USA > Minnesota > Rock County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 13
USA > Minnesota > Pipestone County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 13
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10"Since the first day of February one freight train has passed over the Worthington & Sioux Falls branch and only one mail has been re- ceived. During this time no wood has been brought in and only three carloads of coal have been received at this point. The first three weeks of the blockade occasioned no particular inconvenience in the matter of fuel and pro- visions and the ensuing two weeks have 00- casioned no suffering. At the present time. however, fuel is becoming exceedingly scarce and merchants are running short of staple pro- visions. Fuel dealers have been without hard coal since the first of February and their sup- ply of wood was exhausted three weeks ago. The condition of affairs at the present time is bad enough, but the worst it yet to come.
17. Little snow in forenoon. Railroad un- covered.
18. Blockade lifted. First train over the branch arrived late at night, bringing eighteen days' mail.
19. Light snow. Main line again block- aded. Last train over the Doon branch un- til May 20.
20. Train gets through from Luverne to Worthington.
21. Freight and passenger trains ran over the branch road on time.
22. Hard snow storm. No train.
23. Train from Sioux Falls to Worthing- ton, where it remained snow bound. Long blockade begun.º
24. Snow and south wind.
25. Blizzard from the south.
26. Blizzard from the northwest.
28. Total number of stormy days in February, 14.
MARCH.
1. Mild weather, lasting two days. Fuel scarce.10 Car load of wood consigned to Luverne seized at Worthington. Railroad company authorized Luverne agent to sell railroad coal.11
3. Railroad's coal stolen.""
4. Fierce blizzard all day. Last car of railroad coal sold.
5. Beginning five days of mild weather.
6. Luverne churches hold union services to economize on fuel.
10. Main line opened except small strip. Shovelers working on branch road, expect- ing line open on the twelfth."3
From the present outlook there is no reason to hope for fresh supplies for at least two weeks and it is even predicted by some that no freight will be brought in during the month of March. The situation is by no means pleasant to con- template. Many people in the village will be reduced soon to the extremity of using flax straw for fuel. Mr. Ghar Aunenson offers to furnish fuel of this kind for the price of haul- ing-one dollar per load."-Herald. March 4. 1881.
11"Station Agent (. W. Held has received instructions from the railroad company to dis- pose of a quantity of coal left at this point last week for the use of the company. The coal is to be sold to the dealers at the invoice price to the company on condition that no deal- er shall sell more than 250 pounds to one person nor charge therefor more than one dollar."- Herald, March 4, 1881.
12"On Thursday night of last week [March 3] nearly four tons of coal were stolen from the railroad company's bin. What was left in the bin was removed by Station Agent Held to the elevator and depot and sold. It was not the intention of the company to sell this part of its stock, but the agent prudently deemed it bet- ter to sell it than to have it stolen."-Herald. March 11. 1881.
":"Another snow storm, just as the roads have been nearly opened at enormous expense and the people have begun to look forward with confidence to a speedy release from their six weeks' bondage, would be an affliction on the part of the weather almost too cruel for en- durance."-Herald, March 11. 18$1.
99
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
11. Blizzard from the east.
12. Fierce blizzard. Heaviest snowfall
of the season. All railroads buried.
13. Fair weather.
14. Severe blizzard, beginning at noon.
15. Shovelers again attack drifts.
17. Snow drifting.
land.
18. Worthington mail brought in over- Fuel famine serious.14
24. Snow drifting and undoing work of shovelers.
25. Sugar supply at Luverne exhausted; other supplies short.15
28. Main line clear between Sioux City and Worthington.
30. Main line open east of Worthington and first train from east in six weeks (lack- ing two days) reached Worthington. Branch line not open.
31. Snow storm. Main fine again closed.
14"Seven weeks shut out from communication with the outside world; four weeks without mail or any information concerning the goings-on outside our own county; short of provisions and almost destitute of coal, besieged on every hand by the accumulations of snow piled up by almost innumerable blizzards; harassed and discomfited in almost every conceivable way by the omnipresent, interminable snow, with no more cheerful source of comfort for the im- mediate future than the certainty of a long continuance of the same unpleasant circum- stances; this, in brief. is the unenviable state of affairs in Luverne and the country contiguous.
