USA > Minnesota > Faribault County > The history of Faribault County, Minnesota : from its first settlement to the close of the year 1879 : the story of the pioneers > Part 16
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THE FARMER'S SOCIETY.
An adjourned meeting of the agricultural society was held at Blue Earth City. April 3rd, at which J. A. Latimer was elected president. J. H. Dunham recording secretary, and Geo. B. Kings- ley, treasurer. and various other offices filled.
Twenty-one new members were added at this time and it would appear that they gave their notes for the membership fee of one dollar. for a resolution was adopted by the meeting, to the effect. that notes given for membership fees be paid on or before the first day of the annual fair.
Another meeting was held at Blue Earth City. July 2d. at which time A. Bonwell appears as treasurer. He reports on hand: cash, eleven dollars: notes of 1560. fourteen dollars. and notes of 1962. eighteen dollars.
The fourth annual fair was held at Winnebago City. October 1st and 2d. The premium list was quite a long one. but the pre- miums awarded appear to have been mainly "diplomas."
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PATRIOTISM.
The 4th of July was celebrated at Blue Earth City with consid - erable interest. The Rev. Mr. Paine, of Garden City. delivered the oration. The day was commemorated at Winnebago City also. by a large social gathering in the evening.
On the first day of July President Lincoln called for 600.000 more volunteers for a more vigorous prosecution of the war, and on the 4th day of August a draft was ordered of 300.000 men to serve nine months. The events of the war. the call of the president, the draft ordered, created immense activity and enthusiasm in enlist- ments and military organization throughout the whole North.
In consequence of the above call for troops and the draft, the board of county commissioners were called together in extra ses- sion, on the 12th of August, for the purpose of taking some action on behalf of the county to encourage enlistments in the military service. Many citizens had already enlisted, and every encourage- ment was given by the people generally. but it was thought on this call for troops that the county, in its corporate capacity. should take some action in this respect. A commendable ambition existed among the people. that our county should furnish its quotas of men without their being drafted, and an earnest effort was made all along, to secure this honor.
The board adopted the following among other resolutions : "Now. therefore, be it resolved that there be and there is hereby appropriated by the County of Faribault. the sum of one thousand dollars. payable at the rate of twenty dollars as a bounty to each and every resident of said county who shall. after the date hereof enlist in the aforesaid military service of the United States. upon presentation to the board of satisfactory evidence of enlistment. together with proof of residence at the time of enlistment." It was then further resolved. that in the event that the sum of one thousand dollars should be insufficient to cover all enlistments, a further sum would be appropriated. This was the first action taken by the county, and in the light of subsequent events this little bounty looks very small, but it was but the first small indication of greater things to be done in the future, noble, generous action in which. we are proud to record the fact. our county never failed or faltered.
On the evening of the 13th of August. a great war meeting was held at Blue Earth City, which was attended by people from all parts of the county. Strong resolutions were adopted in favor of the earnest prosecution of the war. eloquent speeches were made. and a committee was appointed to solicit donations of money, grain and provisions. to be distributed among the families of enlisted sol- diers. A similar meeting was held about the same time at Winne- bago City and everywhere in the county the spirit of the people was
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aroused to enthusiasm, and recruiting and mustering into the ser- vice was the business of the day. Those were the times when men and boys and little children sang
"We are coming father Abraham, Six Hundred Thousand strong."
ANOTHER COMET.
We find the following amusing item in the Minnesotian of Aug. 2d. It was copied from the Mercury.
"Another comet has made its appearance in our hemisphere and is begin- ning to attract attention. At present it is near the pole star, but alas! it has no tail. Only think of a comet without a caudal appendage! It reduces the character of a comet in public estimation full fifty per cent at onee to be mi- nus that essential attachment, for surely there is no end. What is Its object? Comets to be respectable must have all their usual and significant characteris- tics. We are not to be humbugged with such halfway finishing up of the cometic properties. We are not going to put up with any half a comet. We want a whole one or none. This one may acquire a tail as it approaches the sun and thus give us an opportunity to relate a tale about it, but at present, it is a mis- erable, sneaking-looking celestial object, and we shall have little to say about it."
