USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 47
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1881. March 1st, Capitol at St. Paul destroyed by fire.
November. Lucius F. Hubbard elected Gov- ernor.
HISTORY
OF
RICE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XLV.
DESCRIPTIVE- SITUATION AND AREA-SURFACE FEA- TURES AND SOIL-TIMBER-GEOLOGICAL STRUC- TURE-MATERIAL RESOURCES- QUARRIES-LIME KILNS-BRICK.
"Rice county is one of the earliest and best set- tled counties in Minnesota, as well as one of the most prominent. It is well situated, has an abundance of wood and water, unexceptionally good soil, and excellent market facilities. The people are industrious and economical, and pro- vided with good homes, the average farming facil- ities being second to none in the State.
The most important villages are Faribault, Northfield, and Dundas, with several others of less pretensions. The two first mentioned have city charters, and each will be fully described under their respective names.
Numerons expeditions and reconnoisances had been made through this romantic region long be- fore and np to the time when the Sioux title to the land was extinguished by treaty stipulation. . The point which became the nucleus for the final permanent settlement, the conflu- ence of the Straight with the Cannon River, had been visited, and glowing accounts given of its natural advantages, its magnificent forest, its undulating prairie, the verdure covered banks of its rippling streams, its health giving climate, and indeed, of nature's handiwork here in her hap- piest moods, for the creation of all the conditions required by man for the planting of his home, and surrounding it with those institutions which dis- tinguish it from the wretched abode of the untu- tored savage.
When the land was opened up to settlement, and the vanguard of the pioneers began to arrive, they remained right here; no representations could lure them on in search of a better land, be- cause it was really unattainable, and the reports returned to the homes they had left were of such a glowing character, that others rapidly followed, and the whole country was soon taken up. Any person visiting this county to-day, with its ad- vanced civilization, and not knowing the facts, could hardly be persuaded to believe that not quite a generation has passed since not a building stood anywhere on its territory, except a rude bark or skin shelter for the few scattered savages who lingered here with the depressing feeling of impending extermination. What has been accom- plished is most wonderful, and the various steps that have been taken in this remarkable develop- ment will be seen as this work is perused.
GEOLOGY.
The following geological extracts are taken from the very able report by Mr. L. B. Sperry, dated 1878:
The parallel of 44 degrees and 20 minutes north latitude runs through the center of the county. The surrounding counties are Scott and Dakota on the north, Dakota and Goodhne on the east, Steele and Waseca on the south, and Le Sueur on the west. The east line of the county is twenty miles from Hastings, on the Mississippi River; the north line is thirty-four miles south of St. Paul, and the south line is forty-eight miles from the northern boundary of Iowa. It is four govern- ment townships, or twenty-four miles in width, east and west. The western portion of the county
(263)
264
HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
is of the same length-twenty-four miles north and south-but the eastern two tiers of townships are shorter by five miles. The county contains fourteen townships, each of them, except two, containing thirty-six square miles. Of these two exceptions, one, Bridgewater, contains forty square miles, and the other, Northfield, forty-four square miles. Its area, then, is 330,240 acres, of which nearly one-half is timber land interspersed with many lakes.
There is but very little land in the county unfit for tillage. That portion east of the Straight and Cannon Rivers is the finest of prairie land, while most of that west of these rivers is, or was orig- inally, covered with valuable timber, which, on being removed, leaves a strong and fertile soil.
NATURAL DRAINAGE.
The drainage of the county is to the north and east. Straight River enters the county two and one- half miles east of the middle of the southern border, and flowing northward about eight miles, forms a junction (where the city of Faribault now stands) with the Cannon River, which enters the county about two miles north of its southeast corner. From the junction of the Straight and Cannon Rivers-taking the latter name-the waters flow northward and leave the county four miles east of the meridian line upon which the Straight River enters its borders. The western half of the county contains about a score of shallow but pretty lakes, which receive the surface waters of their localities, and empty for the most part by very circuitous routes into the Cannon. The Straight and Cannon also receive the drainage from the eastern portions of the townships through which they flow; while the eastern tier of townships, for the most part, shed their waters through small streams into the Little Cannon and Zumbro Rivers in Goodhue county. The Straight River enters the county in the Lower Trenton formation, and cuts through into the St. Peter sandstone three miles north of the county line, near Walcott's mill.
A short distance from Walcott's the river makes an extensive bend toward the south, and on reach- ing Faribault has cut eighty feet into the sand- stone.
