Jackson County, Minnesota - Chapter 9: Reconstruction Period - .1862-1867, 1910

Chapter 9: Reconstruction Period - .1862-1867

THUS struggled the pioneers of Jackson county. They not only had to endure the ordinary hardships and privations of frontier life, they had to experience the horrors of Indian wars. Many met death at the hands of the bloodthirsty savages, homes were pillaged and laid waste, all were compelled to flee for their lives. For the second time in its historA* Jackson county was depopulated. The few years succeeding the Belmont massacre constitute a reconstruction era. In it the county was again reclaimed from the savages; the white man became the undisputed possessor.

Despite the terrors of living in a country exposed to Indian attack, there were several of the former settlers who would not give up their homes in the new country. Joseph Thomas, who had moved with his family to Spirit Lake, came back to take care of his crop, but returned to Spirit Lake so soon as that was done. A number of the Slaabaken or Olson familv did not accompany the other Norwegians to Winneshiek county, Iowa, but remained at Estherville until the latter part of October. Then Englebret, John, Simon and Holsten Olson Slaabaken, accompanied bv their families and the widow of the murdered Mikkel OIfou Slaabaken, set out to take possession of their deserted homes in Belmont, traveling in a little caravan of ox teams. Their return was brought about largely for the purpose of taking care of the cattle, which were reported to be roaming about without food. Most of the cattle had been driven off by the Indians, but the stock got away and returned to Belmont.

Disaster overtook the little company when it had reached a point a little south of where the Milwaukee depot in Jackson now stands - on land now owned bv Matt Tollefson. When that point was reached it was decided to make preparations for the night's camp, and, because of fear of possible lurking savages, the camp was to have been pitched on the prairie, instead of in the woods. The teams were left on the trail in charge of the women while the men went to get water. While they were gone a terrific prairie fire swept down from the northwest at race horse speed and enveloped the little caravan. The oxen whirled and overturned the wagons, and before the men could reach the danger point the women were in a perilous condition, all of the wagons being on fire.

When the oxen whirled. Miss Olava Olson (now a resident of Jackson), the twelve year old daughter of the murdered Mikkel Olson Slaabaken, was thrown from one of the wagons into the flames. The girl was badly burned about the knees and hands^ but a heavy soldier overcoat saved her life. Mrs. Englebret Olson Slaabaken with her baby jumped from one of the wagons and "became separated from the rest of the party. Holsten Olson Slaabaken was burned so badly that the flesh fell off his hands and face, and he bore the marks of his injuries until his death. Miss Lena Olson, now the wife of P. H. Berge, of Jackson, was in the fire, but was uninjured.

With the wagons on fire a retreat was made to the Thomas home, where, foiiunately, the family was living for the time being. Seeing the danger the unfortunate people were in, Mrs. Thomas ran with water and extinguished the flames on the first wagon to approach, which was that driven by Simon Olson Slaabaken. Mr. Thomas and his son started back to assist the others. They upset the wagon of John Olson Slaabaken and extinguished the flames, thus saving the running gear; the rest of the wagon was destroyed. Hastening still farther back to where it was kno\^Ti that Mrs. Englebret Slaabaken had jumped from the wagon, Mr. Thomas found her dead body. On her breast, still living, was the baby. The infant lived until midnight and then passed away - one more victim to the dangers of frontier life. The dead were buried in the Michael Miller cemeterv.^

The Thomas homestead was thrown open to the sufferers, and there the mournful band tarried two weeks. Mrs. Thomas nursed the injured back to life, and then all pushed on to their former homes. They found nearly everything except the cabins destroyed and all the loose property removed. White men from other settlements had completed the ravages begun by the Indians. Wagon load after wagon load had been hauled from the deserted cabins. Clothing, cooking utensils, machinery, grain and everything that could be moved had been taken. A threshing machine had been brought up to Belmont from Spirit Lake and much of the small grain had been threshed and hauled awav. The Slaabakens made what improvements they could and spent the winter of 1862-63 there. Possibly some trapper pitched his tent temporarily along the river or on the bank of some lake; otherwise these were the only ones to brave the dangers of the county.

