USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. : gathered from matter furnished by interviews with old settlers, county, township, and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources > Part 15
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Bunnell then tried to convince Johnson that it would be to the advantage of all who had claims there to give him an interest on the prairie, for the Sioux were then talking of driving the whites away until the treaty was ratified ; that with his influence over them he would be able to prevent trouble. Johnson replied that he would not give up that claim to any man, that he was not afraid of trouble with the Indians, that he should hold both claims as long as he staid there. Finding that Johnson could not be influenced by argu- ment, he left with the threat that he would have it, even if he had to help the Indians drive them all off from the prairie.
Not long afterward Bunnell drove up to the prairie again and brought with him on his train two fine-looking young Sioux braves in their holiday attire. He saw Johnson and told him the Sioux were getting to be more dissatisfied with the settlers for coming on their lands without their permission ; that there would soon be a disturbance unless something was done to keep them quiet ; that he should not try to control them unless he could have that claim ; if the settlers got into trouble they would have to go to some one else for help.
Although no serious difficulty was anticipated, the alarm was given as soon as Bunnell came on the prairie with the Sioux and the " boys" who were on the island chopping came home in a hurry. After explaining matters to the others, Bunnell told Johnson he had come up on purpose to have a talk with him about that claim, and
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THE PIONEERS.
asked him what he was going to do about it. "Nothing," was John- son's reply, and remarked that he did not believe such good-natured looking fellows as Bunnell had on his sleigh would do any harm if they were well treated.
Bunnell had taken a dram or two and was excitable. He lost his temper, talked loud and made a great many violent gestures. The Sioux sat quietly in their places on the train and indulged themselves with their pipes and some of Bunnell's tobacco. They were impassive and apparently indifferent spectators of the pro- ceedings.
Johnson, believing that this was a ruse of Bunnell's to try and frighten them, told him that he "did not scare easy and could not be bluffed with a little noise." Bunnell was annoyed that his dra- matic display was a failure, and as he got on his sleigh answered: " You will have to take care of yourself if the Indians get after you; I shall not interfere again." Johnson laughed and gave some derisive reply, telling him "not to bother himself about the affairs of others until he was asked."
The next trip Bunnell made to Wabasha prairie he brought with him two men, Harrington and Myers, and built a small log shanty or pen on Johnson's claim at the upper landing. The logs used in the construction of this claim shanty were once a part of Indian farmer Reed's old store cabin, the ruins of which furnished material sufficient for the body of the crib. It was covered with broad strips of elin bark brought from the Indian tepees in the mouth of Burns' valley.
In this little pen, not more than six feet square and not high enough for a man to stand up in, Bunnell left Myers to hold the fort and guard the claim, which he had now taken possession of in a formal manner. Bunnell furnished Myers with supplies and brought up some lumber and put up the framework of a board shanty. but did not complete it for want of material to cover it. Myers remained in quiet possession of the claim for about a week, when, considering everything safe, as he had not been disturbed or observed any hostile movements, the settlers on the prairie being absent on the island, he ventured down to Bunnell's for a.little recreation and relief from his lonely and uncomfortable confine- ment.
Although no demonstrations had been made, Johnson had watched these proceedings and closely observed all of the movements
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
of Myers. It was a gratification to see the man with his gun leave the prairie. He at once took advantage of the absence of the occu- pant of the cabin and demolished the improvements. He leveled the structure with the ground, and then deliberately cut the old logs and the lumber into firewood.
Bunnell was enraged when he found that Johnson had destroyed his shanty, and threatened to whip him the next time he saw him. Myers did not return to Wabasha prairie. He was dismissed by Bunnell for neglect of duty and left the country.
Bunnell sent messages to Johnson warning him to leave the prairie, or the next time he came up he would whip him like a dog. Johnson sent back answers that he was prepared to defend himself and his claims ; that if Bunnell came on the prairie again it would be at his peril.
Neither of these men were cowards, and serious trouble was anticipated. They were small men-hardly of medium size, John- son a little larger and heavier of the two and of coarser make-up. Bunnell was firmer built and active in his movements, a dangerous antagonist for a much larger man in any kind of a fight.