At a point near the line separating Bridgewater and Cannon City townships the river . has cut through the St. Peter sandstone and begins its flow over the Shakopee limestone, into which it
has cut about thirty feet when it leaves the north- ern boundary of the county.
This descent of about 150 feet in crossing the county furnishes at least eleven or more available mill privileges which have been improved and are in operation.
SURFACE FEATURES AND SOIL.
The eastern portion of the connty is, for the most part, a high and gently rolling prairie of great beauty and fertility.
Skirting the small streams there is a little tim- ber, and along the east bank of the Straight River -and also of the Cannon, from its junction with the Straight northerly to Dundas-there is a belt of timber averaging about three miles wide. The soil bearing this belt of timber is sandy with grave subsoil, and is of comparatively little value for ag- ricultural purposes.
The surface of the southwest part of the county lies above the Trenton formation, and is gently undulating. The surface of the northeast part is more broken because the Trenton is largely car- ried away, and the St. Peter sandstone is eroded to quite variable depths. The western portion of the county also is quite undulating-sometimes rough and hilly-and over the greater part is cov- ered with heavy timber, interspersed with many beautiful but shallow lakes. The surface soil is usually a dark loam, but is generally very thin, A strong and productive yellow clay overlying thick deposits of blue clay-which is frequently exposed-characterize the soil of this region. Maple, Elm, and Basswood characterize the timber.
There are about twenty beautiful lakes in the western half of the county, ranging from one to ten square miles in area, and varying from ten to fifty feet in depth. These lakes abound in fish, and are much frequented by sportsmen. The . southwestern part of the county, being lower and more sandy, furnishes better beaches for its lakes than are found further north where clay deposits overlie and conceal the sand.
I am under obligation to Surveyor Jewett, of Faribault, through whose kindness I secured the following:
TOWNSHIP 109, RANGE 19 .- RICHLAND.
Rolling prairie. Soil a black loam with clay subsoil. The north branch of the Zumbro River flows easterly through the northern part, taking the surface water of nearly the whole town.
265
GEOLOGY.
TOWNSHIP 110, RANGE 19 .- WHEELING.
Surface rolling, becoming bluffy along the creek. The east branch of Prairie Creek heads near the center of the town, where there is a body of about one section of timber. This creek flows northeasterly, and forms a valley from one-eighth to one-fourth of a mile wide, about fifty feet below the general level of the prairie. From the bluffs along this valley in the north part of the town, limestone crops out with sandstone below.
TOWNSHIP 111, RANGE 19 .- NORTHFIELD.
Surface mostly a high rolling prairie sloping toward Prairie Creek, which runs northeasterly through the township; a part of the town is drained northwesterly toward Cannon River. Soil a rich black loam; clay subsoil; limestone in bluffs along the creek; sandstone below.
TOWNSHIP 109, RANGE 20 .- WALCOTT.
Surface rolling to hilly; slopes toward Straight River, which runs northerly through nearly the center of the town; a body of timber three to four miles wide lies on the east side of the river. Lime- stone appears in the bed of the river as far north as section four. North of this point it appears in the bluffs from twenty to fifty feet above the river. Soil in the river valley light and sandy with gravel subsoil; rest of town black loam over clay.
TOWNSHIP 110, RANGE 20 .- CANNON CITY AND FARI- BAULT.
Surface quite rolling; bluffy along the east side of river. The Straight River forms a junction with the Cannon River in section thirty, from which point the Cannon River runs northeasterly to the center of the north boundary. The two eastern sections are prairie; the remainder of the town is timber land; soil a rich loam with clay subsoil. Limestone crops out of river bluffs with sandstone below; a small lake in section fifteen, containing forty-five acres.
TOWNSHIP 111, RANGE 20 .- BRIDGEWATER
Land rolling; becomes bluffy along the river as far north as section ten. Cannon River flows northeasterly through the eastern part of the town. About six sections on east side of town are prairie; rest of town timber land; soil black loam with clay subsoil, excepting on river bottoms, where the soil is light and sandy over a gravelly subsoil; limestone in the bluffs along the river
south of section ten. In section one it appears in the bed of river.
TOWNSHIP 109, RANGE 21 .- WARSAW.
Surface rolling; drains toward the north; Can- non Lake, with an area of 1,475.28 acres, lies in the northwestern part of the township; four sec- tions of land northwest of lake are timber land; rest of town is prairie and brush land; soil black loam over clay subsoil.
TOWNSHIP 110, RANGE 21 .- WELLS.
All timber land excepting sections thirty-five and thirty-six; surface rolling; soil black loam with clay below; area of meandered lakes 2,114.44 acres; drains toward the south.
