USA > Minnesota > Rock County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 8
USA > Minnesota > Pipestone County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 8
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RTINW
?
Stoup QNarTY
SPRINGWATER
GREGORY
Stans Quarry
Autunr Vuarry
E
MATTSTONE CITY
LUVERA
E
BEAVER CREEK
MAAG YOLTA
4
Lah Creek u
MARTIN
CLINTON
KANARANZA
EARLY COUNTY MAPS Maps of Rock and Pipestone Counties as Published in a Minnesota State Atlas in 1874.
65
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
(22), Mathilda Larson (4), Elisha B. Robin- son (20), Iver 1. Peterson (14), Hosea El- lis (34), Oliver Lincoln (28), Nathaniel Lester (12), Alvey H. Lester (12), Nels
Atleson (8), Engebret Frederickson (8), Ole S. Hagen (4), Iver Tastenson (8), William O'Donnell (32), Hans J. Thomte (14), William Maynes (26-28), Gunder N. Remme (10), John Scully (12), Ole T. Berg (20), Tollef Opsata (22), Albert A. Campbell (28), Abraham H. Turner (2), William II. Glass (10), Hans J. Engebretson (4), James E. Devy (6), Ole O. Haga (22), Ole Amundson (4), George Lytle (34), Knud Nelson (14), Ole Helgeson (4), Ole Nelson (22), Rasmus Johnson (10), Sampson S. Start (30), Jacob J. Berg (8), Charles E. Kleine (24), Irving Smotel (6).
ALBION (SPRINGWATER).
Late in March, 1824, the citizens of township 103, range 46, and of the hactional strip in range 12 presented å petition, headed by C. W. Curtis, asking to be set off from Gregory and organized. The signers of the petition, with two exceptions, signified their choice of Al- bion as a name. The township was ere- ated May 5 under that name and it was provided that the first town meeting should be held at the home of George Collett, on the northwest quarter of section 22, on May 18. The change in name from Albion to Springwater was made by order of the commissioners June 15, 1874, in accordance with the request of the voters of the new township as ex- pressed by petition.17 Patents to Spring- water township lands have been granted by the government as follows:
William A. Hackley (24), Michael Mead (26), Samuel H. Shoemaker (26), William Murphy (12r47), Thomas Murphy (S), Ernest Curtis (28-32), Frances M. Trunkey (32), Asa Canfield (24), Jacob Ashcraft (2r47), Frank A. Hyke (34), John M. Allen (32), Nelson R. Reynolds (14), James A. Claudman (12r47), Henry Munro (2), John T. Ladd (4), Alvin P. Reynolds (20-24r47), Lynn B. Cate (30), Edgar W. Eskridge (10), Wilber H. Spooner (20), George B. Collett (22), Myrta E. Curtis (28), Birch Chapin (22), Francis Rathbun
17"Prior to this Mike Mead had immigrated to the township from Springwater. New York. and when he discovered a large spring on section 32 it doubtless suggested to him the appropriateness of the name of Springwater
(24r47), James Ryan, Jr. (12), William P Noble (2), Andrew Givens (12), Charles A. Reynolds (2r47), Lars Pedersen (11r47), Clause Nelson (32), Albert Barck (34), Lewis Barck (34-26r47), Oren R. Smith (14r47), Samuel Coss (34), John L. Mars- den (4), William Givens (12), Daniel Iloppes (10-22), Wallace Cochrane (26r47), James D. Ladd (14), Cary C. Farnum (4), Chauncey . L. Brock (2), Alfred Acheson (24r47), James Madison (18), Augustus R. Ladd (2), Perley Gillham (6), Nicholas I. Brennan (14r47), Augustus Birdsong (6), John A. Loeffler (8), Thomas Grimes (12), Ole Julson (26r47), Eliza A. Curtis (28), Nels Benson (30), James E. Chesley (30), Austine Grimes (10), Martin Williams (18), David Noonan (24r47), Alonzo C. Kimble (6), Oscar A. Headley (18-30), Patrick Gartland (8), Paul Ingleson (30), Martin Williams (24r47), Anthony B. Shroyer (14), John Halvorsen (26r47), William Cough- lin (20), Timothy Bergin (8), John Hofel- man (2), Burnham M. Pengra (22), Hal- sten Tvidt (10r47), Isaac Olson (34r47), August Birdsong (6), Platt Armstrong (28), Robert Phelan (12), Heirs of Charles Hall (14), Patrick Brennan (18), Michael Bergin (12r47) Henrick E. Jordahl (22r47), Clarence E. Dike (10).
