Faribault County, Minnesota - Chapter 1, 1896

Chapter 1

The history of this county properly begins with the events of the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-five. It was in that year the county was named, its boundaries defined and its first settlement made by civilized men. But the pi-esent occupants of the soil were preceded by other races and it is a matter of profound interest to learn what is now known of them.

At least two races of men, wholly different in origin, language, religion, habits and customs from each other and from our own race, have appeared here and each performed its part, in a great drama of national, or tribal and individual life, through unknown centuries and at last retired, the curtain, thick and dark, falling upon' scenes and hiding them forever.

In the eloquent words of Senator Ramsey, it is truthfully said that, "Not a foot of ground that we tread but has been trodden by nations before us. Tribes of men have marched their armies over the sites of our towns and fields; fierce battles have been fought where churches now rear their spires; our plow-shares turn furrows amidst the graves of buried races and our children play

When will the drama end and the curtain drop up(jn tlic lii^j^her and grander scenes being enacted hero by the present racer Never! exclaims the hopeful and confident. Yet, who in the light of all past human history, may answer thus 't But who were our predecessors here r What manner of men were they ? What of their deeds and destiny ?

The Mound Builders

No mounds, or tumuli, have yet been discovered within the limits of this county to indicate that the mysterious and lost race of of the Mound Builders ever existed here, but several small copper implements and articles of pottery, such as is usually believed to be the remains of that forgotten race, have been found, and at some distance south of us, in the state of Iowa, and in several of the counties on the east, north and west of this, their undoubted works exist; from all of which it may be confidently inferred, that they knew and probably inhabited, this intervening territory.

It may reasonably be expected that still more conclusive evidences will yet be discovered, in, or near, this county, that they once existed here.

They were a prehistoric race and but little is now known of them. Almost all memorials of them have perished from the earth. Even their true name, as a race, or people, is lost and they are now known and named only from the gre&t and curious mounds, extending through the Mississippi vallej' from the Great Lakes to the gulf, which were the works of their hands.

From what remains of them - these mounds - their contents and other evidences, it may fairly be determined that this "Ancient population was numerous and widely spread, as shown from the number and magnitude of their works and the extensive range of their occurrence." That they were not nomadic, but lived in villages and settlements, generally near great rivers and their tributaries. They were far in advance of the American Indian in their knowledge of arts and in civilization. They were agriculturists and wore clothing of woven cloth and had comfortable dwellings. They had a variety of articles of food, of which fish was the principal one. They were industrious, even very laborious, and possessed considerable mechanical and artistic skill. They had some knowledge of the arts of war and of the construction of fortifications.

They manufactured beautiful vases and other articles of pottery, and they could model clay into a variety of objects, such as birds, quadrupeds and the human face.

They used sun-dried bricks. They mined for copper and other precious ores. They had a definite standard of measurement and they had tools of copper, silver and stone. They had axes, chisels, knives, mauls, hammers, crucibles, spear-points, slates and cups, beads and bracelets, all well finished.

They had a system of hieroglyphic, or picture-writing, but unintelligible now, and knew something of practical surveying. They had commercial relations with some now unknown and distant nations. They made toys for their children and had some articles of fine workmanship, for the adornment of their persons and the embelishment of their homes and temples. They had a sense of the humorous, as appears from the caricatures and grotesque figures they sketched on vases and other articles.

They had a peculiar art, that of building mounds of earth, some of which were of vast size and of considerable height; some were circular, others square and others were circular enclosures. Some of their mounds, made on the level ground, were in the shape of animals, birds, bows, arrows and human figures. Some represented elephants, or mammoths, the turtle and immense serjients, and some the hide of some animal stretched on the ground. In some localities these mounds and figures occupied as much as twenty acres of ground. It is supposed that some of these curious shaped earthworks, were used as fortifications, others as burial places of the distinguished dead, and others as places of sacrifice and religious worship.

The mounds built by the Indians, are quite different from those of the Mound-builders. It is a curious fact that the skulls found in the mounds of the Mound-builders, are of a shape entirely different fi'om those that characterize the Indian, and the shin-bones resurrected from the same place, singularly flat, a peculiarity not noticed in the bones of any other tribe or race of people.

