USA > Minnesota > Martin County > History of Martin County, Minnesota > Part 10
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In regard to the proposition to pro- vide the people of the county with sub- sistence, the board declined to assume any responsibilty. basing their action in that respect on the belief that the neccessities of the people are not such as to require the acceptance of the same.
The Captain canvassed, as thorough- ly as bis limited space would permit, the Center Creek. Silver Lake, Chain Lake Center and Fairmont, visiting a number of families and inquired minntely into their conditions and that of their neighbors. He found and heard of many who were short of pro- visions, bnt heard of no cases of actual suffering for want of food. Two fami- lies at East Chain lakes or Silver Lake had been subsisting on fish and coarse four or shorts for several weeks. They had been able to procure fish for every day, and for only one meal had been entirely out of flour. Relief was furnished in both cases __ flour and salt being furnished-the latter of which they were entirely destitute, and which were much needed as they could easily obtain and cure a supply of fish for their own use. Several other families are in about the same condi- tion, The condition of this town is about a fair average of the condition of the setlers at Center Creek and Chain Lake Conter. The town of Fair- mont was fully supplied within itself.
Most of the families were destitute of means at present to procure seed . and food, but all with whom the captain conversed expressed confl- dence in their ability to get along if
they can have a little temporary help.
The captain met Mr. Little, the agent sent out by the Mankato Relief Committee, at Fairmont on Saturday. He had made a thorough and energetic canvass of the southern parts of Martin and Jackson ounties, and he reports a good deal of destitution in the towns of Tenhassen, Lake Belt and Fox Lake.
He reports Jackson county as doing well, the system adopted by the county committee working admirably. and relief being extended to all that are really needy.
By the anuexed document, signed by the county commissioners, it will be seen that, notwithstanding the report- ed destitution. three times as many acres are seeded in wheat this y. ar, as there were last year. Even in the southern towns where the greatest destitution is said to exist, this in- crease will hold good. On.y 70 acres prepared for wheat are reported by the commissioners to be still idle for want of seed, and these will be put in corn.
In regard to the matter of subsis_ tence the fact that the commissioners declined to accept the liberal offer of the governor to supply them, is good evidence that the destitution is not considered so general as has been reported. We annex both documents: FAIRMONT, MARTIN CO., May 10, 1867. To His Excellency Gov. Wm. R. Mar- shall:
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DEAR SIR .- The board of county commissioners in session this day re- ceived your proposition for the sup- piy of seed grains to this county. made through Captain Kennedy, and ac- cepted the same.
It was the sense of the board, that in view of the lateness of the season the supply of seed wheat is mexpend- ent.
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It is estimated that one hundred and twenty-five bushels of seed corn is needed to seed the ground net sown to wheat and oats, and it was voted to secure that amount according to your proposition.
From the data we are at present able to obtain, it appears that there is now sown in the town of Fairmont 450 acres of wheat, against about 100 last year. About 50 acres more of wheat would have been sown had your proposal been received in time, but as it is, the ground will be used for other crops.
In the town of Waverly, 266 acres of wheat are now sown, against 102 acres last year. About 20 acres more might have been sowu, but the ground will not lie idle.
In Silver Lake township there are 209 acres seeded to wheat this year against 34 acres last year.
Tenhassen and Lake Belt townships are estimated at 80 acres of wheat this year against 16 acres last,
Pleasant Prairie has about 100 acres this nemaon against 25 acres last year.
Nashville is thickly settled-has about 500 inhabitants, and has about one-third more wheat sown this year than last.
Center Creek has about 800 inhabi- tants, mainly well-to-do, and it is estimated that at least one-half more wheat has been put in the ground thau was the case last 8r2800.
Rutland has about 200 inhabitants, with but little breadth of wheat sown (nonF last year) but will plant a con- siderable amount of corn.
Oats and corn will be seeded in about the same proportionment this spring, as was the case last year.
There was no cases of destitution re- ported in the town of Nastiville and Waverly. but few in Center Creek. and none in Fairmont not supplied within the town. A few cases are reported in Pleasant Prairie and Elm Creek-none in Rutland.
