Faribault County, Minnesota - Chapter 2, 1896

Chapter 2

While during tlie winter of 1855-6, the few settlers here were living quietly awaiting the events of the future, and not knowing what was in store for them, far away from the borders of the county, plans were being laid by men who had never been within its limits, which were greatly to affect its future and control the lives and shape the destinies of many people.

Town-Site Pioneers

On a cold stormy night in the last days of January 1856, James B. Wakefield, Henry P. Constans, Spier Spencer and Samuel V. Hibler, with several others, whose names are not important to this history, were assembled in a small store by a warm stove, in the town of Shakopee, in Scott county, Minnesota. All were poor in purse, but in youth, health and courage, were rich and hopeful.

This was a year ever memorable in Minnesota of inflated prices of land and of wild speculations. Immigrants had been coming into the territoiy in great numbers and for several years past great improvements had been made and fortunes acquired in a day, by speculators in lands, town-sites and corner lots. The prospects for the year just beginning were very flattering. The conversation of this small company turned upon these interesting subjects and the project was proposed of striking out somewhere and founding a city. Others were doing this very thing and were rapidly acquiring wealth and why should they not do the same? The company was "impecunious" it was true, but what of that - "where there is a will there is a way." So it was then and there agreed to go forth into the wilderness and find a suitable place for a town-site, survey and plat it and settle down as permanent citizens and build a town. Speculation was not the sole motive of this project. A desire to secure permanent locations, the establishment of business and to contribute their mite, toward the building up

The first intention was to go into Freeborn countj', but on examining the map of southern Minnesota, the valley of the Blue Earth river, fixed the attention of the company The buffalo and elk hunter, the trapper, the Indian and the explorer, had already told their stories, of the beauty and fertility of the Blue Earth valley. Thomas Holmes, heretofore mentioned, had talked in glowing language of the forks of the Blue Earth river, as an eligible location for a town and so to the head-waters of the Blue Earth river, our company decided to go.

The winter had been long and cold. It was now the beginning of February and the snow lay twenty inches deep on the level and great drifts were piled in every direction, but what are such difiicultes to western energy, bent on great projects?

Our little company nothing daunted, hired one Huffman, with his team and sled, which might have been named the Argo, and gathered together a few provisions, consisting of flour, pork, beans, some culinary utensils and a ten gallon keg of a peculiar fluid extract of rye, which latter article had been recommended by solicitous friends, as a valuable medicine in cases of frost-bites, snake-bites, chills, or general prostration, and well armed with guns, pistols and plenty of ammunition, they started for the forks of the Blue Earth, across a trackless region, like the Argonauts in pursuit of the golden fleece, across unknown seas.

The cold was intense and the roads, where there were any. were blockaded. South of Mankato no roads existed then and after a tedious journey, on the 6th day of February. 1856, our company near evening crossed the lands where Blue Earth City now stands, and proceeded about a mile further south, to the cabin of Moses Sailor, the first settler, whose hospitality they claimed for the night.

Having travelled all day over trackless prairies, plunging through deep snow drifts, sometimes breaking the way for the team, our pioneers were well nigh exhausted and they enjoyed the hearty welcome, the warm fire, the corn bread and bacon of the first settler. Having fully explained their designs to Mr. Sailor, the next morning our pioneers, with Mr. Sailor in the lead, entered upon the lands where the future city was to be built and Mr. Sailor, knowing the ground well, pointed out to them in glowing language, the beauty and adaptability of the location for a town-site. But few words are necessary with men of business and it was forthwith decided, here on the north-half of section seventeen in township one hundred and two of range twenty-seven, to found the town. This decided they were shown the small log cabin spoken of in the pre-

On the following day Wakefield and Spencer started out with the team, on their return to Shakopee, leaving Constans and Hibler to hold possession of the country.

The weather, as before intimated, was cold and the snows deep, but in all countries "business is business" and delays are said to be dangerous. Certain matters of great importance required immediate attention and hence the hurried return of Wakefield and Spencer. The Eden of Minnesota had been found, a town was to be built, a county organized, a county seat located. The territorial legislature was then in session at St. Paul, the capital, and thither Mr. Wakefield proceeded.

Constans and Hibler were left alone and went to work to render themselves as comfortable as possible in their cabin. Their usual amusements were chopping wood and carrying it up the steep bank of the river, to their cabin, keeping fire and cooking their victuals. Frequently informal visits would be made to Mr. Sailor's, where they would get a warm meal, which visits would be kindly returned by Mr. Sailor in a day or two, and these courtesies were usually, according to the strict etiquette of the times, rendered mellow and agreeable, by "a little something to take."' All times have their follies and fashions and there are many things easily excusable, in the ways and manners of the pioneers of a new country.