The Mound-builders had a system of religion - they were sunworshippers and believed in immortality and had many sacred places and temples for i-eligious worship . And here our summary must end. They have passed away into the deep darkness and voiceless silence of the long past centuries. From whence they came, who they were and whether, as has been said, they "Migrated to remote lands under the combined attractions of a more fertile soil and more genial climate, or whether they disappeared beneath the victorious arms of an alien race, or were swept out of existence by some direful epidemic, or universal famine, are questions probably beyond the power of human investigation to answer." It seems prob-

Some late investigators have, however, claimed with much assurance, that the Mound- builders were not a race, or people, separate, or distinct from the Indian, but were, in fact, the ancestors of the Indians, who have degenerated. If so, the degeneration must have been very great indeed. At all events, the differences in the character and civilization of the Mound-builders and those of the Indians, were so great that, practically, they may well be deemed different races of men.

But the day may come, probably will, when the pyramids of Egypt, the ancient ruined cities of the East and America and these mounds shall give up their secrets. Yea, the deep, deep sea shall some day surrender up the story of the lost Atlantis, even the story of the lost Lemuria.

The Red Men

The occupants of this region of country at the time of, and probably for many centuries prior, to the advent of the white man, were certain bands of the Indian nation, known as the Sioux or Dakotas. The Dakotas were among the most populous, Varlike and powerful of the many savage nations which have inhabited the w'estern continent.

They occupied a vast territory, including nearlj' all of Minnesota, the Dakotas and a region of country west of the Missouri to the Rocky Mountains, and northward to the British Possessions. This great nation was divided into many tribes, four of which occupied nearly all of the country now comprising the state of Minnesota. These tribes were named the Medawakonton, Wapeton, Wapekuta and Sissoton Sioux, and each of them had its own hereditary chief. Each of these tribes was subdivided into bands, each band having also its chief, and all these various bands had their own separate territory, or hunting grounds, but their claims of territory were often indefinite and conllicting. They are a confederate pation. It appears from a consultation of the best authorities on the subject, that the territory on the headwaters of the Blue Earth river and adjacent on the west, was anciently claimed by the Wapakutas. or Leaf-Shooters and the Sissetons. In the year 1700. when M. Le Sueur erected a rude fort, near the mouth of the Blue Earth river, referred to el-sewhere in this work, this country was in possession of bands of the "Sioux of the west," known as the Ayavols (lowas) and Otoctatas (Ottoes). But little is known of any of these people and there is much confusion, some contradiction and a great deal of uncertainty in the very meagre records of the aboriginal in - habitants. Of tlae origin of the American Indian, as little is known as that of the Mound builders.

The Dakotas have ever been a barbarous and nomadic race. As to their physical characteristics, they are of a red copper color, variously shaded. The men are of middle stature, large boned and well made, eyes black, half closed and lodged in deep sockets; high cheek bones, nose more or less aquiline, mouth large, lips rather thick and the hair of the head black, straight and coarse. In many tribes they pluck out all the hair of the beard. The general expression of the countenance is gloomy; stolid and severe. The women are usually short in stature and have broad, homely features and low foreheads, and while they sometimes have an expression of mildness and pleasantness, beauty is rare among them. They are the slaves and drudges of their race. Both the men and women are great lovers of ornaments, and are usually loaded with beads, rings, bangles and tinkling gewgaws.

The Indian has a fair understanding, a quick apprehension, a retentive memory and very acute senses and assumes a peculiar air of profound indifference, in his general appearance and actions.

President Sparkes, of Harvard, says : "With a strength of character and a reach of intellect unknown in any other race of absolute savages, the Indian united many traits, some of them honorable and some degrading to humanity, which made him formidable in his enmity, faithless in his friendship, and at all times a dangerous neighbor; cruel, implacable, treacherous, yet not without a few of the better qualities of the heart and the head; a being of contrasts, violent in his passions, hasty in his anger, fixed in his revenge, j'^et cool in counsel, seldom betraying his plighted honor, hospitable, sometimes generous. A few names have stood out among them, which, with the culture of civilization, might have been shining stars on the lists of recorded fame."'

The Indians of this region are strangers to letters and wholly untutored. They know but little of the simplest arts and nothing of science, and leave behind them no records, monuments, or other memorials, excei^t traditions of bloody deeds and some of their names given to states, mountains, rivers and localities. They are polytheists and their religion is a strange medley of superstitious incantations and sorceries, but yet has some redeeming, though crude, central ideas.

Speaking generally of their religion, the wild Indians believe in a good God, known as the Great Spirit, and a bad God, both equal in power. They have, also, some minor Gods. They think the good God wants no thanks or p;:ayers. but the bad one they hate and fear, bribe and entreat. They believe in tiie immortality of the soul, and that their final destiny is the "Happy Hunting Grounds." They also believe in the existence of spiritual beings that are neither good Dor bad.

But these Indians are devoid of any moral sense, or sense of moral obligation, or accountability, as connected with their religion. They have no code of morals. Their ideas of right and wrong are very shadowy and there are many ditfering shades, in their religious beliefs.

Their clothing is made of dressed skins and, since their ac quaintanco with the white man, cheap cloth and woolen blankets, and their dwoUings are rude, temporary shelters, made of skins and bark, called wigwams, or teepos, and are moved from place to place.

They live by the chase and on wild rice and fish, and they also plant a little corn and raise a few potatoes, but the j' are much more skillful in planting a knife in a foe"s back and in raising scalps. They are indolent and provide only for today. The men think labor degrading and hence the women do all the work. The warpath and the chase are the occupations of the men and when engaged in these, they are active, persevering and untiring. The phrase, --poverty, hunger and dirt," describes their normal condi tion. The attempts to civilize and christianize these Indians have proved an almost wasted labor. Yet of late years some little success has crowned these beneficent ert'orts. *

The Dakotas like most other Indian peoples, delight in deeds of cunning, treachery and blood, but there have been a few notable individual exceptions. It really seems that -'the only hope for the Indian is to educate him, make him a citizen with a citizens rights and responsibilities and absorb him into the body politic." Recognizing and treating with the Indian tribes within our jurisdiction, as separate nations from ours, they remaining subject to their own barbarous laws and customs, must always prove a failure, in all attempts to civilize them. Of those who inhabited this land in the long ago, there is dimly shadowed in old and wild traditions, recounted by the early trappers and voyageurs, visions of wild orgies and deeds of such darkness, indecency and cruelty, that the}' may not be written and of which --it is more blessed to be ignoi'- ant." We may know, however, that here in our own county have been Inward the twang of the bow and the sharp crack of the rille and the wild war-hoop of this wily savage - that here they lived for centuries, hunting over our prairies and fishing in the lakes and rivers and that this soil has witnessed the advance and retreat and drank the blood of many contending foes, and

But wasted by incessant wars, starved by famines, swept by pestilences, poisoned and demoralized by drunkenness, eaten up by loathsome diseases - always the helpless pray of greedy jjlunders - decimated to mere remnants and these forced to retire, bearing the burdens of great wrongs suffered, as well as done by them and chanting their weird dirges, so suggestive of the dark and hopeless future of their race, they are "moving on," toward the setting sun and final extinction.

Upon no subject-race, except that of the Negro, perhaps, have ever been imposed such shames and frauds and wrongs, since the world began, as have been heaped upon the American Indian, and on the other hand, no oppressed race has ever struck back with such fiendish and persistent malignity as his, and in this matter of our dealings with the Indians, if God be just and man be immortal, and if all wrongs done by individuals and nations, must be righted, certainly, there is an awful day of reckoning coming sometime and somewhere, for somebody.

The Nation

Let us look about us for a moment. Casting an eye over the national field, we find that in 1855, Franklin Pierce was President of the United States. The nation then had a population of about 27,000,000 of i^eople. The Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had restricted slavery, within certain limits, had been repealed and the Compromise of 1850, which, with other provisions, imbodied the odious Fugitive Slave Law, had practically proved a failure in the North, and the contest in regard to slave, or free territory, a feature of the"Irrepresible Conflict," was the great absorbing national question of the times, and finally led to civil war in Kansas, which raged for nearly three yeai-s. Stephen A. Douglass was then promulgating the doctrine of "Squatter Sovereignity." The old Whig party had become extinct and its former adherents in the North, uniting with all the parties and factions opposed to the extension of slavery into the territories, was rapidly forming the great Republican party preparatory to the presidential contest of the next year.

Turning our attention to Minnesota, it will be observed that a great tide of immigration had for several years been setting toward this territory, most of the new-comers locating in the eastern and and central counties, and the territory was enjoying an era of great prosperity. Willis A. Gorman was then governor of the territory, and Henry M. Ivico was our dele<rate in Congress.

Un the third day of January, 1855, the sixth territorial legislature assembled at St. Paul. An important part of the business of the session was that of carving out of the grand domain of the territory, many new counties.

