USA > Minnesota > Rock County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 14
USA > Minnesota > Pipestone County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 14
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104
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
boards, doors. windows and even roofs from wrecked buildings were driven through the air in wild confusion, crashing into buildings still standing and bringing ter- ror and confusion to the imnates ; chim- neys tumbled down with fearful racket, and brieks were sent flying in all direc- tions. For a time it seemed that total de- struction must be the result, but the force of the tempest finally diminished, and to- ward five o'clock the storm was over.
The damage was great. There was none living in the path of the storm that escaped without loss. Hundreds of build- ings over the county were wrecked, grain fields were leveled to the earth, and hun- dreds of tons of hay were scattered to the four winds. The damage in Luverne was estimated at $15,000. and in Beaver ('reek a number of the business houses wore demolished. Many miraculous es- capes from death and serions injury oc- curred.23
The year 1884 was one of the most prosperous in Rock county's early history and was a time of jubilee. Several causes contributed to this condition : the build- ing of the Burlington railroad, an excel- lent erop, the throwing upon the market of the railroad lands, and a heavy immi- gration.
3In the village of Beaver Creek Mrs. Mather and Mrs. Ness, with six small children, made their escape through a window of a hotel building that was being demolished and were caught by the wind and prostrated in the mid- dle of the street. They finally made their way to safety.
Miss Flora Mather was conducting school in district No 20 when the storm struck. She and all the pupils deserted the school house and took refuge on the bare prairie, where they
Nearly 80,000 acres of Rock county land were added to the tax rolls that year. These revenue-producing additions were from the following sources: School lands purchased. 1280 acres ; tinal proof on gov- ernment lands, 9493 aeres; Southern Minnesota Railway Extension lands pur- chased, 8532 acres ; Sioux City & St. Paul Railway company's lands purchased, 25,- 819 acres: Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway company's lands contracted, 31.365 acres.
Land seekers came to the county in large numbers and indications of prosper- ity were apparent on all sides. Exclusive wheat farming had been found unprofit- able, and only a limited acreage was sown. Instead of raising only wheat, farmers raised flax and hay and turned their at- tention to stock raising and dairying more than formerly. Flax growing became one of the big industries. There was an im- mense crop in this year of jubilee. and it commanded a big price. The results of prosperous times were seen in building im- provements in all parts of the county and in the prompt payment of debts.
The farmers were at last firmly upon their feet. and the high road to wealth was henceforth open. The recovery from the grasshopper scourge was at last com- plete.
remained during the storm, beaten by the wind. rain and hail. All escaped serious injury.
Colonel Harrison White was carried some dis- tance by the force of the wind and deposited in a hay stack. Later a building came down in ruins about him. but he escaped with slight injuries.
The Martin township church, in course of construction, was demolished. burying the workmen in the debris. L. Lassessen was kil- led and another workman seriously injured.
CHAPTER VII.
THE AGE OF PROSPERITY -- 1885-1911.
F ACTS supplying the context of pro- ceding chapters lead to the conclu- sion that the people of Rock coun- ty had passed through many years of hardship and bitter disappointment be- fore a permanent condition of prosperity was reached. This long period of travail was punctuated by an occasional year that promised better times. In the earliest days the settlers contended with obstacles incident to the settlement of any new country, being far from railroads, markets, schools, churches, and the many institu- tions that in our present day civilization are considered necessary to the enjoyment of life. The community had hardly emerged from its frontier state when the grasshopper scourge came with all its ter- rifying inflictions. and the country re- ceived a setback which took years to over- come. Following the departure of the plagne were a few years of partial crop failures because of weather conditions. Then came a period of better times-the reconstruction period-during which the debts contracted during the dark days were paid and a new start was made. In the middle eighties the county had de- veloped to a point where permanent pros- perity was assured. Yet in that period. at the beginning of the year 1885, only about one-tilth of the land in Rock coun- ty was under cultivation.
New farms were opened in 1885, and the demand for lands was good, many homeseekers arriving during the spring and fall months. One of the best crops produced in the early days was harvested. In a review of the events of the year, the Rock County Herald said: "The year just ended has been one of the most prosperous Rock county has ever known. Our farmers have all made material pro- gress and our business men have pros- pered accordingly. Improvements have been made in every portion of the county and the value of real estate has been greatly enhanced."
