USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 79
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 79
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Judge Allen C. Adsit was one of the early settlers of Steele county, and one of the first settlers in Aurora township. His in- teresting contribution follows :-
Late in April, or in the early part of May, 1856, I was one of a party of young men composed of myself, my brother, the late Charles Adsit, George W. Grimshaw, John B. Perham, John Ball and Benjamin Grimshaw, all of Jefferson county, New York. This party left Winona with two yoke of oxen, and a wagon loaded with the necessary agricultural implements and camp supplies. The object of the trip was to find good soil on gov- ernment land which might be claimed by settlers, and which we were informed, was to be found in plenty just west of Dodge county. The start was made in the afternoon of the day. We took the route up the Rollingstone valley, and followed the trail west through St. Charles, Rochester, Mantorville and Ashland. This latter place had been settled the year before and at the time of our trip consisted of a saw-mill, store, blacksmith shop, and two or three houses, more or less. Here the big marsh, the head- waters of the Zumbro, Cedar and Staright rivers spread out be- fore us to the west, seemingly a barrier to our further progress, the marsh appearing as impassible as though it had been a lake, which we found to be a fact. We wished to reach the beau-
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tiful oak openings which were visable in the distance. The only way we could do so was by skirting the big marsh, northwest- wardly. Crossing the Zumbro at Ashland, we proceeded around the edge of the marsh as best we could. In many places our oxen got mired in the soft soil. They were, however, extricated on each occasion by the extreme efforts of the entire party. Finally we arrived, on the fourth day out, at the openings east of what is now Bixby station, in the southeast part of Aurora township. We were much pleased with the outlook and the lay of the land so we made our camp, and after a night's rest each selected a claim.
We built a shanty of oak logs sufficiently large to accomodate all with lodgings. There was plenty of prairie grass and good fuel. As we came from a timber country we had hoped to estab- lish ourselves where the soil was good and the timber plenty. This we had found and were content.
This was the first settlement in Aurora township so far as I know. About the same time, or soon after, other settlers came in and made claims in the northern part of the township. Dur- ing the summer, many others, whose names I cannot now recall, came and settled in the township.
At the time of our settlement there was a two horse stage carrying the United States mail, running from Owatonna to Lansing, south one day and north the next, six days in the week. Owatonna was our nearest postoffice. A building has been erected on section 1, township 105, range 19, by the mail con- tractor for a half way station, where dinners were served to pas- sengers traveling by stage. That building still stands, or at least did in 1906, the oldest building in southern Steele county. The station was named Oak Glen.
J. B. Perham who was a surveyor, put in his time that sum- mer in locating claims for the incoming settlers. He also platted, and divided the site of Oak Glen into blocks, lots, alleys and streets.
The naming of the town of Aurora was at a meeting of the settlers at Oak Glen station in May, 1856. The name of Aurora was suggested by J. B. Perham. John Ball suggested Hiawatha. A majority voted for Aurora, which settled it forever afterward.
We had no preacher among us, but we all observed the Sab- bath day in remembrance of the teachings of our mothers. July 4, 1856, together with some others who had became our neighbors in the meantime. we celebrated the day by taking a trip to Ash- land with our ox teams and wagons. We enjoyed the day very much.
Another incident of interest occurred carly in September. A candidate to be voted for at the coming election for member of
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the territorial legislature, named A. B. Cornell, visited the set- tlement and prevailed upon us to support him, at a convention to be held in the near future at Owatonna to nominate such candi- date as well as county officers. On the day appointed for the con- vention we took an early start with our oxen and wagon for Owatonna. On our arrival we found the little town filled with men from the surrounding towns very much excited over the political situation. It was a mass meeting. Every man was a delegate. There were two candidates, A. B. Cornell and the Rev. O. A. Thomas. The convention was called to order in the highway near the Winship House. The vote was taken viva voice, at first, but owing to a dispute as to which candidate had a majority, a division was had. All in favor of Cornell was re- quested to take one side of the highway and all in favor of Thomas the other. It was then determined by actual count as to which had a majority. Cornell won out. I think this was the first political convention held in Steele county.
