USA > Minnesota > Martin County > History of Martin County, Minnesota > Part 6
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HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY.
as the weather became warm, there from Fairmont to Winnebago City. He filled all of these offices creditably and in a competent manner, and was held in respect by the settlers of this county. He was at one time the sole owner of the village of Fairmont. The county court house grounds were bought of him in the spring of 1862. was considerable excitement on ac- count of indians, as they were known to be prowling around in insolated bands, and no one knew when or where they might appear. Those of the soldiers who had horses and did patrol duty were kept very busy scouting and doing patrolling between the Company A of the 7th Minnesota In- fantry was relieved by Company D of the 9th Regiment Minnesota Volun- teers. The Seventh regiment went south, and some of the settlers who volunteered went with them. Isaac Johnson, the father of Edw. Johnson, was one of those who volunteered with this regiment. He died at St. Louis. Company D was the company in which W. H. Swearingen, Mr. Cantield and Henry Youngman of this place had stations, After the weather became warmer and the streams could be crossed, the troops nuder the command of General Sibley, (who was the first governor of the territory) took an active part in the Indian campaign, drove the Indians back ard followed them back to the Missouri River. The Indians were kept back by the soldiers this year, and there were no depreda- tions of a general nature committed. Had it not been for an error in the | previously eulisted. Capt. Skaro in delivery of the dispatches a large command. number of the Indians would have In May of this year A. N. Fancher, residing in Center Creek, and at one time county surveyor, was married to son. Also during this spring the settlers at Fox Lake, Andrew, Lewis and James Tweed and their families, been caught before they crossed the Missouri river. H. H. Bonney, our present county treasurer, and John W. I Miss Amelia Parks, by Rev. J. C. Hud- Gonld were with the soldiers in pur- suit of the Indians and can give in- formation as to their experience in the Indian war and of the nature und ; moved to Fairmont to be nearer the condition of the country at that time. protection of the soldiers. Mr. James
In this spring of the year Benson C. Tweed was out near his brother's claim Hinckle sold his interest in the town near Fox Lake when he saw some plat of Fairmont and the adjoining horsemen coming in the direction of land, to Moses Clark, of Wisconsin, and their house. He took them for Indians and started for Fairmont to give notice and got there before the horsemen. he was afoot. A detachment was sent out to meet the horsemen and it proved to be a company of cavalry ont scont- ing. iu command of Sergeant Quinn from Ft. Ridgley. went back eust. We learned that he traveled around considerably; our last information from him was that he was married and settled down at Matton, Ill. Mr. Hinckle took much interest in promoting the improvements of this county and beld several of the county offices, namely: Register of Deeds, This year at the outlet of lake George Mr. Aaron Smith built a sew mill. When he got it running we a l Clerk of the Board of County Commis- sioners, Treasurer, Auditor, County Commissioner; he carried the mail thought it an immense thing, for we
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HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY.
could get some lumber to help build houses without using a whip-saw. Before this the dwelling houses were made of logs. There bad been a saw mill on Elm Creek before, which was run by oxen, but was not much of a success and did not make much lumber. This year also Mr. J. B. Swearingen put in a frame so that they could have a place to live in the upper story of 'their grist mill, and cut a ditch so as to get the water from the lake to the mill.
Some time during this summer Company D established another post on Elm Creek near where Mr. Frazer lived, that was called Shinniskea which made a protection for the settlers in that vicinity. Very few settlers came into the county during this year, and some left. Fairmont lost three families. Nashville gained more in number than any other town.
June 1st the Board of County Com- missioners met. Present: Messrs. Budd, True and Hudson. They settled with the auditor and treasurer and such other business as had to be done. W. W. Carrington was auditor.
A summer school was held in a temporary school building not far from where Emery Stowe's house now is. It was kept for a while in a tent borrowed of the soldiers, and when the soldiers wanted the tent we built a house of logs with brush and hay for a roof. Mrs. I. G. Swearingen taught the summer school for $10 per month and boarded herself and had a good school; took as much pains and worked as hard as teachers now do for from $30 to $50 per month. .
This year Mı. Chatfield started a store at East Chain lakes and built a saw mill. There was a post office started at Center Chain and at East
Chain. There was some travel from Blue Earth City by the way of East Chain, Center Chain and Tenhassen to Estherville. At one time this was the best traveled road in the county, and at this time there were more set- tlers in the southern tier of towns, East Chain, Silver Lake and Tenhassen than in all the rest of the county.
