History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 14

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264

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CHAPTER XI.

DR. SWENEY'S NARRATIVE.

Denton and Gavin-Aiton and Hancock-Bush, Bullard, Post, Snow and Gould-Potter, Young and Day-Sweney, Free- born and McGinnis-Friendliness of the Indians-First Win- ter-Arrival of the Scandinavians-Digging Potatoes-Fish- ing in Stream and River-A Sporting Clergyman-Some of the Indian Braves-Farming in the Old Indian Cornfield- Squaws as Farmhands.

The modern settlement of Goodhne county dates from 1837. when Samnel Denton and Daniel Gavin located in Red Wing's village and commenced their missionary efforts among the Sioux at this point.

In 1848. the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, more commonly known as the American board, appointed Revs. J. W. Hancock and John Aiton to continue the work started by Messrs. Denton and Gavin. Mr. Aiton came to what is now Red Wing in 1848. and moved into the mission houses previously erected. He and his wife at once set to work teaching the Indians, but found the place so lonely that they spent a part of the winter at Kaposia, fifty miles to the north. Mr. Hancock arrived June 13, 1849.

In the meantime, the exact date of which it is impossible to obtain. James Wells had settled at Frontenae and John Bush in Red Wing. At the time when Mr. Hancock came. Wells was liv- ing at Frontenac, in two unfinished stone buildings, with his wife, a half-breed daughter of Duncan Graham, the old-time trader. Grouped about these houses were the skin lodges of the Indians. John Bush was also married to a half-breed. He lived in Red Wing's village when Mr. Hancock first landed here, but whether he antedated Aiton is not known. Mr. Aiton had some disagree- ment with Mr. Hancock on matters of method. and moved away in 1850. Bush went with the Indians in 1853. Wells moved away in 1854, and was killed by the Indians. Mr. Haneock remained.

In 1850, George Bullard settled at Wacoota, bringing his

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family and an Indian trader named Abner W. Post. In the same year an Indian trader named Snow came to Red Wing. In 1851, Calvin Potter beeame associated with Snow in the trading post, and after the death of Snow continued the business until the removal of the Indians. At about this time, possibly carlier, Charles Gould settled near the mouth of Wells ereek. The arrival of Benjamin Young. a French half-breed, in Red Wing's village probably bears about the same date. In April, 1852, John Day came over from Diamond Bluff, Wis., and selected a claim in what is now the southeast corner of Section 25, Township 113, Range 15. He had considerable difficulty with the Indians, and also with Young. His cabin was repeatedly torn down, but after the treaty he firmly established himself. Then came that sturdy old pioneer physician. Dr. W. W. Sweney, whose name will ever be revered in this county. With him the history of the county really begins.

It will therefore be seen that previous to his coming the actual white settlers were as follows: Samuel Denton and wife, Red Wing, 1837 ; Daniel Gavin and wife. Red Wing. 1837; James Wells and half-breed wife, Frontenac, 1847 (?); Rev. John Aiton and wife, Red Wing, 1848; John Bush and half-breed wife, Red Wing, 1848 ( ?) ; Rev. J. W. Hancock and wife, Red Wing, 1849; George Bullard and family, Wacoota, 1850: Abner W. Post, Waeoota, 1850 : Snow, Red Wing, 1851 ( ?) ; Charles Gould and family, near mouth of Wells creek, 1851 ( ?); Calvin Potter. Red Wing, 1851; Benjamin Young (half-breed), Red Wing. 1851 ( ?) ; John Day and family, Red Wing. 1852. Of his early experiences, Dr. Sweney once wrote :

"In the spring of 1852. Calvin Potter, with whom I had pre- viously been acquainted, called at my office in St. Paul, and in the course of our conversation informed me that he has bought out Mr. Snow, the licensed Indian trader at Red Wing; and in view of the treaty then in process of consummation, he thought that point a good location for a town site ; also, that he would like to interest someone with him in a claim he had there. William Freeborn, being one of the old residents of St. Paul. and having a large acquaintance, Mr. Potter thought he would be a desirable man. From my opinion of the country, acquired in various conversa- tions with an old French voyager, and also from an Englishman by birth-but in language and habits a compound of English, French and Indian-who had been in the country for thirty years, I was more than anxious to take part in the enterprise, and brought about a speedy meeting between Mr. Potter and Mr. Freeborn.