On the twentieth day of February, a)i act was passed entitled "An Act to Define the Boundaries of Certain Counties." By section six of said act, it is enacted, "That so much territory as is embraced in the following boundaries, l>e and the same is hereby establi-shed as the county of Faribault: beginning at the southwest corner of township one hundred and one (101) north, range twenty-three (23) west, running thence west on the boundary line between the territory of Minnesota and the state of Iowa, thirty-six miles to the township line, between ranges twenty- nine (29) and thirty (80) west; thence north on said township line twenty-four miles to the township line, between one hundred and four (104) and one hundred and five (105) north; thence east on said line thirty-six (36) miles to the township line between range twenty-three and twenty-four west; thence south on said township line twenty-four (24) miles to the place of beginning."

An api)ortionment of the territory was made at the same session of the legislature, for legislative purposes. District number ten (10), was composed of the counties of Le Sueur, Steele, Faribault, Blue Earth, Brown, Nicollet, Sibley, Pierce and Renville, and was entitled to one councilman and three representatives.

The couniy of Faribault was so named in honor of Jean Baptiste Faribault. Gen. Henry H. Sibley, a gentleman of distinguished character and abilities, and as well acquainted with the early history t)f the State, its prominent men and public affairs, as any other person in the State, and a member of the legislature, at the above session, in a letter answering an inquiry on this subject, says:

Dear Sir: 1 have your favor of the 9th inst., and id reply beg leave to state, that while I have no positive inforruatiun on that point, my strong impression is, that your county was named for Jean B. Faribault, lie having been one of the oldest of our pioneers, and reference to that fact being the basis upon which some of our counties were designated. You are right in the statement that the city of Faribault was named for his son, Alexander Faribault, who was the founder of the town and still resides there. 1 think you will not go wrong in assuming that Faribault County was named for the senior ot that name. Very truly yours,

In reply to a letter subsequently addressed to J. F. Williams, Esq., the courteous and efficient Secretary of the Minnesota Historical Society, the following answer was received:

My Dear Sir: I am still unable to ascertain anything definite, or satisfactory, relative to the naming of Faribault County. I have tallied with several who (I thought) ought to know, but strange to say, they cannot tell any more than we can. I have written to others with even less success. * * What I can learn, however, leads me to conclude that Faribault County was named for Jean Baptiste Faribault. It would seem natural, reasoning on general principles, that it should have been named for him. He was one of the very earliest pioneers of Minnesota. * * * He was a man of fine education, good abilities, considerable means and great influence, both among whites and Indians, at an early day. If, as was done frequently, counties were named after pioneers and early explorers, he would be the one selected. I am perfectly satisfied as much as if I knew it, that Faribault County was named for Jean Baptiste Faribault.

We find the following brief notice of him in the Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, vol. 1. "He was the son of Bartholomew Faribault, who was born in Paris, France, and who became an eminent jurist in that country, but emigrated in ITSi, to Canada, and held office there until the downfall of the French dominion in America.

"His son, the subject of this sketch, was born in Canada. At the age of 17 he entered on mercantile pursuits, at Quebec, and remained until 1796, when he yielded to his adventurous and active disposition and entered the Indian trade, engaging in John Jacob Astor's "North- Western Fur Company," as an agent. He was sent to Mackinac first, and soon after came to the upper Mississippi river, and after a brief stay at a post near the mouth of Des Moines river, became a resident of wliat is now Minnesota. He carried on a trade with the Indians for about half a century, the last forty years on his own account. He married in 1814 a half-breed daughter of Major Hanse, then superintendent of Indian ailairs. Mr. Faribault espoused the cause of the United States, during the war of 1812, and lost many thousand dollars thereby, as well as narrowly escaping with his life on several occasions. He labored all his life to benefit the red man, teach him agriculture and the arts of industry, and how to protect his interests. He had an unbounded influence over many of them; his advice was never disregarded. He was prominent at all the treaties and councils and rendered the United States many valuable services."

lu an address delivered bj' Gen. Sibley in 1856, we find the following further facts, in relation to Mr. Faribault. "He removed to this country in 1708. His career in this region was marked with more of adverse fortune, than usually occurs, even in the perilous life of an Indian trader. Shortly after the close of the war with Groat Britau, he was robbed by the Winnobagoes. at Prairie du Chien, of a large stock of goods, for which he never received any remuneration. Some years subsequently he fixed his residence upon Pikes Island, near Fort St. Anthony (now Snelling) and had barely established himself in his vocation of trader, when he was forced, by the Mandate of the Commandant of the Fort, to abandon his buildings and betake himself with his movable ])roperty to the bottom land on the east side of the Mississippi, where he erected new tenements. The following spring, the water, which was unusually high, carried otf his houses and live stock, he and his family escaping in boats, by means of which he was fortunately enabled to save his goods and furs from destruction. Still undiscouraged, he built a house at the point now known as Mendota, where he resided many years, except during the winter months, when he assumed charge of his trading post at Little Rapids, on the Minnesota river. He acquired a considerable fortune though having met with so many reverses."

In person, Mr. Faribault was below the medium height, of prepossessing appearance and of much dignity and franlvhess. It is said of him that he was a gentleman of the old French school, of Parisian style and of great affability and urbanity of manners and that, notwithstanding his long residence among savages and at the out post of civilization, in the far northwest, he never lost his accomplishments and character of a well bred gentleman. It appears from a letter received from his grandson, that Mr. Faribault, in very early days, in company with General John C. Fremont and General Sibley, visited this region of country, on an exploring and hunting expedition, and that they were near what is now the locality of Blue Earth City, for some days. He lived to a great age and spent the last years of his eventful life with his sons, at Fairbault, in Rice county, in this State. He died Aug. 20th, 1860, and was at the time of his death, the oldest white resident of what is now Min nesota. Our county is indeed worthily named and its people should, some day, erect an appropriate memorial, in honor of him whose name the county bears.

A brief notice of Alexander Faribault, the oldest and most prominent of the sons of Jean Baptiste Faribault, may be of interest. In a letter from a friend, who, at the writer's request, visited Mr. Faribault, we find the following statements: "He was born at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, in 1806. He is one-half French blood.

Alexaxdek 1- Akihault

one-fourth Scotch and one-fourth Sioux Indian. He settled at Port Snelling in 1819, and removed to Faribault (Rice County) in 1853, where he still resides (December 12, 1871). He is the father of ten children, seven of whom are now living He possesses a good business education and speaks the English language very correctly. Since his removal to Faribault, he has adopted the manners and customs of the whites and is a good citizen, public spirited and generous to a fault, and has ever taken an active and lively interest in the growth and prosperity of Faribault, which was named for him. Mr. Faribault is quite actively engaged in business, and owns one of the best flouring mills in Faribault, which was built by him some eight years ago at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. His wife is a full blood, of the Dakota, or Sioux tribe of Indians, and still retains the dress and customs of her tribe. Mr. Faribault was chief of the Wabasha band of Sioux, up to the time of his settlement in Faribault."

It appears that Mr. Faribault once visited this region of country. It is stated in the history of Rice county, Minnesota, that he, "in the spring of 1833, followed the Indians south, to their hunting grounds, located in the present county of Faribault. (Should have added Martin.) The place had an Indian name signifying chained lakes."

"He was a man of the kindliest feelings, the most inflexible integrity and an eveness of temper, which was seldom ruffled. A man more universally beloved and respected has never departed from among us."

The Story Op The First Settler

Moses Sailorwas the first permanent settler of Faribault county. He was born in Monroe county, state of Ohio, in the year 1808, and was married at the age of twenty-four years. He has always been a farmer by occupation. Immediately after marrying he emigrated to Elkhart county, Indiana, which was then quite a new and sparcely settled country. Here he continued to reside for twenty-two years. His wife died in 1849, leaving him with nine children. In the fall of the year 1854, he emigrated, with his family, to Chickasaw county, Iowa, where he took up quarters for the winter, in the village of Bradford. Finding that the country there had already been mainly taken up and, as he says, "Not being new enough to suit his pioneer tastes." and desirin;? to get lands for liis boys as well as a home for himself, he concluded to prospect further, as soon as the weather would permit in the spring. Having heard very favorable accounts of the territory of Minnesota, he. near the first of April, 1855, in company with Jamas Little and John Love, carrying their guns, provisions and blankets, started on foot from Bradford, on an exploring expedition into Minnesota. After a day's journey, neither roads nor settlements existed, but striking out boldly into the wilderness, they directed their course by the aid of a pocket compass and a map. for the head waters of the Blue Earth river, as that stream was somewhat indefinitely laid down on the maps of that time. The first point at which they struck the Blue Earth river, was on the east branch, about two miles east of the site of Blue Earth City. Here they stopped and built a fire on the eighth day of April, at about eleven (11) o'clock in the forenoon. Leaving Mr. Little here. Mr. Sailor and Mr. Love proceeded across the prairie for the west branch of the river, to examine the timber and lay of the country. They reached the west branch on section twenty, in town 102. range 27. as was indicated by the section stakes and quite near where Mr. Sailor subsequently took liis "claim."