The population of Rock county in 1885 was 5239. a gain of 1570 in five years. The population of the several precinels was as follows :
Battle Plain 157
Beaver Creek Township. 531
Beaver Creek Village 165
Clinton
328
Denver
231
Kanaranzi
236
Luverne Township
316
Luverne Village
1346
Magnolia
242
Martin
743
Mound 256
Rose Dell 210
Springwater 243
Vienna
215
Total
5239
The first attempt to build a court house was made in 1885. Long before, the di-
105
106
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
lapidated old shell that for so long had answered the purpose had outgrown its usefulness and was utterly inadequate. In its one room were located the offices of four county officers, while the other officials had no public place of business. The matter of a new court house was brought up early in the year. In order to construct a building it was necessary to is- sue bonds, and to issue bonds it was neces- sary to receive anthority from the state legislature. Accordingly, on January 15, Senator Crosby introduced a bill author- izing the county commissioners to sub- mit to the electors a proposition to issue bonds to an amount not exceeding $20,- 000 for court house purposes. The bill passed the senate the day it was intro- duced, under suspension of the rules, it passed the house the following day, and on the eighteenth a certified copy of the act was received by the county officers.
The preliminaries were quickly attend- ed to. On January 21 the county board met and called a special election to be held February 12, to vote on the ques- tion of bonds. The opposition to the issuance of bonds was general ouiside of Luverne village, and the proposition met disastrons defeat at. the polls. Following was the voie:
TOWNSHIPS
For Bonds
Against Bonds
Battle Plain
3
14
Beaver Creek
3
113
Clinton
1
36
Denver
2
24
Kanaranzi
1
13
Luverne
188
73
Magnolia
3
14
Martin.
0
93
Mnund
13
12
Rose Dell
0
36
Springwater
0
30
Vienna
7
8
TOTAL
221
466
The Minnesota legislature of 1885 passed a county seat removal bill which provided for the course of procedure. The first step was
Like nearly every county in the state of Minnesota, Rock county has had a county . seat removal contest. It came in the win- ter of 1885-86, and Beaver Creek was the village which sought to wrest the honor from Luverne. The enterprising village on the "roaring Beaver" was at the zenith of its power and was peopled with an exceptionally progressive class of business men. The agitation for removal was started in a spirit of levity but rapidly developed into a serions undertaking. Be- fore the contest was brought to a close mich of the bitterness usually accom- panving contesis between rival towns was engendered.
The agitation for removal developed serious propensities early in December. 1885.1 The sentiment of the people against the expenditure of funds for building a court house had been strongly expressed at the polls within the year, and the Bea- ver Creek strategists were not slow to take advantage of this sentiment. They started their campaign with the promise that funds should be raised by subserip- tion to an amount not less than $20.000, with which to construct a court house to be donated to Rock county when the removal was accomplished. The promise resulted in gaining many adherents for Beaver Creek.
The removal enthusiasts held their first public meeting at Beaver Creek December 12. A permanent organization was per- fected by the selection of the following officers: F. S. Gibson, president ; John Park, secretary ; A. J. Daley and E. A. Knapp. assistant secretaries: Harrison White, treasurer. Promises of financial support to the movement were made by many present, and enthusiastic speeches were made by Harrison White, Howard Cummings, Jacob Merkel, Frank Craw-
to present a petition to the board of county commissioners, signed by a majority of the freeholders who were also legal voters and
107
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
ford, John Mickelson, Fred Finke, H. W. holding meetings in country school hous- Knapp, Eli Terry, A. J. Daley, Abram es, and thereafter an active campaign Osmun, G. B. Roderick, Frank Ressigieu, J. D. Campbell, William Baird, J. O. Tyler and Charles Pumphries. Commit- tees were appointed on by-laws, finances, ways and means, and to prepare a pe- tition of protest against the expenditure of county money for improving the old county building. In each precinct in which it was believed there were Beaver ('reck adherents, working committees were appointed as follows:
Rose Dell-William Viekerman, K. K. Steen, C. S. Bruce, E H. Ellefson, L. M. Larson, G. H. Vickerman.
Springwater-Robert MeDowell, Paul En- gelson, Charles A. Reynolds, B. Chapin, Niek Brennen, B. S. Pengra.
Beaver Creek Township-James Marshall, Iver D. Eitreim, Howard Cummings, Aldro Grout, H. H. Streaver, Chris Hoeffer, Peter Kille, J. M. Leslie.
