Blue Earth County, Minnesota - Chapter 10: He Inkpadutah Massacre Op 1857, 1901

A terrible winter and an extremely late, cold spring were not the only evils in tlie annals of our county, which characterized the year 1857. Its months of March and April gave the settlers their first genuine Indian scare and brought them in close touch with the horrors of an Indian massacre.

In the Winter of 1853-4 a Sisseton subchief named, Sintomnidutah (Eed-all-over) with his mother, wife and two or three children had been foully murdered by a disreputable white whisky trader named Henry Lott, a few miles north of Algona, Iowa. Lott and his son, who had participated in the bloody affair, fled to California, and were never punished. Whether this Sintomnidutah was the same chief noted in connection with early settlement of JMankato may be doubted, but there is strong ground to believe that he was. His name and the name of his son, Joshpadutah (usually called "Josh") are the same. The description given in each case of the chief's personal appearance and character, tdly very well. Each is spoken of as a large stately Indian of commanding presence, possessed of a bold aggressive spirit and much opposed to the coming of the Whi'te men upon his hunting grounds, so much that he was nicknamed "The Il'ater of the Paleface." The fact, also, that the Jlankato chief and his hand claimed northwestern Iowa and southwestern Minnesota as their special hunting groTinds, and the tradition that the last known of the chief Ijy the whites was, that he was going into Iowa to hunt, as well as his sudden disappearence, add to the plausibility of his identity with the victim of Lott's vengence.

Attached to Sintomnidutah's wild band in a way was a renegade subchief of the Wahpekutas, named Inkpadutah (Eed End). The latter, with two or three companions of lUce desperate character, had been expelled from their native band, who lived on the Cannon Eiver, for the murder of their chief. The fugitives first went to A'ermillion river in South Dakota, but later seemed to Iiavc joined themselves nioi-e or less to Sintomnidutah's band. Ties of marriage and, some say of blood, existed between them. After the chief's death Inkpadutah seems to have aspired to the chieftainship, and a few of the most lawless of the band joined themselves to him. The Indians v\'ere very angry at the murder of their chief, and did not believe the whites made much effort to apprehend the murderer. Inlqjadutah, being naturally of an ugly, revengeful disposition, was especially bitter, and his followers shared his The rapid appropriation of their hunting grounds by the whites was another cause of their hate. During the summer of 1856 six or seven families, who had mostly come originally from Howard County Ind., settled on Lake Okoboji, the most southerly of the group of bikes usually called "Spirit Lake," from the largest of their number. About the same time a townsite company from Eed Wing, Minn., laid out ,1 town on the lake and built thereon a log trading post, which was in charge of three or four young men. The same summer another small group of settlers located on the Des Moines, in the vicinity of the present village of Jackson, Minnesota : and William and George Wood had laid out a townsite in their midst, and opened a store there and were enjoying a good trade, especially with the Indians. Both colonies were very remotely situated from other uhite settlements, and were an invasion into tlie ven' heart of Inkpadutah's hunting grounds. It is said that Eed End with his band were camped in the fall of 1856 for some time near ;\Iinneopa Falls, and that they went thence tovrard the Sioux City countrv. Brutish and l>lood thirsty by nature, and tlieir innate ugliness inflamed by the circumstances just mentioned they were ripe for mischief. The terrible winter had driven most of the game from the country and hunting was almost impossible. Their evil tempers thus made more desperate by cold and famine, it needed but a small excuse to kill and plunder the hated paleface, whom they imagined were the ca.use of their woes.

They reached the Okoboji settlement on the 7th of March 1857 and the next day the trouble occurred. Just how it started, perhaps will never be known, but the Indians claimed it arose from an attempt to steal some hay from a settler for their ponies, and that in the quarrel the settler was shot. Having a taste of blood the savages, like wild beasts, thirsted for more. The settlers were in their several cabins, scattered some distance apart, in the timber about the lakes, and had no suspicion of danger. There were only twelve to thirteen warriors in Inkpadutah's band at this time and if the settlers had received warning, so they could mass their force or been on their guard, they might have defended themselves and families with ease. But as it happened the Indians went to each cabin in force and pretended to be friendly. The fact that they had guns roused no suspicion, as they always carried them. Taking the man wholly off his guard they would shoot him first and then butcher the women and children at their leisure. Any person, who attempted to go from one house to another, was shot from ambush. By this treacherous means on the 8th and 9th of March the red fiends slaughtered the entire settlement on Lake Okoboji, men, women, and children, except two or three of the men, who happened to be away after provisions, and three young women, Miss Abbie Gardner, Mrs. Alvin Noble and Mrs. Joseph Thacher, whom they carried oif as captives. In all thirtythree persons were butchered at Lake Okoboji. After spending two or three days and nights in dancing, feasting and all manner of wild orgies, the murderers gathered such plunder as they wished from the cabins and, loading the three captives, the squaws and the ponies therewith, they moved northward. On the banks of Spirit Lake proper, on March 13th, they came upon the cabin of a young couple named Marble, who had located there the fall before. Three or four of the Indians went to -the cabin and pretended to be friendly, until the proper opportunity came, when they shot Mr. Marble and carried away his wife as their fourth captive. Thence they proceeded to Heron Lake, Minnesota.