Satisfied that "talk" would not win the claim and irritated by Johnson's successful opposition, Bunnell, in company with Harring- ton, drove up to the prairie one evening for the purpose of assault- ing Johnson if a favorable opportunity offered. Both had stimulated to a fighting degree and were primed for the purpose.
Going first to the Stevens slianty, Bunnell there found Clark and Nash, who had called on a social visit. He inquired for Hamilton and learned that he was at Johnson's. Gilmore and Wallace were on the other side of the river at Farrell's. After a short visit they left without betraying the object of their evening visit on so dark a night.
They went directly down to Johnson's shanty. Bunnell knocked at the door. On being told to "come in " he entered, saying, as he rushed toward Johnson, who with Hamilton was sitting by the fire, "Get out of this if you want to live." Johnson sprang for his revolver, which was in his berth, but the attack was too sudden ; he had no opportunity to use it before he was knocked down and dis- armed.
Hamilton bolted from the shanty at the first clash of the combat and ran for help. He arrived almost breathless at the other shanty, a mile away, and gave the alarm by excitedly exclaiming, “ Bun-
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THE PIONEERS.
nell is killing Johnson ; come down quick as you can." Clark and Nash at once started back with Hamilton on a run for the scene of conflict. When about half way they were met by Johnson, who, although apparently injured, returned with them. They found that the shanty had been demolished, but the assailants had disap- peared.
Johnson was taken up to Clark's shanty, where he was provided for and carefully attended. He was found to have been badly bruised about the head, chest and arms. His face and hands were badly swollen and covered with blood, but no bones were broken. It afterward proved that no serious injuries had been received. Johnson had been terribly beaten by Bunnell and was compelled to lay up for repairs.
When the battle-ground was visited in the morning the full extent of damages to the "pioneer claim shanty " was revealed. The first evidence of actual settlement on Wabasha prairie had been destroyed. The pile of brick and stone which formed the fireplace, with some broken dishes, marked the locality where the little eabin once stood. It had been turned over and with its contents thrown on the ice of the river.
Johnson's supplies and other traps were secured and carried up on the bank, where they were sheltered with the lumber from the shanty. The stable and cattle had not been disturbed. Johnson and Nash lived with Clark until their shanty was reconstrueted. Johnson's revolver and double-barreled gun were carried off by Bunnell as trophies of his victory.
Soon after this affray, Peter Gorr and Augustus Pentler came over from the island to visit the settlers on the prairie. Mr. Gorr had his rifle with him, which he was indueed to leave with Johnson after hearing the incidents of his quarrel. Johnson then sent word to Bunnell that he would shoot him on sight if he ever made his appearance on the prairie again.
Bunnell had no design to interfere with the occupancy of the elaim at the lower landing. His attack on Johnson and destruction of the shanty was for retaliation and to intimidate him. He became satisfied that he would not be able to hold the claim at the upper landing without some serious fighting, and, having no desire to kill Johnson or be killed himself in the attempt, he decided to abandon his claim speculation on Wabasha prairie and turn his attention to what he thought was something better nearer home. The scheme
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
of building up a town along the bluffs above the present village of Homer was started about this time, in which Bunnell was for awhile interested. Bunnell returned to Johnson the revolver and gun he had taken from him, peace was negotiated, and the "little differ- ence " that had existed between the parties "dropped" without further action. Bunnell, however, became more emphatic in main- taining and more free in expressing his opinions of " that sand bar up there," and more zealously advocated his theory that the "main land" was the only place for a permanent settlement.
This was the first attempt at "elaim jumping" ever made in the settlement of this county. It was afterward a common occurrence.
M. Wheeler Sargeant, an early settler, once gave a very appro- priate definition of a claim in an address before the Winona Lyceum in 1858. He said : " A claim is a fighting interest in land, osten- sibly based upon priority of possession and sustained by force." Many of the old settlers will readily recognize the pertineney of this description. The law of might, as well as the law of right, was often the means by which possession of claims were retained.
