An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota, Part 39

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 39
USA > Minnesota > Pipestone County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 39

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

David Schultz (12), Patrick Kelley (24), Levi J. Clayton (30), Andrew Gawman (6),

11Miss Johnson was thirty years old at the time the township was named. She is now Mrs. Hammond and resides in Oklahoma.

Levi M. Phillips (22), Charles H. Wilkins (30), Edward Ginzel (14), Edward Van Walker (24), John Mooney (24), Christian Galbrandsen (28), Mark Littlechild (18), Thomas Thompson (30), Ole B. Johnson (2-32), David G. Smith (14-22), Edward K. Gryte (18), Margaret Hanson (32), August Bergstrom (22), Albert T. Reynolds (20), John A. Wheadon (12), Paul Sorenson (2), Jonas Horberg (18), Heirs of William Kel- ley (14), Gilbran Hansen (28), John Stew- art (18), Hans P. Halvorsen (28), James Arrowsmith (30).

CHAPTER XXI.

THE RAILWAY AGE-1879-1884.

W HILE fear of the Indians had delayed the occupancy of Pipe- stone county beyond that of all the neighboring counties, when the appre- hension was finally removed the settle- ment and development was rapid. Where prior to 1844 not a soul had lived and prior to 1812 one family alone had main- tained continuous residence, we find early in 1849 an organized county, populated with several hundred people. The condi- tions at that time are told in the first number of the Pipestone County Star, June 19. 1849: "Five years show what determined will and the enterprise of a few pushing men have helped to bring about. Thousands of acres of our fertile soil are under cultivation, hundreds of honses can be counted-so many, in fact. that you can scarce get out of sight of one in any portion of the county, and from some of our eminences can be count- ed thirty and forty at a glance. Thou- sands of young trees have been planted, and so rapidly has been their growth that it seems they will all run a race to see which will be the tallest. Where live years ago not a soul was living, today there are no less than a thousand. if not a greater number. Then not a domestic animal was to be seen; now as fine and

'A Southern Minnesota auxiliary, organized to handle the company's railroad lands.

2"A stranger standing on the steps of the

sleek herds of cattle and horses can be seen here as in many of our older settled counties. Schools have been started and churches organized, the county organized, houses and stores, hotels, shops and a lively young city established."

in the spring of 1829 came the an- nouncement that the Southern Minnesota railroad would be extended through Pipe- stone county that year, and almost at the same time it became known that the Sioux City & St. Paul Railway interests would build a branch line from Heron Lake to the Black Hills, through Pipe- stone county. As a result there was a big rush for Pipestone county lands. Every bit of government land was filed upon, and large areas of the Southern Minnesota Railway Extension company's' lands were purchased. From May 12 lo June 19 applications for 22,587 acres of these lands in Pipestone county were made. From May to December 10,000 acres of the land were sold, of which 10,000 acres were broken in 1829. These lands were sold at $6.00 to $1.00 per aere, from which a discount of $2.50 per acre was made for all land broken during the year.2 New buildings sprung up in all parts of the county. and Pipestone village in the one season grew into a substantial

court house block one day last week counted forty-six teams engaged in breaking land. How is that for a new country?"-Pipestone County Star, June, 1879.

279

280

HISTORY OF PIPESTONE COUNTY.

town. The newly established lumber yards were unable to supply the demands upon them, and the yards at Luverne were swamped with orders from Pipestone county.

Grasshoppers hatched out in 1879 and did some damage to the growing crops. During the month of July the pests arose and departed for good. and the Pipestone county wheat yield was up to the average for southwestern Minnesota. Blight in- jured the crop to some extent. and this, together with the fact that there had been grasshoppers in the county, tended to di- minish the immigration during the fall months. During the year schools were started in different parts of the county,3 and in August a county jail was complet- ed at a cost of $340. It was erected by J. Pearson.

The most important events of the year 1879 were the building of two lines of railroad-the Southern Minnesota (now the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul), which built through the county. and the Minnesota and Black Hills (now a branch

3The first school districts were organized as follows: No. 1 .- March 31. 1879. The west half of Gray township and eighteen sections on the east side of Sweet township.

No. 2 .- March 31. 1879. Osborne township. No. 3 .- April 26. 1879. All of Sweet town- shin not included in district No. 1. No. 4 .- April 26, 1879. Grange township.

