into the slough of despond. The picture cannot be painted too dark.
The colonists had come to Nobles county because they were poor people and believed that the new country of- fered opportunities for securing a com- petence. Some had started with a rail- road ticket as their only asset, and even before the grasshopper days a few were in sorry plight.1 All set to work with a will to break out the raw prairie land, and great were the expectations for the first crop-a crop destined never to be harvested.
The winter of 1822-73 was the most severe one in the county's known his-
1Prof. R. F. Humiston in a letter to the press in July. 1875, described his part in relieving the situation. Seldom did he speak of his charitable deeds, and this exception was called forth by rumors questioning his sincerity in certain matters. He wrote:
"From the advent of the colony in 1872. I found that a number of persons had come with barely sufficient means to bring them here. To many of those I furnished employ- ment, paying out therefor sums to the amount of several thousand dollars, and to others 1 loaned money without interest and with very remote prospects of payment, amounting in
ceived their first experience of hardships to be borne in the new country. Winter began November 13. The day had been fine, but toward night those who knew the Northwest saw indications of a bliz- zard. At dark a gale from the north- west struck the houses with a whack as distinct as if it had been a board in the hands of old Boreas. One of the famous northern blizzards was on. and it continued until the afternoon of the third day. Thenceforth it was winter. Snow covered the prairies and blockaded the railroad most of the time until late in the spring.
On January 2, 1873, came the most violent storm known in the Northwest for fifty years, as the records kept at Fort Snelling showed. It extended over the whole Northwest, and all telegraph wires west of Chicago refused to work. For three days the blizzard raged. The temperature was about eighteen degrees below zero during the whole period of the storm, and on the prairie the air
the aggregate to many hundreds of dollars. During the first winter [1872-73] and before any relief committee was organized, anticipat- ing the danger of a snow blockade of the rail- road, and knowing that many of our people were unprovided with fuel for the winter. I ordered several hundred tons of coal. This coal was distributed over a radius of twenty miles from Worthington, a large proportion being donated and a greater portion of the re- mainder is still unpaid for. Those who spent the first winter here are familiar with these facts."
71
70
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
was filled with snow as fine as flour. man about forty years of age. Just af- 'Through every crevier, keyhole and mail- ter the storm struck he started out from hole the fine snow penetrated, puffing in- Worthington with his ox team and sled the house like steam. Seventy human lives were lost in Minnesota, and four of there were lost in Nobles county. Innumerable were the narrow escapes from death in the storm, and many resi- dents of the county had experiences that will never be forgotten. for his home, four miles southeast of town. lle drove within a few rods of his own door, but in the blinding snow failed to discover his house. He wan- dered over the prairie until he came to some hay stacks, around which a rail fence had been built. He evidently at- tempted to climb the fence and seek the shelter of the stacks, but he was too near gone to accomplish it. fle was found the day after the storm, standing with one hand on the fence, covered with ice and as stiff as an icicle.
The morning of the first day of the storm was beautiful and bright, The sky was clear, and there was no wind. It seemed as though a "January thaw" was imminent, and the settlers set out for town on business or went to neigh- boring farmhouses with their teams. While the general indications were for fair weather, an aneroid barometer, own- ed by Professor Humiston, foretold a storm. The instrument had been falling for twenty-four hours, and it had never been known to fall so low before.
Toward noon a change was apparent. The sky lost its crystal clearness and became a trille misty. Between twelve and one o'clock a white wall was seen bearing down from the northwest. The front of the storm was distinet and almost as clearly outlined as a great sheet. In a few minutes a gale, moving at the rate of thirty or forty miles an hour. was sweeping the country. When the storm struck Worthington the farm- ers began to seatter for their homes. 1 number, however, did not take the chance of death, and remained in the village during the three days of the bliz- zard. Some residents of the village. who were not in their homes when the storm struck, remained until it abated, not daring to venture upon the streets. although only a few blocks from home.
