An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota, Part 33

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Luverne, Minn. : Northern History Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 924

USA > Minnesota > Rock County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 33
USA > Minnesota > Pipestone County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 33

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A PROPHECY.

The Jackson Republic of August 13, 1810, printed the following prophecy con- cerning the rock formation of Rock coun- ty. and the uses to which it would some day be put :

Mr. Aiken Miner, while taking the census of Rock county, obtained several pieces of the celebrated rock in that county and lias left a few specimens at our office. It has some properties of granite and will some day be of incalculable advantage to that section, both for buildings and for bridges when railroads shall reach' tbe vi- cinity. The rock is capable of a very fine polish and will be used for many purposes aside from building. The inexhaustible sup- ply and the scarcity east will make it a valuable possession to that county.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

Indicative of the times, there are found in the tiles of the Rock County Herald many interesting items. Under existing conditions the events recorded could hard- ly have happened. In many respects the residents of Rock county of thirty and forty years ago lived in a different worhl : not one of the little items quoted below was considered extraordinary at the time. but they would be if published in the same paper today. "The world do move."

Butcher Wanted .- Why can't we have a butcher shop in Luverne? Or if the time is deemed premature for the establishment of such a business to be depended upon solely for a livelihood, why cannot some one make arrangements to slaughter an ox or a cow or some sort of beef once or twice a week and sell the meat out to the citizens? (June 6, 1873).

Indians About .- There are said to be near- ly one bundred Indians hunting elk some twenty-five miles to the north of us. That is near enough, and enonghi of them. (Angust 8, 1873).

To Buy a Safe .- A good sign. The coun- ty commissioners are talking about getting a safe for the use of the county. (Novem- ber 7, 1873). -

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

Holding Homesteads .- How amusing to see men, who apparently live in Lnverne, show their caution at election time by re- fusing to vote here and going out to vote where they have homesteads. They don't live here after all. (November 7, 1873).

The Editor's Appeal .- We would like to put our subscribers in mind that we are out of wood and have no money to buy more. Will those who have been threaten- ing to bring us wood on subscription put their threats into execution. (February 20, 1874).

The First Harvester .- On Wednesday, in company with a number of citizens, we visit- ed the farm of H. C. Spalding for the pur- pose of witnessing the performance in the harvest field of a new candidate for public favor-the llarvester King, with Gordon's self-binder attached. It is plainly evident that a complete revolution in the matter of harvesting small grain is at hand, and the never tiring arm of iron sinew will soon take the place of the softer muscle of weak humanity, and the husbandman, mounting his automatic machine, will march through the luxuriant fields of grain, laying the golden sheaves right and left, without the aid of uncertain and costly help. (July 29, 1876).

A Bargain .- Battelle sells kerosene at thirty cents per gallon. (November 2, 1877).

Reduction in Fare .- The St. Paul & Sioux City and Sioux City & St. Paul railroads will celebrate the coming in of new year by a general reduction of local ticket fares from five cents to four cents per mile on all di- visions of their roads, to take effect Jan- uary, 1878. (January 4, 1878. Advt).

Luverne Advertised .- The fact that Lu- verne is about to have street lamps has been widely circulated by the newspapers, daily and weekly, and Luverne has gained, in the way of prestige and free advertising by reason of this enterprise, more real benefit than can be measured by the actual cost of the improvement. (April 6, 1883).

Sowing Grass in Luverne's Streets .- A short time ago the village purchased six- teen bushels of grass seed and Wednesday the sowers went forth to sow it on the prin- cipal streets of the town. The harvest will be ultimate destruction to the weeds and a wonderful improvement in the appearance of the village. (April 27, 1883).

Some Excited .- The excitement on the streets Wednesday over the election returns was intense, and the crowd which gathered about the Herald bulletin board was de- cidedly enthusiastic. The reports Tuesday night and early in the morning were rather discouraging to the republicans, and the democrats wore smiling faces. Later in the forenoon, however, reports indicating republican success in New York, Indiana and Virginia were received and the repub-

licans went about the streets rejoicing. A number of flags were put out, but in the midst of the uncertainty which existed the display of bunting was made more as an indication of hopefulness than as a token of victory. (November 7, 1884).