So early as 1866 plans were made for build- ing the Southern Minnesota from Houston. through Minnesota's southern tier of counties, to the west line of the state. The United States government granted large areas of land to the state of Minnesota to aid in the construction of railroads, and the state in turn gave these lands to the Southern Minnesota Railroad com- pany. in consideration that it should extend its road to the west line of the state on or before February 25. 1877. Owing to financial embarrassment and the terrible grasshopper seourge. the railroad company was not able to complete its line, although it builded a con- siderable distance to the westward. and many of the lands were about to revert to the state as forfeiture for non-compliance with the terms of the grant. For many long years the people of southern Minnesota had anxiously awaited the coming of this road, and petitions were poured into the legislature. asking that body to grant an extension of time for the comple- tion of the work. On March 6, 1878. such an Het was passed. transferring the lands of the government to the Southern Minnesota Exten- sion company, on condition that the road be completed to Fairmont before September 1.U ISTS. 10 Jackson before the close of the year

of the Chicago. St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha), which built from Heron Lake to the newly founded village of Woodstock.

Early in the year preparations were made for extending the Southern Minne- sota west from Jackson along the route of the survey of 1820.4 The work was begun April 22. 1879. The permanent survey was run to Pipestone June 19, Charles H. Bennett granting the right of way and depot grounds of about twenty- eight acres to the company for one dollar. The grading contracts were let a few days later, and the rails were laid to Pipestone on Thanksgiving day. November 26. There was general rejoicing in that little city and a celebration in honor of the event. Prior to this time Luverne was the nearest railroad point, where trading was done and From which point it was necessary to haul all provisions, lumber, etc. Early in December the rails were laid entirely through the county and into Dakota territory, the line being complet- ed to Flandreau on the first day of the

1879, and to the west line of the state before the close of the year 1880.

It was the original intention to build the road directly west from Jackson, passing through Worthington and Luverne, to Sioux Falls. The plans to this effect were so far matured in 1876 that Nobles county voted $40,000 bonds as a subsidy. to be paid provided the road should be completed to Worthington before September 1. 1877. For financial reasons the road was not extended at that time, the Sioux City & St. Paul (Omaha) interests invaded the terri- tory by building the branch road from Worth- ington to Sioux Falls, and the Southern Min- nesota picked the route by way of Pipestone. only by reason of the grasshopper scourge and the consequent financial stringeney was the road saved for Pipestone county.

So late as 1878 it seems to have been the in- tention of the company to build by way of Worthington, and thence in a northwesterly direction to Pipestone county, The Jackson Re- publie of June S. 1878, said: "11 is still a ques- tion where the Southern Minnesota railroad will cross the Sioux City road, and we under- stand the company itself is undecided upon this point. The officers are already discussing the question and investigating the day of the ' land.' We are quite certain it is the desire of the company to cross at Worthington, and if engineering obstacles do not intervene we are inclined to think that will be the point; then the road will strike a due northwest course for Pipestone county."

The Southern Minnesota was extended from Winnebago City to Jackson in the fall of 1878, and the work of continuing the construction westward was taken up early in 1879.

281

HISTORY OF PIPESTONE COUNTY.

new year." When train service was es- tablished every train brought homeseekers to Pipestone county, and there was great activity. Pipestone grew into a thriving village and the new town of Edgerton took its place on the map-a town destin- ed to become one of the county's most prosperous municipalities.

The Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad company resented the encroachment on what it considered its own territory by the extension of the Southern Minnesota to the northwest. In an effort to head off that road. the Sioux City & St. Paul officials organized the Minnesota & Black Hills Railroad company, and in. May. 1829, made a hurried survey for a branch line from lleron Lake to Pipestone, par- alleling the survey of the other road. Then began a lively race in construction. Side by side the construction erews of the two roads worked. At times violence was nar- rowly averted between the workmen, so bitter had become the strife between the two companies. It was admitted that it was a cut-throat policy to continue the building of the parallel roads, but neither would give in. Late in May a conference was held in St. Paul between representa- tives of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul (which controlled the Southern Min- nesola) and Sioux City & St. Paul inter- ests, when an attempt was made to come to an understanding and to reconcile dif- ferences. The conference served to make matters worse, and the work of construc- tion on both roads was rushed to comple- tion.

The permanent survey was made to Pipestone August 16. and a few days later grading was under way in the eastern part of Pipestone county. The track was com- pleted to Woodstock in the fall. and that

5""The Southern Minnesota Railway company was to have the rails laid lo Flandreau today in order to get the $10,000 bonus voted some time ago by that village. The supplies didn't come fast enough, so what did they do but tear

was the terminus of the road for the next five years. The original intention was to build to Pipestone in 1829, and continue the line the next year. To construct this branch road the Sioux City & St. Paul Railway company mortgaged the right-of- way, depot grounds and rolling stock.