MOUND.
The grasshopper scourge of the carly seventies had a depressing effect on the settlement of Rock county and it was three years after the creation of Spring- water township before there was any more township making. Mound township was the next to perfect an organization. and when that was done Gregory town- ship was reduced to the three northern townships. Mound township was named in honor of the vast pile of rock that lies within its boundaries and was created April 21, 1822. after considerable disens- sion. A petition signed by J. F. Shoe- maker and twenty-one others was pre- sented to the county board April 21, ask- ing that the board take the necessary ac- tion, and at the same time a remonstrance signed by Charles Helgeson and eighteen others was presented. AAffer considera- tion the commissioners decided that the
for the townshin, which through his eloquence he persuaded the majority of the citizens to accept."-C. A. Reynolds in an article on the origin of Rock county names.
3
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66
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
township was ready for organization and named May 3, 1811, as the date for hold- ing the first town meeting, which was held on the northeast quarter of section 34. Title to Mound township lands have been given by the government to the follow- ing named persons :
John F. Shoemaker (25-30), James Kel- ley (25-34), Cadawallader Jones (35), Mir- anda J. Skinner (28), Eugene A. Loomis (26), Joseph Dickson (36), Sarah McNeal (28), Tollef O. Tollefson (12-14), Charles F. Brannick (20), Lewis A. Lewison (32), James Green, Jr. (30), Clarence E. Older (34), Nelson R. Reynolds (30), William H. Patterson (32), S. Torgeson Omas (4), Francis Brannick (20), Ben Rice (32), Lawrence McDermott (26-36), Gerald Mc- Enery (IS), William H. Glass (34), Den- nis McCarthy (28), Edward E. Needham (18), John Kelley (32), George Mead (26), Henry C. Wilson (2), Halvor Larson (4), Andrew Torgeson (10), Mary Plum (24), Peder O. Froke (10), Thora Torgeson (4), Otter Knudsen (14), Anders Froke (10), Ole Olsen (12), Jens O. Plomason (2), An- drew Olsen (2), Terge Anderson (4), Andrew Erickson (26), Sven Olesen (12), Ellen Helgeson (8), Jens O. Helgeson (8), Cadwallader J. Lynch (24), Michael Mc- Carthy (20), Heinrich Hofelman (6), Ole Knudson (10-14), Rasmus Halvorson (12), Dennis Denovan (22), Serat Anderson (14), William C. Davis (6), Jens Peterson (10), William Ward (34), John Green (30), Michael Chambers (22), Christopher Helge- son (8), Terence Lee (28), Frederick R. Wheareatt (22), Horace F. Kilgore (20), Andrew Olson (2), James Cady (22), Fred B. Redfield (24), Zane R. Biggs (24), Heirs of Nels Nelson (13), James C. Kelley (24), Jay R. Mason (2), Clarence A. Dike (18), Clarence B. Davis (6), Edward O. Krook (14), Lewis Wold (32).
RIVERSIDE (BATTLE PLAIN).
In the early summer of 18:2 Major D. E. Runals and others asked that the northeast corner township be declared organized under the name Riverside. The
18Major D. E. Runals, of Edgerton, furnishes me the following items concerning the early history of the township: The first birth was a son born to Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Romme: the second child born was Maud Cowan, daugh- ter of Charles Cowan; the first school teach- er in the precinct was Sarah J. Munholland. now Mrs. T. F. Brockway, of Minneapolis.
