USA > Minnesota > Rock County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 3
USA > Minnesota > Pipestone County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 3
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Whyte. P. D .542
Steinfeldt, Adolph
Wolf, George .543
Straw, Ashley
Stroeh, Carl 638
Stuckinbroker, Heinrich 564
Wurm, Charles E. 5.92
Suurmyer. Benjamin G 586
Soutar, Frank
Tuff. Annie MI ..
Tokheim, Tosten T.
599
Page.
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
XXV
PIPESTONE COUNTY.
Page.
Page.
Abraham, Adolph
732
Dickey, W. H .. .686
Alexander, J. William
767
Dietmeier, Lewis V .727
Amundsen, Christian
.794
Dietz, Albert H. 782
Arend, John MI ..
.783
Dingler, W. 712
Argetsinger,
Elmer H.
747
Ditmeyer, Charles F 686
Argetsinger, Ernest E.
751
Dittmann, August 737
Argetsinger, George F
754
Doan, Willis E 778
Arrowsmith, James
679
Dock, Charles J 790
Ashbaugh, John
753
Dodd, William .I 673
Aslesen, Erick J ..
759
Doms, Henry C. 737
Aslesen, William C.
781
Doughty, Robert M
675
Aust, Amos
689
Douty, Frank E 693
Avery, Byron
.793
Duea, Severt B. 671
Bailey, Tad
763
Edsill, 687
Baker, Arthur A 759
Eggers, Gus 700
Baker, William
785
Eggers, William P . 711
Banister, William J 726
Einung, Thomas .731
Barton, John M.
.801
Ekern, Emil A 795
Bean, Alton E .734
Ells, Robert L.
798
Beck, Jens
727
Beck, John
754
Belland, Abraham
H. 724
Bennett, Charles H. 659
704
Binnebose, Fred J
.776
Blomgren, Claus
709
Boehmke, Gustav
735
Bong, John H.
783
Bonine, Henry
744
Fleming, George
792
Bornboft, Nick
765
Fletcher, W. W
734
Both, H. Jacob
.725
Boyce, William
750
Flygare, Henry
779
Brake, Friend
.699
Breiholz, William
730
Foss, Ole
$02
Brown. Mrs. Luke M.
775
Frank, Victor F
786
Brown, Warrington B.
666
Bruins, A. V. W.
712
Friedrich, Gustav
761
Buchholz. Louis
709
Buck, Winfield MI.
769
Fritz, Albert 743
709
Burg, Edward 750
Butman, Eugene S.
667
Gamber, Albert 710
Calderwood, Matt. J 756
Calking. Charles A 774
Campbell, John 770
Gilbertson, Christ
666
Campbell, Thomas 728
Gilbertson, Gilbert G
684
Carlson, Andrew
763
Giles, Fred
691
Carson, Samuel J.
692
Carstens. Theodore .783
751
Christiansen, Cornelius
791
Clausen, George
773
Goodrich, Ira.
792
Grabschied, Sam
798
Cook, .John W.
732
.725
Green, Winfred
792
Gregerson, Ole H.
708
Griffin, Clarence E.
733
Danneker, John E 668
Davies, Edward
677
Delaney, James F. 676
Demary. lra Louis 789
Denhart, Charles 706
Gunvaldsen, Gutterm
674
Evans, David
730
Evarts, William 767
Even, Samuel
761
Farmer, lloward J 682
Feldman, E. J ..
769
Feyereisen, J. P.
746
Foote, Howard W 6S9
Ford, Fred
788
Brown, Jame: S. .747
Frahm, John
762
French, Charles
708
Gilliland, Samuel L
728
Gilmore,
Gilmore, Horace H 672
Glover, H.
698
Colburn, Robert W
777
Green. Oscar
Corrigan, Hugh 755
Crawford, Joseph H 663
Griffin. Harry 695
Grover, Curtis I. 778
Gullickson, Severt 740
680
Chesley, G. L ..
Funk, Samuel W
Gano, Harry 766
Garlich, William H. 720
Emery, John W. 793
Engebretson, Car] L. 714
Bertelsen, Soan
xxVi
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Page.
Page.
