USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 7
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It has also been alleged that during this year John Stanley settled in what is now Shell Rock township; Jacob Hostetter, John Oldinghouse (Olenhouse) and Oliver Diamond, in Freeman township; and A. D. Pinkham and Charles and William Wilder (Weilder) on Pickerel lake. It is also possible that Robert H. Miller, Hanibal Bickford, Elias Stanton and Theodore L. Carlson were on Freeborn lake in Carlston during this year. There was also a Norwegian settlement in Bancroft and at Red Oak Grove.
This list probably includes all of the settlers of 1855. Aside from the habitations which these scattering pioneers erected. the country remained practically an unbroken wilderness until the spring of 1856, in which year the real influx of settlement began.
LAND OFFICE RECORDS.
The land office records, giving the date upon which title was secured from the government, to every piece of land in Freeborn county, are an invaluable aid in ascertaining the names which were connected with the history of the county in the early days. All who secured land by pre-emption were compelled, supported by a witness, to swear to the government officials that they had been on their land a certain time, that they had erected a habitation, and that they had broken a certain amount of land. In many instances deliberate fraud was used, and some of the names which appear as early pre-emptors were those of specula- tors or money lenders who never saw Freeborn county. In other
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
cases transients, humble employees or even hunters were en- gaged at a miserably small stipend to make some sort of pretense of occupying land, and then turn over their title to those who hired them. Some of those who honestly proved up, left in a short time, and made no impress on the life of the community. Many of the names which appear on these land office records, however, are those of genuine pioneers who remained and took a part in the progress of the county, some of their land remain- ing in the possession of themselves or their families to the present day.
The records are becoming faint, and the writing is often difficult to decipher. Then, too, the names are often carelessly and incorrectly recorded. In the following list the spelling of the records is faithfully followed, even though it sometimes differs from the present day rendering of the various names. In the list of the very earliest pre-emptors, which is herewith appended, the number of the section, the name of the claimant and the date the title to the land was secured are given in con- secutive order under each township. In case the same person proved up on land in two different sections, the first section recorded is here given.
The land office was located at Brownsville, Minn., until in 1856, when it was removed to Chatfield, Fillmore county, this state.
London. Township 101, range 19. The first claims in this township were proved up in 1856. Those who secured land that year were :
2-Josiah Haskill, September 17. 3-Henry M. Faville, Sep- tember 11. 4-Geo. B. Adkins, September 27. 8-Thomas H. Budlong, September 11; William A. Pearce, August 15. 9- Brock Woodruff, August 22. 10-Edward E. Budlong, Septem- ber 11; William Clatworthy, August 15. 11-Daniel D. Mack, September 17. 12-Charles Shepard, November 17; Erastus Andrews, September 13. 13-John C. Hutchinson, December 12. 14-Milton Johnson, December 12; Joseph A. Johnson, Decem- ber 12. 24-Sarah B. Hutchinson, September 29; John C. Hut- chinson, December 12. 25-Philip A. Strong, November 4. 26- Charles B. Roberts, November 4. 35-Geo. H. Bemis, November 4.
Shell Rock. Township 101, range 20. The first claims in this township were proved up in 1855. Those who secured land that year were: 4-Clark Andrews, November 3. 5-Wm. Andrews, November 3. Those who secured land in 1856 were: 5-Elijah Young, Jr., November 14; Robert Bradley, December 23; Geo. Gardner, June 16. 6-Alfred Norst, October 17; James Andrews, July 26 ; Almon H. Cottrell, November 14; Elias Cady, August 15; John W. Smith, November 1. 7-Sanders Brannan, November 15; Anthony Bower, August 15; Edward P. Skinner, September
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
11. 9-Geo. Wilson, October 18; Danford Ayers, July 19. 17- Elihu C. Trow, August 25.
Freeman Township 101, range 21. The first claims in this township were proved up in 1856. Those who secured land that year were: 1-Jacob Hostetter, Jr., June 19; John W. Smith, November 1. 12-Sanders Brannan, September 16. Those who secured land in 1857 were: 5-Sylvester S. Hill, October 2. 6-Kaleb Hull, October 17. 7-Willard Farnham, November 23. 9-Chas. Bessinger, August 10. 11-Reuben Wilsey, May 16; Jesse V. Robbins, November 17; Irwin Seward, December 5. 12-Joseph Marvin, July 16; Henry Thurston, September 7; Albert K. Marvin, July 16. 18-Moses Kingelsmith, November 23. 22-Wm. Edwards, May 27. 23-Henry W. Chatfield, Octo- ber 20. 24-Louis Olinghouse, July 16; Oliver Diamond, Sep- tember 7.