The terrible tragedy at Lake Okoboji was soon discovered by Morris Markham, a young trapper, who immediately carried the news to Springfield. The settlers there gathered at the log house of one J. Thomas for mutual protection, and on March 18th dispatched two young men, Joseph B. ChefEins, whose home had been at Mankato, and Henry Tretts, to Port Eidgely for help, where they arrived the next morning. Captain Bernard B. Bee with forty-eight men were detailed at once to go to the scene of trouble. By noon they were ready to start. Joseph La Fromboise went as guide, and Judge Flandreau, then Sioux Agent, and Philander Prescott volunteered to accompany the expedition. The snow lay upon the ground in a great mass, covering it to a depth of two or three feet on the plains and ten to fifteen feet in the hollows, and it was beginning to get soft. Had the soldiers been then equipped and trained for Indian fight"ing, they might have made a bee line over the prairie to Springfield and reached there easily in two days, following the tracks of the messengers. But heavily accoutred as they were, and obliged to carry their ammunition and baggage in cumbersome wagon trains, it was wholly impracticable. Hence they were obliged to follow the only traveled road, which led down the Minnesota to South Bend. They reached the latter place on Saturday night, March 21st, and spent the next day there resting and gathering supplies. Thence they proceeded by way of Lake Crystal and by the evening of the 24th reached Slocum's home on the Watonwan. Here all semblance of a track ended, and -a few rods beyond was an immense snow bank, which it took the entire force all of the next day to cut through.

In the meantime Inlcpadutah sent two spies to Springfield from his camp on Heron Lake. They found the Wood boys at their store, heedless of danger as they gave no credit to Mr. Markham's story. They sold the two spies a large quantity of ammunition against the protest of the settlers, at whose fears they laughed. The settlers eontiinied to congregate at the Thomas cabin, except one Josiah Stewart, who with his family had returned to their own cabin. On March 26th, Inkpadutah and his bloody band appeared at the Springfield settlement. They enticed William and George Wood out of their store, and treacherously shot them both, and then plundered and burned the store.

Under pretense of wanting to buy a hog, they induced Mr. Stewart to walk out of his cabin into an ambush where he was killed and then murdered the wife and children, except one boy, who managed to hide. The settlers gathered at the Thomas house were eagerly looking every moment for the return of the messengers with the soldiers from Fort Eidgely. Little Willie Thomas, ten years of age, saw a man coming down the road, whom he took to be Henry Tretts, and he ran to the house saying Henry was coming. The people rushed out to meet him. It proved to be a ruse to get the settlers out of the house. An Indian dressed as a white man, pretended to be coming down the road. As soon as the whites were fairly outside the door a volley from a dozen Indian rifles, from behind the neighboring trees, was poured into them. Little Willie fell dead, but the rest all got back into the house and barricaded the door. It was then found that Mr. Thomas had been shot in the wrist, David Carver in the side, and Miss Swanger in the shoulder. The savages kept shooting at the house, and the whites fired back from port holes made between the logs. The fight continued until night, when the Indians gave up the battle and returned, loaded with booty from the store, to their camp at Heron Lake. In all seven persons had been killed and three wounded at the Springfield settlement.

The very day this attack occurred Captain Bee and his command left Mr. Slocum's residence, in Lincoln Township. After the most toilsome march, cutting their way through the deep snow, and constantly having to extricate their teams from the drifts, wet to the skin from the melting snow during the day, their clothes frozen stiff about them at night, they arrived on the night of the third day, at a point on the Des Moines eight miles north of Springfield. Here a half breed from Traverse Des Sioux, named Joe Coursalle, had a small trading post. He told them that Inkpadutah had wiped out the settlements at both Spirit Lake and Springfield, and that he was then camped at Heron Lake, having in his possession four women captives, a large number of horses, and a great quantity of plunder. Early next morning Lieut. Murray with 23 men, mounted on all the horses and mules available, were dispatched ia pursuit of the murderers. They found the camp and a large amount of booty, but the imps of the evil one had fled, dragging with them the poor captives. The soldiers made no effort at further pursuit, either because they were tired out and thought further chase would be useless, or because they were afraid to encounter so desperate a foe. After returning to the main command, Lieut. Murray was dispatched, on March 30th, with a mounted detachment towards Spirit Lake, to scout for Indians and bury the dead in that settlement, while Capt. Bee, with the rest of his command, proceeded to Springfield.

