USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 62
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The Minnesota Valley Agricultural & Live Stock Society was incorporated at Morton April 5, 1890. and was to continue for a period of twenty years. The names and residences of the per- sons forming this co-operation is as follows: W. G. Bartley, J. Il. MeGowan, John M. Claney, Morton; J. M. Farisy, Birch Cooley : Don MeNeyin. Andrew McCormick, George Welsh, W. W. Miller, M. Dooley, T. J. Tradewell, John Melntosh, F. Mor- gan, Morton: O. L. Domberg. Joseph byson, Redwood Falls. "The general nature of this society's business shall be the pro- motion of the agricultural and mechanical arts, the holding of agricultural and mechanical exhibitions, county and other fairs, the purchasing and holding of real and personal property, the erection of buildings and the fencing and improvement of grounds." The first board of directors were: 1. M. Farisy, S. A. Greenslit, John Clancy, C. A. McCormick. W. T. Bartley, J. H. McGowan, A. D. Corey.
The Renville Agricultural Fair Association was incorporated at Renville November 25. 1892. by John O'Connor. B. F. Heins, A. T. Daly, F. O. Gold, A. L. Bratsch, T. O 'Connor, W. D. Spauld- ing, S. M. MeIntosh, A. H. Bachelder, M. J. Spaulding. O. 11. Howe and J. II. Dale. The capital stock was placed at $5,000.
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
Officers: President, O. H. Howe: vice-president. A. Bachelder; secretary, S. M. Meintosh.
The Bird Island Fair Association was incorporated Decem- ber 12, 1895, by J. M. Bowler, F. L. Puffer, A. N. Stone. H. H. Gokey, Charles Kenning, L. L. Tinnes, I. S. Gerald, J. A. John- son, Phil Johnson. The capital stock was placed at $600.
The Farmers' Development Co. was incorporated January 20, 1914, at Sacred Heart by A. O. Skrukrud, H. C. Omholt, O. K. Osmundson. The capital stock was placed at $25,000.
The Farmers' Co-operative Shipping Association of Bird Island was incorporated at Bird Island March 27, 1915, by Frank H. Manderfeld (director), Henry T. Rauenhorst (director), Joseph J. Meurer (vice-president, Ed. Kienholz (director), George T. Wolff (director). John S. Johnson (secretary and treasurer), Henry J. Jungelans (president).
The Osceola Farmers' Club was incorporated March 19, 1915, by W. Il. Sloan (secretary), Gus. Nenow (president), George M. Plocher, H. J. Broderius, John Schiller, Max L. Freeman, Emil Rueckert. Henry Thode, Walter Homan, Louis Kining, Charles Meleba, Joseph Melcha. J. O. Anderson (vice-president ), Charles Warren (treasurer). The capital stock was placed at $800.
The Sacred Heart Produce Co. was incorporated at Sacred Heart September 30, 1886, by llaaken Agre, Simon Johnson, Korenus Agre, Hendrik Skoberg. Paul Berg, Hans Listerud, Peter Synes, John Christofferson, Ole Christofferson, Jorgan Flagstad, A. H. Erickson, Andrew Reed, P. C. Brevig, C. A. Evenson, Ole Hendrickson, Dowel Larson, Ole Fugleskjel. Stens- rud & Ramsland, E. O. Lyders. P. F. Walstrom, Gjerde & Paul- son, Ole O. Melsness. C. P. Bjorn, all of Sacred Heart. The cap- ital stock was $10,000.
The Renville County Swine Breeders' Association was incor- porated April 13, 1914, at Bird Island by Henry W. Leindeeker, president ; Henry J. Jungelaus, vice-president ; Ralph Loomis, secretary and treasurer; E. JJ. Wilson, Nels Mattson, John S. Johnson, Henry Sing and Joe Kienholz, dircetors.
MILLING COMPANIES.
The Fairfax Roller Mills were incorporated January 28, 1892, by .I. A. Beard, Horatio Werring. A. V. Rieke, F. A. Gray, H. A. Baldwin. Emil Schmahl, C. C. Peck. Lawrence Sather, John Buhler, J. A. Wetter, Lewis F. Fullerton, James Ruddy, JJohn Iago. John P. Lindstrom, August Rieke, William Dorn, C. H. Hopkins, F. J. Minske, J. C. Cretty. Officers: President, J. A. Beard: vice-president, Iloratio Werring : secretary, A. V. Rieke ; treasurer, F. A. Gray. The capital stock was placed at $15,000; paid in. $11,000. The original stockholders were: Horatio Wer- ring, A. V. Rieke, John lago. H. A. Baldwin, Emil Sehmahl, C. C.
