USA > Minnesota > Goodhue County > History of Goodhue County, Minnesota > Part 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115
John Day and family were residents of Trenton. W.is .. for a
173
HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY
time previous to their coming to Red Wing. The story we now relate is told by Mr. Day. the circumstances occurring while they lived at Trenton.
While seated at breakfast one morning, Mrs. Day called the attention of her husband to a large black object, which at first they thought to be a black hog, but which, on closer inspection, proved to be a bear. Day seized a gun, loaded with slugs, and fired at the bear. but the slugs fell short of the mark. The bear took to the river and made for the Minnesota shore, leaving Mr. Day standing disappointedly watching his movements. While thus engaged, a splashing of the water near attracted his notice. and looking in the direction he saw his wife coming towards him with a small skiff. As soon as she discovered that her husband had missed his aim, and that the bear had taken to the water, with a woman's forethought. she caught up an axe, and, hurry- ing to the skiff, unmoored it, and started to the aid of her hus- band. determined that the bear should not escape. As soon as the skiff touched the shore Mr. Day jumped in, and, following Bruin's wake, succeeded in heading him off and turning him towards the Wisconsin shore. When nearly opposite his home, Mr. Day man- aged to get near enough to his game to use the axe. A short and desperate struggle ensued. resulting in victory for Day. The bear was towed to the shore, and found to weigh 400 pounds. Mr. Day was much praised by the Indians for his daring and prowess. They forgot that the credit for the success of the adventure belonged to Mrs. Day. Had it not been for her forethought, in taking the axe and canoe when she did, her husband would have stood there looking until the bear had crossed the river, and made his escape. Mrs. Day was an example of the kind of stuff many of Minnesota's pioneer women were made of.
The Dakotas of Red Wing used log canoes for navigating the rivers. It required some skill to manage such a craft in the water. My first experience in cance traveling was rather ludicrous. Being at the landing one day. when a man and boy were about to launch one of these vessels for a hunting excursion, I asked the privilege of a ride with them, which was readily granted. As I attempted to board the thing. it slipped from me so quickly that I came near falling into the strean:, but the man and boy held the canoe, so that I succeeded in the next attempt. We had not gone far up the stream. keeping along near the shore, when I noticed the water was not very deep, and having a long stick in my hand, which I had been using for a staff. I thought I might increase the speed and help the rowers. I put my stick over the side, touched the bottom, and gave a good push. The stick stuck in the muddy bottom. and when I pulled to get it out. quick, almost as lightning. the boat rolled over. and all three were
474
HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY
ducked head foremost into the water. When I regained a stand- ing position the two Indians were fishing for their guns and powder horns from the river bottom. We soon secured all the lost baggage, as the water was not more than three feet deep where the catastrophe occurred. It was fortunate for me that I had but little acquaintance with the language at that time. So the scathing rebuke which was given did not arouse my indigna- tion. Acknowledging my ignorance, I promised to keep still in the future, and after wringing some of the water from our gar- ments, we embarked again, and finished the trip without further accident. After this I learned very soon how to paddle the canoe, and frequently took short journeys in one. The same vehicle could be, and was sometimes, used for traveling on land.
On the Fourth of July, 1852, we celebreated the day by an excursion down to the head of the lake, visiting with the trader, Mr. Bullard, and family, at that place. The party consisted of John Bush, Indian farmer, his wife, myself, wife, and one child. Mr. Bush considered that it would be easier to take a team and go by land than to go on the river. A large canoe was brought into requisition. The oxen were hitched to one end by a log chain. We took four seats on quilts in the canoe. Mr. Bush, driving the oxen, walked by their side. The wild grass being quite tall and thick. the canoe glided along where the ground was level like a sleigh over the snow. But in many places the land was uneyen. The oxen seemed in good spirits, and walked rather lively. Frequently the canoe struck a stone or a sideling place, and we were immediately turned out. These turnovers were often, and gave us great merriment. We were thrown out at different times, and found ourselves in all sorts of positions imaginable. Mr. Bush protested that he tried to find the smooth- est places, but I rather suspect his honesty. We accomplished the trip, however, had a good time, and returned in the evening with the same consequences of turning over-and fun. That twelve miles of riding in a canoe by land was the most laughable experience of my life.
The Dakotas were a kind people to those who were friendly and kind to them. During several years' residence among them we had no difficulty with them.