The news of these terrible massacres spread like fire through all the settlements of southern Minnesota and northern Iowa and, greatly augmenting in terribleness as it went, created a panic of fear everywhere. There were thousands of Sioux Indians then in this section of our territory, and bands of them were encamped in almost every precinct of Blue Earth county. In the wild excitement, which prevailed, everyone of these were under suspicion, though in fact wholly innocent and even ignorant of any hostility whatever. A mile or two northeast of Madelia, almost touching the western line of Blue Earth County, are a group of small lakes with some timber. Here five or six Indian families were camped, engaged in fishing, oblivious of any hostile intention, near a cabin occupied by Theodore Leisch and Philip Schaffer. In the same grove a little to the north lived Mr. Bisier and family and north of him Mr. Boechler and family. A few more settlers lived, also, in the near vicinity. Hearing of the massacre these people became uneasy at the mere presence of Indians, and to their heated imagination every move these red neighbors made was suspicious. At last one or two families conclud- ed to take refuge at the home of Isaac Slocum, whose cabin was somewhat larger than the ordinary, and had a group of log buildings about it, consisting of a blacksmith shop, granary and barns. It was: the usual stopping place on the road between Springfield and Mankato, and hence was the place where news from the outside world and especially from the seat of trouble, would be first heard. This movement was a signal for a stampede of all settlers around these lakes, and along the Watonwan near Madelia, then called "Wacapa." Most of these gathered at Slocum's house and each had a tale of dark suspicion against the savages camped by the lakes. A stockade of logs was built around the Slocum house and guard kept.

Fortunately a couple of sleighs, loaded with groceries and provisions for the Wood Bros.' store at Jackson, had got stuck in a snow bank near Slocum-'s house shortly before the Indian trouble, and were still stored at this hospital home. These were appropriated by the settlers and, with the beeves killed, kept them from hunger.

On April 9th Joseph Cheffins arrived on his way to Mankato from Jackson^ whence he had accompanied the military. Fresh from the scenes of the massacre, his vivid description of the horrors he had just witnessed at Jackson and Okoboji did not tend to quiet the nerves of the settlers. Excited by their fears they gave exaggerated accounts of the conduct of the Indians in their vicinity, which showed conclusively, as they thought, that mischief was brewing and that an attack might be expected from hundreds of savages any moment. A most urgent appeal for immediate help was dispatched to Mankato by Mr. Cheffins, which was delivered the following night. There was great excitement at the county seat on Mr. Cheffins arrival. It was the first real account of the awful tragedy, which had reached our county, and its extent and the details of its horrors told by an eye witness created universal fear and consternation. A large dinner bell, which hung in a frame over the Mankato House, was rung as for fire to call the people together. A mass meeting was hastily convened at the log school house, where an anxious throng of people soon gathered. Terror and excitement ran high, and men, women, and children came rushing to hear the latest news. Mr. Cheffins was the center of interest and he was put under oath by John A. Willard, as Notary Public, and testified in detail regarding the massacres at Springfield and Spirit Lake, and told how the settlers around Madelia had been driven from their homes by the hostile demonstrations of large bands of Indians in that vicinity. That a massacre was likely to occur any day. That the settlers were mostly gathered at Mr. Slocum's house and were begging for help as the savages outnumbered them ten to one, and were well armed. Speeches were made, and fifty to sixty persons volunteered to go at once to the defense of the Watonwan settlers. These volunteers agreed to report at eight o'clock next morning at the Mankato House with guns and ammunition ready for action. A messenger was also dispatched on a mule that night to Fort Snelling to request military aid.

When morning came (Saturday, April 11th) about thirty-five persons answered to their names, the rest failed to show up for various reasons. About ten o'clock A. M., the companv started on foot through the mud aind slush of melting snow. They were a motley crowd, armed with rifles and shot guns. Some had powder horns or flasks of every design dangling from their necks. Some were rigged in the stvle of western hunters, with bright colored shirts, and a belt full of pistols and knives; one had cut his coat away after the style of the dress imiform of an old country soldier, and wore a sort of military hat turned up in front. Besser and Chism were the only two mounted. They wore military gloves and boots and had bright colored scarfs tied across their shoulders and breasts. While hardly any of them had much military knowledge or discipline, yet they were all brave men. They neglected in their haste to take any rations or blankets and hence were ill prepared for a long and hard campaign.