This year the settlers joined with the soldiers to have a 4th of July cele- bration. Company D of the 9th regi- ment was stationed at Fairmont this summer. Quite a number had enlisted from Faribault county under command of Lieutenant Walker. They were scattered along from Blue Earth City to Willow Creek in Blue Earth county and they wanted all of their friends here. They built a large bowery in which tables were placed, and another to dance in connected with the old court house, and the people of this county and surrounding counties came prepared to have a good time and something good to eat, and plenty of it. Some of the soldiers had been previously saving of the rations, and there was a special requisition on the commissary department for supplies. The oration was delivered in the grove near where Mr. Wollaston's house now stands; the dance was kept up until the next morning. Capt. Skaro was one of the speakers. The music was furnished by Orrin Rice's celebrated East Chain band. There were a number of settlers from Willow Creek, including Mr. Mack and family, some of whom were afterward murdered by the Indians at their homes ou Willow Crees in 1865, mention of which will be made later. There was a large delegation from each place. Among the people who were here from other places we may mention the Darlings, .
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HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY.
Kinneys aud Macks from Willow Creek; Spencers, Day», Chapels, Lattimers. Millers, Kinneys, Rhoades, Phelps, Johnsons, Coopera, Carltons, Nelsons, Maxwells, Woodwards, Stoddards and Forbes, from other surrounding towns,
"It was not an uncommon occurrence for the settlers then to call others neighbors who lived fifteen or twenty miles away and to attend a Fourth of July celebration thirty or forty miles away was not considered too far.
While some of the troops were march- iug from one stockade to another this year Wm. H. Swearingen had a sun. stroke and was very sick for several days, and has suffered from the effects of that sun-stroke ever since, being at times almost helpless Mauy of our readers know him.
homes, but when the change of troops was made they were sent south leaving only the women, who stood by their homes and families and did all possible to keep their claims and endeavor to build up and bave a home in this country. Let everyone who reads this join with us in saying that the women of this laud endured as much hardship or even more than the men; that their sufferings it the trying time of the rebellion and the Indian wars were greater. For long months they would be unable to hear from their husbands and sons; they knew not whether they were living or dead; they had to provide and care (for their families, though during all this time there was hardly any complaining or murmuring over their lot. While they may have felt the hardships they had to endure there was no out ward complaining, and I desire to bere express my emphatic belief that to the women of this land is entitled as much credit, or more, than to the men in its early history. They proved themselves when tried in the hour of our country's necessity
After the Fourth of July the people settled down to their regular work ouce more, attending to their corn and potatoes, aud some sorghum; these were the principal crops. There was some wheat, oats and rye raised in some parts of the county. Those who did not have crops went to the eastern part of the state where there was equal to the emergency, and showed more grain raised and worked in the themselves capable of managing affairs harvest. None of the new settlers here equal to the men, and I desire to say that in my opinion they have as good a right, and should be entitled to the same rights in relation to their pro- perty and the management of it as is accorded the men, and in order to pro- tect that and their individual rights and their families they should have the same right of the ballot as is ac- corded to the men, and all the other rights given to the men under the laws of the land. now have any idea of the hardships and privations of the first settlers at the time of the war, and also during the Indian wars. Many of the fathers and sons had enlisted, and had left only their wives and children to carry on the farm, with now and then some old men and boys to care for them. It was very hard work for the settlers to get along and raise any crops and care for them at the time when they were threatened by massacre by the Indians. The commissioners held their Sep- tember meeting and were all present. They raised a tax this year of ten mills on the dollar. As the law was at this Many, from a sense of patriotism, en- listed; some thinking they would stay with the soldiers here near their
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HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY.
time school superintendents were ap- pointed for each commissioner's dis- trict. Those appointed were John Burdick at Fairmont, Seely Shaver at Nevada and W. C. Phipps at Waverly. They voted to give a bounty of one cent apice for blackbirds and two cents apiece for all gophers killed in the county. This was necessary in order to work or raise any crops. The month of September was quite a busy month, as those who came in late had been away in the eastern part of the state during harvest, had to go and put up hay and watch the blackbirds to prevent their destroying the crop. In order to save the corn from destruc- tion by birds it had to be cut up put in shocks. The ears on the outside of the shocks had to be pulled off to save the corn.
