USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 80
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 80
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The name is Sioux, and the proper pronunciation is "Woo- tanna," spelled Owatonna, and signifies straight. There were many incidents that took place during the early settlement, many of which were amusing. The early settlers were all industrious and enterprising, but were generally poor, ready always to ex- tend a helping hand, not addicted to vices, the consequence being that taxes have been measurably low. We look upon Steele as one of the best counties of the State.
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Judge G. W. Green, was the first lawyer to settle in the limits of what is now Steele county. The story of his coming is told by himself as follows :
About the year 1854 I left Beaver Dam, Wis., in company with Messrs. Hollingsworth, Bradley and Boomer, for the pur- pose of seeing some portion of southeastern Minnesota, with an idea of settling there. Arriving at La Crosse we purchased ma- terial for camping and ferried across the Mississippi river. One log house nearly finished greeted us on the west side of the river opposite La Crosse. This was all there was of La Crescent. The next house, twenty-four miles distant, was occupied by a Thompsonian physician, by name of Bently, who had concluded to mix claim-taking and rudimentary farming with his profes- sion. Six miles further on, where now is St. Charles, was one more log house occupied as a tavern by one Springer. There was a slight, newly-made wagon track extending about ten miles further on, where a young man and wife, by the name of Potter, had taken a claim and were building a small house. One story of this house was finished and the chamber floor laid of loose boards, without any roof. They asked us to stay with them over night; we did so. In the night it rained hard and we got thor- oughly soaked. After breakfast the next morning we started on without any track and no guide but our pocket compass. About noon of this day we came up with A. G. Sutliff, who was moving his family from Dodge county, Wisconsin, to a point about eight miles northwest of Travers des Sioux (missionary post near where St. Peter now is), so named because it was at that place that the Sioux Indians forded the river. Mr. Sutliff was a noted pioneer of Wisconsin. On the occasion of a previ- ous trip the spring before, he had made a claim at the point whither he was now wending his way, but by a different route. So he knew but little more than we did as to the most feasible route to his destination. Mr. Hollingsworth was Sutliff's father- in-law. We very willingly accepted their kind invitation to keep in company with them to their new claim. Mr. Sutliff had with him a large herd of cattle and sheep. We crossed the Ashland prairie near the head of the Straight and Zumbro rivers and near the Oak Glen lakes. Within one mile of Straight river we camped for dinner. After dinner Mr. Sutliff wanted me to go with him and look for a suitable place to cross the river. We went to the river, and, finding no desirable crossing, concluded to cross farther up near what seemed, by the appearance of the timber, to be a very considerable bend in the river, apparently some five or six miles away. It was agreed that Sutliff should go back and guide the teams, while I should cross the river and travel up to the proposed crossing. Without thinking much
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about the company, I went slowly on, until I came to the place where Dr. Kenyon subsequently lived. I could see or hear nothing of the company, not even a cow-bell, several of which I knew were in use on the cattle. I tried as well as I could to find their whereabouts. Although but a short distance below the proposed crossing, I could not find any trace of them before it was dark. As fate would have it, I had neither coat nor blanket, jack-knife nor matches, ax nor hatchet. Tired and hungry I laid myself down under a tree to rest, and was very soon asleep. With no breakfast I renewed my search for the company, going on up the river to a point where a Mr. Bennett afterward made his claim, but found no signs. I then concluded to follow down the river as long as my strength lasted, unless I found something more desirable. Before proceeding, however, I pulled off a boot and, with the head of a pin, wrote upon a smooth part of the boot-leg my name thus: G. W. Green, Beaver Dam, Wis., not knowing but some one would find my bones and boots, and there- by my friends in Wisconsin might hear from me. I had a little matter of $700 in my pockets which, in case I should be lost this act might be the means of my family getting. I had no other way of writing. After this preparation for the worst that might befall me, I started down the river, traveling slowly until nearly sun-down, when I found the trail where they had crossed the river, not over a half mile above where I had left Sutliff. With new courage I started on this trail. I followed it a short dis- tance without any trouble ; darkness coming on, the trail became invisible and I lost it. In hunting for it, I stumbled and fell, and my weariness and exhaustion were such that I did not feel dis- posed to rise for some time. I unconsciously fell asleep ; when I awoke the sun was high up and shining brightly. Re-invigorated by my sound and restful sleep I.soon found the trail and follow- ing it slowly a short time, I observed two men approaching me. They were of our company. Looking up towards the timber about three miles from where they had crossed the river, I saw the wagons and remainder of the company. They had camped there early in the afternoon expecting that I would see and come to them. When night came and I did not appear, they built a large fire and kept it going all night, hoping thereby to attract my attention.