THE GOLDEN REWARD.
The harvest commenced the first of August. and it was a suc- cessful one. The crops of wheat, oats and barley were excellent, and all rejoiced that the tiller of the soil had received for his labors such an abundant reward.
THE GREAT MASSACRE.
A large harvest had now been mainly secured, immigrants had been pouring into the county, prices of farm produce had gone up, provisions were plenty, many improvements were being made and business had greatly revived, when suddenly, while the people were engaged in their pursuits and local military interests with their at- tention directed to the South, watching the progress of the war, there came to them from the North and West the dreadful tidings of the Sioux Indian outbreak on the Minnesota frontier-a massacre attended with such fiendish murders, outrages and cruelties as the faltering tongue told the story, as were never known before. The people were horrified, confounded. The stoutest hearts failed
The terrible news reached this county on the 19th of August. The slaughter of the frontier settlers, began the day before, at the Upper and Lower Sioux Agencies, and at Acton on the 17th. We cannot here enter into an extended account of the massacre. A few extracts from the standard histories of this atrocious and ap- palling ovent, will suffice to show its extent and character and at. tendant incidents. We quote from the History of the Great Mas-
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sacre by the Sioux Indians, written by Messrs. Bryant and Murch, and from several other reliable authorities.
"The massacre in Minnesota by the Annuity Sioux Indians in August, 1962, marks an epoch in the history of savage races. In their western march across the American continent, in the van of a higher civilization, the native red men have at different times given sad and fearful evidences of their enmity to the dominant white race, but from the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, on the rock- bound coast of New England in the winter of 1620, until their descendants had passed the center of the continent and reached the lovely prairies of Minne- sota, no exhibition of Indian character had so afflicted and appalled the soul of humanity, as the fearful and deliberate massacre perpetrated by them in August, 1862."
"The scene of butchery and burning, extended all along the settled frontier of Minnesota from the north line of Iowa to the northern part of the State. It was the preconcerted and carefully arranged plan of the savages, to kill all the whites and desolate the whole state to the Mississippi river, and the plan was concocted in profound secrecy."
"The blow fell like a storm of thunderbolts from the clear bright heavens. Once begun the storm of fierce savage murder in its most horrid and frightful forms, rolled on until night came."
'Down sank the sun, nor ceased the carnage then- Tumultuous horrors rent the midnight air.'
And still rolled on from day to day, until the sad catalogue reached the fearful number of two thousand human victims, from the gray haired sire, to the help- less infant of a day, who lay mangled or dead on the ensanguined field."
"All we have read of Indian warfare, in the early history of this country is tame in contrast with the atrocities of this massacre. Without warning, in cold blood, beginning with the murder of their best friends, the whole body of the Annuity Sioux commenced a deliberate scheme to exterminate every white person upon the land once occupied by them and by them long since sold to the United States. In carrying out the bloody scheme, they spared neither age nor sex, only reserving for the gratification of their brutal lasts, the few white women, whom the rifle, the tomahawk and the scalping knife spared. Nor did their fiendish barbarities cease with death, as the mutilated corpses of their victims disemboweled, cut limb from limb, or chopped in fragments testified."
'All died-the wailing babe-the shrieking maid,
And in the flood of fire that scathed the glade
The roofs went down.
While on the billowy bosom of the air Rolled the dread notes of anguish and despair.'
"Some idea may be formed of the mass of refugees moving before their sav- age pursuers. Thirty thousand panic stricken inhabitants at once deserted their homes in the midst of an indiscriminate slaughter of men, women and children. All this distracted multitude, on foot, on horseback, with teams of oxen and horses, from the wide area of eighteen counties, were .on the highways and byways, hiding now in sloughs and now in the grass of the open prairies, some famishing for water and some dying for want of food, some barefooted, some in torn garments and some entirely denuded of clothing, some, by reason of wounds, crawling on their hands and dragging their torn limbs after them, were all making their way over a country in which no white man could offer succor or administer consolation."
"The unarmed men of the settlements offered no defense, and could offer none, but fled before the savage horde, each in his own way."