A number of new settlers came into the town of Nashville this fall, among them were Mr. S. Bacon, Mr. Smith and Mr. Hinton. There were also some new settlers at Tenhassen, R. S. John- son, Normau Johnson, W. W. Wiltsie, Hiram Clark, Win. Hubbard and others. J. C. Strong and others settled at Center Chain. Geo. Murry and a brother came and took claims on Pierce Lake, where Geo. Murry now lives. Geo. Murray was the first person to be naturalized in the county, in Novem- ber of this year. Geo. W. Tanner, C. W. Hill, Mr Rice, Mr. Moore and Geo. Scott settled on East Chain Lakes. Mr. Jehu Hayworth and family settled on land which they bought south of Fairmont, now known as the Lair. Harlow Seeger settled north of Fair- mont. They brought a considerable number of cattle with them and came to stay. It took a good deal of work to put up hay for their cattle as it had to be cut with scythes.
There was some sickness throughout the county this year, and one death, that of Mrs. Johnson who had a claim in what is now Ward's addition to the village of Fairmont, embracing the depot grounds, ware houses, etc.
A. M. Bassett and John Allen settled near Twin Lakes. All these settle- ments were made late in the fall.
The commissioners granted the peti- tion for a county road from the county iine in Nashville through Fairmont to T'enhassen. There was a mail route established running from Garden City through Willow Creek, Nashville and Fairmont to Tenhassen. There was also a mail route established from Bine Earth City by East Chain, Center Chain and Tenhassen to Estherville, Iowa. J. C. Hudson and L. F. True were ap- pointed to locate the road and have it surveyed.
In the fall of this year Company D Was removed from duty at Fairmont and sent south. Lieutenant Barton with a company of mounted rangers took the place of Company D Lieuten- ant Barcon took a claim here at the mouth of Center and Lillie Creeks. He was, later Democratic candidate for governor, and only lacked about 2,100 votes of being elected, the nearest approach to the election of a demo- Cratic governor since the state has been organized. He was later sheriff of Rice county for a number of years, and was the sheriff of that county at the time of the Northfield bank robbery and the arrest of the Younger brothers, who were convicted and sent to states prison.
The mounted rangers were relieved by company C of the Sixth regiment, in command of Capt. H. S. Bailey who now lives in Jackson where he settled after his return from the service.
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HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY.
They found quite good, quarters, and not much work to do in the winter ası the hostile Indians had been driven from the state by General Sibley. The entire Sixth regiment had been out with General dibley during the sum- mer. The company was composed mostly of young men and they were a jolly set of boys who made up in enjoy- ment during the winter for the hard- ships endured on the plains in the summer. Their duties consisted mostly of scouting over the country and getting acquainted with the set- tlers. Several of them found wives from among the settlers' daughters here. As usual the chief point of in- terest was the fort, where the settlers would congregate for social gatherings and parties.
In 1863 there was reported but 74 persons between the ages of 5 and 21 years in Martin county.
There was very little snow this year, and as we were on the line of travel from the Missouri river points and from Yankton to Mankato where sup- plies were obtained; the supply trains were carried on wheels; the weather was quite cold. The supply train that had been out to Ft. Thompson under the guard of part of the Sixth regi- ment, when they got back to Fairmont they brought back with them some half-breed Winnebago Indians. When they arrived it began snowing and they were obliged to stop with the settlers and at the fort and some were obliged to quarter in tents.
On the last day of December 1863 commenced one of the coldest storms ever kuown in the west, and the first day of January 1864 is on record as being one of the coldest ever known in Minnesota, with cold blasts of snow and a strong northwest, wind with cold sleet | roofs in one night. If any of our read-
which when it struck the face, nipped ike fire, and any portion of the face or hands left exposed and turned to the wind would freeze almost instantly. Those settlers who did not have plenty of wood for burning were obliged to burn hay or rails or any other thing they could get as it was impossible to get any distance from the house to get fuel.
The supply train which was here in camp at the time suffered very much from the cold and they came to the writer for some wood to keep them from freezing, and not having any other supply they took and burned his fence, something over three hundred rails. Many were the frozen noses and ears, as one could go only a short distance without freezing. Mr. Jehu Hayworth and John Friend were at work with the soldiers with their teams getting them fuel and other supplies. After the Weather moderated the supply train proceeded on to Mankato and St. Paul and Mr. Hayworth and Mr. Friend went with them as far as Winnebago City to assist in getting part of their goods through.