Hagen, Tom
742
Malosh, Ed. B. 748
Hall, Walter W
787
Manley, Ed.
771
Hand, Frank C ..
800
Marquardt, Fred E. .704
Hansen, Henry J
722
Marshall, Samuel T.
711
Hansen, Olaf
772
Martinson, Ben D.
797
Harders, Henry
768
Matson, William F
796
Hart, Isaac L. 670
Maynard, Charles H.
699
Hart, Ralph
754
McGlashen, Joseph G
.753
Hartigan, Patrick James
.723
Mckeown, Eugene G
.791
Harvey, John
.669
Meier, John
799
Hellwinckel, Herman H.
.712
Menzel, Max T. G
756
Hendren, James L ..
740
Meyer, Henry, Jr ..
769
Hermanson, Theodore P
735
Meyers, Eugene L.
786
Hillard, Frank 693
Milar, Ed.
671
Hirschy, Sam
770
Miller, George A 760
766
Holvig, Henry K
.788
Minet, Harry
.690
Hoog, John
.799
Mitchell, Alex
741
Howard, C. S.
715
Morgan, John E. 701
Hurd, Elmer E. .777
Morley, Fores H.
762
Hyde, R. A.
780
Myhre, Peter
733
Jackson, Aaron S. 754
Naeve, Barney F 801
Jacobson, Frank P
795
Nash, George W 683
Jaycox, Abraham L. 703
Nach,
Thaddeus E 729
Jaycox, Garrison
.685
Nason, Orville P.
.691
Jenckes, Herbert D.
721
Natzke, John J ..
749
Jensen, Thomas P
707
Natzke, William A. 723
751
Johannsen, August 765
Johannsen, Jacob .729
.789
Johnson, O. B ...
669
Norvold, Peter H.
669
Jones, Llewllyn G 713
Jurgensen, Detlef
707
O'Connell, Richard H. 665
Olson, Albert
774
Oppen, Carl
Patterson, William J 738
Paulsen, Boje
722
Persinger, Hollie 799
Petersen,
Hans L .763
Peterson, Gus M.
.789
Kingsbury, Charles H.
.693
Kingsbury, Lorenzo W
679
Peterson, Julins P
763
Pilling, Arnold 746
Plank, Lewis A 701
Powers, Patrick H 742
Pratt, F. W. 784
768
Lange, Henry Herman 768
Lange, Otto F. 727
Lanyon, Paul
780
Larson, Eric E. 716
La Valla, Joseph
800
Rae, Andrew 705
Rae, George 772
Rae, William .719
Ranheim, Ole E. 762
Raymond. Frank 726
Reader, Edward L. .724
Rice, George D ..
770
Rieck, Chris 749
Riffel, Horace 732
Ring, Christian 1. 714
Ripley, Charles R. 791
Madsen. Peter
716
Ripley, Grant E .. 733
Robson, James A. .......
752
Mahl, John .745
Rae, Alexander 688
Lawhead, Melvin M1 797
Lincoln, Arthur A. 702
696
Lockwood, Lee W 717
756
Lowe, Thomas 744
Ludke, W. M. 676
Lund, Nels N 703
.677
Klinsing, John A.
Lake, William H. 700
Lange, George F. 680
700
Kendahl, Alfred M .795
Kerr, Francis M. .798
Kiester, Quincy E. .697
King, Selah S.
.757
Peterson, Iver I. . 681
772
Kallsen, August C .781
Kellen, Henry .719
739
Nelson, Andrew H.
Nicholson, William T 728
Nilson, Louis
766
Johnson, John S.
Nissen, Amil
.773
Klinker, Hans 796
Priester, John
Quam, Samuel 760
Lindsay, Charles
Lomker, Fred
Madsen, Christ
721
Hitchcox, Jairus
698
Millis, Edwin A
Jepsen, Hans
Kelley, Matt
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
xxvii
Page.
Robson, Sidney
780
Rockey, Samuel B 739
Roscoe, William
683
Rudd. John
716
Tabor, Claire G. 786
Taylor, Ceylon E 692
Taylor, William
J
663
Telford, James
682
Thomas, Robert 715
Thomssen, William 787
Sanders, Elmer R. 782
Schapler, John E. 761
Schroeder, William J 737
Sellers, G. E.
