Fillmore County, Minnesota - Chapter 36: Incidents and Events, 1912 (part 1 of 2)

Experiences of P. McCracken - The Weisel Flood, Written by William Willford - Hunting and Fishing - List of Old Settlers - PreSettlement Incident - Early Days in Amherst - Severe Storms - Reminiscences of W. F'. Davis - Reminiscences of William K, Sawyer - Bear Hunt and the Killing, Written by William Willford - Indian Scare - Carimona Tavern- - Early Days in Granger - A Vigilance Committee - Reminiscences of Old Pedagogue - ''Yale College'' - Scotland School - Abstracts of Title.

At a meeting of the old settlers in 1893, P. McCracken painted a word pieture of pioneer conditions in Fillmore county in 1853 and 1856, well worthy of preservation in this listory. Mr. Me- Cracken said:

I saw the patient, slow-plodding ox team, hitehed to what was eommonly known as a prairie schooner, a farm wagon covered with thick factory cloth or canvass to proteet, perchance, a wife and children from the scorching rays of the summer sun, and the drenching of the rain storm, and to protect the family from the chilly dews of a Minnesota night when used as a bed chamber. I saw the prairie schooner or white tent pitched near some of our beautiful groves, or on some secluded spot on the broad prairie, along some of our laughing little brooks, on the banks of our clear, eool, Root river streams, or by the side of some of our numerous little springs that were dotted all over our prairie, like silver specks in a sea of green. I saw the breaking plow turning up the rich, black prairie soil, while the owner of the elaim looked forward with fond anticipation of a rich return for his toil. Isaw the hardy, dauntless pioneer lashioning and laying up the prairie sods to make his frontier cabin home. I saw the beautiful deer bounding over the prairie or tamely drinking clear, cool water from a spring or sparkling hrook. I saw the beautiful speckled trout in school, laying in the cool, shaded waters of brooks or rivers, or saw them darting through their azure tints like arrows shot from the bow of an unseen Robin Hood, or raising in playful gambol to the surface of the water with the glimmer of a silver sheen. I saw the prairie fire rolling over the prairies in all its terrifie grandeur like a vast destroying army or monster tidal wave of fire. I saw a loug, irregular wagon tract running over the prairie in an easterly direction, whieh at that time was onr great public highway with its terminus on the west bank of the Mississippi river. I saw along this public highway some of the then noted hotels of Minnesota, viz. seven by nine eabins divided off into sleeping room, dining room and kitehen with quilt partitions. I saw in the winter months near the sod or log cabin the pioneer's meat barrel made of four erotehed posts set in the ground and standing about seven feet ligh, with two eross pieces on top, whereon perliaps lay thie careass of a magnificent buck or doe preserved in the cold of forty degrees below zero. I saw in the sod or Jog eabin the strong, brave, confident husband, the contented and confiding wife, ihe artless and sturdy child, ov the young man who had come west to grow np with the country and get a farm from Unele Sam, that he might some day claim as his bride the sensible girl who had promised to become his wife whenever he had a home of his own or the means to purchase one. T saw hospitality, pure and simple. I saw contentment braced and buoyed up with a strong lever of hope. I saw friendship sincere and strong, unadulterated by the envy and petty jealousies of today. I saw the pioneers anxtously waiting and watehing for the receipt of a letter or newspaper that had been expected and looked forward to for weeks, the receipt of which was one of the great family events of the week.

The Weisel Flood. A cloud-burst and the worst rait storm known to the settlers living in the sontheast part of Fillmore county struek the west part of Newburg township, Canton township, the south part of Amherst township, the east part of Harmony township, and the southeast part of Preston township about eleven o'¢lock at night on the sixth of August, 1866, doing an imjnense amount of damage to the settlers in that section of the country. Ifouses, stables, fenees, hay and grain were washed away. Several human Hves were lost, and domestic animals and fow!s of all kinds were drowned. All varieties of wild animals known to this country, such as woodchueks, rabbits, skunks, chipmunks, and gray, striped and pocket gophers were found dead in the huge piles of driftwood along the streams, some of which were four rods or more wide, ien to twenty rods long, and ten to twenty feet high. In these immense piles of driftwood hundreds of rattlesnakes, both yellow and mud-colored could he seen alive, and coiled ready to strike with their poisoning fangs.

The fences at this period of time were built mostly of posts set in the ground and three or four rails or poles spiked to the posts with sixteen penny eut fence nails. The fainfall was so great that it washed the eut hay from the rolling land, the valleys and the bottom lands along the spring brooks and creeks, off the fields and lodged it against the fences, thereby damming ihe water until it was from three to fonr feet deep. The weight and pressure of such a body of water so great against the fences caused them to give way and a wave of water and accumulated rubbish of three to fonr feet high passed down stream gathering foree from similar bodies of water and breaking other similar obstructions, taking houses. stables, bridges and everything in its course, and swelling Weisel Creek anc the south branch of Root river to a height of overflowing that was never known to the inhabitants of that part of Fillmore county before or since that fatal day. The estimated ramfall at this time was from four to six inches. The valleys that furnished the greatest quantity of water were: The valley leading from Albert Nichols' spring on section 25, township 101. range 9; the valley leading from the J. \W. Goudy spring on section 26, township 101, range 9; the valley leading from the Godfrey Frego spring on section 27, township 101, range 9; the valley leading from the Godfrey Mavotz spring on section 22, township 101, range 9; the valley leading from the J. R. Nelson spring (the source of Weisel creek) on section 21, township 101, range 9; the valley leading from the Joseph Woodle spring on section 8, township 10], range 9; and the valley leading from a spring on section 11, township 101, range 10, which is the source of the sonth fork of Root river. The rainfall was not so great in township 102, range 8, (Preble township), as it was in fowuship 101, range 9, (Canton township), but the drowning of the people and the greater part of the domestic animals was in Preble township.

The first building of much value on Weisel creek that was removed hy this Hood from its foundation Was situated on seetion 29, township 102, range 8 (Preble township), about one hundred rods southeast of Hall's Mill. 'This was a log cabin house on the north side of the road running from the mill east to the settlement. on the prairic, and west of the bridge across Weise] creek. This house was erected in the latter part of the fifties by Thomas G. Hall and for a time was used as a residence for himself and family. In the first part of the sixties it was leased to Ole Torgerson who was a shoemaker hy trade. Torgerson and his wile and Hans Aastad (unmarried), who was better known as 'Wolf Hans,'' occupied this house on the eventful night. The tlood car vied it from its foundation a short distance and toppled it over agaist some oak trees, where it became stranded. Torgerson and his wife climbed up as high in the house as they could to get away from the water and remained there until the morning of the seventh. Hans Aastad cut a hole through the roof of the house and crawled out into a tree top, where he perched himself and remained there in the ram. Wet and cold, he was relieved from his unpleasant situation about nine o'clock on the morning of the seventh, when some of the neighbors came to the rescue of Ole Torgerson and his wife.

The next building swept away was the grist mill of Collins Hall, whieh was built in the year 1857 and was situated on the Weisel creek about one hundred rods down the stream from the Torgerson home to the northwest. The writer will give the deseription of the destruction of the mill as related to him by Collins Hall, the proprietor of this mill. Mr. Hall said that he slept in the mill nights, and at about 11:30 o'clock on the night of August 6, 1866, he was awakened by the roar of the turbulent water, went to the door of the mill and at once saw that his exit from the place was an impossibility. He then hastened upstairs and stood beside the bolting chest. The water in huge waves was rising vapidly, and he expected the mill would soon be dashed to pieces against the trees. The mill left the foundation and floated down the race all intact until it struck a clump of elm trees about twenty rods below where it stood. The building then parting at the top of the roof, and the strueture went to pieces. Collins Hal! caught hold of the bolting chest and went floating down stream, which was then abont twenty rods wide. The rain eontinued to pour down in torreuts, the lightning at this time was terrific and flash after flash lighted up the surrounding hills. Mr. Hall, after floating down stream in a westerly direction for a distance of about forty rods, clinging to the bolting chest, saw when the lightning flashed at its best a glimpse of the hill to the north, which seemed to him not far away. He then relinquished his hold on the bolting chest thinking that the water was shallow enough so that he could wade out jo the land. But to his surprise he went down in the water where it was about six feet deep. However, being an expert swimmer, lie strnek ont and swam to the northwest, a distance of eight or ten rods, when he encountered a large elump of white thorn bushes which he caught hold of and found that the water there was about four feet deep. He then waded obliquely with the swift and strong current until he came io terra-firma, wet, tired and completely exhausted. Ile then, by the aid of the flashes of lightning wended his way through the rain {0 a cabin house on the hill north of where the mill had stood and remained there until morning. As soon as day dawned he left the cabin and went down the steep hill near where the mill had stood and sat down upon a rock and proceeded to take his ''greenbacks'' from his pocket-book and spread them upon a rock to dry. He was contentedly reviewing the result of the flood, when he was discovered on the 'morning of the seventh by his son-in-law (Thomas Tough), who lived in a house owned by Mr. Hall, on the south side of Weisel creek near the mill. When Tough saw Hall seated on a rock on the side of the hill he called to him and inquired what he was doing up there, Hall answered, ''I have just finished taking a bath.'' Thomas Tough, who at this time was not financially well fixed and who did not realize the seriousness of the situation, on the morning of the seventh discovered that not only the mill was gone, but also his stables, sheds, horses, cattle, poultry, ahout twenty hogs, and most of his farm tools and machinery.