The next day they spent on horseback looking for me. When 1 arrived in camp, they represented to me that my eyes were staring, and my lips and tongue swollen. Mrs. Sutliff prepared me something to eat, but I had not appetite and could eat nothing. instead thereof calling for a cup of sour milk which I drank with relish. I took but very little nourishment, except sour milk, the rest of the day. My appetite slowly returning the next day, I
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ate sparingly, but it was some three or four days before I could take an ordinary meal.
From here we proceeded to Beaver lake, crossing its outlet where the road now runs; here we saw an Indian, and tried to get some idea from him what course to take to reach the Min- nesota river, but failed to secure any correct information. Cross- ing some of the rivulets that unite to form the LeSueur near where St. Mary's was afterward built. We wandered on we knew not where, and struck Minnesota lake. Here we stayed two days and looked for signs. At last about three miles west of the lake, we found a freshly-made Indian trail going southwest. We concluded that the Indians had gone on a hunting expedition and they had congregated at the Minnesota river, starting en masse from there. Not knowing anything better to do, we took this trail back and struck the river at Mankato, July 4, Mankato then consisted of one family who kept a log boarding-house, and one man who presided over a saloon made of small poles. No other evidence of civilization met our gaze. From here we pro- ceeded to Mr. Sutliff's claim, remaining with him a day. We then followed the trail down the Minnesota river to St. Paul, which was at this time but little more than an Indian trading- post, not as large as St. Anthony. And Minneapolis had not yet been spoken of. Here we boarded the steamer for La Crosse, from which point we took our way homeward by our own con- veyance. At the time of this hasty and imperfect observation of this part of southeast Minnesota, the prairies were covered with luxuriant grasses from three and a half to four feet high, over which deer and elk roved at will, several large herds coming within our view. After leaving Potter's house, ten miles from Springer's we saw no house until our arrival at Mankato. I think there were two or three shanties near or at Le Sueur. At Belle Plaine there was one house occupied by Indian traders, and Judge Chatfield, then late of Racine, Wis., was building a small log house, preparatory to moving his family there. Wc found several township lines recently run ; one especially prom- inent in my recollection was the corner post at the southeast corner of township 107 north, of range 20 east, being the south- east corner of the city of Owatonna, whether I have the numbers right or not.
I made no definite location on this trip but thought I would return to Wisconsin and move with my family into the vicinity of Straight river or the Le Sueur, then making my location. Accordingly on August 12, 1854, I started with my family and movables, upon ox wagons, drawn by seven pairs of oxen, wagons all lightly loaded, but too heavy for the trip, as I afterward found. By driving slowly and carefully and leaving on the way about
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one-third of our load, we got through all right. With our train I had about eighty cows and young cattle, besides three wagons belonging to other parties. Eleven men accompanied me to help me through and assist in cutting hay for the stock, also to put up necessary building, etc., on our arrival. But it was agreed that they need stay no longer than two weeks after I had made my location.
