USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 70
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April 22, 1903, the question of building a jail for the county was taken up and considered and on motion indefinitely post- poned. May 28, 1903, Mrs. Scheer, who purchased the old court house in Beaver Falls, was again given the contract to board the county panpers, this time at $2.75 per week. July 17 N. L. Headline was appointed custodian of the court house. Jan. 5, 1904, William Kemp was chosen chairman of the board for 1904. The Sherwood Printing Co., of Bird Island, were appointed public printers, and the Bird Island "Union" the official newspaper for Renville county during the year 1904.
Jan. 9, 1904, Commissioner W. C. Keefe was appointed pur- chasing agent for the year 1904, to purchase for Renville county all stationery. blanks and blank books used by the county officers, all fuel and gasoline used by the county for lighting and heating the county buildings, and all other necessary supplies of every kind. March 10, 1904, the board instructed the county auditor to advertise for plans and specifications for a county jail and sheriff's residence to eost in the neighborhood of $15,000 to
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$22,000. April 5, 1904, the board purchased from Eriek Greep lots 7, 8 and 9, block 1, Peterson's addition to the village of Olivia, consideration $1,000, for a site for a county jail and sheriff's residence, and the entire day was taken up by the board examining plans and specifications submitted to them by Louis Magen, $20,000; F. D. Orff. $20,000; Schuler Brothers, $19,000; Kinney & Ditwiler, $19,000; Buchner & Orth, $20,000: Haland & Squires, $21.500; R. J. Hochkiss, $20.000. On motion of Com- missioner Sherin, Kinney & Ditwiler were selected as architects and supervisers of construction for the jail and sheriff's residence at five per cent of the total cost of such building. Thus a county jail at Olivia was started under more favorable conditions than the old stone building for the same purpose at Beaver Falls some thirty years before.
May 6, 1904, the commissioners ordered the plans and specifi- cations furnished by the architects be submitted to the state authorities for approval. This was not necessary when the old "stone jug" at Beaver Falls was built, the old jail plans would hardly have stood such serutiny. July 13. 1904. the board pro- ceeded to open and examine bids submitted for the erection of a county jail and sheriff's residence. They were as follows: Pauly Jail Co., steel work only, $9,541 ; Diebold Safe & Lock Co., steel work only. $7,743; Meyer Bros., steel work only, $6,700; D. 11. Lord, building without steel works, $11,170: Emil M. John- son, without steel works, $10,975; Saxton Heating Co., for heat- ing plant, $779; O. Il. Olson, building jail and sheriff's residence, $21,000. July 16. 1904. O. 11. Olson was awarded the contract for $21,000, the building to be completed by December 1, 1904. On November 14 the commissioners spent the entire afternoon in considering matters pertaining to the erection of the county jail : on December 7 the auditor was directed to issue his warrant to Contractor Olson, then engaged in ereeting a county jail and sheriff's residence.
Jan. 3, 1905, the commissioners were O. S. Olson (chairman). M. E. Sherin (vice-chairman), Carl Anderson, B. C. MeEwen and Julius Potzwold ; H. J. Lee, county auditor. This year the county printing was divided between the Renville "Star-Farmer," the Bird Island "Union" and Fairfax "Standard." The superin- tendent of schools was allowed $1,500 and the county attorney $1.300 for the year of 1905 as salaries. February 13 the board instructed the county auditor to issue his warrant in favor of O. II. Olson for the sum of $5,962.75, and on March 12 another warrant was drawn in favor of O. II. Olson, contractor, for ereet- ing county jail and sheriff's residence in the sum of $2,500.
March 27, 1905, the commissioners spent the afternoon look- ing over the new jail and sheriff's residence. March 28, on motion of Commissioner Potzwold, it was ordered that no pur-
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chase be made by any county officer for supplies for his office in any sum exceeding $5.00 without first consulting this board. On this same day the commissioners accepted the jail and sheriff's residence as completed according to plans and specifications, directing the county auditor to draw his warrant in favor of O. H. Olson, the contractor, for the sum of $2,877 as final pay- ment on his contract, though completed three months later than contraeted for, a minber of things preventing.
May 4 Matt. Iledlund, of Olivia, was awarded the job of laying cement sidewalks around the jail grounds at eighty cents per square yard. William Windhorst put on the screen windows for $41 and M: J. Dowling wrote $10,000 fire and lightning insur- ance on the building. Thus, with new court house and new modern jail and sheriff's residence, Renville county takes rank with the best in making things convenient for her county offi- cials. How different from the early start in Beaver Falls! But all things are moving under improved conditions.