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
Peek, Lawrence Sather, John Buhler, J. A. Wetter, Lewis F. Fullerton, James Ruddy, John P. Lindstrom, August Rieke, William Dorn. C. Il. Ilopkins, F. J. Minske. J. C. Cortty, J. A. Beard, G. A. Fray.
The Renville Mill Co. was incorporated at Renville. January 10, 1891, by J. T. Brooks. F. N. Mason, J. H. Dale, F. O. Gold, W. Clay. J. C. Spencer. K. G. Pott. A. L. Bratsch, S. S. Russell, L. Prahl. Henry H. Wileken, John O'Connor, B. F. Heins. The first board of directors was: Frank N. Muson, John H. Dale, K. G. Rott, Willis Clay, J. C. Spencer, Ora II. Howe, A. L. Bratsch, John O'Conner. B. F. Heins. The capital stock was placed at $10.000.
The Citizens' Milling Co., of Franklin, was incorporated May 29, 1907. by C. A. Fleming. W. L. Smith and B. F. Webber. The capital stock was placed at $25.000.
LUMBER COMPANIES.
The Hector Lumber & Supply Co. was incorporated at Hector July 16. 1892, by O. F. Peterson, President : August Malin, vice- president : George Eichmiller, secretary : G. O. Lunder. treasurer ; H. 1. Corson. The first board of directors was: O. F. Peterson, G. O. Lunder. George Eichmiller, II. I. Corson and Angust Mahn. Amount of capital stock $50.000.
The Hauser Lumber Co. was incorporated January 2. 1903. at Fairfax by the following persons: Henry Hauser, Robert Tester. C. W. Parsons. G. A. Rieke and Charles Lammers. The capital stock was placed at $100,000.
LAND COMPANIES.
The Bird Island Townsite Co. was incorporated JJune 6. 1878. by William II. Kelly, Owatonna : A. II. Reed and A. M. Knight. Glencoe: James M. Bowler, Newton G. Poor and Nahum Stone. Bird Island. The date of the commencement of this corporation was July 1. 1878. The capital stock was $30,000. The first board of directors consisted of William H. Kelly. A. II. Reed. A. M. Knight. James M. Bowler. Newton G. Poor and Nahum Stone.
The Beaver Falls Land Co. was incorporated June 13. 1899. at Beaver Falls by Haus Gronnerud. W. H. Cheney, William Wichman. Henry Zumwinkle. James S. Anderson. Eric Erieson. Reinhold Hummel. Edwin E. Carpenter and James A. Carpenter. The capital stock was $50,000. The first board of directors was: Hans Grounerud. William H. Cheney. William Wichman and Eric Erieson, of Beaver Falls, and E. E. Carpenter, of Canton. S. D.
The Olivia Land & Improvement Co. was incorporated June 10, 1599, at Olivia by Hans Gronnerud. H. H. Neuenburg, P. W. Heins. P. J. Schaffer, John Miller, William Windhorst. William J. Heaney and N. P. Peterson. The first board of directors was:
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
William Windhorst, N. P. Peterson, P. J. Schaffer, John Miller, W. J. Heaney and HI. H. Neuenburg. Officers : Hans Gronerud, president ; W. J. Heaney, vice-president ; Henry Neuenburg, see- retary; P. W. Heins, treasurer. The capital stock was placed at $10.000.
The Gold-Stabeck Land & Credit Co. was incorporated Decem- ber 16, 1901, at Renville by W. Il. Gold, F. O. Gold, H. N. Stabeck, F. Stabeck. The capital stock was placed at $10,000.
The Theo. F. Koch Land Co. was incorporated July 31, 1897, by Theodore F. Koch, St. Paul, Minn .; Henry C. Horstmann, Chicago, Ill .; Hiram F. Stevens, J. E. HIoeborn and Charles C. Sharp, St. Paul, Minn. The first board of directors consisted of Theodore F. Koch, Henry C. Horstman, Hiram F. Stevens, J. E. Iloeborn, Charles C. Sharp. The capital stock was placed at $400,000.