There is undoubtedly much destitu- tion in the southern part of the county, embracing the towns of Silver Lake, Tenhassen and Lake Belt.
But little wheat has heretofore been sown in this section on account of the destruction of the seed by birds.
The corn crop was entirely destroyed by the early frost last season, and be- ing the main dependence for bread, its loss fully explains the present-destitu- tion.
The towns contain an aggregate of about 500 inhabitants.
Very respectfully, W. H. BUDD, I. F. BICKFORD, H. 8. WOOD.
Since writing the above, Mr. Little has returned. He visited the south- ern towns of Martin county, which were not visited by Captain Kennedy, and reports a great deal of destitution. We make the following synopsis of his report to the relief comittee:
"MANKATO, May 16, 1867.
"Mr. J. C. WISH-SIB: As I was ap- pointed agent to visit Martin and Jackson counties to ascertain the con- dition of the people there, I will give you my views of the case.
"In regard to Jackson county, I did not find any real suffering there, al- though there were a great many needy families, but the head men of the county took early steps to guard against the crisis which they saw coming. There are in the county about twenty seven families that are quite destitute, and will need assist- ance, but with the prompt action takeu, I think they will be able to get through with a little more help. They have sown, this apring, I think, three times as much small grain as ever before. Had they not taken early measures there would have been much suffering there.
".In regard to Martin county I found much suffering, particularly in the southern part. One family told me they had lived on frozen ruta-bagas. and a little wheat ground in a coffee mill, for two weeks. Others had lived on nothing but fish for several days.
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One man said he had lived on potatoes for two weeks. I visited another .couple, about 70 years old, where they were boiling their last pint of beans, which they had saved for seed. I conld mention numerous other cases. I conversed with a number of ladies who looked as if they had seen better , days; the tears would start down their cheeks in relating their trials. One lady told me she was so weak from hunger that she hd not strength enough to sweep her house. She had just put the last thing in the honse on to eat for dinner, which was about a quart of potatoes. One lady was so overjoyed when she heard relief had come that she cried for joy. Many families are very destitute of clothing. Another thing, there is no salt in the county, and if they had a reasonable quantity they might salt down large quantities of fish, as they have an abundance of them in their beautiful and numerous lakes. I do not think the county board were aware of the destitution, or they would have made provisions to guard against suffering, ' for I think they would have been among the first to give relief. If I had not arrived just when I did there must have been much greater suffer- ing than there was. I visited more particularly the central, southern and ยท western parts of the county. I dis- tributed while there, through the Mankato relief association, about four hundred and fifty dollars worth of provisions, and I know that unless more relief is sent to them soon, there will be great suffering. Having visited the families myself, I base my infor- . mation upon personal observations.
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"J. B. LITTLE."
We have now set out in full the con- dition of the settlers and the manner
taken for their relief in the most critical time in our history as regards the necessities of life. brought on by a too rapid settlement of the country by a desire to obtain homes under the homestead law, by a majority who had no resources and did not consider that it required something besides be- ing able to get on to the land, that buildings had to be built land got under cultivation, crops raised, and time and money expended before the land would be of benefit to them. This, followed by an early frost, a severe winter, our readers will be able to understand why the condition we have discribed.
Some say that we never again shall see as high a stage of water in the lakes and streams as in the past. That may be. as the settlement of the country and the improving of the laud will have a tendency to hold the water back and not run into the streams as fust, but at the same time, the ditch- ing of the slonghs may run it more rapidly into the streams and we shall not be surprised to again see a high stage of water, and land now culti- vated again overflowed. At this time it is safe io say that all streams were rivers. Parties living at East Chain, some of whom we remember. M. E. Rice, J. Rice, Wm. Hoffman. Frai k Wells. Wm. Cross, Milo Leffingwell, Joel Thompson and some others built some boats and weut from Last Chain down Center Creek to the Blue Earth river and to Winnbago City for supplies. They very easily made the trip down, going with the current in less than one day, but when they had their boats loaded with supplies, they had to work hard to get back in three days. Some idea of the growth of the county can be had from the assessor's
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HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY.
report which showed in 1863 seventy- four persons between the age of 5 and 21 years and in 1867 showed 912. It is shown in the official plat that there were over 100 tons of fish taken from the lakes this year, and during this time large numbers of ducks and geese were here from April until November and as this was before the time of game laws, they were free to all. It will be readily seen that without these two sources of food there would have been a great deal more destitution and much more aid needed.