The Rock County Herald of June 7. ISTS,- less than a year after the organization-said of the new precinct: "The town was organized in Angust, last year. is out of debt, has a wide- awake, go-ahead. liberal minded class of citi- zens, who are alive to all improvements which go to make up a prosperous community, and
commissioners created the township July 16, 1812, and provided that the first town meeting be held at the home of C. B. Rolph on August 11. The precinct wa- duly organized and went under the or- iginal name until March 19, 1828, when. notice having been received from the state anditor that another township in the state had a prior claim to the name Riverside. the name was changed to Battle Plain. in honor of the Indian battlefield located within its boundaries.15 Government land patents have been is- sned to claimants in Battle Plain town- ship as follows :
Hugh A. Hoy (28), Frank Smith (14), James H. Mansell (2), Peter Landin (30), Nels Nelson (30), James P. Kirkham (30), Otis H. Rolfe (18), Howard F. Oliver (14), George A. Oliver (14), William Wall (26), Jasper Rolfe (18), Major D. E. Runals (32), Joseph W. Woodfield (10), David Hendershott (4), Daniel M. Hendershott (4), Charles Cowan (32), Francis L. Harrison (20), Charles A. Oliver (24), Christopher N. Remme (26), Alfred Goodwin (22), John J. Gulin (30), William H. Thompson (22), Job Haskell (12), Heirs of James W. Caf- ferty (26), William Munholland (22-32), James Adams (10), William C. Brockway (8-34), John Boyes (12), Byron T. Huyke (12-32), Charles B. Rolph (28), George Cole (20), William F. Warner (14), Chester Warner (22), Heirs of Samuel T. Warner (26), Jerome Cowan (20), Nehemiah D. Gilbert (6), Charles Crippen (6), Thomas E. Fitzgerald (28), John R. Norton (34). Sarah Norton (34), Edward Harvey (18), Hugh Mitchell (8), Fenninmore M. Snow (2), Dennis Harvey (6), Henry D. Sample (10), Frank O. Burhans (8), Sarah J. Brockway (6), Frank L. Cronk (S), Chester O. Wellman (4), Knute G. Oldre (24), Emory T. Thorson (30), Andrew Anderson (30), Stephen Cowan (34), William H. Gor- don (18), Ezra F. Cole (20), Lars Knudson (34), Ole G. Hoime (24), Charles W. Mit- chell (4), James W. Mitchel (6).
it is withal a section with which our people will speedily establish communication if they consult their own best wishes. The first
dwelling was erected in Battle Plain township in 1876; one year ago there were five or six; now they number about fifty, with several in course of erection. A school which affords instruction to about twenty pupils is in she- cessful operation. Over one hundred acres, We are informed, are already planted to trees un- der the timber culture act, five hundred acres are in crop, and the busy plow-share will turn over for cultivation several hundred acres more during the present season."
67
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
ROSE DELL.
· The petition for the organization of Rose Dell township was presented by W. T. Vickerman and others, and the town- ship was declared created by the county board August 17, 18:1. Mr. Vickerman suggested the name, giving it in honor of a rocky gorge, filled in the summer months with beautiful wild roses. The gorge is situated on section 25, of the fraction, a few rods west of Mr. Vieker- man's pioneer home.19 The meeting to organize and select the first officers was held at the home of William T. Vicker- man on September 4, 1822. Those who received government land titles in Rose Dell township:
William D. Allen (18), Wallace Searles (32), Joseph H. Craig (4), Eugene A. Loomis (36r47), Anton Larson (26), Charles H. Tinkham (32), Charles S. Bruce (20), William T. Vickerman (30), Nels O. Wemark (14r47), Charles H. Vickerman (30), Sherman E. Hawes (34), William E. Stark (4), Jerome T. Daggett (20), Gunder Hanson (12), Marthia Gilbertson (26), Frank Walsh (8), Knud K. Steen (14), Thomas E. Vickerman (18), Henry B. Noble (34), Francis Weeliver (10), Horace E. Loomis (26r47), Peter H. Norvold (2), George A. Blanchard (20), John J. Vicker- man (6), Thomas McDermott (30), George WV. Ganfield (12r47), Joseph Bell (22), Hans Larsen (12), William J. McGowan (2r47), Thorvold O. Holm (10), Olaf T. Engebretson (10), George Carnegie (12r47), Ole G. Twenton (4), Frank Walsh (22), Wilber H. Spooner (28-32), Thomas Gan- field (14r47), Engebret H. Ellefsen (2), Ellef H. Ellefsen (14), Ole Gulbranson (24), George Ganfield (14r47), Christian E. Lee (24r47), Engebret Lee (24r47), Jolin Milne (2r47), Ludwig Schroeder (10), Lawrence Connelly (6), Merrick E. Kidder
1º A Rose Dell correspondent, signing the non de plume Slocum, wrote of the naming of the new township, the communication appearing in the Herald of April 16, 1880:
