USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1) > Part 8
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Another map evidently of Italian origin, which bears neither date nor author's name, but which was evidently published in the latter years of the eighteenth century (1750 and 1778 are both conjectural dates) has a river "Quikapous," which from its size and location is evidently the Root river.
The map of Sr. Robert de Vaugondy, probably published in 1775, shows the "R. des Quicabou," evidently the Root river. The "Quicapous" also appears on the map by Le Sr. d'Anville, published in 1775, and the "Quicapoux" on the "Carte des Cinq grands Lacs du Canada" (Map of the Five Great Lakes of Canada), probably published in 1762, but of which no author or date are given.
A map published by Robert Sayer and J. Bennett probably in 1775 gives the Root river as the "Macaret" river.
But in a map published by J. Hinton, probably about 1776, the old general form of the name is resumed, and the Root river appears as the "Quicapous."
The same name for the Root river is also used in the map which accompanies the stories of Carver's travels published in 1779.
In Carver's own map, of 1781, the Root river is named the "Yallow." The map of the United States of North America, etc., engraved by William Faden in 1793, calls the Root river the "Quicapoo," but the map published by Laurie and Whittle in 1794 uses the name "Maceret."
The map compiled by General Collott to accompany his travels in North America in 1774-76, engraved in 1805, calls the Root river the "Yellow R.," but incorrectly gives its source as a lake.
The map of 1806 compiled by M. Lewis and copied by Nicholas King, gives the "Carneille" river in the present location of the Root river.
The Root river has borne its present name since about 1806-07, when it appears on a chart entitled "A map of Lewis and Clark's track across the western portion of North America from the Mis- sissippi to the Pacific ocean. By order of the executive of the
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United States in 1804, '05 and '06. Copied from the original drawing of William Clark by Samuel Lewis." Since that time the Root river has been a feature of every map of Minnesota.
Thus it will be seen that from the first appearance of the stream on a map in 1703 down to the time it assumed its present name in 1805-06, the Root river bore the following names: Kica- pous, Quicapon, Quikapous, Quicabou, Quicapoux, Macaret, Quica- pous, Yallow, Quicapoo, Maceret, Yellow, and Carneille.
The Indians found here by the whites called the stream IIokah, which also means "root."
The first survey made in Fillmore county was that of the northern boundary of the Neutral Strip which crossed the south- eastern corner of Fillmore county. The survey was completed by James Craig in 1833, and the results of the survey appear on Map No. 112, in the Office of Indian Affairs at Washington. The survey of the Neutral Strip was completed in 1849.
Fillmore county, with the exception of Rushford, was laid off into townships and sections in 1853.
William B. Yerby surveyed and marked off into sections the townships that are now Newburg, Preble and Norway in 1853, and the town that is now Rushford, in 1854.
Lewis W. Carter surveyed and marked off into sections the townships that are now Canton, Amherst, IIolt, Arendahl, Har- mony, Preston, Carrolton and Pilot Mound in 1853.
John Parker surveyed and marked off into sections the town- ships that are now Bristol, York, Forestville, Beaver, Carimona and Bloomfield in 1853.
C. Phipps and E. Fitzpatrick surveyed and marked off into sections the townships that are now Fountain, Chatfield, Fillmore, Jordan, Spring Valley and Sumner in 1853.
That part of the Iowa-Minnesota state line which forms the southern boundary of Fillmore county was surveyed in 1852 by Andrew Talcott.
That part of the First Standard Parallel which forms the northern boundary of Fillmore county was surveyed by E. S Norris in the spring of 1853.
That part of the First Standard Meridian which crosses Fill- more county was surveyed in the spring of 1853 by E. S. Norris.
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WILLIAM WILLFORD AND FAMILY
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CHAPTER VI.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
First Settler Arrives in Canton in 1851-Pre-emption Laws-Tide of Immigration Begins-Pioneer Conditions-Territorial Vil- lages-Twenty-four Townsites Platted in Fillmore County Before State Was Admitted.
The first white settlers to select claims in what is now Fillmore county were Albert Nichols and his two companions, Kincaid and Stephens, of Mound Prairie, Columbia county, Wisconsin, who on March 7, 1851, crossed the Iowa state line and marked claims, Nichols in what is now Canton, and the others in what is now Newburg. March 9, 1851, they left the county, having remained but two days. June 1, 1851, they returned, bringing Nichols' family.