There were a number of instances in the county where parties sowed grain before the rains early in May, which came up and looked very nice, but after the rains it was covered with water. It was not an uncommon oc- curence to find on what is now nice, dry. cultivated lund, little streams of back water from the creeks and lakes in which there were plenty of fish. This year a great deal of corn, potatoes and beans and other crops which did not require so much seed, were raised. There was hardly any immigration this year. A great many of the settlers became discouraged and abonded their claims and moved away. There was enough raised this year that no fur- ther relief was needed, and profiting by the experience of the previous ;
At the September meeting in 1867, the commissioners requested Horace Austin, judge of the district court, to hold no term of court this year. There was but one criminal case and that was for stealing timber from school land. At their October settle- ment, the commissioners cancelled orders amounting to $1,463.50. There were outstanding and unpaid orders to the amount of $3,796.10. The county was very much embarrased financialy, caused by expensive litiga- tion and the tax levied on homesteads. Under instructions from the State Auditor the assessors assed home- steads the same as real estate, but it was found that this was not legal. The payment was contested and re- sulted in the deficiency of funds to meet obligations, not only . of the county, but also of the school districts and townships. It took a number of years to remedy this, but it was finally remedied by the taxing of the im- provements ou homesteads . - only. There was considerable contest. over this in some counties. and in some places a political party was organized which was called the "Homestead Party."
year, more hay was put up, better fire year in which a great deal occurred. brakes made, and better preparations We do not like to spend so much time, but cannot pass without making wen- made for winter in the way of fixing up stables and houses. Notwithstand- tion of an exciting political coutest, ing the discouragements. more im- not only for the county officers but provements were made among the settlers around Fairmont than in any previous year. This year Mr. Cad- well built a house and Sheldon Suow a store and residence on North Avenue on the lots now occupied by Newman & Englebert.
County orders were sold very low at this time, some of them being sold at a discount of 60 per cent .. . This was a also for members of the legislature. In the nominating Republican cou- vention Aaron Andrews received the renomination for representative. The northern part of the district bolted the nomination and put up A. B. Col- ton. The issue for county officers was
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largely local, but on the legisla- ture. the railway location ques- tion was raised, and it resulted in the election of Colton by a majority of 13. The winter of 1867-8 had no bad storms but quite deep snow and drifts. A school was kept by Miss Mary Spencer, three months in the summer for $12 per month, and by John Bira in the winter for $25 per month.
Right here I feel it my duty to state that the settlers who remained, the greater portion of them were men and women who desired to earn their own living by their own exertions; were willing to follow the pursuits nature's God had placed around them here, notwithstanding what was said about them in the eastern papers. It used to be said by some in the older settlements East that the people here and in these frontier counties were shiftless and lazy. On the contrary, under the circumstances in which they were placed, they could have done no better, and it is to their credit. that at a time which was the most critical in the history of the county that they did as well as they did, and were enabled by economy, hard work and good judgment to find means of sustenance, to develop and improve their land, and make payment of their taxes when there was no railway with- in four days journey, their markets only local and the necessaries of life they were obliged to purchase at a high price. The commissioners bad their meeting in January 1868; present, Wm. H. Budd, H S. Wood, J. A. Arm- strong, C. A. Lounsberry, auditor; Dr. O. P. Chubb, treasurer; A. Bowen; register of deeds; M. E. L. Shanks, judge of probate, Orrin Prentice, sheriff;and A. L. Ward, county attorney. The commissioners requested their
member of the legislature to have legalized the action of the county and township boards in issuing their obli- gations to the state for the relief furn- ished for the previous year. The chairman of the board and the county auditor were appointed a committee to settle with the state auditor and arrange for the cancellation of delin- quent taxes assessed on homesteads, and all other taxes that were uncol- Jectible.