From Hall's mill the mad waves of this turbulent stream coursed their way northwest a distance of one and a half miles, where they struck the sawmill of Ethan P. Eddy that was substantially built in the year 1858, on the south side of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 29, township 102, range 8 (Preble township). Here the destruction was complete, as the mill, saw-logs and lumber were swept away and distributed in the huge piles of driftwood on the way down the stream a distance of a mile from where the mill stood.

From the Eddy sawmill the raging torrent wended its way northwest and north a distance of about two miles to the home of David Weisel, a pioneer of 1855. Here the Weisel ereek formed a confluenee with the south branch of the Root river that was also at a high stage of water, and dealing out destruction of property to the early settlers along that picturesque stream. Below this junction was the cabin home of David Weisel, and a sawmill and a corn cracker that was erected in 1855 and 1856 near the northeast corner of section 19, township 102, range 8 (Preble township). These mills were of the primitive kind. The machinery of the sawmill, with the exception of the saw and a few castings, were made by Weisel's own hands. The millstones used in the corn cracker were cut from a limestone rock found in a hill near by, and chiseled io suit his faney. These mills plainly showed that ''necessity is the mother of invention,"' and certainly tested the ingenuity of the builder. They were operated successfully by ihe proprietor until that fatal night of August 6, 1866. There was no more warning than a slight jar of the cabin, which awoke David Weisel from his slumber. He quickly arose from his bed and went to the door of the eabin in his night attire. Just as he opened the door, the house was swept from its foundation and immediately went to pieces. The inmates in this house were David Weisel and his wife, David Weisel's mother, who was past eighty years of age, David Weisel's nephew, named John Weisel, twelve years of age, and Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Brace, of Burr Oak, Ia. The latter two were aged people, and were visiting the Weisel family on that eventful night, they being old acquaintances in the state of New York. All of the inmates met a watery grave, exeept Mrs. David Weisel. She was found the next morning on the river bank near a huge pile of driftwood where had lodged the bedstead on whieh she was sleeping, and to whieh she had clung while floating down among the logs and driftwood in the mad current of the hoisterous stream, a distance of about one half of a mile. When the bed had lodged she at a hazardous risk of her life had relinquished her hold on the bedstead and half drowned began the perilous task of clinibing out on the driftwood to the land. This in an exhausted condition, she accomplished, thereby saving her life. Speaking pecuniarily of the David Weisel jamily, they possessed nothing but their home, the sawmill and the corn eracker, all of which was swept away by the flood and destroyed. Three members out of the household of four were drowned.

Onward sped the seething body of water from the Weisel home in a northeasterly direction a distance of about a mile by the way of the river. Here the destruetive element struck the residence of Jonas C. Wellington whith was situated on the southwest eorner of the east half of the northwest quarter of section 17 township 102 range 8 (Preble township), sweeping it away while the inmates were sleeping. The occupants of this household were Mr. and Mrs. Jonas C. Wellington who were aged people, and Charles C. Gage their grandson four years old, all of whom were drowned.

From the Wellington residence the large onward rushing body of water in its boisterous rapidity coursed its way im a northerly direetion a distanee of about a mile by the way of the river to the sawmill owned by Nels Johnson, and operated by Jens Soli, and the residence of Jens Soli a short distance below the sawmill, which was sitnated near the north line of section 17, township 102, range § (Preble township). Here the flood swept away the sawmlll, logs and lumber against the residence of Jens Soli and demolished the cabin. The inmates of the Soli household consisted of Jens Soli, Catherine Soli, his wife, and their three children ranging in age from one month to six years old, and a sister of Jens Soli, that was known as Nels Hanson's widow, and her fwe children ranging m age from eight to twelve years old, all eight of whom were drowned on that eventful night. Their bodies were found on the bottom land bordering on the river, extending the distance of about six miles below the Soli residenee. From the Collins Hall mill to the David Weisel mill the Weisel ereek was bordered with timber. and in many places the valley was narrow between the hills, and where the valley was narrow the bark was knocked off some of the standing trees by the driftwood to the height of twenty 10 twenty-five feet above low water mark,

Hunting and Fishing. Game was plenty in the early days and the sportsman who is compelled io trudge all day for the privilege of catching three or four tront or getting an occasional shot at some small game envies Squire Elias Lint as he relates some of his hunting and fishing stories - true stories at that. One winter's day when the inereury registered 20 below he went to what was then called Runnel's Pond, cut a hole in the iee and caught 44 trout as fast as he could pull them out, some measuring 17 inches in length. He threw them on the ice and they froze instantly so hard that they would break like a stick if an attempt was made to bend them. Taking the trout home he put them in a tub of fresh water when a transparent scale of ice formed about the fish and upon this melting they became as lively as when first caught, some actually jumping out of the tub.

Another time he went hunting for deer down on Camp creek, and not finding any fresh tracks he coneluded to bring home a string of trout, but he had no bait, although he always carried his fishing tackle, summer and winter. In this dilemma he bethought himself of his red flannel undershirt and cutting off a piece he baited his hook and it had no sooner struck the water when it was eagerly swallowed by a speckled beauty. He caught several more in the same manner and finally took a fin and caught all he eould drag home on the snow.

Deer were equally plentiful in those days and Squire Lint was light on foot as well as a erack shot. In the winter of 1855-56 he supplied his neighbors with venison, free of charge. One afternoon, alone, he killed four deer within sight of Preston near where the Glenville cemetery now is, one large buck being struck by a bullet and killed without touching a hair,

List of Old Settlers. A previous history of this county contained a list of prominent citizens who were in the county previous to January 1, 1856. This list is here appended, not as an authentic directory of the pioneers, but merely that the names may be preserved as a partial list of those who helped to lay the way for the present prosperity of the county. The list follows:

A Pre-Settlement Incident. When the first settlers of Rushford arrived, they found, near where the Catholic church now stands, a grave with a rude wooden headboard. From the fact of its being marked in aecordance with the habits of civilization, they were led to the presumption, that it must be the grave of a white person, but the mystery of a death at this place could not be penetrated from any known circumstances. Who it might have been thus wandering beyond the confines of ¢ivilization, and overtaken by the angel of death excited considerable curiosity. That there was some friend near to place the remains beneath the sod, and mark ihe spot was certain. Thus the matter remained until some years ago, when two residents of the town, Ilenry Stage and C. W. Gore, were on a hunting expedition among the lumbering camps of Wisconsin, when they met a man who, on learning they were from up the Root river, related the following incident: Some time about 1845, this man, whose name is not remembered, came up the Root river to where Rushford now stands, with his brother and another man on a hunting and trapping tour. They made a camp at this place, and were proceeding to make themselves comfortable when the brother was taken violently ill, and as they had little medical knowledge and no medicine, they were in a deplorable condition. The man rapidly grew worse, and after terrible suffering, became delirious, and finally death came to his relief. This was a sad time for this little party, away trom home and friends, but they made the best of the situation and buried him silently, hewing ont the rude memorial. which was afterward found, but the name had been obliterated. This man related their experience with the buffaloes, which at night would remain on the bluffs but in the daytime would be on the bottom lands feeding and quenehing their thirst from the river. This place was on the south side of the river, near the farm of O. O. Tuff. The camp was on the north side, and at that time the herd did not cross the river. Of course toward fall the buffaloes would return south, to revisit this section the coming season. Soon after this, the first white death in this region, the camp was broken up and the lonely adventurers sorrowfully wended their way down the river. - From [istory of Freeborn County, 1882.

Karly Days in Amherst, After crossing the Iowa state line, July 26, 1853, we found Albert Nicholas, who guided us past the lonely little cabin of John Kingsbury to the camp and cabin of Uncle Jim Kelley, just south of Lenora. Still further on were Unele Jake Vought and Charles Kingshury. At about this time, John Vail had discovered the boiling sand in the sparkling waters that the people of Preston drink today.

The Kelleys led a frontier life, hunting and fishing being their highest ambition. Uncle Henry Onstine bought of James Kelley, Jr., and William McHenry, three claims (what is now the poor farm, the William Maust farm, and the plat of Henrytown) for a consideration of $376.00, designing it for himself and two sonsin-law. A Mr. Woodruff had taken the Henrytown claim early in the spring, built a litile cabin near the Henrytown schoolhouse and split a few rails, when a party of Indians came in one day when Mr. Woodruff was away and gave Mrs. Woodrufi a great scare. She could not be reconciled to such visitors, and hence James Kelley bought the claim for a cow and an old rifle. Mr. Woodruff then took the claim that Prosper now occupies, but sold it to Mr. Brodie fora horse and a watch. John Livingood, a step-brother of James Kelley, sold the claim known as the

Our mail we got through kind neighbors from Decorah, until the next year, Mr. Onstine was appointed postmaster at Richland. For our farm utensils we went to Lansing, Iowa, and to Pocket City, as MeGregor, Iowa, was then ealled. For our groceries und house supplies we went to Decorah. In the meantime, A. D. Sprague unloaded about $1,000 worth of goods at Mce- Phailsburg, Houston county, where we did our trading for some time.

Our claim shanty being only 12x14, it was my experience, as well as that of many others, to sleep in the covered wagon a part of the winter of 1853-54, while many dug in side hills and made habitations covered with bark or sticks, with hay or earth. - From Newspaper Clipping.

