USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 48
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 48
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February 4, 1903, the board of pardons granted Cole Younger a pardon on condition that he should leave the state and never return. He went to his old home in Missouri, and later engaged with his old partner, Frank James, in the conduct of a "Wild West" show, which exhibited throughout several states. His repeated efforts to have the restriction regarding his return to Minnesota removed by the board of pardons have always failed.
(NOTE .- This chapter is compiled from a book entitled "Joseph Lee Heywood," written by Prof. George Huntington, and published by "The Christian Way Co." The book is copyrighted and this chapter has been prepared with the permission of the owners, The First National Bank of Northfield.)
CHAPTER XXIV.
EARLY NORTHFIELD.
Original Entries-Coming of John North-Platting of the Village Beginning of Industry-Letter from John North-Early Events - First Deaths, Births and Marriages - The Red Men-Address of Mayor Scriver-Early Days, by Capt. D. F. Kelley.
The site of the city of Northfield was preempted by Daniel Kirkendahl, Daniel B. Turner and Herman Jenkins, Mr. Kirken- dahl settling on his claim in June, 1854, Mr. Turner in December following, and Mr. Jenkins in May, 1855. J. W. North, formerly of Utica, N. Y., after disposing of his Fairbault interests, pur- chased of these preemptors, and surveyed and platted the town site February 28, 1856, soon selling one-half interest in it to George Loomis, and they two were the sole proprietors for some time.
The real originator of the town, or the man to whom the com- munity is indebted for its growth and prosperity at that early day, is John W. North, although when he came here there were a few other settlers, into whom he at once infused a new life. Among these may be mentioned Daniel B. Turner, J. A. Stewart, Jona- than Alexander, John Iloyt, and Daniel Kirkendahl, the latter of whom was perhaps the first man here. His place covered a part of the town plat, and he raised the first crop hereabouts.
In 1857 J. D. Hoskins laid out thirty acres on the south side of the town, and this became Hoskins' addition. About the same time Albert Drake laid out thirty acres, and Myron Wheaton added several blocks on the east side. It can thus be seen that all men were patriotic and no one was leaving any obstruction to the growth of the city. In 1860 the school section became an ad- dition, and was cut up into blocks and lots, extending down near the bridge. The year previous Mr. North purchased a strip of land that had been preempted by Daniel B. Turner, and he also purchased the farm of Daniel Kirkendahl, which took in the northern part of the town. This farm had a log house, erected in 1855 by the former proprietor, who left the country, and it was then ocupied by Herman Jenkins. These lots embraced the original town plat, about 320 acres in all. The surveying
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for the plat was done by a Minneapolis man, and it was recorded by John W. North.
At a very early day a stage line was run within a half mile of the place, through "White's Corners," by a Mr. Hackett, and the old stage barn, where the horses were changed, still stands. There were several other lines through the village until after the railroad got in operation.
Jenkins had filed on a part of what became the village plat, and Mr. North purchased Mr. Jenkins' place and also the claim of Mr. Kirkendahl, and moved into the house which had been erected by the latter.