743
Serrurier, Pratt 736
Shafer. Henry 755
Shepherd, Richard S. 702
Shubert, Amel E.
747
Siebring,
Henry
758
Sigmond, Charles
764
Slagg, Alexander
765
Smallfield, Adolph
779
Smith, Alva C.
678
Weber, Anton 704
Wehrman, John W. 696
668
Smith. Perley H.
691
Whitehead, Robert I 696
706
Speth, Herman
Wiener, Jacob H.
734
Steen, Magnus K. 776
Steinke, Albert L. 784
Stevens, George R.
748
Stewart, John
703
Stoddard, Harry N. 774
Stone, George G.
745
Strecker, George M 796
Stuart, Earl T. 710
Stude, Charles W
782
Zimmerman, Edward 720
Zobel, Charles
718
Zorgdrager, Harry
800
.. .....
.781
Vaughn, Elmer C. 706
Viland, L.
743
Vining, James 731
Vinton, Edward F 794
Vos, Nicholas 749
Wagner, Frank 775
Walter, Jesse C. 779
Smith, Charles H 673
Smith, Fred
771
Sorenson, Paul
687
Wiegert, Fred
792
Williams, David
672
Williams, Ole
751
Wilson, Lewis H. 688
Wilson, Samuel H. 717
Winter, Dietrich 742
Woolstencroft, Mark
D.
785
Wright, Robert F.
759
Sturdy, John W
738
Sturzl, Joseph
Page.
Sweet, Daniel E. 692
Sweet, William 697
Rudebusch, William
730
Runals, Major D. E 661
Russau, Hans
752
Thorndyke, Edwin S.
741
Turnbull, Bramwell A 790
Tusia, Frank 793
Whigam, Daniel
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY MINNESOTA
CHAPTER I.
THE RED MAN'S DAY-1838-1866.
C AN the reader let his imagination take him back some one hundred million years, when the history of Rock county begins? If so, picture the earth as a huge mass of molten fire, seething, writhing and grinding for countless thousands of years before it should become a suitable abiding place for any living thing. Contained in this vast caldron were many of the elements that form the present day speck on the earth's surface that we designate Rock county, Minnesota.
Archaeologists and geologists tell us that in time this huge ball of fire cool- ed and the earth's crust was formed, the eventful period in our history occupying a space of time roughly estimated at '50,000,000 years, designated as the Arch- aen or Beginning era. The early part of this period is termed Azoie, from the absence of any evidence that the earth or the sea had either plant or animal life. Following came the Paleozoic time. covering a period of something like 36,- 000,000 years, an era characterized by ancient types of life, unknown today.
The next period is known as the Mos- ozoie time, covering the comparatively short time of 9,000,000 years, during the greater part of which period our county was land area. The floras and fannas of this age were gradually chang-
ing from their primitive and ancient character of the Palezoic time, but had not yet attained the comparatively mod- ern forms of the succeeding era. In late Mesozoic days the greater part of Min- nesota was depressed beneath the sea, as it had been in ages past.
The Cenozoic time, some 3,000,000 years in length, followed, during which that part of the earth's surface now known as Minnesota was lifted from the sea. and it has ever since remained above the water. During this time there came into existence the present types of life. replacing those of the earlier periods. Man was created, dispersed over the earth. and developed into the several colors and races.
Most wonderful and most recent of the wonders occurring in the making of our earth was the Ice age, which began some 45,000 or 100,000 years ago and ceased only from 6000 to 10.000 years ago. Prior to the beginning of this time the earth had been uniformly warin or temperate, but about the time mentioned the northern part of North America and northern Europe became enveloped with thick sheets of snow and ice, probably caused by the uplifting of the land (the surface was then from 2000 to 3000 feet higher than now) into extensive plateans, which received
1
33
34
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
snowfall throughout the year. The low- er latitudes retained the temperate cli- mate, thus permitting the plant and ani- mal life to survive until the melting of the ice sheets again permitted the oc- enpaney of the northern latitudes, Un- der the weight of the vast glaciers the lond sank to its present level. the sur- face was ground down and evened off and made practically as we find it today. With the sinking of the land came the gradual melting of the glaciers, though with numerous pauses and probably slight readvances.