One of those who perished was Sam- uel Small, of Indian Lake township, a
There was another fatality in the same neighborhood. Mrs. John Blixt. who lived with her husband and child- ren on section 2. Indian Lake township. met a very sad death. Mr. Blixt had gone fishing, and when the blizzard struck. his wife, fearful that he would lose his way. started out to meet him. She became blinded by the snow. wan- dered off on the prairie and perished. Mr. Blixt returned in safety.
The third fatal case was that of John Weston, a farmer who resided in Seward township. On that fateful morning he hitched his oxen to a sled and set out for Graham lakes to get a load of wood. While returning to his home the storm caught him. He drove across his own farm, but in the blinding gale missed the house. Weston then turned and drove in a circle, making the same cir- enit twice, as was shown by the tracks of the sled. ffe bore to the north and reentered Graham Lakes township. ffe unhitched and abandoned his ox team, and the animals, after wandering awhile. turned the yoke and choked to death. They were found later on the bank of Jack creek. From this point Mr. West-
73
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
on evidently concluded to walk with the storm, for he made a bee-line for her- sey station (now Brewster ). After walk- ing about twelve miles he was overcome by the storm and fell forward on his face, clutching at the long grass where he fell.
Immediately after the storm the set- tlers about Graham lakes organized a searching party and scoured the country for the missing man. They found the oxen and sled, but the search for Wes- ton was fruitless, and toward evening they abandoned their efforts and return- ed home. Late in the following April, when the snow had disappeared from the prairies, the dead body of the miss- ing man was found by another party of searchers at a point one and one-half miles northwest of Hersey.
As a result of the death of Mr. Wes- ton there was originated a ghost story which became famous all over the coun- try, due largely to its reiteration by Mr. A. P. Miller. The story is here given as it was told by Mr. Miller in the Worthington Advance of Jan. 13, 1881 :
The story of John Weston's ghost was first published in the Advance and widely copied, so that it became known through- out the country. Weston appeared to Mr. Cosper, who is still a resident of Seward township, and was an intimate friend of Weston. A few days ago we caught Mr. Cosper in town and had the story from his own lips. He is a practical, unimaginative man and gives the story in a circumstantial way.
The day after the storm Mr. Cosper had been out with some neighbors searching for Weston's body. He had returned to his home and was at his stable feeding his stock
2During 1907. in the Swastika Magazine, Den- ver, Mr. Miller retold the story of John Wes- ton's ghost, and therefor received a prize of- fered for the best verified and corroborated psychic and ghost experience or story. In that article he says that Mr. Cosper came to his office to tell him the story, and that as near as he can remember it was in these words:
"I went into my stable after the bucket, in- tending to water my horses. I came out and turned the corner to go down the path. When about half way down the slope to the well 1 was surprised to see John Weston coming up
just before sundown. He came out of the stable, and, passing around to the east end, saw John Weston coming up the path from the creek. Weston had on the blue soldier overcoat which he usually wore. llis hands were tneked up under the cape, and he ap- proached Cosper with his usual smile and usnal salutation, saying, "llow goes it?" Cosper said, "Why. Weston, I thought you were frozen to death!" Weston replied, "1 am, and you will find my body a mile and a half northwest of Hersey!" Saying this. he vanished. Mr. Cosper says that even after Weston had gone it took him some time to realize that he had seen a ghost, and to "feel queer.""
Before this, Weston had evidently an- nouneed his death to his wife. Mrs. Weston related the incident, and it was confirmed by her son. The second night of the storm she was awakened by a knock at the door. She doze off again and was aroused by a second rap, when she asked what was wanted. A voice answered. "Dil you know that John was frozen to death?" The voice sounded like that of her brother, Mr. Lind- erman, who lived in the vicinity. The boy heard the voice, and raising up in bed, said: "Mother. did unele say that pa was frozen to death?" Mrs. Weston went to the door. but there was no one there, and no tracks could be found in the snow. Mr. Linderman had not been there, and it seems that Wes- ton, wishing to announce his death, and at the same time not to frighten his wife too much, assumed the voice of his brother-in- Jaw.
Now for the confirmation of Cosper's story. lle toll it at once, and it was published throughout the country before the winter was over. Search was made for Wes'on's body, but in vain. When spring came, how- wer, and the snow began to melt off. Wes- ton's body was found near a slough, where the snow had been deep. a mile and a half northwest of Hersey. We believe that Mr. Erickson, who now lives at Worthington. was the first to discover the body.