Storms of 1902. The county suffered greatly from storms in 1902. May 17, came a great flood which did about $20,000 damage at Preston, completely tlooding the ''flat'' so called. During tke thunder storm which accompanied the rainfall, H. M. Conkey was killed by lightning at Preston. Three children of Herman Willbright living east of Forestville were drowned, while their parents were attempting to drive with them to a place of safety.

Three days later came a great hail storm which did much damage to the crops in various parts of the county, demolished buildings in Fountain and Chatfield, and flooded the tracks in various places between Preston and Mabel.

Cyclone of 1905. A cyclone swept Fountain and Pilot Mount, August 19, 1905, killed one man, Tosten Danielson, and damaged considerable property. It formed a mile west of Fountain village, sweeping through the village, and overturning small buildings. Northeast of the village, near the river, the storm did the most damage, destroying buildings and crops, and uprooting many trees. Carl Danielson was the heaviest sufferer, his house being demolished, and his step-brother Tosten being killed. The storm also did considerable damage in Pilot Mownd, demolishing the briek house of Frank Sanders, and destroying the house occupied by Andrew Mennis. Fortunately the course of the storm was mainly along the river, and was broken up somewhat by the rough country. By the time the storm reached Rushford it had moderated to a strong wind.

Reminiscences of W. F. Davis. W. F. Davis, now of Bowdle, S. D., was one of the early pioneers of Jordan, and has taken a deep interest in the history of the early days. His reminiscences, which are here presented, were prepared for this work, and give

March 4, 1857, I left the south part of Iowa and rode a horse to Fillmore county, Minn. I arrived in Fillmore village, Mareh 17. At the place where I spent the winter in Iowa the ground was bare. In Minnesota the snow was two feet deep. The top of the snow which covered the road was four feet above the ground. It was very difficult for two teams to pass, especially if both were loaded. I learned that there had been much travel on the road to Decorah, bringing in provisions for the settlers. In Filmore village carpenters were at work building a hotel for Lafayette Phillips. In a few days men were at work on a stone grist mill. I spent the following summer at work for Edwin Pettis, who lived about three miles down Root river from Fiullmore. Mrs. Pettis was my sister.

I was told this story: A homesteader, a Polander, living on his claim, a half mile west of Fillmore was shot and killed by a man by the name of Walker, the fall of 1856. Walker drew the body into the woods and left it for wild beasts. A company of citizens put a rope about Walker's neck intending to hang him, but finally yielded to his entreaty for life and let him go.

The crop of 1857 was a failure. That was when we saw hard times. Many a man and boy wore shoes made of grain bags. The erop of 1858 was good, but the price was low. I saw barley sold in Fillmore at tweuty cents a bushel. I took wheat for Edwin Pettis, to Winona and sold it for forty cents a bushel, also dressed hogs at $2.00 a hundred. In 1864 I sold wheat in Winona at $2.00 a bushel and fresh pork at $14.00 a hundred.

The township of Jordan was well settled, but strange to say, it had no post office or store, or even a blacksmith shop. Near the east side of the town lived Harper Tyson; he had two sons and three daughters. The daughters are still living, but the sons have passed away. Joseph Tyson took the measles while in the army and died. Edwin, the youngest, was killed. To remove a gun from a wagon box, he took hold of the muzzle and drew it toward him, and the hammer catching on the end gate was discharged, thus ending his life.

The farm of Edwin Pettis lay along Root river, 400 acres in section 84, township of Jordan. Harper Tyson and his brother, Oswald were in section 35, same township, as was also a family hy the name of McConville. Henry McConville filed on 160 aeres of land in 1856. During the winter of 1857, returning from Chatfield, in the night, he got lost in the blizzard and perished. He left a wife and five children, four at home and one, Kate, the oldest was still in Ireland and married. She and her husband,

Daniel MeGowen came to Minnesota in 1859. The children dependent on Mrs. McConville were three boys and a girl - John, Patrick Henry, James and Mary. All have passed over the river but James, who lives at Wykoff. Mr. McGowen, after being in the county a year or two, had quite an adventure. He left his wife with her mother and went west of the river to do some work. He started for home on a Saturday morning in June, intending to cross the river on a foot bridge. Ile reached ihe river after sunset, to find the foot bridge gone and the river a raging torrent. Eager to reach home he concluded to swim. So he threw off his clothes and boots, and plunged in. Ile gsueceeded in reaching an island half way over the river and was so frightened he did not dare to try the balance of it. He sat in the brush until daylight and then began io yell for help. Perry Loughrey, living a mile down the river heard the ery, rode a big, strong horse, and rescued him.

Joining C. Farrington on the north lived Peter Loughrey. He had five sons and six daughters. All were in Minnesota but one daughter. Hiram Loughrey lives in Chatfield and Perry lives on the old homestead. Further down the river on the east side lived Robert Norton. Ile had six children. In 1866 or 1867 he moved to Jackson county, Minn. The next family, a mile north of Norton was David Pray. They had three sons and a daughter, Charles, Henry, Francis and Mary. Charles Pray, P. H. MeConville and Walter Wright, (a young man living with Edwin Pettis), enlisted in the regular army the fall of 1861. Charles Pray was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. Henry Pray enlisted early in 1862, and died in a hospital. About fifty rods southeast from David Pray lived Solomon Wells, in 1857. A mile further east lived Kimball Phillips, among stony hills. Half a mile south of Phillips lived Tobias Walker, a son-in-law of Peter Loughrey.

Crossing Root river near Pray's, and going up on the west side, I came to William Carpenter's. They had one child, Emily. A young man, Wilson Garrett, was visiting there with his sister, Mrs. Carpenter. Going on a short distance I came to Mr. Fargo's. They had three ehildren, Frank, Lena and Lucretia, Frank Fargo went into the army, took the typhoid fever and died. About eighty rods farther I eame to Nathan Carson's. Their first born, Henry, was a babe in the cradle. Nathan's father lived with him; also his brother William was there much of the time. In the next house up the river lived Lyman Harris, in a double log house. I think it was in 1859 that he sold out to Ansel

Craine. At the head of a ravine running into the bluff. not far from Harris, lived Abel Tillison, a bachelor. He lived his lite ont alone. Going on up the river a mile I came to three houses, not very far apart. In the first lived Jackson Best and family, in the second Gabril Martin and family. Jackson Best was a son-in-law of Peter Loughrey, and Mrs. Martin was a sister of Mr. Best.

In the third house, near by, lived Daniel Barnes. They bad one son, Isaac, who some years later learned the photograph trade, and followed it in Chatfield. Up the river half a mile or more, I eame to Widow Newell's. Among the children I saw James and Moses. There was a man about the place, courting the widow, named Richerson. They were married and lived happy ever alter, Tle Newell famn joined Peter Loughrey on the east. Valentine Woodburn made his home with the Newells. He jomed the Third Minnesota Infantry and was killed in battle just before the surrender. Going up a long hill to the west, through a forest of oak, to the south of Jordan vreek, I came to Perry Odell's. I do not know bow many were in the family. I saw one boy, Gibson. About thirty rods west, in a small log house, lived P. Odell's father. A beautiful farming country lay to the west. known as Jordan valley. The next farm belonged to Arthur Palmer. with three sons and two daughters. The sons were Wesley, Galrusha and Harrison.

On the next farm west lived Samuel Wilson. I well remember his son, Henry. Working in a sawmill in those early days, he threw his leg over the log that was being sawed, and allowed the saw to amputate a leg. ''That ends my dancing days,'' he was heard to say.

Southwest from Fillmore, perhaps two miles, at a place known for many years as Thompson's mill, in 1857, lived Mr. Pond and family. Iam told that he built the mill. In the same neighborhood lived Lipe Mosher. Northwest from Fillmore, near the river, in 1857, lived Mr. Brinker and family, and half a mile further down Sylvester Carroll, a son-in-law of Peter Loughrey, and a little further down Adam Frinsood.

In Fillmore, among the old timers, I remember Geo. Sheppard, Mr. Buff, who kept a hotel, Mr. Mosher, Mr. Bartlett, Sam Hyde, Beverstock, Hendrickson and Mr. Mantor; a few years later Bill Shepton and Charles Albro. In 1862 gold and silver money disappeared. Sam Hyde and other merchants issued their own paper money.

East of Fillmore, up a long hill, lived a settler on the right; I forget his name. On the left hand lived Mike Gary, a farmer and blacksmith. He had a large family; mostly girls. Further east lived, and still lives, Earl Kellog. His near neighbor on the right, Gf I am right), was Robert Crowell, and further cast Mr. Hall. Turning the corner at Hall's, I eame to Jacob Iostetter's, on the north side of the road. These people lived in Fillmore township.

Samuel Wilson tried to winter a herd of eaitle on straw and they died, and he was so disgusted with Minnesota as a stock country, that he sold out and moved to Oregon.

The next farm, on the left, going west, belonged to Mr. Tabor. '*A fine old English gentleman, a boy of the olden time.'' How many eomposed the family I don't know. I knew three of the sons, Charles, James and Henry. Mr. Tabor built a large barn in which the Methodists held service. There were many families in and around the valley I never chanced to meet. I knew Mr. Robins and four sons, Mark, Fred, Cal and Herb. Mr. Robins had a son-in-law, MeKinney. Mr. Robins owned a large farm at the head of Jordan ereek. John Moore lived in the same neighborhood ; also two brothers, Elick and Richard Buckingham.