Jan. 2. 1906, Carl Anderson became chairman and Julins Potzwold vice-chairman of the county board, with anditor and commissioners the same as last year. This year Il. T. Marsh, of the Sacred Heart "Journal," printed the delinquent tax list, and Ralph Prescott, of the Hector "Mirror," the financial state- ment, but J. R. Landy's Buffalo Lake "News" was designated as the official county newspaper to publish proceedings of the board, legal notices, ete. January 4 the petition of John Halberg and others to lower the waters of Preston Lake was rejected by the board and the petitioners notified to pay expenses. July 11 the board directed that all bills of county officials for postage be accompanied with a receipt from the postmaster, stating amounts and date of purchase.
Jan. 8, 1907, commissioners were M. E. Sherin (chairman), B. C. MeEwen (vice chairman), Carl Anderson, Julius Potzwold and Charles Lammers. H. J. Lee, county auditor. The county superintendent of schools received a salary of $1,500 and the county attorney $1,300 for 1907 This year H. W. Wilson of the Olivia "Times, " M. B. Childs of the Olivia " Review," and A. W. Biselien of the Danube "Herald," divided up the county printing.
Jan. 7. 1908, the same commissioners and county auditor served as in 1907, but with C. B. MeEwen, as chairman, and Carl Anderson as vice chairman. This year there was quite a eon- test over county printing. Bids were offered and action post- poned From day to day, finally Jan. 9. on motion of Commissioner Lammers, all bids were rejected, and time given to submit new bids. At a later date the Renville "Star-Farmer" received the printing of all but the financial statement, that being awarded to the Fairfax "Standard." Ang. 15, 1908, the board decided to
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submit to the voters at the next general election, the question of changing the system of caring for the poor of Renville county from the township to the county system.
.Jan. 5, 1909, the commissioners were Charles Lammers (chair- man,, M. E. Sherin vice chairman), Carl Anderson, B. C. Me- Ewen, and Julius Potzwold; J. L. Johnson came in as county anditor and the other county officers were: W. D. Griffith, coun- ty treasurer: John A. Viek, sheriff: T. H. Collyer. register of deeds: Geo. F. Gage, judge of probate; Loretta Boeck. elerk of probate : Frank Murray, county attorney: E. M. Clay, coroner and John A. Dahlgren, surveyor. This year. Sherwood of the Bird Island " Union, " and Landy of the Olivia " Times. " divided the county printing between them, though the Olivia "Times" was designated as the official newspaper.
Feb. 1. 1909. Peter O. Roe and others of Sacred Heart. pre- sented a petition for the enlargement of school district No. 40. Attorneys Freeman and Stewart appeared for the petitioners and AAttorney Daly for the objectors, which were school districts Nos. 43, 35. 128, 41 and 94. The petition was after much argument by attorneys, granted, but the contest and excitement incident thereto will long be remembered by the residents of the territory affected. Although J. R. Landy was designated as official printer his bill for delinquent tax list and postal cards was only $133.80. while HI. C. Sherwood received $771.40 for printing the county financial statement.
During these years the commissioners and county auditor were mineh occupied with county and judicial diteh matters, large Jus of nemy ver negotiated for. to complete these ditches and those contemplated. Attorneys found a new field for lucra- tive employment in connection therewith. Extra work was piled upon the county auditor as shown by Auditor Lee's bill of $955 for auditor's service in establishment of county ditches. The work still goes on. To take up and give a history of each ditch would be interesting as would the story of the litigation con- nected therewith. The history of the hearings and discussions before the board of county commissioners would take many volumes to record. It may be written some time in the future for the end is not yet in sight.
.Jan. 4. 1910. the commissioners and county auditor were the same as in 1909, with Carl Anderson as chairman. This year the county treasurer was allowed $600 and the judge of probate $540 for clerk hire for the ensuing year. Also $250 was set aside as a contingent fund for the county attorney and an incidental fund of $350 was created for the county. Asa M. Wallace of the Fair- fax " Standard." and O. W. Smith of the Morton "Enterprise" divided the county printing between them. The court house jani- tor's salary was fixed at $65 per month. July 12. 1910, Hon.
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N. J. Holmberg and Olof Dale were chosen as delegates to the Second National Conservation Congress in St. Paul, Sept. 6 to 9.