Again in the spring of 1863 came Indian alarms; a trapper was killed and ajioither wounded by the hostile Sioux some sixteen miles up the river. The Slaabakens again deserted their homes and took refuge at Spirit Lake, where they lived under the protection of the soldiers until the spring of 1864. Joseph Thomas returned again in the spring of 1863, but remained only a short time. Jared Palmer^ came at the same time, took a claim a little south of the Thomas home, but left temporarily the same year. Ihiring the summer of 1863 they were the only settlers in the vicinity. In the fall of that year came Ira Camfield with his mother and a few orphan children. He took a claim a couple of miles south of Jackson, in Middletown township, and spent the winter of 1863-64 there, being the only residents of Jackson county that winter.**

Before military protection was given Jackson county a small party of Norwegian settlers returned to reside permanently in their former homes. They came early in June, 1864, and were the first to

Two men with similar names took part In the early history makinf? of Jackson county. Jareb Palmer was one of the Springrfleld settlers, fought at the Sprlngrfleld massacre, and now lives at Lakefleld. Jared Palmer came as described In the text and was one of the first county officers.

Public Ubraky

make |}ermanent settlement after the maiisaere. The party drove through from Houston county, Minnesota, and was composed of the following people: Anders 0. Slaabaken (single), who had just been discharged from the army; Simon Olson Slaabaken and wife;* Mrs. Anders 0. Kirkevoldsmoen and her three small children, Ole (Anderson), Christina and Bertha. Without having knowledge that steps were being taken to protect Jackson county, they decided to push on to their former homes in the frontier regions. The first night in Jackson county they camped at a point a little south of the present site of Jackson. There they met a small ])arty of men, including some of the Slaabaken family, who were on their way from Spirit Lake to Mankato for provisions, and were informed that Lars Halverson and family intended to move immediately onto their claim, near their camping place.

The little party from Houston county continued the journey the next morning and arrived at tlie claim of Simon Olson Slaabaken, who had earlier in the spring bought of Taral Kamlo that gentleman^s claim to the southwest quarter of section 34, Belmont. A lesson had been learned, and now all carried guns and were prepared to make defense against the Indians. On the second night after their arrival a child was bom to Mr. and Mrs. Simon Olson Slaabaken - the first child bom in the county after the massacre.*^ At the time of this event came an Indian scare. All night long the dogs barked, and the people were in constant fear of attack bv Indians. The men of the party

Two days after the birtli of the child, their fears continuing to increase, the alarmed people could stand the suspense no longer^ and all set out for the settlements. They proceeded down the river to I^ars Halverson's place, where they found that gentleman and his family. After a few days spent there, the whole party went to Spirit I>ake. A little later, accompanied by several others of the Slaabaken familv, the return to Belmont was made.

Bravely they determined to liold their claims and made such preparation for defense against attack as best they could. A fort, the main building of which was 18x 26 feet, surrounded by a stockade, was erected on the southwest quarter of section 34, Belmont. The stockade was built of logs and covered with sods, through which holes were left to serve as portholes. For two summers all the settlers of the community lived within its protecting walls, spending only such time outside as was necessary to work the farms; during the winter months the settlers generally lived in their own cabins. At no time during this period were they entirely free from fear of attack.

Except for the cabins, most of which were vet stand imr, thft-e settlers of 1864 found the country in practically a wild state, and were obliged to begin again at the beginning to improve their claims. When the sudden departure had been made in 1862 most of the hogs of the settlement had been left. The people returning found these roaming the woods in a wild state. For several years the hunting of wild swine furnished sport for the settlers, and many of the former domestic animals were killed.

ment of Jackson county for nearly two years, only a few having the hardihood to attempt resettlement, and they only intermittently. But events were so shaping themselves that protection was to be afforded and the county again made safe for settlement.

During the year 1863 United States soldiers continued operations against the Sioux Indians, driving them beyond the Missouri river. In the fall of that year most of the Minnesota regiments were sent south to fight the battles of the civil war, but the Sixth regiment of Minnesota volunteers remained in the state to hold the land that had been freed from savages. To protect the immediate vicinity Major (then Captain) H. S. Bailey's company of that regiment was stationed at Fairmont and at Elm creek, in Martin county. They were supplied with horses and were instructed to scout and patrol as much country as they could cover. In the month of March, 1864, some of the scouts came so far west as the Des Moines river, and upon their return reported that they had found a6 nice a country as they ever saw. Major Bailey accompanied another party to Jackson county the same month and was so well pleased with the location that Ije selected a claim just south of the present village of Jackson proper, filed his claim in the land office, and decided to make his home there as soon as he should leave the army. Sergeant John Hutchinson and possibly other soldiers selected claims at the same time.