There were many newcomers in 1880, who selected homes and added to the de- velopment of the country.' An excellent. erop was raised, but because of inclement weather during the harvest season and the early arrival of winter, it was not a prof- itable one. The census. taken carly in the summer of 1880, gave Pipestone conn- ty a population of 2092. This was an ex- cellent showing, in view of the fact that two and one-half years before the popu- lation had been, probably, less than fifty. By precinets the population was as fol- lows:

Altona 145

Burke 152

Eden 134

Elmer 125

Fountain Prairie 157

Gray 223

Grange 172

Osborne (including Edgerton) 244

Pipestone village 222

Rock 103

Sweet 167

176

Troy

Township 108, range 44 (Aetna) 72

Total 2092

Although the entire population might have been classed as old settlers. an Old Settlers society was organized March 15, 1880, with the following officers: D. E. Sweet, president ; J. 11. Nichols, secre- try : 11. D. Sanford, treasurer : vice pres- idents as follows: Mrs. (. Il. Bennett for Sweet township, Mrs. W. J. Taylor for Gray, Mrs. C. O. Mahoney. for Burke, C. E. McCall for Osborne, Mrs. J. D. Tyler for Elmer. Hemy Nelson for Eden,

up about a mile of track west of this village. ties and all, and go into Flandreau with flying colors. The gap will be closed in a day or two." -Pipestone County Star, January 1, 1880.

282

HISTORY OF PIPESTONE COUNTY.

Mrs. E. Hatch for Rock, W. B. Brown for Grange, Mrs. A. J. Brown for Troy. George Hill for Altona, R. Link for Fountain Prairie.6

The long, cold. blizzardy winter of 1880-81 will never be effaced from the memory of those who were living in Pipe- stone county, and an account of the in- conveniences, sufferings and hardships should have a place in the history of the county. The season had no precedent in the meteorlogical history of the northwest. and there has been none since to compare with it.

Winter began Friday, October 14. On the morning of that day there was a driz- zling rain, which later Turned to sleet, ac- companied by a north wind. During the night the wind veered to the northwest and there was a heavy fall of snow. On the morning of the fifteenth the wind started to blow with the violence of a hur- ricane, and one of the famous blizzards raged. The snow was driven with awful violence and piled in places to a depth of eighteen or twenty feet, covering build- ings, wagon roads and railroads. All day the blizzard raged with unabated fury and until iwo o'clock p. m. of the sixteenth. Fortunately, the weather was not ex- tremely cold. No one was prepared for snch a storm, and there was some suffer- ing in the country. Stock was smothered to death in the huge drifts,7 and a great many families were without fuel. The

"The initial members of the society were D. E Sweet. John Lowry. H. D. Sanford. A. D. Fer- ris. Joe 11. Parker, Charles H. Bennettt. R. Clark, L. D. Peck, A. G. Jenkins, J. W. Lewis, A. J. Brown. Samuel Harrison, W. B. Brown. Edwin Hatch. J. T. Suffron, 1. L. Hart. J. C. Goodnow. C. W. Fonlison. R. H. O'Connell. W. . I. Taylor. Andrew O. Gray, George Feeney. H. J. Pratt. G. W. Huntley. A. L. Elv. James H. Enearl, R. H. Scarf. E. M. Carr. Mrs. Riley French. Mrs. D. Stuart. Mrs. W. B. Brown. Mrs. F. I. Pease. Kate B. Nichols, Mrs. J. C. Good- now. Minnie M. Sherwin, Jessie Stuart. Mrs. Nellie Scarf. Mrs. Belle Brown. Polly G. Hatch. Mrs. F. B. Colson, Lucy J Carr. Adelaide G. Bennett. James ES. Craig. Asa Van All- stine, Riley French. 1. 1. Bernard. H. Montville. Duncan, Stnact, Gertrude F. Ferris, Jennie S. Taylor. Meda 1. Clark, Flora B. Sanford. S. 1 .. Bailey, Jr .. E. W. Davies, D. M. Stuart.

railroads were blockaded from Friday night until the next Wednesday. a passen- ger train on the Milwaukee road being wedged in a snowdrift cast of Edgerton for four days. There was a big demand for fuel, with none on the market and no trains to bring in any.