Jan. 3, 1911, the commissioners were B. C. MeEwen (chair- man), Julius Potzwold (vice chairman), Chas. Lammers, Carl Anderson and M. E. Sherin ; J. L. Johnson, county auditor; C. N. Mattson became judge of probate : C. O. Brecke, clerk of district court ; J. A. Viek, sheriff ; H. L. D'Arms, coroner; John A. Dahl- gren, surveyor; T. II. Collyer, register of deeds and register of titles, while h. D. Barnard comes forward as county attorney. J. R. Landy of the Olivia "Times" and W. A. Reid of the Renville "Star-Farmer" divided the county printing for the year 1911.
Jan. 2, 1912, the same commissioners and auditor served, with M. E. Sherin (chairman), and Julius Potzwold (vice chairman). H. C. Sherwood of the Bird Island "Union," and A. M. Wallace of the Fairfax "Standard," between them agreed to do the county printing in the manner required by law.
Jan. 7, 1913, the county commissioners were M. E. Sherin (chairman ). Chas. Lammers (vice chairman), with James U. Hoagland, R. HI. Nelson and John Edirer : J. L. Johnson was county auditor; Amund Dahl, eounty treasurer; O. T. Sunde, sheriff; T. II. Collyer, register of deeds; L. D. Barnard, county attorney ; F. W. Penhall, coroner; C. N. Mattson, probate judge. J. R. Landy of the Olivia "Times." and W. A. Reid of the Renville "Star-Farmer," carried off the county printing for 1913.
Jan. 6, 1914, the same commissioners and auditor served as in 1913. M. E. Sherin was chairman with R. H. Nelson as vice chair- man. J. L. JJacobs of the Franklin " Tribune, " and H. C. Sherwood of the Bird Island "Union," were the fortunate bidders for the publie printing of 1914.
January 5, 1915, the commissioners were M. E. Sherin (ehair- man), with James U. Iloagland, Chas. Lammers, JJohn Edirer. Commissioner R. H. Nelson was absent. He later died, and was succeeded by Ed. Paulson. I. h. Johnson became county auditor ; Amund Dahl, treasurer; O. T. Snnde, sheriff ; C. N. Mattson, judge of probate : T. H. Collyer, register of deeds and titles; S. R. Mil- ler, court commissioner: A. A. Passer, coroner; T. S. Hewerdine. surveyor : C. O. Brecke, clerk of court. H. F. Rubey of the Mor- ton "Enterprise, " and J. R. Landy of the Olivia "Times," do the county printing for the year, 1915. County officers elected, except probate judge hold office for four years from Jan. 1, 1915.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
FORT RIDGELY.
Establishment-Notable Soldiers Stationed There-Volunteer Troops Arrive Poorly Located-Inadequate for Defense- Left Almost Deserted-Indian Massacre Starts-Marsh Starts for Redwood Ferry-Disaster-Refugees Swarm to the Fort- Sheehan Returns-Renville Rangers Return-Preparations for Defense-Attack of August 20-Attack of August 22- Thrilling Tales of Danger and Daring-Indians Withdraw- Relief-The Story of Defender Adam Rieke-Charles H. Hop- kins and His Work Which Has Resulted in the Fort Ridgely State Park.
With the creation of the new Indian reservation by the treaty signed in 1851 and ratified in 1853. and the removal of the In- dians thereto, came the advisability of establishing some sort of governmental supervision over the tract. The concentration of so many Indians upon an area small in comparison to the vast sweeps over which they had ranged, and a radical change in the conditions under which they had lived for countless generations, were circumstances which the officials realized might result in situations which would require the firm hand of strongly en- trenched authority.
For several reasons it was necessary that a military post be maintained in the vicinity of the new reservation. Whether the Indians would be reconciled to their new home was still a ques- tion, and it was realized that settlers, whose presence was needed to develop the country which the treaty opened, would not locate in any considerable numbers in the lower Minnesota valley. unless they were assured of some sort of protection from the Indians in the upper valley. It was also advisable that there should be con- stantly before the Indians a reminder of the strength and organ- ization of the government.
It had already been decided that there were to be two Indian agencies for the Indians on the Reservation. The Upper agency for the Sissetons and Wahpatons was established at the mouth of the Yellow Medicine, and the Lower, for the Medawakanton and Wahpakoota bands was placed about six miles east of the mouth of the Redwood. Both agencies were on the south bank of the Minnesota river.
The matter of a new military post was called to the attention of C. M. Conrad, then Secretary of War. and General Winfield Scott. then commanding the regular army, by Delegate Henry H. Sibley.
