USA > Minnesota > Rock County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 32
USA > Minnesota > Pipestone County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 32
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Prairie fires continued a menace to the people of Rock county many years, or un- til the county had become quite thiekly settled and subdned. Seldom did an au- tumn pass in the early days without one or more disastrous conflagration in some part of the county. Several times Luverne was threatened with destruction, and com- panies had to be formed to go out and fight the approaching fires.
One of the first recorded conflagrations occurred October 19. 1872. when nearly the whole of Rock county was burned over. The wind was blowing a gale and the fires swept over the prairies at a fearful rate, jumping fire guards several rods in width. Considerable loss was sustained by the few settlers living on the prairie, about one hundred tons of hay having been burned. Among the losers were L. Mc- Dermott, whose stable containing three horses and some machinery was destroyed, and (. A. Reynolds, who lost all his house- hold goods and winter's supply of pro- visions.
In the spring of 1878 almost the en- tire county was blackened by the demons of the prairie, the heavens being nightly aglow with fiery flames for a week or more. One of the fires was started about two miles north of Inverne. This swept northward along Mound Creek valley and made lively work for the settlers in that vicinity. The same fire ran over the sum- mit of Blue mound at nightfall, present- ing a gorgeous aspect. On April 20, 1879,
a fire driven by a terrifie wind swept up through the rank vegetation of the Rock river bottom, and for a fime threatened the destruction of Luverne. A general alarm was turned in and nearly the entire population of the town turned out to pro- tect the village. Men and teams look sta- tion at various defensive points and were successful in staying the flames with the loss of nothing except a quantity of hay.
Concerning a eonflagration which burn- ed over the northwestern part of the eoun- ty on April 18. 1880. a Rose Dell town- ship farmer wrote :
Much prairie fire! Most people know what a prairie fire is in this country, but we had one here on Sunday of a rather peculiar type. Everything was as dry as tinder. The peculiarity was in the wind, which blew at intervals from every point of the compass or whirled in eddies, lashing the fiery de- mon in all directions into a most majestic fury; roads, fire breaks, etc., seemed to offer no impediment to its prowess, and it would seem at times almost beyond the pow- er of linman ingenuity to stay its terrible progress. With the assistance of two of our neighbors we managed to save, by almost superhuman efforts, our hay and stables; it was only by taking advantage of the changes of the wind that we suc- ceeded in this connection.
The county commissioners. on October 6, 1880, took measures to protect the coun- ty buildings in Luverne from the ever dreaded danger. instructing the county at- forney to have fire guards plowed around all buildings belonging to the county. The Herald of October 8 said: "Our village is absolutely defenseless against danger from prairie fires. Something should be done about this maller at once."
A fire of considerable fury swept across the northern portion of the county Octo- ber 28. 1882. It had started on the prai- ries of Dakota some three or four days be- fore and when it reached Roek county was coming at race horse speed. In conse- quence of the terrible gale blowing the strip burned over was narrow. The fire swept across the county with fearful ra-
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
pidity, leaping over ereeks and fire breaks, and all efforts to check its progress were unavailing.
One of the most extensive and destruc- tive fires in the history of the county swept over a large traet of country in the north- western part of the county on Sunday. November 11, 1883, and carried with it loss of property of considerable value. The fire was reported by the Rock County Her- ald of November 16 as follows :
Early Sunday morning the smoke from the fire was plainly seen in a northwesterly direction from this place, and later in the forenoon as the northwest wind, which had been blowing a gale for several hours, increased its fury, it became evident that the fire was approaching the town at a rate which threatened danger. A consider- able company gathered upon the high ground in the northwest part of the village to watch the course of the fire and assist, if need be, in fighting it, while others went to work with teams and plows to make firebreaks. At times the indications were really alarm- ing, and the general apprehension was in no wise diminished by the reports of those who had driven out toward the fire to ascer- tain what was best to be done. Fortunately, however, owing in part to the efforts of those who had heen at work at some dis- tance from the village, and partly to the obstruction to the progress of the flames occasioned by the plowed fields, the main line of the fire was broken within two miles of town and its direction was turned toward the north. During the afternoon and even- ing the fire worked its way toward the mounds and burned over a large tract of land north of town, including the sum- mit of the mounds. During the night the wind changed to the south and the fire was driven northward and continued to burn all the following day.