Another man who lost his life in this storm in Nobles county (but knowledge of which was not gained until a year later) was a man by the name of Taylor. His home was in Lake Benton, from
the path to meet me. lle approached with his usual familiar smile, and his hands were tucked under the cape of his blue soldier over- coat, just as I had seen him approach many times. I called to him and said: 'Hello. Wes- ton! why, I thought you were lost in the storm.' Weston replied: 'I was, and you will find my body a mile and a half northwest of Horsey!' He then began to melt or fade away, somewhat like s.noke thinning out, and disappeared. I had not time to realize what was occurring till it was over, and then I be- gan to feel mighty queer."
74
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
which place he and four other men had gone to mill. When the storm struck, Taylor became separated from his com- panions and the ox team which they were driving. and wandered afoot a distance of about thirty-five miles.
It was during the next winter that the body was found in the northern part of Seward township, in a barren country, by Andy Dillman and George T. Bulick, who were out trapping. Cor- oner Churchill was notified, who took possession of the body, and finally, through advertising, the body was iden- tified. Mr. Taylor was one of four members of a family who froze to death.
A few of the adventures in this ment- orable storm are worth relating. In the little log school house at the north end of Indian lake the teacher. Miss Mary Jemerson, and the scholars were obliged to stay for three days and two nights. The snow drifted in through the crevi- es and soon covered the floor. The supply of wood was soon exhausted, and then the furniture had to be split up to keep alive a meager fire. which barely kept them alive until the storm abated. To keep up circulation the children formed in Indian file and marched around the stove through the dreary days and long nights. Being without food, except what little they had left in their dinner buckets. they suffered greatly, but all escaped without damage.
.Joseph Poots was caught in the storm in the western part of the county and lay for several days in a snow drift. His feet, becoming exposed, were frozen and had to be amputated. J. H. Max-
well drove four miles against the storm and then took refuge with a neighboring farmer. not being able to reach home. Rev. Mr. Stone walked five miles facing the storm between Worthington and Jackson, and finally took refuge in a sod shanty. A party of Worthington men, among whom were Dr. Langdon and Cornelius Stout, were caught on the road between Jackson and Worthington. and also remained snowed up in a sod house. A man north of Worthington was caught on the trackless prairie, driv- ing an ox team. He unhitched his oxen and took off their yokes. Then he took one of the animals by the tail, and by twisting the tail, kept the beast on a trot. The other ox followed. and the man in time brought up against his own wood pile.
An act of the legislature, approved Feb. 21. 1823. provided for the estab- lishment of a district court in Nobles county, the law to go into effect on July 1. of the same year, but for some reason no court was held in the county until two years later. Rock county was at- tached to the new district for judicial purposes, but in 1874 it became a dis- triet by itself.3
Many new selflers arrived in the spring of 1823, and the colony was in- dred in a flourishing condition. Those who had arrived during 1822 put in erops, which had come up and were growing beautifully. The faith in the soil had been justified. Everybody was enthusiastic over the prospects.
Then came the never-to-be-forgotten plague-the grasshoppers-and the coun-
WJurors were chosen in 187 as follows: Grand O. H. Chapman, Peter Swartwout, Warren Srith, Henry Brayton, R. L. Erskine. Albert Haggard. J. C. Clark, Peter Thompson, 1. 0. Rice. A. A. Parsons, Jonathan Gordon, W. S. Stockdale, J. B. Churchill, F. W. Bir- dette, D. S. Law. B. S. Langdon. E. S. Mills, W. B. Akins, J. IL. Barnfield, J. D. Roberts.
Petit N H. Smith. B. B. Brain, E. W. Ies- Selroth, Julius Westinghouse. J. A. Cosper, {' I. Johnson, W. R Bennett, Chas. Fris- lit. W. G. Brown. R. W. Woolstencroft, Chas. Wilkinson, Peter Swetzer, J. P. War- rer. H. S. Finn, Richard Bagley, A. A. Kim- hall, Edward Bear. S. D. Spragne, B. F. Congdon, J. B. Haines.