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"Over the entire border of the State and even near the populous towns on the rivers an eye looking down from above could have seen this human ava- lanche of thousands of all ages and in all possible plights, the rear ranks maimed and bleeding and faint from starvation and loss of blood, continually falling into the hands of inhuman savages keen and flerce on the trail of the white man."
"The imagination faint and aghast turns from the picture in dismay and horror "
It must be rememembered also. that this portion ( Faribault county ) of the Minnesota frontier, was peculiarly situated and in ex- treme danger. All along and but a few miles distant from the north line of the county, lay the Winnebago Indian reservation, and west of the county, a day or two after the outbreak, the country was de- serted and open without hinderance to the advance of the Sioux.
And it was rumored that a league had been formed between the Sioux and the Winnebagoes, that the latter should join the former, if they should succeed in taking New Ulm. And there is but little doubt that had New Ulm fallen. Mankato and St. Peter would have shared the same fate, and that both the Winnebagoes and Chippewas would have joined the Sioux.
On the receipt of the news in this county the most intense ex- citement was created. What hour the Indians might make a descent on the county was not known. The settlers west of the Blue Earth river began to pour into the villages and hundreds passed on without stopping, eastward, until the whole county west of the river was deserted. The inhabitants in their haste and terror gathered up a few things, very few too, and deserting their homes, crops and al- most everything, fled for their lives from all parts of the county, and in a very short time after the exodus had began, a majority of the people of the county had left. Some went into the eastern part of the State, some into Iowa. In fact a perfect panic prevailed over the whole country and extended across the Mississippi river into Wiscon- sin. Our county which numbered about 2. 500 population, was reduced before the exodus ceased, to about one hundred souls. At one time the whole population of the county comprised about forty persons at Blue Earth City, about the same number at Winnebago City and a very few at other points. Those at Blue Earth City who had de- cided to remain went immediately to work to fortify the old log tav- ern-the Metropolitan-which had done good service in a like case some years before. It was fitted up by building a palisade of logs around the house at a distance of about two rods. The logs were set on end close together and about two feet in the ground and planked on the inside. Port holes were cut through and the whole fortification made as strong as possible with the limited means at hand. This work was soon done, as there were many willing hands and it was the means of inducing many settlers, especially quite a
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number from the town of Verona and some from Martin county to stop awhile and await events. At the next alarm, however, most of these moved on.
Arms and ammunition were gotten together hastily. some of the type of the printing office, as we have seen above, furnished lead for bullets. After a few days a temporary company, under command of Capt. R. R. Foster, was formed. for defence, and to give character and force to the organization the members were solemnly sworn to stand true and defend the country to the last. This company drilled occasionally and posted out guards at night, but the organization was not a strong one and was, as we shall see, soon superceded. While out drilling one day, without arms, soon after the excitement began, the company being drawn up in such line as the military skill of the drill sergeant could produce, the command had just been given "eyes right" when one Jos. Landis. residing a few miles east of the village, drove up with a half load of grain on his wagon, at full speed, right in front of the company and in a very frightened manner announced that the Indians were coming over the prairie northeast of the village. His wife was on the wagon with him terror stricken and crying and confirmed his story. They asserted that they had seen the Indians advancing in long lines, on horse back, about two miles distance on the prairie. Then came another terror- stricken woman, who resided a mile northeast of the village, leading her blind daughter by the hand and she also confirmed Mr. Landis' story.
And now alas for military discipline and control! The company broke and fled for their guns, every one determining to fight on his own hook. And the people became panic stricken, wild, running to and fro, women crying, children screaming and the confusion was indescribable. Teams were hitched up in the greatest haste and the wagons filled, pell mell, with men, women and children, and in twenty minutes the road to Albert Lea was lined with flying fugi- tives. Order could not be restored. Terror had dethroned reason. But all did not attempt to go. Some had presence of mind enough to know that if the report proved true, to scatter in this manner was but to expose themselves unprotected on the roads to almost certain death. Happily the alarm proved false. A long line of cattle, belonging to people who were leaving the country, going along on the high prairie, about three miles to the northeast, pre- sented the appearance to the excited imaginations of these people of a troop of advancing Indians.