The fire originated Saturday afternoon in the northwest corner of Beaver Creek town- ship. At this time the wind was blow- ing from the south, but during the night it changed to the northwest and the fire took the course above described. It is un- derstood that the greater part of the central portion of Springwater township was burn- ed over and that much property was de- stroyed.
The northeastern part of the county was visited by one of the destroyers October 19. 1881, the fire having been started by sparks from a Burlington engine near the Norwegian church north of Luverne. A
strong southwest wind soon fanned the fire into a resistless current of flame, which swept with disastrous results over a considerable portion of the east part of Mound township and all that portion of Battle Plain lying west of the river. To- ward evening the wind changed to the north and drove the fire southward. At a late hour in the evening, when the flames had reached Devil's run, they were extin- guished by rain. The damage was con- fined to a few farmers, but was quite serious.
GAME IN EARLY DAYS.
In the days before white men came, Rock county was the home of several spe- cies of big game, including bison, elk and deer, and many fur bearing animals. On hunting and trapping expeditions the aborigines visited the county from time inmemorial, and later, when setilement had been extended to the frontier regions, white trappers were wont to visit the streams with their traps and were richly rewarded.
The bison was among the first of the big game to depart after the arrival of set- tlers. The very first settlers occasionally saw stray members of this noble animal of the prairies and many evidences of his former presence in the shape of wallows and his bleaching bones scattered over the prairie. The elk also departed early, al- though a few were seen by the Rock coun- ly pioneers. So late as May, 1879, one traversed a portion of the county, having been seen crossing the farms of Messrs. Ellithorp and Green and making for the Rock river valley to the southeast.
Deer remained in the county for a long- er period, and during the period of deep snow in the winter of 1880-81 quite a number were driven from their retreals and were seen : a few were captured. Soon after the well remembered October bliz-
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
zard the report of the presence of three or four of the animals on the mounds brought forth a dozen mounted huntsmen from Inverno, who, with a pack of fleet footed logs, were soon on the trail. The game was located, and after a pursuit of several miles one was brought to bay and shot by Sheriff Edwin Gillham. The next Febru- ary one was captured by a farmer in Vien- na township, the frightened animal having fled to the farm house to escape dogs which were in pursuit.
Beaver and other fur bearing animals were taken along the streams for many years after the county was settled. Dur- ing the early seventies quite a number of beaver were trapped by the settlers along Beaver creek in the township of the same name. A pioneer settler of the preeinet tells me that at the mouths of the many deep holes, which are a feature of the stream, these cunning animals would ent down the willows and build formidable dams within a few days if unmolested. The local press in the fall of 1876 re- ported Rock river lined with implements of destruction for the taking of the valu- able polts.1 Beaver were taken along this stream up into the eighties. In the spring of 1885 "Rattlesnake Dick," a well known trapper of the frontier, stopped in Luverne and reported that from the preceding No- vember he had taken over seventy beaver between the month of Rock river and Li- veine. In ten days he took eighteen of the animals between the village and Dar- ling's ford.
""An ancient and respectable family of beaver that have dammed the river above Rolfe's ranch and made extensive preparations for passing the winter in quiet comfort are soon to be called on to furnish material for warm caps, collars, etc., while their paddle shaped caudal appendages will be made to yield delicious soup for R. Douglass, who has had an eye in their movements for some works."-Herald, October 21. 1876.
FIRST COUNTY FAIR.
A more primitive and informal func- tion was probably never witnessed than Rock county's first fair, held at Luverne in November, 1823. Within one month an agricultural society was organized, the fair advertised and held and the awards made. The first step was taken in October. when a number of people interested themselves in the formation of an agricultural so- ciety and issued a call for a meeting .? On October 18 the meeting was held and an organization perfected, T. P. Grout being chairman and G. W. Kniss secretary of the initial meeting. The following offi- cers were elected: T. P. Grout. presi- dent : L. B. McCollum, vice president : H. C. Spalding. secretary; Philo Hawes. treasurer. The executive committee was composed of the following named gentle- men: G. IT. Olds. E. L. Grout, I. Craw- ford. E. D. Hadley. A. E. Thompson. H. C. Wilson, R. W. Shaw and D. R. Bowen.