During these millions of years many interesting things happened in Rock county-events which were never wit- nessed by mortal eye. events which the most vivid imagination cannot conceive. From a part of the secthing, molten mass that composed the earth during the mil- lions of years about which even the gool- ogists hardly dare venture a guess Rock county became a part of the earth's sur- face in the process of cooling. There- after it was successively covered with the waters of the sea, was raised from the depths to a great altitude, and was crush- ed back by the weight of the vast ice sheets. During these various periods its topographical features were formed, many changes resulting before nature had them fashioned to her liking. Soil was spread over the surface and the huge red rock formations were deposiled where we now find them; plant and animal life came into existence : ridges and hills were formed by the action of the glaciers: a few depressions were left, where are now the lakes and ponds ; the waters from the melting ice sought avenues of escape and formed the rivers and crecks.
1Traces of man's presence during this period have been found in the flood plain of the Mississippi river at Little Falls, Minnesota, and in other parts of the United States.
""It was formerly thought by many archae- ologists. twenty-five to fifty years ago, that the mounds of the Ohio and Mississippi val-
When Rock county was first inhabited by the human species is unknown. Arch- acologists cannot even hazard a guess when the American continent was first inhabited. There has been discovered evidence that man lived upon North American soil during the decline and closing days of the Ice age,1 some 6000 to 10,000 years ago. and probably had done so for a much longer period. Concerning the original peopting of North America, Warren tp- ham, A. M. D. Se. in Minnesota in 'Three Centuries, says :
The original peopling of America appears to have taken place far longer ago by mi- gration from northeastern Asia during the early Quarternay of Ozarkian epoch of gen- eral uplift of northern regions which im- mediately preceded the Ice age, and which continued through the early and probably the greater part of that age. Then land undoubtedly extended across the present area of Behring sea.
During Ozarkian time and the long early part of the Glacial period, wandering tribes, migrating for better food supplies or to escape from enemies, could have crossed on land from Asia to Alaska, and could have advanced south to Pategonia and Tierra del Fuego, occupying all the ground (excepting the ice covered area) that is now, or was in pre-Columbian times, the home of the American race. It is not improbable, too, that another line of very ancient migration, in the same early Pleis- tocene or Quarternary time, passed from western Europe by the Faroe islands, lee- land and Greenland, to our continent.
When civilized man first came to the new world he found it peopled with a savage race which he called Indians. They Had no knowledge of their own ancestry nor of any peoples who may have pre- ceded them. Whether or not this race supplanted one of a higher civilization is a question upon which authorities disa- gree.2 The only sources of information available concerning the carly inhabitants are the implements of warfare and do-
loys were built by a prehistoric people. dis- tinet from the Indians and further advanced in agriculture and the arts of civilization. To that ancient people the name of Mound Builders was given. and it was supposed that they were driven southward into Mexico by in- cursions of the Indian tribes that were found in our country at the first coming of white
35
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
mestie use they made, found in burial places and elsewhere in the land. The Mississippi valley is prolifie in mounds- the burial places of these ancient peoples, -many having been found and excavated in Minnesota.
In Rock county a number have been located and described, but if any have been excavated the faet is not known. In Angust, 1889, Prof. T. H. Lewis, an archaeologist of St. Paul, visited the county and examined the works of the Mound Builders, so called. Ile found . two mounds on the northeast quarter of section 8. Vienna township, two groups of ten mounds each on section 36, Lu- verne township, a group of twelve on the west side of Rock river south of Ash- creek, and a group of five on the east side of the same stream near the old Ash- ereek mill.3
While we have little knowledge of the very early peoples who inhabited our state, from the middle of the seventeenth century, when white men first came to the northwest, we can trace the history of the Indian tribes quite accurately. When explorers first came to the upper Mississippi country the Sionx and Cree Indians ranged through the northern wooded country between Lake Superior and the Red river, whence they were driven during the next century, the Sioux to the south and the Crees to the north, by the aggressive Ojibways or Chippewas. who had become first known to the French explorers as the tribe of the falls of St. Mary at the mouth of Lake Su- perior.
men. This view, however, has heen generally given up. The researches of Powell and other specialists, including Winchell and Brower in Minnesota, have well referred the building of the mounds to the ancestors of the present Indians."-Warren Upham in Minnesota in Three Centuries.