Soon after this first claim quarrel, a claim association or club was was formed for the mutual protection of settlers in holding possession of their claims. The first meeting was called to meet at Bunnell's about March 1. The prime movers in the matter were some resi- dents of La Crosse who had recently selected claims on the west side of the Mississippi. They came up prepared to complete the busi- ness and the organization was created at this meeting. It was called the Wabashaw Protection Club. The important matters of consti- tution and by-laws were duly discussed and gravely adopted, and officers elected with customary formality. The settlers from Wa- basha prairie attended the meeting, but were in the minority and failed to secure any of the offices. The officials were residents of La Crosse. Mr .. George W. Clark was a member of the club and was present at that meeting. He says from the best of his recol- lection the president was George G. Barber, the secretary, William B. Gere.
The Wabasha Protection Club was the first regular organization of any kind among the settlers ever formed in the county.
It was not entirely a fable coined by Bunnell when he repre- sented to Johnson that the Sioux were dissatisfied with the manner in which the settlers were taking possession of their lands before the treaty was ratified. Whether Bunnell was aware of the fact or not
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THE PIONEERS.
is not now positively known ; but it is very probable that he knew the Indians designed to demand a bonus from the settlers for the privilege of remaining undisturbed. It was supposed that the treaty would be ratified during that winter, but it was not fully confirmed by government until the next year.
During the winter some officious personages had given the Indians begging letters addressed to the settlers recommending that contributions be given to the Sioux of Wabasha's band to keep them quiet and peaceable until the ratification of the treaty. That the Indians were needy, and to prevent dissatisfaction the settlers were advised to contribute to their wants, and suggested that a barrel of flour, or its equivalent in money, be given for every cabin built on their lands.
Some of Wabasha's band came over from the other side of the river where they were camped and presented their written docu- ment. To avoid any difficulties or annoyance from them, Johnson agreed to give them the flour, but told them they must wait until the Nominee came up in the spring. To this they consented and went off apparently satisfied with the arrangement. Johnson sup- posed this was one of Bunnell's tricks to alarm them and that was the finale of it ; but in the spring the Indians returned and demanded the flour. This "shanty tax " assessed by the Sioux was paid by a few of the earliest settlers.
The Sioux and Winnebago Indians visited the settlers on Wa- basha prairie frequently during the winter and were at all times friendly. There was not a single instance where it was known that they disturbed a settler or his property, not even in the absence of the owner.
Johnson rebuilt the shanty on Capt. Smith's claim, but put it on the bank a little way back from the river and a few rods below where it first stood. This was an improvement on the first struc- ture. It was about 8 x 12. The fireplace so much valued by Johnson in his first cabin was omitted in its reconstruction. John- son induced Augustus Pentler with his wife to occupy this shanty. He boarded with them and made it his home until he built a shanty on his claim at the upper landing. Mr. Pentler lived in this place three or four months and then made a claim on the river below Bunnell's along the bluffs, where he lived for several years. He is now living in the western part of the state.
Mrs. Pentler was the first white woman among the early settlers
11
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
to make Wabasha prairie her place of residence-the first white woman that settled in what is now the city of Winona.
About March 1, Silas Stevens and his son, William H. Stevens, came up from La Crosse on the ice. They brought with them a pair of horses, wagon and sleigh. This was the first span of horses brought into the county by a settler. There had been no demand or use for horse-teams. In banking wood and hauling logs ox-teams were the most useful and economical. Bunnell kept a saddle-horse, which in winter he drove harnessed to a kind of sleigh called a train, a kind of conveyance peculiarly adapted to travel over un- broken trails drifted with snow.
On the arrival of Silas Stevens Mr. Clark delivered up to him his claim and gave possession of the shanty and other property en- trusted to his care. About this time, or not long afterward, Mr. Nash put up a small log cabin on claim No. 2. Clark and Gilmore occupied this with Nash as their headquarters until they built shan- ties on their own claims. This shanty stood about two blocks back from the river on what is now High Forest street. It was about 10 × 12, built of small logs and covered with bark. The bark for the roof and the lumber used in its construction was taken from the old Indian huts or tepees, which were standing on the prairie about a mile above the upper landing.
CHAPTER XIX.
FIRST IMPROVEMENTS.