At Arthur Pahner's,a road branched off and went to Fillmore village. In the first house on the Fillmore road, lived Daniel McCollum. There were several girls in the family, and a boy, John. One daughter married Charles Tabor. Neighbor to Me- Collum lived Wm. Clark with five sons. Three of the boys were Perry, Charles and Harvey. Under the hill between Mr. Clark and Fillmore, lived Simon Hartman in 1861. He discharged a gun that had been loaded some time, and it burst, shattering a hand. He died from blood poisoning.

T should have said that a half mile west of Ear] Kellog's, on the east side of the road lived, in 1857, John Stewart. His children were grown up, and two of his sons, John and James, enlisted in the army. James lost his life in the army. John and George, and a sister, Mrs. Durfy, are still with us.

Going on north from Mr. Hostetter's, I came to Albert Odette's place; a fine natural grove, west of the road sheltered his house. Half a mile west lived his father-in-law, Marquette, a Frenchman. He had two sons and several daughters. One son, about ten or 12 years of age at that time, was mentally afflicted. The old man and Joe, his son, were famous as breakers of prairie. They broke with six yoke of oxen and a plow that eut twentyeight inches.

The next family west of Odette on the north side of the road was Willian Baily. He lived fourteen years in his elaim shanty. It was 14 by 16, had a shed roof, one door and two windows. Mr. Bailey was a hard worker. The next farm on the west side of the road belonged to the writer. It was the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 36 in Jordan. I bought the land from the state in 1862 for #5 an acre. There were other

In the early days all country houses near timber were built of logs. All the settlers were pioneers struggling to get along in a new country and all were on terms of social equality. When a person who came from a place where the social lines were sharply drawn showed any inclination toward making a distinction between classes of people, he usually soon repented of it. In 1860 P. Hl. MeConville, the widow's son, went down to play with Henry Pray, but the latter's mother, still retaining some of the belief in social superiority brought from an older locality, found the two youngsters wrestling with each other and reprimanded her son for his intimacy with the other lad. At the battle of Gettysburg Charles Pray was wounded and I. H. McConville took Charles on his baek and earried him to the rear. When the war was over and the boys returmed, Mrs. Pray sent for MeConville and he was feasted and flattered to his heart's content.

A schoolhouse was built within a stone's east of Peter Loughrey's house. Stephen A. Jones (the father of John and Richard) eame over every two weeks and held preaching service. A Sunday school was in session through the summer months.

From 1857 to 1862 the young people of the valley spent many happy evenings in that schoolhouse. They had a literary society, with essays and debates. Also spelling school. The Civil War broke up the literary society, but not the day school or the church service,

Women's fashions have changed somewhat in fifty years. Not so much in men's wear, although I think more boots were worn then than now. Ifa lady should go to church now wearing a hoop skirt and a Shaker bonnet it would cause much merriment.

In 1865 C. Harrington had thirty-eight acres of wheat on section 36 in my town. In August I was home from the army on a furlough. I helped Mr. Harrington harvest his wheat. Ile eut it with MeCormick's old reliable, As the reader no doubt knows, it was a self rake. At the first round a man counted the gavels and divided them into five parts and five binders kept up with the machine. From the thirty-eight acres he threshed 3,000 bushels of wheat. A stork flew over my house one day and left us a babe, in the old-fashioned way, and then I went back to my regiment in Tennessee, but came home in October. ;

I have been asked about fishing in the early days. The fish caught in Root river with a hook were small. Larger ones - red horse and suckers - were speared. Two men with spears and one with a torch of birch bark would wade the shallow water in the night and spear the fish. I wag out one evening with a party of three - Jackson Best, Hiram Loughrey and Ansel Craine. Mr. Craine carried the light. My duty was to carry the fish as they were thrown on the bank. My. Craine couldn't talk withouf stuttering. When the spear men lagged hehind he ealled out, 'Come on, b-b-boys; they're he-he-he-heelin' it up stream."'

Mr. Marquette told me that in 1838 he joined an army and erossed the Jake at Buffalo into Canada to take it from the British. He said they fought but got whipped, and that he found himself, with others, in prison, and his punishment would have been severe only for ihe intercession of a Catholie priest. ""What did yon expect to do,'' I said, ''take Quebee?'' '*Yes,"' he said, ''when reinforcements came.'' ''Well,'' I said, ''the Spartans were nowhere compared to that little army for bravery.'' Marquette's neighbors wonldn't believe his story, but I do, for it agrees with listory. I know of but two persons, early pioneers of Jordan, who are now living - Edwin Pettis and your humble servant.

Reminiscences of William K. Sawyer. William K. Sawyer, now one of the prominent citizens of Three Oaks, Mich., came to Fillmore county in 1856, and still retains a clear memory of the incidents of those early days. Muy. Sawyer writes:

In 1856 I came to Minnesota from Ohio, to which state I had been taken by my parents from my native state of New York when four years of age. Mv purpose in coming to Minnesota was to locate a Iand warrant secured for the services of my father, Phineas Sawyer, in the war of 1812. His company, which was mounted, was called from Vermont to Boston, where, after serving for about three months, it was disbanded. I arrived in Fillmore county in 1806 and located on a piece of land about one and a half miles down the river from Preston. Among ny neighbors was John Hurlbut. He married one of the Reams girls. Dunean Little also lived in the neighborhood, having built a two story log house. He was a man of some dignity, and a good farmer. His daughter, Kate, lived with him. B. F. Tillotson was also a neighbor. Mrs. Tillotson had two sons by a former marviage. These boys were kidnapped by a party of people from Ohio, but before they had reached MeGregor, Iowa, they were overtaken by a pursuing party of Preston men headed by Mr. Tillotson, and the hoys were brought back to their mother. Henry C, Wheeler and his wife, whose maiden name was Lizzie Preston, lived on a place adjoining my ¢laim for a while. Henry was sheriff about that time. Oscar Kennedy was another neighbor. He married a girl living near Big Spring. He afterward moved to Missouri, then to Battle Creek, Mich., where he died, leaving a widow and several children. Osear Keunedy and I kept ''old bateh'' together one winter. One Sunday morning he put on his best clothes and in answer to my question he said, "'T am going to see my girl and t6é learn whether I am going to keep batch much longer.'' A few days later I asked him how much longer he was going to keep batch. He said that the time was indefinite. However, he afterwards married the girl.

When I first arrived in Fillmore county, while looking about for land, I stayed over night with William Kennedy, father of Osear Kennedy. I found him to be my unele. Fe died in the vicinity of Preston many years ago. Aaron Knight was my neighbor also. He died in Preston not long ago. Not far away was Mortimer Thompson, who, with his mother, was on a homestead. Then came a brother-in-law, Mr. Brierly, with his wife and two daughters. On the river lands was Mr. Talbott. He was a great deer hunier and pursued the denizens of the forest with a gun, a gray hound and a white bull dog. Next came the Austin family, a father and two sons, Henry and William. The father and Henry, I think, went farther west. William married one of the Brierly daughters. I onee wrote them from Ilallsdale, Mich. The wife auswered that William was dead and that she was living with her children. Another neighbor was Mr. Eddy, a good farmer, with a wife and several children. Next came Mr. Rodgers and wife. Mr. Rodgers, who was a car builder from Fitchburg, Mass., later returned to that state. Nearby lived the Newecom) family, father and mother, George, Everett and Abigail. Another daughter married George Babcock, who lived near Carimona. I built the farm house for Eddy and Neweomb.

One winter I spent at Carimona at the Strong hotel. I built some black walnut counters for William H. Strong, and also built an addition to his barn. William II. Strong was the leading man in the village. His brother, Belden, was deputy sheriff. Two other prominent men in the village were the elder Dr. Pickett and the younger Dr. Pickett. The elder was sheriff. Lawyer Butler had an office there. Ile was termed ''Due diligence'' for the reason that when in court he frequently chided the opposing party with not having used due diligence in the case to secure the attendance of their witnesses. Henry R. Wells was then studying law with Butler. Early settlers remember that Mor. Wells came here quite neatly dressed except that the toes of his stockings were protruding from his shoes. There was a flour mill then at Carimona, also a saloon.

When I arrived in Preston I first did some work for Luther Preston on the Kaereher mill. There were then working for Mr. Preston David Kerr, W. W. Fife and Stephen Carpenter. They afterward worked on the courthouse when I superintended the work. Another who worked on the courthouse was William Swazy Seely, whose daugliter, Sarah A., I married, thus blessing my home for the past fifty years and more. Her sister married W. W. Fife and both are now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Seely both died in Preston. There now remain of this family Belle, Charles and Ilenry, now in Preston. I cannot now recall many who worked on the courthouse. Stephen Carpenter was one. I learn that he is in California. His wife, who as a girl was Madeline Webb, died many years ago. The first two associates with me in business were Jonas and Myres Conkey. Harvey Egbert had a store then in Preston. T. J. Eames was another merchant ; later D. B. Coleman. Col. N. P. Colburn was @ prominent man, prosecuting attorney and ovator of the county. Reuben Wells was the grand old man of the town. 8S. B. Murrell was another prominent man.

At one time the bulkhead in Kaereher's mill race moved down stream. People were cumped out on the flat for several days waiting for the mill to start. Some came from as far as forty miles away. I built a house for Mr. Crees, an English physician. It was a two-story building across the street from courthouse square. JIe used ihis as his store and residence. lrs. Crees was always neatly attired and wore bloomer dresses. Gust Shambaurr had a billiard place and Ibaeh a saloon. Tom Hall, who then had a saloon on the corner, had first located on a claim down the river from Preston. I boarded at the Stanwix Hotel. The proprietor, Theabald Schweitzer, would often say: ''The longer I keep a hotel the more I learn, hy chemony eripes out.' Ilis brother was wounded in the foot at the battle of Bull Run. Amos Day was a farmer west of Preston, The Reed family was there when I was there.