Many of the former residents of Jackson county were anxious to return and were ready to do so if military protection were given. In the month of April, 1864, Joseph Thomas took a petition, signed by several of the former residents, to Fairmont and presented it to Major Bailey. They asked that a force of soldiers be stationed at some point in Jackson county. Major Bailey endorsed the petition and forwarded it to his commanding officer. General H. H. Sibley. The general referred the matter back to the company commander with instructions to send part of his company to Jackson count}' and establisli a post if he thought it advisable. Major Bailey accordingly sent a force of twelve men, commanded by a sergeant, to the present location of Jackson. The soldiers took possession of a vacant house, which was used for quarters, and christened it Fort Bailev. The soldiers remained at Fort Bailey only a few weeks. Then orders were received for the company to proceed to Fort Snelling to join the regiment, preparatory to going south. Fort Bailev was abandoned and never heard of afterward.®

Upon his arrival at Fort Snelling Major Bailey had a conference with General Sibley in regard to the Jackson county country, and as a result the company which relieved Major Bailey was ordered to take its station on the Des Moines river. Lieutenant H. J. Phillips was the commanding officer of this company. He erected a log stockade with a building at either end at a point on the hill on the east side of the river about eighty rods southeast of Joseph Thomas' house. This stockade was occupied by the soldiers until September, 1865.

About the same time, or a little later than, the troops were stationed on the Des Moines, two small bodies of United States troops were stationed in other parts of Jackson county. Part of a. company of the Second Minnesota cavalry took post on the we^t shore of Little Spirit lake, one-quarter mile north of the state line. Thev came late in the fall of 1864 or

The other post was established in 1865 on the east shore of Heron lake, on section 13, West Heron Lake township. The fort building was 22x24 feet and was built of large logs. It contained one door and two small windows. There were also five smaller buildings, built of logs and all located some forty rods from the lake shore. The fort was occupied by a few soldiers imtil danger from the Indians was past.'

The presence of these troops resulted in the return of a few of the former residents late in 1864. A number of the Norwegian families came back and reclaimed their lands in Belmont, a few others reclaimed their homes along the river farther south, and a few new settlers came in and took claims.

A new era in the history of Jackson county began in 1865. The Indians had been driven from the country; the civil war was brought to a close and thousands of soldiers had been discharged from the service and sent forth to engage in peaceful occupations. It is a noticeable trait of discharged soldiers that they are not content to accept the quiet lives they enjoyed before their army service, but invariably push out into new countries. All parts of the great northwest were rapidly settled, and to Jackson county came many of the discharged soldiers looking for new homes.

A census of the county, showing the number of inhabitants on the first day of June, 1865, discloses the fact that there were 234 residents,' divided among 47

^When Abraham Johnson took the site of the post as a homestead claim about 1870 the buildings were still standing. He tore down the fort building" and used the logs in the erection of a stable, which was put up on the lake shore.

"I. Albert L. Ward, auditor of the county of Martin, state of Minnesota, do hereby certify that Joseph Thomas, the within named assistant assessor, was by me appointed as such on the 24th day of June. 1865. for the county of Jackson, the same being: attached to the county of Martin for Judicial purposes. And I do further certify that the within Is a true and correct duplicate of census rolls as returned by the said Joseph Thomas to me. and that he Is entitled to three cents for each person enrolled. Total, 233x3 cts.. $6.99.

'-The list is obtained from the office of the secretary of state. On it many of the names are improperly spelled; In some cases to such an extent is the spelling incorrect that the name is hardly recognizable. Through the kindness of Mr. Ole Anderson and other residents of 1866, I have changed the orthography of such and give the list as revised. In addition to the names contained jn the census return, I am Informed that there were living in Jackson county at the time of the enumeration Mr. and Mrs. Nels I^rson and their familv of nine children, named as follows: Ole. Lewis, Levipa. Marie. Bertha, Isabel. John. Lena and Caroline. It is said also that Thora Halverson, wife of Lars Halverson, should be on the list.

Des Moines river were all staked. A few families took claims this year on the banks of Loon lake and the other lakes in that vicinity, being the first to locate any distance from the river. Quite an addition to the county's population this year were Major H. S. Bailey and family and twenty men of his company.^^ The newcomers favored the lands upon which there was timber, as had the earlier settlers, and the greatest population was along that part of the river which sustained the most timber. Consequently the most thickly settled portion of the county was in the vicinity of the present village of Jackson. At that point, in 1865, William Webster began the erection of a sawmill, which, however, was not finished until the next year."

