USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 81
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 81
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was anxious to go to Texas and wanted to sell, yet held his claim at quite a high figure-$1,300 or $1,400. There were scarcely any improvements, and in this condition this price seemed high; yet there were many considerations which led them to finally accept the proposition, and as a matter of interest it will not be out of place in this connection to refer briefly to them. Up to this time Ezra Abbott and his brother had been undecided where to locate. In a measure their objects were different, yet of course both desired a location that had some promise for the future.
During the winter of 1854-55 a charter had been obtained and organization effected of a company proposing the construction of a railroad from Winona westward to St. Peter. This was called the "Transit." Movements were also already on foot, al- though very incomplete and indefinite, with a view to building a road from Minneapolis or St. Anthony south to Iowa. Owa- tonna seemed to be a natural crossing for these two lines. This was one important point in favor of the town. Another was its location, which was magnificent. But there were drawbacks. At that day, to locate and attempt to build a town at a point where there was no hope of securing a county seat was discour- aging business. During the session of the territorial legislature, in the winter of 1854-55, Steele county had been created and set off from Rice county. It embraced twenty congressional town- ships-all of the present county of Waseca and the two western tiers of Steele county's present townships. It will thus be seen that Owatonna was virtually in the northeast corner of the county as then bounded. This, of course, must be changed or the county seat would undoubtedly be finally located farther west. However, after looking over the ground thoroughly, the Abbotts decided to accept Pettit's offer, which they did, and thereupon became part owners of the town site.
Rev. William Thompson was one of the early pastors in Steele county. Some years ago, in relating his early experi- ences, lie wrote as follows :
About April 1, 1855, in company with a portion of my Ohio charge (Rev. Thompson had previously been admitted to the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and has preached in Stark and Columbina counties, Ohio, and at Rostraver, Pa.) and my family, consisting of myself and wife and Joseph Ilugh. Mary E., Hamilton R., Luther M., Cornelia Jane and Louiza Ellen, we took steamboat at Wellsville, Ohio, for the then ter- ritory of Minnesota. After a tedious journey of about sixteen days, we landed at Hastings at midnight, several of our number being very sick. I can never forget our first night's experience in Minnesota. We were hurriedly set ashore on the bare ground,
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but by placing some bedding and arranging our packboxes around, formed a temporary shelter by placing four of our num- ber, one at each corner, to hold a bed-quilt over the sick to keep off the falling rain. And so we stood for about one hour, trying to get the hotel-keeper to take us in, but as he was not willing to receive our sick we resolved to spend the night in watching them. Whilst we were thus engaged a Mr. Bailly, who kept a kind of variety store (the only one in the village), came to us and spoke kindly, and offered us the free use of his building, telling us to make ourselves as comfortable as we could. We gladly carried our sick into his store-room, and there, on that sad night, and on the floor of Mr. Bailly's store, Lucetta Jane Bar- rick died in about one hour after she was taken in; her sister, Mrs. James Anderson, died a few days later, and both were buried side by side near the then village, now city, of Hastings, and my first ministerial services in Minnesota were to perform the funeral obsequies of those two members of my Ohio con- gregation.