It was late in the afternoon when the company reached the log house of W. E. Eobinson at Crystal Lake. Here the few settlers of the vicinity had gathered for mutual protection and built them a rude fort. Thither Calvin Webb had been carried, on his sick bed, and died the next day. Thence he was borne to his burial by the men only, all armed with guns. The Mankato Company had intended to pass the night at the Eobinson house, but soon after their arrival Tom Lameraux returned from a visit to Sloeum's place with the alarming news, that some thirty or forty Indians, decked in war paint, had just been holding a big war dance close by Slocums' house, and the, settlers there were expecting to be attacked any moment. Captain Lewis then called for Volunteers to proceed at once. Though wet and tired every man stepped into line, except one, who had joined them at South Bend. They pressed hurriedly on over the ten additional miles to Sloeum's where they arrived about dusk. Their coming was a welcome relief to the terrified settlers. The Sloeum residence was a three story log structure including a side hill basement. The settlers had been busy all day building log breast works and stockades about the house. Guards were stationed in these fortifications all night, and, when not so employed, the men slept on the floor of the third story, and in the barns. The women stayed up all night to bake and cook. In accordance with the plans of the previous night, the Mankato company rose early, and by four o'clock in the morning had eaten their breakfast, and started for the Indian camp by the Leisch cabin, four miles away, with intent to surprise and capture the savages. Under guidance of one of the settlers they reached the lak«s at early dawn. As they were hurrying across the prairie they had noticed in the dim light objects hovering ahead of them, on the horizon line, evidently Indian spies. Two swift runners were called for. Whitman and Kissinger volunteered and dashed ahead like deer, but the Indians were swifter than they. On reaching the nojost easterly of the group of lakes, the company was divided into three squads. Six men under Lieut. Ayres took the lake on the east, Lieut, Bruner with fifteen men followed up the westerly lake, while Capt. Lewis with the main body marched through the timber between the two lakes. This center column soon came upon eight teepees, but all deserted. The desertion must have been very recent though, for the fires in them were burning brightly and Indians could be seen skulking through the brush and behind trees. I'tiree Indians attempted to cross the east lakej on a couple of ponies, but the ice was too slippery and the ponies fell, so they retreated again into the timber. Lieut. Ayres and his six men were on the ice of the lake running towards the Indians. Capt. Lewis noticed the peril they were in from such an exposed position, and signaled them to join the main column in the timber, which they did with alacrity. Firing was now heard on the left wing. Brunner's men had come upon a number of Indians, and both sides had opened fire. Henry Humphrey and Chas. Barney could speak some Sioux, and they called out to the Indians that they did not intend to do them any harm and the Indians stopped firing. But Perry Franz and one or two others were so excited and officious, that they disregarded all orders and kept blazing at the Indians. Thereupon the savages retreated hurriedly over a small ridge and disappeared. The whites had now united their force and were discussing the advisability of following the enemy, when the latter returned largely re-enforced and opened a brisk fire upon them. A ball struck Becker's gun-stalk, another hit a big powder Hask, which hung from the neck of Emerson Hodgson and grazed his fingers as it glanced, while a third passed through the upturned rim of Hensley's cap. The whites retreated a few steps into the timber, and got beliind trees, and for about half an hour both sides kept up a hot fire. The Indians then retreated across a small opening in the timber, where a grassy swale marked the outlet of one of the lakes, into a vacant house, and some thick brush beyond. One of their number had been shot in the arm. They now dared the whites to come after them. The young bucks stripped to their breech clouts yelled and danced all manner of antics just beyond the opening as they uttered their challenges. The whites, however, feared an ambush and concluded to return to Slocum's for more ammunition and re-enforcements. The retreat almost became a route as they ran over the prairie, strung out in disorder. As soon as the whites were gone the Indians hurriedly packed their effects and left for the north.

The excitement now was at its height. The settlers in the extreme southwestern part of the county gathered into Shelbyville. Those living a little further down on the Blue Earth fortified themselves in Mr. Eeed's house, near the present village of Vernon Center. Those along Perch Creek and along the Watonwan, below the Slocum neighborhood fled to Garden City, where two forts were built one about Polsom's log house north of the village and the other on the south of the river by Edson Gerry's house. Gerry had moved his first claim shanty from the village and put it up near his other house. The space between the two houses was now closed in by log walls and port holes made in them and in the roofs of the houses. Here an amusing incident occurred, though at the time it seemed serious enough to the persons involved. Two or three miles below the present village of Vernon Center, on the Blue Earth river, lived Dr. Arledge. Just below the house on the river bottom were camped a few Indians making maple sugar. When the doctor heard of the massacres he and his family were greatly agitated and imagined they saw signs of mischief in the Indian camp. They wished to fiee to Garden City, but did not dare expose themselves outside the cabin for fear of inviting an attack. The son, Alexander, a grown up young man, finally dressed himself in a blanket and, thus disguised, mounted on a pony and armed with his rifle, he hoped to pass the Indian camp without their knowing he was a white man.

The previous fall Joseph McClanahan had located a claim in Shelby township and then gone back to Indiana. On this particular day he was returning to his claim and had reached Garden City. They told him of the Indian Massacres and urged him to stay there as there were Indians all about. He pretended to disbelieve the whole story, and thought he could get to his claim without trouble. The snow was still deep and melting, making the walking very hard. He had gone about two miles and a half, when lo ! and behold ! coming down the road toward him full tilt was a blanketed Indian, on a pony and waving a gun. It did not take McClanahan but a very small fraction of a second to wheel about and take to his heels. It was a fearful race. Young Arledge (for it was he) hallooed to try and stop him, but all McClanahan heard were blood curdling warhoops, and he ran all the faster. For two miles he - sped like a deer over that terrible road of half melted snow and then fell in a faint completely exhausted. Young Arlidge jumped from his horse and rubbed his forehead and face with snow to restore him to consciousness. In his semi-delirious condition, McClanahan imagined he felt the cold steel of the scalping knife pass around his head. The men building the fort by Gerry's house were horror stricken to vritness such a bold, shocking murder committed before their eyes, and seizing their guns rushed up the road to the rescue. Fortunately Arledge managed to disclose his identity