The O'Conner Realty Co. was incorporated March 7, 1908, at Renville by Timothy O'Conner. Edward O'Conner and Rich- ard T. Daly. The stock was placed at $50,000.
The O'Conner Land Co. was incorporated September 25, 1913. at Renville by Edward O'Conner, president ; William O'Conner, vice-president and treasurer, and Timothy O'Conner, secretary. The capital stock was placed at $75,000.
The Western Minnesota Land Co. was incorporated March 20, 1908, at Sacred Heart by P. C. Brevig (vice-president). J. H. Paulson (secretary), M. O. Sveiven. O. T. Ramsland (president ), Carl Anderson (treasurer). The capital stoek was placed at $25,000.
The Renville Realty Co. was incorporated May 20, 1913. at Renville by Richard T. Daly, president ; Adrian A. Bennett, vice-president : Lynas D. Barnard, sceretary and treasurer. The capital stock was placed at $50,000.
The Renville County Abstract Co. was incorporated October 16, 1894, by P. II. Kerwan, P. H. Heins, Olivia, Minnesota ; Hans Gronnerud, T. HI. Collyer, E. L. De Pue, S. R. Miller, Beaver Falls, Minnesota; J. L. Johnson and M. JJ. Dowling. Renville, Minnesota. The amount of capital stock was placed at $10,000.
STORES AND MISCELLANEOUS.
The Fairfax Mercantile Co. was incorporated February 6. 1907. at Fairfax by C. W. Miller, Jr., W. P. Moorman, S. II. Gumpolen. The capital stock was placed at $30,000.
The Franklin Mercantile Co. was incorporated at Franklin April 10, 1906, by A. S. Erickson, John Curran, Randall Niemi, William J. Curran, Charles Johnson. The capital stock was placed at $25,000.
The Bartlett Mercantile Co., of Hector. was incorporated June 29, 1904, at Hlector by G. F. Bartlett. George T. Kasson,
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
J. F. Bartlett. These men were also the first board of directors. The capital stock was placed at $25,000.
The Fairfax Mercantile Co. was incorporated March 3. 1898, by Wenzel Frank, L. T. Grady, S. W. Smith, all of Fairfax, Minnesota. The amount of capital stock was placed at $15,000. The board of directors: President and treasurer, Wenzel Frank ; L. T. Grady. vice-president and general manager, and S. W. Smith, secretary.
The Fairfax Department Store was incorporated at Fairfax June 9, 1910, by E. F. Sell. A. F. Rieke, R. G. Reinke. The cap- ital stock was placed at $30,000.
The Peoples' Store was incorporated at Fairfax Angust 17. 1908, by Fred Frank, John C. Grams. First board of directors: Fred Frank, John C. Grams, Charles Kipp. The capital stock was placed at $15.000.
The Renville Mercantile Co. was incorporated September 11. 1893, by Halvor J. Lee, Simon Johnson, Nels Boreen, Lars E. Lien, Andrew Nelson, Nels Nelson, Gunder J. Lee. The amount of stock was placed at $25,000. The first board of directors: Lars E. Lien, Andrew Nelson, Gunder J. Lee, Simon Johnson, Halvor Lee.
Farrell & Keefe was incorporated December 15, 1905, at North Redwood by P. R. Farrell, president ; T. M. Keefe, vice- president, and J. R. Keefe, secretary and treasurer. The capital stock was placed at $15.000.
The Hoffman-Holton Co. was incorporated October 24, 1911. at Renville by William Hoffman, Anton Holton and John Hoff- man. The capital stock was placed at $30,000.
The W. Sanders Co. was incorporated at Renville January 15. 1911 by Wesley Sanders, president : Oliver T. Sunde, vice- president : Oluf J. Dahl. secretary and treasurer. The capital stock was placed at $35,000.
The L. Nichols & Co., of Fairfax, was incorporated February 27, 1899. by Luther Nichols, Angust Siefer and August Dirks. The amount of capital stock of said corporation was $25,000.
The Morton Brick & Tile Co. was incorporated March 9, 1909, at Morton by II. A. Sodergren, president ; H. A. Ilanson, vice-president : J. A. Nelson, secretary; William F. Nelson. Henry Beckman was elected treasurer. The stock was placed at $50,000.
The Sacred Heart Automobile Co. was incorporated April 21. 1913, at Sacred Heart by John II. Sognes, P. O. Melsness, Torlief Arestad. W. A. Day and E. P. Dosseth. The capital stock was placed at $10,000.