Leaving my wife in charge of four very sick children, in company with Mr. Anderson, I started for the interior of this to us new country, settled first near Cannon City, in Rice county, remaining there only one year for various reasons. Myself, William N. Breidenstien (a son-in-law), my eldest son, Joseph, and Elias Hahn, in the early part of April, 1856, made a journey on foot, seeking a better locality. Our objective point was Wil- ton, in Waseca county. Crossing Straight river at Faribault, we followed the course of said stream on both sides, crossing twice after leaving Faribault; we reached Owatonna some time in the month of April. Crossing Maple creek we approached the village on the east side. On the hill we found a man, whose name I have forgotten, who kept a small store. We inquired for "Owatonna." "Why," he said; "this is it." So on we went and found the rest of "Owatonna," consisting of a few houses scattered over a most beautiful site for a town. The Winship house had just been built, then a log hotel a little down the river, kept by a Mr. Sanborn, a schoolhouse, a smith-shop and one or two small stores, was about all of Owatonna at that time. We crossed Straight river on a farm wagon driven by Thomas Meek. The banks were overflowed, so as to cover the very poor basswood bridge, but Mr. Meek was well acquainted with the bearings, and so conveyed us safely over. We stopped that night with David Lindersmith, who subsequently informed me of the southeast quarter section 20, town 107, range 20. To return to our trip to Waseca county, I will state that we looked the country over carefully, passing over some beautiful prairie
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land. At last we reached the LeSueur river at the fording. Seeing a man on the opposite side with an ox team, we called to him, and he kindly drove across and took us to the other side. We remember the gentleman's name was John Kelley. We asked for the town. "Right here," said Mr. Kelley. He con- ducted us to a log house. He said, "Wilton was to beat Owa- tonna." We couldn't see it in that light. As it was drawing toward night and no houses in view, we inquired for lodging. "Just follow me," said Mr. Kelley, "and I will take you to the 'Central hotel.'" Accordingly we obeyed orders, and taking us down the slope to the front of the "Central," we found a rude structure composed partly of pine boards, set perpendicularly, nailed to a pole laid over the entrance to a kind of cave in the hill, probably fifteen by twenty feet. The host, Mr. Jenkins, treated us kindly, and his charges were quite moderate. We then took leave of our kind host and his excellent wife, and took a good look at the surrounding country. It was a grand sight. As far as eye could see it was one vast ocean of waving grass, not green, but having passed the winter, it was changed to a beautiful brown, showing that it must be a very good grazing ground for the large herds of fine cattle that were being daily driven into this beautiful land, which had lain so many centuries only as a hunting ground for the aborigines or a pasturage for the buffalo and other wild animals.
Subsequent circumstances proved that Mr. Cornell was en- tirely wrong in his estimate of the future greatness of the con- templated "City of Wilton." Thus. after looking all over the country in and around Wilton, we felt a desire to return by the way we came, to the then village of Owatonna, and eventually all settled as near as we could to the promising city of Owatonna, Breidenstien on Straight river, cornering with me on the section line, and Mr. Hahn claiming in the town of Somerset. Having traded my pre-emption right in Rice county, we went to work in good earnest on the new claim. Of course much of my own time was occupied in my ministerial duties, and not being a practical farmer, and being entirely ignorant of the mode of farmi- ing in this climate, we labored under great disadvantages in many respects ; nevertheless, the second season we put out some twenty-five acres of wheat, corn and rye; crops looked quite promising until within a few days of harvesting, when suddenly a terrible hail-storm destroyed all our hopes and a general panic ensued ; many left for other parts, but a few remained, and by mutual sympathy and kindness, no one starved to death. But those were the dark days in the life of early pioneers of this country, when
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"Men looked in each other's eyes, To read their chance of death or life."
It would perhaps be too tedious and uninteresting to recount many of the experiences through which we have passed. I will only give two of the most important of my personal adventures.
In the fall of 1857, I started one day for my appointment at East Prairieville, and as I had several times noticed a road at the crossing of a small creek a short distance below Medford. diverging a very little to the left, running as I thought very nearly parallel with the road I had before taken, and thinking it would lead me out to the open prairie a little lower down the river, and bring me nearer to a point I wished to reach, I pursued it but a short distance when I found it to bear much to the left. I then concluded to cross the V, formed by the two roads ; after walking for a long time I came to a small stream emanating from a spring. I stooped down and took a drink; on rising again I lost my bearings, and in attempting to make a straight line from the spring I only circled round to the same place ; this I did the third time. I then found a line of blazed trees made by the surveyors, and by watching those marks I found my way out to the road I was in search of. Fortunately I found a Mr. Close in his winter quarters, and as it was then about 10 o'clock at night, he very kindly gave me my supper and lodging, and on the morrow I reached my destination in good time.
At another time I left home in a snow-storm, and in trying to make my way to a Mr. Coperthwaits, where I intended to stay over night, night overtook me, and having neither roads nor fences to guide me, and a fearful snow-storm in full force, I missed my way and went too far eastward. I took, as I thought, a straight course to the gentleman's house, and after walking for about two hours I came to a deserted claim shanty, but there was neither door nor window, and the snow had drifted in and filled it nearly full. I had matches, but no fuel of any kind, so I could not build a fire. I now fully realized my perilous con- dition ; I was really lost. To any one who has not had the same experience, words fail to give an adequate idea of the sensation ; I never had the same routine to go through that I had in the timber, to-wit: I made three tangents to get to the same forlorn shanty ; finally I took great care to keep the wind directly on my back, and by that means got away from the shanty I had visited so often.