The days on our claims were filled with incidents that, after the passing of half a century, are still reemembered. Indians, rattlesnakes and gophers were quite numerous. WVe did not suffer for want of fresh meat as the prairie chickens were suffi- ciently numerous to afford us a daily supply for our table. I was detailed to provide the chickens. This was an easy task, as they were almost as tame as domestic fowls, and I often shot them from the cabin door.
I proved up my claim in September, 1856, the second claim preempted in the township. Personally I did not remain to im- prove my land as did my brother. I went to Dubuque, Iowa, in that fall, taught school the following winter, returning to New York state, attended school, read law, was admitted to the bar in 1859, enlisted in the 44th New York Volunteer Infantry in September. 1861, and at the close of the war settled in Michigan where I have since resided.
Find from clippings who wrote this.
My first recollection of Owatonna is that of riding into the place in a covered carriage one bitter cold evening. November 17, 1857. The thermometer registered 20 below zero the day be- fore, and though slightly warmer there was a dampness that chilled, for a storm was near. The American House at which we stopped was a structure, part frame, part logs, owned by Elder Towne, who also had a store in the same building containing many yards of calico and several other things. The elder greeted us hospitably and with his wife and family of six sons and three daughters made us specdily at home.
I was but a boy and as I had never lived in a small western town before I was greatly interested in many of the scenes about
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me, but bedtime coming on I was soon in the Land of Nod. On waking next morning I found over one foot depth of snow on the ground, and this snow remained all winter.
One of the first objects to become familiar was a hugh white Newfoundland dog. He was white with the exception of his ears, one of which was white, covered with fine black specks, while its mate was a dark brown. This dog, whose name was Keno, was made welcome wherever he went, and it was his habit to call on quite a number of families each day barking at the door for admittance. He would then walk in a grave and majestic way, greeting each with a wag of his tail and wind up his call by walking to the cake box where he was usually treated. He would then take his leave in a gracious manner.
Keno was also king of the dogs of the town. He was the property of Judge N. M. Donaldson, the first district judge of this district. On one occasion when his owner's daughter, Mrs. Harsha, was standing on the Straight river bridge, her hat blew off. Keno at once sprang in and rescued the hat, apparently thinking the wearer was attached to it.
A saloon already existed in the town, but shortly after my arrival an incident occurred which I shall always remember. A stock of liquor of several barrels had arrived, consigned to a party who had a very thirsty throat himself. The barrels were put into a little frame building with the expectation that a few days time would see a thriving business started, in anticipation of which the owner and one of his friends proceeded to get glori- ously drunk.
On that evening a short time after dark, by some coincidence a fire was discovered. The frame of the George B. Hall residence had apparently caught fire and was burning to the ground. The flames could be distinctly seen towering heavenward, the slender frame showing and apparently enveloped by a wall of fire. The citizens rushed to the rescue, the new saloon keeper with the rest, but found on reaching the spot that the fire was merely a large pile of shavings on the side of the building farthest from town.
The excitement over, some returned to their places of busi- ness, and the liquor dealer returned to his barrels, but only to find an "empty cradle and the baby gone." Some supicious look- ing holes showed plainly the avenues by which the precious fluid had escaped.
C. W. Hawley in a paper written for the University club, several years ago, presented this pleasant picture of the early days in Owatonna and Steele county.
Age is the reminiscent period of a person's life. Through youth and middle life, we sit with feet upon the dashboard and
STEELE COUNTY COURT HOUSE
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drive with eyes and thoughts fixed upon the horizon, anxious to know what is beyond, with little thought of yesterday. Later we pass the lines to younger and steadier hands and with feet over the tailboard, look back, and "The Tomorrow" has little charm for us.
To-night I turn back the leaves of life's history. The events of times gone by crowd my memory. I see the boy, still in dresses, floating miniature rafts down the New Hampshire creek or holding his hands in the warm meal running from the home- made granite burrs of his grandfather's mill. I remember his first visit to school on "speaking day" and on his return home, saying, "Mother I spoke, I said, 'Our Father.'"