The fair was held in November and al- though the notice had been short there was a large attendance. The Herald of November 21 reported the fair, in part as follows :
The display in the different departments was much better than could have been ex- pected. On account of the extreme youth and the financial condition of our society, no cash premiums were offered. This step seem- ed to give general satisfaction, all believ- ing it better to use the funds of the so- ciety for the improvement of grounds, build- ings, etc. Owing to the lateness of the sea- son and the uncertainty of the weather, we consolidated the business of three days, dispensed with horse racing, made this a purely agricultural show, and commeneed and ended our fair in one day. Fortune favored ns and gave us a beautiful day.
The forenoon was occupied in making en-
""To the Farmers: We, the undersigned farm- ers of Rock county, herchy invite the other farmers of Rock county to meet with ns at the school house in Luverne at 2 o'clock p. m. nf Saturday, October 18. 1873. for the purpose of exchanging views on the proposed organiza - tion of a county agricultural society, and if deemed advisable to organize the same. (Signedi Charles Williams, James Marshall, Abram Os- mun, Seth Mitchell, Philo Hawes, P. J. Kniss, G. W. Kniss, Amos E. Estey, J. Hart Loomis, (. R. Henton and Thomas Williams."
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
tries, and carly in the afternoon the judges brought in their reports, after which a short speech was made by T. P. Grout, president of the society. He was followed by C. Williams, E. L. Grout, E. H. Bronson and William Grout. At the close of the remarks the secretary read the list of awards, when our citizens began to disperse, feeling that this, our first effort, was a success, the first of a series, humble in itself, but the be- ginning of grand results.
The following were awarded premiums : HI. C. Spalding, E. T. Sheldon, Everett Grout, G. W. Kniss, S. Norton, Ira Craw- ford, B. S. Wold, T. P. Grout, C. Wil- liams, P. Phinney, C. E. Older, O. O. Haga, J. Knight, L. MeDermott, P. J. Kniss, William Grout. J. Gillard, Mrs. J. Gillard, Miss Vinnie Williams, Miss E. Hawes, Mrs. J. Knight, Mrs. T. P. Grout. Mrs. E. D. Hadley, Miss Fannie Grout. Mrs. Lina B. Kniss, Mrs. E. H. Bronson, Mrs. L. Comar.
SQUATTING ON RAILROAD LANDS.
A great deal of excitement was oeca- sioned in Rock county in the spring of 1885, when the rumor was brought that. owing to the failure of the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad company to fulfil the conditions upon which the grant of lands was made, all the lands which had origi- nally been included in the grant were about to revert to the government. On the strength of the rumor, which it was re- ported came direct from Washington and was authentic, there was a general rush for the railroad lands in Mound, Vienna and Magnolia townships and within a few days over fifty quarter sections were "jumped." upon each of which a claim shanty was erected. The lands upon which the land-hungry located included not only the railroad lands but also those of Close Brothers & Co., who had purchased from the railroad company.
Within a few days it was authoritatively announced that no action had been taken by congress or the general land office de-
claring the land forfeited, that idle rumor had been the basis for the rush to the rail- road lands. Upon this announcement the excitement subsided and most of those who had joined in the rush gave up the idea of obtaining free lands. A few, how- ever, maintained that the railroad com- pany had secured more lands than it was entitled to under the terms of the grant and determined to stay by their lands. Filings were refused by the land office, and in time a ruling of the general land office made clear that there had been no warrant for the excitement.
BORROWED THE COUNTY'S CASH.
In the early days of Rock county's his- tory incidents sometimes occurred which may be classed as remarkable in the light of present conditions. Should the county treasurer of this day loan the county's funds to a private individual without au- thority from anyone, one can imagine that sneh action would be considered highly improper. Yet an event of this kind oc- curred in the early days without causing a ripple of excitement. The man who negotiated the loan-still a resident of Rock county- told me the story.