The country was in a delirium of excitement and the wildest rumors were everywhere afloat. The Saturday evening after the Mankato Company left for the Sloeum neighborhood, fleeing, settlers began pouring into South Bend and Mankato each vieing with the other in sensational tales. The walls of the three story stone building of General Leech at Mankato were about completed. This was soon transformed into a fort by barricading with stone and plank the doors and windows, and cutting loop holes for shooting. A quantity of big stones were carried to the top, to hurl down on any assailant. This building and the log school house were packed with refugees, who slept in heaps on the floors. There were persistant rumors that there had been a desperate battle fought between the Mankato company and the Indians, and that many had been killed on both sides. Some said the company had been ambushed and annihilated. Later in the night the report came that all the settlers along the Watonwan had been massacred and that Garden City had been captured and burned. It seems a straw stack in that vicinity had been fired to light some refugees across the river. Later in the night a settler from the Watonwan county came hurrying into Mankato with the news, that the Indians had taken Garden City and that he could see the flames of the burning town. That an army of nine hundred savages, all well armed were on the way to attack South Bend and Mankato and would be there in a few hours. The town was soon in a panic of fear. Front street was lined with the teams of fleeing settlers. Men hurried from house to house awakening the people and apprising them of the danger. The women and children cried. Nearly all who had teams started with their families for St. Peter. One man offered fifty dollars for a team to carry his family there. The Mankato House was the headquarters of the town, where the latest and most reliable news could be found. Henry Shaubut, William Bierbauer and many others discredited most of the rumors, and urged the people to keep cool, until the reports were verified. A sort of reign of terror prevailed all that night and few people slept at Mankato, South Bend or Garden City.

Sunday morning a company of thirty-eight volunteers arrived from St. Peter under Captain WilUam B. Dodd. They were joined by Daniel Tyner and two or three others from Mankato and by T. M. Pugh and others from South Bend, and proceeded at once in teams to reenforce the Mankato company at Slocums', where they arrived late that afternoon. Two mounted men were sent from Garden City to Mr. Slocom's house to learn the news. When near the house some of the young men fired their guns and the two scouts beat a hasty retreat and reported that the Indians had taken Slocum's house and murdered all the settlers. Most of the Garden City people removed to Mankato during this Sunday. On Monday the Mankato and St. Peter companies scoured the valley of the Watonwan in quest of Indians but found none. At the mouth of Perch Creek they discovered the recent camping place of a chief called Sintomnidutah. He and his band had been in the habit of camping here. They found a large log trough, into which the Indians had gathered the maple sap at their sugar making. On it were a pair of snow shoes pointing southeast, a small bundle of bones had been tied to a tree above them, and in the ashes was buried a round stone painted red. The message was intended to read: "AU-over-Eed camped here. The food being exhausted, he has gone southeast to look for game."

The next day a company of thirty or forty volunteers from Traverse des Sioux under George McLeod as captain having gone east of Garden City came upon the chief in a valley of the Blue Earth, called "Castle Garden," and chased him and his band back across the Watonwan. When the first onslaught was made upon them the Indians ran across a plowed field. So hot was the pursuit that one old squaw fell exhausted, and a small, half starved pony, failing to keep up the pace, was abandoned. The route was, also, strewn with Indian household goods and cooking utensils, which the panic stricken redmen had thrown away in their flight. Some

In South Bend village a palisade fort made of plank and logs from the saw mill^ was constructed around the house of John Williams^ and a volunteer company organized to guard the town.

In the Judson neighborhood a fort was built from the saw logs at the McNutt mill, just across the river from Judson village. A volunteer company was organized, with Mr. Bean of Nicollet as captain. Two lines of pickets were maintained, one on the high bluffs overlooking the river, and the other near the fort. When doing gTiard duty H. Caywood saw a blanketed Indian skulking through the brush in the dim morning light and promptly put a bullet through him. The shooting created a panic of excitement in the fort for they thought surely the savages were upon them. When the garrison had plucked up enough courage to go and look for the dead Indian, they found in the brush Caywood's old white mare wounded.

About six miles north of the McNutt fort old cliief Eed Iron was camped with a number of his braves by Swan Lake. Captain Bean led his company against these Indians to drive them away. When near the village. Gust Tidland and David Dackins, who could speak some Sioux, were sent ahead to confer with the Indians. Eed Iron and his followers disclaimed any thought of hostility to .the whites, and had no knowledge of the Spirit Lake murders. If their presence was disturbing the white man they would depart. In a few days they withdrew to their reservation and the settlers breathed easier.

The settlers, who had located in the present tovm of Cambria, also had some exciting experience. The Indians who had been attacked by the Mankato company near Madelia, passed through this settlement on the night of the 12th of April, and pitched itheir wigwams on the Little Cottonwood, ^about two miles west of the Blue Earth county line. < On April 14th a volunteer company of thirty or forty Welsh and German settlers, under the leadership of Eev. Peter S. Davies, met at the home of Mr. Lipp and marched against them. Near the Indian camp stood the log cabin of a German bachelor, named J. Brandt. There were indications that the house had been plundered, but Mr. Brandt could not be found. Some of the Germans were inclined to attack the Indians at once, but cooler heads saw the danger of such a proceeding. The Indians outnumbered the whites nearly two to one, and were well armed and good shots. Only a few of the whites had good rifles and many were only armed with pitchforks, or long poles with scythes lashed to their top. John S. Davis, Samuel D. Shaw and J. Fessenmeyer vvere deputated to confer with the Indians and learn their intention. The rest of the company lay concealed behind a long wood pile and in some brush, ready in case of any emergency. As a signal of danger the deputation were to fire a gun. The Indians declared they were friendly and peaceable and had no sympathy with Inkpadutah whatever. While the conference was in progress Mr. Fessenmeyer's gun -srent off accidentally, and immediately from behind the wood pile and brush leaped about forty pale faces and, with demoniac yells, came rushing down upon the Indian village, brandishing their guns, pitchforks and scythe-tipped poles. The surprised savages, bucks, sqiiaws and papooses, lit out for the tall timber as fast as their moccasined feet could carry them. It took the most prompt and energetic action on the part of the three deputies to stop the mad charge and restore order. The Indians assured the v/hites of their friendship and finally agreed to depart for their agency.