I was perfectly calm, and deliberately concluded that in order to keep from freezing I would be compelled to continue walking slowly until daylight should reveal my whereabouts, for I had not the least idea of the points of the compass. After about two
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hours' walking, fortunately I saw a stovepipe from which smoke was wafting upward. I hastened up and was very kindly enter- tained by the gentleman of the house, whose name I have for- gotten. Next morning (Sunday) found me just six miles too far east, but after a good breakfast, without charge, I made my way to Cannon City in good time. It must be remembered that at this time I had no horse and was compelled to travel on foot, preaching at the following points: Cannon City, East Prairie- ville, Brush Creek, occasionally Faribault and Morristown. I met the above appointments generally promptly and in good time. The Home Missionary Society gave me, the first year, $100, and from the other sources I received in all about $60. Or- ganized the first English Lutheran congregation (that I knew of at the time) in the house of Hon. J. C. Idle, at East Prairie- ville, in the month of June, 1855. I believe I preached the first funeral sermon in the Idle settlement at the house of a Mr. Pratt, it being on the death of a lady in some way related to Mr. Pratt. A Methodist minister, a young man whose name I have forgotten, was present at the funeral service, but did not make himself known until after the services closed. I believe I was the first Lutheran minister officiating in the English lan- guage exclusively, in the territory of Minnesota. If there were any other I never heard of him. Through the courtesy of Colonel Idle, who was a visitor to the territorial legislature in 1855, I had my credentials filed in the office of a Mr. Noah, at Mendota, and afterwards at Owatonna. My credentials were filed on Page I of credentials, so I must have been among the first in that linc.
Hoping to be excused for this digression to Rice county, I will now proceed more particularly to call up facts and incidents that have occurred since our settlement at Owatonna. By dis- posing of my pre-emption right in Rice county I received in exchange an ox team, farm wagon, one cow and calf and $75 in cash. With this outfit we took possession of the southeast quarter of section 20, town 107, range 20. There were no im- provements on the claim, so we erected what in that day was called a claim shanty. As this term is generally understood I need not particularize. We occupied it comfortably, under the circumstances, and enjoyed good health and spirits for two or three years, until we were able to put up a frame house, which subsequently was destroyed by fire.
My congregation at Prairieville became quite discouraged by the intense cold of the winter of 1855-56, and left for other parts. I had no nucleus for a Lutheran church in Owatonna, but by invitation of the Congregational, Presbyterian and Methodist churches, I preached frequently for each of them ; mostly, how-
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ever, in A. N. Stoughton's hall, where in the absence of their pastor, Rev. Thomas, by request I admitted several members to their church and administered the holy communion. The East Ohio Synod, to which I belonged, always has been in favor of Christian union; consequently, imbibing this principle of unity from the synod to which I belonged, I have had no difficulty in fraternizing with all orthodox denominations of Christians, so far as they would permit me to worship God with them. Being without regular charge, my ministerial labors were those of a traveling missionary, and in this capacity I visited and preached at the following places with more or less regularity from 1858 to 1887 : Cannon City, East Prairieville, Faribault, Brush Creek, Morristown, Kenney's hall and schoolhouse, Dodge City, Nor- way, Dodge county ; Eyota, Olmstead county ; Washington, Fill- more county; Dorrance's and Beardsley's, Rice county; Berlin, Hastings' schoolhouse and Fitzsimmons' schoolhouse; also at Havana and Tiffany's schoolhouse. Meantime I preached sev- eral funeral sermons. In the spring of 1858 or 1859, a family by the name of Simmons came from Wisconsin and bought a claim of a Alr. Woods, and whilst temporarily located with Hiram Greenwood, making preparations to build a house on his land, he and his wife were killed by one stroke of lightning. I preached a short funeral sermon at the house, after which they were buried in one grave on the claim he had just purchased. The ensuing spring a Clinton Simmons, a few miles west of us, was also killed by lightning, and I was called upon to preach his funeral sermon. Since the country has been broken and culti- vated, there have been but few deaths by lightning. A Mr. Munson, I believe, was the first person to die in the town of Lemond. I also preached his funeral sermon.