Before they returned George Cannon and Joseph Lovesy had arrived from Illinois, with their families, and settled in Newburg, some time in May, 1851, the Cannons and the Lovesys thus be coming the first actual white settlers.
The vicinity in which all of these settlers located was a part of that tract which in 1830 had been relinquished to the United States by the Sioux Indians, assigned by the United States to the Winnebago Indians in 1832, and by them relinquished in 1846. Outside of this comparatively small tract of land in the southeast corner, the area of what is now Fillmore county remained at the time of the arrival of this first settler in the possession of the Sioux, although they were soon to sign the treaty which relin- quished their rights.
The governmental policy which made it possible for white settlers to occupy lands relinquished by the Indians, dates back to the very beginning of American government.
In pursuance of the policy of individual ownership, and occu- pancy of the soil, which is at the foundation of all American liberties, laws were passed in the earliest days of the United States government, for the sale of the public lands in small tracts, on favorable terms. It was soon found, however, that the object of the laws was being in part defeated by men of wealth securing large numbers of these tracts and holding them for speculation.
To prevent, so far as possible, this evasion of the intent of the
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law, and the fostering of a landed aristocracy, the pre-emption laws of 1841 were enacted. Under these laws, any citizen, or any foreigner who in legal form declared his intention to become a citizen, and who was not already the owner of 320 acres of land, could pre-empt 160 acres or less, at $1.25 per acre, upon making the necessary improvements and occupancy.
For several years after passing the pre-emption laws the tide of immigration set most strongly toward the public lands of Mis- souri, eastern Kansas and southern Iowa. A few years later the discovery of gold in California attracted most of the young men in that direction and for a time checked the rush to western prairies.
The pre-emption laws of 1841 with some amendments were in force when the lands in this section of Minnesota were opened to settlement by the extinguishment of the Indian title of 1853, for it must be remembered that notwithstanding the fact that the government purchased this country from France it has always recognized the primal rights or title claimed by the Indians and never opens any part of the territory to settlement until such title has been purchased from the chiefs, and their claim extinquished by treaty.
No sooner had the Indian title in Minnesota been extinguished than the government surveyors commenced running the township and range lines, and dividing the townships thus formed into sections. Some few adventurous men, indeed, waited neither for the departure of the Indians nor the survey.
Never before had any people been offered such favorable opportunity for becoming land owners, and securing for them- selves permanent and comfortable homes. Nor did they fail to appreciate their opportunities. Not only from the older states, especially the northern and eastern states, but from foreign coun- tries, many thousands each year, stimulated by the hope and promise of a home and a brighter future, severed the ties that bound them to their native land with all its hallowed associations, bade adieu to friends and kindred, often in sadness and tears, set their faces toward the setting sun, crossed the great Father of Rivers, and for the first time stepped beyond the bounds of civilization. The varied emotions that filled the souls of the pio- neers during the first few months or years of their new life, their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows were firmly locked in their own memories, but will never be told in histories. Doubt- less the women felt most keenly their changed condition of life; but as a rule, they accepted the situation bravely, and performed their parts with commendable cheerfulness and fortitude.
There was no general movement of emigrants to this section until 1853, nor did the tidal wave strike heavily until 1854, but
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from that time until 1857 there was scarcely an ebb in the tide; but a constant flow into and through this county to points further west. Nor did the emigrants "stand upon the order of their coming," or the means of conveyance. The canvas covered wagon called the "prairie schooner," drawn by horses or mules, was perhaps the most popular and usual conveyance for families, although many came with oxen. Occasionally one would see a crate or slatted box fastened to the hind part of the wagon con- taining chickens or the family cat or kittens; and if one hap- pened to have a surplus of either he found a ready sale, at good prices, to his neighbors who had been less provident in making up their outfit or less fortunate in their means of transportation.
Of course many young men came without teams, and with very few personal effects, relying upon purchasing, at some trading point, such an outfit as was necessary for making required improvements on their claims.
Some foreigners came direct from their native countries with their native habits and customs, speaking only in their respective native tongues, but all in the pursuit of the same purposes-that is, the securing of a home. In some instances these foreigners came in companies and a single nationality would take possession of a considerable district, but usually they came singly or in small groups and in selecting their lands intermingled with others so that in some localities they constituted a truly heterogeneous people.
Among the early settlers there has probably been about the usual proportion of success and failure. The bright visions of prosperity and wealth with little effort, which many saw before them as they neared the country, ever continued mirage like to be in advance and just beyond their reach. Many others by industry, economy and good management accumulated a reason- able competence, for their declining years. Upon a few, Dame Fortune seemed to bestow her smiles from the first and their coffers were constantly overflowing with bounty.