Celebrate Blaine's Election !- While the democrats in Luverne were rejoicing at a bonfire over the election of Cleveland last Saturday evening the republicans of Bea- ver creek were making a similar demonstra- tion in honor of the election of Blaine. Evidently one party or the other was re- joicing at a political funeral. (November 14, 1884).

First Shipment of Rock .- The first car load of rock from the mound quarries was shipped Tuesday, February 25, to Sibley, Iowa, for building purposes at that place. (February 27, 1885).

Trees for the Court Yard .- The improve- ments made this spring in the court house block will some time make these grounds very attractive. Three rows of trees have been set out around the block and the ar- rangement of the trees is calculated to shade the entire block except in the imme- diate vicinity of the court house. (May 8, 1885).

Bronson for President !- E. H. Bronson & Son got a complimentary vote in Mag- nolia township for president and vice presi- dent of the United States. It happened in this way : A citizen of Magnolia town- ship who was working in Luverne drove out to Magnolia to vote. It was a long drive and he had but little time to spare, but he was a good democrat and determined to get in a vote for Cleveland at any sacrifice. By making a vigorous effort he succeeded in getting to the polls in time. He had his ticket all prepared and properly folded. In the same pocket with it he had a statement of account from E. H. Bronson & Son, made out on a narrow slip of paper about the size of a ticket, and folded like the ticket. In his haste to get in a vote for Cleveland our democratic friend got hold of the wrong ticket. And when the votes were counted one ballot was found bearing this inserip- tion: "Mr. Blank, to E. H. Bronson & Son, Dr., to Mdse., $2.40." (November 16, 1888).

A Dirty Shame .- Think it would be a good idea if the people of Hills would try to get some sidewalks in town so that when the people come into town to do their trading they will not have to wade in mud a foot deep. (February 24, 1892. Hills Correspond- ent).

Not a Fad .- The bicycle craze has struck Luverne in earnest. Several of our citizens have purchased new wheels this spring and many others are planning to do so. The bicycle is not a temporary fad, but is rapidly becoming a practical necessity. The wheel has come to stay. (April 21, 1893).

HISTORY OF PIPESTONE COUNTY MINNESOTA

CHAPTER XVII.

IN THE REIGN OF GITCHE MANITOU.

O F ALL the political divisions of southern Minnesota, Pipestone county is the youngest in point of white occupation ; historically, it is the oldest in Minnesota. I dare say there is no spot on the North American conti- nent which was better known or had great- er fame among the peoples who inhabited the country before the coming of the Cau- casian race than the Great Red Indian Pipestone quarry, located not far from the center of Pipestone county. The spot was the Indian's Garden of Eden ; all the legends point to the fact that here the red race had its origin. Legend, tradition, hieroglyphics, all proclaim the spot one of great antiquity, a spot where were signed the Magna Chartas, where were fought the Indian battles of Bunker Hill and Water- loo, where were held the deliberations of The Hague (Indian) tribunal, centuries before the white race came to take control of affairs under a higher civilization. The mind wearies with the contemplation of what may have taken place in Pipestone county in the long ago.

Even the region itself is of earlier crea- tion than the surrounding country. Geol- ogists tell us that the rocks of the quarry are of the Huronian formation, antedat- ing the Glacial period. The knowledge is obtained from the marks the ice made on the rocks when the vast fields of snow and

ice, miles in depth, dragged their weary way southward. The scratches are easily discernible upon the upper surfaces of the elitls. Mementos of this visit are also found in the vicinity in the form of huge granite boulders, which were torn from their original resting places, long distances to the northeast, and deposited where we find them today. The "Three Maidens" are notable examples of this agency ; they have occupied their present location for at least 6000 years, and pos- sibly for the last 100,000 years.

Without taking into consideration the Indian traditions, it can be stated on au- thority that the red pipestone, which is found in no other place on earth, has been quarried for several thousand years. In the mounds of the ancient peoples who have been classed as Mound Builders, and who are supposed to have been a race pre- ceding the Indian, have frequently been found articles manufactured of the red pipestone, or catlinite. Specific instances are mounds exhumed in Ohio by Messrs. Squire and Davis and by others in Iowa. In each case the pipestone was associated with implements of copper and other ob- jects characteristic of the so-called Mound Builders, but not of the later, or Indian race. Pipes of this material, however, are rarely found in the mounds. even in the vicinity of the quarry, although pipes of

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HISTORY OF PIPESTONE COUNTY.

other varieties of stone have been fre- quently discovered in these historie burial places.