"The outlook was rendered still more unin- viting [by last week's blizzard]. Few had more than two or three days' supply of fuel, many were still less fortunate, and others were even then reduced to the necessity of burning corn or flax straw. Tuesday Dr. Cullen turned over to some who were destitute of fuel what wood he had at the elevator, but this, of course, supplied only a few and afforded them Inuit temporary relief. The seareity of corn. owing to the fact that most of the crop still remains in the field, makes it necessary to rely chietly for future supplies of fuel upon the timber along the river. Considerable quan - tities of this have been already cut and brought to the village.
"Notwithstanding the discomfort above men- tioned. Luverne is unquestionably more for- tunate than most of the neighboring towns. Bv reason of the large stock of wood and coal our dealers had on hand at the time the block- ade began. we have been able to pass through a period of seven weeks without further sup- plies, and up to the present time. so far as we can learn. all have been able to obtain fuel sufficient for their immediate wants. In some parts of the county it is more than probable that great hardships have been endured. Many farmers have depended solely upon hay and fax straw for fuel. Others have found it neces- sary to tear down and burn portions of their nut-buildings. In some instances farmers have been unable to get to mill and have manufac- tured their own flour by grinding wheat in coffee mills. How much worse may be the condition of affairs in districts more remote from town remains to be learned."-Herald. March 18. 18$1.
1&During this memorable winter Niels Jac- obson invented, manufactured and operated a feed niill of native stone, which proved to be of great benefit to the settlers of southwestern Rock eounty. The roads being impassable, the neighbors would bring sacks of wheat on their backs to be ground into feed for themselves and their stock. On grinding days the neigh- bors, traveling on snowshoes, would gather at Mr. Jacobson's farm and all assist in shovel-
APRIL.
2. Provisions at the "big farm" sold.10
5. Main line opened. Train reached Worthington from Sioux City, carrying let- ters dated February 21. Road open three days.
7. Train proceeded from Worthington to Adrian, expecting to reach Luverne on the eightlı. Began snowing at two o'clock.
8. Northeast blizzard and heavy snow. fall. All roads blockaded. Lumber burned for fuel.17
11. Snowing.
12. North wind drifts snow. Railroads again covered.
13. Thermometer registered zero.
17. Rock river broke up. Main line opened entire length and trains running.
18. Blockade raised and trains reach Lu- verne, bringing mail and groceries.18
ing the snow from the power. After the grind- ing each would return to his home, carrying with him his sack of meal.
16"The stock of provisions remaining on hand at the big farm has been disposed of to mer- chants in the village. A barrel of sugar sold to Landin & Nelson last Saturday was retailed by them in half-dollar lots in less than an hour and a half."-Herald. April 8. 1881.
17Some of the residents of Luverne burned lumber which cost them sixteen dollars per thousand feet. In the country out-buildings and furniture were frequently used to supply heat. On Rock river, below Luverne, a log house was torn down by its owner and the ma- terial sold for fuel. There was a ready sale for the logs, and the farmer realized hand- somely on his home.
16The Rock County Herald of April 22 told of this joyful event:
"Last Sunday afternoon [April 17] informa - tion was received at the depot to the effeet that the road had been cleared to Worthington and that a train would reach this place at 6:30 p. m. The intelligence flew like wild-fire throughout the village, and long before the time at which the train was expected to arrive the people commenced flocking to the depot. As the most effective means of expressing the pub- lic gratification over the glad event the Rock Valley Cornet band turned out with its instru- ments and assembled on the depot platform to do honor to the occasion and greet the ar- rival of the train with appropriate ceremony. Owing to some delay the train did not arrive that evening.
"Monday morning the depot platform was again thronged with people. The long-disused 'buses were drawn up at their accustomed sta- tions and the depot again presented an appear- anec like that of time long passed. At 8:45 the welcome neigh of the iron horse was heard in the distance, and presently an engine which had been sent on ahead of the trains pulled up at the depot. This was closely followed by Conductor Berkheimer's train, which consisted of several freight cars, one coach and the mail ear. Still later John Kline's engine with a train of freight cars under charge of Con- duetor Winegar brought up the rear.
"The arrival of the trains was hailed with enthusiasm by the crowd at the depot and was watched with eager eyes by the populace throughout the village. With what feelings of pleasure and with what keen sense of l'e- lief this earnest of our deliverance from long- protracted exclusion from the outer world was regarded. none but the inhabitants of the snow- bound district ean fully understand. though, as subsequently proved to be the case,
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100
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
19. First shipment of coal since Febru- ary 19 arrived at Luverne. Road again closed to traffic because of washouts be- tween Luverne and Worthington. Traffic suspended until May 5.