While crossing the Ashland prairie, we met Mr. Sutliff re- turning with his teams and wagons for Winconsin supplies. He had sold his claim near Travers de Sioux and returned to Le Sueur river, locating about six miles south of Winona. He, be- ing anxious that we should locate near him, concluded to return with us and show us lands in his vicinity. Arriving at Straight river at the point where Owatonna is located, we found that stream booming, eight feet deep. We could go no further with all our luggage. Tents were pitched, cattle herded, counsel solicited. Here we found A. B. Cornell and family located on the bank of the river in a pole house covered with hay, near the bridge on Bridge street. Mr. Cornell seemed glad to see us and did not fail to respond freely to our request for counsel. He showed me the ground north of town on which I finally located. But as we all desired to locate together, and the rest could not satisfy themselves near, it was decided to leave the women and children with a couple of men as guards for them and to watch the stock, while the rest of the company should move on to Le Sueur river and reconnoiter. The next day we crossed the river with three wagons, four yoke of oxen, and one cow. The men camped on the west side of the river that night; I went back to the tent and stayed with my family. It rained a large portion of the night. In the morning we started, bearing southwest. We struck the Big Slough near where the road to Lemond now crosses it, and spent until the next day noon trying to cross, but all in vain. We then made our way to the river, where we found that, by mowing some grass to cover the outlet to the slough, we could cross. Still it rained by spells, and there was a well-defined stream in very ravine. We went on to Beaver lake and struck our old trail made on the first trip. In crossing one of the head rivulets of Le Sueur river, now a foaming torrent, the front end-board of the wagon-box went out and several articles went down. A broad-ax was lost, so we called this stream "Broad-Ax" creek. In fording another revulet one of the men, with boots as high as his knees, stood upon the back end-board of a wagon-box, holding onto the top of the wagon-cover, so this was called, "Blg Boot" creek. We looked around the prairie and timbers between Wilton and Sutliff's claim. We all liked the country and concluded to make claims there. I re-
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quested the men to go and make their claims, then I would make mine, which was done. Still it raincd; the men got wet and cold and finally homesick, or sick of their country. They said it would all overflow every wet spell, and, should they settle there, no one else would venture so far from civilization for the next hundred years, and for the rest of their natural lives and those of their families, they would be there without bridges or other im- provements, except such as they could improvise among them- selves. So we all went back to Straight river, and, on September 20, I staked out my claim, the south line of which extended a short distance north of the present Owatonna railroad depots. My men went to work cutting hay (no mowers and horse-rakes then). Two weeks had expired; our hay was cut and stacked; our log house laid up and covered with shakeroof ; no gables, no chinking, no floors, doors or windows. I could not persuade the men to stay another day. They said there would be no other person settling in there for the next fifty years, and that if I wintered they knew I would return to Wisconsin in the spring. So they started on their return trip. Here I was left with an invalid wife and three small children, no stables for the stock, no house suitable for cold weather, and apparently no help at- tainable. It seemed more than I could do to make things endur- able for winter, but the next day a wagon-load of ten men made their appearance, and I got what help I needed from then on. Mr. Cornell had a log house commenced on the bank of the river, near where Mr. Albertus's house now stands. It was laid up about four or five logs high. He fixed the back part and moved into it the fore part of winter. The upright part was completed the next spring and opened as a hotel. We moved into our house the latter part of October, having got the gables up and the spaces between the logs chinked and mudded on the outside.
About November 1, I found a company of movers, consisting of twenty-two men, women and children, camping on the prairie between Owatonna and Crane creek. The wind was cold and fresh from the northwest, with every appearance of a storm. I offered them one-half of my house for a few days until they could do better. They accepted. In the latter part of November, during a severe windstorm, accompanied with snow, hail and rain. a company of twelve surveyors drove up to my door. They had been engaged in dividing townships into sections. They were hunting for shelter from the storm. 1 assured them they had come to exactly the right place ; that I had plenty of room for shelter. (My company of twenty-two had not yet left). They observed the crowd of men, women and children around, and remarked that, judging from appearances, our house must be already pretty well filled. I told them that only the lower
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part of the house was occupied, and that, although there was no chamber floor, they could take their axes and cut poles sufficient to lay across the beams, upon which they could place hay to spread their blankets on.
This problem being solved, they desired to know what could be done with the teams, which needed shelter equally with the men, I pointed out to them a large stack of hay near the house, which was fenced with a strong, high oak fence. I told them they could turn their horses in there around that stack, and pitch off enough hay to make them comfortable. After some further inquiries they concluded to accept my offer, and went to work accordingly. The next morning they departed for Austin, well satisfied with their entertainment. My company of twenty- two remained with me till spring, and, as there was not space sufficient to make beds for all at once, they took turns in sleep- ing. whether by night or day, while the rest sang songs, told stories, etc. Some of them went to Le Sueur river, some located near Owatonna, and some returned to Wisconsin.