I remember that at one time the United States district court was held in Preston. The Judge and attorneys came from St. Paul. At that time the law was in force prohibitme the taking of trout from any of the streams. Nevertheless the lawyers were hungry for trout and three men went after a trout on the sly and the lawyers had a trout banquet. One of the men who caught the trout was named Hull, and it appears that this same Hull was the man who had introdueed the trout bill in the state legislature. He was fined $25, whieh with the costs was paid by the St. Paul crowd.

Bear Hunt and the Killing, In the primitive days in the southeastern portion of the territory of Minnesota game birds, such as pheasant, grouse and prairie chicken were very numerous, as were also game animals. such as bear, elk and deer, the laiter predominating. In the fall of 1854 Fillmore conniy, that was ereated from a portion of the territory of Minnesota Mareh 3, 1853, had in town 101, range 9 (now Canton township) about twenty-four bonafide settlers who were somewhat isolated, many of whon were hunters and depended on their unerring riffle to furnish the meats for iheir families from the game that abounded in the then new country. At this period of time many of the game animals had sought new forage grounds, especially the elk, but there was occasionally a bear seen, and deer were very plentiful. The settlers did not possess many domestic animals, but nearly every settler owned a pair of oxen, from one to three cows, a few hogs and some chickens. [Elijah Austin, who was a settler of 1853, possessed more domestic animals (especially hogs) than any other one of the twenty-four settlers in the town. There were no fences at this time and all domestie livestock was allowed to roam over the country at will. Mr. Austin resided on the north side of Weisel creek on section 11, town 101, range 9, and permitted his herd of swine to wander at large. They chose the timber eovered portion of Weisel creek valley to the south and west. subsisting on the mast that was abundant, and the tubers of the wild artichoke that were very plentiful in the valleys. The hogs soon wended their way to a valley leading from the south to Weisel creek which crossed the southwest part of section 23, a distance from their home of nearly three miles, and from the habitation of a settler of more than a mile.

This valley being remote from a settler and the land covered with a dense growth of brush was visited at intervals by a black hear who soon began making raids on Austin's herd of swine. John Willford, a settler of 1853, who spent a great portion of his time hunting, on one of lis excursions found the partly devoured bodies of two dead hogs in the locality that Austin's hogs frequented, apparently the work of a bear. The hunter visited the same locality on the following day to ascertain if the bear had returned for another meal during the night. To his surprise he found that another hog had been killed on that morning by the bear, who, affer breakfasting on the dead porker, had left. The hunter resolved to capture the bear the following night, thinking if he failed then, he surely could suceeced on the second night. Accordingly he made his plan, which was to lay in ambush and wateh for bruin's appearanee during the night time of the bright moonlight. The hunter secured his nephew, J. L. Willford, to accompany him, and the twain lay in ambush the first night without sueeess. On the second night the watehmen were reasonably sure of better success, expecting that brnin would return for a square meal again. Each man elimbed up a tree near where the dead porker lay and after each had established himself on a stout limb sat wailing and watching for their expected guest to put in an appearance. Bruin's wisdom was equal to the emergeney and rewarded them by his absence, so after an experience

After this unsuccessful attempt by John Willford and his nephew, J. L. Willford, to slaughter the bear, the writer in company with his uncle, John Willford, believing, that by eliminating the ''moonlight tactics'? and substituting something that would be more exciting, like a genuine Daniel Boone hunt in the daytime, the bear could be suceessfully captured. On the appointed time we left home at three o'clock in the morning taking with us our dogs ''Bounee'' and ''Lion,'' the writer carrying the old historic Pennsylvania rifle that had been in use by his ancestors for more than half a century, and Uncle John carrying another historic gun of like make, but of much larger caliber. We soon arrived at the locality that was frequented by bruin. As soon as we arrived we saw that the bear had taken his meal and left his foot prints in the frost that covered the ground, and the chase was at once begun. After meandering a short distance through brush and woods, ''Bounce'' and ''Lion'' dropped their tails between their legs and, pointing their hair toward their ears, fell back to the rear of the hunters and began a growling noise. With cocked gums and following the foot prints of the bear's feet that were visible in the frost, we led the procession for more than a mile and then prevailed on the dogs to act as advance guard. They at once took up the trail and followed it in a zigzag course, passing to the north of the old historic town of Greenfield and then making a semi-circle, leading off in a northeasterly direction following the trail remarkably well until we arrived at a water hole, which was a hole or depression in the ground the shape of a washbasin and about four rods in diameter, filled with clear water, situated on section 18, town 101, range 9, now Canton township. Here from all appearances the bear quenched his thirst, as the foot prints of its fore feet were plainly visible in the mud at the outer edge of the water basin, where the water was roily. At this point we estimated the distanee from the starting point that we had then traveled at about fifteen miles. By this time the sun had nearly reached the western horizon, but the dogs were soon on the trail again leading in a zigzag course over section 17, town 101, range 9, until we arrived in a ravine about sixty rods of the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 17, where the two dogs routed up two monstrous large deer and gave them chase for about an hour's time. Upon their return to the ravine, darkness had settled around us. The dogs at this time seemed to be tired and footsore from the day's traveling over the stubs of the burnt grass, and refused to further follow the trail of the-bear. We reconnoitered on both sides of the ravine, hoping that the dogs would find and take up the trail again, but were unsuccessful in our attempt. We were at this time more than five miles from home, and having had nothing to-eat since three o'clock in the morning, we were tired and nearly famished from hunger, so reluctantly gave up the chase and wended our way homeward, to partake of a bountiful supper of johnny cake and venison that was prepared and held in waiting for us by Unele John's good wife.

A few days later, which was about December 1, 1854, a light fall of snow came, covering the ground, alter which a settler named W. J. Howell, who resided on seetion 10, town 101, range 9, now Canton township, while passing across section 9, town 101, range 9, saw a bear's tracks in the snow and followed them to a sink hole made by the crevice in the rocks at the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of seetion 17, which was about: sixty rods southeast of the ravine where our dogs scared up the two deer a few days previous. Mr. Howell, who was greatly elated over his ''find'' of the den of a bear, hastened home and informed Silas Pennock, another settler, who resided with Mr. Howell, what he had discovered and signified his intention to take his trusty rifle and go down in the sink hole and dispatch bruin. He asked Mr. Pennock to accompany him, which he did. On returning to the sink hole it was discovered the bear had not departed. Mr. Howell, after tying the end of a smal{ rope around his body under his arms, in order that Mr. Pennock could assist him in his hurried exit after firing on the hear by pulling on the other end of the rope, took his unerring rifle and a lighted tallow candle and proceeded to enter the sink hole. After a short interval of time the report of the riffe was heard, and Mr. Pennock began at onee to pull on the rope which he held, as he was dictated to by the daring man in the sink hole, who soon was on top of the earth again. As soon as Mr. Howell came out of ihe sink hole the smoke of the burnt powder began to issue from the mouth of the sink hole, and it took fully ten minutes before the entrance was free from smoke. After the smoke had cleared away Mr. Howell took his gun and the tallow eandle and again made a second descent in the sink hole and fired the second leaden missile into bruin's body, though this was not necessary as the first shot was a fatal one. This act on the part of Mr. Ilowell was certainly a very hazardous one as verified by the writer, who had made a personal inspection of the sink hole from top to bottom. At the top was a depression in the ground of about six feet to the mouth of the sink hole which was from two and one-half to three feet in diameter. Below the mouth the hole was perpendicular about. eight feet, walled by natural rocks. Then came a horizontal arched passageway of about five feet in height, walled by stone, that Jed north of an east direction ahout six feet. Then another perpendicular hole the shape of the capital letter ''A'' that was also walled by nature's stone formation of the depth of six feet. At the bottom of this was brnin's winter quarters, about twenty feet helow the level of the land.

After Mr. Howell became sure that the bear was dead he and Mr. Pennoek began to devise some way to get the 500 to 600 pound bear out of the sink hole where he lay. They called on Jacob Vought, a settler of 1853, and Earl S. Emmons, a settler of 1854, to assist them in planning and doing the work of hoisting the bear out. They at onee proceeded to erect a windlass, but when they commenced to operate tle windlass they found that it was impossible to draw him out from where he lay by this method, owing to the two underground right angles. Ilowever, they kept at work with the windlass for an entire day, but were unsuecessful.

The second day the four men, by taking their turn at. the work, proceeded, by the aid of the candle that furnished the light, to skin the bear and ent him into pieces where he laid at the bottom of the sink hole. These pieces they carried through the underground passageway to the outside surface of the land.

This was the only bear known to the writer to have been killed in the south half of Fillmore county during his fifty-eight years of continuous residence in that part of the county.

Mr. Howell tanned the bearskin and used it for a robe and valued it very highly as a keepsake, because he had taken such a hazardous risk of his life in killing the bear twenty feet under the ground. In the ''sixties'? he loaned the bearskin robe to a careless man who made a trip to Brownsville Minnesota in the winter time and lost it - - -By William Willford.