Nunda Township 101, range 22. The first claims in this township were proved up in 1856. Those who secured land that year were: 1-Simon Drew, October 14. 12-Finley Stockdale, September 12. 21-Henry J. Ellsworth, October 3; Anthony Bright, October 3. Those who secured land in 1857 were: 1- John Banning, October 20. 2-Chas. Grimm, May 17. 5-James MI. Cotrell, October 19. 11-Wm. Seneve, November 3. 12-Louis Proebsting, May 16. 15-Almira Chapell, October 12; Jacob Hunt, October 12. 22-Stephen Baker, October 12. 24-John Honan, November 21. 25-Martin Forbes, November 21; Pat- rick Duffy, November 16. 26-John Roach, September 12. 28- Marvin Foster, October 19; Nels Bergeson, July 18. 32-Henry G. Emmons, July 14. 33-Erick Erickson, July 14. 34-Levi Robinson, September 28. 35-James Carroll, September 28.
Mansfield Township 101, range 23. The first claims in this township were proved up in 1860. Those who proved up that year were: 8-Henry Tunell, October 23; John Tunell, October 23. 15-Nichols Stenaldson, October 25. The one who secured land in 1861 was, 7-Oliver M. Cross, September 27. The one who secured land in 1862 was, 2-John Buchanan, June 25. The one who secured land in 1863 was, 10-Henry Smith, May 26. It should be understood that the settlements were made in this town some time before any claims were proved up.
Oakland Township 102, range 19. The first claims in this township were proved up in 1856. Those who secured land that year were : 1-Daniel Ostrander, October 10. 2-Wm. P. Pelton, September 8. 3-John Lyhttey, Jr., December 13. 4-Joel L. Bullock, September 24; Mathew M. Hancraft, September 24. 5-Adam Potter, September 24. 10-John McCarty, November 8. 17-Jerry N. Cady, October 30. 19-James P. Cady, October 30; Orlando Webster, October 30; Geo. McNoal, September 30. 20-
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
John Geo. Grittenburg, October 30. 30-Geo. N. Cram, August 15. Those who secured land in 1857 were: 1-Antwine Robert, July 15. 2-John M. Patterson, May 4. 5-Oscar Miller, Decem- ber 7. 11-James K. Hotchkiss, September 17. 12-Mitchell Clark, October 21; Emory W. Fenton, September 4; Herman Tubbs, August 29. 14-Geo. Johnson, September 4. 15-Reuben Babcock, November 28. 17-Henry C. Potter, October 16. 18- Robert George, October 16. 20-Francis McCabe March 11. 22-John Johnson, October 21. 24-John Runeals, September 30. 32-Chester D. Waterman, March 17.
Hayward Township 102, range 20. The first claim in this township was proven up in 1855. The one who took land that year was, 20-Samuel H. Conley, August 31. Those who secured land in 1856 were: 6-Geo. A. Watrous, November 26. 8- Michael Fatter, September 26. 18-James Farmer, December 9. 19-Wm. Rice, July 8; Geo. Spoon, September 23. 20-Asher A. Akiees, September 26. 29-John Gulbrandson, September 29; Oliver Andrews, June 16. 30-Horatio D. Brown, October 7. 31-Levi Leonard, July 19; Timothy Ide, November 22; Charles T. Knapp, October 17. 32-Walter Stott November 8; Alfred T. Leonard, June 16; Mary E. Leonard, June 16.
Albert Lea Township 102, range 21. The first claims in this township was proven up in 1856. The ones who took land that year were : 1-Henry Wheeler, November 18. 2-Geo. W. Clem- men, August 6; Horatio Allen, September 26. 3-Hugh Clark, November 21. 4-Addison Caswell, November 8; Soren G. Cut- ler, April 30. 5-Geo. W. Baily, November 11; Daniel Hurd, November 11. 6-Gilbert Tolles, June 18; Henry Dayton, June 18. 7-Bradford Blackmer, November 11; Jared J. Dart, July 12; Asa W. White, July 12; Haalvor Olson, December 22. 8- Charles Sweatt, August 6; Lorenzo Merry, August 6; Daniel E. Maxson, May 10; Wm. Morin, November 18. 9-Geo. S. Ruble, March 17. 10-Geo. Patterson, July 2; John B. Lennox, No- vember 11. 13-James Farmer, December 9. 17-Christian Fleck, March 4; Wm. Keller, November 18. 21-David H. Cheney, January 6. 23- Henry Badger, July 23. 24-Samuel M. Thompson, July 8. 25-Wiffing Wadsworth, July 23; W. H. Welch, August 28. 26-Flavel B. Shaw, August 28; Reuben Hill, October 27:
Pickerel Lake Township 102, range 22. The first claims-in this township were proved up in 1856. Those who secured land that year were: 1-Christian J. Steves, December 23. 12-Chas. W. Wilder, May 3; John H. Snyder, September 26; Jared T. Dart, July 12; Asa W. White, July 12. 13-Halvor Olson, December 22; Ralph White, November 28. 24-Samuel G. Bentley, October 28. 25-Chas. F. Whipple, November 5; Johanns Messikower,
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
November 5. Those who secured land in 1857 were: 1-Julius E. Wood, November 19. 2-Geo. Holbrook, November 6; Henry Chambers, August 29; Wm. C. Lamore, October 16; Warren Williams, August 29. 3-Jonathan O. Whipple, October 16. 4- Chas. R. White, August 29. 5-Samuel Palmeter, October 9; John Ramsey, October 9. 9-Homer T. Wetherly, October 24; Samuel W. Cutter, November 17; Samuel C. Wood, October 17; Joseph H. Wood, October 17. 10-Foster H. Powers, August 29; Henry C. Stewart, October 17; Thomas F. Wetherly, October 24; Daniel J. Humphry, August 29. 11-Wm. C. Lamore, October 16. 12-Benjamin F. Lowry, July 22; Geo. Haven, March 4. 23-Paul Carroll, August 31. 24-Samuel Eaton, November 4. 26-Asa H. Bradley, November 5. 27-Wm. Schnieder, Novem- ber 4; David Pierce November 5.
Alden Township 102, range 23. The first claim in this town- ship was proved up in 1860. The one who secured land that year was, 1-James Rundel, October 20. Those who secured land in 1861 were: 1-John Houck, November 8. 2-Jonathan Rus- sell, June 1; Samuel Isaac, June 1. 3-W. M. L. Gray, July 20; Augustus Armstrong, September 6; Henry S. Griswold, June 24. 4-Wm. D. Clark, June 21. 11-Harrison Sweet, June 1. It should be understood that this town received settlers some time before any claims were proved up.
Moscow Township 103, range 19. The first claim in this town- ship was proved up in 1855. The one who secured land that year was, 17-Sylvester Smith, November 23. Those who secured land in 1856 were: 7-Daniel Tubbs, March 27. 8-Geo. W. Dearmin, June 13; Jerome Gates, March 21. 11-Amanda M. Hale, No- vember 26. 12-Wm. Litchfield, December 17; Isaiah Stokes, December 17. 13-James E. R. Gould, January 12; Alexander M. Fleck, September 22. 17-Thos. R. Morgan, March 10; Jud- son A. Laraber, September 1; Geo. Durgea, September 8. 19- Seymour Saxton, May 7; Wm. F. Buttler, June 21. 20-Herman S. Libby, August 20. 21-Robert Wilcox, March 10; Myron Blackman, October 30. 22-John G. Dunning, March 31; Robert Speer, October 30. 23-Henry Fero, July 12. 24-Cordilla W. Filet, September 27. 25-Josiah W. Hardy, November 5. 26- Jared Webster, November 5; Cyrus Waterman, June 13; Wm. W. Patterson, November 10. 27-James Bush, September 13. 28-Thomas Ellis, March 10; Rufus K. Crum, November 19. 29-Benjamin F. Martin, November 4. 32-Geo. Ellis, November 12. 34 Harvey B. Earl, December 13; Schuyler Speer, No- vember 4.
Riceland Township 103, range 20. The first claims in this township were proved up in 1856. Those who secured land that year were: 12-Victor B. Loser, May 7; Amy Beardsley,
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
May 2. Those who secured land in 1857 were : 1-Garrett Sienan, May 26. 7-Geo. Roberts, October 19; Reuben Wakefield, October 19; Thomas P. Wright, September 2. 15-Samuel A. Beardsley, May 2. 22-Geo. P. Brackett, September 2. 25- Edwin A. Davis, October 23; Samuel G. Lowry, December 15. 31-Wm. R. Gause, October 1.
Bancroft Township 103, range 21. The first claim in this township was proved up in 1855. The one who took land that year was, 3-Chauncy P. Richardson, November 18. Those who secured land in 1856 were : 1-Charles Fitch, November 10. 8-Adolphus C. Hall, November 8. 26-John Q. Fitzgerald, July 29. 33-Addison Caswell, November 8. 35-Jesse W. Bogart, August 5.
Manchester Township 103, range 22. The first claims in this township were proved up in 1856. Those who secured land that year were: 22-Ole Olson, October 17. 28-Samuel Wilford, November 18. 29-David Irons, June 14. 32-Calvin Humphrys, November 18. Those who secured land in 1857 were: 14-Peter Olson, June 16. 17-Nels Nelson, May 30. 23-Jacob Baker, September 30; Horatio G. Robbins, June 19; Benjamin F, Skiff, August 19. 24-Francis B. Chute, October 23. 25-Francis A. Merrill, October 23; Geo. W. Camp, October 23; Joseph Steward, August 19; David S. Brottan September 30; Henry S. Hudson, June 19. 26-Geo. Buswell, January 27; Geo. L. Crane, October 8; Robert Anderson, October 8; Sias Geo. Sherbourne, November 26. 29-Joseph Spangler, October 5. 30-Jason C. Easton, October 5. 33-Frederick Ewald, September 17.
Carlston Township 103, range 23. The first claims in this township were proved up in 1856. Those who secured land that year were : 1-Nicholas Fesch, Jr., July 22. 2-Andrew Stanton, June 13. 3-David F. Miser, July 26. 10-Robert H. Miller, April 21; Carl A. Landgren, September 25. 11-Hanibal Bick- ford, April 24. 13-Theodore Ash, July 22. 14-David M. Elliot, September 4; Elias Stanton, June 14. 15-Henry Miller, Sep- tember 25. Those who secured land in 1857 were: 4-Levi W. Gillmore, October 27. 13-Theodore Rozeien, August 20. 14- Ludwick T. Carlson, June 25. 23-Alex Wike, November 27.
Newry Township 104, range 19. The first claims in this town- ship were proved up in 1856. Those who secured land that year were: 4-Oliver R. Austin, September 26. 5-Wm. R. Luicon, September 26. Those who secured land in 1857 were: 1-Henry C. Paul, August 1; Sidney McClure, June 22; Andrew Harten- bower, August 11; Richard Edwards, August 11. 17-John Brannan, May 26; 18-Dennis Cochlin, October 2. 30-Mary Gardner, October 26. 31-Pascal P. Stiles, February 10.
Geneva Township 104, range 20. The first claims in this
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
township were proved up in 1856. Those who secured land that year were: 6-Charles H. McAntyre, October 18. 7-Clark D. Dalrymple,. September 25; John Heath, August 28. 8-Eliab Eggleston, October 7. 9-Oliver Decker, December 29. 12- Alexander Schute, November 24. 13-Thomas Cashman, Sep- tember 27. 15-Nathaniel A. Hunt, December 29. 26-Samuel Woodworth, December 29. 29-Welcome S. Bacon, August 18. 30-Horace Willard, September 27. 35-Beach J. Wheeler, December 29. Those who secured land in 1857 were: 4-Wm. Hyke, November 10. 5-Philander Kimball, September 18. 6- Stephanus Inglass, November 2. 8-Elmore Eggleston, October 2; Chas. M. Eggleston, October 27; David Depue, July 22. 11- Thomas Hill, November 3. 14-Geo. Partice, October 5. 15- Abram W. Brown, August 18. 21-Stephen Y. Brown, August 28. 18-Walrath Soyd, August 28. 23-Luther Himes, October 1. 24-John Cashman, October 26.
Bath Township 104, range 21. The first claims in this town- ship were proved up in 1856. Those who secured land that year were: 1-Geo. L. Garnish, September 25. 10-Edwin C. Stacy, December 30. 12-Henry M. Palmer; Noyes S. Palmer, November 10. 13-Benjamin S. Whales, Novem- ber 20. 25-Alfred B. Webber, November 6; Alex Haskins, November 26. Those who secured land in 1857 were: 3-Isaac M. Stackhouse, August 21. 4-Chas. Wages, November 25. 8- Geo. Richardson, August 28. 9-Eugene G. Olmsted, October 3. 10-Dennis Thompson, August 12; David Minen, May 30; Pat- rick Reddington, October 30. 12-Thomas Thaxton, September 12; Chas Gahagan, January 2; Benj. R. Thaxton, September 12. 13-Reinald H. Fowler, August 14. 14-Nathaniel Dehart, July 22; Philip Barton, September 9. 18-Josiah Goodwin, November 10. 19-James Sheehan, November 4. 30-Madison L. Fitch, October 14. 35-Chas. L. Eyck, June 18.
Hartland Township 104, range 22. The first claims in this township were proved up in 1856. Those who secured land that year were : 13-John Mamelton, September 26. 23-Jolin Farmer, June 26; George Brown, September 13. 24-Charles Filkins, September 15; Augustus B. Brands, December 30; James Brown, September 13. 25-David Harrington, September 13.
Freeborn Township 104, range 23. The first claim in this township was proved up in 1855. The one who secured land that year was, 22-Nelson Everst, January 9. The one who secured land in 1856 was. 26-James Montgomery, January 24. Those who secured land in 1857 were: 25-Chas. D. Giddings, July 22. 26-Lafayette Scott, July 22. 33-Elon A. Douglass, September 8; Geo. Culbert, October 27. 34-Hannah Grijnon, August 31. 35-Thos. J. Scott, March 12.
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
Martin V. Kellar says: One of the serious drawbacks to- wards the development of Freeborn county, a curse met with in all parts of the west, was the speculator. He came, not as an actual settler, but for the specific object of proving up on a piece of land at all hazards, and selling it for what he could get or holding it for the future development of the country to bring him in a good price. A perusal of the above list of persons 'proving up,' will be a revelation to all the pioneers in our several townships. Many of these names are here seen for the first time. That fraud of the deepest dye was practiced is evident, as the law requires that the person proving up should make oath himself and be supported by one witness, that he was a bona fide settler on said land, that he had thereon a house, that he had not less than half an acre under cultivation, and that he had not sold nor bargained his claim away. As a matter of fact, many of them at the time they proved up, were then on their way out of the county, with their lands already deeded to some land shark or money lender.
Some broke the required half acre, and erected what they called a house, represented only by four posts, placed in the ground, with a little brush or hay for a roof, thus making what they purported to be a "home." A beautiful monument in Al- bert Lea cemetery stands on the site of such a home erected by a merchant of Mitchell, Iowa. Before he could prove up, the claim was jumped in 1856, by Rev. Isaac McReynolds, who lived on the claim for fifty years.
3
CHAPTER VII.
PIONEER TIMES.
Early Settlement-First Village in the County-Blue Earth Road -The Pioneer Home-Pioneer Women-First Religious Meet- ings-First Events-By Martin V. Kellar.
The monotony of life is often pleasantly broken by visions of early days. We see before us our lakes, far, far more beautiful than today. Their waters are clear and deep, free of weeds or rushes, with well defined shores. They are covered with thous- ands of wild geese and ducks and occasionally a flock of grace- ful white swans have alighted for food and rest on their long flight to their nesting place in the distant north. We see the Indian hunter as he glides stealthily along their borders in quest of food for the family in his nearby wigwam.
We climb the highest hill that we may obtain a better view of the surrounding country, only to see nature untouched-not a house, barn or field do we see-only the scattering burr-oak trees as far as the eye can reach. We look long for beautiful groves of young timber but we see them not-they are something of more recent years. We see the covered wagon drawn by the sleepy old oxen. They are meandering around the impassable sloughs and over the higher lands, followed by the loose cattle driven by the noble wife and children. They are the ones that shall make Freeborn county a garden of beauty-and the home of refinement and luxury.
We awake from our revery to behold our cities and villages, our beautiful homes, schools, churches, railroads, and all the appliances of modern civilization, and we ask, "Is such a change possible in one short lifetime? Surely we have lived in two worlds !"'
The spring of 1853 dawns on Freeborn county in all her solitude, but it is the beginning of a new era. Never before has civilized man disturbed her quietude, but a change must now come. Her sparkling lakes shall be turned into power for the factory, and her beautiful hills into fields of ripening grain, while the Indian must give way to enlightenment and civilization.