I remember well the lake voyage from Buffalo to Chicago and the wagon trip of many days to Rockton, Ill. There were no railroads as far west as Chicago then. Again the wagon trip to lowa, still in advance of railroads. I still see the big letters across the top of the blackboard, A, B, C, to Z, from which I commenced my education. Then shedding the cambric aprons came academy, college and Civil war. These memories are old, any reminisences of Owatonna, are of yesterday.
I came into Owatonna in early 1866 horseback, having ridden from Madison, Wis. The road was long and narrow and deep. The two railroads had just made Owatonna the "Great Western Emporium." Then was a time for a great bargain. To sell Owatonna for what the people thought it was worth and buy it back later. There was a good deal of "back door" business done in those days, so much, that Broadway and Main streets changed front to rear and the alley became, and has since been a business street. How this came about would be interesting history. In my time Mill's bank and several business houses were still on Main street. While the people were "free and easy" still I think they enjoyed themselves as well, and behaved even better, on the whole. than at the present time. They had more time for pleasure and more inclination to improve it. We did not try to buy and pay the same day or year. In fact we thought we had done our part, when we had bought, let the other fellow worry about the pay. Our lakes, full to the brim, were crowded with fish and covered with ducks and geese. Chickens and quails were at out very doors and larger game in the "big woods." We had spelling schools, debating societies, sleigh- rides and picnics. We were not obliged to walk a mile or more to a circus or dog show. Central park was good enough for that purpose. It was also a market place and feeding ground for farmers and emigrants.
The old time debating society brings to mind the Owatonna Literary society, organized long before I came. We met wher-
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ever we could get room, light and heat the cheapest. We liked it better when donated. The membership was quite large and composed of the first talent of the town, the men that talked, when talk was needed. Some of the members as I remember them were John Hale Abbott, T. R. Medd, Judge N. M. Donald- son, Ed. Donaldson. Dr. Akin, J. Cade Ellis, C. S. Crandall, F. T. Drebert, B. E. Darby, C. H. Church, W. Holt, John Sewell, J. F. Young, M. A. Fredenburg, J. M. Burlingame, William Leary, John Shea, being about half the membership. The wives of these members and other ladies took active parts. It was not only a social and literary society, but filled the place of a board of trade and commercial club. Questions of the day and matters of public interest were discussed. Orations, readings and recitations were a part of the exercises. Beginners were encouraged and many of Steele county's orators can credit this society with giving them their start.
The city's first library was part of the equipment of this order, and during the life time of the society, it was kept up to date, and contained many hundred volumes. Stimulated by our example, the high school and the academy organized similar societies, thereby cutting off the supply of new life and the Owatonna Literary society, having fulfilled its mission, ceased to be. The library was loaned to a free reading room which ran until its patrons could do their sparking and flirting, without assistance, when it followed the literary society into retirement, but with less credit.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union took charge of the books for a while. Finally a very small quorum of the de- funet literary society, composed largely of proxies, voted to donate the books and cases to the high school. Dr. Medd and myself were appointed a committee to see them delivered and the same day they were placed in the high school building, and as the Irishman said of the men that did not run at the battle of Bull Run, "They are there yet." This was the beginning of the high schol library. Prof. Rankin received them and made them the nucleus of a school library and museum of which the school may well be proud. I was here before the original land marks had disappeared. The log house of Ezra Abbott on the cast bank of Straight river near the house now occupied by A. Albertus.
The Winship log house formerly on the site of the later "Winship house." guarded the approach from the west. The Phelps log house formerly on the place now owned by Dr. Hatch and across the then "gulley." now South Cedar street. On the place of Julius Young the Cornell house, guarded the southern pass. These houses were all set by the sun, which was known to
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rise somewhere in the east. The wind grist mill which formerly stood on the west hill, was a landmark for many years. An over- dose of wind scattered it over the prairie and the toll at the water mill was materially increased.
A. B. Cornell was one of the most prominent men in Steele county in the earlier days of its existence. The following article, which appears in a previous work, is worthy of preservation in this history.