"In our council, Mr. Freeborn demurred at first, urging his inability to remove to the new Eldorado immediately. I proposed to remove that objection by coming myself. to which he acceded.

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The result was that we three took the return boat, and landed in Red Wing in the early part of May. While there I purchased a elaimright from a half-breed named Benjamin Young, of that part of the city known as 'Sweney's Addition ;' also that old weather- beaten, two-story log house, well known to old settlers.

Note .- This house stood where the old Sheldon elevator, owned by the La Grange mills, is now located.

"This done, I returned to St. Paul, put my business in proper shape, and came back to Red Wing with James McGinnis, who concluded to try his fortune in this then unexplored country. We made our headquarters in the venerable tenement before men- tioned. and kept our own house. or, as some graphieally describe it, "kept bach." This was in the latter part of May or beginning of June.

"As it was not deemed advisable to go into farming or build- ing operations until the treaty was ratified, we had plenty of idle time on our hands, and the grand difficulty was to know how to dispose of it. The families here then were the Rev. J. W. Hancock. of the Presbyterian mission, and John Bush, Indian farmer. John Day was not far off. however. The old 'Excel- sior' never made a trip up from below that John did not board her, to hear 'about the treaty.' There were several transient per- sons here, but their later whereabouts is not known. The only actual residents of the county, previous to my coming, besides those above mentioned, were George Bullard and family, at Wacoota : James Wells, who was later killed by the Indians in the southwestern part of the state, who then had a trading post at what is now the village of Frontenac. and Charles Gould and fam- ily, who resided near the mouth of Wells creek. This comprised the white population of the county.

"Of the country back of us, even for four miles, I could learn nothing. Mr. Knauer, the engineer of the old military road up the river, said he has rode out to the source of Hay creek, and that it originated in a fine tamarack marsh. It occurred to MeGinnis and myself that a good tamarack swamp. in a prairie country, would be a fine thing to possess. and, being like the caged starling, anxious to 'get out,' we 'just went' for Hay creek, and to our intense disgust, didn't find any tamarack. In an after conversa- tion with Mr. Knauer, I am persuaded that, not following the creek valley all the way, he mistook the poplar grove, known in early times as 'Albert's grove,' for the swamp aforesaid.

"After our little disappointment about the source of Hay creek, our trips were mainly confined to the river side of the county, between the divide of the waters of the Zumbro and the Mississippi-even Belle creek was not known-its locality and course, however, was traced for us by Hapah, the old chief's son-

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in-law. It was not deemed advisable to go far from the river, as many of the Indians were decidedly hostile to ceding their lands, and the Zumbro country was the common hunting ground for sev- eral bands of the M'dewakantonwan Dakotahs, besides being in the route of the traveling Indians from the upper Minnesota, to Wabasha, the residence of the acknowledged head chief of the seven bands.

"Having become acquainted with the principal men among the Indians, I thought it safe to bring my family from St. Paul, which I did in July, 1852, as did also Mr. McGinnis. I have a very lively recollection of getting our household stock from the landing to our residence. A winding, rugged path up the bank was the course by which we conveyed it, and 'Me' and I transformed our- selves into pack-mules, until stoves, bureaus, provisions, and vari- ous etceteras, of the two households were placed under shelter, and we were at home. Within the next twenty-four hours, ninety- nine hundredths of the Indian population had called in through curiosity, and their various comments would doubtless have been edifying had we been able to understand them. Friendly rela- tions were established, however, and we never could complain of lack of company, so long as they remained in the village. I must also say in justice to the memory of those original settlers and occupants of the soil. that I was never more kindly treated by any people, nor did I ever enjoy myself better. To be sure, they were importunate beggars, as a community, and the women, as a rule, were chronic thieves. In fact they were kleptomaniacs. i. e .. they could not help their stealing proclivities. But. making all allow- ances for these little peculiarities of their manners and morals, which were a part of their natures, they were not a bad people to live among. By a little liberality. when their begging seemed justifiable, and by firmly refusing when necessary, the beggars were disposed of and kept in good humor. And by watchfulness and the aid of bolts and bars, their thieving propensities were held in check and rendered measurably harmless.