It was during the terrible grasshopper scourge that the wife of the settler in ques- tion was taken ill and it was decided to have her go to her old home in Iowa. In common with nearly all the residents of Rock county of that day, the family were without means, but the desire to give his wife the benefits of the more congenial surroundings of her old home led this homesteader to make an effort to raise the money among the neighbors. He spent a day canvassing the country in a futile attempt to borrow enough money to pay the railroad fare, but not a cent did he obtain. Disheartened, he proceeded on his way home, but on the way stopped to chat with a neighbor who was also the
236
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
treasurer of Rock county. The county official sympathized with his friend, but was likewise without means. Hle stated that he had in his possession the funds of Rock county, which reached a total of just about enough to meet the necessary ex- pense of the journey, and remarked that it was a shame this money could not be put at his disposal.
"What security could you give if ] should loan you this money?" asked the county treasurer. The settler replied that he had fourteen sacks of seed wheat, and then and there the loan was made. The wheat was hauled to the county treasurer's home with the understanding that it was to be sold in case there was a call for any of the county's funds ; otherwise it was to be returned when the loan was paid. With- in a short time money was secured from lowa and the county treasurer of Rock county was again in possession of funds.
The credit of the settler who made the loan is as good today as when he borrowed the county funds, and he could today give security to the extent of several choice quarter sections of Rock county land.
THE JAMES BOYS' VISIT.
After the Northfield bank robbery, which occurred September 7, 1826, two of the most noted of the robbers, Frank and Jesse James, in escaping from the scene of their crime, came west and passed through Rock county. News of the dep- redations were carried all over the country by the newspapers, and wherever members of the band appeared in their flight ont of the country efforts were made to capture them.
After participating in a fight at Madetia the James boys rode southwest, reaching Rock county one Sunday morning. They were headed for the mounds, about which they had heard, in the hope that the rocky ridge would furnish them a place of ref-
uge. They appeared about ten o'clock in the morning at the home of Charles Rolph, in Battle Plain township, some 1? miles north of Luverne, and asked for breakfast, explaining their presence and appearance by stating that they were land- seekers and that they had been traveling in a wagon until the conveyance was de- stroyed by an accident. Mrs. Rolph serv- ed the meal to the strangers, who exhibited no signs of apprehension, they sitting with their backs to the door. The pictures of the James boys had been seen in the news- papers by Mrs. Rolph and she suspected that her guests were the famous outlaws. Her suspicions were strengthened by the fact that the men inquired the direction of the mounds and asked if there were any large crevices or caves in the stone for- mation. Upon her telling them that there was none, after finishing their meal, the strangers rode away. Mr. Rolph was away from home at the time but returned at the noon hour. Immediately after dinner he went to Luverne and notified the au- thorities.
Sheriff Ezra Rice with a posse started in pursuit, going to the Davis farm on Beaver creek. Later another party, in- cluding Charles Rolph, Billy Patterson, Mike McCarthy. Jack Dement and others, followed in the same direction. Near the state line a Norwegian farmer was found from whom the James boys had taken fresh horses, leaving their two jaded animals. The farmer reported that the outlaws had ridden south. The posses returned to Lu- verne, where another party was made up. augmented by several recruits from Wor- thington, to intercept the robbers in lowa. All went to Larchwood, where it was learned that the men wanted were on the Sioux river at "Uncle Dan's ford." The pursuers divided so as to cover both sides of the river and approached the ford. J. Dement, one of the Luverne party, came
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
upon the outlaws, who fired, hitting the horse he was riding. The robbers escaped before other members of the party ar- rived on the seene.
TEN DOLLAR LAND.
It is interesting to note at this day and age, when Rock county lands are transfer- red at $130 per acre, that not so many years ago the prices were ridiculously low. This prediction was made by the Rock County Herald on May 30, 1884:
The demand for town lots and Rock coun- ty real estate is increasing steadily and prices are rapidly advancing. Wild land in Rock county at $15 per acre will be con- sidered a bargain one year from this time.