Ever will myself and family remember the many pleasant days spent in what is now one of the most beautiful cities of Minnesota, and never can be forgotten our first thoughts on be- holding the charming nook, now changed into a mart of enter- prise by the hand of man. Oft does our memory linger as we live over the first days of our introduction to the unsettled portion of the then territory of Minnesota, and perhaps a simple sketch of events passing at that time may be readable. It was early in the year of 1854 that four families, incited by the reports received left Sparta, in Monroe county, Wisconsin, to try the realities of a border life among the Sioux Indians. Their names were George F. Pettit, wife and three children; WV. F. Pettit, wife and child ; Wilbur Fisk and wife, and the writer and his wife and two little girls of less than three years of age.
The first two named parties were possessed of some means; the last two were comparatively poor, but they had all a reason- able share of pluek, and left Wisconsin with a determination to hew out a home in the far Northwest. The trip thither was overland the only traveled route being via Black river Falls, Eau Claire, Menominee, Hudson, or St. Croix, to St. Paul, from whence we were intending to make for the headwaters of Can- non river, over what was then a seemingly boundless prairie. The journey, though not without interest or excitement, was one of great fatigue, especially for the wives and little ones, but was happily accomplished without special accident till we approached a small creek, a short distance north of where now is located the flourishing city of Northfield. On arriving at that creek we had camped for the night on the bank of the Vermillion, had par- taken of a supper of fish from the limpid waters thereof. When, ere we retired, the heavy clouds in the west betokened a storm, and the distant rolling thunder did not impart special music to our ears. Before morning the storm swept along, one continued peal of thunder, incessant flashes of lightning and a perfect de- luge of water. In a few moments the whole prairie seemed a vast pond ; but as the day broke the clouds cleared away, and the original party, reinforced by several other teams, among them a Mr. Alexander, who subsequently settled near Northfield, started out for the "land of promise." Passing to the west of a
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towering obelisk on the open prairie-a sort of landmark for the early settlers-we came to a vast expanse of water which for- bid further progress. Skirting down the stream we found a trail where evident crossings had been made previous to the storm, and, observing signs of a camp on the other side, we too camped for the night.
In the morning, the stream having very much abated, some of the party waded to the bank of the stream, which was not of great width, and on inquiring found the campers there to con- sist of a young Frenchman and his Matilda Jane, who had started a day or two previous from what was then known as Faribault's trading post, now the city of Faribault, bound to Mendota, sixty miles away, to secure the services of a priest to join them in wedlock two loving hearts. The storm coming on they were blockaded-could neither proceed or return-and not having provided themselves with any lunch, as might naturally be supposed they were hungry. Still the delicacy of the situation made them rather reticent in applying for relief. Our party hav- ing taken in the situation, fully believing that loving hearts even, could not subsist on bliss alone, took speedy measures to con- vey, on the cranium of an expert swimmer some edibles to the other bank of the stream. where the swain, wading out, met the messenger, who not being arrayed in appropriate bridal array was compelled to decline an introduction to the soon-to-be bride. The next day the water had so fallen that rafts were put in requisition, the party taken across, a hurried dinner eaten, and the blushing, happy pair started priest-ward (a new ward, but will be understood), bound for a blessing or ratification of their promises to each other.
Ilere, in ferrying our our party over, by some slip or care- lessness, the raft capsized, carrying with it a wagon and its entire contents, but by good luck no lives were lost, though we were delayed for a couple of days in fishing from the bottom of the stream the various articles therein submerged.
Passing on we came to Cannon river, near where Waterford was afterward located, where was the first semblance of settle- ment after leaving St. Paul, and finding the water so high it was decided to make permanent camp, and like the Israelites of old send out spies to view the land. While making arrangements, Colonel Ide, who had located a few days previous just east of Faribault, came into camp. his mission being to attend the Masonic celebration of St. John's day at St. Paul, he being a master Mason.
We speak of him more particularly because he was after- ward a member of the legislature from Rice county, a candidate for lieutenant governor on the first organization of the Repub-
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lican party of the state-one of the early settlers of Wilton, Waseca county, a man universally beloved-and who some years since passed away.