"As it may not be generally known how the town derived its name, we shall try to give a fechle description of the dell itself and its surroundings. It would seem as though in the course of natural events a stream of water had formed itself and come meander- ing down through the valley and. coming in contact with the ridge and disdaining to go a round about way in search of a more ac- ceptable passage. had forced itself through. cutting a space about 200 feet wide between the rocks and forty feet in depth at its greatest altitude. Slocum came along one day and being struck with the natural beauty of the place. Rose Dell suggested itself to his imag'-
(20), Ludvig M. Larson (26), George Bieber (2), Halvor Ellefson (14), Lars Haraldson (12), Anton Larson (26), Wells J. Willyard (24r47), Andrew Olson (12r47), John J. Vickerman (28), Thomas J. Vickerman (8) Howard Boice (24r47), William E. Stark (4), Martin H. Ansen (22), Ellen Halvor- son (28), George W. Vickerman (18), James Carnegie (2r47), William H. Storts (14), Josiah Kimble (32), Swain Kittleson (24-28), Isaac A. Vickerman (2), Henry B. Noble (34), Norman F. Phillips (6), Syver Har- aldson (12), George H. Carr (8), Marinuis Enger (8), Jane Hendershott (26r47), Ja- cob O. Tveidt (22r47), Ole A. Olson (12)47), Tollef Knudson (10r47).
DOVER (DENVER).
One by one the townships comprising the original Gregory township had se- veded until with the organization of Rose Dell the name found lodgment in the territory now known as Denver town- ship. As the several preeinets with- drew no arrangement was made for ap- portioning the debt of the mother town- ship, and the last one found itself sad- dled with a good sized debt and not much to show for it except the name Gregory. The inhabitants of that ter- ritory asked for relief, presenting a petition, headed by Lars G. Kartrude, on July 15, 18:8. The matter was referred to the county attorney at that time, and on July 24 the commissioners made provision for the reorganization of the township under the name Dover.20
Dover township was organized and the first officers chosen at the home of Lars G. Kartrude on section 32 on August 12, 1828. It went under this name
inative fancy, and from this humble ori- gin the name of Rose Dell was imparted to the township.
"If you would see fair Rose Dell aright, Go visit in the bright sunlight; Go visit it late in the month of June, When her shrubbery's in leaf And the roses in hloom."
"*This wipes out the so-called town of Greg- ory and the county treasurer is instructed to pay out all funds in his hands belonging to the defunct township for the orders of the said town and to cancel the same. The outstanding debt of Gregory is to be charged to the territory originally included in said township according to the assessment of IN78."-Herald, July 26, ISTS.
68
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
until January 6, 1880, when the com- missioners changed the name to Denver. having been notified by the state officials that there was another Dover township in Minnesota and that law or enstom for- bade two precincts in the state to bear the same name. In Denver township the United States has granted land titles as follows :
Lars G. Kartrude (32), Maren Anderson (30), Gottlieb Rogge (6), Andrew Peterson (30), John Gilbertson (30), Asle A. Thor- son (34), Terge Jensen (32), Tobias Si- menson (34), John M. Grant (28), John Shertzer (12), Horace Goodale (10), Charles Gates (6), Anton E. Anderson (25), James E. Black (8), James B. Andrews (20), James Larkin (12), Artemus Kimball (6), Robert J. Cobban (20), Knud H. Braat- en (6-18), John A. Mills (4), Kleber Wilken- son (18), Peder O. Froke (28), James Mur- phy, Jr. (24), Wilson Belknap (20), Mar- shall S. Blasdell (12), Jeremiah Tierney (26), Philo Hawes (4), Abagail Webber (2), Peter Von Levern (14), Ferdinand
Lemke (4-22), Herman Lenz (22), Andrew M. Helgeson (8-321, Torkel O. Sundre (34), George G. Qualley (8), Mikkel O. Bakke (20), Stephen Dockstadter (14), Johanne Houg (26), Ingre Riste (6), James Harding (14), Henry G. Brown (34), Torkel O. Bredbaken (18), Joseph Wade (2), Edwin W. Devine (28), Lars Hanger (30), Syl- vester T. Wade (2), Otter Otterson (26), John W. Anderson (6), Heirs of Frederick Lenz (22), Reuben Williams (S), James Murphy (24), Dennis S. Murphy (24),
Gilbert A. Williams (2), Ole H. Ellefson (18), Heirs of Samuel K. Hovey (20), William C. Mead (10), Charles McEmery (34), George A. Maderson (10), Levi M. Grandy (14), Charles Hill (10), Thomas IS. Jones (12), Thomas Gleason (22), Sam Anderson (24), Richard Streeter (26).