CHAPTER X.
IMPORTANT EVENTS.
Resume of the Principal Happenings Arranged in Chronological Order-Chapter in Which the Reader May Live Again Through the Incidents of Steele County Life from 1853 to 1888.
In this chapter it has been the aim of the managers of this publication to take up the important events of Steele county life, year by year, from 1853 to 1888, as recorded in the newspapers, as preserved in previous histories or as recalled by the old settlers.
We have here grouped together all the statements, events of importance, deaths of prominent persons, accidents, or crimes, which would be of interest, commencing with 1853 and closing with December, 1888. It is not to be expected that this chapter includes everything of interest which has occurred during the years named, as many of the most important events receive at- tention in other chapters, but it embraces hundreds of interesting items which could not properly be placed in other departments.
Prior to 1874, the fact that the files of county papers have not been preserved leaves Steele county without reliable records of local happenings, therefore the events given for those years are mainly based upon the statements of the old settlers.
1853. The first settlement within the limits now comprising Stecle county was effected during the summer of this year, in Medford township. The first cabin in the county was erected by A. L. Wright and Chauncey Lull.
1854. During the summer, the first settlement of the present site of Owatonna city was effected by A. B. Cornell and William F. Pettit. The first building on the site of the city was erected this year.
1855. Stecle county was created by the territorial legislature on February 20. August 1 the organization of the county was effected, and the board of county commissioners, appointed by Governor Gorman, held their first meeting. October 9 the first election was held. It was for state officers, with but one excep- tion. W. F. Pettit was elected sheriff. He was the first county officer elected.
1856. The first election for county officers occurred in Octo-
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ber, when a full set was chosen. In July the "Watchman and Register," the first newspaper in Steele county, was established at Owatonna, by J. H. Abbott and A. B. Cornell. April 1 the county was in debt $29. The winter of 1856-57 was a very severe one. Snow was very deep and a crust between one and two inches in thickness formed upon it, which made travel almost impossible, as it would scarcely hold a man. A horse would break through and cut his limbs, so that, except on the well- broken roads, which were very few, travel was completely blocked. Deer were plenty that winter, but were nearly all killed off before the spring thaw came. On account of the snow they could be overtaken easily, and hundreds were slaughtered with clubs.
1857. A severe liail-storm passed through the county in the latter part of July, which was very destructive to crops. Hail- stones of "fabulous size" fell. It is stated that they made inden- tations in the earth which could be noticed for three or four years afterward. It was during this storm that hailstones broke through the roof of a hotel in Mantorville, Dodge county. On February 27, Waseca county was taken from Steele county ; a tier of townships had previously been detached from Dodge and annexed to Steele, leaving the boundaries of the county as they are now. This was the year of the great financial panic. The following year its effect was felt here; yet it did not affect times in Steele county very much. As one old settler expresses it : "Times were already as hard as they could be made."
1858. During the summer the hail cut the grain badly in Steele county, and seed wheat brought over $1 per bushel in Owatonna. This year was known as "Johnny-cake year" in Steele county. Scarcely any provisions were in the county, and nobody was able to buy anyway. Most of the settlers lived upon corn bread; many were reduced to bran bread, while not a few got along on bare potatoes without salt or meat. January 6 the county was in debt $2,129.69. During this year the system of county government was changed. The board of county com- missioners were abolished and a board of supervisors was created to succeed it. The board of supervisors was composed of one member from each organized township in the county.
1859. Prices were very low this year. Wheat was hauled to Hastings and Red Wing, and there only brought 35 and 40 cents per bushel part of the year. The money was of such character every one exacted gold and silver. Paper money was worthless, as so many of the banks which were authorized to issue a cir- culating medium had failed. These were the days of "wild-cat currency." The system of county government was again changed this year, reverting power to the board of county com-
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missioners. A good crop of wheat was raised this year, the average yield per acre being as high as any ever produced in the history of the county. It is thought that wheat averaged at least twenty-five bushels per acre throughout all this portion of the state.