Beaver Creek Village-Eli Terry, J. O. Brietson, G. B. Roderick, Abram Osmun, J. M. Bennett, F. D. Ressigieu, A. J. Daley, H. W. Knapp.
Martin-George Anderson, Niels Jacobson, O. Berkland, John Nelson, Fred C. Finke, Paul Sandbo, F. B. Myrick, Thomas Weston, Fred Nuffer.
Clinton-William Spracher, Colonel Wood- ruff, Ole P. Steen, Nels Clemetson, John Lund, Ed. Maloney.
Luverne Township-Anton Reder,2 R. Jay- bush, Henry Carner, Frank Loose, John Mickelson, T. P. Grout.
Another meeting was held JJanuary 2, at which further plans were put under way. It was decided to organize a stock company for the purpose of raising funds and building the Beaver Creek court house, and subscriptions were opened. The people of Beaver Creek pledged $10,000 (which was afterwards increased), and the peo- ple of other preeinets pledged liberal sub- seriptions. Arrangements were made for
residents of the county, asking that change of the county seat to some designated place in the county he made. The county commissioners were then required to submit the question of such removal to the qualified electors, at a gen- eral election for state and county officers. To be successful the proposition must be car- ried hy a majority vote in case the question had never been voted upon. In case the ques- tion had been submitted before. three-fourths of the number of votes cast was required to carry the proposition.
was waged throughout western Rock eoun- ty. A glee club accompanied the cam- paigners, and large crowds turned out to hear the arguments for removal in speech- es and song. The petition asking that no money be spent for improvement of coun- ty buildings was presented to the county board January 7. A committee, composed of Harrison White, H. W. Knapp and A. J. Daley, was named on January 16 to draft a petition for removal, but not until February 1 was the petition ready for signatures.
The Beaver Creek campaigners extend- ed the field of their operations to the "enemy's country," holding a meeting in Luverne January 26, which was attended by five hundred people. It was a novel and interesting occasion-a meeting held in Luverne and attended by Luverne peo- ple, in the interests of a movement to take away the county seat from that village. Beaver Creek orators presented arguments in favor of the change and exhorted their hearers to sign the petition when it should be ready for signatures. The subscrip- tion papers were exhibited, showing that $22,000 had been subseribed, of which Beaver Creek had furnished $10,000.
The crusade for signers to the removal petition was begun February 1. At an enthusiastic meeting at White's hall on that date, the first frecholders attached their signatures to the document. At the same time the organization of the association to construct the court house was perforted.3
2Refused to serve. Ira Chapman appointed. and he. also, refused the committee assignment.
3The directors of the building association were Abram Osmun, John Park, G. B. Roderick and J. D. Campbell. of Beaver Creek village; James Marshall. C. R. Honton, Jacob Merkel, C. Hoeffer. Iver D. Eitreim and H. F. Cummings, of Beaver Creek township: Ole Sandbo, F. B. Myrick. Fred Nuffer. Ole Ruud. F. Finke and O. Berkland, of Martin; B. F. Pengra. A. Ache- son. E. N. Curtis and N. P. Noble, of Spring- water; W. A. Spracher, of Clinton.
108
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
Nol until the campaign had reached this stage did the people of Luverne and eastern Rock county lay defensive plans, refusing to take a serious view of the mat- ter until it became evident that the Beaver ('reek people were in earnest and were about to circulate their petition. Then those in favor of retaining the seal of government in larverne prepared a peti- tion of remonstrance against removal. They began a crusade for signatures to that petition and against the signing of the Beaver Creek document.4
To formulate plans for defense, a meet- ing was held at Luverne on the afiernoon of February 8. It was called to order by J. F. Shoemaker, and W. M. Raymond and J. L. Helm were respectively elecled chairman and secretary. Plans were dis- . cussed and the following resolutions were adopted :
WHEREAS: A petition has been indus- triously circulated within the county of Rock, Minnesota, praying the county com- missioners of said county to submit the question of removing from the village of Lu- verne the county seat to the village of Beaver Creek, and
WHEREAS: We believe it is against the best interests of the whole county that said petition should be circulated for the reasons following:
1. That the county seat is now located in the most central part of the county pos- sible for said purpose.
2. That we believe that county seats are located, not with reference to the town or village offering the greatest amount of money therefor, but for their location with reference to the geographical limits of the county and the accessibility with reference to the people who desire to do business thereat.