During the month following this ini- tial storm the snow did not disappear and the weather was coldl. but was not pune- tuated with wind storms. In the first half of November the drifting snow again closed the railroads, but after two days" labor they were opened and traffic was re- sumed. The thermometer registered five degrees below zero November 15. Heavy snowfall on the twentieth and twenty-first closed the railroads again, but they were soon uncovered. On November 23 the thermometer showed twenty-three degrees below zero. The weather was compara- tively pleasant until December 4. and on that day a train brought a supply of fuel to Pipestone dealers. From December 4 to ?, inclusive, the weather was cold and stormy, and during that time no trains reached Pipestone county. From then un- til Christmas there were occasional falls of snow, but no severe weather.

A blizzard raged continually five days. beginning on Christmas day, and the Mil- waukee road did not gel a train through until January 1. The Omaha branch line gave up the effort to keep the line open.

Joel Forbes, George D. Green, Thomas Burn- ham, E. L. Rork. Helen J. Huntley. C. C. Pal- mer. James D. Kelley, Ralph J. Wiger. C. E. Mc- Call.

TC. E. MeCall, of Osborne township. had en- gaged to herd a large drove of cattle and colts during the season ending October 1. The sea - son having liven favorable, many had not call- ed for their stock at the time of the bliz- zard. The storm caused the animals to break down the corral and they sought shelter un- der the hanks of Poplar creek, close by, the creek banks being already filled with the drifting snow. Some of the stock plunged into the stream and were drowned; others were snf- focated in the huge drifts along the banks. When the snow melted some of the colts were found to have been smothered to death stand- ing upright or on their hind feet only.

HISTORY OF PIPESTONE COUNTY.

283

and there were no trains run the rest of the winter."

Following is the story of the rest of the winter in bulletin form :

January 4. Rain and sleet.

January 5. Terrific blizzard, Milwaukee railroad covered.

January 6-13. Thermometer almost sta- tionary-25 degrees below day times, 35 be- low nights. Fuel scarce.

January 18. Railroad cleared, but no trains run.

January 19. Snow storm. Railroad block- aded.

January 20-22. Continual blizzard.º

January 24. People of Pipestone and Flandreau raised money and had ten days' mail brought in from Fulda, where it was tied up in the blockade.

January 26. Blizzard.

January 31. Heavy fall of snow.

February 1. After a four days' trip, Su- perintendent Egan and Roadmaster Raffer- ty succeeded in getting three trains run from Fulda to Pipestone, bringing seven- teen days' mail and a supply of fuel.

February 3. Passenger train left Pipe- stone for the east and remained in a snow bank east of Edgerton several weeks. Last train of the winter.

February 3-7. Five days' almost contin- nous blizzard from the southeast.10

February 11-12. One of the worst storms of the winter. Thermometer 20 below zero. February 15. Thermometer 30 below.

February 17. Public schools throughout the county closed, except the Edgerton dis- trict, No. 2, which continued throughout the

8"Last week's storm bears the oldest inhabi- tant. An occasional blizzard is not unusual out here, but when it keeps up a five days' blow with the thermometer ranging from 25 to 40 degrees below zero, it would seem as though winter had fairly set in."-Pipestone County Star, January 6, 1881.

9"Last Friday and Saturday [January 21 and 22] were two of the most trying days we have had this winter. From early morning Friday until midnight Saturday the wind blew a perfect gale from the northwest, piling snow in all sorts of shapes. Fortunately it was not So cold as it has been, the thermometer marking ten degrees above zero during the storm. All cuts on the railroads are again piled full, and just when we will get a train is hard to tell. As yet we have heard of no suffering out here on the prairies."-Star, January 27, 1881.

1ºFor four days the wind blew a perfect gale from the southeast and with the exception of not being so cold as it has been. this was hy far the hardest storm we have had this sea- son. The late snow storm cut off communica- tion from every direction. Drifts eight and ten feet deep of solid wet snow, through which no team can pass, are plentiful on the prairie roads. Up to this date very few teams have been out."-Star, February 10, 1881.

11"A large number of piles shipped here by the railway company for bridge purposes have been sold during the past week for firewood by Sta- tion Agent Cawley under instructions from Superintendent Egan. A large number of peo-

winter. Scarcity of fuel and provisions a serious matter. Burning bridge timbers.1

February 18. Blizzard.

February 22. Short, fierce blizzard.

February 23. Kerosene exhausted. Fuel situation grave. Burning lumber and rail- way ties. Railroad coal burned at Wood- stock.1"

February 24. Snowfall.

February 25-26. Blizzard from the north- west with thermometer 25 degrees below zero.

February 26. A few sacks of mail brought in by team from Flandreau after a stormy trip.

March 1. Railroad ties all burned and people try burning blacksmith's coal.13

March 2. Storm from the northeast.