Despite the large increase in population and the presence of the soldiers, apprehension of Indian attack was again manifest in the spring of 1865. Indians appeared in the north part of the county and attacked two trappers in their shanty.

"The company had left Fairmont in June, 1864, with 101 vigorous and healthy men. It went south and was stationed at Helena. Arkansas. Within six weelcs the health of nearly everyone was ruined by malaria, and eighteen men later died from Its effects. Of the eighteen, seven were among those who located In Jackson county.

"In these historical sketches we must not forget Jackson's flrst enterprise. I allude to the old sawmill that so long did duty at the eastern end of the mill dam.

--It was in 1864 or 1865 that a man by the name of Webster commenced its construction, but so many obstacles Intervened that he soon sold out to Mr. Welch Ashley, who in 1866 put it in condition for duty. He and B. W. Ashley operated It for two or three years, and here from morning until night would farmers await their turn for a few rough boards and dimension lumber, which r**adlly rold for $25 per thousand. Here the neighbors became acquainted, discussed with newcomers as they appeared upon the scene, and talked of the prospective town, the crops and the country.

"Mr. Ashley sold the mill to Pnllemon Fnrr. a brother of O. S. Farr, and Mr. Farr sold to an eccentric old bachelor named David Cardwell, who afterwards was found dead upon the prairie near L.e Mars. Iowa, and it is supposed committed suicide. When railways neared the vicinity the occupation of the old mill was gone, and the site was purchased by Hunter & Strong for a flouring mill, and the ancient structure, I presume, was converted Into stove wood."

The alarm was given by a boy named Kirkpatriek, who had been trapping in northem Belmont township with a man named Haskiufi) of Estherville. Haskins was shot through the hip, but managed to crawl into hiding in the brush above Brownsburg. The boy made his escape and notified the soldiers down the river. A scouting party found Haskins and brought him in, but no Indians could be found. The soldiers notified the settlers and assisted them to the stockade, where most of them remained for a few days. Then, being satisfied that the Indians had left, all departed for their homes. A personal incident of the alarm has been told by Mrs. Clark Baldwin (now Mrs. A. B. Allen) :

The spring [of 1865] also brought an uneasiness about the Indians, &.» this was on the extreme frontier. We had the soldiers stationed here, to be sure, but the stockades were far apart and there were so few settlers that we were but a handful in comparison with the hordes that might come upon us. And at one time we thought they were upon us. I think it was in May. About three o'clock one morning we heard a rap at the door and on inquiring found it to be a squad of soldiers who had been sent out to warn and take into the stockade all the settlers for protection from the Indians, and it was supposed there were many in the vicinity. . When the warning came to us we were not long in responding. One of the soldiers afterward said he had always heard it took a woman so long to dress, but he knew of one that wasn't long about it. After that knock on the door it wasn't three minutes before I was ready and on the horse behind a soldier, ready to march to the stockade, where it was tliought best we stay for a few days, which I did.

The population of Jackson county had reached such a point in the fall of 1865, with such excellent prospects of a continuation of immigration the following year, that it was decided to bring about the reorganization of the county government. The legislature had, early in the year, attached the county to Martin county for judicial purposes,^^ but there was

At the request of some of the residents. Governor Stephen Miller named Israel F. Eddy, Charles Belknap and Jared Palmer commissioners to call and preside over an election for the purpose of choosing county officers. The election was held at the home of Jared Palmer on November 7, thirty-six ballots were cast, and a set of county officials was chosen.^* Owing to difficulties in having the returns canvassed and election certificates issued, it was not until January 27, 1866, that the machinery of county government was set in motion. On that date the first meeting of the board of county commissioners was held at the home of Major H. S. Bailey.

The second meeting of the board was held on March 13, when the county was divided into commissioner districts and the three most thickly settled townships were authorized to begin township government. These townships were Petersburg, Jackson (Des Moines) and Belmont. The first township meeting was held April 2, 1866.

Petersburg township was named in honor of Rev. Peter Baker, the pioneer minister of the gospel and a settler of 1860. To it were attached, for township and election purposes, the other four, sparsely settled townships of the southern tier. Among the early residents of Petersburg township who secured land patents from the government, with the year in which the patents were issued, and the number of the section upon which the settler had his claim, were the following

"For the names of the first officers and other items concerning the organization the reader is referred to the political chapters of this volume.