3. That said agitations retard the pro- gress of the entire community, unsettle values and result always in retarding the progress of the county.
RESOLVED: We use our best efforts and do all in our power to bring said agita- tion to an immediate close.
Even after it became apparent that the projectors of the enterprise were in earnest, they [the people of Luverne] cherished the hope that the iniquitous folly might be abandoned. . The movement has at last come to a pass in which Luverne and the eastern part of the county are compelled to take measures for defense. . . . Compelled
A permanent organization was perfec- led. The following vice presidents for the several townships were named, each vice president vested with authority to name an executive committee, who should have charge of the work in their respec- tive Townships: George L. Cole, Battle Plain; E. L. Gront, Beaver Creek; Jo- soph Knight. Clinton : R. J. Cobban, Den- ver: J. E. Brown, Kanaranzi : AA. Jaycox, Luverne: S. Young. Magnolia: J. F. Shoemaker, Mound; Ole Haga, Vienna ; Thomas Ganfield. Rose Dell. At the time of the meeting 380 freeholders had signed the petition of remonstrance, and more were added at that time.
The contest came to a speedy close after the Luverne meeting. Within a few days enough frecholders had signed the remonstrance to make certain the de- feat of the Beaver Creek petition, and about the middle of February those favor ing the removal gave up the light. The petition was not presented to the board of county commissioners.
An old settlers' association was organ- ized al Luverne February 13, 1886, with the following officers: Philo Hawes, president ; E. N. Darling, recording secre- lary: George W. Kniss, corresponding secretary : E. L. Gront, treasurer. Vice presidents were chosen as follows: P. J. Kniss, of Luverne; Amos Estoy, of Clin- Ion ; (1. H. Older, of Kanaranzi ; H. Brock- way. of Magnolia: William Maynes, of Vienna : Frank Mitchell, of Battle Plain : 1. A. Kartrude, of Denver: J. F. Shoe- maker, of Monnd: C. S. Bruce, of Rose Dell: W. H. Givens. of Springwater: F. Meircort, of Beaver Creek ; Osmund Berk- land, of Martin.
by the force of unfortunate circumstances, the people of Rock county who are opposed to the removal of the county seat are organizing their forres for the best interests of the county. In the earnest hope that the fight might be avert- ed, they have hesitated to make this movement until forbearance ceased to be a virtue."- Rock County Herald. February 5. 1886.
109
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
The year 1886 was not a particularly fruitful or prosperous one. There was very little movement in real estate and times were dull. In the country some farm im- provements were made, but in comparison with the two or three preceding years, the twelve-month was an uneventful one.
The next year a splendid record in agricultural advancement was made. The acreage of crops in 1882 was increased more than 21,000 acres over 1886. Many acres of prairie land were broken, many new farms were opened, a great amount of building was done, and the number of the livestock greatly increased and the breed improved.
In the history of the northwest there have been a few winter storms of such un- natural severity that they stand out as events of historical importance. The most severe of these awful storms was the blizzard of January 2, 8 and 9, 1873. an account of which has been given. Rank- ing second was the terrible blizzard of January 12, 1888, when scores of people perished. In Rock county three lives were sacrificed and many people became lost in the storm and badly frozen.
The conditions essential to such a de- structive storm as this proved to be had been tilled by the weather during the week previous. On January 5 a storm of sleet had frozen on the surface of the deep snow to an icy smoothness. On the evening of the eleventh there was a heavy snowfall, which continued until the blizzard began. the thermometer during this time register- ing about fifteen degrees above zero.
At about five o'clock on the afternoon of Thursday, January 12, the wind sub- sided to a dead calm. Ten minutes lat- er a howling, shrieking blizzard was rag- ing with blinding fury, rendering if haz- ardous to undertake a journey of even a few blocks in towns and making it equiv- alent to almost certain death to be caught
away from shelter on the prairie. The terrors of the storm were augmented by a rapidly falling merenry, which soon reach- ed the region of the thirties and rendered infinitely small the chances that any un- fortunate being conld survive who might he exposed to its perils. Because of the mildness of the temperature which had characterized the weather during the early part of the day, and because of the late- ness of the hour when the storm began- an hour when farmers were returning to their homes and children coming home from school .- many Rock county settlers were caught in the storm. The blizzard rontinned with unabated fury until eight o'clock Friday morning ; then it lost much of its violence, but continned until Satur- day night.