This storm resulted in the loss of a great many cattle to the settlers who were driveu before it, drifted in and frozen. The settlers themselves suf- fered great hardships on account of their barns being merely straw sheds, their houses made of logs or dug-outs and roofs covered with shakes and in some instances with dirt. Wherever there was an opening the snow would penetrate and in some instances a large amount came in through the roofs. There are a number living here now who can vouch for the statement that at times as much as six inches of snow would be blown in through the
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HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY.
ers do not know what shakes are we able on account of wind and snow, will state they are substitutes for shingles split ont of logs and formed & roof withont either shingles or boards, being about three feet long.
The settlement of the county, the establishment of wind-breaks the set- ting out of groves as well as the culti- vation of the land has affected a climatic change. We don't have the extreme storws of the early settle- ment. The weather continued cold for some time with considerable storms. The commissioners met for transaction of the county business in January, The board was composed of three commissioners, namely: Wm. H. Budd, L. F. True and J. C. Hudson; W. W. Currington, county auditor and Smith, treasurer. Wm. H. Budd re- ceived the appointment of Clerk of Court. The committee who had been previously appointed to report on state road from Fairmont to Garden City through the towns of Rutland, Center Creek, Nashville and by the way of Willow Creek reported favor- ably aud the petition for the establish ment of the road was granted. On the 7th day of January, Moses Clark, who then owned the town site sold the same to Thomas G. Eggleston who re- sided in the State of Wisconsin. Mr. Eggleston took the claim adjoining the town site on the east, comprising the laud now owned by O. C. Gould north of the fair grounds and Young's addition to the Village of Fairmont and the 80 of land east of the fair grounds. He never came here to live and all the help he ever gave the town was to build a shanty on this land and then left. The early part of this winter myself and others were in the west part of the county and lived in a tent until the tent became uninhabit-
when we moved into a house or shanty formerly owned by Andrew Tweed near Fox Lake. We were catching fnr then. it was our sole means of support as it was nearly of all the people of the county." We sometimes hear some of the younger settlers, what some of the older settlers called "dudes," speak of the old settlement as being the "rat age." It was the age that tried che courage and fortitude of the people of this county. If this county would have had to wait until some of these, who speak so slightenly of the old settlers, would brave one hundredth part of what the first settlers endured, it would never have been settled. President Lincoln in February of this year made a call for volunteers for the war of the Rebellion there were thir- teen men to be raised from. this county, if not volunteers, they would be subject to draft. Some advised that the county offer a bounty and thus raise the number, others opposed this as they did not wish to incur any indebtedness to the county, they be- lieved that the county could get along without them better than they could afford to have a large debt settled up- on it. They possessed some patriot- ism and volunteered their services to the Government. The following are the names: W. H. Budd, John Bur- dick, I. G. Swearingen, Silas Smith, Edger Keise, C. N. Bardwell, Milo Whittcomb and Enos Whitcomb from Fairmont. From Tenhassen, Rodney Johnson, Cornelius Personius, James N. Rice, Wm. Rice, W. W. Wiltse, Wm. Hubbard and Hiram Clark.
Others enlisted later of which we will make mention in due time. By these enlistments our number was filled. We enlisted in the Sixth Regi-
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HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY.
ment, Company C, Captain Bailey's company which was stationed here. We were ordered to report at Fort Snelling for examination and muster- ing and when we arrived at Fort Snelling other counties who were try- ing to hire volunteers to avoida draft made liberal offers to have us credited to their counties but to the honor and credit of all, the offer was refused Our enlistment was about the 20th day of February, 1864. We were ex- amined at Fort Snelling much in & manner that a pugilist would be to see if he was sound in physical condition. From five to twenty men would be put into a room, ordered to take off their clothing, then to stand on one foot and give three hops, three jumps, backwards, forwards, hold up your hands, hold your breath for some time, stand thumping in the ribs with the doctor's fists and some after being put through this course of exercise with their chests used as drums and ribs punched, were so pleased that after they got through and though there was something they hadn't required of them to do, so they stood on their heads. We all passed the first ex- amination but on the second, two of the men who went from here, Silas Smith and J. N. Rice, failed and were sent to the convalescent camp. We were kept at Fort Snelling three or four weeks when we were allowed to come back to Fairmont and join our company, to which we were assigned as per our request, in order to be nearer our families while this com- pany was stationed here.
