Blue Earth County, Minnesota - Chapter 5: Fiest Settlements. in Blue Eaeth County, 1901

Among the excursionists on board the "Yankee" in 1850 were two, who were specially impressed by the country at the mouth of the Blue Earth. They were Henry Jackson and Parsons King Johnson, both prominent residents of St. Paul.

Mr. Jackson was a native of Virginia where he was born in February, 1811. When a young man he went to Texas and in 1836-7 served as orderly sargent in the Patriot war. Soon after this he returned to the states and located at Buffalo, New York. Here in May, 1838, he married Angelina Bevins and moved the same spring to Green Bay, Wis., and thence in a year or two to Galena, 111., where he engaged in business. In June, 1842, he and his wife landed at the present site of St. Paul where there was hardly a habitation in which they could find shelter for the first night, which chanced to be dark and rainy. Soon he purchased of one Ben. Gervais three acres of land bounded at present by Bench, Eobert, Third and Jackson streets and erected the first house with a shingled roof ia our capitol city. In this building he conducted the first store, the first hotel, the first post office and the first court in St. Paul. He was appointed postmaster in 1816, though he liad acted in that capacity for some years prior. He was elected a member of the Wisconsin Assembly, while St. Paul still pertained to that 9tate, and later he was a member of the first territorial legislature of Minnesota. He also served on the first town council of St. Paul. A strong character, able, energetic, self reliant, e^er ready for any new enterprise - such was Henry Jackson. Mr. Johnson, his brother-inhiAv, was a A'ermont man by birth, and a tailor by trade. In the spring of 1837, on attaining his majority he came west, and located first at liockford. III, then at Prairie du Chien, whence h.e came to St. Paul in the spring of 1847, and boarded for some time with Henry Jackson. In j\[ay, 1850, married Laura Bivens, a sister of Mrs. Jackson. He had been a member of the first territorial legislature of Minnesota. Genial, witty, companionable, he made friends wherever he went. While better educated and more refined and even tempered than Jackson, he lacked the latter's push and energy. This with his disinclination to selfish advantage and acquisition, and his convivial habits, which he shared with his friend Jackson, and with too many of the pioneers of his day, hindered his accumulation of much property. His happy, contented and peaceable disposition, however, insured him more enjoyment and length of days than wealth could have done.

It was in the antibellum days, when politics ^vere intense and their discussion often rufEled the temper. A big hurley stranger of English descent had drawn Johnson into a hot dispute over some question of disagreement between the two nations. The Englishman challenged Johnson to fight him. After both had reached the street and taken off their coats Johnson with the gravest expression of countenance said to bis antagonist : "Stranger, before we engage in this first encounter let us sit down a bit and sing a hymn, omitting the first and last stanzas." The ridiculous suggestion broke up the fight, and the Englishman departed with his wrath badly punctured.

Mankato was a -village and Squire Johnson sat on the bench of justice. Two women walked into the court room and one of them related most vividly, how her husband in attempting to celebrate the great day of American Independence, had grossly overdone the matter, much against the peace and dignity of the State of Minnesota, as was evidenced by certain scratches and bruises exhibited by the wife. "P. K." as Johnson was familiarly called listened patiently to the woman's harrowing tale of the breach of the law, but the court had not recovered fully from the effects of his own celebration, and was aware of his inability, after looking earnestly at the woman a minute or two he asked, "Are you a member of the Presbyterian Church?" Surprised and angry the woman sharply retorted "ISTo, I belong to no church. What has that to do with getting a warrant?" Johnson gravely replied, "Madame, I am very sorry, but the day after the Fourth my Jurisdiction is limited to the Presbyterian church." The women expressed their opinions of the court in language quite vigorous and left in a hufE.

1852, at Jackson's store in St. Paul were discussing earnestly the proposition of locating a townsite at the mouth of the Blue Earth. Finally on Saturday, the 31st day of January,

1853, having hired two wood choppers, named Daniel Williams and John James, and a teamster, named Louis DeMoreau, to carry the men with the goods and provisions, they started for the site of their future city. Jackson and Johnson led the way in their cutter, while the rest of the party followed in the Frenchman's sleigh drawn by two Indian ponies. With the company went W. W. Paddock to view the country.