3Rock County Herald, August 23, 1889.
4The Sioux tribe came originally from the Atlantic coast. in Virginia and the Carolinas. Several centuries before the discovery of
About a hundred years after the first coming of white men the Ojibways wrest- ed Mille Lacs and Rum river from the Sioux. Thenceforth until the white man supplanted the red these two tribes oc- cupied all the area of Minnesota, the. Ojibways holding its northeastern wood- ed half and the Sioux' ils prairie half on the southwest. There were three great tribal divisions of the Sioux, namely : the Isantis, residing about the headwaters of the Mississippi: the Yankions, who oo- enpied the region north of the Minnesota river ; and the Titonwans, who lived west of the Yanktons. These tribes were sub- divided into other, smaller hands.
We have no knowledge that the red men had their permanent homes on Rock county soil, although such may have heen the case. The Yankton branch of the Sioux nation claimed the extreme southwestern portion of Minnesota and trapped and hunted over it extensively prior to the Sioux war of 1862, when they were driven into Dakota. There- after until white men had made settle- ment in Rock county, bands of the Yank- tons made less frequent expeditions into the country in pursuit of game.
Let us. in imagery, take a look at the Rock county of years gone by, when it was in primeval state, when it was as nature had formed it. Its topography was practically the same as we find it today. There were the same broad, roll- ing prairies. stretching as far as the eye might reach, presenting in sum- mer a perfect paradise of verdure, with its variegated hues of flowers and vege-
America they migrated from that eastern country. hy way of the Ohio river, and even- tually located in the upper Mississippi river country. The name of the nation is a con- traction of Nadouessis or Nadouesioux, which was the name used for the tribe by the very early explorers, and which was given to these people by the Ojibways and other Algonquins. The original name is a term of hatred, mean- ing snakes or enemies. Naturally the Sioux disliked this name, and they called them- selves, collectively. Dakotas, which means confederates or allies.
36
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
tation; in winter a dreary and snow mantled desert. The rivers and creeks tlowed in the same courses as now; the mounds stood the same silent, grim guard as at the present day. But what a con- trast!
Wild beasts and birds and wilder red men then reigned supreme. Vast herds of bison, elk and deer roamed the open prairies and reared their young in the more sheltered places along the streams. With that- wonderful appreciation of the beautiful which nature has made an in- stinet in the savage, the untutored Sioux had selected the country as his hunting ground and roamed it at will. If inani- mate things could speak what wild tales of Indian adventure could be poured forth !
But inanimate things cannot speak and the animate aborigine is a notoriously worthless historian ; so a very interesting part of the history of Rock county must forever remain unrecorded. Only tri- fling bits of history, intermingled with a plethora of legend, are preserved of the days before the Caucasian race took pos- session.
It is said that the savages were wont to round up and drive over the precipices at the mounds herds of hison, sending them to an untimely death, and certain it is that the bones of many of the noble animals of the prairie were found at the foot of the cliffs by the early white set- ilers. At least one white man, probably some adventurous trapper, is known to have met his death in Rock county al the hands of the savages before settle-
SAddress of R. O. Crawford, ISSS.