Early in the spring of 1851 a new scholar came to our school with the other children. Her appearance being somewhat strange, we called her the wild girl. It was nothing uncommon for boys and girls to go from one village to another, to stay a month or so, and return again to their parents. The severity of parental dis- cipline, I think, was often the occasion of such wandering. To have a new scholar, some fourteen or fifteen years of age, make appearance at the school was therefore no matter for wonder.
475
HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY
But this one was somewhat peculiar in her manner, and attracted attention. There was a wild look in her eyes, and though in girl's dress, her hair had been cut off in front like an Indian boy's hair. She appeared very anxious to learn to read, applying herself with an unusual ardor, but would not say anything about her true resi- dence and former history. The other children could tell us noth- ing about whence she came. I think she was here about two months or more. Her departure was as unexpected as her coming.
It was but a short time after the wild girl left that the follow- ing account appeared in the St. Paul "Pioneer": "In the spring of 1850, at one of the villages on the Minnesota river, a young girl, fourteen years of age, shot another girl, with whom she was quarreling. The deceased was the daughter of a sullen man named Black Whistle. The affrighted girl, after she had fired the gun, fled to the trader's house, and was by him aided to make her escape down to Wabasha's village. While stopping at Red Wing's village, some hundred miles from where the deed was com- mitted, the incensed father overtook her. His first plan was to carry her home and sacrifice her at his daughter's burial scaffold ; but, through the influence of some advisors, he changed his plan, and resolved to make her his slave, or his wife. For some time she endured what to her was a living death, and one night she suddenly disappeared.
"Not many days after there appeared at Good Road's village a young Indian boy, stating that he was a Sissetonwan just arrived from the plains. He was well received, no one dreaming that he was the fugitive Indian maiden.
"While in this disguise she went out one day to spear fish, when her enemy. the revengeful father of the girl she had shot, met her and recognized her. He avowed his intention to kill her. She very coolly assented to the justice of what he said, and left. She next appeared at Kaposia, Little Crow's village. Here she passed herself off as a Winnebago orphan, in which disguise she succeeded for a time. Her sex being suspected, she was again obliged to seek for safety by flight, and took up her abode at Red Wing's village, where she dressed like other maidens, and attended the mission school."
The subsequent history of the girl is not known to anyone now living.
On the Wisconsin side, in the early days. there lived a man named Hawley, who had no family with him. He lived in a shanty, alone. He was a eripple, one leg bent almost double at the knee, and yet could walk about tolerably well. He seemed to be holding a claim and trading with woodchoppers, but deriving most of his income from the sale of whiskey to the Indians. Some of the latter, having returned and encamped near the mouth of
476
HISTORY OF GOODNICE COUNTY
Spring creek in the summer of 1854, were accustomed to visit Hawley's shanty. One day they had a quarrel with him. in regard to some bargains, in which he had deceived them. He ordered them to leave his premises, but they refused, and continued to annoy him. till. in anger. he shot at them, and wounded one of them so that he soon after died. There was now a great ontery in the Indian camp. Every white person who came near was threat- ened and ordered away. People were under the impression that revenge was meditated upon somebody. Hawley had fortified his shanty with loaded rifles. It was reported that he threatened to shoot the first man who came to take him. The few settlers in Red Wing. Burnside and Vasa were very much alarmed. The alarm almost created a stampede. A deputation, consisting of Dr. W. W. Sweney, Lawyer P. Sandford, and the writer. all being well known by the Indians, visited their camp to make peace, if possible. We were kindly received. and after a short talk, were convinced that they did not intend to injure any one except Hawley. Whatever became of him we do not know. It was reported that his shanty was deserted very soon after. The Indians watched him day and night, and he was probably killed in his last attempt to make his escape .:
Early in March. 1866, the regular weekly papers contained notices headed "Oil Well in Red Wing!" "Steady Flow of Petro- leum!" "A Joint Stock Company Organized." etc. The facts of the case were that a party of men had been engaged in digging for water for household purposes in the eastern part of the vil- lage, between Barn and Sorin bluff's. They found water twenty feet below the surface, but not sufficient in quantity for the pur- poses required. Consequently. they continued to dig deeper. The next morning, after having found water, they commenced dipping out that which had run in during the night. Immediately the strong odor of petroleum was realized, but they kept on digging. And the next morning the same thing happened. There was clear evidence of oil on the water before it was stirred. A portion was saved for visitors to smell of during the day. Every morning, for several days in snecession, some signs of oil were apparent in the water drawn ont of that well.