Winter, which the week before had sent the n^ercury thirty degrees below, had suddenly lost his grip, and the weather was balmy as April. The snow had mostly disappeared and the progress of our travelers was slow and tedious. The first night was spent with the old Indian interpreter, Hugh Quinn, just above Fort Snelling. The second night they lodged with Tom Holmes, who had just built the first log cabin on the present site of Shakopee. Holmes had great expectations for his town. He said St. I'aul might make quite a city were it not so near Shakopee. The third night found our friends at the trading post of Nelson Robert, a mile or two below the present site of Belle Plaine. Here Jackson was taken sick and early next morning returned in the cutter to St. Paul. The rest of the party pressed on in De Moreau's sleigh, and camped the fourth night, where the city of Le Sueur now stands. Here Messrs. C'athcart and Christie, were in the act of laying out that townsite, and they were greatly exercised by the advent of Johnson's party, fearing they had come to jump their valuable claim. Late at night the entire Le Sueur company each armed with a gun paid our tired travelers a visit, pretending they were just returning from a hunt, when in fact their object was to learn with what intent the new comers had arrived. Having learned this the Cathcart-Christie party departed, but lest there might be treachery, since it was plain that the spot they had chosen was sure to be the site of the biggest city west of Chicago, they spent the rest of the night staking out lots and building log shanties. Unmindful of the trepidation their presence was causing, and of the future greatness of the spot on which they camped, our friends rose early next morning and by noon Traverse des Sioux was reached, then the principal point in the, Minnesota valley, where six months before had been held the great Sioux Treaty. David Faribault and Alexander Graham had Indian trading posts here, and Nathan Myrick had opened a more pretentious store the previous November in charge of his brother, A. J. Myrick. Here, too, were the three neatly painted mission buildings of the American Board, and a few log houses, giving the place an air of civilization.

After dinner our party proceeded as far as Joseph Provencelle's trading post, which stood about where the St. Peter Asylum is now located. Joseph or "Joe" as he was generally called was the son of the old Traverse des Sioux trader, Louis Provencelle (or "Le Blanc" as he was nicknamed) by an Indian mother. He had married a daughter of Sleepy Bye, the noted head chief of the Sissetons. The river had to be recrossed near Joe's cabin, but the recent thaw would not permit it that afternoon, as there was a rod or two of clear water on each side of the river. The night was therefore spent at Joe Provencelle's cabin. By morning our friends were able to cross the river on the fresh ice, but it was only to find their progress arrested by a more serious obstacle. The Kasota plateau that winter was covered by a vast Indian camp. Hundreds of Indian dogs signaled loudly the unwonted approach of the whites and soon the Indians, men, women and children, came pouring out of their teepees to see what the commotion was about. Chief Sleepy Eye with a number of his braves went to meet our travelers and demanded the purpose of their visit. Upon being told, the old chief declared that his young men would not permit the whites to settle at the mouth of the Blue Earth, as it was the key to their best hunting grounds, and »there was located one of their principal sugar camps. To the argument that the Indians by the recent treaty had sold all these lands to the whites, Sleepy Eye replied - that they had not yet received their money. Every argument and appeal failed, and it looked as though the enterprise would have to be abandoned. Johnson's Yankee wit finally hit upon a new tact. Seeing that their recent host, Joe Provencelle, had come over to learn the cause of the trouble, and knowing him to be the chief's son-in-law, he called him to one side and explained to him that because of the poor sleighing, they would be obliged to divide their load and he wanted Joe to get his horse and sleigh and carry a portion of it in case Sleepy Eye would let them proceed.. He told Joe then what they would pay him, a most tempting price. Having thus got Joe Provencelle interested on the side of the whites it did not take long for him to arrange things between his father-in-law and them. A few provisions in hand delivered and an order on Jackson for a barrel of pork satisfied his red majesty and Johnson and his party were allowed to proceed, l^he order for pork referred to was not presented for a year or two, but one day an Indian brought it to Johnson at" Mankato, and it was honored. With Joe Provencelle as guide and helping transport the luggage, our travelers reached the mouth of the Blue Earth that afternoon, being Thursday, February 5th, 1853. Their first night in their chosen locality was spent on the east bank of the Blue Earth at the south foot of Sibley mound.