Jackson township (renamed Des Moines by act of the board of county commissioners May 16, 186G) had the other townships of the tier attached to it at the time of organization, as well as the tier north of it. It lost the northern tier early in 1867 by the organization of Belmont township, Wisconsin in 1869, and the townships to the west in 1872. Following are the early settlers of Des Moines who received titles from the government

Belmont township was created by the board of county commissioners March 13, 1866, at the same time as Jackson and Petersburg, but the organization was not perfected until January 5, 1867. At the time of organization the other townships of the tier were attached to it, and on April 10, 1869, all of the townships of the northern tier were given it for township purposes. The name was given in honor of the old Belmont townsite. Almost without exception the early settlers were Norwegians. The following were granted land patents in Belmont in the years named :

Miiineota township was quite early settled on account of the numerous lakes within its borders. The residents petitioned for township government, and on October 15, 186(3, the commissioners granted the request. By the same act there were attached to it the west half of the present Middletown township and all of the present townships of Sioux Valley and Round Ivake. Minneota is a Sioux word meaning "much water,'^ and was so named because of its group of lakes. An early settler by the name of Chandler suggested the name. Titles to land in Minneota were issued to the following early settlers in the years indicated : from all parts of the east. Xearly all of thc«e were poor people who came for thepurpose of bettering their condition in the new country, where they mi^rht become land owners. Conditions were as unlike those of the present time as night is from day. There were no wagon roads, and traveling was a difficult and often dangerous undertaking. The newcomers found only three or four schools in the whole county and no churches, although traveling ministers of the gospel occasionally preached at private houses. Frame buildings were scarce. In the timbered districts log houses were built; in the prairie sections sod houses or duo-- outs^^ furnished the homes. Ox teams, or perhaps an ox and a cow, attached to a lumber wagon provided the means of conveyance. The scythe corresponded to our mower and the cradle and rake to our binder. There were no railroads, no telegraph and telephone lines, and only one postoffice in the county. The people were not blessed with the advantages they now enjoy; their energies were exerted in the strife for existence; their ambition was to become the owner of a piece of land. John Davies, a pioneer settler, in after years recalled early day conditions and said :

How well do I remember seeing them clothed in dilapidated garments and out at their toes, driving their ox teams hitched to rickety buckboard vehicles to town and elsewhere, and whenever I see their old roads which meandered over these undulating plains (over which they mogged along, often with lumps in their throats, but large hopes in their hearts) being obliterated by the plow I can hardly refrain from tears.

The records of the county government for the year ISGtl furnish us many intcresting items of the conditions and times. We learn from these that the first school district was created on March 13, 1806, and included part of Des Moines township east of the river and several .sections in Wisconsin township."

'-"To the pioneers of those days that word [dugout] would explain itself, but to the readers of this worthy paper, who live in elegant city homes and have never seen or been familiar with frontier life, perhaps a word of explanation will be necessary as to how these were built. First a cellar was dugr with steps leading therefrom; then logs were laid about the tops of this and a roof placed on the top of those; gable ends and a door were made; a square was dug into the side of the waHs and a dr>' goods box inserted for a cupboard; another made an excellent clothes press. No need of a fire escape In a house like this! The roof itself was of dirt." - Thomas Goodwin in Republic, March 1. 1895.

The total taxable property in 1866 was less than $36^000, and was assessed in the names of 73 owners. The tax levied amounted to $718.59. The names of those assessed and the amount of each one's tax, as equalized by the county board, were as follows : the Des Moines river; thence running in a southerly direction, following the river, to the section line of 25 and 36; thence east to the southeast comer of section 29; thence north to the place of beginning.

No. 3 - September 4, 1866. Commencing at the northeast corner of section 32, Wisconsin; thence running south to the southeast corner of section 17, Petersburg; thence west to the southwest comer of section 14, Middletown; thence north to the township line between Des Moines and Middletown; thence east on the township line to the Des Moines river; thence following the river in a northerly direction to the section line of sections 25 and 36, Des Moines: thence east to the place of beginning.

No. 9 - December 21, 1867. The east half of sections 20. 29 and 32 and all of sections 21. 28 and 33 and the west half of sections 22, 27 and 34, in Wisconsin township, and the north half of section 4 and the northwest quarter of section 3 and the northeast quarter of section 5. In Petersburg township.