Denver was the last of Rock county's twelve townships to organize. Since the new name was bestowed on that pre- cinet all the townships have continued under local government with the same names and boundaries as described in this chapter.
CHAPTER IV.
ERA OF DEVELOPMENT-1821-1873.
T UJE organization of Rock county late in the year 1870 acted as a stimulus to settlement, and we find that more people located in Rock county during 1821 than had done so dur- ing the entire period of former settlement. It has been estimated that there were 420 people living in the county at the close of the year.1 A correspondent to the Jack- son paper, writing July 3, 1871, told of conditions in Rock county : "Immigration to the county has been very heavy this season. The weather continues dry and warm, yel crops are doing fine. I never saw better corn for the time of year than we have here. Small grain has been in- jured some by the dry weather."
The arrivals of 1871 secured good loca- tions. The first choice of lands was along Rock river, where there were patches of limber, and when they were all faken the prairie sections were tiled upon. The roll- ing prairie with its deep black soil ; the pic- turesque Blue mounds, rising 200 feet above the general level of the country :
1Among the settlers of 1871 were Stewart Young. Dr. R. O. Crawford, J. O. Helgeson, E. L, Grout. B. S. Wold, Alex Mckay. C. A. Rey- nolds, James H. Lyttle. Ole Guldhagen. D. Powell. Dennis MeCarthy. James Green. G. W. Green, John P. Steen, H. O, Harnes. T. O. Harnes. Thomas Hadvedt. Alex McNah, Ben Evens, Erick Evens. G. W. Daniels. L. A. Dan- iels. L. McDermott. John Ryan, M. R. Ryan, F. Miercort. Joseph Knight. L. L. Bryan, Ole Haga, T. O. Tollefson, S. Anderson, Andrew
the river, skirted with timber and abound- ing with fish and fur; the long Indian summer days, lasting into the late fall : the climate so invigorating and healthful that a doctor's services were not needed- all appealed to those who had passed through many miles of sloughy, unat- traetive land in their search for new homes, and none sought farther.
One of the first considerations of the setflers was the establishment of schools, and among the first official acts of the officers of the new county was legislation along that line. On February 15, 1871, the board of county commissioners created school district. No. 1, embracing the south half of Clinton township,2 and the next day it created district No. 2, embracing Laverne township, the west half of Mag- nolia township and the south half of Mound township.3. The first public school in the county was held at the home of Deborah Estey, in Clinton township, and was begun in December, 1820, before the district was, legally organized. Mrs.
Froke, Jens P. Houg. J. C. MeCollum, Thomas E. Hartwell.
2On October 11. 1871, in response to a petition of residents, the district was made to incInde the whole southern tier of townships.
"District No. 2 was created upon petition of H. Sawyer. William Blasdell, J. C. Phelps. S. D. Gregory, C. Jones, Philo Hawes, Ed. Mc- Kenzie, G. W. Webber and S. Wilson.
69
70
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
Richmond was the teacher.4 School was begun in district No. 2 the same winter and was taught in a sod shanty not far from Jauverne by Ren. Vickers, a nephew of Sylvester Norton,5
The first death in Rock county by reason of the winter storms of the prairie occur- red January 22. 1812. A Norwegian set- tler, Ole Ellingson by name, living about nine miles north of Luverne. was the vic- tim. He had started to go to town on skier and when about two miles on his journey he was overtaken by the storm and turned and went back to within a short distance of his house, as his tracks showed. He was unable to locate the house. took off the skier which he had been wearing, and started traveling with the wind. A searching party found his dead body abont eighteen miles from his home, within a half mile of the Luverne-Graham Lakes stage road and over the line in Nobles county. The body was found a few days after the storm but was not brought in for two weeks. The body was in a croneh- ing posture, resting upon one knee, with the hands pressed together underneath the body. apparently in a vain endeavor to keep them warm. The tracks showed that he had traveled back and forth over the route several times.