Indian Scare. On the night of August 31, 1862, oceurred the Indian seare in Fillmore county. The massacre of the settlers at New Ulin, Minn., and other frontier towns in that locality was made known by couriers sent out to all points of the compass to warn the people of the impending danger. These couriers heing in an excited mood lost no time in warning the people by yelling in a stentorian manner, ''The Indians are coming! Chattield is in ashes, and the Indians are marching across the country killing the people and burning the houses. Get your families out of the country to a place of safety as soon as possible.'' Sueh news imparted to the settlers as if hy magie paralyzed their better judgment, and the people roused hurriedly from their slumber; and horrified with the report that the Sioux Indians had invaded Fillmore county and were marching across the cowry massacring the settlers and burning the buildings, began a general and rapid flight. Each conveyed the tidings to his neighbor, who joined the multitude, and away they went in search of a place of safety. Some were on horseback, many in wagons, and some on foot, presenting all those grotesque appearances that frontier scttlers naturally would supposing the Indians close in their rear. Many anecdotes are told, amusing to many of us who cannot realize their feelings, that exhibit the varied hues of courage and trepidation characterizing different persons, and also show that there is no difference between real and supposed danger, although vet those actuated by the latter seldom receive the sympathy of their fellows. A man named R s, when apprised of the reported Indian raid, and anxious to perform a neighborly act, ran a quarter of a mile to the residence of his brother-in-law, 5 h, who had been previously notified by another neighbor and had extinguished the light in the house. When R 8 arrived he hastily opened the door and entered, the head of the family believing him to be an Indian, caught him by the coat eollar and giving him a whirl pushed him outside of the door and while in the act of going prodded him on the broadest part of his anatomy with a nnimber ten cowhide boot.

Another farmer, who had from sixty to eighty hogs in a feed yard when he and his family were all ready to leave the homestead, made an opening in the fence enclosing the feed yard, and also in the fence enclosing his cornfield, then taking as they supposed the last view of their home, departed for a place of safety. Upon the whole, this seare did not materially injure the eonntry, but quite an amount of produce was lost from the intrusion of eattle and other domestic animals to the gardens of those people who were slow in returning to their homes - By William Willford.

Carimona Tavern. L. A. King, in 1910, presented to the Minnesota State Historical Society a copy of the old register used by the Carimona Tavern. At the time of making the gift, Mr. King wrote the following letter to F. E. Titus:

Carimona, so tradition says, derived its name from the Indian chief, Carimona. In any event, the carly ones to reach the region now comprised within the limits of Carimona township, found a lovely stretch of undulating prairic, slightly wooded along the Root river. Near the southeast corner was a heavily timbered section known as Buffalo Grove. On section sixteen there was also a heavy growth of timber. In this sylvan retreat, where the purling brook comes to join its babbling mother, Old River Root, Daniel Pickett selected a home, where a delightful boiling spring enshed out of a high bank, and in whose cool depths many a string of speckled beauties have been caught in boyish triumph. Mr. Pickett came in 1853, but his sons, Joseph and Edwin, came into this region in 1852, Joseph Pickett claiming what is now the

Evergreen Farm, owned by William J. Meighen. These brothers, with W. H. Strong, James Gilbert, David, Holton, Hiram Johnson and others, started the village, and in 1855 H, C. Butler started the ""Carimona Pioncer,'' edited by Ezra W. Trask. In 1855 W. H. Strong built the Carimona House, but the exact date when the tavern was opened is not known. But the first date shown in the tavern register is December 15, 1855. The first nanie is IT. C. Butler, Carimona. Others were: Orrin Thurber, Chatfield; J. MM. Laclow, St. Paul; Alexander Holton, W. H. Strong, David Holton, William Holton, Carimona; Winnebago Jack, also known as Whisky Jack, is also on the page.

December 15, 1855, appear the names of I. N. Cunmins, W. T. Wilkins, Spring Valley; H. L. Taylor, Chatfield; James Jackson, Elliota, I. Marshall, Richland Prairie. December 23, 1855, appear the names of 8. B. Ervine, Decorah, Iowa; Ezra R. Trask, Carimona; A. D. Knight, Preston; J. B. Thayer, Spring Valley; W. J. Howell, Richland Prairie; A. P. Day, George L. Day, J. B. Onstine, Abe. Kolder, George Kolder, W. C. Pickett, John Healey, Sam Gilbert, 8. B. Murrell and in fact practically all the prominent men of the country were registered in the hotel about this time. December 27, 1855, appear the names of Clark W. Thompson, Hokah; M. T. Thompson, Brownsville; W. F. Dunbar, Caledonia.

During the first part of January, 1856, J. C. Burbank, H. C. Burbank and W.H. Morse, all of the Northwestern Express, were guests at the tavern. January 6, 1856, Judge George M. Gere was a guest. January 23, 1856, were registered Daniel D. Merrill, of Boston, Mass., afterward head of the D. D. Merrill Company, printers and publishers of St. Paul; Enos F. Gray, Richland Prairie; C. A. Hitcheoek, Elliota; John Leuark, Chatfield. February 28, 1856, came Captain Sully, U.S. A., ''the man who built Ft. Sully''; Captain Todd, of St. Paul, from whom Todd county was named; Milo White, Chatfield.

From March, 1855, to April, 1856, the county seat was at Carimona. On Friday, March 14, 1856, while the county seat eontest was on, there appear on the register the names of Columbus French, J. VY. Robinson, R. L. Nichols, J. W. Sleepier, Isaae Day, William B. Gere, Henry L. Edwards, Chatfield; A. J. Tillotson, Preston; Timothy M. Chapman, Spring Valley; L. L. Brigham, Elliota. A day or two later, on the next page, was registered the now long forgotten name of Joe W. Brockett, and someone has written after his name, ''gone leetioneering.'' History says that the election held April 7, 1856, to decide the county seat contest between Forestville, Preston and Carimona was decided in favor of Preston, aud the ''lectioneering'' of Joe Brockett, was useless.

still later colonel of the Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. April 23 appear the names of C. A. Gilmon, Sauk Center, and Isaue S. Cole and 8. Cole, of Chatfield. April 8, 1856, appear the names of H. 8S. H. Hayes, Elkhorn Prairie; Ilans Valder, Newburg; Leon Le Fevre, Forestville; John Kaercher, Preston; John R. Jones, Chatfield; W. B. Gere, John Luark, Isaac Day and H. Goodrich. April 20, 1856, a guest was Thomas McAllister, of Elliota. April 24, 1856, David Oldstead, of Winona, was registered. May 5, 1856, E. T. Nelson, North Adams, Mass., arrived. He lived in Carimona a while, afterward beeame a well-known farmer near Preston, and subsequently moved to California. May 16, 1856, eame Edward Burnham from Conway, Mass.. 2 well-known pioneer who lived in Bristol township for many years. June 4, 1856, came William L. Easton, of Lowville, Lewis county, New York, a relative of J. C. Easton, of Chatfield.

June 30, 1856, appears the name of William Pitt Mnrray, who afterward became a prominent citizen of St. Paul. He and David Olmsted owned an addition to the town called Olmsted & Munger's addition. On the same day appear the names of IL. R. Wells, Reuben Wells and A. W. Gray.

Frequently through the book are the names of John T. Druimond, Alon Rice, H. W. Titus, Thomas Clifford, Edwin Pickett, and others, and at a later date, near the close, we find the names of Almon King. H. C. Cooper, a iserehant who stopped here several times, G. B. O. Bassett, John Palmer, Michael Mulroy, Joseph B. Taylor, George W. Tate, I. W. Lucas, editor of the "'Transeript,'' and many others.

About this book one can find many elustering stories, and to dig them out and con them over shows the many grim tragedies of pioneer life, as well as the hnmorous and brighter side.

There was a very elaborate Fourth of July celebration planned in the old tavern in 1856, and the celebration was the talk of the county for many years. Samuel Hull, a territorial representative in the legislature, was the grand marshal.

In the summer of 1857 B. Granger and C. H. Lewis eame to ihe present site of Granger in the interest of Burgess & Greenleaf, a Boston firm. and purchased the whole of section thirtyfonr, Bristol township, the original pre-emptors of the section being Jason Damon, Jr., William A. Nelson, Leonard Helsapie, James Springsteel, and the two above named gentlemen, Charles H. Lewis and Brownell Granger. After fixing upon their location Granger and Lewis returned to Boston. They returned in the spring of 1858, erected a building and put in a store. At the same time they erected the first dwelling. Granger had brought his wife with him, Lewis was a bachelor. At this time Daniel Crowell was postmaster at an office known as the Uxbridge postoffice. It was located two and a half miles west of Granger, and supplied the surrounding district. In 1858 it was discontinued into Granger, At about this time section thirty-four was laid into town lots. Granger and Lewis put up the walis of a mill during 1859 and 1860. Before it was completed they leit, and their place was filled by T. B. Starett, who put in the machinery and started the mill in operation. The mill was fifty feet square and had four run of stone. Starett soon left, and the property was sold to William H. Wayman, who converted it into a distilling, rectifying and vinegar plant, and started into the manufacture of high wines. After two or three months the government officials confiscated the goods and demolished the building. A brewery was then built by Henry Hassey. His son, Reinhardt, operated it a number of years, but later killed himself. A. G. Serfling, another relative, then took hold and condueted it until he too got into trouble with the government. Then the Elridge Creamery Company rented the building as a creamery. Later it was vaeated. The first school was built in 1856. It was a log house on property of William Nelson, near the state line. It was used until about 1863 or 1864 and then a school was established in the ''Red Tavern,'' just over the section line, in section thirty-three, on property of James Springsteel. It was used perhaps four years, when it was torn down and a school erected at Granger. The building, which was forty feet square and two stories high, is still used for the Granger graded schools. The 'Red Tavern'' was erected in the late fifties by Edward Slawson. It had a store and postoffice in connection. During the Civil War, Slawson started out for Pike's Peak to hunt gold. He was never afterward heard of. His brother, Henry, took charge of the property and managed it a number of years. Granger is practically the saine sized village as it was during the war. James Springsteel was at one time a merchant there, and after the war Slawson & IIalstad put in a store.