General Scott concurred in Sibley's recommendation and the
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Secretary of War approved it and issued necessary orders. In the fall of 1852, Captain Napoleon Jackson Tecumseh Dana, then of the quartermaster's department (later colonel of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and major general of volunteers), and Colonel Francis Lee of the Sixth United States Infantry, then in command at Fort Snelling, were ordered to select a suitable site for the new fort, "on the St. Peter's river, above the mouth of the Blue Earth."
In the latter part of November, with an escort of dragoons from Fort Snelling, and after a three days' march in the snow, the officers reached Laframboise's trading post, established about 1834, by Hlazen Mooers and placed in charge of Joseph Lafram- boise in 1837, and located at the mouth of the Little Rock creek. Five miles above the Rock, just baek of the erest of a high bluff on the north side of the Minnesota, the site was fixed, immediately west of the ravine of what is now ealled Fort Ridgely ereek, and overlooking the beautiful Minnesota valley for many miles in each direction.
The Fort Ridgely reservation extended three miles on each side of the Minnesota river, being six miles each way, the bound- ary line jogging a-mile north to every mile west.
The new post for a time was called simply "The New Forte," but shortly afterward was named Fort Ridgely in honor of Major Randolph Ridgely, a gallant officer of the regular army from Maryland, who died of injuries received at the battle of Mon- terey. When Fort Ridgely was established, Fort Riley, Kansas, was ordered built. At the same time Fort Dodge, lowa, and Fort Scott, Kansas, were ordered discontinued and broken up. Fort Ridgely took the place of Fort Dodge and Fort Riley was substi- tuted for Fort Seott.
The first garrison at Fort Ridgely was composed of Companies C and K, of the Sixth Infantry. The first commander was Cap- tain James Monroe, then of Company K, who died in the Civil War as colonel of the Twenty-seventh New York Volunteer In- fantry. The sutler was Major B. Il. Randall, for many years prominent in Minnesota history. The adjutant was T. C. Kelton, afterward adjutant general of the United States army.
Companies C and K went up on the steamboat West Newton from Fort Snelling. The troops arrived at the landing on the evening of April 30, 1853. On Sunday, the first day of May, they disembarked and pitched their tents for a summer camp. Aside from the settlement of Joseph Laframboise, there were no white people within fifty miles.
To the people of the present generation it is puzzling that the officers should have selected the location they did west of the ra- vine, when east of the ravine there is a piece of high land over- looking all the surrounding country, so situated as to be almost
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impregnable, whereas the site selected was far from being an ideal spot for a fortification. Officers later explained this by stating that the fort was never intended for defense. At the present time, however, it is difficult to understand how a fort established for the purpose of exercising military supervision over the Indians could have been built without some thought being taken of the possibility of defending it. The Indians had, as The officers said, promised perpetual peace, but the govern- ment had also made promises which it had broken. Whatever the thought of the military authorities may have been it is certain that the pioneers in settling in Renville county looked upon Fort Ridgely as a possible refuge and defense in case of emergency.
Company E marched across the country from Fort Dodge and arrived in June. 1853, when work on the buildings was begun. When Company E arrived, its captain, Brevet Major Sanmel Woods. previously well identified with Minnesota history, took command by virtue of his rank. The work of constructing the fort was in charge of Captain Dana.
From its founding until the outbreak of the Civil War. Fort Ridgely was occupied by companies of regular troops.
General Lewis A. Armistead of the Sixth U. S. Infantry, killed in a heroic charge at Gettysburg, was one of the carly officers of the fort. Three companies of the Second United States Infantry relieved the Sixth in 1854. In 1856 came four companies, the band and the staff, of the Tenth United States Infantry. They were ordered to Ftah in the fall of 1858. After the building of Fort Randall on the Missouri, three companies of the Second U. S. Infantry were stationed here. Then came the school of artillery practice with four companies, one of them being Sherman's Bat- tery of Flying or Light Artillery.
Among the notable officers stationed at Fort Ridgely before the war and who distinguished themselves in the war were : Dana, Kelton. Armistead, Steele, Sully, Abbercrombie, Alexander. Bee, Sherman, Donovant, Morris, Pemberton, De Russey, Tyler, Pat- terson, Hill. Lyon. Ruggles. Livingston. J. J. Dana. Hawkins, Bingham, Swain, Weeks. Du Barry. Williams and Hudson. Jef- ferson Davis, afterward president of the Southern Confederacy, is said to have visited here at one time.
With the opening of the Civil War, Fort Ridgely became a rendezvous of volunteer companies.
Company B, of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Cap- tain Bromley in command, and Company G of the same regiment, Captain MeKune in command, were stationed at Fort Ridgely from early in May, 1861, until well into the summer of 1861.