""An interesting relic of times in the early history of Rock county was found on the old battle ground in Battle Plain township Tues- day of last week and was brought to the Herald office last Monday by F. P. Hofgaard. It was an old flint-lock, single barreled shot gun, or rather what was left of one the bar- rel and the lock. The relie was found on the bare prairie, where it had doubtless lain since the time many years ago when it dropped from the hand of some doughty warrior, and the
ment was made. llis bones were found bleaching on the open prairie in the northwestern part of the county among hundreds of bison skeletons. In the tem- plo of the skull was imbedded the flint point of an arrow.5
The facts are meager concerning a battle between two tribes of indians fought on the west bank of Rock river, on the southwest quarter of section 16, Bat- tle Plain township. An unknown author- ity states that the battle occurred in 1810 and was between the Ponca and Yankton Indians, that after four days' lighting the latter were the victors. There can be no question that an engagement took place there, for in the early days the marks of earthworks and other evidences of confliet were distinct. There was an enclosure 200x125 feet-described as egg- shaped-surrounded by a series of irreg- ular pits from two to three and one-half feet deep and ten to twelve fort in length. the earth removed in digging having been piled in front for breastworks. From the rudeness and irregularity of the oni- line, those who have visited the site con- clude it must have been the work of the Indians. Occasionally human bones and parts of weapons have been found on the spot.6
Before introducing the first white man who set foot on the soil of Rock county, let us review briefly the explorations that had been made in other parts of Minne- sota.
White men first penetrated the north- west country to the present state of Minnesota in the middle of the seven-
wonder is that it had not been discovered before. It was found near the spot where a skull was discovered a few years ago, The barrel was loaded with BB shot and the ham- mer was cocked. The barrel is forty-one inches long and something smaller than a
twelve hore. It was slightly bent and was
broken near the center. The lock bore the inscription in English letters, 'Barnett 1807.' It had evidently boon silver plated, and attached to it was a brass device which had served as an ornament for the stock." Rock County Herald, June 3, 1892.
37
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
teenth century ( 1655-56). In 1683 the first map on which physical features of Minnesota were pictured was published in connection with Father Hennepin's writings. The map is very vague and demonstrates that little was known of the northwest country. Five years later, in 1688. J. B. Franquelin, a Canadian French geographer, drafted for King Louis XVI of France a more detailed map of North America, making use of information gathered by Joliet and Mar- quette, La Salle, Hennepin, Dulaith and others. Some of the principal streams and lakes are marked and more or less accurately located. among others the R. des Moingene ( Des Moines), which rises not far from our territory. The data for the greater part of the map were doubtless secured from the Indians.
A few French explorers, named above, had penetrated to several points within the present boundaries of our state, but none of them had explored the south- western portion. In 1700 LeSueur as- cended the Minnesota river and fur- nished data for a more or less authentic map of southwestern Minnesota, so far as the larger and more important phys- ical features are concerned. This map was made by William DeL'isle, royal geographer of France, in 1203. For the first time the Minnesota river appeared upon a map, being labeled R. St. Pierre or Mini-Sota. The Des Moines also has a place on the map, being marked Des Moines or le Moingona R .. and its source was definitely located. There is noth- ing in the writing of LeSueur, however, to lead to the belief that he extended his explorations to any country except that along the Minnesota river. Another map, made by Buache in 1454, was compiled from data furnished Sicur de la Veren- drye by an Indian.
"Do not confound with Jean Nicollet, an American pioneer from France, who visited the country nearly two hundred years carlier.
AAfter LeSueur had penetrated to the southwestern part of the state in 1200 that portion of the country was not again visited by while men until sixty- six years later, so far as we know. In November, 1766, Jonathan Carver ascended the Minnesota river and spent the winter among the Sioux in the vi- cinity of the present city of New Uhn. He remained with the Indians until April. 1767, and learned their language. It is possible, but not probable, that Car- ver during this time may have visited the country which is now included within the boundaries of Rock county, for he hunted with the Indians over some of the great plains of southwestern Minnesota which, "according to their account [the Indians], are unbounded and probably terminate on the coast of the Pacific ocean."
While a number of explorers visited other parts of Minnesota and a few set. tlements had been established within the boundaries of the present state during the first part of the nineteenth century. none had penetrated to the southwestern corner and it was not until the late thirties that our immediate vicinity be- came known and was mapped. Catlin, who visited the Pipestone quarries in 1832: Schoolcraft, Featherstonhangh, Al- len, Keating and Long were early ex- ploters to the wilds of Minnesota, but they confined themselves to the ready routes of travel, passing through the country in a single season. But in 1836 appeared one who crossed the upper Mississippi country in all directions, spending several years, winters included, in preparing data for his map, which was published after his death in 1843. This was Joseph Nicolas Nicollet,? who was the first white man, of record, that
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