DURING the latter part of the winter and early in the spring of 1852 quite a number of claims were selected, and on some improve- ments commenced. These "betterments " were simply a few logs thrown together, forming a sort of pen and designed to represent the nucleus of a future residence. When the Indians assessed the settlers they did not consider these improvements sufficient to justify the levying of a tax, notwitlistanding the importance attached to them as evidence that the land was claimed and settled upon.
The claim made by George W. Clark in the fall previous was staked off and possession indicated by a few logs. The half mile west
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FIRST IMPROVEMENTS.
of it was taken by Jabez McDermott and the next by Josiah Keen. These two young men had been living at Bunnell's Landing, but about the time they made their claims they went up to the Rolling Stone, where they engaged in getting out black walnut logs with Noracong and McSpadden.
. Clark also selected a location across the slough, which he held in the name of his brother, Scott Clark, then living in New York. This claim is now the farm on which George W. Clark resides.
Allen Gilmore made his claim next west of the one selected for Scott Clark. He built a log cabin in the grove west from where the Clark school-house now stands. It was from Allen Gilmore, and because of his living nearest, that Gilmore valley was given its pres- ent name. Mr. Gilmore occupied this locality until his death, which occurred March 29, 1854. It was purchased from the administrator of the estate, Dr. John L. Balcombe, by Orin Clark, a brother of G. W. Clark, who came into the county that spring. Mr. Clark occupied it for many years. He now lives in the city of Winona, but still retains possession of the grove. The other portion of the claim is owned and occupied by Mr. Celestial Peterman.
George Wallace made choice of a location back of the lake, where John Zenk now lives. It also included what is now Wood- lawn cemetery.
Peter Gorr made a claim on the river just above Bunnell's. He here built a small log cabin, which he occupied with his wife and three children.
In narrating some incidents of early days, Mr. Gorr says that during the winter of 1850-51 Augustus Pentler worked for Bunnell by the month chopping on the islands. In the spring he returned to Illinois, where his wife was then living. During the summer Pentler and Gorr came up the river together and stopped off at La Crosse, where they remained for a few days, but not finding employ- ment, they crossed the Mississippi and came up the river on foot over the trail along the bluffs. At Brown's they stopped to rest and get something to eat. Mr. Brown furnished them a luncheon, but, learning that they were going up to Bunnell's for work, he declined to receive pay for the refreshments provided.
In speaking of Mr. Brown he very emphatically remarked : "I have known Nathan Brown a great many years. He was the whitest white man among all the old settlers in this county. He always had the courage to do right and never wronged any man
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
willfully that I ever heard. He feared no man, but he treated everybody with decency and gentlemanly. That was the reason why he was respected by everybody. Even the . cussed' Indians respected him and had confidence in his integrity. Strangers as well as acquaintances were always welcome to his hospitalities. No one ever left Brown's suffering from hunger if he made his wants known."
Gorr and Pentler worked by the month for Bunnell during that season. In the fall they built a comfortable log cabin on the island opposite Bunnell's and brought their families from Illinois, with the design of settling on the Sioux lands in the spring. They moved across the river about the last of February, 1852, and made their first settlement in this county.
About the time of the quarrel between Bunnell and Johnson, some difficulties occurred from business transactions between Bun- nell and Gorr. These choppers took sides with Johnson against their employer. Johnson went down with his oxen and sled and moved them off from the island and drew the logs for the shanty.
Mr. Gorr selected this location as a temporary stopping-place for his family to live until he found a more suitable place for a per- manent home. Bunnell objected to his occupying it. Anticipating trouble about the matter, Johnson and the settlers on Wabasha prairie went down and helped put up the cabin. Bunnell met them and strongly protested against their building a shanty on his claim .. Gorr started toward him in a threatening manner and told him to "dry up and go home." Bunnell, being alone, considered discre- tion the better part of valor, and did not interfere with the house- raising.
When W. B. Bunnell and Timothy Burns, lieutenant-governor of the State of Wisconsin, with others, originated the scheme of making that locality a town site, they found Gorr an encumbrance. Lieut .- Gov. Burns offered him twenty-five dollars for his cabin, with a promise of further payment in lots when the town site was sur- veyed, provided he would abandon the locality. This offer Mr. Gort accepted, and on June 6 made a claim in what is now Pleasant valley, about a mile above where Laird's flouring-mill stands. He built a log house on it and moved his family there on June 9.