1860. The United States census taken this year gave Steele county a population of 2,863. Of this number 2,256 were native- born Americans, and 607 were of foreign birth. At the presi- dential election of this year, 688 votes were polled. divided among political parties as follows: 523 for Abraham Lincoln, Republican ; 157 for Stephen A. Douglas, Democrat, and 8 for J. C. Breckinridge, Democrat. Another good crop was raised this year, with an increased average under cultivation. In the fall of 1860 an agriculture society was organized with a member- ship of about forty, and a county fair was held.
1861. April 12, Fort Sumter, S. C., was bombarded by Gen- eral Beauregard, and the War of the Rebellion began. Its effect was soon felt in Steele county and enlistments began almost immediately. Prices grew better with this year, and toward fall wheat was bringing a good price. Crops were good all through the war, but the difficulty was in taking care of them, owing to the absence of a great majority of the male inhabitants. This was the case in 1863 and 1864 particularly.
1862. A great many of the able-bodied residents of Steele county enlisted during this year, and went south for service. Prices continued to grow better, and in fact continued to advance while the war lasted, although in Steele county a very light acreage was cultivated.
1863. The war for the Union was still in progress. It is said that the settlement and development of Steele county was entirely at a standstill. The county was half populated.
1864. This was another presidential election year. Eight hundred and forty-five was the total number of votes polled in Steele county. Abraham Lincoln, Republican, received 635, and George B. McClellan, Democrat, received 209.
1865. April 9, General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomatox Court House, Va., virtually the closing act of the war. April 14. Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States. was assassinated.
1866. This year marked a new era in Steele county's history. Two lines of railway were completed and trains were running into Owatonna in August. New settlers began to arrive, and Owatonna grew wonderfully. The water was very high in Straight river and overflowed considerable land in the vicinity of Owatonna.
1867. The settlement of the county was largely increased
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during this and the few years immediately following. In Mitchell's "Statistical History of Steele County," the following appears: "The year 1867. though considered by all as one of the poorest seasons ever known in Minnesota, marked the prod- ucts of the soil in Steele county as follows: Wheat, average yield per acre. 151/2 bushels ; oats, 34 bushels; corn. 38 bushels ; potatoes, 110 bushels.
1868. Another presidential election. There were 1,640 votes polled in Steele county for the various electors. U. S. Grant, Republican, received 1,137, and Horatio Seymour, Democrat, 503.
1869. During this year the board of county commissioners was increased from three to five members. Crops raised this year were as follows : Wheat, 359,293 bushels, averaging 17.30 bushels per acre ; oats, 236,833 bushels, averaging 39.87 bushels per acre ; corn, 70,479 bushels, averaging 27.52 bushels per acre.
1870. The United States census was again taken this year. It gave Steele county a total population of 8,271, of which num- ber 6,088 were American born and 2,183 were of foreign birth. Crop yield: Wheat, 294,098 bushels, average, 13.04 bushels per acre ; oats, 217.223 bushels, average, 28.22 bushels per acre ; corn, 93,697 bushels, average, 25.95 bushels per acre.
1871. During this year there were 335,560 bushels of wheat raised in the county-an average of 14.25 bushels per acre ; 192,638 bushels of oats were threshed-an average of 28.08 bushels per acre : 143.346 bushels of corn were gathered -- 34.90 bushels per acre.
1872. The presidential election occurred again this year. There were 1.660 votes polled in Steele county for presidential electors, of which number 1.033 were for U. S. Grant. Republican. and 627 for Horace Greeley, Democrat and Liberal Republican. Stock raising and dairying had already begun to receive consid- erable attention in Steele county. The number of pounds of butter produced in 1872 was 275,024, and of cheese, 138,479, the latter being at that time nearly three times that of any other county in the state. There were then no less than six cheese factories in successful operation in the county. The crop yield this year was as follows: Wheat, 552,855 bushels, average 18.21 bushels per acre ; oats, 280,006 bushels, average 33.86 bushels per acre ; corn, 151,573 bushels, average 35.39 bushels per acre.
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