21. Branch road opened between Luverne and Valley Springs and first train run. Work of opening Doon branch begun, but progress stopped by washouts and no train run until May 20.
22. Many fields reported still covered with snow.19
The long winter of 1880-81 was over, but the blockade was not raised until sey- enteen days later. Even before the snow blockade was raised, on April 1;, the rap- idly melting snows raised the streams from their banks and flooded whole areas of country, Rock valley, so far as the eye could see, was one vast sheet of water. Railroad bridges went out and tracks were washed away. The trains which ran over the Worthington & Sioux Falls line on April 18 and 19 were the only ones operated until May 5, on which date a train reached Rock river opposite Lu- verne. From that point mail and express matter were brought to the town. On May 11 the bridge across the Rock was repaired and freight trains entered Lu- verne. The damage to the bridges on the west end of the road was repaired and regular train service over the whole line was commenced May 19. One day later the Doon branch was put in operation. During the first four days after the arriy- al of the first freight train to Luverne the freight receipts amounted to over . $3500.
Owing to the floods and the late season the wheat crop in 1881 was a disastrous failure. Some of the other crops were fair and there was a good market for all produce. The assessed valuation in 1881
this establishment of communication with the world at large should prove of short duration. here at least was a temporary cessation of our grievances, and this was a matter of no small moment.
""The mail train brought thirty-five sacks of mail for Luverne and the Luverne district The simply of sugar, coffre, kerosene oil and
was $1,105,068, an increase of nearly 300 per cent in five years.
An excellent crop of small grain was produced in 1882, the first crop in several years that was secured and marketed with- out some discouraging feature. The re- sult was a rise in the value of Rock coun- ty farming lands and an influx of new set- tlers, who came to share in the prosper- ous times. Many debts contracted during the grasshopper days and the lean years following, brought on by blight and un- favorable weather conditions, were liqui- dated. The local paper on January 5, 1883, told of this mortgage-burning time:
The drafts on the future upon which many people have been living for years past are coming due and are being paid. During the hard times when there was but little with which to pay, the time of payment of debts previously contracted was extended and what spare cash our farmers could raise was thus left free to be used for cur- rent expenses, Agricultural operations during the past season have been in the main so successful that creditors have demanded payment, and the greater part of the proceeds of the year's labor has been employed in paying old debts. This has left the majority of farmers short of means for current use; yet, while they have been harder pushed for money this fall when crops were good than when they have been in seasons of failure, it is plain that they are in the main in better circumstances and have made decided progress toward "better times." The circumstances described are the natural result of hard times. The pinch, consequent upon the payment of old debts, must be passed before prosperity can be enjoyed, and the fact that this inevi- table stage of progress has arrived is an . encouraging index of prospective improve- ment.
More farm houses were erected during 1883 than had been put up in several pre- vions seasons. The heaviest crop of grain ever before raised in the county was pro- duced, and the advance to prosperity con-
other articles of which the village has been destitute, received by the train Monday, was almost exhausted Wednesday."
MThe snowfall in Minnesota during the win- ter was 12.51 fort, of which 9,68 was during December, January and February.
101
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
tinued. Said the Rock County Herald on October 19: "The amount of grain to be threshed in Rock county is simply surprising. Threshers state that it will be absolutely impossible to get it all done this fall and that threshing will be con- tinued all winter."
During the prosperous times of the early eighties, in 1884, the Burlington railroad (now the Rock Island ) was built through Rock county. The construction of the road was an item of great import- ance. It passed through parts of the county which before were long distances from markets and resulted in a more rap- id development of those portions than would otherwise have been the case. As a result of its construction, two new vil- lages, Hardwick and Kanaranzi, came into existence.
So early as 1882 it was rumored that the Burlington officials intended building lo Rock county, extending the branch road from Worthington. If such were at the time the intention, il was aban- doned.