Succeeding the Mound Builders, or de- -cending from them (as some authorities believe ). the North American Indians continued the quarrying of the red pipe- stone and held the spot in great reverence and superstition. Here, for ages, genera- tion after generation, the redman record- ed the history of his tribe and his individ- ual adventures, carved in the red quartzite with rude instruments in the form of sym- bols or hieroglyphics. These rude in- scriptions alone proclaim the antiquity of the place. They were made on the glaciat- ed surfaces of the red stone located near the "Three Maidens," and were kept clear by the winds. Apparently they were made by preking oul the rock with sharp-point- ed instruments, or possibly with other pieces of quartzito. The figures are of different sizes and dates, the latter being evinced by their manner of crossing and interfering and by the evident difference in the weight of the instruments used. They generally represent some animal, such as the turtle, bear, wolf, buffalo, elk, dog, and the Indian himself. The crane's foot is the most common ; next is the im- age of man : third the turtle: and lastly the octopus, or devil fish, It seems to have been the custom for a warrior or hunter who had been successful in battle or the chase to leave a tribute of his thanks to the Great Spirit in a rude representa- tion of his victory or his prowess about. the boulders; perhaps, in a similar way. he invoked the good offices of the spirits of his tribe when about to enter upon some expedition. Occasionally several figures are joined by a line scratched in the rock, as though some adventure were narrated. The publication of the Minnesota Geolog-

All but two or three of the stones bearing these Indian pictographs have been gathered into a collection by Charles H. Bennett, of Pipestone. They were exhibited at the Louisi-

ienl Survey says of the hieroglyphics near the quarry :

This is the "sacred ground" of the locali- ty. Such markings can be seen at no other place, though there is abundance of bare, smooth rock. The excavation of the surface of the rock is very slight, generally not exceeding a sixteenth of an inch, and some- times only enough to leave a tracing of the designed form. The hardness of the rock was a barrier to a deep sculpturing with the imperfect instruments of the aborigines, but it has effectually preserved the rude forms that were made. The fine glacial scratches that are abundantly scattered over this quartzite indicate the tenacity with which it retains all such impressions, and will warrant the assignment of any date to these inscriptions that may be called for within the human period. Yet it is proba- ble that they date back to no great anti- quity. They pertain at least to the dynasty of the present Indian tribes. The totems of the turtle and the bear, which are known to have been powerful among the clans of the native races of America at the time of the earliest European knowledge of them and which exists to this day, are the most frequent objects presented. The "crane's foot," or "turkey foot," or "bird track," terms which refer perhaps to the same to- tem sign, the snipe, is not only common on these rocks but is seen among the rock inscriptions of Ohio, and was one of the totems of the Iroquois of New York.1

While there is no data from which to determine the date that the aborigines first began the digging of the red pipestone, it is known that the Indians of the northwest have resorted to the place ever since their acquaintance with Europeans, for the purpose of getting material for their pipes. Over two centuries ago, in 1680, Father Hennepin, a Franciscan priest, visited the wilds of what is now Minne- sota and found the pipes of red stone in possession of the natives. In his writings he describes the Indians and their pipes minutely, stating that some of the pipes were white, some black, and some red, but that the red were the most highly val- ued. Four years later, in 1681, Baron La -. lonton, a French officer and explorer, visited the Mississippi river country and

ana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis, in 1904. and Mr. Bennett was awarded a silver medal by the superior jury for this exhibit.

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IHISTORY OF PIPESTONE COUNTY.

in his report mentioned the fact that the Indians used peace pipes. He said that those of a red color were most esteemed and that their use among the savages had the same effect that the flag of friendship had among the whites. Neither Father Hennepin nor Baron LalTonton mention- ed the locality from which the material of the red pipes came, but there can be no question it was from the red pipestone quarry.