Two days later the body of Mr. Brandt was found in the brush back of his cabin, with two bullet holes in his head, evidently having been murdered by the Indians, who had an old grudge against him. It was fortunate the murder was not discovered when the whites met the Indians, else more serious consequences would have resulted.

After ^pending three or four days on the Watonwan the volunteer- companies from Mankato, St. Peter and Traverse returned home. The next day after the Mankato company reached home (April 18th), a young man brought v;ord to the county seat that Sintomnidutah's band had again appeared near Madelia, and had killed a cow and committed other depredations, and asking immediate aid. It may be All-Over-Eed did not appreciate the fun of being chased by the paleface and the loss of his pony and household goods, or perhaps he had not had any meat to eat since he picked those few bones he hung on a tree at the mouth of Perch Creek, and was hungry. The Mankato company was just getting ready to return to the Watonwan and give the old chief another chase, when they heard the blast of a bugle north of town and saw a long file of soldiers approaching on the St. Peter road. \\'ith their bright uniforms, their guns glistening in the sun, and a large flag leading the column, they presented a fine appearance. They proved to be the long looked for regulars from Fort Snelling, who had been sent for the week before. The)- were in command of a Col. Smith, a very deliberate and crusty old soldier. It had taken him five or six days to reach ilankato from Fort Snelling, and Avhen Dr. Lewis went to tell him of the recent call for help from the Watonwan settlers, he gruffly told him to put the request in writing. After camping in front of the Leach building until the following Monday, the colonel led his force of 160 men to the relief of the Watonwan settlers, but he found no Indians. Perhaps they got tired of waiting for him. The military tactics of that day were too dilatory and cumbersome for Indian fighting. All-Over-Eed would have starved to death if he had stayed in the same place, until the palefaces got ready to fight him.

When the excitement was at its height it was reported at Faribault, Shakopee, St. Paul and other towns that Mankato and St. Peter had been captured, and burned by a horde of Yankton and Sisseton Sioux, nine hundred strong, and that the savages were sweeping down the valley, killing and burning everything before them. At Faribault General Jamoe Shields raised a ^'olunteer army to go to the rescue, but dispatched a friendly Indian rimner to verify the report, while he was getting ready. The Indian returned next day with dispatches contradicting the rumor. At St. Paul much excitement prevailed. A volunteer company was organized, guards stationed and

In a few days it was evident that there was no real ground for such a scare. Xone of the 'Indians showed any hostile intention, other than Inkpadutah and his few followers. These murderers fled to the Sioux river, in South Dakota, and no effort was ever made by the military to pursue or punish them. The whites seemed perfectly impotent in any effort to apprehend an Indian on the plains. The red devils soon killed in a brutal manner two of their women captives, Mrs. Thacher and ilrs. Xoble. The other two. Miss Gardner and ilrs. ^larble, were ransomed by some - Christian Indians, who had been sent for the purpose from the mission station of Drs. Eiggs and Williamson, and restored to their friends. The government tried to compel the other Indians to capture Inkpadutah and his band, by refusing to pay them their annuities until they delivered up these murderers. It was a foolish and unjust move, which only resulted in mischief. Little Crow and a number of other Indians finally undertook the task and, after an absence of some days, returned with a fishy story, how they had come upon the bad Indians by a certain lake and, after a hard fight, had killed a number of them. Though Vv'hoUy preposterous in every detail, the sti n-y got the Indians their rations. During the summer a son of Inkpadutah ventured to visit the Indians at the agency. His presence was re- to the military and he was killed, when attempting to get away. No other member of Inkpadutah's cut-throat gang is known to ha\e received punishment. The people .soon returned to their homes and various avocations and, before long, the Indians mingled witli the settlers as before, and the late unpleasantness was practically forgotten. Militia companies, however, were formed during the summer at Garden City, and on the Watonwan near Madelia; and guns and accoutrements were furnished J:hem from the territorial armory. At Garden City an armory hall was constructed for the use of the company.

Between the Indian scare, the unprecedented cold, backward season, and the money panic, the year 1857 was quite unfavorable to much immigration or material prosperity of any sort.

Blue Earth coimty, however, seems to have received quite an addition to its population and to have made substantial progress, in spite of the untoward conditions. The Minnesota was high and the traffic on the river was very brisk all summer. Boats were arriving almost daily at the Mankato and South Bend wharfs. Sometimes as many as four boats arrived at the former place in one day. During the season there were 293 boat arrivals at St. Paul from the Minnesota. The year before there had been 316 arrivals. The boats who paid Mankato the most frequent visits in 1857 were: The "Jennette Eoberts/' "Isaac Shelby, Medora," "Prank Steel" and "Time and Tide," all good sized boats. At Mankato the big three story stone business block, begun by General Leach the previous fall was completed. A similar stone block was erected this same year by White and Marks. These two fine buildings were for many years the most imposing structures at the county seat. About the middle of May a Mankato resident found sixty-three new buildings then in process of erection. By the first of November there were in Mankato by actual count 90 business houses, including stores, shops and offices. A good steam saw mill had been started here the year before by George W. Lay, and this year saw the erection of the much larger steam mill of A. D. Seward, Josiah Keene and A. N. Dukes, copartners as A. D. Seward and Co. It had a forty horse power engine, two upright saws and a lath and shingle mill attached.