A Vigilance Committee. In the early history of the county the pioneers suffered severely from the depredations of thieves. This was tolerated from 1856, when it commenced, up to 1858, when the ordinary and traditional forms of law having utterly failed to protect the people, it was determined to reassert the right of self-government hy organizing for mutual protection and practieally setting aside the authorities to whom had been delegated the duty of conserving the public welfare. The necessity of prompt action becoming imperative, a few determined persons met in Iamilten at the residence of W. W. Beers and pro- ceded to organize by the adoption of rules and solemn pledges to act under the laws if possible, but at all events to rid the community of the thieves and robbers. There was some hesitation in view of the seriousness of the undertaking, but Dr. William H. Dean took the pen and affixed his signature to the articles of agreement, and he was followed by W. W. Beers, Chas. D. Sherwood, C. Davis and H. J. Beers. Once started the membership rapidly increased, spreading all over the county. The gang upon which the war of extermination was to be waged was equally well organized, with ramifications extending into other counties and into Iowa. Ostensibly honest farmers were connected with the stealing operations, and afforded facilities for concealing stolen property and protecting the thieves, and even to retaliate upon those who sought to recover property or to punish the plunderers. The gang had been stealing from William Canfield and he filed complaints against the perpetrators, but one morning he was called out by some of the ruffians and shamefully beaten and maltreated. The committee took up the matter and the men were arrested and cautiously fined a small amount. The assurance of this gang became intolerable, a farmer going into town and leaving his horse hitched in front of a store was not certain of finding him on coming out, and pursuit would carry the party into Iowa to be lost as to further traces of the property or criminals. 'There were some exciting adventures participated in by these vigilants. On one occasion Mr. Beers rode down into Towa on a reconnoisance and took dinner at a house which was evidently a rendezvous of the gang, and discovered a saddle and a wagon that had been stolen from his neighborhood. Ile returned by a circuitous route, and the next night twenty-five armed men went down there, surrounded the house, and succeeded in capturing two of the desperadoes, Wells and Hartwell, and another by the name of Spike escaped. He was wanted in a murder case. After a severe contest Hartwell was sent to state prison, but Wells was discharged. About this time the committee received information that one of the outlaws was in the house of a certain Justice of the peace in the town of Jordan, and the place was promptly raided, and the criminal found in bed. He was promptly taken into the woods, confessed what he knew, and was released. Wells was again taken in Iowa and brought up to Pleasant Grove. Thomas Lake, who was afterwards treasurer of Mower county, fatted a calf, and invited his friends to a veal dinner, but the night before it was to have been slaughtered it was stolen, it is not unlikely, by one of his expected guests. It was not safe to leave cattle out at night, but by vigorous measures, like those related, the country was finally rid of this species of organized stealing.

Reminiscences of ''Old Pedagogue.'' Thomas Duxbury came to Fillmore county in 1866 at the age of eight years, and as he grew to manhood beeame a prominent factor in the life of Preston township. For many years he has contributed to the press under the name of ''Old Pedagogue,'' and his articles are always read with the deepest interest. He has the following to say in regard to the early days in Preston township:

Schools were early established in all paris of Preston township, for no sooner had these hardy, progressive pioneers provided rude shelter for themselves than they immediately began building school houses and organizing schools in which to educate their children. The first of these schools to be established was at Preston, Scotland and Partridge Creek, districts 45, 46 and 47, respectively, aJl established near the same time, 1858 or: 1859. Other schools of later date but still of early days were the Stone School in the southwest part of the town, Livingood School (now High Grove), toward the northeast part, and the Perkins' School, on Camp creek (later moved west to Windy ridge). These schools naturally formed the social centers of the township as they were, when the writer appeared on the scene and as they exist practically unto this day, convenient subdivisions of the township for al] purposes.

The early settlers were principally English, Scotch, Gemnan and Norwegian, with a sprinkling of Americans from New York, Ohio and New England, and oceasionally a son of the Emerald Isle.

Amorg those who helped to make early history in this township who made an impress on the community and left a lasting impression on the minds of men in general and the writer in particular were the following: Preston village and vicinity - Conkey Bros., D. B. Coleman, A. Howell, Thomas Hall, J. P. Tibbetts, Jeremiah O'Brien, Thos. Quinn, Jacob Kramer, Rey. D. L. Kiehl, Attorneys Colburn and Wells, Drs. Redmond and Ross, and Samuel Shook, Walter Engle and Michael Martzolf. Partridge creek - Seven Duxbury brothers, four Mills brothers, Peter Button, John Kress, Ole Simonson, Amos Rose, Thos. Wilson, Ole Wilson, Chas. Schultz, Henry Rode, Oliver Williams, Purdy Hart, William Semper, Abraham Jayeox and Nelson Stecle. Stone school - William Boice, C. Omacht and the Page family. Camp ereek - E. O. Wilson, A. Moecbs, Eli Perkins, George Wright, A. D. Knight, William Ginder, the Long brothers and the Hahn brothers. Secotland - Rev. A. J. Stead, Hutton brothers, Robert Henderson, Daniel Salisbury, Robert McCallum, Henry Milne, Duncan Stuart, 8. 8. Dunn, Peter MeKay, William Elder, C. P. Lunde, Berge Olson, Ben Bendiekson, Patrick Wrenn, the Tollefsons, Petersons, Cathearts and Viekermans. Ifigh Grove -

In the latter sixties and early seventies Scotland, then known as Hendersonville, became the acknowledged social center of rural Preston. A new school house and ehureh were built, a postoffice established, a store and blacksmith shop started, and a grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, and a literary society organized. ''Seotland's booming, something doing'' was ever the ery in those days. But the grange went the way of all such organizations in the middle West, the literary society died a natural death after nine years of existence and the postoflice was given up in the early eighties, being practically put out of commission when Harmony was established.

High Grove also had its high tide with its literary society and later the Farmers' Alliance, but it never reached the prouiinence of Hendersonville.

Hutton, a flag station midway between Preston and Harmony, was established as a postoffice in July, 1892, and was discontinued us such when rural free delivery went into effect some dozen years later. The project was originally promoted by a co-operative company, but was gradually turned over to private enterpvise in the person of J. H. Duxbury, who still continues to do business.

Partridge Creek cemetery was established as such ut a very early date, the latter fifties. The land was donated by John Duxbury and Oliver Willams, and it is a singular coincidence that these two men were the first persons to be buried thereirt, both in 1861.

An attempt to separate the village of Preston from the country part of the township was made by the country people in the latter sixties, but failed to carry by twe votes, and the two remained together for township purposes until the spring of 1911, when a separation was obtained at the instance of the villagers.

A few further facts that come to mind of minor importance but still worthy of mere mention are as follows: The first Fourth of July celebration the writer had the pleasure of attending in the townshij) was held in the latter sixties on what is known as "*TIlog's Back," in the Scotland neighborhood. Ii was just after the Civil War and patriotism and the military spirit still ran high. Preston and Seotland people combined to make it a success. The features that impressed us most were a company of farmer boys recruited and drilled in military maneuvers by Capt. Willian Viekerman, a real war captain and veteran, and free lemonade for everybody, made of lemons, pure water and sugar, mixed by Tom Hall, a good mixer of drinks, and paid for by the patriotic promoters.

Windy ridge, in the western part of the township, sloping toward Camp and Willow creeks; and Pumpkin ridge, in the eastern part, sloping to Bachelor and Partridge creeks, were so named from the winds that sweep with fearful force over the elevated, exposed surface of the former and from the great crops of puinpkins that were raised in carly days on the latter. High grove was named from the tall timber in that vicinity, the tallest und most notable of which was Little's grove. The two principal streains were named Partridge and Camp creek, the former from the great number ol pariridges found there and the latter from the fact that travelers passing through this section usnally eamped ou that stream.

The waters of the sand spring where John Vail built his house, now the source of supply for the eity waterworks of Preston, won fame and favor in an early day from thirsty souls for their purity and palatability and later the distinetion of the purest water in the state as proved by chemical analysis.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Salisbury, of the Scotland neighborhood, made a record for longevity rarely equaled in modern times, both attaining to an age considerably beyond the century mark.

Mrs. Robert Henderson, also of Seoftland, while laying no elaim to being a rifleshot or huntress, was of the stuff that pioneers are made of and had an eye, a hand and a taste for the game, as she proved by shooting, killing and dressing with her own hands a deer that came into their clearing one day during her husband's absenee.

John Livingood was a big man from any point of view. Socially he was big enough to give his name to the sehool in his district, and physically broad enough to mareh in front of a double coluinn of Preston men training for prospective military serviee, and he out of line on both sides at the same time.

Amos Rose was another big man, physically and otherwise, who left more than an ordinary impression upon people of his time and also upon the sands of time, as a farmer, stonemason, veterinarian and dentist.