"The treaty being ratified by the senate of the United States, with some alterations from the original, as framed by the Dako- tahs and the commissioners, it became necessary to convene the different bands interested therein to get their consent. Notice was accordingly given to them to meet at Fort Snelling early in the fall. in consequence of which a perfect exodus of the aborigi- nes took place, and nothing more was seen of them here until late in November, after the close of navigation. When they did return a more squalid, wretched looking set I never saw. Bitter were the complaints against the government officials. Their annuities were spent in waiting at the fort, the best of the hunting season had passed, their canoes were frozen in the ice away from home,

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and would be mainly lost. I remember well when the first installment that came home-three families-pitched their tents in the evening near the mission house. They were worn out, cold and hungry. The children were emaciated, and sick from want and exposure. They were supplied by the whites with food until the men could obtain game for their sustenance. In the morning two of the men went out hunting, and as I came home in the evening. unsuccessful from a similar expedition on Hay creek, I struck their trail, and in a short time overtook them near what. is now the corner of Main and Minnesota streets. each of them slowly toiling through the deep snow, under the burden of a deer. The men seemed exhausted, and requested me to stop at their tepees and tell the women where they were-that they had got tado-and wanted them to come to their assistance. I hurried home to communicate this joyful intelligence to the inmates of the three lodges. Upon reaching them I told one of the women the good news. She immediately shouted forth a peculiar ery, which was echoed by all in the tent. down to a three-year-old boy dressed in purus naturalibis. This brought out the inhabi- tants of the other lodges. Upon being told the cause of the eom- motion, the same shout went up from all present. Women and children acted as if demented. The women rushed about for straps. knives and blankets, and the children jumped up and down for joy. After giving them the proper directions where to go, three women started out on a dog trot. and were soon lost to view ; but some time after dark I called at the lodges and found them busily engaged in masticating large mouthfuls of venison. In three days those little, half-starved, copper-colored specimens of the genus homo had acquired a very perceptible rotundity, and were as sleek and frisky as a litter of young pups. The cry, or shout, mentioned I have heard frequently, and is made on the occasion of the intelligence of a successful hunt : not always the same, different intonations indicating the kind of game killed, as deer, bear, elk, etc.

"The additions to our population. besides those mentioned, were John Day and family. E. C. Stevens, David Pucket. Jack Sanders and Ben Hill, in the summer, and Charles Parks. in November. 1852.

"The proprietors of the town site had procured lumber late , in the fall for the erection of a hotel early in the spring, and it was necessary to engage carpenters to prepare such of the material in winter as could be done within the shop. II. B. and Joseph Middaugh were obtained. and became residents of the town in December, 1852. About this time, also, the first of our Scandinavian population arrived here-Mathias Peterson, a Norwegian by birth. Soon after came Nels Nelson, a Swede, who

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for a long time lived with me. These two men were the pioneers of that nationality in Goodhue county, where the descendants of that race have since occupied so important a place. Both of these men formerly resided in St. Paul. In the spring following, Albert. a Norwegian, an acquaintance of Mr. Peterson, settled here and made a claim at Poplar grove, or Albert's grove, in what is now Featherstone township.

"The winter of 1852-53 was passed very pleasantly by our little isolated community. The natives soon left on their win- ter's hunt after their return from the treaty ratification at the fort, and we saw but little of them until some time in January ; in fact we saw nobody but our own residents. Communication between us and the civilized world was only resumed when the post had rendered traveling safe on the Mississippi river. The mail was carried from Prairie du Chien, through Wisconsin, crossing the Chippewa near the Menominee river, thence through a wooded wilderness to the very source of Rush river at Baker's station, thence to Stillwater and St. Paul. A trip from Prairie du Chien in the winter required nerve, endurance, and a willing- ness to perform any amount of manual labor that the emergency of the case might require. We here got our mail from St. Paul, when we had a chance to send for it. When the ice was safe, trains arrived frequently from below, principally laden with pork and flour. Our isolation was from about the midde of November to some time in January. Such supplies as ran short were obtained of Mr. Potter, whose establishment contained those articles more especially demanded by the Indian trade, and from George W. Bullard, at Wacoota, whose situation at the head of the lake rendered it necessary for him to keep a more extensive assortment of goods, to supply the wants of the lumbering inter- ests ; or if these stores were deficient in articles, then St. Paul was the last resort for the winter.