Of the three men who met death in the storm. in Rock county, all were elderly inen, none of whom had a family or rela- tives in the county. One of the victims was John Loy, sixty years of age, who was employed on A. M. Crosby's farm on sec- tion 16. Magnolia township. Before the storm began, Mr. Loy and Ed. Bullis started from the buildings with sixty head of cattle to drive them to Elk slough to water. Mr. Bullis went ahead to pump the water and his companion drove the stock. When the former reached the wa- tering place the blizzard struck, churning the snow with volcanic fury and obscuring the vision. Mr. Bullis filled the tank and waited some time for the arrival of his companion and the cattle. Concluding that Mr. Loy had returned to the house. Mr. Bullis started on the way back and suceceded in reaching home after wander- ing about in the blizzard two hours. A searching party at once set out to find the missing man. They kept within shout- ing distance of one another and covered considerable territory, but were unable to get track of the lost man or the stock.
110
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
The dead body of Mr. Loy was found the following morning among the cattle, about a half mile from the slough. The stock had apparently stampeded and Mr. Loy had endeavored to bring them back until overcome with the cold. Eleven of the cattle perished in the storm.
Another who lost his life on that awful day was Erie Olson, a bachelor, sixty years of age, who lived two and one-half miles north of Beaver Creek. Just before the storm struek, Mr. Olson had gone to a straw stack, a half mile from his home, after fuel. He became lost in the bliz- zard and after traveling about for some time sueeumbed to the severity of the storm. After a search of several days, his neighbors found the dead body about one and one-half miles from the house. Excepting the feet, the entire body was drifted over with snow.
The third victim was O. A. Hunt, a peddler who resided at Flandreau and who for a number of years had been en- gaged in selling goods in the country. It seems that when the storm struck, Mr. Hunt abandoned his team and set out on foot in search of shelter. He traveled a long distance before overcome by the storm, the place where he met death be- ing fifteen miles from where he left the team. The body was not found until April 1. It was discovered on section 28,
GOle Haga and his son were caught in the storm in Vienna township, but succeeded in reaching a deserted house, where they spent the night. Both were quite severely frozen.
Charles Older was obliged to spend the night in a haystack near Ashereek and escaped withont injury.
Thomas Ganfield had a narrow escape in reaching his home in the northeastern part of Luverne on the night of the storm. He made the latter part of the journey on his hands and knees.
Milon Pearson and William Hibbs had a rough experience a short disimmer south of Luverne. They were hauling a load of hay when the storm burst in all its fury. Unhitch- ing the team, they started with it for Jens Christianson's home, but lost their way. After wandering abont in the storm for a time, they came to a pile of baled hay. There they made a shelter for themselves and team and re- mained until morning. Mı. Pearson's face, hands and feet were badly frozen, but Mr. Hibbs was only slightly frost-bitten.
Frank Loose and William Spracher had driv-
Rose Dell township, by Elof and Charles Lundquest. As Mr. Hunt had no family and even no permanent place of abode when in Flandrean, his death was not known until the body was found.
Many Rock county settlers had nar- row escapes from death. Some were obliged to spend the night in snowbanks or haystacks, and there were several so- vere cases of freezing.5
Two railways were constructed through Rock county in 1888. These were the Sioux Falls extension of the Illinois Cen- tral. which passed through the southwest- orn part of the county and on which were founded the villages of Bruce and Virginia (Sieen), and the Willmar & Sioux Falls (Great Northern) road, which passed through the northwestern corner of Rock county.
The survey for the Ilinois Central line was made through a corner of Clinton township and the southern part of Martin township in July, 1887, grading was con- meneed on the Rock county part of the road August 27, track-laying was begun early in December, and the rails were laid through Rock county before the close of the year. The line was opened early in 1888, but regular passenger trains were not operated until June 2.
So early as the spring of 1886 sur- veyors in the employ of the Willmar &
on through the storm to the school house for their children. The storm increasing. the gen- tlemen decided to leave the children at the school house and set out for home, Mr. Loose reached the house of Mr. Nurnberg and spent the night there. llis face was badly frozen. Mr. Spracher lost his way and spent the night in a straw stack.
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