A little later we find definite mention of the quarry. In 1200 Pierre Charles LeSueur ascended the Minnesota river, and in the account of his explorations he states that he heard of a tribe of Indians called Tinahantons who were said to in- habit the region of the red pipestone quar- ry, and of a village of the Dakotas located at the quarries. On the map of the ex- pedition, made by William DeL'isle in 1703, the quarry has no place. We receive further evidence of the revered spot in 1766. Jonathan Carver ascended the Min- nesota river that year and spent seven months during the winter of 1766-67 at the month of the Waraju, or Cottonwood river, near the present city of New Ulm. In his writings Carver said: "Near the branch which is lermed the Marble river is a mountain, from which the Indians get a sort of red stone, ont of which they how the bowls of their pipes."

That Indians not only visited the quar- ries for the purpose of securing the stone for their pipes, but that in ages past they had their permanent homes there, seems to be an established fact. although when white men first visited the site in the first half of the last century there was no village at the quarries. In the writ- ings of George Catlin, who is supposed to have been the first white man at the quar- ries and who visited the site in 1832, is a reference to "graves, mounds and ancient

fortifications that lie in sight." Joseph N. Nicollet, who was at the quarry the following year, spoke of finding nearby, to the east, two large. circular enclosures or breastworks. abont two thousand feet in circumference, with walls then remain- ing large enough to protect bodies on the inside from enemies on the outside. lle stated that the main entrances to these en- closures were then still marked enough to show where the principal personages had their lodges or dwellings. After settlers located in Pipestone county, in the spring of 1828. one of these works mentioned by Nicollet was found and examined by ('. HI. Bennett and D. E. Sweet, who also discovered many evidences in the vicinity which led them to believe that the Indians formerly had their homes near the quar- ries. Mr. Bennett wrote in 1828:

Among other things which attracted my attention were hundreds upon hundreds of places within a mile of here of circular form, surrounded by stones of from six inch- es to two feet in diameter, some of which were sunken in the ground so as to he scarcely visible, all indicating unmistak- ably that some time in the years or cen- turies gone by, they were the habitations of Indians, and that they constituted vil- lages of considerable size.

Much is left to conjecture concerning the carly claims to the quarries. If the complete history of the Pipestone quarry were known, what stories of wonderful struggles for its possession might be writ- ten ! Indian tradition is filled with ae- counts of battles and campaigns that took place to secure it for the different nations, but so interwoven with legend are the tales as to be wholly unreliable. But there are evidences of these conflicts that are re- liable-the battle fields. There are many places in Pipestone county indicating sites of Indian battles. Besides those men- tioned as having been found at the quarry by Catlin and Nicollet, there was a battle field two miles eastward of the present

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HISTORY OF PIPESTONE COUNTY.

site of Pipestone,2 and several in Osborne township. On the northwest quarter of section 31. Osborne, were found the out- lines of old earthworks, semi-circular in shape. of a size sufficient to hold 3000 men. Nearby were piles of stone, indicat- ing Indian graves, play grounds and trails. There may yet be found on the place ar- rowheads and stone hammers. Concerning some of the battle fields of Osborne town- ship Major D. E. Runals has written as follows :

The evidence still visible of pits, earth- works, arrowheads, stone hammers, etc., near the junction of the Chanarambie and Rock creeks, at the head of the Rock river in Osborne township, indicates that it bas been the scene of many fiercely fought bat- tles between different tribes of aborigines.

On the southeast quarter of section 33, on a small plateau near the mouth of a ra- vine on the left bank of the river, is a series of pits, nearly connected, in the form of a circle; there has not been any percep- tible change in them since the settlement of the county.

On the northwest quarter of section 34, on the highest plateau on the north side of a large ravine, can be seen a long, nearly obliterated, line of breastworks in a modified form, facing the northwest toward the val- ley. I had traveled over the ground many times, thinking it was an old trail of the buffalo, elk, deer and antelope passing over from the Chanarambie to the Rock valley, until one day in crossing it } noticed the pebbles were above the supposed trail, which struck me as heing entirely out of the usual order of things, and at once began an investigation which resulted in the dis- covery of earthworks of a date so long ago that no reliable data can be given of their construction.