The present generation has little conception of the hardships and privations of the early days. With most people on their claims, comforts and conveniences were indeed rare for the first year or two. Some lived for weeks and months on the prairie with no shelter from the scorching rays of the noonday sun, the night dews or occasional storms, except the covered wagons, while waiting for lumber with which to build a rude shanty. Nor will it be forgotten that the shanty when built was usually far from comfortable and convenient, especially in winter. Some few resorted to dugouts, but they were a poor excuse for a house. The art of building sod buildings such as were later found in western Kansas and Nebraska was then unknown here. Had it
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been known it could hardly have been a success, as the sod is lacking in that heavy fibre which there adapts it to that use. Fortunately very many in this county were able to procure logs with which to build, for in a good house was real comfort. There were of course different degrees of hardships among the earliest settlers. Some few came with sufficient means to enable them to secure at an early date many comforts that to others were long deferred. The man with money had the advantage then, as he has now, and then, as now, the large majority had only moderate or small means, and then, as now, the heaviest burdens fell upon that class. It must not be supposed that all pre-emptors of land intended to cultivate it. Many young men pre-empted their land and soon disposed of it, or mortgaged it for money with which to go into business in town, and not a few returned to their former homes. Some came to engage in business regardless of their pre-emption rights. And another class came for speculation in anything that promised large profits. Some came as the repre- sentatives of eastern capitalists to loan money at exorbitant rates of interest. One of the earliest speculations was the laying out of town sites. That required but little capital and to a live man promised quick returns and large profits. For a time therefore surveyors were kept busy in making plats and the register's office was nearly flooded with them. Upon some of those sites important towns have been built up and are now flourishing busi- ness centers. Upon others a start was made with encouraging prospects, but from subsequent changes in the surrounding con- ditions, the struggle for success was abandoned, and the result was gradual decay and final extinction. In other cases there were never any indications of a town except upon the records of the register's office and the highly colored plats from which the enter- prising proprietors sold their corner lots to non-residents and strangers.
The first permanent settlements in the county were made in Canton and Newburg in 1851, and in the next three years all the townships had received settlers, and the development of the county was well on its way.
The First Settlement. In the month of February, 1851, Albert Nichols and two of his neighbors, Kincaid and Stephens, all of Fountain Prairie, Columbia county, Wisconsin, who were desirous to go further west and secure for themselves government land, decided to come to Minnesota on a prospecting tour. They prepared their outfit for the trip, consisting of a sack of provisions (bread and pork), axe, gun, blankets and all the necessary articles for camping out, at that season of the year, and started for Minnesota on foot. On the evening of the fourth day's traveling they arrived at La Crosse. Here they found a
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few small buildings and an Indian trading house, where they remained during the night. On the fifth day of their travel they crossed the Mississippi and Root rivers and spent their first night in Minnesota at a logger's shanty, where Hokah is now located.
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On the morning of the sixth day of their travel they started on a southwest course, following an Indian trail, and camped at night on what has since been known as Norwegian Ridge, in Houston county. This was a bitter cold night, and fears were entertained by the party that they would freeze to death before the dawn of day. On the morning of the seventh day of their journey, after preparing their breakfast of pork and bread, they resumed their travels. About 4 o'clock that afternoon they arrived at the shanty of Benjamin Bear, who held a claim in Iowa, near where Hesper is now located. This little party made their headquarters with Mr. Bear for a number of days, while they were looking that country over. March 7, 1851, Albert Nichols selected the southwest quarter of section 25, township 101, range 9, for the home of himself and family, and proceeded to blaze trees on which he wrote his name, to designate who had made a claim to that piece of land.
On the same day Mr. Kincaid made his claim by marking trees, on the place long known as the West farm in Newburg township.
Also on the same day Mr. Stephens made a claim in the same township, on a place long known as the Edmund's farm.
March 9 this party started for their homes in Wisconsin, to prepare to move their families in early spring to Minnesota. On May 14, 1851, Albert Nichols, Mr. Kincaid and Mr. Stephens left Fountain Prairie, accompanied by Mr. Nichols' family, with an outfit consisting of oxen, cows, wagons, breaking plows and pro- visions for a part of the summer, to settle on their claims in Minnesota. On their arrival at their claims, on June 1, 1851, Mr. Nichols found his claim unmolested, Mr. Kincaid found George Cannon and family occupying the claim made by him, the Can- nons having come some time in May. Mr. Stephens found Joseph Lovesy and family occupying the claim that he had made, the Lovesys having arrived in May.