On the 13th of June, 1857, was issued the first number of the "Mankato Independent," the first newspaper in Blue Earth County. The proprietors, Clinton B. Hensley and Prank W. Gunning, brought their printing outfit with them from Kokomo, Indiana, and as an inducement $800.00 of printing was subscribed and paid for in advance by Mankato business men. Mr. Hensley was an able writer and his paper was a valuable acquisition to the county. The printing office was located first in a small frame building, erected for the purpose, on the corner of Walnut and Third streets. This location soon proved unsatisfactory and, on Oct. 1st, the paper was moved to the upstairs of a new store building, just completed by Messrs. Hubbell and

By August 1st, 1857, there were tliree stage lines carrying mail and passefigers centered at Mankato; a daily line to St. Paul starting at South Bend, on which the fare was $7.00; a tri-weekly line passing through South Bend, Garden City, Vernon and Shelbyville to Blue Earth City, on which the fare was $4.00; and a tri-weekly line passing through Tivoli and Winnebago Agency and thence to Owatonna, on which the fare was $5.00. On July 38th, 1857, the County Commissioners let the contract for the erection of a county building on the court house block to Prancis Bunker and Isaac N. Britton for $1,500.00. It was to be 30x34 feet and constructed of stone with a fireproof stone vault 6x7 feet in the rear. At the same time a contract for building a board fence around' the block was let to the same persons for $335.00.

The townsite of LeHillier was surveyed and platted in 1857 by Noah Armstrong, William J. McCaulay, John J). McCaulay, Chas. A. Chapman, Ann M. E. DeWitt, Eobert C. Nichols, John Wilson, Sidney B. Hawley, William J. Sturgis, Isaac Day and George W. Nelson, and a two story stone building was erected by George M. Keenan in which he opened a hotel. This ancient land mark still stands a little beyond the west end of the Blue Earth bridge.

Adjoining this up the Blue Earth another townsite was platted by Thos. Eiley and Fred E. Eoelofson in September, 1857, called West Le Hillier. In June of the same year West Mankato was laid out by a large number of proprietors, most of whom were non-residents. The company built a saw mill on the Blue Earth.

South Bend, also was in a most flourishing condition. Some twenty or thirty buildings were constructed this year. Among these was a large frame hotel, built by Matthew Thompson. The formal opening of this hostelry was duly celebrated by a grand ball, held on December 31, 1857. S. Abbott & Co., were its first proprietors.

Evans and W. E. Price, had added a run of stone for grinding corn, which, furnished the settlers of the vicinity their material for johnny cake and hasty pudding. About June 1st, 1857, Daniel Buck, then a young man fresh from the hills of Center New York, arrived at South Bend and opened a law office. On the 4th of June the village held a big celebration in honor of the beginning of the survey for the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Big Sioux Eailroad. The first stake was set with due ceremony by Judge J. Brayton of Ohio in the presence of a great crowd of people. J. B. Pish was at the head of the corps of engiaeers, who had charge of the survey. After placing the stake the crowd repaired to the banking room of W. J. McCauley. Paul P. Eckstrom, the foremost merchant of the village, presided and speeches were made by Messers. Bangs, Eodgers, Pish, Buck, Ben. McGiven, and J. T.. Williams. The volunteer company, a relic of the recent Inkpadutah war, marched through the streets and fired salutes, and the festivities closed with a big oyster supper at Norcott's Hotel, the three story log building, which D. C. Evans had built. This survey was on the line' that was afterwards called the St. Paul and Sioux City Eailway.

So full of promise was South Bend at this time that Mr. Eckstrom platted a large addition thereto, which was called after his name. In South Bend township a frame church was constructed about a mile west of Minneopa Palls, by the "Zion" Cal. Meth. society of that locality. Judson village was also flourshing. It Had a large saw mill on each side of the river. Cephas S. Terry and Thos. E. Coulson had good sized stores, and there were a number of shops and residences built there this year. John A. Tidland in July platted a large addition to this townsite.

In June of this year a new townsite was laid out on the farm of Hiram Yates, a Uttle south of Crystal Lake. The proprietors were John A. Willard, E. J. Sibley, Hiram Yates and Elias D. Bruner. It was called "Crystal Lake City." Though a number of persons with push and capital were interested, it failed to materialize into anything more than a paper city. At Garden City two saw mills were completed this year, one by Messrs. Dilly, Warren and Capwell, and the other by S. il. Folsom, E. P. Evans and M. B. Boynton. The latter mill was provided with one run of stones for flour, and had a corn sheUer, corn mill, and shingle mill attached. A large hotel was also erected here during the summer by Messrs. Folsom and Evans, and the general store of Harrington & Cheney had been supplemented by one or two others.