75
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
try that looked so bright and had been so Stone, S. Wass and Irwin L. Wass. The prosperous was wrapped in gloom. lm- migration ceased; farmers, mechanics, merchants, everybody became discouraged at once.
It was on or about the 15th day of June that the people noticed something floating through the air from west to east, which some thought at first sight to be cottonwood seeds. They seemed to be drifting with the wind, and some of them were at a great height. They kept increasing in numbers, and soon a few scattering ones began falling to the earth, where they were found to be grass- hoppers, or Rocky mountain locusts- forerunners of a scourge that for sev- eral years devastated this part of the country and resulted in the retardation of settlement for many years.
The flight kept up for several days, and a great number of the hoppers came down and feasted on the growing crops, and deposited their eggs. They did great damage, but not so great as in later years, and a light harvest was gathered.+ Many families were left des- titute, and in the carly winter a relief committee was organized, which looked after the wants of those in greatest need.
Three new townships were organized during the year 1813, Wilson (Summit Lake), ilebbard (Olney), and Grand Prairie. The petition asking for the creation of Wilson township was pre- sented May 9, and was signed by John Ward, Jas. F. Ilollopeter, N. F. Gan- onny, Jas. Marden, Geo. W. Akin. J. F. Cannern, Henry C. Moore, John J. Weaver, Albert J. Ryan, A. B. Coe, D.
4Different from most of the accounts of this first invasion is that of G. L. Ellsworth, which was published in the Nobles County Demo- crat in 1896. Mr. Ellsworth wrote: .. Although a great number of the hoppers enme down, they did not create much alarm at that
commissioners created the township May 20, named the new township Wilson, and provided for holding the first town meeting at the home of J. F. Ilollopeter on June 5. The state auditor notified the commisisoners that there was an- other township of the name of Wilson in the state, and that therefore it would be necessary to change the name of the Nobles county division. The name was changed to Akin, in honor of one of the settlers, on June 15, 1844. Upon re- quest of the settlers of the township the name was again changed, July 21, 1874, to Summit Lake. The name was given for the lake within the borders of the township, and the lake was named be- cause of its topographical location.
The petition for Hebbard township was circulated January 6, and was signed by R. C. Stillman, John John- ston, Jos. V. Bartow, John G. Cutpin, R. W. Moberly, Benjamin F. Renn, T. Thompson, Toor Anderson, Wm. F. Hebbard, Allen Simons, Alex Simpson, Chas. J. Fox, W. Il. Forenerook and Ole Gunderson. July 10 the commissioners took favorable action on the petition, . named the township Hebbard in honor of Win. F. Hebbard, one of the settlers, and provided for the completion of the organization at the residence of Chas. J. Fox on July 29. The town meeting was not held at the appointed time, and the completion of the organization was postponed. October 14 Mr. Fox ap- peared before the commissioners and made affidavit that up to that time no officers had been elected and no town meeting had been held. The commissioners then
time, as there was not much crop for them to ent, had they been so disposed. Their prin- cipal business seemed to be the depositing of their eggs, and after staying for a day or two, they all took fight ngain towards the rast."
76
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
changed the name of the township to official duties at their homes, or where- New Haven and made further provision ever was most convenient. for the organization of the township .. June 15, Isit, another name had to be selected, because of a prior disposal of the name New Haven upon a township in another part of the state, and Olney was then bestowed upon the new town- ship, after the county seat of Richland county, 111.ª
The people of the southwestern cor- ner township asked for organization on August 30, the petitioners being Miles Birkett. M. S. Merriss. M. J. Bryan, Oley Olson. Edmond Olson, P. J. John- son, Thos. Johnson. 11. A. Soverson, Paine Stilmets, J. Spalding. Robert Williamson, John Bootcher. O. D. Bryan, We. 11. Ingraham, tieo. S. Barnes, Clas. A. Barnes, A. W. Walters, Jas. Walker. P. M. Merriss and J. Pride. At a meeting of the board of county commissioners on September 22 the township was created. and on Or- tober 30 the organization was perfected. The name Grand Prairie was selected by the commissioners out of a list of three suggested by the petitioners." and the name selected is not a misnomer.