"As it is impossible to relate all that I wish to say in chrono- logical order, I may as well give a few of the incidents connected with our county history, even though out of their proper era.

"On the Wisconsin side of the river, previous to the settle- ment here, in 1852. the land was ceded, surveyed and opened to settlement. At Diamond Bluff lived John Day, Allen Wilson, Jaek Payne and George Day. At the mouth of the Trim Belle, 'Old Hawley' and Jake Meade. At Thing's Landing, now Tren- ton, lived Wilson Thing, E. C. Stevens and Dexter, all more or less engaged in getting out wood for the use of steamboats.

" 'Old Hawley' was rather a hard case. By his sale of whisky our community was frequently disturbed by the whooping and yelling of drunken Indians. About all the population of natives not engaged in the spree would flee to the houses of the whites

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for protection, and there remain until the 'Minne Wakan' gave out, and the legitimate results of a 'high old time' had overtaken the carousers. Nothing is known of Hawley's fate, but from a knowledge of his character I would infer that he is at some 'side station' or 'switch-off' in that 'undiscovered country from whence no traveler returns."

"In justice to truth and history, I must say something of Wilson Thing, a very eccentric man. a strict vegetarian, a man of strong prejudices, but moral and upright-a good neighbor and an honest man. He was the only justice of the peace for many miles around, and consequently had a little legal business to perform. Previous to my coming here, as related by an old settler, a fair widow of this place had entered into a marriage contract with a gentleman of St. Paul, and the time was fixed for the consummation of the happy event. When the time arrived, and the parties to the contract were present, a grand difficulty arose. Rev. Mr. Hancock, the only one authorized to solemnize marriages, was absent. The bridegroom was impatient and the bride annoyed. Friends suggested a canoe ride to Trenton and the services of 'Squire Thing' as the only solution of the evils complained of. Of course, under the circumstances, both bride and bridegroom eagerly acceded to the proposition, and in a short time the bridal party was under way for the residence of the justice. They found that worthy representative of the law, as enacted and promulgated by the great and sovereign state of Wisconsin, busily engaged in the rather feminine occupation of washing a two months' accumulation of soiled shirts, he being at that time a bachelor, and he was somewhat embarrassed at the sudden eruption into his sanctum. The bride, however, was plucky, and to relieve the justice, and to give him time to make himself presentable and con over the marriage ceremony, she proposed that herself and mother would finish the laundry opera- tions, while he got ready for his part of the proceedings. This proposition was accepted, and in due time both the shirt washing and the marriage ceremony were completed, to the satisfaction of all concerned.

"As winter approached it became necessary for us to look about for a supply of vegetables for winter use, as there were none to be had on this side of the river. Upon inquiry, I found that Mr. Thing had planted four or five acres of potatoes, besides some beets and cabbages, which latter we were able to purchase. The potatoes, however, were not to be obtained by the regular business transaction of cash down. In the first place, they were 'planted on the sod ;' that is, two rounds were plowed, the pota- toes dropped in the last furrow, and covered by the sod of the next round, and so on. The 'Squire's' field was in the prairie.

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between Trenton and the bluffs. The season was not favorable for rotting the sod, and the tubers were hard to excavate. He wanted help, which was hard to get. We wanted potatoes, and money wouldn't buy them. Consequently it was root, hog or die' with us, and we went to rooting. A hard day's work unearthed ten bushels to the man, for which one bushel was given as wages. I have to this day a very acute appreciation of the pleasant occupation I was then engaged in. Just fancy my get- ting up at 4 o'clock in the morning, breaking my fast as soon as possible, getting into a canoe, with hoe, basket and sack, and paddling up to Trenton, thence to the field. Now commences the dissection of that gutta percha sod, with a plantation hoe. A little experience in another line of business enabled me to get the hang of the thing. In getting honey out of a hollow tree, the best way is to cut two carfs into the cavity, then split off the block of timber between. The same rule held good in the present instance, but I must say I never saw sod so tough, potatoes so hard to get at, and so small when I got them. But as an offset, I have never eaten potatoes of an equal excellence. And I was prouder of the ten bushel I thus acquired than the biggest buck I ever arrested in his wild career through the woods, or the largest trout I ever landed from the clear, rushing waters of his native brook. Just think of it, ten bushels all my own; no gift ; not begged, but earned. One hundred bushels torn from the rugged earth, ninety given as a peace offering, but ten my own, for use and dissipation. I think I didn't dissipate. On my back I nightly bore my wages down to my gondola, and sailed away for home. But I have dwelt too long on this subject, time has mellowed down all of pain that was associated with the circum- stance, and the recollection is now pleasurable, and full of inter- est to me in my musings and speculations.