Thus it will be seen that though Messrs. Nichols, Kincaid and Stephens picked out claims in March, 1851, they did not really locate at that time, the first families to take up their homes here being the Cannons and the Lovesys, who came from Illinois to Newburg in May, 1851, and subsequently moved to Houston county.
Mr. Nichols lived on his claim twenty-two years, and later moved near Heron Lake, Minn. Mr. Cannon sold his land to
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Abram West, who moved onto the land July 3, 1852. Mr. Lovesy sold out to Hiram Edmunds.
About July 1, 1851, a Norwegian by the name of Evans settled near the state line in Newburg township, not far from where Mabel is now located.
Calvin Chandler settled on the northeast quarter of section 30, township 101, range 8, in the first part of July, 1851.
TERRITORIAL VILLAGES.
No less than twenty-four villages were platted in Fillmore county prior to the admission of the state, May 11, 1858. Some of these villages are still in existence, others have long since been abandoned, and farms now occupy their sites. The following list gives the name of the village, the location, the date of survey, the name of the surveyor, and the name of the proprietors in con- secutive order :
1-Chatfield. Sections 5 and 6, 104-11; August 28, 1854; T. B. Twiford; T. B. Twiford, G. W. Willis and William B. Gere. Bristol & Jacobs' Addition ; section 5, 104-11; May 1, 1857; James B. Power ; H. D. Bristol, Dennis Jacobs and Orrin Thurber. West Chatfield; section 6, 104-11; May 7, 1857; Charles M. Colby (county surveyor) ; Simon Crittenden. West Chatfield; section 6, 104-11; June 3, 1857; James P. Power (deputy county surveyor) ; J. R. Bennett, S. Crittenden and S. Dickson. Willis' Addition; 104-11 ; July 2, 1857 ; J. W. Bishop; Grove W. Willis. West Chat- field, second addition, January 8, 1858; J. W. Bishop; Simon Crittenden.
2-Elliota. Section 32, 101-9; December 13, 1854; II. K. Averill, Jr. (United States deputy surveyor) ; J. W. Eliott.
3-Carimona. Section 4, 102-11; December 27, 1854; Robert K. Whitely; Edwin and William Pickett. Olmsted's Addition; sections 3 and 4, 102-11; April 25, 1855; Robert K. Whitely ; David Olmsted. Gilbert & Buttler's Addition; sections 3 and 4, 102-11; April 28, 1857; Charles M. Colby ; James I. Gilbert and Henry C. Buttler.
4-Fillmore. Section 3, 103-12; February 26, 1855; John Hogarty ; Harold II. Jones.
5-Carimona. Section 1, 102-11; March 15, 1855; Henry L. Edwards (county surveyor) ; William L. Tribue. The explana- tion of these two Carimonas is found elsewhere. When on March 2, 1855, the Minnesota Territorial Legislature designated Cari- mona as the county seat of Fillmore county, persons who did not want the county seat there took advantage of the fact that though the Picketts had surveyed Carimona in section 4, they had not yet recorded it. Accordingly interested parties had a village
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surveyed in section 1, which they claimed was the real Carimona. This was surveyed March 15, 1855, and recorded March 16, 1855. However, on March 27, 1855, the Picketts filed the plat of the real Carimona which they had platted December 27, 1854, but which they had failed to record.
6 Jordan. Sections 29 and 32, 104-12; April 6, 1855; Henry L. Edwards (county surveyor) ; John H. Main.
7-Forestville. Section 13, 102-12; April 19, 1855; Robert K. Whitely ; Forest Henry.
8-Preston. Section 6, 102-10; July 1, 1855; Robert P. Moore; John Kaercher. John Kaercher's Addition; 102-10; May 16, 1856; Charles M. Colby; John Kaercher. Billings' Addition; section 31, 103-10; May 20, 1856; M. Billings; Jarvis Billings. Barbara Kaercher's First Addition, 102-10; July 14, 1856; Charles M. Colby; Barbara Kaercher (Schweitzer). Barbara Kaercher's Second Addition ; 102-10; July 27, 1857; Charles M. Colby ; Bar- bara Kaercher (Schweitzer).
9-Big Springs. Sections 5 and 8, 101-10; October 6, 1855; Granger & Lewis; James P. Tibbetts.
10-Newburg. Section 8, 101-8; December 18, 1855; Enos F. Gray ; Hans Valder.