There was not much building in the year of 1867; times were very hard this year. R. M. Ward built a house. This building was removed to make room for the present residence. The old building was moved to the corner of Main and 4th streets. Mr. Cadwell also built a residence on Lake Avenue. The winter of 1867 and 1868 was not very bad; the people had prepared for a winter like the provious one, and were happily disappointed, there be- ing no very bad storms and not much cold Weather. What settlers were here, and could get out, tried to do so and be sociable in the way of holding meetings. There wasa debating society organized in Fairmont and some other place. The settlement with the aud- itor and treasurer in March 1868 shows there was received for taxes due $1,027.34 for county revente; there were outstanding county orders to the amount of $2,415.36. 'At the March meeting, the commissioners made' u trade with O. P. Chnbb, representing the town plat company, and had the shape of the county grounds modified and enlarged to conform with the new town plat. There had been in 1867-68 a new plat made of the village, and some of the streets were changed nearly 45 degrees, and some of the numbers of the blocks changed. There
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having been so many plats made is largely the cause of disputs arising as to the lines of some of the streets. In order to have a correct understanding In 1868 there were three stores in Fairmont, two in Tenhassen, and one in Silver Lake. A letter written by Aaron Andrews, of which mention has of it, it is necessary to look up all of caused a modification to be made, and the plats and see where the changes. the improvements assessed as personal property. This caused the floating debt, of which we have made mention in this letter. This not only applied to the county revenues, but also to school districts and to the state, and amounted to nearly $10,000. Col. Lounsbury, who was then county aud- itor had an original scheme to over- come it, which he sets forth in an letter to the "Winnebago Homestead," which will be published later, The total assessment of personal property in the county for 1868 was $108,389, of which amount $32,601 was improve ments on homesteads. The number of acres of deeded land in the county in 1868 was 27,060, valued at $56,485, being an average of about two. dollars have been made. The quarter line, (being Blue Earth Avenue) made to vary from eight to eleven feet from the original survey, Mr. Sawyer, the present deputy surveyor, in looking up the matter last year from the present plat was unable to reconcile some of the differances until by persistence he was able to reconcile the whole number of plats, and he found that the lines of the streets as now used are practically correct. There was a large amount of taxes delinquent on land assessed as homesteads. Some paid; a large majority refused to pay, and there was then built up here in the new counties a party which was called the "Homestead Party." A paper published at Winnebago City, Lan care. The value of all structure was called "The Homestead." The for deeded land in the county worth - object was to advocate the interests more than $100; was $634 on farma. The value of all village lots. including ; buildings on same was $4,425, The of those living on homesteads, and to which they had not yet acquired title by patent. They claimed the laud was total value of all real estate in the- not liable to taxation, as the title was still in the government, The sta:e afterwards 'instructed the county om- cials to.assess the lond'we have before mentioned, but in -bases, as it was largely here this year. people aban doning their homesteads on ecount of hard times. left.the land 'government land, and the taxes conld not very well be sustained against government land ... There was no way in, which parties could be compelled to pay on their homesteads, except" by the usual one of advertising and selling the land. 37,250; cheese 3,930 pounds, as shown by No one would bny, and it was carried as delinquent until the agitation driven to the worst extremities as to resources, that comparison may be made with the times which followed later.