The following article by Hon. J. W. North is printed entire because it was written by the real founder of the town, and because of its historical value: "I first came to the spot now known as Northfield about the first of January, 1855, or it may have been December, 1854. I took measures to secure that location soon after I first saw it. In the summer of 1855 I com- menced work on the dam and mill, which was completed so as to commence sawing lumber about the first of December of that year. During that month we sawed lumber and built with it the dwelling house we moved into on the third of January, 1856. There were settlers around there before I made my claim. The first time I saw that place I stopped at the house of Mr. Alexander. He called my attention to the water-power in the river at that point. Mr. Stewart, Mr. Olin, Mr. Drake, Mr. Turner, and several other families were living in the vicinity at that time. When we moved down there, there were the Whites, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Hoskins, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Pease, Mr. Trawle, and several other families. Mr. Jenkins acted as my agent until I moved there. Mr. Coburn, Mr. Pease, Mr. Collett, and others worked for me. No one was associated with me in the enterprise. I did not at first contemplate starting a town, much less a city; I only thought of a mill. There was then no road running through the place, but I got one laid out from Waterford, crossing the river just below the mills at North- field. I then thought a postoffice, shoolhouse, blacksmith shop, store, townsite, and finally a railroad, and by energetic work got them all." In December, 1855, a sawmill was put in operation arranged with an upright saw, and a siding mill, which cost when complete, over $4,000. The first frame house was completed and occupied in September at a cost of over $10,000. The mill, when in running order, contained three run of stones, and was one of the best in the territory at that time, and did a thriving business. Messrs. Cox and Fleming erected a steam sawmill with a forty horsepower engine, which cost from $8,000 to $10,000. The improvement of the water power by the
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erection of mills gave the town a permanent importance not experienced by any other place in the vicinity. N. B. and T. R. Coulson built the first store, and commenced trade in March. 1856, but in June following sold out to H. Scriver, who at once began a large trade with a capital of $10,000. Skinner & Brothers opened a store in September of that year and at once commenced a good trade. Cole & Beach opened up their goods in August. Goods were then brought from Hastings, as the nearest point on the river. At the beginning of 1857, there was two hotels, and a third was building, two carriages, two blacksmith shops, a schoolhouse, a reading room with a public library, and organized churches. The first store was put up before Mr. North put in an appearance. It was on the farm of Mr. Coulson, a short distance from town in a little hut, with a wheelbarrow load of goods. When the town was laid out, Coulson moved in and put up a store, 18 x 30 feet, of green basswood boards, and placed his goods on the shelves. This store stood on the square in front of Mr. Scriver's store. When Mr. Scriver arrived a short time afterwards he purchased the store, and at the request of Mr. North moved it back to enlarge the square and received his present lot in exchange. The next store was erected by Skinner & Brother on Main street, and a small stock of goods was put in. The building is now used as a dwelling. About the same time Cole & Beach constructed a building and they put in a small stock of goods, but this is also now occupied as a residence. The next year Harvey Allen put up a store and began trade; the same place is now occupied by J. R. Jones.
Then, in 1856, Herman Jenkins erected a hotel in an old fashioned building, 25 x 25 feet, with a cotton cloth roof, and was run back to make room for the store. Philip Colburn and Mr. Pease came shortly after Coulson and went to work by the day. Jonathan Alexander came just before North, and filed his claim on the east of the town. Alexander Stewart secured his place in 1855. J. A. Junt came in the spring of 1856, when there was but a single frame house in the town. He drove some claim stakes and started a meat shop, the first in town. I. S. Field was an early settler, and it is not absolutely certain that his name did not suggest the final syllable of the name of the town and city, as Mr. North's certainly did for the first. M. W. Skinner, 11. Scriver, Alva Cole, George Loomis, Olson Beach, Morgan Emery, and others, were arrivals about that time, and the following winter there was quite a little town, and the people began to feel that they were becoming quite metropolitan.
Ilerman Jenkins was proprietor of the first hotel, and the roof was a single thickness of cotton cloth. Soon after it was built the upper story was occupied by twenty-five men one night
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when a terrific thunder shower drenched the inmates in a most unpleasant way. The next morning the proprietor posted off to Hastings for shingles.
The second hotel went up in the summer of 1857, and was called the "Mansion House," it was kept by Benjamin Kimball. The size was 25 x 60 feet, and at first was all utilized as a hotel ; now the lower part is used for stores. Its location is on the west side, and it was placed there to get out of the jurisdictions of Mr. North, who sold lots with the stipulation that no liquor should be sold on the premises under penalty of forfeiture. This hotel was on the town plat. Kimball opened a bar in the place and went on selling for a few weeks, when three men, George Loomis, W. W. Willis and Warren Weed, went over and with an ax demolished barrels and bottles; this literally broke up the establishment, and it was never reopened. This breaking of the peace created considerable excitement and the man was paid a small sum for his loss. The American House was built in 1858 by J. W. North, and was later used by Carlton College. Gilson's was the very first stopping place erected in Northfield and was run as a boarding house. It was erected by the man whose name it bore, in 1855, and consisted of a log main building about 16 x 20 feet, with a small addition of twelve feet square. It stood about one-half mile out of Northfield on the stage line of early days. The shanty was roofed with split oak pieces which did excellent service in dry weather. In the early part of 1856 this was the only place to stop, and was very much crowded, the boarders having to sleep on the floor. and on special occasions they would use their wagons for a bed with but the canopy of heaven for a cover. This was run as a stopping place for about two years, when it was made a dwelling house and used as such for a number of years.