The Fairfax Co-operative Co. was incorporated Jannary 28, 1911, by Andrew E. Larson, Henry Hanson, E. H. Grasmon, 0. IT. Grasmon, Ole E. Landgraff, Ole J. Boyum and F. W.
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
Rieke. The capital stock was placed at $15,000. O. W. Kiecker, president; O. S. Olson, vice-president; O. H. Grasmon, scere- tary ; J. II. Elstad, treasurer, and Edward Kiecker.
The Johnson Hardware Co., of Ilector, Minnesota, was incor- porated August 3, 1903, by George Johnson and A. E. Sehroeder,
The Olivia Hardware Co. was incorporated August 24, 1912, at Olivia by George Mehlhouse, president; A. R. Schneller, secre- tary and treasurer ; L. A. Matzdorf, vice-president. The capital stock was placed at $35,000.
The Renville Farmers' Fuel & Mercantile Co, was incor- porated January 24, 1912, at Renville by Henry Haen, Joseph HI. Larkin, J. C. Jepson, John Wordes, Joachim Schemel, Carl Pankow, A. R. Holmberg, O. A. Stensvad. L. E. Lien, Albert Tolzman, L. Ahrenholz, William A. Schneider, Ernest Hoffman, John Reetz, L. Mulder. D. Hoogerman, James Garvey, N. J. Holmberg : S. M. Serkland, Lars A. Kronlokken, William John- son. The first officers were: John Wordes, president ; D. HIoog- erman, vice-president ; L. Ahrenholl, treasurer : A. R. Holmberg, secretary. Directors: L. E. Lien, William Johnson, L. Mulder and James Garvey. The capital stock was placed at $60,000.
The H. H. Neuenburg Co., of Olivia, was incorporated July 9, 1901, by Il. HI. Neuenburg, M. Weichselbaum and Peter J. Fitsehen, Olivia ; H. Linderman, Miles; A. A. Linderman, Sleepy Eye. Officers: President, M. Weichselbanm; vice-president, P. J. Fitschen ; secretary and treasurer, H. H. Neuenburg. The capital stock was placed at $30.000.
Heins & Co., of Olivia, was incorporated June 21. 1906, by E. II. Ileins, H. H. Heins F. B. Byers and C. A. Heins as surviving trustees of the estate of P. W. Heins, deceased. The capital stock was placed at $50,000.
The Johnson Peterson Co., of Hector, was incorporated April 1. 1901, by George Jolmson and Hans Peterson, of Hector; Ed Johnson, (. A. Beckman, of Minneapolis. The first board of directors was George Johnson, Hans Peterson and C. A. Beek- man. The capital stock was placed at $24,000.
J. Richardson Co., of Bird Island, was incorporated February 2. 1903, by Joseph Richardson and Cyril M. Tift. Glencoe, Minne- sota : Walter J. Richardson and George R. Crosby. Bird Island, Minnesota ; Edward C. Baird, Graceville, Minnesota. The eap- ital stock was placed at $25,000. The first board of directors ol' said corporation were Joseph Richardson, Walter J. Richard- son. Axel J. Richardson. Edward C. Baird. George Crosby and Cyril M. Tifft.
Fidelity Loan & Trust Co. was incorporated January 2, 1886, at Storm Lake, Buena Vista county. Iowa, by the following per- sons: Caleb H. Booth. Dubuque, Towa; Charles A. Clark, Cedar Rapids, Iowa ; Joseph Sampsen, Stern Lake, Iowa; John C.
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
French, Stern Lake, Iowa; Cornelius C. Creyler, New York; Benjamin Graham. New York: William G. Clapp. New York. The capital stock was placed at $100.000.
CHAPTER XXIII.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Nearby Stations-First Settlers in Renville County-La Croix at Birch Cooley-Cairo-Beaver Falls-Flora-Hawk Creek- Sacred Heart-Flight of the Settlers-Pioneers Return and Modern Era Begins-An Ancient Atlas.
Fur trading stations were the first settlements made in this vicinity. Later came the Mission stations. Lake Traverse. Lac qui Parle, Big Stone Lake. the Yellow Medicine, the mouth of the Chippewa and the mouth of the Little Rock were all favorite points for those who had dealings with the Indians.