In the fall of 1883 a party of survey- ors in charge of J. A. Divine ran a line from Sibley, lowa, to Pipestone for a pro- posed extension of the Spirit Lake & Western railroad. The survey was said to have been made under the direction of Close Bros. & Co. The line as surveyed entered Rock county near the southeast- ern corner of Magnolia township, cross- ed the Omaha road on section 8 of that township, and continued in a northerly direction to Pipestone. On the return trip the surveyors ran a line close to the mounds. A little later in the same season the Burlington officials surveyed a line northwest from Worthington, which en-
. If the Milwaukee company or the Burlington ser fit to build it, all the better: if not. Luverne will act independently in the mat- ter and proceed in the spring to build a branch line, either to a connection with the Burlington. Cedar Rapids & Northern at some point along
tered Rock county on section 24, Battle Plain township. crossed Rock river on section 16 of the same township, and con- tinued northwestward io section 3, Den- ver township, where it intersected a pre- vious survey.
It beeame evident that one or more lines of railroad might be secured for Rock county in the near future. To take action to this end, and, incidentally, lo see that Luverne was not passed by in case a new road was bnili, the business men of that village held a meeting January 18, 1884. The matter of the extension of the Burlington from Worthington was speci- fically considered, but there was also a general discussion of railroad projects that might eventuate. It was known that both the Burlington and Milwaukee in- lerests were considering the matter of ex- tensions through the county. At the meet- ing in Luverne it was suggested that local capital be employed to construct a line to a junction with some road in case either of the companies saw fit to build.20
The people of Rock county had not long to wait for the "proposition" which was the inevitable forerunner of railroad building in the early days. On Febru- ary 2, 1884, General Superintendent C. J. Ives and Captain S. L. Dows, of the Burlington road, appeared in Luverne to consult with the citizens. They stated that the Burlington company proposed to bild a line from some point in Dickinson county. lowa (probably Lake Park ), by way of Sibley to Pipestone, with a view of extending the line to Bismarck, Dakota territory, and that if sufficient encourage- ment were given, the company would be pleased to build by way of Luverne. A con- ference was held between the Lnverne
its Bismarck extension, or with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul line at Edgerton. This plan is entirely feasible and it is now reason- ahly certain that, in the contingency mentioned, it will be carried into effect."-Rock County Herald. February 1, 1884.
2006
102
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
railroad committee, composed of P. J. Kniss, William Jacobsen, W. M. Ray- mond and H. J. Miller, and the railroad representatives. Then a mass meeting was held, at which the price asked was made known.
Rock county, by reason of aid given the Omaha road, was bonded to its limit, but the townships still had bonding privileges and it was asked that these be utilized. The terms agreed upon at the mass meet- ing were substantially as follows: The people of Luverne promised that Luverne village and Luverne township bonds to the amount of $15,000 should be issued : to donate suitable depot grounds within 2500 feet of the court house square, or pay in licu thereof $3500; to use their best efforts to secure the voting of a tax of five per cent of the assessed valuation in each of the townships of Kanaranzi. Clinton. Magnolia, Mound, Vienna and Rose Dell; and also to use their best efforts in assisting the company to secure the right-of-way through the county. On condition that the Luverne village and Luverne township bonds agreed upon were issued and that the tax in the other town- ships was voted. the Burlington company agreed to have the road constructed to Luverne on or before December 1, 1884. A contract embodying these terms was drawn up and within the next few days was signed by 118 residents of Luverne and immediate vicinity. which practically assured the voting of the bonds in the vil- lage and in Luverne township.
The Luverne residents upon whom fell
21"Information has been received from Cap- tain Dows, of the Burlington road, that the 'people of Adrian are very active in their ef- forts to secure the proposed new road and are getting up a proposition to the company which they feel confident will oversize Luverne.' Lat- er information confirms this statement and leaves no room for doubt that if Luverne Sp- cures the road the condition of the company's proposition must be fully complied with. Adrian is on the direct line from Sibley to Pipestone. It is believed that the Close Brothers would be quite as well satisfied with that route as with the one through Luverne and it is reas- onable to suppose, therefore, that the road will go where the greatest inducements are
the burdens of maintaining the proper en- thusiasm to secure the voting of the tax in the several precincts changed the orig- inal plans. They reasoned that all the townships in the county, with the possible exception of Martin and Beaver Creek, would derive direct benefit from the build- ing of the road, and they therefore asked that all the precincts except the two men- tioned should vote a tax proportionate to their assessed valuation, the total amount thus raised to be about $15,000. Consid- erable opposition developed in parts of the county to voting the tax. and the Li- verne enthusiasts were obliged to wage an aggressive campaign. Early in March a mass meeting was held at Luverne, par- ticipated in by those favoring the bonus. The well-worked plan to bring the voters to a bonus-voting frame of mind of pit- ting one fown against another was em- ployed, Adrian in this instance being the scare-crow.21
In some of the precincts asked to vote aid elections were not held. On March 15. Luverne village, by a vote of 202 to 2. de- cided to issue $2500 bonds for the pur- pose, and on the same day Luverne town- ship voted the same amount. Monnd township voted a tax of $3000 on March 15; Springwater. $1500 on March 18: Rose Dell, $1500 on March 19: Denver, $1300 on March 20. Clinton township was asked to furnish $2000 on March 21. but the tax did not carry, and on March ?? Magnolia township decided adversely on the proposition of taxing itself $4000 as a bonus to the railway company.22
offered."-Rock County Herald, February 22. 1884.