The first practicing physicians in the town were Drs. Schofield and Hanchet, who were both in business here in 1857 and 1858. A child of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Stewart, in 1856, was an early birth, and was named James. Fred. Bingham, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Bingham, was another early comer. Another early comer in Northfield was George, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Emery, in 1856. Sadie Lockwood, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Lockwood, was ushered into existence at an early date in 1857. Charley, a son of Alva and Lovica Cole, was also an early birth, being brought into the light of this world in Northfield in the spring of 1857. Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Hunt were blessed with a son on January 2, 1858, which they named William. In 1857 Ransom Smith and Mary Jenkins were joined in the bonds of wedlock by the bride's father, Herman Jenkins. This was very probably the first marriage. Benjamin
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Kimball to Hattie Kelley was the next event of this kind to happen, and they at once took charge of the "Mansion House."
The first person to die in Northfield was a two-year-old child of Ephraim Lockwood, in November, 1857, and the remains were deposited in a spot that was already in contemplation for a cemetery in the northeast part of the town, but were subse- quently removed to the cemetery in the south part. Charles Loomis died in April, 1858, and his remains repose in the cemetery south of town. He died of hydrophobia. Joseph Drake died in the spring of 1858 and was buried in the same place, and was perhaps the first there. One of the first deaths was that of Mr. Simons, who was drowned in the Cannon river in June, 1856, while floating logs for the construction of the mill. He left a family of a wife and three children. November 5, 1878, the first house built in Northfield was destroyed by fire. It was erected by John North and stood on north Division street. On May 19, 1880, the Congregational Church and two barns were destroyed by fire. A most heart-rending affair occurred in Northfield on March 22, 1858. A son of Mr. Finley MeFee was riding a horse and leading another with a halter tied around his wrist, when the led horse took fright and pulled the lad off and ran with him dashing out his brains in his mad career. On October 24, 1872, a barn belonging to Fred. Goodsell was set afire by some unknown person, and while attention was directed towards the fire Mr. Emery's grocery store was entered and robbed of $149.37. It was evidently what is called in the rogue's vernacular, "a put up job." The brewery, one mile from town, was burned on December 14, 1872. The concern was insured for $2.000.
THE REDMEN.
In the autumn of 1862, after the Sioux massacre, the people in and about Northfield were in a chronic state of apprehension. Indians were constantly passing in small bands, and while the days were passed with feelings of security, the nights were instinct with emotions of dread, every unusual sound was trans- formed into indications of the approach of the blood-thirsty savage, and very many persons who had retired for the night had the most gloomy foreboding, and felt that it was extremely uncertain whether the light of another morning would ever dawn for them.
Scouting parties were raised to scour the country for the lurking foe, and in one of these escapades was a man by the name of Hobbs, who, when a few miles out concluded to fire off an old charge in his gun, and pointing to a cornfield discharged the piece, when there arose the most ear-piercing
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screams and a woman made her appearance bringing one foot in her liand and exclaiming that she had been shot, which proved to be the case, the shot having taken effect in the foot.
In the fall of 1857, a band of Sioux on a predatory expedition to the Chippewa region, east of the river, camped near the village. They soon moved on and crossed the river between Hastings and Red Wing, and had a bloody fight with their enemies, securing several scalps. On their way back they again encamped this time within the city limits in the northeast part of the village, and here, being so far away from the Chippewas that they had no fear of a surprise, a scalp dance was indulged in. Each scalp was put on a hoop and that attached to a pole about ten feet long, and around these with spasmodic contortions and ear-splitting yells and drummings they danced, if such gyra- tory jumpings can be so called.