After the treaty of peace between Great Britain, and the United States in 1783. the influence of the Northwest Company traders led to the location of Sioux villages near the traders' posts. both above and below the month of the Minnesota. There were several of these as far to the south as the lower section of the Des Moines river. In the fall of 1783 Joseph Ainse (or Anse or Ans) came from Mackinaw to Mendota and distributed presents and held a council with the Sioux. Five Sioux villages were rep- resented. In the report of this couneil it is mentioned that at the time white traders were operating between St. Anthony's Falls and Rice Creek, the latter in what is now Renville county ; but the names of the traders and locations of the posts are not given.
The first man to locate in Renville county was Charles Patter- son. a native of the north of Ireland. who about 1783 established a post in what is now Flora township. at the ripples still known as the Falls, and widely famed as a pienie grounds. It is a short distance from the old village of Vicksburg, and the contour of the land above the falls presents alnost limitless possibilities for the establishment at some future date of a great waterpower on the site.
Patterson was on the Renville county side of the rapids or falls. some twelve or more miles above the mouth of the Redwood. The locality was designated in all the early maps as Patterson's Rapids.
Patterson was here for some time; it seems he eame down the Red river and the Minnesota to his post. He had another post at the month of the Yellow Medicine, where he was visited by Ainse, in November of the next year. after the latter had held his
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IHISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
council with the Sioux. At the time of his visit Ainse sold to Patterson a scarlet coat suitable for a chief, and entered the price in his account book as "six pounds three shillings and four- pence." After Ainse's departure Patterson created a chief of the Sisseton Sioux and gave him the gorgeous red coat to wear and a British flag to wave over his tepee. In 1787 Francois La Bathe (or La Batte) was in Patterson's employ as a clerk, and there is a hint that he was stationed at the Little Rapids, where Carver now is. Ilis descendants in Minnesota, half-blood Sioux, were prominent in the State's early history. His son, Francois, Jr., was murdered by the Sioux at the Lower Agency the first day of the great outbreak.
Perhaps the first native of the United States to engage in trade on the Minnesota was James II. Loekwood, a native of Clinton county, New York, born in 1793. In Vol. II, Wisconsin Historieal Collections, he writes that in the summer of 1816, a little more than a year after the close of the War of 1812, and when twenty-three years of age, he engaged as a clerk to "some traders" to take charge of a trading post near the head of the St. Peter's. In the fall of 1816 he came up and assumed charge of the post. Nareisse Frenier was his assistant and Sioux interpreter.
From Prairie du Chien up to the post there were in his boats a stock of goods. Lockwood himself, his boatmen and a Yankton Indian, the son of a chief called Wo-wah-she Tonka, or the Big Servant ("Le Grand Serviteur" in French), who had been at St. Louis with the Americans during a part of the War of 1812. Lockwood conveyed him to Lac qui Parle, where he was met by his uneles from Big Stone lake.
Lockwood notes that as he came up the Mississippi he passed "Wa-pa-shaw's" village, which was where Winona now stands; Red Wing's village at Red Wing; Little Crow's village four miles below St. Paul, and Black Dog's, at Mendota. On the Minnesota (or St. Peter's as it was then called) the first Indian village above Mendota was that of Penichon, "a man of little note," says Lockwood. Where Shakopee now is was the village of the chief of that name, and of him Lockwood says: "IIe possessed a good intelleet, but was not popular among the traders, as he was con- sidered very dishonest." Of the next two villages he writes :
"At the Little Rapids was another village of the Indians called by the French 'Gens de Feuilles,' or Leaf People. [Wahpaytons, or People of the Leaves, according to the Sioux.] The name of their chief I do not recollect. There was a village of the Sissetons at the Roehe Blanche [White Roek], and above, I remember no others."
Loekwood remained at Lac qui Parle for more than two years, or until the spring of 1819, and then returned to Prairie du Chien, where he afterwards resided until his death, several years ago.
:
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
In 1833-34, Joseph Renville. Jr., had a trading station at the month of the Little Rock (Mud) creek, only a few miles from the present Renville county. In 1834, it is believed, Joseph La Frambois located there permanently, having at that time been living at the mouth of the Cottonwood for two years. One author- ity, however, declares that it was about 1534 when La Frambois took charge of the post at the month of the Cottonwood river (in Brown county), that in that year llazen Mooers opened a post on the Little Rock, and that La Frambois did not take up his station there until a few years later.