Thus the time passed until about the seventh day of March, vrhen Mr. Wakefield returned with a pocketful of official commissions and accompanied by another new settler, George B. Kingsley. Mr. Spencer did not return. During Mr. Wakefield's absence, he secured the passage of an act by the legislature, dated February 23rd, 1856, organizing the county of Faribault, of which the following is a copy:

Section 1. - Be it enacted by the legislative assembly of the territory of Mianesota: That the county of Faribault be, and the same is hereby declared to be,. an organized county, and invested with all the rights, privileges and immunities to which all organized counties in this territory are entitled by law.

Sec. 2 - That "Blue Earth City," situated between the forks of the Blue Earth river, as laid out and named by James B. Wakefield and others, be and the same is hereby declared to be the temporary county seat of said county and

Sec. 3. - That the Governor shall appoint and commission three suitable persons, the same being ([ualitled voters of said county, to be a board of county commissioners for said county, with full power and authority to perform all acts and discharge all duties devolving upon the board of county commissioners of any organized county in this territory. And that he shall also appoint and commission one slierilf, a register of deeds, and two justices of the peace for said county, who shall liold their oiUces respectively until their successors shall have been duly elected and (lualitied.

Sec. 5. - That at the next general election, the inhabitants of said county shall determine by vote, where the county seat of said county shall be locat.'d and all male inliabltants of said county, over the age of twenty-one years, who have acquired an actual residence in said county, shall have the right to vote on the location of said county seat.

Our First Members Of The Legislature

This county was first represented in the legislature, after it was named and its boundaries defined in 1855, by Charles E. Flandrau, of Traverse d' Sioux, a lawyer, in the council, and by Parsons K. Johnson, of Mankato, a tailor and Aurelius F. De La Vergne, of Le Sueur, a shoemaker, and Geo. A. McLeod, of Traverse d' Sioux, a merchant, in the house of representatives, they appearing as the representatives of the tenth district (of which this couifty was a part) in the seventh territorial legislature which assembled January 2d, 1856.

In pursuance of the act above mentioned, his excellency, W. A. Gorman, then territorial governor, appointed and commissioned the officers provided for in the act as follows:

The commissions of all these officers bear date Feb. 25th, 1856. They all (lualified, except Mr. Dewey, and entered upon the discharge of their official duties, which, it should be remarked, were not specially burdensome, nor were the emoluments great. The county was now organized, the county seat located and officers ready for business.

was Blue Earth City in existence when the county seat was located there, nor was there any county business to be done, but these were small matters to men of large and liberal views and comprehensive purposes. All these things were to come and these energetic pioneers looking into the future went ahead in these little formal matters to prepare the way.

It is a little remarkable, that no record now exists of any meeting of this board of county commissioners during the year 1856. It is well known, however, that the board took no action worthy of historic record.

But to resume the narrative: our pioneers, now four of them, Wakefield, Constans, Hibler and Kingsley, all living in the small cabin, decided that their quarters were too small and uncomfortable and determined at once to build a larger house. This they proceeded to do and, after a week or two of hard work and the assistance of the Sailor boys the result was, "The Elkhorn," erected on the proposed town-site of Blue Earth City. It was the first house on the town site. The building was constructed of rough logs and was very roomy, being sixteen by twenty-two feet, one story high, large chimney, puncheon floor and one civilized window. As soon as completed they removed into this commodious tenement and it became the general rendezvous, and head -quarters of the county for some time.

Spring set in about the middle of March and the snow soon entirely disappeared, but it was still cold, and right about this time we reach in the history of these pioneers, one of those "times that try men's souls." Provisions had run very low and our Sailor friends had also exhausted their store. The weather continued cold - the ice in the streams was breaking up - the waters getting high and traveling was impossible. Day after day even weeks passed but no one came bringing provisions, nor could anyone go after a supply. Starvation stared the company in the face. They were at last reduced to buckwheat "slapjacks," the flour being stirred up with water, and as a rarity occasionally seasoned with ground cinnamon bark. This was the only article of food for some weeks, except that on several occasions some wild game - a squirel or a rabbit^ was shot by the nimrods of the party.

And to add greatly to their miseries, their stock of tobacco became entirely exhausted - not a crumb left. Oh for one chew! just one smoke! was the repeated exclamation. Barks and roots were tried but gave no relief - pockets were worn out with the involuntary search for the weed and in the silent hours of the night weird dreams came to them of jolly "plugs" of pure "Cavendish," great smoking Meerschaums and Royal Havanas, dancing in the air. How strange that people will subject themselves to such habits I

During this trying time, however, an event occurred which threw the company into great excitement - a tine fat coon was discovered in a tree top, at a short distance! Here now was something of real importance. It had of course to be taken by some means - "they were out of meat." It was one of those great emergencies, where presence of mind, steady nerves and skill alone triumph. So the mighty hunter Constans, by far the best marksman in the party and a dead shot, was deputed to bring down the coon. He approached the game with that silence, stealth and cunning, known only to the skilled hunter. He took deadly aim with a rest, he tired - the coon did not stir. Quickly loading again with great care and circumspection, he shot again but strange to say there w^ere no signs of trouble in that tree top. The coon did not say as Crockets did "ril come down." And now, alas, it was found that the shot were all exhausted. What was to be done? Our nimrod wore a vest, on which were some round buttons, out came his knife and off came the buttons - this thing was growing serious - no more fooling Mr. Coon. The gun was reloaded heavily. Mr. Constans concentrating his powers, took another deadly aim - fired and down came the coon and down also came the hunter. The gun killed, or nearly so, at both ends. It had kicked him fair on the nose, knocking him over, and that useful organ, being quite prominent, was badly smashed and dilapidated. But they got the coon and had a fat time.

Life in Fairbault county during the times of which we write was not specially attractive and began to hang heavily upon our pioneers. No amusements - but few neighbors, no mails, nothing to do, except the cooking of their meals and carrying in their wood and water. Their stories had all been told a dozen times, invention even was exhausted, no reading matter but that which had been read and re-read until it had become disgustingly stale. A vocal band was organized and much time spent in singing. Quiet games of cards were played, with no other purpose than to kill time, or as was often the fact to determine definitely who should bring in the next bucket of water, or back in the next load of wood. The last days of the month arrived and with it the occurrence of a great and long hoped for event.

New Settlers Appear

Wm. M. Scott, Levi Billings Jr , Albert Billings and Zimri Butler, arrived from Iowa at this time, with a load of stores and provisions. Daniel L. Harrington. Levi Billings Sr., with Mrs. Billings and Mrs. Scott, were several days behind, with another load of stores. This latter company, however, had got lost and wandered off to Walnut Lake, and not arriving as expected, a party consisting of J. M. Sailor, Constans, Scott, Albert Billings and Butler, went in search of them. They were found and brought in, except Mr. Billings Sr. , after a number of days of terrible suffering from cold and hunger. Mr. Billings Si'., in feeble health and almost blind, when he found that they were lost, had hired an Indian whom they met, to bring him to the forks of the Blue Earth, to get assistance to bring in the others, but the Indian jiroved treacherous, or ignorant, and they wandered about some days and nights on the prairies, when at last he too arrived at Blue Earth City. A new order of things were now inaugurated. Mr. Billings and family took possession of the old cabin on the north bank of the river, until a new house could be built, while Mr. Scott and wife commenced housekeeping in the "Elkhorn," taking our four pioneers as boarders, the Elkhorn thus becoming the first boarding house in the city.

"Blood has beea shed ere now i' the olden time, Ere humaa statute purged the general weal; Ay, and since too murders have been performed Too terrible for the ear." - Shakespeare.

During the month of April. 1856, three young men came to Blue Earth City, remained a short time at the Elkhorn, and then proceeded, by way of H. T. Stoddard's, in Verona, a settler of the preceding year, where they remained several days, to the vicinity of Mapleton.

Their names were J. C Ackley. a young merchant from Connecticut, who had come west to Caledonia, in Houston county, in this state, and Frederick Fisher, who had been a clerk in a store at Caledonia for several years, and E. C. Young, a farmer and resident of Houston county for some years. They were looking for land, desiring to take claims. Ackley took a claim somewhere on the Maple river and went to work. Fisher and Young concluded to look further, and, finally, returned to the house of Mr. Stoddard.

After prospecting several days. Young took up a claim about a mile south of Stoddard's, and Fisher found a tract to suit him, about two-and a half miles northwest of Stoddard's, in town one hundred and four, of Range twenty-eight (now Winnebago City township). They boarded with Stoddard, and worked on their claims together, until Young accidentally sprained his right knee, very seriously, and was confined to the house for a week or more. During this time Fisher worked on his claim alone.

ner. a number of Indians came to the house. The company comprised a few Sioux, several Winnebagos and a half-breed of bad repute. It appears that these Indians, with quite a number of others, had a large camp near Fishers claim.

While the Indians were staring in at the door and window, during the dinner, Fisher jokingly made a remark to one of the Indians, which greatly insulted him, but he did not, at the time, seem to specially resent the insult. Fisher went to work on his claim after dinner. About noon of the same day, three white men, named respectively Benson, Humphrey and Sinclair, also came to Stoddard's, looking for land. They went away in the evening, going as they alleged to their boarding place, Tobias Miller's, just over the line in Blue Earth County, but returned the next Wednesday to Stoddard's, when Stoddard hired Benson and Humphrey, and Young hired Sinclair to work. During the afternoon the Indians returned to their camp.

Fisher returned home in the evening as usual. The next morning, Saturday, May 10th, Fisher, accompanied by one Brace, a boarder at Stoddard's and a claim holder, who was going in the same direction, some distance, started for his claim to split rails, taking his dinner, axe and wedges with him. Fisher did not return in the evening as usual, and after waiting until quite late, Stoddard and H. R. Walker on foot, and Young on horseback, went to Fisher's claim, in search of him, but found no traces of him.

On Sunday morning, they with several others, went out again but found nothing of him, except the beetle and wedges. No rails had been split. It was then evident that Fisher had given up bis intention of splitting rails, or that something had happened to him on Saturday morning. It was suggested that he might have gone to Ackley's. for clean clothes, where he and Young had left their clothing. But Fisher not returning on Monday, Young sent his hired man, Sinclair, to Ackley's place, to see if Fisher had been, or was then there. It appeared that he had not been at Ackley's and Ack ley returned with the messenger to Stoddard's, when another search was made for Fisher, but no further trace of him was found.

The disappearance was unaccountable and foul play began to be suspected. The question arose, naturally, did he have any money with him "? It was known that he had a gold watch. Some persons alleged that he had considerable money, as much as three thousand dollars in gold.

It was even said by some, that he had as much gold as would fill a shot bag. But others, who had the best opportunity of knowing, said he did not have more than five dollars, if so much, and that Ackley had loaned him some money, at Austin, on their way coming west. Some days passed, but no tidings came of the missing man.

Ten days residence on the land was required by law, at that time, and certain improvements, before title could be perfected. Benson completed the improvements and Fisher still not being heard from, Benson, Ackley and Young proceeded to the United States Land Olifice, then located at Brownsville, Houston County, in this state, and "proved up" on their several claims. Young advanced the means to pay the Government for Benson's claim. Benson, after proving up, sold the land to Young for fifty dollars advance on the cost.

Young remained in Houston county until the last of August, when he returned to Stoddard's' and he became a iiermanent resident of the county. In the meantime, and about the 10th day of June, or perhaps a little later, Fisher's body was found in a small ravine, on his claim, by Patrick H. Allen. Fisher had been murdered. It was plainly evident how it had been done. He had been stabbed twice in the neck - once in the side and once behind - and was thrown into the ravine and covered with dirt and leaves, lightly, and several small willow withes, sharpened at the ends, were bent over him, in the form of a bow, the ends being stuck into the ground.

Mr. Allen immediately reported the finding of the body, when a small burial party, consisting of Mr. Allen, A. D. Mason, H. H. Bigelow, J. Roberts, T. Maxson, N. Dewey, H. T. Stoddard, H. R. Walker, J. M. Stow, the Rev. J. G. Whitford, most of whom were new settlers in the vicinity, repaired to the locality of the body, and buried the I'emains near by.

It may be stated as a singular fact, that the gold watch, which Fisher owned, was still on his person, but his boots and hat were gone. Col. Samuel McPhail, of Caledonia, was subsequently appointed administrator of the estate of Fisher, and the watch which had been placed in Stoddard's care, was, by order of the administrator, delivered to Young and was sent to Fisher's brother, residing in Rochester, N. Y.

Suspicion attached to several persons, as the perpetrators of this foul murder, but the most careful and impartial investigation but proved that the suspicions could not be correct, and were but the suggestions of mistake, or malice. Within four months after the homicide, a committee of citizens carefully investigated the affair, and some four years afterwards, the grand jury of the county formally inquired into the case, through all the obtainable witnesses to the facts known, but neither the committee nor the grand jury could learn anything as to the murderer, or any accessory to, or instigator of the crime.

Many circumstances connected with this sad affair, indicated that an Indian did the deed, probably the one offended by Fisher. Nearly a score of years have parsed away, but notwithstanding the old adage that, "murder will out," yet no further light has ever been thrown upon the horrible crime and the perpetrator will probably never be known, until the great books shall be opened in the last day. The details of this case, have been given, as they were learned from those who knew most about it.

In the spring of lt^74, being some years after the above article was written, a statement appeared in the Mankato Review, which was copied into the Blue Earth City Post, that a rumor was current to the effect that a short time before that date, a man had died, in Colorado, who, just before his death, confessed that he and another person had committed the murder of Fisher, at the instigation of a person whom he did not name. Several weeks after the above statement was made, the Review said that it had learned that the person who was alleged to have made the confession and died - Tobias Miller - was alive and well and that "the whole thing proves to be onlj-^ a sensational story."

In justice to Mr. Miller, it must be said, that there were never any suspicions, in the early days, that he had anything whatever to do with the crime, and no evidence that he was implicated in it has ever appeared since that time.

The incidents attending this great crime are given so fully here, because it was the first known homicide occurring in the county and has always been a great mystery and, lastly, because at least two lives, besides that of poor Fisher, have been wrecked by aspersions growing out of the event.

And now to resume the story of our pioneers: Good weather had fairly set in, in May. Our company began to prospect the country and make their arrangements for laying otT the town and building certain houses, or pre emption shanties, which were necessary under the pre emption laws, to hold the town-site lands.

The First Mail Service

The want of communication with the outside world was severely felt and it was determined to have, among the first things, regular weekly mail service between Blue Earth City and Mankato. The government was applied to and Mr. Kingsley was appointed post master - the first one in the county - and an arrangement was made with one Simon Dow. who had first come into the county, to carry the mail weekly, for a stipulated sum per trip, to be paid out of the receipts of the offices on the route and such additional sum as the settlers might be induced from time to time to contribute. This plan continued in force until late the next year, when the govern- ment assumed the entire business of carrying the mails. The mail was carried on horseback most of the time and this means of communication proved a great convenience, as the first mail carrier was a man of a traflicing turn of mind and always returned from Mankato loaded with coffee, tea, pork, cordials, tobacco and many other small articles of prime necessity. Passengers by this line "footed" it. but had the company of the mail carrier, who occasionally gave the passenger an opportunity to ride. The writer came into the county by this conveyance.

Surveying The Town Site

Settlers now began to come into various parts of the county rapidly and locate. A number of claims were taken and cabins erected, and as the pleasant month of June arrived, the ground became settled and the great work of surveying the town-site was begun.

Thomas Hood, of Shakopee, a first-class surveyor, was employed and a surveying corps was organized, consisting of Mr. Hood as chief, with Messrs, Kingsley, Constans, Hibler, and one Osgood, a new settler, as assistants, and Wakefield as a general advisory member. The surveying and staking out of the city required about a month's labor, and was completed in the first days of July.

The First Store

In the mean time and in the month of June, one Cornelius Garretson arrived with an assorted stock of merchandise, and proceeded to erect a hewed log house. This important building was erected on the southeast quarter of section seventeen (17), adjoining the town site; and was some twenty feet squai-e and one and one half stories high. It had, also, actually two floors, two windows, a counter and shelves. Here now was a house as was a house, and the style and finish were the subject of remarks throughout the whole settlement. Hei"e Mr. Garretson displayed his goods - an excellent assortment too - and this was the first store in the county.

The Metropolitan

And now our pioneers had established their town and had built various houses - log cabins. They had a store and a boarding house - the Elkhorn - and a weekly mail, and each of them had secured a "claim"' to a quarter section of land and the prospects were glowing. But there was one thing lacking to give character to the place - there was no regular hotel. Immigrants were coming in, land hunters were traversing the country, visitors were calling to see what a country this was, but there was no hotel. A consultation was had. The enterprise was important and expensive. Money was scarce and town lots were not selling yet. Who would undertake this great work ? Here our friend Constans, with the indoiuilublc energy and active industry which have always characterized him, came to the rescue. "Boys," said he, "I'll build and keep the hotel," But it was remarked that ho was not married and to keep a hotel re<|uired the supervision of a landlady as well as that of a landlord. "I'll manage that matter, ' said ho blushing profusely at the suggestion, as his mind doubtless reverted to a dark eyed Swiss girl, modest and neat, "The girl he left behind him."

In the month of August the hotel was built. The main building was twenty by forty feet, with a wing in the rear, sixteen by twenty-two feet, and the whole building was one and one half stories high. The house was built of hewn logs and about three thousand feet of hardwood boards were used in the flooring and for other purposes, at a cost of one hundred dollars per thousand feet. The building was completed in the fall and named the Metropolitan. New York had its St. Nicholas, Washington its National, St. Paul its International, why should not Blue Earth City have its Metropolitan ? In the fall Mr. Constans was married and fitted up and opened the hotel for the reception of guests.

This house - the first hotel in the county - disappeared several years ago, but it long stood as a land mark of the earlj' days. Within its walls were born all the children of Mr. Constans, now all grown to manhood's years.

It was the first home in this new land of the writer, and of many others, and many were the days, in the long ago, spent by him beneath its hospitable roof, when the winter winds were fierce and cold and in those darker times of Indian troubles, when the ruthless savage went prowling along the frontiers, murdering and burning, this rough old log house was the last and best refuge in all the land.

And here we shall leave these pioneers to be named hereafter as other.o, only incidently as they may be connected with this history. The thought maj- be stated here that little does the citizen of today, surrounded Vjy all the comforts and blessings of civilized life, know of the hardships, dangers and privations of those early years, and little too of the fortitude and courage with which they were borne by the first settlers, ever hoi^eful and confident in the rosecolored future.

The First Public Rel.Igiol-.S Services

We now proceed to relate a pleasant and memorable event - the preaching of the first sermon at Blue Earth City, and probably the first in the county. The morning of July 13, 1850. broke bright and clear over this new land. It was the Sabbath - the day of rest and

"But the .so\ind of the church-going bell These valleys and rocks never heard - Never sighed at the sound of a knell, Or siuiled when a .Sabbath appeiired !" - Coioper.

It was a day of peculiar loveliness. The wide, silent prairies were blooming with innumerable flowers, the neighboring forests and groves seemed more green than usual, and the summer air more balmy. Silence and peace rested like a blessing upon all nature, while the sun in a blue and cloudless sky, shone forth as the central glory and beneficence of the universe, the scenes reminding the beholder of that far gone golden age, sung by the poets, when men led a quiet, pastoral life on the plains of the East - when peace and good will reigned supreme on the earth - when heaven and earth were nearer together and the Sons of Light came down to walk and hold converse with the sons of men.

At such a time and amid such scenes, were the first religious services in Blue Earth City held. A small company, comprising a large majority of the settlers of the county, assembled about ten o'clock in the forenoon, in a shady grove on the plot of the young city. The preacher was the Rev. James G. Whitford, of the Methodist Episcopal Church - a plain unlettered man - sporting no high sounding titles, but possessing a heart full of zeal for the salvation of men - one of those good self-sacrificing men, who, ignoring a life of ease - the allurements of wealth and fame, go forth into tlie byways and hedges, and into the wilderness and amid toils and privations, preach the blessed gospel of the Redeemer and -

With reverend and uncovered heads the services commenced, and all joined in the simple but pathetic hymn of praise announced by the preacher, and then all bowed low as the humble prayer of thanks and invocation went up to the great white throne. The text, a part of the 16th verse of the first chapter of Second Peter - "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables" - was read. And then the preacher, in simple and earnest language, told the story of the Cross and pointed out the way of salvation and showed how these were not fables, cunningly devised, but the most blessed and important truths, which had in the course of all the ages, been proclaimed to man. The sermon ended, they all again united in a hymn of praise, and kneeling once more, the preacher poured forth an impassioned prayer to the God of nature and revelation, for the blessing and final salvation of all this little company, and then the benediction was pronounced and the first public services were ended.

The reader may have stood beneath the mighty dome of St. Peters - he may have heard ten thousand voices unite in the praises of the Most High in that grandest Cathedral of all the earth, made by human hands, and may there have witnessed the most awe inspiring ceremonies of religious worship known among men, but here was a grander Cathedral - nature's temple of the ever living God - a temple bounded only by the distant horizon and whose dome was the clear, blue summer skies - whose lloor was not made of the polished mosaics of art, but was the solid earth, clothed and garnished by nature. And here too, was a worship grand in its simplicity, affecting in its pathos und acceptable in its humility and sincerity.

The Pioneers Of The Ministry

But regular religious services were not yet established in the county. That work was left for the Rev. J. W. Powell and Rev. RA. Judd, of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a little later the Rev. J. E. Conrad, of the Presbyterian Church, who soon after preached regularly in the county, and were the pioneers of the ministrj' in this county.

Mr. Judd died many years ago, having given his life to his country during the great rebellion. The others are yet living. And they still, as the years go by, continue to call men to repentance and a preparation for the life to come, and will doubtless labor on in this highest and holiest of all callings, whatever may betide, until the great Master shall say to each of them, it is enough, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

There was no harvest in this county in 1856. It is said that no wheat or oats were sown, or if any, so little that no account was taken of it. The principal crops raised during this year, were some seed corn and small patches of potatoes and a few garden vegetables. The great bulk of the provisions, flour, pork, beef, beans, corn meal ard other articles were imported, mainly from Iowa.

Winnebago City

In September, of this year, five energetic young men, then in St. Paul, moved by the spirit of the times and impelled much by the same motives which had actuated the founders of Blue Earth City, also conceived the idea of establishing a town somewhere in the great Territory of Minnesota. Their names were Andrew C. Dunn, Warren N. Dunham. Elijah H. Barritt, James Sherlock and Charles H. Parker. Having determined on this project, they at once purchased a team and outfit, and all except Mr. Parker, started out to find an eligible location. They laid their course for Lake Albert Lea, in Freeborn county, adjoining this county on the east, and ar- rived there about the first of October. But on reaching that point they found that tlie only suitable location for a town had already been taken up by George Ruble and others. They endeavored to get an interest in this location, but failed. The question then arose to what point should they now direct their course? Mr. Dunn remembered having met, during the summer of this year, at Mankato, Grover C. Burt and Hiram L. Young, who were at the time living on the Blue Earth river, in this county, and who had given him very glowing descriptions of the Blue Earth Valley and strongly invited him to visit this region. So they started for the Blue Earth, where they safely arrived and made inquiry for Mr. Young, whom they found living in a tent on the lands of Capt. H. H. Bigelow, adjoining what is now the site of Winnebago City. Mr. Young and one B. K. Burt were then "claiming" the two quarter sections on which the village of Winnebago City was afterwards located, but on learning that our company were desirous of founding a city, they surrendered their claims and took others. Our company camped with Mr. Young about six weeks, while making the claim and locating the town. The town was located upon the south-east quarter of section thirty-four and the south-west quarter of section thirty-five in town one hundred and four of Range twenty-eight west.