Quiet after a few hours was restored, and a considerable num- ber of those who had fled, after going a few miles, returned, but some went on their way.
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In order to learn the state of the country, there was about this time, August 23d, a small detachment of men sent west. Some going only as far as East Chain Lakes, in Martin county, but O. G. Davis and H. Chesley proceeded to Jackson, in Jackson county and finding that some of the settlers had just left, followed them in the direc- tion of Estherville, Iowa, and overtook them. They were the last of the residents of that county, and had barely made their escape, with their lives. One of their company-a boy of ten years-had his el- bow cap shot off by the Indians. Some thirteen people had been killed in Jackson county by the savages.
It was now determined to send the women and children who yet remained, to places of greater security in the eastern part of the State, and the greater part of them about Blue Earth City were started on the 26th of Angust. It was indeed a sad time. Most of them went without a cent of money. Few had as much as five dollars. They were going among strangers. When they should return, if ever, to their homes, or again see their husbands who remained to protect the country, their homes and their little accumulations of property, were questions which the future, which then looked gloomy enough, only could tell. In other parts of the county most of the women and children had previously left. In fact at this time almost all the residents on Coon Creek and the west branch of the Blue Earth and most of those west of the river had left, deserting everything. The region about Chain Lakes, in Martin county and the towns of Elmore, Pilot Grove. Jo Daviess and Ve- rona in this county, were wholly deserted, and the county east of the Blue Earth river was almost as nearly depopulated. Those who re- mained were along the line of the river, but mainly, at the villages of Blue Earth City and Winnebago City.
"At Winnebago City on the 23d of August, a company was organized under command of Capt. H. W. Holley, comprising fifty- nine members in all. Twenty of the members were mounted and were kept constantly on scouting duty west of the Blue Earth river. in the counties of Faribault. Martin and Watonwan. The other members of the company remained generally on picket duty in guarding the town and country in the immediate vicinity. The company made one expedition into Watonwan county, passing through Madelia and thence westwardly to the Little Cottonwood river. They also made one expedition to Fir Lake on the border of Jackson county, and two expeditions to Chain Lakes in Martin county."
The roster of the company was comprised of the following names:
Officers: H. W. Holley. Captain: Jesse Dunham and John Al- len. Lieutenants; B. C. Hinkle. D. S. Law. George F. Cleveland and
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W. W. Seeley, Sergeants; B. E. Drake. P. Latimer. F. E. Shephard and D. Wier, Corporals.
Privates: J. W. Anderson, P. F. Austin, L. Bartlett, W. H. Budd, G. C. Burt, F. R. Bennett, F. W. Cady, F. Deudon. G. K. Cleveland, L. Christy, W. Clark, L. Dudley, F. J. Eddy, C B. Fobes, J. France, G. C. Goodnow, G. H. Goodnow, J. C. Goodnow, M. B. Haynes, T. Jeuness, J. S. Latimer, A. Latimer, T. Lucas, A. D. Ma- son, B. M. Mason, J. McCauley, N. McCauley, A. Moore, D. H. Morse, G. K. Moulton, A. Norman, G. Nelson, -- Nelson, W. Ra- dou, E. Rhodes, F. E. Ross, J. Richardson, S. Richardson, G. C. Sherwin, H. C. Shoefelt, S. H. Shoefelt, E. Stevens, A. Taplin, J. Thayer, S. Waller, J. Washburn, J. C. Woodruff, J. H. Welch.
During these exciting times, a question arose with the county officers, as to what should be done with the public records, then principally the auditor's and register's books, in the event of the certain advance of the Indians on this locality. It was deter- mined that, instead of an attempt to carry them out of the county. the best arrangement would be to bury them, and this was decided upon. It was concluded to provide a large, substantial box, bury it in the ground, on a certain hill side, and in this deposit the books and papers, and cover the box over with earth in such a way as to escape observation. The secret of the locality was to be confided only to a few certain individuals, largely interested in the safety of the books. But this act of prudence did not, as we shall see, be- come necessary.