"Leaving this portion of my subject. I must now refer to one full of interest to me, but probably not so acceptable to the majority of my audience. Among the first items of information I obtained from the Indians was that the small spring brooks contained an abundance of trout, and the equally gratifying intelligence that they never used them as an article of food; in fact their religious notions tabooed their use. From the name they gave the speckled beauties, I would infer they considered them too bad to eat. IIogal-wichasta-sni, literally wicked man fish, is not suggestive of high appreciation among the Indian community. They believed some malign influence resided in the fish, and that to eat them would be to invite disease, and the anger of the gods. This feeling was very prevalent among them, and Wacoota. the chief, being invited to take dinner with me, at which meal I informed him there would be a dish of trout, he

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consented to be present, provided we would lock the doors, eat dinner upstairs, hang a curtain before the windows, and say nothing of what he had eaten. This was done, and old 'Shooter' made a very hearty meal, as Indians are likely to do, but I thought, during the trout course, that he acted as though the morsels were hard to swallow, like a boy bolting his first oyster, and that qualms of conscience interfered with deglutitation. He ate frequently with me afterwards, but I cannot say that trout ever appeared to be a favorite dish with him.

"All the streams within the limits of our county abounded with trout, with the exception of Prairie creek, the Pine Island branch of the Zumbro, and the Little Cannon. The latter stream has since been stocked, and now affords very fair sport, the run of trout being large. I only fished in four of these streams the first two years of my residence here, to-wit: Trout brook, the little stream emptying into Hay creek; Spring creek and Bul- lard's creek. The first of these, however, being adjacent to town, was where I got my supply for home use. An hour or two in the evening would net me eight or ten pounds of fish.

"In my various tramps through the country, when I struck a stream at a ford or ripple it was no uncommon thing to see dozens of trout rushing and tumbling over each other in their haste to reach their hiding places in deep water. On Hay creek I have thus frightened from a shallow ripple more than fifty pounds of fish at one time, and though I always carry an ample supply of fishing tackle with me, I never wet a line in that stream until 1854. This, I consider, the greatest instance of self-denial and resistance to temptation on record. I could cite many instances where better men probably have signally failed, and where the restraining influence would have been much stronger. The reason why I did not gratify my natural instincts was the opposing one-and true sportsman maxim-never to kill what you cannot make use of; and also, I am too great a lover of the gentle art to hasten the extinction, through a mere wantonness, of a creature that has so largely contributed to my pleasure and happiness.

"With your permission. I will relate one of these instances, although properly not occurring in the early settlement of the county, premising my recital with the explanation that the cause of the temptation was a large, beautifully colored specimen of the gamest of all game fish-the trout.

"A party from below, accredited to our fishing club as being 'all right.' arrived here and requested information as to where they could enjoy a couple of weeks' good sporting during the hot month of July. The very paradise of fishing grounds was selected for them, and the next day their camp was pitched on a

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beautiful spot on Rush river in the state of Wisconsin. A few rods of open priarie stretched down to the river from the camp, and the small, orchard-like trees surrounding offered an inviting shade. In front loomed up big bluffs, covered with tall timber; back of the camp the ground rose in a succession of plateaus, until the general level of the country was attained. Taking it all in all. it was one of the loveliest situations for the purposes of a sportsman's camp that I ever beheld. An invitation to call and break bread with them was accepted, and in a few days John Webster, Billy B., Sam Stevens and myself, were on the 'old battle ground' with rod, reel, line and various other appliances deemed necessary on such occasions. We found our friends en- joying themselves admirably. They had established friendly relations with the neighboring settlers and could not be better situated. One of the party was a minister of the gospel of the Methodist denomination, a Pennsylvanian by birth, brought up among the mountains of Sinnemahoning, as pure and unsophis- ticated as regards evil, as the mountain brooks of his native home. From his surroundings in childhood he could not have been less than a keen sportsman and be a man.

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 14

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1264

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264