After prospecting for a few hours and being much pleased with the country, they returned to Mr. Little and then all proceeded to the junction of the two branches of the river, afterwards known as "the forks," near which they were so fortunate as to find a small, rough log cabin, on the north bank of the stream. It was very rudelj' built, quite low and not more than ten by twelve feet in size, and had evidently been built as a mere temporary shelter.

This cabin had been erected by one Thomas Holmes, of Shakopee, a famous explorer and town-site locator, in the early days of the territory of Minnesota. He was in this region in 1854. and erected this cabin, with the intention of making a claim of the land adjoining, with a view of eventually laying out a town in the vicinity. This he never did, however, but went so far as to employ two men. whose names are now forgotten, to go upon the land and who occupied this cabin a short time. But Mr. Holmes not coming with provisions, as agreed, they returned to Shakopee and the project of laying off a town was given up by him. This cabin was the first advance made in the building of a human habitation, on the capacity and architectural style of an Indian tepee. It was the first house erected in the county. To return to our companj', it being now near night, they concluded to camp here. This country at the time, presented a very favorable aspect. The snow of which there seemed to have been but little during the winter, had all disappeared.

Moses Sailok

The ground was dry and the grass just starting. The streams were very low and easily forded. A bright, warm sun, cloudless skies and a mild and balmy atmosphere, welcomed our explorers to this new land.

The next morning they started northward to Mankato, exploring the timber and adjacent prairies and camped in the evening near Jackson's lake, in Blue Earth county. The next day they reached Mankato, which they found to be a small village of some fifteen houses, large and small, and a frontier hotel, where they stopped. This town had been laid out some three years before. Here they learned that it was currently reported that the Winnebago Indians, who were soon to be removed from their location in the more northern part of the territory, were to be located upon a "Reservation" on the head-waters of the Blue Earth river, in Faribault county. Should this occur, our pioneers would, of course, have to abandon any intention of settling in this county. They then proceeded to prospect the country for a few days on the Blue Earth, Maple and Cobb rivers, in Blue Earth county, with which they were highly pleased. At this time there were but a few scattered settlers in Blue Earth county and but one small village - Mankato. At an election held in that county, in the fall of this year, but eighty-six votes were polled. There were but a few settlers in Freeborn county, and this county and all the territory west, and northwest was vacant.

Being entirely satisfied with the country, our company returned by their former route, through this county to Bradford and determined to remove into Blue Earth county, immediatly in the vicinity of Mankato. In pursuance of this conclusion, Mr. Sailor, on or about the 8th day of May, started from Bradford with his family of children consisting of five sons, Jacob, Able, Daniel, William and Manuel and three daughters, Esther, Amanda and Roxina, all of whom subsequently remained here as residents of the county. He was accompanied by one Solomon Myers and Archibald Morris and family. They travelled in covered wagons heavily loaded with household goods and provisions, each wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen, the great motive power of new countries. They had decided to settle somewhere on the Maple river, in Blue Earth county, and the route they travelled lay by Clear lake, in Iowa, Walnut lake and Minnesota lake, in this county. This country as before intimated was then a trackless wilderness, no roads, or bridges, no human habitations and the "trail" made by Mr. Sailor and his company, was the first wagon track made in the county, by any settler. They stopped on the Maple river, about ten miles from Mankato, where Mr. Sailor left the company in camp and proceeded to Mankato. Here he found that the Indians had selected their Reservation in Blue

Earth county. He then concluded to return and settle on the headwaters of the Blue Earth, in this county, but Mr. Morris decided not to accompany him and remained in Blue Earth county a short time. Mr. Sailor accompanied by Mr. Myers travelled on his return by the route he had taken when prospecting, there being no track, or road however, and on the twenty-fifth day of May, near noon, he had reached his jouney's end and stopped on the west half of the southwest quarter of section twenty, which with the south half of the southeast quarter of section nineteen, adjoining, all in township one hundred and two, of range twenty seven, he determined to claim.