Signal mound, situated on the northeast quarter of section 24, is believed to be the third highest point of land in the state. It is easily reached from the south, but on the north it is precipitons to the Chanarambie and the valley below. When first settled by 11. O. Gates there was conclusive evidence that it had been a great place of rendezvous for the Indians. Beds of ashes and bits of charred wood were to be seen all around about, as well as the decaying bones of the buffalo, deer, etc. Chippings of flint and

2"Charles H. Bennett had a long interview and talk with old Strike-the-Ree. head chief of the Yanktons, and Fat Mandan, one of the sub-chiefs, one day last week, and through the interpreter, Charles Eastman, gleaned a num- ber of interesting facts concerning their lives and points of interest pertaining to the quarry. It was learned that the old line of breastworks.

partly-made arrowheads, with specimens of pipestone, could be picked up on either hand. From this mound one can have a most magnificent view of the whole sur- rounding country and valleys below.

After many fierce struggles for the pos- session of the sacred Pipestone quarry, a truce seems to have been declared. and for a long period of time all the Indian na- tions held it in common. When the poet Longfellow let his imagination sce Gitche Manitou, the mighty, standing on the red crags of the quarry, calling the tribes of men together. he was not entirely vision- ary. But in time the powerful Sioux tribe drove out the other nations and laid claim to the quarry, successfully defending their claim. When the first white men visited the spot they found the Sisseton branch of the Sionx in possession. Later, by what right is unknown, the Yankton Indians. whose lands were to the west of the Big Sioux river. laid claim to the exclusive right to quarry the red pipestone, and their claims were recognized by trealy with the United States government in 1858.

In substantiation of the statement that the quarry was in the past nentral terri- tory. I quote at length from the writings of George Cailin (North American In- dians, volume two), who emphatically states that such was the case. George C'at- lin, than whom there is no better author- ity on the North American Indians, was the first white man to visit the quarries and wrote the following while on his visit there in 1832:

1 had long ago heard many curious de- seriptions of this spot given by the Indians, and had contracted the most impatient de- sire to visit it. it will be seen by some of the traditions inserted in this letter, from my notes taken on the upper Mississippi

two miles east of town, was built about ninety or one hundred years ago by the Sissetons. who at that time were at war with the Oma- has, who then claimed the quarry. one of the causes of the war being a strife for the pos- session of the quarry."-Pipestone County Star. July 21, 1879,

AT THE PIPESTONE QUARRY

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HISTORY OF PIPESTONE COUNTY.

four years since, that those tribes have visited this place freely in former times; and that it has once been held and owned in common, as neutral ground, amongst the different tribes, who met here to renew their pipes under some superstition which stayed the tomahawk of natural foes, al- ways raised in deadly hate and vengeance in other places. It will be seen, also, that within a few years past (and that, probably by the instigation of the whites, who have told them that by keeping off other tribes and manufacturing the pipes themselves, and trading them to other adjoining na- tions, they can acquire much influence and wealth) the Sioux have laid entire claim to the quarry; and as it is in the center of their country, and they are more powerful than any other tribes, they are able to sulc- cessfully prevent any access to it.

That this place should have been visited for centuries past by all the neighboring tribes, who have hidden the war-club as they approached it and stayed the cruelties of the scalping-knife, under the fear of the vengeance of the Great Spirit, who over- looks it, will not seem strange or unnatural when their religion and superstitions are known.

That such has been the custom, there is not a shadow of doubt; and that even so recently as to have been witnessed by hundreds and thousands of Indians of dif- ferent tribes now living, and from many of whom I have personally drawn the in- formation, some of which will be set forth in the following traditions; and as addi- tional (and still more conclusive) evidence of the position, here are to be seen (and will continue to be seen for ages to come the totems and arms of the different tribes who have visited this place for ages past, deeply engraved on the quartz rocks, where they are to be recognized in a moment (and not to he denied) by the passing traveler who has been among these tribes and ac- quired even only a partial knowledge of them and their respective modes.

I am aware that this interesting fact may be opposed by subsequent travelers, who will find nobody but the Sioux upon the ground, who now claim exclusive right to it; and for the satisfaction of those who doubt, I refer them to the Lewis and Clark tour thirty-three years since, before the influence of traders had deranged the system and truth of things in these regions. I have often conversed with General Clark, of St.

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An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota, Part 33

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970 Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Luverne, Minn. : Northern History Publishing Company Number of Pages: 924

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Luverne, Minn. : Northern History Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 924