TOWNSHIP 111, RANGE 21 .- FOREST.
All timber land; surface rolling; draining east- ward; soil black loam, clay subsoil; area of lakes, 1,694.41 acres.
TOWNSHIP 112, RANGE 21. - WEBSTER.
Timber and brush land; surface rolling; drains to the south and east; soil light-colored loam over clay; area of meandered lakes, 208.81 acres.
TOWNSHIP 109, RANGE 22 .- MORRISTOWN.
Nine sections in southeast part prairie land; re- mainder of town timber. Cannon River flows easterly through the center of the township; sur- face rolling, slopes towards the river; soil a rich black loam with clay subsoil. Area of meandered waters, 935.70 acres.
TOWNSHIP 110, RANGE 22 .- SHIELDSVILLE.
Surface rolling, becoming hilly in some parts of the town; soil black loam over clay. Area of lakes, 2,574.23 acres. The Cannon River heads in Tuft's Lake, in section three.
TOWNSHIP 111, RANGE 22 .- ERIN.
Surface rolling to hilly, timber and brush lands; soil rich loam over clay. Area of lakes, 856.32 acres.
TOWNSHIP 112, RANGE 22 .- WHEATLAND.
Surface rolling and hilly; soil black loam on clay subsoil; timber and brush land. Area of lakes, 307.27 acres.
TIMBER.
As before stated the eastern portion of the county originally produced timber only along the streams. Through cultivation for shade, hedges, protection from winds, etc., timber is increasing over this area. The western half of the county
266
HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
was originally covered with heavy timber-except- ing a few limited, enclosed spaces, which were open prairie, or sparsely covered with Oak and under-brush-and forms a part of what is de- nominated the "Big Woods." This region is be- ing cleared up rapidly and there are now many fine farms in every township of the timber regions of this county. The following list embraces all the native trees and shrubs that were noticed dur- ing the survey. It is not believed, however, that it includes all that grow naturally in the limits of the county :
Baswood. Tili Americana. L.
Smooth Sumach. Rhus glabra. L.
Jersey Tea. Ceanothus Americanus. L.
Sugar Maple. Acer saccharinum. Wang. Sivery Maple. A. dasycarpun, Ehr.
Red or Swamp Maple. Acer rubrum. L. Box-Elder. Negundo aceroides. Mench.
False Indigo. Amorpha fruticosa. L.
Locust. Robina Pseudacacia. L. Cultivated. Cherry. Prunus.
Red Raspberry. Rubus strigosus. Michr.
Blackberry. R. villosus. Ait.
Crab. Pyrus arbutifolia. L.
Dogwood. Cornus paniculata. L'Her.
Wolfberry. Symphoricarpus occidentalis. R. Br. Ash. Fraxinus.
Slippery Elm. Ulmus fulva. Michx.
Butternut. Juglans cinerea. L.
Walnut. Juglans nigra. L.
Hickory. Carya.
Burr Oak. Quercus macrocarpa. Michx.
Black Oak. Quercus coccinea. Wang. Var tinctoria. Bartram.
Wild Hazle-nut. Corylus Americana. Walt. Iron-wood. Ostrya Virginica. Willd.
American Aspen. Populus tremuloides. Michx. Cottonwood. P. monilifera. Ait.
Large-toothed Aspen. P. grandidentata. Michx. Balm of Gilead. P. balsmifera. L. Var. can- dicans. Ait.
Red Oak. Quercus rubra. L.
White Oak. Quercus alba. L. Wild Plum. Prunus Americana.
American Elm. Ulmus Americana. (Pl Clyt.) Willd.
American Crab. Pyrus Coronaria. L.
Black Cherry. Prunus serotina. Ahr. Bitternut. Carya amara. Nutt.
Wild Red Cherry. Prunus Pennsylvanica. L.
Thorn Apple. Cratægus Crus-galli. L. White Birch. Betula alba. Var. populifolia. Spach.
Small Cedar. Juniperas Sabina. L. Var. pro- cumbens.
White Pine. Pinus Strobus. L.
Water Beech. Carpinus Americana. Michz.
Cornel. Cornus paniculata. L'Her.
Cornel. Cornus circinata. L'Her.
American Woodbine. Lonicera grata. Ait.
Juneberry. Amolanchier Canadensis. Torr &
Gray.
Dwarf Wild Rose. Rosa lucida.
Pipe Viue. Aristolochia Sipho.
Grape. Vitis cordifolia. Michr.
Virginia Creeper. Ampelopsis quinquefolia. Michx.
Nine Bark. Spiræa opulifolia. L.