"It will be remembered that Petersburg and Des Moines were the only townships In which the township organization had been perfected in the summer of 1866, the other territory be-

Des Moines

Ing attached to them. The lists for these two townships include tho names of all the tax payers in the county, the southern tier of townships being listed under Petersburg and the rest of the county under Des Moines.

prepared by Auditor Clark Baldwin from returns made by the township assessors, there were only 270 acres of land put into crop jn Jackson county in 1866. The abstract of the acres under cultivation and the yield by townships of the various crops is shown in the next column.

An act of the national congress in 1866 had a disastrous effect upon the far off county of Jackson - an act which resulted in retarding the settlement of the county to a great extent and for a great many years. By the act, approved July 4, 1866, entitled "an act making an additional grant of lands to the state of Minnesota, in alternate sections, to aid in the construction of railroads in said state," certain lands were granted to the state of Minnesota for the purpose of aiding in the construction of the Southern Minnesota railroad from its then western terminus, Houston, to the west line of the state. The Minnesota legislature on February 25, 1867, accepted the trust created by this act of congress and granted the lands to the Southern Minnesota Railroad company, binding the company to complete the road to the state's western boundary by February 25, 1877. As soon as the bill became a law, the railroad company put surveyors in the field and located a line. Then the company selected the odd numbered sections for a distance of ten miles on each side of the surveyed line, and the land was withdrawn from homestead and preemption entry. About the same time another large grant was made to assist in building the Sioux City & St. Paul road, the two grants taking from the government nearly one-half the territorv of Jackson countv. The same year 60,000 acres of internal improvement land was selected by the state. The lands in Jackson countv which were left for the homeseekers were therefore greatly reduced. Had the granted lands been placed upon the market at a reasonable price the results would not have been so disastrous. The railroad lands were not placed on the market imtil years afterward.

By 1866 the settlement had reached such a point that its permanency was assured. Not again could a handful of Indians cause the abandonment of Jackson county. The most thickly settled community was along that part of the Des Moines river which flows through Pes Moines township, and here, in the latter part of the year, was founded the village of Jackson by Welch Ashley and Major H. S. Bailey. The sawmill began operations, a store was started, stage lines began operations, and a few of the conveniences of the outside world came to the heretofore isolated settlers.

Time is required to put a new country on a self-sustaining basis, and the product returns for the year 1866 show that Jackson county had not yet reached that point. The bulk of the immigration had come in 1866 and the big majority had, of course, not raised a crop. Supplies were from necessity brought in from the outside - principally from Mankato and Garden City - and as there were no roads or bridges and the streams almost impossible to cross in time of high water, much difficulty was encountered in providing the necessary supplies. What is known as the "starvation period" in Jackson county's history resulted.

The snow was very deep and the weather severe during the winter of 1866-67, and the new settlers were illy prepared for it. Many had come late in the season, bringing but few supplies with them and with small means to purchase more. During the fall and early winter most of the provisions that had been brought in were exhausted, and on account of the difficulties of travel it was almost impossible for even people who had the means to obtain the necessities of life. Starvation stared many in the face. The abundance of fish, which the lakes and streams supplied, saved many from actual starvation. For weeks some families lived on absolutely nothing but fish and milk. Major H. S. Bailey has written of the conditions that winter :

I know of some families who became so weak they could scarcely move around. One woman was so weak before relief came to her that she could not even sit up, and one William McClelland, who lived on the state line near Spirit Lake, when going past, saw the condition of this woman, acted the part of the Good Samaritan, and took her to his own home and had her nursed and supplied with such food as her appetite craved, and thus saved her life.

The state came to our rescue and furnished us some flour and provisions, but the conditions of the road were such that it was almost impossible to get supplies here, as they all had to be hauled from Mankato and Garden City^. However, we got something they called flour from lake Sh'jtek that was destined to starve Indians upon; but it got left there and our commissioners sent teams and got some of it. It was not much of a luxury, but it kept soul and tody together until we could get something else.

What provisions were brought in were left at Mr. Thomas* on the east side of the river, and the settlers on the west side brought their little parcels in a boat. Every day, and nearly every hour of the day, I [who was living on the Jackson townsite] went over to help across parties in a small boat and often encountered danger in the swiftly running water.

Around Loon lake was quite a settlement, and I shall never forget the disconsolate look of the lank and cadaverous man from there as he emerged from the boat, held up his sack and remarked, "Twenty -five pounds of flour, seven children - nine of us in the family - and I know not where the next mouthful is coming from." Bufl'alo fish without salt was a frequent meal during that starvation season. Although many came out "spring poor" that season, there were no cases of actual starvation.