Another Indian affair occurred in 1863 when the Little Crow band of Indians were on the rampage about the country. A party of four left the main body west of Northfield and made their way hither on a horse-stealing expedition. Crossing the Daniels' farm, a half mile from town, and so on to Michael Kennery's place and remaining concealed until night, took six horses and made off toward the woods, retracing their steps. A force was at once organized in town and a hot pursuit started. The Indians finding themselves pursued kept dodging back and forth in the woods. At one point there is a cross road on the Dundas and Faribault road, leading into the timber and to the ford of the Cannon river, and at this point a guard was stationed as the red skins might cross here. About 11 o'clock they came in sight, crossed the ford and pushed along slowly to the corners. There was a farm house near the ambush and as they passed the farmer's wife rushed out and screamed at the top of her voice, "Here they come! Shoot 'em! Shoot 'em!" This, of course, alarmed the fellows, and they turned and recrossed the river. They were pursued for several days and finally overtaken and the whole four shot to death, the whites losing a single horse.
This locality for a year or two seemed to be on a regular thoroughfare for the Indians between the Mississippi river and some point on the Minnesota river, as hardly a day passed without seeing them in greater or less numbers. It was not uncommon for a woman, perhaps alone in the house, to look up and see one of their faces flattened against a window pane, or for a man to stumble on them asleep in the barn.
At one time, a Mrs. Martin, who lived where John Ames now does, was badly frightened on seeing a large number of them, estimated at 1,500, passing not far from her house. She was alone with a babe and two other children, and hastily
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wrapping up the little one put it in a dripping pan, and tying a string to it, started with the improvised baby carriage and the other children for John S. Way's place, a mile and a half distant.
MAYOR SCRIVER'S ADDRESS.
Hiram Seriver, then mayor of Northfield, delivered an address before the Old Settlers' Association, January 26, 1876, which is here reproduced, as it pictures the early days in this vicinity :
In June, 1856, 1 came to Minnesota, riding in a stage from Hastings. As the prairies spread out before us in their living green, dotted with the wild rose and other flowers, was it any wonder that the heart of the traveler from the barren hills of the East or the wilds of Canada should leap for joy within him, and that he should feel that this is indeed a goodly land? And as we came over the hill east of the village, and the noble forest with that then magnificent grove of elms near the mill broke upon our view as the stage drove into the embryo city of North- field, need you be surprised that I ordered my trunk taken off. and felt at last I had reached my journey's end, and in old settler's parlance "struck my stake." At that time the line of woods came down upon a line with the railroad track. The school section was furnishing wood and logs for the general public. The logs were sawed up at the old mill. The lumber was building up the town, and so furnished a salve to the con- sciences of those receiving its benefits. The skeleton balloon frames were being erected with great rapidity. The frames of the Jenkins and Cannon river houses were up, and Mr. North's, the most complete in the village, was a board house, battened and lined with cotton cloth, in which he and his family had spent the winter. The grist mill was just enclosed, and under its shadow John Way and I threw out black bass with a spear as fast as we could handle them. The old bridge was a rude affair of bents and stringers, swept away two or three times and replaced. There was a tradition that floodwood was found on the line of this Division street, landed here by some great flood. Nothing so great has occurred in our day although we have had some pretty bad ones. The grist mill furnished shelter for our first Fourth of July dinner. Many of you remember the basswood- plank, one-story building, 20 x 30 feet, set on blocks in which was the beginning of the mercantile interests of Northfield. The first stock in trade amounted to the modest sum of $500. A pale-faced youth who had seen too much indoor work for health, was its happy proprietor, and on the counter, as he made his bed on a piece of cotton cloth, the favoring breezes blew over him between the shrunken planks at the sides and the loose
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boards of the floor and brought health and vigor again. You remember the remarkable summer of 1858, and for that matter every season is remarkable. The frequent and terrible thunder showers ; how it seemed every night almost as though all nature was about to collapse. How the lightning played and the thunder roared and crackled, and the morning would open clear and beautiful, and nature with her face washed would smile again. At times during the night herds of cattle with no fear of tlie "cattle law" before them, would come down hungry for salt, and as the brine dripped through the opening floor from pork or fish barrels, the frail building would surge back and forth from their endeavors to reach it, till it seemed to its owner a question whether the cattle or the gentle breezes of the thunder showers would succeed first in toppling over his castle. Occasionally a venturesome calf would succeed in crawling under, and then there was no more sleep from the rattling and banging of the floor boards till that calf was dislodged. Warned by these experiences, the new building has been sunk to the solid rock. A hen hatched her brood under one corner of the building and would ascend the stairs in the quiet shades of evening, and at peep of dawn the owner was awakened by peep of chick, and the whole brood would come clamoring down the stairs and demand an exit. Animal life was active in getting a living. Even a little mouse, attracted, perhaps, by the goodly size of the young man's shoe, as affording sufficient storage for a winter's supply of food for the family, persisted several nights in succession in attempts to fill it with nuts.