A joint stock company was actually organized. The stock was all taken, officers chosen, and the operations commenced. There were some doubting Thomases. however, who would wait for a clearer view.
Soon after the news had gone abroad in the papers under the headline "Steady Flow of Petroleum in East Red Wing," and almost everybody seemed to have oil on the brain, the doubters set a watch over the famous well during the dark and black night. And when the stillness of midnight had settled down upon all
477
HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY
around. behold! the soft light of an old-fashioned lantern drew gently near the mouth of the well. The watchers soon seized hold of the midnight light-bearer. and found in his possession a tin ean of kerosene oil! It is hardly necessary to add that the Red Wing Oil Company's office was closed very soon. The expenses of the company had amounted to only about twenty-live dollars when the business wound up. There was a short paragraph in the papers the following week headed. "The Oil Well a Sell !" which gave the report of the night watchmen.
So soon after the discovery of gold in California, and the oil wells of Pennsylvania were beginning to yield so abundantly of the means for artificial light. it would not be considered at all strange if the first-comers into a new region should be constantly looking for something beneath the soil to encourage their hope of a future fortune. And such was acutally the case among the early settlers in this county.
Many times it was announced in the Red Wing papers that some farmer had found strong indications of coal on his place. Digging for the precious fuel was often resorted to, but it invariably ended in disappointment. Some men discovered gold dust among the sand which had been thrown out of an excava- tion made for a fence post in Red Wing at one time, which raised excitement enough to help up the price of real estate. At another time gold was discovered in the south part of the county on the Zumbro river. The bed of that stream was considered, for a few days, a rich find. About a bushel of the yellow sand was brought in to Red Wing, to be washed and tested as to its value and purity. The test proved that gold was actually found, but not in paying quantities.
CHAPTER XXVI.
OFFICERS AND POPULATION.
List of Men Who Have Represented Goodhue County at St. Paul Since Territorial Days-List of County Officers-Men From This County Who Have Occupied Positions of Higher Trust and Honor-Population of the County by Nationality, and Occupation, With List of Growth Since the Earliest Census.
On July 17, 1849, Alexander Ramsey, by proclamation, fixed the council districts for the Territory of Minnesota, which had not then been divided into counties. The St. Croix precinct of St. Croix county, and the settlements on the west bank of the Mis- sissippi, south of Crow village to the Iowa line, was constituted the First district. This included Goodhue county.
1849-The First Legislature assembled September 3, and adjourned November 1. The First district was represented by James S. Norris. of Cottage Grove, in the counil; John A. Furber of Cottage Grove. and James Wells in the house. Wells was from Goodhue county.
1851-The Second Legislature assembled January 1, and adjourned March 31. The First district was represented by James S. Norris in the council; John A. Ford, of Red Rock, and James Wells in the house.
1852-The Third Legislature. By the apportionment of 1851, the territory having been divided into counties, the counties of Wabasha and Washington, and precincts of St. Paul and Little Canada, constituted the Fourth district. This included Goodhue connty. The legislature assembled January 3, and adjourned. March 6. The Fourth district was represented by Lorenzo A. Babcock, of St. Paul in the council, and Fordyce Richards. a Lake Pepin trader, in the house.
1853-The Fourth Legislature assembled January 5, and adjourned March 5. The Fourth district was represented by L. A. Babcock in the council. and James Wells in the house.
1854-The Fifth Legislature assembled Jannary 4, and adjourned March 4. The Fourth district was represented by William Freeborn in the council. and O. M. Lord in the house.
478
479
HHISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY
1855-The Sixth Legislature assembled January 3, and adjourned March 3. The Fourth district was represented by William Freeborn in the council, and Clark W. Thompson in the house.
1856-The Seventh Legislature. By the apportionment of 1855, Goodhue, Dodge and Freeborn counties constituted the Fourth district. The legislature was assembled January 2, and adjourned March 1. The Fourth district was represented by William Freeborn in the council, and Charles Gardner and J. B. Hubbell in the house.
1857-The Eighth Legislature assembled January 7, and adjourned March 7. The Fourth district was represented by William Freeborn in the council, Nelson Payne and W. W. Sweney in the house.