Apparently the prediction did not eome true, for we find in the Herald's issue of April 20, 1888, this wail:
The proposition may seem at first a doubt- ful one, but it is probably true that Rock county land would sell more readily if the prices asked for it were increased at least fifty per cent. There is no doubt about the fact that the prevailing price of land in this county is too low. The Creator couldn't afford to make such land as ours for $10 an acre. The price wouldn't pay for the first cost. Land in Lyon county, Iowa, adjoining Rock county geographically, but widely re- moved from it in point of value and desir- ability, is held at from $15 to $18 per acre, and at this price finds ready purchasers, while land in Rock county, very much su- perior in every way, goes begging for buy- rers at from $7 to $10 per acre.
During the prosperous years of the early nineties land prices jumped, as the fol- lowing from the Herald of February 12. 1892, shows :
Our people must accustom themselves to higher prices than those which have pre- vailed heretofore. It is no longer an un- usual thing to get $25 to $27 per acre for improved farms and the prices are certain to go higher.
DIDN'T BUY THE CALVES.
During the terrible grasshopper scourge of the seventies the opportunities to bor- row money were limited. Interest rates
were high and the few who had money to loan were not modest about getting their dnes. The late A. O. Skattum, of Martin township, a number of years ago told the. Ifills Crescent man an experience he once had along this line.
Mr. Skattum, like the rest of Rock eoun- ty settlers at the time, had a crop failure by reason of the voraciousness of the grass- hoppers and found he had pressing debts to the amount of $250. Having no funds io meet these bills, be applied to a lai- verne man for a loan. The Luverne man was the agent for an eastern capitalist who was loaning money in the grasshop- per devastated country, the capitalist, however, coming to the country person- ally to close the deals.
The day the money lender arrived Mr. Skattum went to town. When he arrived the agent informed him that he would be unable to secure $250, but that he could have either $200 or $300, to make it even hundreds. As before stated, Mr. Skattum had debts of $250 to meet, so he told the agent he would take $300 and with the extra $50 buy calves: that by the time the money became dne he would have cat- tle enough to turn off to liquidate the ob- ligation. The agent went out and in eame the man who was furnishing the money. Hle asked what the borrower intended do- ing with the money. Mr. Skattum told him-not forgetting the calf scheme. The money lender retired and in eame the agent again with the information that the money could be had. The question of the terms then came up, and Mr. Skattum found he would be obliged to pay the agent a commission of fifteen per cent, pay twelve per cent interest (one-half in ad- vance ). and $5 for making out the papers.
Kicking didn't help matters and when he counted over the money he had just $235, less than enough to pay his debts, and nothing left for calves.
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
HAWKING COUNTY ORDERS.
Private individuals were not the only ones whose finances were at a low ebb dur- ing the grasshopper days. The following from the Rock County Herald of May 4, 1847, gives an idea of the stranded cir- eumstances of the county government of that day :
Some time ago mention was made in these columns of a plan whereby it was hoped to place Rock county on a sound financial footing, such as would enable the county treasurer to pay cash for county orders as soon as issued-a state of affairs "devoutly to be wished." But it is not likely soon to be realized. The measure was discussed at the late meeting of the commissioners and a resolution concerning the same voted down. The principal ob- jection arose from the fact that the salaries of our county officials, which form a con- siderable item in the annual budget of ex- penses, are payable in orders, at par, and the twenty or twenty-five per cent shrinkage in value is a matter that in no way con- cerns the county. This, doubtless, is true; but there are other considerable items that go to swell county expenses, in which the county is made to bleed rather freely for the benefit of a few bondholders. If Rock county can save money in the long run by permitting orders to be hawked about the street at seventy-five cents on the dollar, we shall be glad to know by what process of reasoning such a bappy result it reached. Let us have more light on this subject.
SYMPATHIZED WITH THE COUNTY.
For years Rock county officials occupied the little, squat building that served for a court house-admitted by all to have been a disgrace to the county. Ilustra- tive of the contempt in which the build- ing was held, the story is told that late one cold winter night a seedy, sad and wayworn wreck of poverty, otherwise known as a tramp, knocked timidly at the outer and only door of the rickety, warp- ed and weather beaten county building. John Kelley admitted him and the tramp asked if he might stay there all night.
"But," replied Mr. Kelley, "this isn't a hotel; this is a court honse."
"Well," said the tramp as he surveyed
the bare walls and decrepit furniture of the place, "I'm pretty hard up myself but. this county seems to be worse off than E am."
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