When matters were properly arranged, the Pettits, Fisk, and the writer together with several young men, started on a tour of exploration-passing up and around Cannon lakes-toward the source of the stream to the lakes near Waterville, thence south and east to Clear lake, thence northeast, through what then seemed almost interminable marshes, to the vicinity of Deerfield, from there to where Medford is now located, where was found a pioneer, Smith Johnson by name, where we halted for a day or two. In this vicinity was three families, Sanborn, Collins and Johnson, who were probably the first families settling in what is now Steele county, but then a part of Rice county. The only place at which an election was held in all the tract then embraced in Rice county in 1854, was Faribault, at which time the assembly district was composed of Hennepin, Dakota and Rice counties, H. H. Sibley, afterward governor, was elected representative, the entire vote being about three hundred, Rice county contributing the total number of twenty-eight .- all for Sibley.
After partaking of the hospitalities of settlers, George F. Pettit and several of the young men, to whom the mosquitoes paid particular attention, decided to return, while Mr. Fisk and one or two others went through the timber to East Prairie, W. F. Pettit and the writer following up the river to where Owa- tonna now stands, Mr. Pettit laying claim to 320 acres northwest of the point where Maple creek forms its junction with Straight river, the writer laying claim to what is now included in the southern part of the city, but, as no lines were then surveyed, a portion of said land or claim afterward proved to be on the school section.
Here, far away from any settlement, in the midst of and surrounded by Indians, Mrs. Cornell and her two little girls commenced the making of a home ; the shade of a tree just above a spring which was dug with poles and brushes overhead, cov- ered with hay, about nine feet by ten in size, being parlor, sit- ting and bed room. The first day of July, 1854, is a day long to be remembered ; the first white woman beheld your now pros- perous city, and until September 22, was the sole female inhab- itant. No roads traversed the country in any direction ; no trails except one crossing the river nearly a mile north at the point of timber, then over the hill to the coast, near where the public school building was afterward erected; but we did not lack for company. The natives, the noble Sioux, were constant visitants, in season and out of season, but were viewed with a great appre- hension at the time. The nearest postoffice was St. Paul, eighty
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miles away ; neither was there a store nor a chance to get a box of matches nearer than the capital. North of us the nearest set- tler was distant seven miles; east, forty-five miles, where the city of Rochester now stands; south, forty miles, and west, Mankato, fifty miles, with neither roads nor bridges nor trails except those made by the Indians. In the fall a postoffice was established at Faribault, which made us feel we had everything at our very door as we could by walking a journey of eighteen miles, send to St. Paul for anything we might want, and it took only two weeks to get it.
The writer and family, Judge Green and family, Messrs. Park, Smith and Williams single men, and a family by the name of Scott were the only parties who spent the winter of 1854-55, though in the early spring Messrs. Phelps, Carlton, Town, San- ford, Arnold, Lindersmith, Meek, Odell, settled near by. A school was established. N. Winship located in early part of sum- mer and erected the first public-house in the county. It was built of logs subsequently enlarged, and has been kept by the same gentleman for about thirty years. Messrs. Smith and Park opened a store. a postoffice was established, roads opened and the town laid off. The legislature of 1855 laid off Steele county, and it was organized by Governor Gorman, with Samuel F. Smith, F. W. Fisk and Francis Ingraham, commissioners; Smith Jolin- son, probate judge; Charles Ellison, register of deeds; W. F. Pettit, sheriff ; Simeon Case, county attorney ; J. H. Catlin, clerk.
The first school was taught by Helen Holbrook in the sum- mer of 1855, the accommodations being inexpensive, a mere bower of brush, while occasionally Rev. Mr. Towne did the spiritual part of the settlement, in the way of preaching. The county-seat was established, and Owatonna took a start as a town of note. In 1856 the "Watchman and Register" was started by J. H. Abbott and the writer. Ezra Abbott erected a steam saw- mill ; a neat log schoolhouse was built, a drug store was opened by Dr. D. S. Harsha, J. W. Morford opened a shoe store, subse- quently putting in dry goods and groceries, and through the untiring energy of its citizens, arrangements were so made as to secure both the Transit and Minnesota Central railroads thus making it one of the best towns in southern Minnesota.
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