There are many others among those already mentioned in a general way who are worthy of and deserving of more particular notice, but space forbids such mention of all, and we will close with only two more, feeling that we would be recreant to a duty did we fail to pay at least a slight passing tribute to Revs. David L. Kiehle, of Preston, and Allan J. Stead, of Scotland, who, in their chosen field of labor as preacher and teacher, hy preeept and example, in the opinion of the writer wielded a more potent influence for good in religious, social and edueational matters than any other two men who ever resided within the boundaries of Preston township. Rev. Kiehie still lives m far off Oregon; Rev, Stead went to his reward a few years ago, but both they and their works still ive in the memory of the people and will continue to do so as long as time shall endure.

"Yale College.'' Our school, district 47, known as the Duxbury School, the Mills School, the Dutton School and the Partridge Creek School, but better known as ''Yale College,'' is one of the oldest as weil as one of the best institutions of learning of its kind in this part of the state.

The exact time of its establishment I cannoi give you, as I have not the data at my command, but it was about the year 1858 or 1859. The land for the school house site was donated by John Duxbury, one of the first settlers in this neighborhood, an unele of the writer hereof, a man whom I never saw, but of whom I have heard much and never anything but good; a man with a fair, common edueation that he had picked up for himself while working in the cotton factories and occasionally attending night sehool in old England. He was deeply interested in the eause of popular education, his interest seemingly having been intensified by his own lack of opportunities. He died at the early age of forty-one years and his remains lie at rest in the Partridge Creek cemetery just east of Hutton. To his son, Samuel Duxbury, of Canton, Minn., J am indebted for what information I have in regard to the history of our school for the first eight years of its existence.

The first schoolhouse in this district was built of logs, both material and labor for its construetion being donated by residents of the district. It stood a few fect to the eastward of where the schoolhouse now stands. The supervising architect was Otis Priest, a man who took great interest in educational matters and always remained loyal to this district, as is attested by the fact that the Jand which he then owned still forms a part of this district, although it joins the school site of district thirtyseven. The log house in which Otis Priest lived still stands on the farm of Peter Hutton. The log house in whieh John Duxbury lived and died also stands on the farm of Peter Jlutton, about a quarter of a mile due east of the schoolhouse. Their good work still lives, though both have been dead many years.

The first sehool in this district was taught by a man by the name of Crouch, a shoemaker by trade, and a man of but limited education. The next teacher was a man by the name of Chandler and he was followed by another named Kennedy. The winter term of 1865 and 1866 was taught by Ann Stork, who shortly afterwards became Mrs. A. H. Dayton. The summer term of 1866 was begun by Jennie Stowe, and here is where my first personal experience with the school began. At the end ot the first month she married and the term was finished by Nettie Prescott. The schoo! gradually dwindled in numbers, until there was nothing left of it but the teacher and myself and I enjoyed the novel and pleasant experience of having the company of a very nice schoolma'am all to myself for a whole week. Much to my regret, the school board failed to secure her services for the winter term and A. T. Hudson succeeded her. He was a farmer of very ordinary scholastic attainments, but with a good, strong right arm with which he was able to accomplish much good for the school as a disciplinarian. The next summer term was taught by Harriet Barnes, who shortly afterward became Mrs. Nels Brightman, of Granger. This was the last summer term of school T attended, although I continued to attend the winter term regularly up to the time I became twenty-one years of age. The next winter term was taught by Louis Schiveitzer, a young man of very ordinary scholarship, but an accomplished penman, who succeeded in doing much good, particularly in that branch. The next two terms, summer and winter, were taught by Joseph Adams, and I distinctly remember him as the only teacher I ever knew that run a school without a timepiece of any kind. He guessed his time and invariably eut our recesses and noons too short, and made our hours of study too long, causing him to become somewhat unpopular, of course.

It was at this time that so much interest was developed in the subject of spelling throughout the schools of the country. We spent much of our time studying and practicing in this branch and beeame quite expert performers and won the championship of the county.

It was during the next six or eight years, under the management of Jesse C. Johnson, of Spring Valley, and his immediate sneeessors, that this school reached its highest point of excellence. It was at this tune that it earned its title of '' Yale College,'' and was conceded to be equal to any institution of learning in the county, not excepting the graded schools of Preston, Lanesboro and Spring Valley.

The present schoolhouse was built in the fall of the year 1874, and the old log building was torn down and used for fuel during the winter term of school. The first term of school in this building was taught by Helen Nash, of Lanesboro, a lady of more than ordinary teaching ability. The next. winter term was taught by Jesse C. Johnson, a man who had already been tried several terms in this school and found to possess teaching ability of the highest order. Others who followed immediately alter as teachers were Edgar Clark, S. P. Watkins, Edwin Brady, Thomas Duxbury and J. H. Duxbury.

Among those I remember as having at one time or another wielded the rod of authority in this school, and not already mentioned, are Julia Mills, Hattie Scott, Mary Flemming, Mary Arnold, Rose Ford, Rosella Slater, Anna Krees, Tena Webye, Grace and Mary Mills, Mary A. and Anna G. Duxbury, Henrietta Rose, Jennie Henderson, Fanny Engle, Herbert Dunn, Edith Catheart, Katie Wrenn, Joseph Maloney, E. C. Goodwin, Louis and Warren Cummings, Anna Thompson, Nettie Peterson, Fanny Ayer, Luiher Hamm, Guy Gowdy, George Harsh. Mrs. Fifield, W. P. Durst, Emily Dayton and Maud Vought. Those of the above named, who obtained most of their education in this school, aud afterward held the position of instructor in the same, are Anna Krees, Thomas Duxbury, J. I. and Mary A. Duxbury, Anna G. Duxbury, Grace and Mary E. Mills and Henrietta Rose.

The Scotland School. The people of this district finished a log schoolhouse in the spring of 1859, and the first teacher therein was Katherine Bursell, now Mrs. James Rice, of Canton. Following her came Duncan Murray, who perished in the blizzard of January 9, 1878. He was followed as teacher by Miss Garrison. Then came David Miller, Henry Tillotson, Elia Hoyt and Aliss Daniels, but the order in whieh they taught has not been ascertained. [da Butler taught the summer term of 1868; Hunt Edwards the winter term of 1866-67; A. J. Stead the winter of 1867-68; Alice McMurtrie the summer term of 1868; Alfred Edwards the winter term of 1868-69; and Laura Gale the summer term of 1869.

The Noonan Case. On Saturday, October 17, 1874, Patrick Noonan, who lived three miles from Fountain, started for the latter place with a lead of wheat, telling his wife as he left that he proposed to have ''a spree and a row,'' Mays. Noonan, therefore, sent her boy to town to inform the parties to whom Mr. Noonan would sell his wheat, of his intentions, and warned them not to let him have any money. Finding he could not get the cash for the wheat, Mr. Noonan borrowed 425. After drinking heavily, he began quarreling with a young man kuown in that vicinity as John Shinners, whose real naine was John McDonald. After some harsh words, Shinners hit Noonan a blow in the face, but before the blow could be returned they were parted hy the saloon-keeper. After this, during the whole evening the matter seemed weighing ou Noonan's mind, and he was unusually silent and reticent, and seemed meditating a plan for revenge. That night Noonan met a elerk in the saloon, one Erie Gilbertson, and in course of conversation showed him a piece of lead whittled nearly round, about the size of a hen's egg, and told him he had ""made that for Shinners and would fix him,'' Nothing more was done at that time, Noonan sleeping in the shoe shop over night, saying nothing to anyone.

About 9 o'clock the next morning (Sunday), Noonan walked up town, apparently sebered off and in good humor. Ile met Shinners at the corner, and the following words ensued: Noonan: "What did you hit me for last night?'' Shinners: ''Beeause vou insulted me.'' Noonan: 'How did I insult you?:' Shinners: ''It makes no difference. 1 don't feel af all like apologiz- ing.'' Noonan: ''Then tell me what you hit me for.'' Shinners: ''Becanse I liked it.'' Noonan: '' Well, you're a curious sort of aman.'' Shinners: ''That's just the kind of a cat Iam. I hit you because I liked it, and I am just that kind of a eat."'

Shinners then went into the shoemaker's shop, and in a few moments came out, and, as he went by, Noonan tried to hit him, Shinners warded off the blow, at the same time making a jump into the street. If he had turned and grappled Noonan it is said the crime might have been avoided, but the moment he saw the weapon, which Noonan had done up in a handkerchief and used as a slung-shot, he thought his only safety lay in flight. He ran out in the middle of the street at his utmost speed, but Noonan was too much for him. He caught him just before he reached Patrick Ferris' hotel, and aimed a blow with his slung-shot, which hit him on the back of the neck, knocking him down. He hit hin three or four quick, suecessive blows after he went down, one very severe one on the right side of the head, near the crown, which broke the skull; then, giving him a kick, ran up the street, exclaiming as he ran, ''I done that because I liked it, by G - d! I've fixed him, d - n him!'' Shinners died two days later.

Noonan made his way to the woods, and the most diligent search failed to unearth him. Nearly ten years have rolled by, and his whereabouts still remain a mystery. His family resided on the old homestead until March, 1882, when the entire family - mother and three children - - left for parts unknown. It was generally supposed by the residents and pioneers that they had gone to mect the exiled husband and father, but where, no one but his family and himself know.

The above aeecount from a former history of this county gives the earlier history of the case. But another chapter was to be written after a lapse of thirty years.