The first religious service that I attended was in old Mr. Drake's house, two miles south, Dr. Scofield officiating. When the schoolhouse on the east side of the village was enclosed, services were held there, and the good people came in to attend, drawn by the sure-footed slow locomotion of ox teams. The first debating club was organized and held there, and the first question on the board was 'female suffrage." Thus early did this great question agitate the minds and hearts of the com- munity. It was difficult to find anybody to take the negative, for the male sex especially felt that the great necessity of the house was for the immigration of the fairer sex. Young men and old bachelors, therefore, were spoiling to have women vote, and every inducement was offered to get them here. The debating society grew, and a reading room was formed and the upper portion of Skinner's store occupied, but it was soon felt that a building suitable to its needs must be had, and the present Lyceum building and library was the result. The long winter evenings were spent in debate, music, readings, original papers, etc. Of course we had some astonishing bursts of eloquence,
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for genius felt in this free air untrammeled. One, in using a Bible illustration, spoke of the "Widow Cruse's jug of oil as unfailing." In speaking of his musical acquirements he said, "I once had no ear, no voice, but look at me now." A sufficient cause of encouragement in the musical line to those who knew him. As we felt the necessity of the civilizing influence of music in our semi-savage state, a band of young men was formed, led by John Mullin. Time hung heavy, money and girls, two prime necessities of life, were scarce. Even a counterfeit bill was a prize to some, and the first financial principle I heard enunciated was, "Never refuse a counterfeit; I would rather have a coun- terfeit than a genuine, for it helps to make trade lively. Keep it circulating." A principle which, if faithfully followed, would no doubt make it lively. If a sleigh ride was gotten up a sort of lottery was resorted to, and sorry was the poor wight who was not paired off. We have tradition that the winters were cold in those days. Certainly the climate is changed now. It is, I suppose, beyond contradiction that in the winter of 1856 it did not thaw on the south side of the house for three months. It is perhaps well to refresh our memories in these mild and salubrious days with recollections of those severe winters which gave our state such a bad reputation East, and in which it is said we were obliged to piece out our thermometers with broom handles in order to make a proper record. Mr. Jenkins had a boarder who froze his toes while asleep in bed with his feet near a window, and there was quite a disturbance among the boarders in consequence of the smell of gargling oil used in healing the injured members.
A more turbulent, roystering, good-natured, and withal com- plaining, whining crew, it would be difficult to get together than were those boarding at the two hotels during these winters. Scant fare and tough beef were disguised blessings to stir their sluggish blood and keep things lively. But woe to the poor traveler who happened along. What their ingenuity could not devise to annoy each other was visited upon him. While his attention would be attracted by some one at his side at the dinner table his pie or cake, or any little delicacy, was fast disappearing down the capacious maw of a conspirator at the other side. Overcoat pockets were visited and bottles were sure to be confiscated for the public good. At night he would wake up perhaps shivering from the loss of a blanket, and the snoring occupants of the field room would be entirely ignorant, of course. of the cause of his distress until the disturbance would bring the landlord to his relief. Toll was levied on the two enterprising young merchants, and there was a constant oscillation from one side to the other of these idlers.
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