June 17. the "St. Paul Guards." a newly recruited company which became Company E, Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, arrived in charge of Captain A. K. Skaro. The "Western
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Zouves" of St. Paul also arrived at the same time in charge of Captain Horace 11. Western. This company later became Com- pany D, Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. The trip from St. Paul to Fort Ridgely was made up the Minnesota aboard the steamer "City Belle."
October 10, 1861, Companies A and B of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, became the garrison at Fort Ridgely. Cap- tain L. 1 .. Baxter of Company A was the commander of the post until in March, 1862, when the companies with the remainder of the regiment was sent to join the Union army in front of Corinth, Mississippi.
Upon the organization of the Fifth Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, March 29, 1862, three of the companies were assigned to garrison Minnesota forts. Company B, Captain John S. Marsh, commanding, was assigned to Fort Ridgely. As Captain Marsh had not as yet joined the company, and as Lieutenant Norman K. Culver was on detail as quartermaster, Sergeant Thomas P. Gere led the company on its march in zero weather, through the deep show. from Fort Snelling to Fort Ridgely, arriving at the latter post March 25. April 10, Gere beeame second lieutenant, and on the 16th, Captain Marsh arrived and assumed command of the post.
There were then at the fort in addition to the officers and men of Company B. Post Surgeon Dr. Alfred Muller, Sutler B. H. Randall, Interpreter Peter Quinn, and Ordnance Sergeant John Jones, with a few soldiers' families living in cabins nearby.
Sergeant Jones was in charge of the Government stores and of six pieces of artillery of different calibers, the relies of the old artillery school at the post, which had been left by Major Pem- berton when he departed for Washington with the last battery organization in February, 1861.
June 30, Lieutenant T. J. Sheehan, Fifth Minnesota, with lifty men of Company C, and fifty men of Company D, Fifth Minne- sota, was ordered by John Marsh, captain. Fifth Regiment, to re- port at the Sioux agency on the Yellow Medicine river about fifty-two miles northwest of Fort Ridgely to Major Thomas Gal- braith, Sioux agent there, to maintain order while the annuities were being delivered to the Indians. Arriving July 2, they found the Indians troublesome and dissatisfied because the annuities has not arrived and also because the stores were dispensed to them through traders. They submitted an address to Lieutenants Shechan and Gere as follows : "We are the braves. We have sold our lands to the great father. The traders are allowed to sit at the pay table and they take all our money. We wish you to keep the traders away from the pay table and we wish you to make ns a present of beef."
Without authority from Washington this demand could not
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be met. JJuly 26. in conformity with an agreement some of the Indians being almost starving, a counting of the Indians was ordered and crackers was distributed among them. The count- ing took twelve and one-half hours.
July 27, Lieutenant Sheehan with four soldiers, four citizens and an Indian guide stole away in the night to capture if possible Inkpadoota, who had stolen horses, ete. Ile was notified, how- ever, and got away. Lieutenant Sheehan returned August 3, to the agency.
Lieutenant Sheehan with the detachment from Company C was ordered to Fort Ridgely and Lieutenant Cluver and six men of Company B were detached to St. Peter, with the fifty recruits of traders and half-breeds who constituted the Renville Rangers. This left at Fort Ridgely, two officers and some sixty-six men.
July 4, the Indians seut two messengers to the camp to state the Indians were going to make a demonstration, saying they meant no harm thereby. This being usual no objection was made to it. About 800 warriors took part and it soon developed into an attack on the warehouse for provisions and became so serious that the howitzers had to be uncovered and aimed at the door of the warehouse when the Indians left the warehouse.
An issue of pork and flour allayed the tension somewhat but did not satisfy. Finally the Indians retired to their camps.
Lieutenant Gere was dispatched to Fort Ridgely to report to Captain Marsh and ask him to come to the Upper agency.
July 7, at the council with the Indians it was agreed that all the stores at the agency should be issued to the Indians and this agreement was carried out on July 8 and 9. The Lower Sioux Indians had taken no part in these demonstrations and as the Upper Sioux had departed in good humor it was expected all would patiently wait until the annity money came.
But on August 18 came the outbreak with its widespread slaughter starting from the Lower Agency.
1. C. Diekenson kept the boarding house at Redwood Ferry. As soon as the murderous work began he started for Fort Ridgely with a load of refugees, one being a wounded man. Between 9 and 10 in the morning he met B. H. Randall about two miles from the fort, Randall being ont driving with his children. Randall whipped up his horse and brought the first word to the fort. Dickenson at once started out to intercept the Renville Rangers.
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