In March, 1855, Dr. W. W. Finch, an eminent physician of Essex county, New York, settled at Clinton Falls. On April 6, my son, George K. Green, was born, Dr. Finch attending, who went from my house to that of A. W. Adams, when his son, Frank, was born. The spring and summer of 1855 proved to be an important era in the history of Owatonna. There was no town there yet, but Cornell had been reinforced in the persons of W. F. Pettit, Ezra and John H. Abbott, Squire Phelps and others. There were no roads through Steele, Waseca or Dodge counties ; only miserable trails. Mr. Cornell, with his reinforce- ment, displayed indomitable energy and tact in converting the tracks toward Mantorville and Austin into passable roads. Then he and others started out as missionaries to enlighten the various emigrant trains searching for claims in Minnesota, through the counties of Dodge and Mower, and convincing them beyond doubt that Steele county was the equal, if not the superior, of any other section of the state, and that Owatonna was the center around which the world revolved-the "open sesame" to pros- perity and wealth. Cornell even went as far as La Crescent, opposite La Crosse, and later into Sparta, Wis., instructing the emigrants in search of new homes in regard to the Eldorado, meaning Owatonna, Minn. As a consequence of his labors, and that of others having the same interest, the town site of Owa- tonna was covered with emigrant wagons, men, women and children flocking in from every direction. A large corps of ener- getic young men engaged in gratuitously showing such emi- grants as desired new homes where they could make the most advantageous claims. Very many settled in the county that
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year, and many located in Owatonna, and thus the success of the enterprise was assured.
In the spring of 1857 I sold out at Owatonna and went to Clinton Falls, where I engaged in the building of the Clinton mills. These mills became the place for custom-grinding flour and feed for a large portion of Dodge, Mower, Freeborn, Waseca, Blue Earth, Faribault and Steele counties, and a portion of the south part of Rice county. After the advent of railroads better mills were erected all over the country, with modern machinery and model millers, and better flour was obtained from these than could be made by any of the pioneer custom-mills. The old mills were not generally located favorably or conveniently, for the new and improved order of things that came after the building of the railroads.
I liked Minnesota, and especially Steele county ; the people were mostly born and reared in the same latitude with me. Their habits and modes of thinking were similar to mine, and although radical differences at times existed, which were combated with energy on both sides, yet I liked the people and thought to spend the rest of my days with them. But in December, 1879, I took a violent cold which fastened itself upon me for all winter and until the latter part of the summer, when I seemed to get well, or nearly so. But the next winter, while I did not take cold in the ordinary acceptance of that term, yet, when the cold weather came I had asthma, which I did not recover from even by keeping myself almost constantly in-doors. The malady in- creased all winter, so I could not sleep well nights, and even through the ensuing summer there was no visible improvement in my condition.
In the fall I became worse, and it was evident to me that I could not stand another Minnesota winter. So on the twenty- fourthi day of October, 1881, I started with my family for Cali- fornia. In a few months after my arrival 1 entirely recovered from asthma, and have not felt a touch of it since. (Written at Salinas, Calif. in August, 1887.)
"Watchman and Register." As a matter of interest to the old settlers we here present a number of extracts from a copy of the "Watchman and Register" of July 28, 1856, which was pre- served by Dr. E. M. Morehouse. It is a copy of the second issue of the paper :
A. B. Cornell advertises as "attorney and counselor-at-law, notary public and general land agent, Owatonna, M. T. Being well acquainted with the whole country and its best locations, he feels assured that he can satisfy all who may favor him with their business." He states that he will enter land on time for occu- pants, and that he has village property in Owatonna, Mantorville,
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Austin, Wilton and Empire. Adolphus Town advertises a "lot of books, many of a religious character, for sale."
The following article in regard to Owatonna is also found in this issue: "Owatonna is situated on the east bank of Straight river, on a beautiful table-land some thirty feet above the bed of the stream, and is eighteen miles from its junction with Can- non river. To the north and south are heavy bodies of timber, while westward it is generally prairie, interspersed with beau- tiful groves ; clear running streams and gushing springs abound.