March 4. One of the worst blizzards of the winter. Snow piled in drifts fifteen feet deep. Stock suffered severely.

March 5-9. Mild weather.

March 11-12. Terrible blizzard from the east. Heaviest snowfall of the winter. Live stock suffered. Lumber and outbuild- ings the only fuel.14

March 14. Blizzard.

March 15. Stock reported dying in north part of county for lack of feed.

March 24. Hundreds of men working to open the Milwaukee road. Several days of mild weather with snow melting.

March 31. Blizzard without much loose snow. Thermometer 13 degrees below zero.

April 1. Part of Milwaukee line opened but no trains to Pipestone county.

April S. Heavy snowfall. Railroad cov- ered.

April 10. Handful of letter mail brought

ple have also been burning sills and other heavy timbers from the lumber yards."-Star, Febru- ary 17. 1881.

"""The price of common lumber has been greatly reduced when it is needed for fuel. .

The railroad company has supplied this sta- tion with several carloads of ties for firewood. They were eagerly seized by the inhabitants at thirty-five cents apiece .. George W. Nash. the station agent at Woodstock, was bound that none of the settlers around there should suffer for want of fuel and very kindly threw open the coal bins of the railroad company and supplied all who made application. The

railroad company should see to it that fuel is brought to this place on the first train in pref- erence to anything else. A carload of hard coal, two of soft, and four or five cars of wood will find a rapid sale."-Star, February 24, 1881.

**** Nohody starved or frozen to death in Pipe- stone county yet. This is more than some older counties can say, where fuel and provisions have been in abundance."-Star. March 3. 1881.

14"Lumber has been reduced $5.00 per thousand feet for fuel. It is now cheaper than hasswood." -Star, March 19, 1881.

Called at Mr. Foster's, Eden town- ship, and found him with very sore eyes brought on by the blinding snow. He informed me that during the last blizzard he had been com- pelled to burn the kitchen part of his house." -Correspondence in Rock County Herald. April 1. 1881.

284

HISTORY OF PIPESTONE COUNTY.

overland from Luverne. Last letier dated February 18. Stocks of kerosene and can- dles exhausted.

April 11. Extraordinarily heavy snowfall and blizzard. Drifts mountain high. No prospects for train.15

April 12. Snow drifting.

April 13. Thermometer at zero.

April 19. First rain of spring. April 21. Snow shovelers busy uncover- ing the railroad. Star issues its last "bliz- zard edition."

April 26. Blockade lifted. First train since February 1 pulled into Pipestone.16 Merchants supplied with sugar, kerosene, etc.

Wasbonts on the railroad, caused by the floods. delayed the operation of trains for several days after the blockade was lifted. and it was not until the first day of May that regular train service was again es- tablished. During the month of May most of the 1880 erop of grain was threshed. but some was left until later in the sea- son.

Over twelve and one-half feet of snow fell during the winter. In places the drifts were very deep, and for months some farmers entered their stables through the roots; others tunnelled passageways through the snow from their houses to the >tables and for weeks at a time did not go above the surface to do their chores. In places the snow remained on the ground until late in the spring.17

Owing to the foods and the backward

""On Monday, April 11, 1881, one of the fiercest blizzards we had experienced during the winter raged with unabated fury, filled up all the outs on the railway that had taken so many days of hard lahor to shovel out, and piling the snow mountain high in some places."-Star, April 13. 1882.

16On Tuesday evening [April 26] the first train that has reached here since the first of February pulled up at our station. Of course the people were glad to see if and many of them went fo the depot to welcome the boys who have fought nobly for months to break their way through the snow blockade. . Between here and Fulda the road is now com- paratively safe, but east of that point there are one or two washonis that will take two or three days yet to repair. West of here, we are told, the washouts are much more serions and no trains will get to Dell Rapids for some time to come. . The snow blockade is raised for this season at least."-Star. April 28. 1881.

spring, the erop of 1881 was a failure, and there was little material advancement. An event of the year was the establish- ment of the Pipestone county district court, which was authorized by the legis- lature of 1881. The first term of court was convened in Pipestone October 18 and was presided over by Judge M. J. Severance. Court was held in the second story of the (. Il. Bennett building. where rooms had been rented from him for county and court offices by the county commissioners. There were eighteen cases on the docket. The attorneys in attend- ance were E. C. Dean and Burt Newport. of Pipestone, and Charles Butts. C. W. Stiles and E. E. Sterling, of Lake Benton. Riley French was foreman and JJohn Stu- art elerk of the first grand jury empanel- led in the county.18

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An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota, Part 39

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