On locating Mr. Sailor proceeded to break up about five acres of land, which he planted to corn and potatoes, camping in the meantime, in his wagon and a large tent, which he had brought with him.

This sod corn produced plenty of "roasting ears,'' and fodder suflScient for one horse and a dozen hogs during the succeeding winter. The potatoes yielded abundantly and were of a superior quality. After getting in his crop, he proceeded to erect a log house. This building was eighteen by twbntyfour feet and one story high and was completed in about a week, except the roof, which was partly covei'ed by the tent cloth. And this was the second house in this county.

Provisions now getting scarce, Mr. Sailor went about 120 miles into Iowa, for a supply. He was gone some twelve days and on his return he finished up his house, putting on a "shake" roof. This old house long since disappeared, but it was once the headquarters of the county - the only hotel, or stopping place, in a vast region for sometime - the first resort of new comers - the scene of many a hospitable entertainment and of many a frontier dance and social gathering in the early days. The boys set to work to break up some ten acres more of land in the early summer and a small additional tract was broken in October, which Mr. Sailor says did not prove valuable, as the sod instead of rotting, dried in tough strips and pieces like old sheep skins and lay about for some three or four j^ears. He says he knows more about "breaking" now, than he did then.

During the year many Indians, sometimes as many as two hundred, or three hundred, in a company, would call on Mr. Sailor, generally wanting tobacco, sugar, pork and sometimes "firewater," which latter article he never let them have. In fact the country was full of small bands of roving Indians, who were engaged in hunting and fishing and sometimes on the war-path, but he says they were always peaceable and well disposed towards him.

In those days he says game and fur-bearing animals were very plenty, especially wolves, foxes, mink, otter and elk, though but few deer. There were squirrels, rabbits, gophers, prairie chickens, geese, ducks, cranes, some few black bear, panthers, wild cats, wood chucks, musk rats and skunks, and the lakes and streams were stocked with fish. He further says that on his arrival he found no buffalo, but observed a stamping or herding ground near the state line, where a large number of buffalos had stopped during the preceding winter. During the year the health of himself and family was very good, and the weather until winter set in, unusually IDleasant.

He has continued to reside on the land he first took up. His farm has been largely imjiroved and he has long since erected a comfortable frame house and large barn. Mr. Sailor is of medium stature, well built and has black hair and a long dark beard, now well sprinkled with gray; dark eyes and dark complexion, and in his prime was a man of great muscular power and endurance - hard working and courageous. He belongs to that race of hardy adventurous pioneers, known only in the far west, who have the courage to abandon the advantages of old settled countries and go upon the extreme frontier, or plunge into the wilderness and amid want and hardships and privations, surrounded by many dangers, open up the ways of settlement and civilizatioD.

He remarried some years ago (1869), and is passing his declining years in ease and comfort, owing no man aaything, strictly honest in his dealings, hosjDitable and a Jackson democrat. In the early days of the county, he served the public well and faithfully for some years as County Commissioner. But he now takes no interest in politics, or public affairs, except to vote. He says he has no ambitions to gratify and hates turmoil and strife. May the evening of his days be cloudless, and his sun of life set in tranquility and peace, preluding a still brighter day that may break for him on the other shore.

Other Settlers And Visitors Of 1855

A short time after Mr. Sailor had located, Austin R. Nichols and Harry G. Roberts, called upon him, having followed his wagon track from the north.

In a letter to the writer Mr. Nichols says, his and Robert's acttual residence (or settlement) dates June 8th, and that Mr. E. Crosby came in a few days after their settlement.

Mr. Archibald Morris, having concluded to follow Mr. Sailor arrived about this time. In June also came Henry T. Stoddard and Newel Dewey, and selected claims. As they had only come to look out the land, they remained but a short time, but about the first of November following, Mr. Stoddard returned, accompanied by his wife and his father, Mr. Dewey and Henry R. Walker. They all settled in town 103, range -9, now Verona.

A man by the name of White, with whom Mr. Sailor had become acquainted on the Cedar river, in Iowa, came to the county with his wife and son, about the first days of ,Iuue, and took a claim near W^alnutlake, in town 103, range 25. He erected a "shanty," broke up several acres of land and planted a few potatoes, but soon went back to Iowa. He returned in the fall and liarvestcd his crop - some fourteen bushels - and brought them to Mr. Sailor. At this time he discovered that he had taken his claim on a school section and could not hold it. He left the country again and never returned.