Under the enabling act of congress, approved March 3, 1857. a constitutional convention of 108 members (each council district to elect two for each councilman and representative it was entitled to) was anthorized to meet at the capital on the second Monday in July, to frame a state constitution, and submit it to the people of the territory. The election was held on the first Monday in June. On July 13 the delegates met, but a disagree- ment arising in the organization, the Republican members organ- ized one body, and the Democratie members organized separately. Each of these bodies, claiming to be the legal constitutional eon- vention, proceeded with the work of forming an instrument to be submitted to the people. After some days, an understanding was effected between them. and by means of committees of confer- ence, the same constitution was framed and adopted by both bodies. On being submitted to the people, October 13, it was ratified.
The Fourth district was represented in the Republican wing by Charles MeClure, Aaron C. Hudson, George Watson, Frank Mantor and Joseph Peekman. The member from this district in the Democratie wing was Edwin C. Stacy.
1857-First Legislature. By the apportionment of 1857, Good- hue county was constituted the Sixth district. The legislature assembled December 2, 1857. On March 25, 1858, it took a recess until June 2, and finally adjourned August 12. The Goodhue county representatives were Aaron G. Hudson in the senate, and Henry L. Bevans, Joseph Peckham, C. W. Libbey and Hans Hanson, Jr., in the house.
1859-Second Legislature. Assembled December 7, 1859, and adjourned March 12; 1860. Goodhue county representatives were R. N. Maelaren in the senate, and Lewis H. Garrard, I. C. Stearns, R. H. Knox and L. K. Aaker in the house.
1861-Third Legislature. By the apportionment of 1860,
480
HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY
Goodhue county was constituted the Ninth district. The legisla- ture assembled January 8, and adjourned March S. The Goodhue county representatives were R. N. McLean in the senate, and J. E. Chapman and C. R. White in the house.
1862-Fourth Legislature. Assembled January 7, and adjourned March 7. Goodhue county representatives were Charles MeClure in the senate, and J. A. Thacher and L. K. Aaker in the house. On account of the Indian outbreak in 1862, an extra session was called by the governor, which assembled Sep- tember 9, and adjourned September 29.
1863-Fifth Legislature. Assembled January 6, and adjourned March 6. Goodhue county representatives were Charles MeClure in the senate, and J. A. Thacher and A. Hilton in the house.
1864-Sixth Legislature. Assembled January 5, and adjourned March 4. The Goodhue county representatives, from the Ninth district, were J. A., Thacher in the senate, and S. S. Grannis and J. M. Gates in the house.
1865-Seventh Legislature. Assembled January 3, and. adjourned March 3. The Goodhue representatives were J. A. Thacher in the senate, and J. B. Locke and William Colville, Jr., in the house.
1862-The Eighth Legislature assembled January 2, and adjourned March 2. The Goodhue county representatives were J. A. Thacher in the senate, and Sylvester Dickey and Warren Bristol in the house.
1867-Ninth Legislature. By the apportionment of 1866, Goodhue county was constituted the Ninth district. The legisla- ture assembled January 8, and adjourned March 8. The Good- hne representatives were Warren Bristol in the senate, and L. K. Aaker, J. F. Mitchell and R. B. Wilson in the house.
1868-The Tenth Legislature assembled January 7, and adjourned March 6. Goodhe county representatives were: War- ren Bristol in the senate, E. C. Comstock, K. K. Finseth and J. F. Pingrey in the house.
1869 -- The Eleventh Legislature assembled January 5, and adjourned March 5. Goodhue county representatives were War- ren Bristol in the senate. L. K. Aaker, A. J. Grover and C. C. Webster in the house.
1870-The Twelfth Legislature assembled January 4, and adjourned March 4. Goodhue county representatives were Charles Hill in the senate, John Miller, Orrin Densmore and Giles Słoenm in the house.
1871-The Thirteenth Legislature assembled January 8, and adjourned March: 3. Goodhue county representatives were
481
HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY
Charles Hill in the senate, Orin Densmore, T. G. Pearson and A. P. Jackson in the house.
1872-Fourteenth Legislature. By the apportionment of 1871, Goodhue county was constituted the Sixteenth and Seventeenth districts. The legislature assembled January 2, and adjourned March 1. The Goodhue county representatives were: Sixteenth District-Lucius Hubbard in the senate, J. C. Pierce and J. Fin- ney in the house. Seventeenth District-Giles Slocum, in the senate, T. P. Kellett, G. K. Norsving and John Stanton in the house.