Bittersweet. Celastrus scandens. L.
Rose. Rosa blanda. Ait.
Lombardy Poplar. P. dilitata. Ait.
Speckled Alder. Almus incanar Willd.
GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE.
In general the drainage of Rice county is toward the north and east, which fact indicates the relative elevations.
The Chicago and Milwaukee railroad survey ( Minnesota Division ) found the elevations of nat- ural surface, where the railroad crosses the north- ern line of the county, to be over 1050 feet above the sea level. At Faribault depot it is 993 feet; at Dundas depot, 945 feet; at Northfield depot, 905 feet. The entire western half, and the south- eastern portions of the county, have a higher elevation. I have no means of knowing positively the relative elevations or the highest point in the county ; but judging from appearances I conclude that the rolling prairie, on which Cannon City is located, is the highest by at least 100 feet.
The only geological formations that appear in this county are the Loam. Drift. Trenton Limestone.
St. Peter's Sandstone.
Shakopee Limestone.
In general appearance these formations are not unlike the same formations as they are seen in other portions of the State, and carefully described by Professor Winchell in his reports made during the past few years. Nor did I find in the county
267
GEOLOGY.
any remarkable special peculiarities in any of the formations.
The loam is deep, dark colored and fertile, over nearly all the eastern portion of the county; but over the western portion as a rule it is thin.
Drift, consisting largely of blue clay overlain by a yellow clay, characterizes the soil of the western half of the county. Boulders of granite, gneiss trap, and porplyry are quite abundant in some places; but fine clay, with small quantities of gravel, are the rule throughout this region. No well yet dug in the western part of the county has passed through the blue clay-though some of the wells are over 100 feet deep. A hint as to the depth of the clay is found in the fact that a well dug last season south of Rice county, about thirty miles west of Owatonna-near Janesville- after passing through 200 feet of blue clay reached a sandstone said to be identical with the St. Peter's in appearance. An abundance of good water, which rose to within thirty feet of the surface, was found between the clay and the sandstone. This fact should be considered by the residents of this drift and timber region, as many of them have failed to sccure good and abundant water in the clay. Indeed there is much uncertainty about getting good well water in this region. Some holes at 100 feet or over fail to bring enough water for drinking and cooking purposes. Some wells that furnish an abundance of water are so strongly impregnated with mineral impurities as to be nearly useless, while others are quite pure. It is possible that good water that would rise nearly to the surface might invariably be pro- cured by boring through the clay to the under- lying rocks.
Illustrations of the peculiarities of the deposits in this region are seen in the following facts: On the southeast side of Union Lake (seven miles west of Northfield ) Mr. B. Benton dug forty feet and secured an abundance of water, but is strongly impregnated with some mineral impuri- ties. About forty rods from here Mr. M. J. Punk secured better water at sixteen feet; and about forty rods further Mr. S. A. Amsden secured nearly pure water at a depth of thirty-six feet.
It has been supposed by some that the forma- tion underlying the drift throughout the timber region is the Cretaceous, and I see that Prof. Harrington, in his report on Steele county, ex- presses his belief in the existence of the Creta-
ceous along that belt. I am not satisfied that such is the fact. To my mind there is but very little evidence of it; but I do not care to discuss the matter till I have procured more light on the subject. At present my belief is that the drift rests immediately upon a thin remnant of the St. Peter sandstone. Perhaps in some places the St. Peter is all eroded so that the drift rests imme- diately upon the Shakopee.
The Trenton limestone is nearly removed from the western part of the county, the bluffs along the Straight River to a point a little south of Far- ibault, and a hill near Northfield, being the only places where it occurs. East of the river, however it is extensive, and furnishes abundance of mater- ial for building purposes, of which mention will be made under the head "Material Resources."
In general character the Trenton resembles so closely that found in other parts of the State, and so carefully described in previous reports on the survey of the State, that little need be said here.
For building purposes, the most of that found in this county is superior to that quarried near St. Paul, in that it contains less clay and does not weather so easily. On the other hand the Rice county limestone contains more concretionary iron pyrites, and hence necessitates more care in its selection for architectural purposes.
The Straight River cuts through the Trenton and enters upon the St. Peter at Walcott's mill, three miles south of Faribault. At a point eight miles further north the river (having now become the Caunon ) has worked its way through the St. Peter and enters upon the Shakopee. The thick- ness of the St. Peter, in Rice county, is from 100 to 125 feet. It appears in the form of cliffs at frequent points along both sides of the river from the place where it is first reached by the Straight to the northern limits of the county, and in the northeastern part of the county it frequently ap- pears in the hills-indeed it largely gives charac- ter to the topography of this section.