Before this first public school was begun iwo private schools had been conducted in the county. During the greater part of the winter of 1868-69 E. N. Darling had a private school in the cabin of Philo Hawes with Charles (. Hawes, Ed. Mckenzie. J. C. Kelley. Horace Plum. Frank Beaty and one other young man as pupils. Mr. Darling was at the time residing al the itawes cabin, and at the young men's suggestion the school was organized. This pioneer school was a popular one. From No- vember. 1870. to March. 1871. Clarence E. Older conducted a private school in the Hawes cab- in. His pupils were Ed. Mckenzie, at that time the county auditor: Charles O. Hawes. Len Daniels and P. F. Kelley.
5Other early day school districts were or- ganized in Rock county as follows:
No. 3-February 29, 1872. The northeastern quarter of Clinton township.
No. 4-June 29. 1872. Seetions 22. 23, 24, 25. 24. 34, 35 and 36, Luverne township.
No. 5-February 1, 1873. The northeast quar- tor of Magnolia township.
No. G-February 1, 1873. The northwest quar- ter of Magnolia township.
In the same stoim Eaa Abbott. who lived on section 8, Magnolia township. came near meeting death just over the state line in lowa on Rock river. He was returning from Rock Rapids, where he had been to mill, when the storm struck. He unhitched the oxen and set out to find shelter. The cattle traveled faster than he did and he became completely lost. Tle soon became overcome and sank down near a tree on the river bank. He was in the storm from three o'clock in the afternoon until two o'clock the next afternoon. A searching party found his team and a little later they came up him. Mr. Abbott's legs were so badly frozen that both were amputated just below the knees and his nose was frozen off. He recovered from the terrible exposure and is alive today, making his home in Wis- consin.
The building of the Sioux City & St. Panl railroad to southwestern Minnesota late in 1821 and the opening of the line the following spring had a decided effect upon Rock county, although the line was quite a distance from the county. Immi- grants poured in and took elaims in every precinct. and sed shanties and little frame shacks dotted the prairies in therefofore unsettled portions." "Settler," in the No. 7-February 1. 1873. The southwest quarter of Magnolia township.
No. 8-February 1. 1873. The southeast quar- ter of Magnolia township.
No. 9-April 10. 1873. Sections 20 to 29. in- clusive. 32 to 36. inclusive. 13 to 17. inclusive. Beaver Creek township.
No. 10- April 10. 1873. Sections 4 to 9, inclu- sive. 16. 17 and 18, Inverno township. No. 11 - April 10. 1873. Sections 22 to 27. in- «Insive. 31. 35, 36, and the east half of sep- tions 21. 28 and 33. Mound township.
No. 12- April 10. 1873. Sections 19. 20. 29, 30. 31. 32 and the west half of sections 21, 28 and 33, Mound township. No. 13-May 1. 1873. Sections 19 to 21, inclu- sive, and 28 to 33, inclusive, Luverne town- ship.
6"The prospect of coming spring seems to en- liven the homesteader to such an extent that all is stir here, and times are much easier than formerly. Here may be seen a load of logs going out upon one man's claim, there a load of lumber for another, then a load of wood for a third. while others keep time with their axes. saws and hammers."-Extract from a letter written March 24, 1872.
71
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
Jackson Republic, writing May 29, told of the conditions: "There is a very heavy immigration to the county this spring. far exceeding what we have had any pre- vious season. Within the last ten days there have been no less than fifty-two prairie schooners cast their anchor in this lovely county and there are very few to leave it to look elsewhere for homes after they once behold our lovely prairies."
The innmigration was so great this one wear that an estimate of the population made at its close gave 1050 as the number of people residing in the county, a gain of considerable over one hundred per cent in the year. Because there was this big immigration and the whole order of things was changed, it must not be imagined that the country was developed in a day. Most of the settlers arrived too late in the season to break their land and put in a crop and consequently there was not a large harvest. Except for the fact that the prairies became dotted with the homes of settlers, it was largely the same virgin territory it had always been.
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