1873-The Fifteenth Legislature assembled January 7, and adjourned March 7. Goodhue county representatives were : Sixteenth District-L. F. Hubbard in the senate, W. C. Williston and H. F. Armstrong in the house. Seventeenth Distriet-John W. Peterson in the senate, T. P. Kellett, G. K. Norsving and Arthur Flom in the house.
1874-The Sixteenth Legislature assembled January 6, and adjourned March 6. Goodhue county representatives were : Sixteenth District-L. F. Hubbard in the senate, W. C. Williston and Leland Jones in the house. Seventeenth District-J. W. Peterson in the senate, C. R. White, N. J. Ottun and John Stanton in the house.
1875-The Seventeenth Legislature assembled January 5, and adjourned March 5. Goodhue county representatives were : Sixteenth District-L. F. Hubbard in the senate, Robert Deakin and Rudolph Kruger in the house.
1876-The Eighteenth Legislature assembled January 4, and adjourned March 3. Goodhue county representatives were : Sixteenth District-W. C. Williston in the senate, Charles R. Brink and Rudolph Kruger in the house. Seventeenth District- A. K. Finseth in the senate, Gustavus Westman, Ole P. Huleback and B. C. Grover in the house.
1877-The Nineteenth Legislature assembled January 2, and adjourned March 2. Goodhue county representatives were : Sixteenth District-W. C. Williston in the senate, Jonathan Fin- ney and H. B. Wilson in the house. Seventeenth District-A. K. Finseth in the senate, B. C. Grover, O. P. Huleback and T. G. Pearson in the house.
1878-The Twentieth Legislature assembled January 8, and adjourned March 8. Goodhue county representatives were : Sixteenth District-J. C. McClure in the senate, William Colvill and N. C. Crandall in the house. Seventeenth District-A. K. Finseth in the senate, S. C. Wiekey, P. N. Langemo and S. C. Holland in the house.
1879-The Twenty-first Legislature assembled January 7, and adjourned March 7. Goodhue county representatives were :
482
HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY
Sixteenth District-H. B. Wilson in the senate, C. B. Brink and Perry George in the house. Seventeenth District-J. A. Thacher in the senate, S. C. Holland, N. P. Langemo and J. A. Bowman in the house.
1881-The Twenty-second Legislature assembled January 4, and adjourned March 4. Goodhue county representatives were : Sixteenth District-H. B. Wilson in the senate, F. W. Hoyt and F. Tether in the house. Seventeenth District-F. J. Johnson in the senate. H. P. Huleback, A. A. Flom and C. Hill in the house. An extra session was called for the purpose of considering the legislation at the regular session relating to the state railroad bonds, which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The session commenced October 11, and closed Novem- ber 13.
1883-Twenty-third Legislature. By the apportionment of 1881, Goodhue county was constituted the Twenty-first and Twenty-second districts. The legislature assembled January 2, and adjourned March 2. Goodhue county representatives were : Twenty-first District-F. I. Johnson in the senate, H. P. Hule- back and M. Doyle in the house. Twenty-second District-M. S. Chandler in the senate, G. P. Sidener in the house.
1885-The Twenty-fourth Legislature assembled January 6, and adjourned March 6. Goodhue county representatives were : Twenty-first Distriet-F. 1. Johnson in the senate, O. K. Naeseth and S. C. Ilolland in the house. Twenty-second District-O. M. HIall in the senate, J. W. Peterson in the house.
1887-The Twenty-fifth Legislature assembled January 4. and adjourned March 4. Goodhue county representatives were : Twenty-first District-A. K. Finseth in the senate, O. K. Naeseth and O. Nordvold in the house. Twenty-second District-Peter Nelson in the senate. J. G. Anderson in the house.
1889-The Twenty-sixth Legislature assembled January 8, and adjourned April 23. Goodhue county representatives were: Twenty-first District-A. K. Finseth in the senate, W. E. Poe and S. B. Barteau in the house. Twenty-second District-Peter Nel- son in the senate, F. W. Hoyt in the house.
1891-Twenty-seventh Legislature. By the apportionment of 1889. Goodhue county was constituted the Twenty-first district .. The legislature assembled January 6, and adjourned April 20. Goodhue county representatives were J. W. Peterson in the sen- ate, William F. Cross, M. Doyle and Ole O. Huset in the house.
1893-The Twenty-eighth Legislature assembled January 3, and adjourned April 18. Goodhue county representatives were J. W. Peterson in the senate, James L. Scofield, John H. Boxrud and Frank M. Wilson in the house.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.