11-Richland (Richland Center). Section 35, 102-9; January 22, 1856; Enos F. Gray ; William Barton.
12-Spring Valley. Section 27, 103-13; March 21, 1856; Wil- liam Meighen; Thomas C. Watson. Spring Valley; section 33, 103-13; April 7, 1856; T. P. Ropes (county surveyor) ; J. B. Thayer. Eastman's Addition; August 11, 1857 ; H. K. Averill, Jr .; E. B. Eastman. Spring Valley Company's Addition; January 11, 1858; E. McMurtrie; Spring Valley Co. Billings & Cummings' Addition; January 25, 1858; E. McMurtrie; Billings & Cummings.
13-Waukokee. Section 23, 102-11; April 7, 1856; Robert K. Whitely ; John M. West and C. P. Fowler.
14-Lenora. Section 2, 101-9; April 19, 1856; John L. Dyer ; John L. Dyer and James Goudy.
15-Liberty. Section 24, 103-12; April 24, 1856; T. B. Ropes; Henry Kibler.
16-Elkhorn. Section 6, 103-13, and section 31, 104-13; April 26, 1856; T. P. Ropes; Jacob McQuillen.
17-Greenfield. Section 14, 101-10; May 16, 1856; T. P. Ropes; Knud Peterson and J. P. Norton. Greenfield Addition; section 14. 101-10; August 3, 1857 ; E. D. Hawkins; Arne Arneson and Knud Peterson.
18-Hamilton. Section 6, 103-13; July 4, 1856; surveyor not given ; Daniel L. Booth. Morse's Addition; September 1, 1856; no surveyor given; O. B. Morse. Booth's Addition; July 29, 1857; no surveyor given ; Daniel L. Booth.
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19-Jefferson. Section 6, 102-12; September 4., 1856; T. P. Ropes; John G. Bouldin and Dwight Rathbun.
20-Rushford. Section 14, 104-8; October and November, 1856; Isaac Thompson; Hiram Walker, George G. Stevens and Sylvester S. Stebbins.
21-Henry. Sections 32 and 33, 102-9; April 9, 1856; Enos F. Gray ; Henry Onstine and Michael Onstine.
22-Wasona. Sections 25 and 26, 104-9; July 3, 1857; Charles H. Brown and Eugene Marshall; M. G. Thompson and John Thompson.
23-Tefton (now Etna). Section 25, 102-13; September 18, 1857; Enos F. Gray ; William S. Bly.
24-Granger. Sections 34 and 35, 101-11; April 10, 1858; Brownell Granger; Edward P. Burgess, Brownell Granger and Charles H. Lewis.
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Bottom Row-D. W. Bacon, D. A. Mosher, J. L. Colby
Top Row-Leon Lillie. T. T. Johnson SHANOISSINN ROD ALK.10.
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CHAPTER VII.
ORGANIZATION AND BOUNDARY LINES.
Fillmore County Originally Included in Wabasha County-Fill- more County Created March 5, 1853-Winona and Houston Set Off February 23, 1854 Olmsted Set Off February 20, 1855-Old Election Precincts-Townships Created and Named. .
The territory now embraced in Fillmore county was included in the original limits of Wabasha (then spelled Wabashaw) county, which was one of the nine counties created by the first territorial legislature.
Gov. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial governor, arrived in St. Paul May 27, 1849, and on June 1, 1849, issued his first proclamation. June 11 he issued a second proclamation, dividing the territory into three judicial districts. Fillmore county, then unpopulated, was included in the third judicial district, with Judge David Cooper on the bench. Court for this district was to be held at Mendota.
July 7, 1849, the governor issued a proclamation dividing the territory into seven council districts and ordering an election. Fillmore county was included in the seventh district.
The first session of the legislative assembly of the territory of Minnesota was held at St. Paul, commencing September 3, 1849.
By an act approved October 27, 1849, the territory was divided into the counties of Washington, Ramsey, Benton, Itasca, Waba- shaw, Dakota, Wahnahta, Mahkahto and Pembina. Only the counties of Washington, Ramsey and Benton were fully organ- ized for all county purposes. The others were organized only for the purpose of appointment of justices of the peace, constables, and such other judicial and ministerial offices as might be spe- cially provided for. They were entitled to "any number of jus- tices of the peace and constables, not exceeding six in number, to be appointed by the governor, and their term of office was made two years, unless sooner removed by the governor," and they were made conservators of the peace.
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