The final surveys were made in January, 1857, by Messrs. Wellman and Johnson, civil engineers, of St. Paul, and the plats were filed soon after, in the office of the register of deeds of the county. Mr. Young having the logs hewed for a small house (12x14) was induced by the company to erect the house on the town- site, which was done in November and was occupied by an agent of Mr. Parker, with a small stock of goods during the winter of 1856-7. This was the first house in the town and the first store in the city.

A hotel building next demanded attention. One Dr. W. N. Towndrow, assisted by the town proprietors, undertook this important work. This structure was twenty by thirty-six feet and one and one-half stories high. The boards for the floor and roof - green basswood and elm - were purchased at Mankato, at an expense of about seventy-five dollars per thousand feet. The building, however, was not finished until the next year, but served a good purpose as a fort, during the Indian excitement, in the spring of 1857. A steam saw mill was also purchased in Chicago, by the company during the year, but did not arrive until the following spring. The further history of this young city will be found in the historical sketch of Winnebago City township.

Here now was another village, between which and Blue ICarth City there sprang up in after years, contests and rivalries like "The Wars of the Roses," and lasted a long time. No blood was shed, indeed, but in political figuring, bitter denunciations, heated con- tests and prodigious blustering, resembled somewhat, on a small scale, the old wars of the houses of York and Lancaster. But the old feuds have now happily- passed away.

The First Election

On the second Tuesday, the 14th day of October, the tirst election in the county for civil officers occurred. It was held at Blue Earth City, the county seat. The whole county was then one election district. The question also of the permanent location of the county seat was voted upon as required by law, and resulted in the unanimou.s choice of Blue Earth City. The judges of election were Moses Sailor, J. B. Wakefield and H. T. Stoddard. The whole number of votes cast was eighty-two. It seems that no votes were cast for members of the legislative council and house of representatives, in this county at this election County officers only were elected as follows: -

It cannot now be determined whether any other county officers were elected at this election, or not, as no record of the election can now bo found. This was the year of the eighteenth presidential election, but as Minnesota was then but a territory, no vote was cast here for presidential electors.

The presidential candidates were James Buchanan, democrat, John C. Fremont, republican and Millard Filmore "know-nothing." Mr. Buchanan was elected, but had only what is called a plurality popular vote. This was the first great contest of the new republican party and the election was an exciting one. The main issue between the republicans and democrats was that of the further extension of slavery. The great plank in the platform of the knownothing, or American party, was that none but native Americans should be put in office. The real contest, however. M'as between the two former parties and various causes rendered it a lively one. A great principal was involved, in which the troubles in Kansas heretofore referred to, intensified the interest. An event had also occurred in Washington of such significance as to add fuel to the fires. In May of this year, on the floor of the U. S. senate chamber. Charles Sumner, senator from the state of Massachusetts - a noble and honored statesman, one of the foremost men of the age and a great champion of human rights, while sitting at his desk, was, because of .some words spoken in debate, brutally assaulted and beaten over his bare head until he fell to the floor insensible, gashed, bleeding and powerless, by a detestable coward named Brooks - a representative from South Carolina. It was a most infamous deed and without a parallel anywhere in history. But to return to our local election. It was as above stated the first in the county and we are happy to say it was a model election. Those were the days here of x'epublican (or if you choose democratic) simplicity and purity of the ballot box. There were no parties, nor partizan politics involved at this election. It was not preceded by "packed" caucuses in the townships. There were no county conventions managed by party wire pullers, or political demagogues, dictating for whom the people should vote by setting up candidates. There wei"e no country school house meetings and no riding up and down the county, canvassing the electors and extolling the vast abilities and immaculate virtues of one set of candidates and the prodigious villainy and utter incompetency of the other set. Office hunters and office hunting were unknown and the candidates were the free choice of the electors. Tlie honors of office were unsought and were borne by the recipients with modesty and diffidence. Blessed days were those, but never to return again. Alas! alas! how the times have degenerated! But we must now turn from these subjects to deeds of violence and death nearer home and recount the

Second Homicide

Samuel V. Hibler, the register of deeds of the county and one of the original town propietors, was holding the southwest quarter of section seventeen in township one hunderd and two, range twentyseven, adjoining the town- site of Blue Earth City, as a claim under the pre-emption laws. He had erected a small log cabin and made some other improvements on the land. Not probably living up to the strict letter of the law as to residence upon the land and the land then being deemed quite valuable, one Theophilus Bowen "jumped the claim," as it was called in those days and determined to contest Hibler's right and ordered trial at the local land office, than located at Chatfield, Minnnesota. In Hibler's absence Bowen had gone upon the land and taken possession of the building. The jumping of claims was in those days, very unpopular and was viewed as a gross infringement of private rights, which warranted extreme measures. Many persons in those early days lost their in this teri'itory because of claim jumping. In many places on the frontiers law and order in the first settlement of the country is not well established, and but little respected and persons considering themselves trespassed upon, often seek to right their wrongs "by the strong and bloody hand."