Benjamin Gray and family and Aaron Mudge and family, became residents of the county this year. Orlow Webster. James L McCrery, J. G. Whitford, W. H. Furness and Rufus Nichols, visited the county and selected claims, and the next year brought in their families and remained. James .lohnson was among the settlers of this year. Alexander Johnson visited the county but did not remain. The next year he returned and became a permanent resident.

In the latter part of August. Levi Billings. Sr., and AlWert Billings, John Boon and his sons Nelson and William and Crawford W. Wilson passed through the county and called on Mr. Sailor. Mr. Wilson returned in the fall with his family, accompanied by Jacob Miller, and took a claim in town 101. range 27, now Elmore.

Mr. Billings, Sr., and one Dickinson and Rufus Clark, all residents of Iowa, had for a number of seasons i^revious to this, been in this county hunting buffalo calves and elk, which they shipped to Chicago, Illinois, and sold at large prices. Mr. Billings was thoroughly acquainted with the country and determined to locate a town near the "forks" of the Blue Earth river, either on the same ground, or in the vicinity of the present location of Blue Earth City. In pursuance of this design, in the autumn of this year, he sent in a number of teams loaded with jjrovisions and the irons and castings for a saw mill, which he designed to erect near the forks, on the east branch of the Blue Earth, the next spring. With these loads came Albert Billings, Levi Billings, Jr., William M. Scott and one Rouse. Several of these parties designed to remain here during the winter, but for some cause, after engaging Messrs. Gray and Mudge, to get out the mill timbers during the winter, which they did, they all returned to Iowa, all purposing to come again to the county in the spring.

Owing to various unfavorable circumstances, Mr. Billings' intention of laying off a town and erecting a mill was never carried out, and the timbers, designed for the mill, were subsequently used for a bridge across the east branch of the Blue Earth river, near Blue Earth City, and was the first bridge across that stream.

During this autumn, Henry Schuler, also, made a flying visit to the county, and was so well jjleased with the country that he returned the next spring. On his return, an accident occurred to him, which nearly cost him his life. He had selected a, claim across the Blue Earth river, west of Stoddard's, where he was stopping. The water being very high at the breaking up in the spring, he had constructed a rude raft of logs, on which he passed back and forth to his work on his claim. On one occasion, some time in March, when far out in the stream, his raft swamped and he went down, but fortunately caught hold of some limbs and tops of small trees. After a long struggle in the water, which was very cold, swimming, and wading to his neck, he reached the west bank, nearly exhausted. He rested a moment, but found he should freeze to death, very soon, as the wind was very cold. He could not re-cross the stream and there were no residents on the west side. He must keep moving, and as there was no other way of saving his life, he started northward, but was compelled to wade, or swim, a number of streams, until at length he reached a house, near Vernon, in Blue Earth county. He was so worn out and chilled, that he could not have gone a mile further. Here he recuperated somewhat and then went to Mankato. At Stoddard's, as Schuler did not return, it was concluded he had been drowned and Stoddard proceeded at once to Mankato also, where was the nearest blacksmith shop, to have some grappling hooks made to drag the river for Schuler's body. Stoddard had arrived at the shop and had just given his order, for the hooks, which were to be made at once, when suddenly Schuler stepped into the shop ! The hooks were not needed.

The names above given include all those, so fa.r as the writer has been able to learn, after the most careful inquiry, who settled in the county, or visited it with the intention of locating here, in 1855.

It is curious to observe, as we proceed with this history, how and when, the men who have taken a large part in the public affairs of the county and in its gi-owth and development, appeared here upon the scenes of their life work. And it is worthy of record, as a valuable historic fact, that this county has been fortunate, beyond most others, in the character of its inhabitants generally from the beginning. With but rare exceptions, they have ever been an intelligent, law-abiding and industrious people. Among them too, even from the earliest years, have been quite a number of men of more than ordinary ability and of very liberal education in the schools and professions. And these facts have had their legitimate results, apparent on every hand.

Products And Improvements

Notliing more than a few garden vegetables and some sod corn were raised during the year and the improvements made, consisted only of a few log cabins and some acres of breaking. The winter set in about the fourteenth day of December. The snows fell deep and the cold became severe and the year closed in a hard winter.

The monotony in the lives of the few lonely residents here during that winter, was broken occasionally by visits among themselves and the Indians favored them with a few calls, which, however, were never returned But very important events were near at hand, as will be seen in the next chapter.