In July of this year a Norwegian of Rock County, Wisconsin, Ole C. Livdahlen, known to the first settlers as Ole Gulbrandson,
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
with his family took up his home one-half mile southeast of Gordonsville, in Shell Rock township, he being the first white settler in Freeborn county. He remained until the spring of 1856, when he sold out to William Beighley and left the country. There was born in this house in the early spring of 1854 a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Gulbrandson, this being the first white child born in the county. As a souvenir of the early days, this old log house has been removed to the county fair grounds in order that future generations may see a typical pioneer home.
In the early spring of 1855 Jacob LyBrand and Samuel M. Thompson settled at St. Nicholas and William Rice, at Glenville.
June first of this year finds Lorenzo Merry building his cabin at the southeast corner of Washington and Water streets, Albert Lea ; and one month later Geo. S. Ruble of Beloit, Wis., is looking over the country for water power for a saw mill, finally decides to locate also at Albert Lea, and during the autumn arrives with his family, building his cabin at 522 Bridge street. Chas. C. Colby, a young man, appeared during the year and laid claim to lands in section 6, Albert Lea township. He was accompanied by Bethuel Lilly and wife and one sister. Two other sisters came in the fall. The dreariness of life to these young people during the hard winter of 1855-56 can scarcely be appreciated today, as there were only four other houses within a radius of nine miles.
We find in June of this year several families settled in the vicinity of Glenville, among them George Gardner, Charles T. Knapp, William Andrews, Gardner Cottrell and Oliver Andrews.
During the season of 1856, a goodly number of settlers ar- rived, so it was possible to organize the county of Freeborn, which was accomplished on March 3, 1857.
THE FIRST VILLAGE IN THE COUNTY.
St. Nicholas. In the early spring of 1855, Jacob LyBrand and Samuel M. Thompson, from near Green Bay, Wis., located on the northeast quarter section 26, Albert Lea township, and proceeded to lay out on the banks of Lake Albert Lea the prospective county seat, the village of St. Nicholas. Its location was most beautiful, as the lake at that point was the broadest sheet of water in the county with a fine, gravelly beach, and the distant shore lined with large timber. They at once erected a large log building and opened up a splendid stock of goods of all descriptions. There seemed to be nothing wanted by the settler but what they had on hand, and their prices very reasonable, taking into considera- tion our distance from market. They at once began their cam- paign for the county seat and put forth every honorable means to secure it, but their failure is fully recorded on another page.
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
BLUE EARTH ROAD.
On the first settlement of the county there was but one general highway, known as the Blue Earth road, that entered the county on section 34, London township, running northwest past Myrtle, Glenville and St. Nicholas, leaving Albert Lea one mile to the east, past Armstrong, but was lost as a thoroughfare by its numerous branches near Alden. Much of its way was over an old Indian trail, and it was much used with but little change until after the Rebellion.
A great majority of our settlers passed over this route, tired out by their long, tedious journey, longing to reach their prospective homes. It was also our main highway to our market at McGregor, Ia., for years, and our only route to mill at Decorah and Mitchell, Ia. Prior to 1857 but few emigrants had arrived. but the spring of that year a rush began and seldom would one be out of sight on this road of the "prairie schooner," drawn by ox-teams, loaded with every conceivable article of plunder, even to a coop of poultry, or pigs, fastened on the rear endgate of every wagon.
The year 1858, however, found a halt, as the hard times of that period were now felt all over the West in its severity, es- pecially so in Freeborn county, as not a dollar's worth of produce had ever been shipped out of the county to market. The year before had been one of excessive rains, and only a little corn and potatoes had been raised; farming had only begun that year and the hardships of our pioneers can be but little appreciated today. A description of this period is found in the following ex- tract from the pen of M. V. Kellar, which appeared in the "Albert Lea Standard" in 1908: "The year 'Eighteen Hundred and Johnnie Cake' (1858-9) will ever be remembered by the old settlers-they all agree it was not a pleasant period. Our only bread was made from corn, cracked on a poor feed mill run in connection with Ruble's sawmill and patronized by the whole county. We had no money, no flour, tea, coffee, sugar and even salt became so scarce that our neighbors had to stop salting down the fish which at the time filled our lakes. Many even had to stop using them as food for want of lard to cook them. We shall never forget our first salaratus biscuit (1859)-it was the most delicious morsel we have ever tasted. The tender leaves of the redroot were used for tea, while corn, wheat, rye, acorns and even beets were roasted and ground for coffee. Most of our farmers looked like they were from Stillwater, clad in their frocks and overalls made of striped bed ticking and some made their shoes out of old boot-tops. But people who pass through such a school are better prepared for life's battles."
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