Hibler returned and on the fifteenth day of October, taking several friends with him, proceeded to the house on his claim and ordered Bowen off of the premises. A young man named Alfonso Brooks, was in the house at the time with Bowen. High words followed between Hibler and Bowen, and they got into a scuttle, when Brooks interfered and Hibler, who had a stout cane in his hand, struck Brooks over the head. Brooks stooped down to pick up a piece of brick from a small pile in the corner and as he arose, Hibler struck him asain on the head several times. Brooks fell and died in about an hour. His skull was broken. Mr. Brooks was buried in the graveyard at Blue Earth City, the Rev. J. G. Whitford preaching his funeral sermon. It was indeed a .=ad affair. A young man of good habits, intelligent, of inoffensive character and not one of the principal parties to the quarrel, stricken down in the prime of life.

Bowen immediately went to Mankato, in Blue Earth countj', to which this county had been attached for judicial purposes, and made complaint against Hibler and some others, whom he considered implicated. The complaint was made before a justice of the peace, who forthwith issued a warrant for the arrest of Hibler and the others. They were arrested and taken before the justice for examination. Thomas J. Galbraith. an able lawyer of Shakopee. and James Dow, an attorney i-esiding at Red Wing, were retained as counsel by Hibler and his friends, and Lewis Branson, of Mankato. who afterwards became judge of the sixth district, appeared as prosecuting attorney. When the case was called, Mr. Galbraith moved the court to discharge the prisoners on the ground that the justice had no jurisdiction over the territory (in the county) ^here the offence had been committed, the statute of the time enacting that the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace should be "Co-extensive with the limits of his county and no other or greater." They were discharged. Mr. Hibler never returned to this county. He went to Shakopee where he remained a short time, and then returned to Pennsj'lvania, his native state. The others, being no more than mere spectators of the homicide, came home. Bowen subsequently pre-empted the land in dispute, the larger part of which, in after years, was laid out in additions to Blue Earth City. The current opinion of the time was, that the killing of Brooks was mainly an accident and that Hibler was not seriously to blame under the circumstances.

The Weather

The weather, during the summer and fall of this year, was very pleasant until the winter set in, on the twenty-second day of November, coming down suddenly in the shape of a foot of snow, and became very severe. The winter of 1856 7 will long be remembered over the whole north, as one of the longest, coldest and stormiest ever known in the northwest.

Frozen To Death

But the tragedies of the year are not all told. About the first of December, Daniel Schneider, a resident of the county, and a man named Porter, started for Twia Lakes in the state of Iowa, to bring in a load of provisions, which Porter had succeeded in getting that far, but being unable alone to get further with his load, he had come to the residence of Schneider to get assistance. It was very cold and the snows deep, but they safely reached Twin Lakes and got ready for starting, but were delayed one day as a great snow storm was raging. There was then no one living at Twin Lakes, and they had to camp out.

While at this place there came there a man named Jones, and another man quite advanced in years, whose name is now forgotten, who were on their way to this county. They soon found tliat they could not move with their load, owing to the great additional depth of snow and the drifts, and the cold becoming very severe, they were compelled to leave everything and seek some human habitation or perish. They turned their oxen loose to shirk for themselves and all started for the residence of one Adams, in the Big Brush, near Forest City, about fourteen miles distant over the open prairies. All were frozen to death on the way, except Jones, who, almost exhausted and with feet and hands badly frozen, reached the cabin of Adams. It appears that Schneider was the first to fail on that terrible journey, as he gave out and laid down to die about six miles from Twin Lakes. Porter kept along some miles further and wandered off the road in the direction of Coon Grove, where he sank down in the sleep of death. The old man whose name is unknown, next succumbed, not far from their destination. A party went out from Forest City in a few days after and brought in the body of Porter, but the others were not found at the time. It was said that Porter had about one thousand dollars in gold with him, but no money was found on his body. Schneider's remains were found the next April, by his father. He was lying on his back, his limbs quietly composed, as though he had gone to sleep. His face and hands had been eaten away by wolves. His pockets had been turned inside out and his wallet lay upon his breast, empty. Whether the remains of the old man were ev-er found and what became of the oxen and load of provisions, the writer has never been able to learn.

Immigration

Many permanent residents came into the county during the year, and great improvements were made, but there is now no means of knowing what the population of the county was at the close of the year.

The first settlements were made during the year in the towns afterwards known as Minnesota Lake, Lura, Delavan, Walnut Lake, Poster, Emerald, .Jo Daviess and Seely, as will be seen by reference to the historical sketches of the several towns. The times were prosperous, the future promising and the people active and hopeful.