county including structures was $$1, -.; 544. The number of acres of grain. grown was 4,695, of which 2,252 sores was wheat; number of bushels of wheat rafeed was 20,554; oats, 658 acres, yield. 19,583 bushels; corn, 1,249 acres, yield,. .. 28,088 bushels; barley, 39 acres, yield, 609 bushels; buckwheat, 23 aeres, field, 127 bushels; potatoes, 214 acres, Field; 18,935 bushels; sorghum, 96 acres, yield, 7,024 gallons; beans; 17 acres, yield,: 63 bushels; number of pounds of wool raised 2,768; pounds of butter made
the assessors statistics for 1868. The population of the county at this time was 2,604. We give these statistics to show the condition of the county at the time of the greatest depression in' values, and when the people were
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before been made. and which was had before been made, and put in published in = Mankato paper, of more and new machinery so they watotr we rive a brief 'synopsis, is as could make fair flour. He also built a follows: "A .. il, rich loam with sub- tread wheel that could be used with woff of clay; water obtained by di ging horses when the water was not of suf- from 15 to 40 feet; three streamy hav- ficient force. This mill was located ing their sources in' 'the different at the outlet of Lake Wilmot. In this year I think Henry Viemselman, John Meyers, Aaron Matson, H. Watterman aud others came. A. L. Ward built an office this year, being part of the building now ou Main street next to the barber shop. A ferry license was granted to William Merry to run a ferry across the iulet of Lake Oka- manipeda, the high water having carried away the bridge. The first newspaper, the Martin County Atlas, was started this year by Col. Louns- chains of lakes, and running parallel to bach other and emptying into the Blue Earth River, other streams on the west side of the county emptying into the Des Moines River,. the east branch of the Des Moines River hav- ing its source in this county. All of these streams being subject to over- flow in the spring, make the bottoms good land for hay, etc. Further stat- Ing that it was found by observation that vegetation was from one to two weeks carlier iu the spring, and berry aud a Mr. Palmer. A few issues escaped the frosts that length of time were published in the old court house, and it was then moved down Lake in the fall. The winters are not so cold, and the thermometer does not go : Avenue to the Col's. residence. We as low by several degrees as in the will make mention of this paper later. country east, north and south of us, this being occasioned by the large number of lakes in the county, the water getting so warm in the summer that it keeps the temperature warm till late in the fall. As an agriculti .. ral country it will be second to none in the state when it has the advan- tages of railroads, newspapers, etc." This was written 28 years ago.
Mr. Howell came here this year and formed a partnership in the drug business with O. P. Chubb, and built the building that was moved last spring to make room for the brick block of J. K. Tanner. George Ott also came here this year and bought the property where he now resides on Hall Lake. There were not many Dow settlers; there were more left than came this year. John B. Swearingen enlarged bis mill of which mention
'This year, as now, there was consid- erabie strife between Main Street and North Avenue, also over the location of the state road from Blue Earth City to Jackson. Some parties wanted the road to run down Lake Avenue and cross where the cemetery now is. Others wanted it to go down North Avenue and cross at the outlet of Budd Lake, and there was considerable feeling over its location. It was finally tocated by the commissioners to go by way of the cemetery. There was ou Main Street at this time Ward & Cadwell's store, Chubb & Howell's wore, A. L. Ward's omnoe and # black- swith shop. Ou North Avenue were Bird & Burdick, T. F. Gott, and E. S. Snow's store. The feeling grew so strong that Aaron Andrews, who owned what is now Webster & Johnson's ad- dition and Wards central addition, be-
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HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY.
ing the part of Fairmont lying south of Blue Earth Avenue, built -a fence from the lake on the north side of the Bullard House to North Avenue east, thus closing all of the streets south of Blue Earth Avenue. This contest was kept up until the failure of S. F. Goff, and the going out of business of Bird & Burdick, when G. S. Livermore bought the Bird & Burdick building. and moved it to Main Street, it. beirg. the building now occupied by. Brook- man's barnens shop. North. Avenue was out of the race for awhile, until Goff sold his . property and a large number of loss on North Avenue to. A. L. Ward who again started to baild ap the street. This year faiz crops were raised and grain brought a very fais. title by which does. would be glass. price. Our nearest railway .was Ova- touna , and later Waseca, and wheat brought $1 to $1.85 a bushel delivered there. There was a form of ouart hold at which time the matter of the food. ing of land by the dam as. the outlet of Lake George: was considered. George Tanner wau owned the mill property at that time, bad bad a. com. mission appointed to estimate .the damages. Some of the parties ao -- cepted the decision of the.commission, but others refused to take their award and appealed to the district court. The appeal was thrown out ou teeb- michal questions, and the dam was al- lowed to stand. At the election. this.
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