the interest of Winnebago City to make that the county seat, as its loca- tion in the northwest part of Fari- bault county didn't give it strength enough. While at Fort Snelling, I saw Alex Lattimer who was the state senator from this district, in opposi- tion to this move. The bill had al- ready passed the House. Mr. Lat- timer promised to oppose the bill in the Senate which promise he kept and killed the bill. C. W. Hill had also been by the county sent to St. Paul to oppose the passage Martin county to ought hold in grateful remembrance Senator Lattimer for his action in this matter, for certainly he is entitled to great credit for his action. Fairmont would not now be near the center of the county and the county would have lost some of its best townships had the bill passed.
On our return to Fairmont Capt. Bailey, now Major Bailey, kindly gave us some time to arrange our business and assist in preparing our families for our absence as we were expected soon to go south, which time was im- proved by the volunteers in fixing up their buildings and doing all they could to leave their families as com- fortable as possible under the circum- stances.
About this time it began to be ru- mored that there would be a wedding and soon it followed on the 31st day of March, 1864, Wm. H. Budd and Lydia Swearingen being the parties. She was the daughter of John B. and Jane Swearingen. This wedding was at- tended by the soldiers stationed here, in full uniform and on parade and at the conclusion of the ceremony, gave
There was an effort made at the ses- sion of the legislature in 1864 to take off the one tierof townships from the ja military salute. Ialways felt that east side of this county and attach to ! it was quite an honor as it was evident- Faribault county, the object being in ly the first and only wedding in the
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HISTORY OF MABIIN COUNTY.
There was an effort made at the ses- sion of the legislature in 1864 to take off the one tierof towarbips from the east side of this county and attach to Faribault county, the object being in the interest of Winnebago City to make that the county seat, as its loca- tion in the northwest part of Fari- bault county didn't give it strength enough. While at Fort Snelling, I. saw Alex Lattimer who was the state senator from this district, in opposi- tion to this move. The bill had al- ready passed the House. Mr. Lat- timer promised to oppose the bill in the Senate which promise he kept and killed the bill. C. W. Hill had also been by the county sent to St. Paul to oppose the passage Martin county to onght hold in grateful remembrance Senator Lattimer for his action in this matter, for certainly he is entitled to great credit for his action. Fairmont would not now be near the center of the county and the county would have lost some of its best townships had the bill passed.
in full uniform and on parade and at the conclusion of the ceremony, gave & military salute. I always felt that it was quite an honor.as it was evident- ly the first and only wedding in the county to be attended with a military parade accompanied with the good will of the soldiers and the military salute.
. This spring was quite fine, some rain in March and April. Grain was sown in April and looked quite well. May and June were dry and the sold- iers and settlers had a good many en- joyable times. The most that the soldiers had to do was to keep up their lines of communication between here and Fort Ridgley, do scout duty and they had plenty of time for hunting and fishing. As this regiment was en- listed entirely from this state a great many people came from different parts to see their acquaintances that were stationed here. The homestead law went into effect this spring. By its provisions any one taking and moving on to and cultivating one On our return, to Fairmont Capt. Bailey, now Major Bailey, kindly gave us some time to arrange onr business and assist in preparing our families for our absence as we were expected soon to go south, which time was im- proved by the volunteers in fixing up their buildings . and doing all they could to leave their families as com- fortable as possible under the circum- stances. hundred and sixty acres of land for five years was entitled to a deed of the same. This law brought on a good many settlers from all over Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and Michigan sending the most. In April of this year the county commissioners in session granted a petition from the inhabitants of what is now the town- ship of Nashville, setting it off as an election district and calling it Nash- About this time it began to be ru- mored that there would be a wedding and soon it followed on the 31st day of March, 1864, Wm. H. Budd and Lydia Swearingen being the parties. She was the daughter of John B. and Jane Swearingen. This wedding was at- ville. They set the time of the first election for town officers to be held on the first Tuesday of May, 1864 at the house of A. M. Nash, in honor of whom the town name was selected. A. N. Fancher, now of Center Creek, was appointed county surveyor for that tended by the soldiers stationed here, year. The election precinct called
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