Sibley's trading post and the Frenchman in charge of it had both disappeared from the other side of the mound, but on top of it about where the flagstaff now stands Mr. Sibley had caused the sides of a log shanty to be erected, with the view of claiming the location for a townsite. Just south of the mound where the race track is now situated was a fine meadow in which a very small stack of hay had been cut. The forenoon of the next day was spent by Mr. Johnson and his companions in exploring the land adjacent to the mound for the best location for their future city. Classic in many an Indian legend and French adventure was the ground they traversed. Just west of the Blue Earth was the site of an ancient Indian village, where the old chief Mahkato, had held sway. Here was the home of Akich-etah-dutah, whose sad tale of paternal love is worthy of immortal song. Here the Indian maiden Hapan, had poured out her lament and life for her unfortimate lover. Here had lived the Indian chief Tioskate, who in 1695 had accompanied Le Sueur to ^lontreal and died there, after twentytwo rlavs illness; and here, five years later, Le Sueur had met sixteen of his weeping relatives. Here Wahkentape, another Sioux chief, had en- . tertained Le Sueur and his followers, at many a feast. Two and a half miles up the Blue Earth was the site of old Fort Le Huillier, built by the French in the autumn of 1700, while prospecting for copper in the clayey hanks of the river and where to this day the goods and the tools of the garrison are cached. Near by are the beds of bluish green clay, famed as a sacred pigment among all tlie aborigines, and which gave the river and our county their names.

Investigation disclosed the fact that the lands immediately adjacent to the mouth of the Blue Earth were subject to overflow in high water, and hence not adapted for the location of the future city. Finally a narrow strip of prairie laying between Warren Creek and the stone quarry bench was selected. A beautiful spot it was, covered with tall dead grass, which waved in the breeze like a field of ripe grain, and interspersed here and there with clumps of brush and small trees. On one side the river swept in a grand curve affording a convenient boat landing, just above high water mark, while on the other side the great forest climbed in terraces the high bluff and thence stretched for miles, unbroken in its vastness, towering in its majesty, and impressive in its solitude. In the edge of this forest was a pond fed by a number of springs, which gushed from the foot of the bluff. A grove of tall graceful poplars encircles it, mingled with a tangle of willows and vines. At the south end of this pool, beside a huge fallen tree, near the present site of Masonic hall, the first camp was pitched on the sixth of February, 1853.

After hauling together a few logs, De Moreau and Paddock returned with the team to St. Paul, leaving Johnson, Williams and James to fashion the first cabin. No great architectural skill was displayed in its construction. A low log shanty, twelve feet square, plastered with black loam, gathered from some half thawed gopher hills, roofed with bark and floored with mother earth, it stood on the rear of lot 4 block 6 of Mankato, about midway between the State bank and Patterson Wholesale block. A single opening in its easterly end served the double purpose of door and window.

One day after the sides of the cabin had been raised, and while Johnson was inside of the enclosure cooking a savory mess of pork and beans for dinner over a camp fire, an Indian accompained by his young son called and demanded food. As Johnson's supply of provisions were almost exhausted, owing to the heavy toll paid to old Sleepy Eye and Joe Provencelle, and there were no more nearer than St. Paul he was obliged to refuse. The Indian was a very large and ugly looking brute, who bore a hard name. Seeing Johnson was alone and unarmed he at once became insolent, and drawing a long sharp knife, motioned that he would cut the white man's throat. Johnson was just grabbing a big hickory poker from the ground for defense, when the boy, who had climbed to the top log of one side of the cabin for a lookout, saw Williams and James coming and quickly signaled his father and both beat a very hasty retreat.

Wliile Johnson and his companions were erecting this first building in the city of Mankato and the County of Blue Earth, Jackson and a number of friends at St. Paul were booming the country of the Mahkato and its future metropolis. On February 14th the Blue Earth settlement Claim Association was organized there, with ten members, namely: Henry Jackson, P. K. Johnson, Daniel Williams, Col. D. A. Eobertson, Justus C. Eamsey, J. M. Kastner, D. F. Erawley and William Hartshorn. A stock capital of $1,000.00 divided into ten equal shares was subscribed for the enterprise.