On the seventh of September, the Fillmore County Rangers, under command of Captain N. P. Colburn, arrived at Winnebago City, and by direction of Col. Flandrau, who had command of this portion of the State, established their headquarters at that point, after which the Winnebago City guards, under command of Captain Holley, believing their services no longer needed, disbanded. A strong stockade was erected at Winnebago City.
Before the close of August, the erection of a large fort was commenced at Blue Earth City. This was a necessity, not only for better protection, but to restore confidence to the people many of those remaining, saying that they would leave unless this was done. The work was rapidly performed. The fort was eight rods square and built of sod and earth thrown up six feet high, and having a ditch all around three feet deep. On the top of the earthwork was a defence, three feet high, of two inch hardwood plank, spiked to up- right pieces, set strongly in the earthwork, both on the inside and outside. Port holes were cut through at short distances. At two corners of the fort were strong bastions, built of hewn logs, set close together on end, and having port holes from which the ditches, on two sides, could be raked. Houses were erected on the inside and a
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well dug. and all obstructions surrounding the fort, behind which an enemy could hide, were demolished. When this fort was com- pleted it was certainly a strong work, and it had the desired effect, with other things, in restoring some feeling of security and encour- aged quite a number to remain who would otherwise have left.
And now, as a little episode, we must record the fact in the order of time. that amid all this turmoil, excitement and apprehended danger, politics were not neglected.
On the 29th day of August, in pursuance of a previous call, the republican district convention met at Blue Earth City. It was but a small and thinly attended meeting, there being only a few dele- gates present from Blue Earth City and vicinity, and several from Winnebago City. D. G. Shillock, Esq., of Brown County, then dis- abled from a wound received in the defense of New Ulm against an attack by the Indians, was nominated for senator, and J. B. Wake- field, Esq., of Blue Earth City, was nominated for representative.
But to resume the narrative. On or about the 30th of August a party of some twenty men under command of H. J. Neal, proceeded one night to Center Chain lakes in Martin county to relieve a lone settler, who it was reported was besieged by Indians. The report proved untrue.
At the close of August, the fort being nearly completed, and strong bodies of troops entering upon the frontier to the north and west of the county, and the confidence of the people in their secur- ity from attack, being now somewhat restored, it was thought expe- dient at a meeting held at Blue Earth City, to send a messenger in pursuit of the fugitives from this county, to try to induce them to return to their homes. J. A. Kiester, of Blue Earth City, was dele. gated for this purpose, and being furnished with a "pass" from the sheriff, which was then necessary. he soon started on his mission. He found the people scattered in many directions. Some were at Rice lake on their way out of the country. Others at Albert Lea, and along the road for eighteen miles east of that place. Some were at Geneva; others at Oak Glen and at Wasioja, Mantorville. Owatonna. Wilton and at intermediate points. Some were induced to return. others would hear to nothing, and either remained where they were. or pursued their way to Wisconsin or Iowa.
Most of these refugees had a hard time of it. as they were com- pelled to subsist on the country through which they passed. They had found many farms and houses deserted, and they helped them- selves to green corn, potatoes, chickens and other catables, and stopped in the deserted houses at night. The people they met ap- preciated their condition and helped them all they could, and at the places where most of them concluded to stop to await events provi- ded kindly for them.
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Quite a large number of the fugitives, especially those from Blue Earth City and vicinity stopped at Wasioja, in Dodge county, where the good people provided a house for them and paid them every attention. The landlord of the place, Jacob Kelsey, a large- sized, generous, open-handed man, a man whose body had to be large to cover his great heart, supplied the wayfarers with many things for their comfort, and utterly refused to receive pay when it was tendered him, saying that "what little he had was free at such times, even his whisky." In the meantime, under the call of the governor, a new cavalry company of forty-two members was formed at Blue Earth City. J. B. Wakefield was elected captain.
"The company was organized on the 5th of September, and im- mediatly reported to Col. Flandrau and was by him ordered to re- main at Blue Earth City and to erect fortifications and adopt means for subsisting the men, during the term of service."
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