The valley was for several years known as Gorr valley-until it was given its present name. Mr. Gorr was the first to settle in this valley, and among the first in this county to make farming a busi-
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FIRST IMPROVEMENTS.
ness occupation. He settled here with the design of making it his permanent home, and occupied this farm about ten years, when he sold out and invested in other farming lands. Mr. Gorr is yet a resident of the county and is now living on the bank of the Missis- sippi, above the village of Homer. The locality was once the town site of Minneowah. His house is within ten yards of the site where he built the log cabin which he sold to Lieut .- Gov. Burns in the spring of 1852.
HIenry J. Harrington made a claim in the mouth of Pleasant valley, of what is now known as "Hamilton's Farm." During the season of navigation Mr. Harrington was employed as mate on one of the steamboats running on the upper Mississippi. Early in the spring of 1852 he brought his family to Bunnell's. where they boarded until he had a shanty built on his claim. His first cabin was a low one-story structure, made of small logs or poles, roofed with bark from the Indian tepees in that vicinity. This shanty stood in a grove on the table east of the present farm buildings and on the opposite side of the stream. Here Mrs. Harrington, with a family by the name of Chamberlain, lived until Mr. Harrington built a more permanent house on the west side of the stream.
This second building was a very comfortable story and a halt hewed log house, about 16×20, with a cellar under it. walled with stone. This building formed a part of the old farm buildings on "the farm." Mr. Harrington made some improvements. He had about ten acres of breaking fenced in with a rail fence, which he planted to corn. He also cultivated a garden and set out some fruit- trees. It was his design to open up a stock farm here, but he did not live to carry out his plans. He died in 1853. His funeral was on Sunday, June 12.
Mrs. Harrington leased the house and cultivation to Patrick Nevil, who came into the county that fall. She stored her household goods in a part of the house and went down the river among her friends to spend the winter, leaving the care of her property to her agent, George M. Gere, Esq. Early in the spring Mr. Gere sold the claim to M. K. Drew tor $400, giving a quit claim deed subject to the lease of Mr. Nevil. Some incidents relative to this claim will illustrate the uncertainty of real estate transactions while the title to the land was in the United States.
Mr. Nevil lived on the Harrington place through the winter, and in the spring made a garden and planted the enclosed field with
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
corn. During this time he made a claim in the valley opposite to Gorr's, where he had some breaking done and built a shanty. This is now the farm of his son, John Nevil. Having an opportunity to dispose of his crop to a cash customer, he sold his lease to John C. Walker, a recent arrival with a family, and moved on his own claim.
In this transaction Mr. Nevil gave Walker a quit claim deed and possession of the house. Walker then assumed to be the proprietor and real owner of the claim, and successfully resisted all attempts of Mr. Drew to acquire possession, even after the lease had expired or was declared void. He barricaded the house and with his family closely guarded the premises. Under no pretext was anyone per- mitted to pass the boundaries of the fence which inclosed the improvements.
Mr. Gere, justice of the peace and agent of Mrs. Harrington, with the constable, Harvey S. Terry, attempted to obtain entrance to the house by demanding the household goods of Mrs. Harring- ton stored in the dwelling. They were met at the "bars," by the whole Walker family. Mr. Walker, with his gun in his hands and revolver in his belt, Mrs. Walker, armed with a huge carving knife, the children carrying an ax, a scythe and a pitchfork. The officers of the law hesitated " to storm the castle against such an armed force," and called a parley for negotiations. Mr. Walker did not object to deliver up the goods, but would not admit them into the enclosure. He stood guard while Mrs. Walker and the children brought the furniture from the house and delivered it outside the fence. Walker refused to relinquish the claim to Mr. Gere, but sent word to Mr. Drew that he did not desire to be mean about the transaction, and would pay him $400 for the claim, the amount he had paid to Mrs. Harrington, provided they would give a quit claim and leave him in peaceable possession of the property. Finding the speculation an unprofitable one, and glad to get his money back, Mr. Drew accepted the proposition and the claim became the "Walker Farm." Mr. Walker occupied this locality about ten or twelve years, when he sold out and went south.
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