"But two years since, the first settlement was made, at which time no one lived nearer than five miles on a direct line north, and in any other direction nearly forty. In October succeeding the settlement, the first surveys were made in the vicinity, since which time the country has been rapidly filling up. The town or village was laid off as such last November, and has gone ahead beyond all calculation. It is a point well worthy the attention of all desiring to invest in town property, and the country around cannot fail to snit the most particular. Our settlers arc all industrious and enterprising, being mostly from the Eastern states; good schools are already established, and the Word of God is publicly proclaimed by preachers of the different denom- inations every Sabbath.
"No intoxicating drink has been sold, and it is the deter- mination of all to keep the curse away. This place is the county- seat of Steele county, and, being on the direct route from La Crosse and Winona to St. Peter city, Travers des Sioux and Mankato, and from Dubuque by way of Cedar river to St. Paul, Minn., and St. Anthony, make it a prominent center,-roads con- necting it with all the surrounding country-in fact, the future prospect stands unrivaled."
Ezra and John H. Abbott who took a prominent part in the carly history of the town and county, were natives of New Hamp- shire. Ezra came west, first settling at Batavia, Ill., in 1854, al- though for some time he had been living in Virginia. At Ba- tavia he and his wife were engaged as teachers in an academy. John II. started west in May or June, 1885, and at Batavia, Ill., he joined his brother Ezra, and from there they came together first to St. Paul, which was then the territorial capital and by far the largest city in this territory, and a few days later to St. Anthony. They next visited a number of localities in search of a suitable site. Ezra had in view a location of a model stock farm, while John H., who had been largely engaged in railwork, had in view a town site, where it would be possible to build a railroad center and a metropolis. After a time they visited Fari- bault and there learned of the Owatonna settlement and town- site. Faribault at that time was having quite a boom. J. W.
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North had already located at the present site of Northfield, and was making preparations for building a city. There was only one building on the site at that time, however, and the dam across the river was just being built. At Faribault they found a vil- lage of several hundred inhabitants, a mixture of French, In- dians and Americans. General Shields, afterward United States senator, was then in the "big woods" starting his village-Shields- ville. Alexander Faribault, the old Indian trader, was the lead- ing spirit of the settlement, surrounded by his usual coterie of Indians, guns and dogs. Gen. Levi Nutting was also there, and had started to build a hotel. Many others were already engaged in building a city there, but those mentioned have become familiar names in Minnesota history. While in the vicinity of Faribault they ran across one of the Pettit families, and through that means were directed toward Steele county. On their way up the river they passed the sites of both Medford and Clinton Falls. At the first they saw Smith Johnson, who informed them of the brilliant prospect they had for building a town. At Clinton they saw Deacon Finch, who was plowing near the trail, and he explained to them that nature had planned Clinton for a metroplis with its water power, abundance of stone, etc.
Upon arriving at the site of Owatonna at about noon one day late in June or early in July, 1885, they went to the little log cabin just north of where Mr. Albertus's present dwelling stands. They found here A. B. Cornell and wife, W. F. Pettit, Rev. Thomas, and several boarders. After dinner they looked over the table-land and town-site generally. Pettit's claim extended a mile east and west, Bridge street being at the south line of it. Cornell then "claimed" eighty acres south of this line, having sold some which he had held previously. Park and Smith also had a cabin, and Addison Phelps, held one still south of Cor- nell's. Dr. Morehouse was living in a cabin not far from the river. John Deckering, agent for Judge Green, was living near Maple Creek. The judge had claimed four forties of land in section 3, 4, 9 and 10, in what is now Owatonna township Obediah Gains, who with his son had claimed 320 acres of land, was here. This claim was directly east of the Pettit and Cornell claims. Elder Towne was also here as the advance agent for a little colony, and was looking up claims. Charles Ellison was also among the settlers, having a claim two miles south of Owatonna, but was stopping at Cornell's. D. Lindersmith was living in a log cabin on the west side of the river. A man named Presley was living in the woods north of town. In addition to these there were a number of young men who might more prop- erly perhaps be termed transients. The only crop growing was some sod corn and watermelons which Pettit had planted. Pettit
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