It will be remembered that during the first few years of the county's history the county seat was officially located at Gretchtown, but that, as Gretchtown had no actual existence, the county seat had led a wandering life. The commissioners fransacted their business at the homes of the different members (always in Graham Lakes township), and the var- ions county officers attended to their
"The name was suggested by R. W Mole rly. Several other nimes were suggested by the resteils of the township, among others he- ing Springfield.
6."The nann of Colfax we think appropriate to call our lows hip, er if that will not do, call it (und Prairie or I'nion townships" "The question stinds. Firstly. 10 the vaters of Volles county desire the re- moval of the county seat from Gretchlown?
When Worthington was founded agita- tion for the establishment of the seat of government in that village was be- gun.7 Through the efforts of ex-Gover- nor Stephen Miller, who was at the time the representative of southwestern Minnesota in the lower house of the leg- islature, a bill was passed, early in 1873. providing for such action. Following is the full text of the act :
An act to establish and locate the county set of Nobles county.
Be it enacted by the legislature of the state of Minnesota:
Section 1. That the county seat of Nobles emilly is hereby established and located at the village of Worthington, in said county of Nobles, on sertion number 23, town mm- ber 102, and range number 40.
Ser. 2. It shall be the duty of all county officers who are required by law to holl their respective offices at the county seat to remove their several offices, with all the books, records and papers pertaining thereto, to the sail town of Worthington within sixty days after the passage of this act, without further notice: and each and every officer who shall fail to comply with the provisions of this section shall forfeit the county office held or occupied by him.
See. 3. In the event of the passage of an enabling act, during the present session of the legislature, authorizing the electors of said county to vote upon the question of the removal of said county seat at the next general election. no indebtedIness shall be contracted on behalf of the said county by the officers thereof for the erection of county Imildings at the said village of Worthington until the location of such county seat at said village of Worthington shall be con- firmed by the vote of a majority of those who may vote upon the question of remov- ing said county seat. in pursuance of such enabling act. at the general election in Nov- ember nox1.
See. 1. All arts and parts of acts incon. sistent with this act are hereby repealed. See. 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
AApproved March 6. 1873.
Seroudh: Where is Gretchtown? Can anyone tell us where to find Gretchtown? Is it a seaport or a railroad center? Is it a manu- facturing town or a rural district? Did it vote for Grant? Any information under the sun of this lost sister town will be tearfully received by the mourning friends, as well as other members of the unhappy family. Gretch- town, Greichtown, thou long lost sister, re- turn, Fc-p-larn. return. "-Western Advance, Nov. 9, 1872.
77
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
It was not the intention of the legisla- ture to arbitrarily locate the county seat at Worthington permanently, and on the same day the act was approved, another one became a law which left the matter to the voters. It was in the form of a law removing the county seat from Worthington to Hersey, which was at the time just budding into a village. But provision was made that before the law became operative a majority of the voters of the county must ratify it at the general election in November, 1813. The effect of these two acts was to put before the people the selection of the permanent county seat, limiting them in their choice to the two villages of Worthington and Hersey. The second act reads :
An act to remove the county seat of Nobles county from the village of Worth- ington to the village [off Hersey. in said county.
Be it enacted by the legislature of the staté of Minnesota:
Section T. That the county seat of the county of Noble,, in the state of Minne- sota, be and the same is hereby romovel from the village of Worthington. section 23. town-hip number 102, of range number 40. where the same is now located in said county. to the village or town of Hersey, on section umber 25. township number 103. range 39 west. in said county.
See. 2. At the time of giving notice of the next general election it shall be the duty of the officers of said county af Nobles. required by law to give notice of said election, to give no'ico in like manner that at said election a voto will be taken on the question of adopting this act removing the conniy seat from the village of Worthington to the village or town of Her-ev. as is pro- vided in the first section of this act. But 10 failure of. or irregularity in. such notice, or the giving of such notice, shall in any way vitiate the vote on such question.
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