Further up the Watonwan, by Hoxsie & Conklin's mill, David P. Hunt, Neri T. Hoxsie and J. W. Greenwood, in August, 1857, laid out a town called, ''^Vatonwan," which made the third city platted in Garden City Township. Like Crystal Lake, it did not succeed, and in February 1863 the plat was vacated. A post office was established here this year with J. H. Greenwood as postmaster. The Mill soon passed into the hands of Warren, Greenwood and Shaubut, who, in 1861, sold it to Butterfield & Wampler. Chas. P. Butterfield soon, however, became sole proprietor and his efficient management made the mill quite famous in that part of the county for many years. Between the mill, post ofliice, church and school house the place continued a local center until the present day.

On July 8th, 1857 two new Election precincts were created in the county, one designated "Ceresco," after a town of that name in Wisconsin, whence the Porters and some others of the inhabitants had come, and the other "Vernon," after Mount Vernon, Ohio, the old home of Col. B. P. Smith, B. McCracken and others of its settlers. Ceresco precinct comprised the present townships of Ceresco and Lincoln, and its first officers were: Sheldon P. Barney, Isaac Slocum and Benjamin Pease, and the first election was appointed to be held at the house of William Wells. Vernon precinct embraced the present township of that name and its first officers were : Judges of Election, Horton W. Nelson, C. C. Mack and T. B. Northrup, Justice of the Peace, Benj. McCracken, at whose house the first election was appointed to be held. Two rival townsites were started this year in A'ernon precinct. One was located on the Blue Earth in sections thirty-three and twenty-eight and ealled "Montevideo.'' It was never platted, as a misunderstanding between the proprietors, Jonathan Leavit, Horton W. Nelson and George W. Nelson, soon arose, which lead to litigation and an abandonment of the project within a year. Jonathan and Caleb Leavitt and Jacob Taylor built a sawmill there, which they operated for a year and then removed it to Madelia, and Horton W. Nelson started to build a hotel. In those days a mill and a hotel were deemed indispensible for the proper iDCginning of any city.

The other townsite was started further down the river on section 26 by the "Blue Earth Company." This organization was formed at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, with Col. B. F. Smith and Benj. McCracken as its principal promoters. In June 1857 they had their townsite surveyed and platted by il. B. Haynes. A sawmill was erected, which was operated for some years by Messrs. Smith and Haynes. Another mill was built ten years later by Eeed & Mason, and a feed mill started by G. W. Doty. A post office was established with J. P. Dooley as postmaster and a store opened about 1858. Col. Smith also built a hotel there the same year.

At Shelbyville there was considerable activity. A large saw mill was erected there in 1857, by Henry Stokes and J. J. Porter, and a portable saw mill put up about a mile from the village by John Swearingen. A large hotel was built by Tilton 0. Allen and two stores, two blacksmith shops, a cabinet shop, and an M. E. Church and several houses were also constructed.

On section five of Shelby another town was started by S. M. Polsom and others, but nothing came of it. The . plat of Mapleton townsite, which had been surveyed the previous July on the line between the present townships of Sterling and Mapleton, was not made until January, 1857. It was signed by James Cornell, Eobert Taylor and John Maund. No improvements were ever made on this land to give it an urban appearance, and it soon was jumped for claims. Eobert Taylor, however, in 1857, had a store, post office and hotel in his log house on the Maple. A little further down

Between Lake Wita and Lake Washington on section 20, in the present town of Jamestown, a saw mill was started by A. F. Howes, which during 1857 was quite active. It stood in the midst of one of the finest black walnut groves in the country, which stretched from the north end of Eagle Lake to the county line.

Another saw mill was started in the northwest corner of the county, on the Little Cottonwood, by David P. Davis. Most of these mills had one run of stones attached for grinding corn. The milling industry, which had such a fair start in 1857, was destined to grow and for more than a quarter of a century was the chief manufacturing industry of the county. Both steam and watet power were used and, during the time stated, they furnished most of the lumber and flour used by the people. The great number of townsites started this year marks the climax of this craze in our county. On the first of June 1857, was held the election of delegates to the constitutional convention preparatory to the admission of Minnesota as a State. Dr. W. E. McMahan was the representative elected from Blue Earth County. On October 13th occurred the election of State and County officers, when Blue Earth cast 1,131 votes. Of these H. H. Sibley the Democratic nominee received 594 and Alexander Eamsey, the Republican nominee 537. Mankato and Eice Lake were, however, the only two precincts that gave Democratic majorities, the other eight precincts were Eepublican. J. T. Williams was elected Clerk of Court, being the only successful Eepublican on the County ticket. E. D. Bruner was chosen Probate Judge, Stephen Lamm, Treasurer; Daniel T. Bunker, Sheriff; and W. S. Sargent, Register of Deeds. The year 1857 notes the first appearance in Blue Earth County of the grasshopper scourge, vfhich in after years worked such disastrous havoc. At this early date, however, there was not ijiuch to destroy except a few gardens, and the pest soon disappeared. But the pioneers of that day had other pests _ to contend with, the striped gopher, the pocket gopher and the blackbird