The honor of christening the new city was accorded to Mrs. P. K. Johnson and Mrs. Henry Jackson, who selected the name "Mankato," upon the suggestion of Col. Robertson. He had taken the name from Nicollet's book, ill which the French explorer compared the "Mahkato" or Blue Earth river with all its tributaries, to the water nymphs and their uncle in the German legend of "Undine." Through some strange misunderstanding of the text, he thought the name to be that of a German water spirit, when in fact it was the Indian name of the Blue Earth river. Though in a way unintentional, no more appropriate name could be given the new city, than that of the noble river, at whose mouth it is located. The morning after forming the claim association and the naming of the new city. Col. D. A. Robertson, Henry Jackson, Evans Goodrich, John S. Hinckley, with one or two others left St. Paul by team to visit the new settlement and carry provisions for it, which they knew from the message brought back by Paddock and De Moreau must be sorely needed. The morning before the arrival of this party at the new town, the last morsel of food had been eaten, and Johnson had gone on foot as far as Kasota in quest of help, when he met his old friends bringing the long expected supplies.

rounding country. Then Robertson/ Jackson, Johnson and Hinckley returned to St. Paul leaving Williams, Goodrich, James and one or two others to hold their new possessions. On the JOth of February Evans Groodrich staked out northeast of the townsite, a claim of 160 acres, on a part of which is now situated Dukes Addition to Mankato. John James and others, also, located claims just north of the new town. On March 13th, John S. Hinckley paid the new settlement a second visit, in company with one Henry D. J. Koons and both after locating claims, entered into the employ of the claim company for a time. Much interest was now taken at St. Paul, in the Blue Earth Country, and it formed the main topic of conversation. Five Germans rigged up a boat with a mast and sail intending to ascend the Minnesota to the land of promise. They were Jacob Guenther, Peter Frenzel, Philip Krummel, - Stultz and Joseph Weinheimer. The latter was the stepfather of Charles and Louis Graf, now of Mankato. On the 8th of April, after the ice had left the river and while the water was still over the banks, they loaded their baggage and provisions into the batteau and started on their journey. When they had proceeded about fifteen miles, their sail caught in an overhanging limb and the boat was suddenly capsized and the five men were precipitated into the swift, icy current. Their cries for help were heard by some Indians in the vicinity and all saved, but Weinheimer, who was swept away and drowned. All the baggage and provisions were lost except one gun, which Guenther hung to with one hand, while he clung to the upturned boat with the other until rescued. After the body of their unfortunate companion had been recovered and buried, the remaining four, nothing daunted, procured fresh supplies, and reached Mankato on foot before the last of May. Pleased with the country they all located upon claims near the townsite.

Colonel D. H. Robertson was a very prominent character in St. Paul at that time and was the editor and publisher of "The Democrat," the most influential paper in the territory. Being a member of the townsite company he gave much publicity to the Blue Earth region in his paper, and the influence which he and Henry Jackson exerted in behalf of the new settlement was of great value. Largely through them the steamer Tiger was induced to make a trip to Mankato, where she arrived on April 23rd, 1852, with a number of settlers and a quantity of goods and provisions. Both Robertson and Jackson held licenses to trade with the Sioux, and the latter brought with him on this first boat a small stock of Indian goods, to start a trading post in charge of Mr. Johnson. On 1he 28th of the same month the Tiger left St. Paul for her second trip up the Minnesota, crowded with passengers and freight, mostly for Mankato. The townsite company had some weeks prior purchased and sent up to be used in developing their property a span of mules, relics of the Mexican war. The logs were hauled for three or four small cabins, a boat landing constructed, and the brush cleared. Jackson had brought with him on the first boat, as employees of the company, a Mr. Blair and Mr. James Rablin. On the second boat Mrs. James Rablin arrived, being the first white woman to settle in Mankato, or even Blue Earth county. The second cabin on the townsite was erected on block three (3), about one hundred feet north of the Hubbard Flour mill and about the same distance west of Front street. It was bailt with more care than the first. In size about 13x14 feet, and high enough so that a man could stand upright in it, without hitting his head against the joists. It had a window and a door, and a roof of slabs or clapboards. Mr. and Mrs. Rablin were put in possession of tiiis second shanty, and here about the entire population of Mankato boarded during this first summer.

About the 30th of May the Tiger arrived at Mankato on her third trip, bringing a number of passengers and another quantity of freight. Among the passengers at this time came General Samuel Leech, a man of some prominence and means of Warsaw, Illinois, who had been the first Receiver of the Stillwater Land office. He was so favorably impressed with Mankato and its surrounding country that he bought the interest of Daniel Williams in the townsite com- In May of this year the company had their pany, paying $200.00 therefor. He proved a town surveyed and platted by S. P. Polsom, a valuable acquisition to the embryo city. civil engineer of St. Paul.