Judging from the topography also I am satis- fied that many of the hills in the northwestern part of the county-in Wheatland and Webster townships-consist largely of the St. Peter; but they are so heavily covered by drift and timber that I could neither find nor learn of any expos- ures. In Cedar Lake there is an island, the top- ography and flora of which indicate the St. Peter, capped by Trenton. I was unable to verify this by excavations.
268
HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
There is no place in the county where the St. Peter sandstone is sufficiently compact and firm for building stone. As along the Mississippi, it may be removed by pick and shovel. In color it is-as along the Mississippi River-white to red, according to the percentage of iron, and its oxida- tion resulting from exposure. No fossils are found in it here.
The Shakopee limestone is reached by the Can- non River at a point about four miles south of Dundas-six miles south of Northfield.
On leaving the county one-half mile north of Northfield, the river has cut into the Shakopee about thirty feet. The map shows approximately the extent of this formation as exposed. The de- scriptions of it in preceding reports will apply to the formation as seen here.
MATERIAL RESOURCES.
Limestone-both for building-stone and quick- lime-and sand for mortar, are abundant along the valleys of the Cannon and Straight Rivers, and throughout the western half of the county; while in the western portion no limestone is found.
Good clay for the manufacture of brick is suf- ficienty abundant all over the county.
STONE QUARRIES are abundant throughout the eastern half of the county. The bluffs through- out this region are capped by a layer of the Trenton varying from a few inches to several feet in thickness. The various neighborhoods of this section have their quarry, or quarries, from which all the building stone for general purposes is easily obtained.
Prairie Creek valley has scores of quarries opened along its bluffs; and the valley of the Cannon looks up to as many more. Good cours- ing stone is furnished at Northfield for about $6 per cord.
At Fall Creek, three miles east of Faribault, there is a fine deposit which is being extensively quarried by its owner, Mr. Philip Cromer. The deposit of limestone here is about twelve feet thick, and is covered by about four feet of drift and loam. The strata in this quarry range from three to twelve inches in thickness, and are easily quarried. The upper stratum, eight inches in thickness, is quite light-colored and filled with fossils which are so thoroughly cemented and transformed as to render the stone compact, while its fossiliferous nature is still clearly apparent. But few specimens of fossils can be enucleated.
The rock is infiltrated by gypsum and Iron Pyrites which often cement its seams quite firmly. Mr. Cromer sells undressed stone for prices ranging from $5 to $15 per cord. The greater part of his business however is in the best varieties, which he sells by the cubic foot, at prices ranging from twenty-five cents to seventy-five cents.
Mr. N. Lord, two miles south of Faribault, on the west side of the river, has two quarries opened, from which he has sold as high as 300 cords in one year.
In Richland towuship, bordering on Goodhue county, Messrs. Halver Johnson and Peter Halver- son have each a fine quarry at which I saw about 100 cords ready for market.
Messrs. I. Lenhart, A. Revere, C. Stetson, D. Ferguson, and P. Oleson are the principal quarry- men in the vicinity of Northfield; and on Prairie Creek, in Wheeling township, Messrs. J. Thomp- son, A. Knapf, and S. Aslagson do quite a busi- ness in quarrying for their neighbors.
LIME KILNS .- The upper four strata of the Lower Trenton formation, as exposed in this county, furnish tolerably good material for quick- lime, though in some places the deposit is too sili- cions, and in no place is the lime obtained suf- ficiently white for fine work. When first burned the lime is yellowish in color, but when slacked is nearly white. It is excellent for stone work.
Though lime has been burned in every town- ship of the county east of the Cannon River, it is not now made a regular and paying business, except at Phillip Cromer's kiln, on Fall Creek, near Faribault. Mr. Cromer uses a patent kiln and burns from 3,000 to 3,500 barrels a year, which he sells at sixty-five cents per barrel. Three other kilns near Faribault, owned respectively by Messrs. Pond, Lee, and Lord, burn in the aggregate about 1,000 barrels per year. There is a kiln one mile from Northfield, in Dakota county, which supplies Northfield and vicinity. This kiln burns its lime from the best strata of the Shakopee formation. In general character the lime is like that of the Trenton.
BRICK .- Rice county contains an abundance of clay for the manufacture of brick, but none has been found sufficiently free from iron to make the white or cream colored brick. At Faribault Mr. J. G. McCarthy makes about 700,000 per year, which he sells at $6 per thousand. One season he made one million. All the clay of this section
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