It is interesting to note that Joseph La Frambois and Hazen Mooers sleep only a few feet apart in the cemetery at Ft. Ridgely. Mooers having been buried in the government cemetery con- nected with the fort some years before the outbreak. La Frambois' bones were moved to the fort cemetery a few months ago from the cemetery on the old homestead at the month of the Little Rock.
La Frambois was born in Michigan in March. 1805. Ile became a fur trader on the upper Minnesota in the early thirties. In 1834 he was appointed Indian agent. He died November 9. 1856. His wife was Jane Dixon, the marriage at Traverse des Sionx, in 1845. being one of the first in Nicollet county.
In 1835. Rev. Thomas S. Williamson established himself at Lac qui Parle.
Lonis La Croix, the first settler in Renville county. built a honse on Birch Cooley creek. just across from what was after- ward the Lower ageney in 1845. Louis La Croix (Sr.) died June 16, 1871. at Big Stone Lake. Ilis life was full of romance. He was born in St. Louis about 1800 of French parents and was an old settler in Renville county and ever since he was first known here he possessed property enough to have made him well off. but in the days of prosperity he divided with all hands and died poor.
The census of 1849 showed the following persons living at missionary or trading stations near Renville county. the name of the head of the house being given first, the number of males next. the number of females next and the total last :
Little Rock-J. La Framboise, three, four, seven : R. Ilopkins. missionary, three, four, seven; A. G. Huggins, missionary assis- tant. three. three. six : J. Potter. missionary, three, four, seven ; J. Lature, two. none, two: J. Bosorias, one, none, one : J. Proven- calle. two. none. two: Alex Gealian. two. none, two; . F. Roy. one, none. one.
Big Stone Lake and Lae qui Parle-S. R. Riggs, missionary. three, four seven; M. N. Adams, missionary. one, one, two: 1. Pettijohn, two, two, Tour : J. Renville, three, six, nine : 1. Ren- ville. one. four, five: Martin MeLeod, two, three, five; G. Ren- ville, one, one, two: M. Renville, one, none, one: J. Hess, one,
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
none, one: Vetal Rayeè, two, one, three ; J. B. Boquet, one, none, one: F. Clonther, one, none, one ; Macaron, one, none. one ; Levi Bird, one, two, three : A. Roy, two, two, four : J. Dummire, four, two, six; Joseph Labelle, two, two, four; A. Fusmere, three, three, six : N. Fusmere. one, two, three. There were also scat- tering settlers, like the La Croix family.
In 1853 Ft. Ridgely was built just outside of the limits of the present Renville county. In the same year the Upper agency was established on the Yellow Medicine river. Soon thereafter, and not far away, mission stations were established. The Lower ageney was also established across the river from Birch Cooley, six miles east of the mouth of the Redwood river. In 1854 Brown county began to be settled.
The first inland settlements in Renville county were made about Preston lake in what is now Preston Lake township. Little is known of this settlement, which consisted doubtless of people who had come down from the "Big Woods" to the northeast. According to the land office records, S. T. Darbey took a claim in section 3. J. A. Michael in section 11. and II. L. Benson in sections 14 and 15. in the fall of 1856, while Solomon Morrow took a claim in sections 9 and 10, in the fall of 1857. In 1862, Lavina Engle seeured a claim in section 4.
George M. Michael took a claim in section 34, in what is now Boon Lake, in 1856. In 1861, V. P. Kennedy and M. B. Rudisill took claims in seetions 7 and S in the same township. V. P. Kennedy was later a prominent physician and active polit- ically at Litchfield. Meeker county, where he died a few years ago.
Little can be learned of these people, how they fared during the massacre or when they left here. The appearance of their names in the land office records sheds a new light on Renville county history, and the publication of these facts may bring forth new information on the subject.
No mention has ever been made of these people in accounts of the early days in this county. One published report. however, has said that in 1862. Dr. Engle and N. A. Van Meter. at that time living on the shores of Preston lake, went below For supplies, and hearing of the Indian uprising did not return.
While umch of the prairie region of what is now Renville county was thrown open to settlement by the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, signed July 22, 1851, ratified and amended by the United States Senate, June 23, 1852, and proclaimed by Presi- dent Millard Fillmore, February 24. 1853, nevertheless most of the early settlements were along the Minnesota river and its tributary creeks. The ten-mile strip along the Minnesota river. . however, was included in the Indian reservation, and until the treaty of 1858 no general permanent settlement could be made there. The presence of any white people within the reservation
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