22All the bonds were turned over to the Ce. dar Rapids, lowa Falls & Northwestern Rail- way company (the name of the Burlington auxiliary company which built the road through Rock county) during the fall of 1884. the last ones being delivered November 22. To comply with the demands of a state law. the railroad company, in exchange for the township and village bonds, issued its bonds in a like amount. On August 7. 1900, the Luverne village council unanimously voted to accept an offer of twen- ty-five cents on the dollar for the $7500 worth of railroad honds it had received in 1884, and received therefor $1875.
103
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
The railroad company evidently consid- ered that the amounts voted were suffi- cient, for early in April the preliminary survey through Rock county was made, and in less than a month the line had been definitely located. The right-of-way through Rock county cost about $30,000. The contract for grading and bridging between Lake Park and Pipestone was let to E. P. Reynolds & Son, and the work of grading between Luverne and Sibley was begun late in May. Grading was com- menced on the line north of Luverne early in July. The track-layers reached the southern boundary of Rock county about the middle of August and on September 1 the road was completed to Luverne. The first shipment of freight was received on the third, although regular freight trains were not operated until the eleventh. The track was completed through the county on September 19. The same day the sta- tion at Luverne was opened and M. M. Knapp began his duties in a box car, which served for a temporary depot. Pas- senger train service was established Oc- tober 26.
The most destructive wind storm in Rock county's history occurred on the aft- ernoon of Monday, July 21, 1884. The storm was general throughout the county, hut was most violent in the townships of Rose Dell. Springwater, Beaver Creek, Martin. Imverne and Magnolia. L. Las- sessen, a carpenter employed in construct- ing the Lutheran church in Mariin town- ship, was killed and a few persons were injured. The storm did not take The form of a cyclone, or whirlwind, but in the less destructive form of a hurricane the tempest was terrifie. It left in its course a scene of wreck, devastation and disaster unparalleled in the history of the county, before or since.
Early in the morning indications of un- usual commotion in the elements were no-
liceable, and later in the day the excessive heat, coupled with the appearance of heavy banks of lowering clouds which darkened the western and northwestern horizons, presaged the proximity of a vio- lent storm. Gradually the clouds gather- ed toward a common center, gaining in darkness until the blackness was intense. The sky in the vicinity of the cloud took on a greenish tint. Toward four o'clock in the afternoon the outlines of the ap- proaching tempest became clearly defined in the northwest, and very soon after a huge mass of over-hanging clouds, plain- ly indicating the approach of a strong wind, rolled on with startling rapidity, ac- companied by a deep, rumbling noise.
The appearance of the storm. though unusually threatening, was not such as to occasion serious alarm, and after the first vigorous gust the impression prevailed that the worst was over. In this the appearances were deceptive. After a brief cessation of the first violent outbreak, the rain began to fall in torrents and the wind gathered strength. A moment later the wild tempest began its work in earn- est. The rain was driven before the wind in vast sheets, with appalling force, and the tempest steadily increased in fury. When a cessation of the storm might have been expected. the force of the now thor- oughly maddened elements developed a frightful violence, and cach moment the terrors of the tempest were increased. There was then good cause for general alarm. The strongest structures trembled to their foundations, others, racked and swayed in momentary danger of destruc- tion. while others, less substantial or more directly exposed to the wind, were blown into a thousand pieces. The tempest raged furiously for over half an hour, and the scenes during this period were inde- seribably appalling. Houses, barns and outbuildings were demolished, and broken
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