When the snow went ofif in the spring, traveling was even worse than it had been in the winter. All the streams were swollen and out of their banks, and the ground was 80 soft that even empty wagons mirecl. Realizing that something must be done to prevent starvation, the settlers held a meeting, raised money to purchase flour and other supplies, and sent teams and men to make an effort to get them into the county. Jesse P- Ashley, who was one of the men to undertake this difficult task, tells of the trip :

Lant Thomas, Pete Kingsley and myself started for Garden City for flour April 20, 1867. The snow being about four feet deep but melting rapidly, we went with wagons. When we got to the Blue Earth river, the ice had gone out on the west side, so we drove to the center and cut a channel through for our teams to cross, all getting wet to our waists. We reached Shelbyville about eight o'clock with our clothes frozen. Pete and I roomed together that night, and he piled into bed with his breeches on, giving me knowledge of how to dry clothing without a fire. He said he learned that in the pinery. We reached Grarden City next day, and the next morning loaded our wagons and started home. W^en we got back to the Blue Earth river it was nearly half a mile in width and full of floating ice. Here we camped with our teams and wagons three days, waiting for the ice to move and for the ferry boat, which was at Blue Earth City, to come down. While there we saw a man on the opposite side trying to cross in a row boat. When quite a way from shor^ his boat capsized near a tree. He was able to grasp a limb and saved himself by climbing the tree. This was in the afternoon, and he was there all night calling for help. The next morning another man was seen going out to him. When he was near the tree the current became so swift that it upset his boat, too, and he climbed the same tree. By this time the first man had nearly perished from hunger and cold. When up the tree No. 2 cut a whip and began whipping No. 1, which he continued until the other was aroused and warmed. They were rescued by two men going up the stream in a boat with another boat tied behind. After securing their own boat to a tree, they let the other float down to the captives, holding it by lines. The lines were cut after the captives had got into the boat, and the men rowed themselves ashore. The ferry boat came down that evening and ferried us over, one team and wagon at a time, the work taking nearly all day. The remaining part of the trip was rough, crossing creeks without bridges, taking thirteen days for the roimd trip.

Then I went back for another load. By this time the ferryman had a rope across the river, so I had no trouble in crossing. I got through very well and my flour was put in grain sacks, the weight, varying from 125 to 130 pounds per sack, being marked on the sacks in red chalk. I had no trouble until I got near Vernon. There the country was flat and the frost was coming out of the ground, so that I soon got stuck in a slough. I managed to get the team through the mud and water. I then unloaded my flour and carried it on my back to a dry place. I had this to do seven times before I reached Winnebago. I was a lad of seventeen and weighed ninety pounds. When I got to Winnebago City I found A. Miner there after a load of seed wheat; then I had company the rest of the way home. He had a balky team, so we could not double teams, and both had to unload and carry the loads through the sloughs. The flour cost $13 per hundred laid down in Jackson.

Better times came, and a short time after, the starvation period of 1866-67 was only a bitter memory. New settlers came in 1867 and selected claims, some venturing onto the prairie lands away from the river and lakes. Many hardships were endured by the new settlers during the late sixties - hardships wliich are incident to the settlement of any new country. Owing to the long distance from railroads, staple articles as well as luxuries ruled high in price. Following were the prices paid for some staple articles during the years 1867- 68-69, as recorded in the diary of an early day settler :^^

In October, 1867, the report of the county superintendent of schools shows us that there were eight organized districts in the county. The amount of money apportioned for school purposes was $156^49. Of this the permanent school fund provided $102.81 and the county two mill tax gave $53.68.

The tax levied in 1867 was $884.86, divided as follows : State, $247.98 ; county, $495.96 ; school, $99.21 ; township, $28.87 ; special school, $12.84. Of the total tax levied, $543.86 had been collected at the date of settlement on April 11, 1868. On January 8, 1868, the board of county commissioners examined the accounts of Jackson county and found in the county treasury the sum of $30.83.

For the first time in its history Jackson county furnished jurors for the district court in 1867, the drawing being made April 1. Following are the names of the residents selected for this dutv :

The statistical return of products for 1867 is an interesting document. It is learned that nearly four hundred acres of land were under cultivation that year. Following is the complete return as certified to by Auditor George C. Chamberlin: