Jackson County, Minnesota - Chapter 23, 1910

The Press

DURING the forty years of Jackson county's newspaper history only nine papers have been established - a remarkably small number when compared with neighboring counties. Of these nine, five are still published, as follows: Jackson Republic, by the estate of the late C. F. Mallahan; Lakefield Standard (founded as the Minnesota Citizen), by R. H. Lueneburg and J. W. Daubney; Jackson County Pilot, by John L. King; Heron Lake News (founded as the Heron Lake Wave), by Carl S. Eastwood; Jackson County Times (Heron Lake), by John S. Woolstencroft. The newspapers which have been discontinued were the Heron Lake Guardian, Lakefield Herald, Jackson County Argus (Alpha) and the Jackson Tribune.

The first newspaper to be taken from the press in Jackson county was the Jackson Republic. Its establishment was due largely to the removal of the United States land office from Winnebago City to Jackson and the consequent rise in importance of that little town. George C. Chamberlin and Henry M. Avery were the founders and the date of the first issue was February 26, 1870.

there was not a railroad within many long miles of the place. Mr. Chamberlin set out from Jackson in November, 1869, on his way to select the material. He made a hundred mile stage ride to the railroad at Janesville, went to Chicago, selected his material, and in due time the plant arrived. The "ready-prints" were made in Chicago and sent by express, but failed to arrive in time and a man had to be sent to find them.' The birthplace of the Republic was a little building of native lumber which stood on the corner where the P. H. Berge & Company's store is now, one of the first buildings erected in Jackson.

The Republic was established as a seven column folio, of which two pages were printed at home. Every family in the town and vicinity subscribed and all the business men gave it support.^ The peo-

*"Jt was a cold and stormy week and snow drifts were almost Insurmountable. Railways were one hundred miles away, and mails and stagres were irregular and uncertain. Our readyprint package failed to arrive and J. F. Ashley was dispatched for it, with instructions to meet it if he had to go to Chicago. He found the paper at Albert Lea and in due time arrived home, richly earning the $25 that the printing paper for the first issue cost us for bringing from that point. ... All night long did we work to get the first number ready for the press, warming pieces of boards on which to stand as we worked, and placing a kettle of live coals under the press while printing." - George C. Chamberlin in Republic, March 21, 1890.

pie seemed to be a3 much interested in the success of the venture as did the proprietors. Messrs. Chamberlin & Avery, in their introductory, said :

We this week present our readers the first number of the Jackson RepubUc. We enter upon its publication not entirely ignorant of the cares and responsibilities of an editor - not wholly unfamiliar with the many perplexing duties with which an editor must contend. Not even the most ripe in editorial lore can suit all liis readers, yet faithful efforts are always appreciated and honest exertions will meet their reward.

In making our bow we do not propose to lumber up our vinlued columns with promises impossible to fulfil, but prefer to let our paper from week to week speak for itself. If we succeed in making the Republic a live, local paper, a credit to Jackson and Jackson county, our object will have been accomplished. That will be our chief aim and to that end w^e pledge our earnest efforts.

Politics will not be entirely ignored but touched upon as lightly as circumstances will permit. What few words we may venture in this direction will most certainly be viewed from a republican standpoint, yet we will endeavor to not advocate them in such vehemence as to offend even the most fastidious of the twenty-five democrats who have cast their

Our paper will be the organ of no one individual, clique or faction, and its aim will be to faithfully chronicle passing events in Jackson county - to lay before its readers from week to week the beauties and advantages of our broad prairies, and to contribute its portion to directing hither our full share of westward immigration.

All we ask is a support commensurate with our desires. If the people of our youthful town and county duly appreciate the advantages to them of a good local paper and will give- us the patronage and cooperation they indicate, to make such will be the uniting efforts of

The Publishers

Chamberlin & Avery published the Bepublic until December 7, 1872, when the junior partner became the sole proprietor. Mr. Avery conducted it until April, 1875, when he sold out to his former partner. Mr. Chamberlin was the editor and proprietor until January 1, 1881, and under his management it was enlarged to an eight column folio. Mr. Chamberlin was one of the ablest journalists that ever

Petersburg - J. H. Baker, C. W. Cornish. A. Gruhlke. Ezra Fortner. George D. Stone. Rev. P. Baker. J. A. MIddaugh. S. MIddaugh, J. C. Hoovel.

published a paper in southwestern Minnesota. Under his management the paper was always bright and newsy, sparkling with good humor, bringing cheer to the frontier settlers.

Burt W. Day owned and edited the Eepublic from January, 1881, to April 1, 1887. It then passed into the hands of A. B. Allen, who presided over its destinies over twelve years. Soon after taking control he enlarged the paper to a six column quarto, and during part of the time it was an all home print paper. Sherman J. Dunn bought a half interest from Mr. Allen the first of the year 1893, and was a part owner until June, 1894.

W. C. Hartson bought the Eepublic October 1, 1899. In 1902 he increased the size to a seven column quarto, and on May 5, 1903, began the publication of a semi-weekly, issuing Tuesdays and Fridays. The ownership of the paper passed into the hands of 0. C. Gould, of Fairmont, in September, 1903, and Nelson P. 6.- Wright was installed as manager. The semi-weeklv was discontinued at that time. Mr. Wright left the paper in June, 1904. From Jackson he went to Mountain Lake and then disappeared from the face of the earth; nothing has even been heard of him since.

Mr. C. F. Mallahan, who had been publishing the Jackson Tribune, bought the paper from Mr. Gould in June, 1904, consolidated the two plants, and was the publisher and editor of the Eepublic until his death, which occurred August 29, 1909. Mr. Mallahan was a publisher of many years experience and published a very creditable paper. The Eepublic has been republican in politics during its entire life of forty years.

Jackson county^s second newspaper was the Heron Lake Guardian, which was founded by S. S. Haislet early in October, 1880, It was a little five column paper and started out with considerable patronage, but Heron Lake was a small place in which to successfully conduct a newspaper, and after many trials and tribulations it was discontinued. It was published until April, 1883. Mr. Haislet shipped the plant to Adrian and commenced the publication of the Adrian Guardian, with which paper he was identified many years.

The third paper to begin life in Jackson county was the Minnesota Citizen, started at Lakefield by Carl S. Eastwood, now of the Heron Lake News, on November 30, 1883. The Citizen was a seven column folio, was independent in politics and sold for $1.50 a year. Mr. Eastwood published a very good paper and it was heartily welcomed by the little village of Lakefield. On July 1, 1885, Mr. Eastwood sold to L. W, Seely, and that gentleman conducted the publication until October 9, 1885.

E. H. Lueneburg became the editor and publisher on the last named date. On April 14, 1886, he changed the name to Lakefield Standard and the form from a seven column folio to a five column quarto. Mr. Lueneburg sold the Standard September 25, 1890, to H. N. Douglas and W. A. Funk, but bought it back again December 11, of the same year. John and Thomas Crawford became the owners October 15, 1891, and conducted the paper as partners until January 1, 1895, when John Crawford withdrew and Thomas Crawford became the sole publisher. William Crawford bought a half interest August 21, 1897, and the firm became Crawford & Crawford, William Crawford being editor and Thomas Crawford business manager. There were many changes in the form of the paper under the management of the Crawfords. They published an excellent paper and took a leading part in looking after Lakefidd's

Crawford Brothers retired September 1, 1906, and were succeeded by R. H. Lueneburg and J. W. Daubney, the present proprietors. Mr. Lueneburg is the active member of the firm and issues a good paper. It is a seven column, six page paper and is printed entirely in the home office. The plant from which it is issued is a model one.

The Heron Lake Wave was founded by H. L. Frost January 22, 1886. It was started as an independent paper and was a seven column quarto. Mr. Frost published an able paper but he and his patrons could not agree, and he sold out in August, 1886. Carl S. Eastwood was the buyer of the good ^ill and subscription list of the Wave, the former publisher removing the plant. Mr. Eastwood put in a new plant, changed the name to Heron Lake News and the politics of the paper from independent to straight republican. The next June he enlarged the News to an eight column folio and added to the equipment of the office.

August 15, 1893, Mr. Eastwood bought the Worth ington Advance and moved to that city. From that date until March, 1894, the News was conducted by C. F. Mallahan, late of the Jackson Republic, under a lease from Mr. Eastwood. The paper was then bought by 6. A. Fairfield, who continued its publication until December, 1902, when Mr. Eastwood, the former owner, again moved to Heron Lake and purchased the plant. The News is republican in politics and is one of the strong papers of the party. A linotype was installed in the office in January, 1908, from which is set the matter for many of the papers in the vicinity.

For a short time in 1887 the Wilder Globe had an existence. It was edited by Rev. D. Griffin Qunn, of Wilder, and was printed iii the office of the Heron Lake

The next paper to consider in the chronological order of founding is the Jackson County Pilot, which was started at Jackson by V. B. Crane on September 12, 1889. The plant was brought from Spirit Lake, where Mr. Crane had been publishing the Spirit Lake Pilot. At the time of its founding it was a seven column folio and democratic. It was enlarged to an eight column paper in October, 1891. Mr. Crane conducted the Pilot until April 12, 1894, when W. Stanley Kimball became the owner and publisher. He made the paper a five column quarto and presided over its destinies until August 8, 1895. On that date James Manning became the editor and publisher. On March 26, 1896, he enlarged the journal to a six column quarto, a form it has ever since retained.

John L. King and J. C. McCroden bought the Pilot from Mr. Manning November 26, 1896, and conducted it as partners until November 10, 1900, at which time Mr. King bought his partner^s interest. Since that date Mr. King has been sole publisher. He conducts an excellent journal and receives good support from the people of Jackson county. The Pilot is democratic and has been ever since its founding.

The first number of the Jackson County Times was taken from the press at Heron Lake September 20, 1895. It was founded as a democratic paper, was a seven column folio, and Harry G. Maxfield was the proprietor. John S. Woolstencroft bought the paper January 24, 1896, and continued to conduct it as a democratic journal. C. L. Wing was managing editor for a time, but in July Mr. Woolstencroft assumed full management. The paper was made a five column quarto in February, 1896, and in May,

1899, was enlarged to a six column quarto, the form it still retains. From February 21, 1903, to September, 1908, 0. C. Hansell owned a half interest in the Times, the firm name being Woolstencroft & Hansell during this period. Mr. Woolstencroft again became the sole owner and has since managed it alone. He wields a trenchant pen and has made the Times a factor to be reckoned with in the affairs of Jackson countv.

The Liakefield Herald was founded November 15, 1895, by Louis N. Duchaine as a republican paper. R. H. Lueneburg became the publisher in May, 1900, and put in a new office. Clifford S. Bell bought the Herald September 1, 1902, and conducted it until May, 1904. At that time Crawford & Crawford, publishers of the Standard, bought the Herald and consolidated the two plants.

the Jackson County Argus and was founded May 30, 1901, by W. H. Hassing. A. A. Kruger became the editor and proprietor in May, 1902, and conducted the paper until March, 1905. On that date G. E. Robinson bought the plant. He conducted it until October, 1905, when publication was suspended, the field proving too small to properly support a newspaper. The subscription list and good will were bought by the proprietor of the Jackson Republic, and the plant was moved away.

The Jackson Tribune was the name of a paper which had an existence of one year. It was a six column quarto and was founded June 5, 1903, by C. F. Mallahan, who conducted it as an independent republican journal. One year later Mr. Mallahan purchased the Republic, consolidated the two and continued publication under the name of Jackson Republic.

Reminiscent

IN GATHERING data for a volume of this kind one runs across many stories of the early days for which no place can be found in the historical part but which are truly interesting and in many instances throw vivid light on early day conditions. These have been preserved and are here incorporated under the chapter heading "Reminiscent/^ Most of these stories have been written by early day residents and published in the local newspapers in years gone by; others are original, prepared by the author from data gathered from various sources.

Inkpaduta'S Indians

After the massacre at Springfield Inkpaduta and his Indians proceeded west into Dakota, taking with them their white women captives. One of these was Abbie Gardner (now Mrs. Gardner-Sharp), the fourteen year old girl taken from the Spirit lake settlement. She was with the Indians over three months before being ransomed and had opportunity for gaining insight into the customs, manners and beliefs of this ruthless band of savages. In her valued History of the Spirit Lake Massacre, she tells of many things learned during this enforced sojourn which proved of great value to those interested in gaining intimate knowledge

"A male Indian never does anything that can be called labor; it is against his principles, and would lower his dignity. Work is only fit for women. Such is an Indian's sense of honor. The women are only slaves; and we, poor captives, were slaves of the slaves.

"The Indians have no equal as gormandizers; they are perfectly devoid of anything like delicacy of appetite or taste or decency in the matter. Every part of an animal is devoured, cooked or raw, clean or unclean ; the smaller game is sometimes cooked without opening; and if the entrails are taken out they are thrown on the fire and roasted and eaten by the squaws, this being considered the right of the cook. Animals that have lain dead until putrescence has well begun are devoured with avidity. Fish found along the beach that have lain imtil the flesh was actually dropping from the bone were eaten without even being cooked, and pronounced Vash-ta-do!' (very good!). It was no unusual thing indeed to see the most delicate belles in Inkpaduta's train picking from the head of a papoose vermin - such as Burns saw on the lady's bonnet at church - and cracking them in their teeth.

"They have no regularity about their meals. It is always dinner time if they have anything to eat. They will eat until they can eat no longer; and then lie down and grunt and puff like cattle gorged with grass in the spring time, or like overfed swine. Thus they will lie and sleep and snore for an hour or two; then get up and smoke, and eat again. This is especially the habit of the ^gentlemen' of the party ; the 'ladies' contenting themselves with what their lords cannot eat, and resting their weary bodies by cutting wood and backing it up; or by preparing something more to please the taste of their 'better halves.'

"The Indian is an inveterate smoker, and if he had whisky would go to the same extremes with that. They got a large quantity of tobacco from the whites, more especially at Springfield; but all this would not have lasted long if they had not extended it by a free use of kinnikinic - a species of red willow that grows abundantly on wet soil throughout the northwest. They frequently smoke the leaves, but prefer the bark, which is much stronger. It acts as a narcotic. The squaws prepare the bark by scraping it off the twigs and drying it, in the winter by the fire on a grate made of strips of bark woven across a frame, and in summer on a piece of buckskin in the sun. We w^ere frequently compelled to help prepare it.

"Their lodges or tepees are conical tents and vary in size from fourteen to twenty feet or more in diameter ; they are made of the thickest, heaviest kind of cloth, or skins, and kept in shape by nine poles. The fire is built in the center, and the smoke escapes through an aperture at the top, made for that purpose. They make their beds of straw, mats, blankets, buffalo robes, etc. These they arrange around the fire, and on them they not

"The dress of the males, ordinarily, consists of deer-skin leggings, having the resemblance of the lower half of pantaloons; moccasins cover the feet and complete the dress* of the lower extremities. A belt or girdle surrounds the waist, and under this is drawn a piece of blue broadcloth, about a quarter of a yard in width and a yard and a half in length, or long enough to pass between the lower extremities, and the ends fall over and form a flap in front and on the back of the lower portion of the body. A short skirt of buckskin - sometimes fringed around the bottom - and a blanket complete the outfit of the men. In addition to this, however, may be seen a fathom of scarlet or blue cloth, worn around the waist as a sash, and another of like material, or a shawl, around the hetd as a turban.

"With the female a calico chemise covers the arms and body a little below the waist; a skirt of blue broadcloth is confined around the waist by a belt or girdle and extends nearly to the ankles; a pair of red or blue pantalets and moccasins complete the under dress. To this is added a blanket or fathom of red or blue broadcloth, to be used as an outer garment or wrap. With this the usual dress of the squaw is complete. Their blankets are white, red, blue or green, composed of fine wool and of superior fabrication.

"The principal root we had was wild artichoke. They also got two or three other kinds of roots; one, although growing in the ground, resembled beans; another being longer and more irr^ular in form, and of a light color, nearly white. All these were roasted, boiled or eaten raw, as fancy or convenience led them to do. Unpalatable as these roots were, but for them we must have famished.

devoured were geese, ducks, swans, brants, pelicans and cranes of the fowl kind; and of quadrupeds there were beaver, otter, niuskrat, skunk, etc., and fish. The fowls were prepared for the kettle by simply pulling off the roughest of the feathers, without washing or dressing. They were eaten without salt or seasoning. Beaver and otter were singed to free them of the thickest of the fur, pitched into a pot and boiled.

"When cooked these savory meats were dished out into wooden bowls, each bowl holding a quart or more, and eaten with spoons made of buffalo horns. Most savory among these savory meats was the polecat or skunk.

"Each Indian has his place in the wigwam, into which he drops as regularly as cattle into their stalls in a stable. The squaws dish up the food into these bowls and hand them to their lordly masters, who sit and eat at the meat and drink the soup and pass up their dishes for more until the supply is gone.

"We were absolutely compelled to eat whatever was given to us, or to dispose of it unknown to them. Frequeixtly they would give me things I could not possibly swallow, for instance, fish of which the flesh was so decomposed it was falling from the bone. In such cases I would watch my opportunity and drop it inside my blanket, from which I would throw it away when on the march. Possibly skunk meat might not be so bad if properly dressed, but singed and boiled entire it was almost too savory to suit my taste.

"The long poles used in the construction of their tepees are made into small bundles by being bound together at the ends. Then two of these bundles are attached to a strong thong of rawhide long enough to go around a horse's neck where the collar usually goes. The poles are so attached as to be a foot or more apart, and when the thong is fastened at the horse's neck, the smaller ends of the poles will be at his shoulders, while the others will drag on the ground. The travies, a large hoop, oval in shape and woven across with bark or buckskin, are attached to the poles, just back of the horse's heels. On this were placed such articles as they did not choose to carry or such persons as were not able to walk. The loads which even ponies were made to haul in this awkward manner were immense. Besides these heavy loads on the travies, it is not unusual to see an Indian on the back of the pony and heavy laden baskets at the sides. Even the dogs were made to haul smaller travies, yet large enough to be perfectly barbarous. The creatures would pull as if for dear life until perfectly exhausted, when they would drop to the ground, as if dead, and lie there a few minutes, then get up and trudge on again. Thus, day after day, these half -fed animals were made to toil to the utmost limit of possible endurance for their lazy masters.

"Their death song is a wild, hideous succession of cadences, utterly unlike the plaints of despair or grief, but rather a wild, unearthly sound, expressive of only savage passion, impressive to witness and startling to hear. Every night at the same hour, for several weeks, this passionate wailing was repeated. The mother would begin; then others, one after the other, would break out in the wild wail, until not only those in the tepee where the death occurred, but also those in other tepees who were related to the deceased, had joined in the lamentations. Thus, for weeks, the twilight hours were made hideous by these horrible sounds, which once heard can never be forgotten.

the desired grove, a platform was constructed of poles laid across two horizontal limbs of a large oak tree, and, by means of strips of bark tied to the body, it was hauled up for burial. There the poor emaciated body was laid to rest, after having been dragged around so long. And thus the Sioux bury their dead.

"A Sioux mother binds her infant to a small board when a few hours old. It is first imbedded in the feathery heads of the cat-tail flag (picked to pieces), and wrapped around with strips of cloth or buckskin, commencing at the feet and extending upward until all but the head is enveloped. It is then placed on a board and firmly bound with a blanket. This keeps it straight, protects it from injury in the rough treatment it receives, and is altogether more convenient for their mode of living than any other arrangement. From this confined position they are relieved only for a few minutes at a time, and this only at long intervals.

"When old enough to run alone it is relieved of its swathing bands, and if the weather it warm it is turned loose, without an article of clothing to protect or impede the action of its limbs. In the tepees the papooses are stood up against the wall, even from the first, and are almost no trouble at all. On the march they are stuck in the panniers on the horses, or on the backs of the squaws, inside of their blankets, or in any manner convenience may suggest.

"When I came to see how the children were educated and what was the early home training (if home they can be said to have), I ceased to wonder at their savagery. From their earliest childhood they are taught that fighting and killing are the highest virtues. The war-dance is a school eminently adapted to this end. There all the fierce and cruel deeds in

Not only this, but the private recitals, around the fire in the tepees, and all the intercourse of the children with each other, their sport (if sports they may be called), tend to the same end.

"Occasionally there would be a day so stormy and cold that even a Sioux would not travel. These were to me more dreaded, even, than the wearisome marches, because of being crowded in the tepee by the side of the young scions, with their dirty faces and noses, who here had a good opportunity of developing their true nature. There were 'wars and rumors of wars' from morning till night. They would fight, pull hair, scratch and bite until their faces were smeared with blood, the squaws not only making no attempt to restrain them, but actually cheering and urging them on, laughing in great glee when they got in some lucky hit, or if they showed fierce or revengeful dispositions. With such training is it strange that they grow to be what they are? 'As the twig is bent the tree is inclined.'

"The highest ambition of the young warrior is to secure the 'feather,' which is the testimonial of his having murdered some human being; but securing one feather only whets his zeal for more, as his rank or standing depends upon the number of his feathers. These are worn in the hair until enough are obtained to make a cap or headgear. No one would be allowed to wear a feather which did not represent a life taken, any more than in our regular army a captain would be allowed to wear the shoulder straps of a colonel. The head-dress, filled wiUi these eagle feathers and other insignia of blood, is regarded as 'Wakan' (most sacred).

"The Sioux believe in one great spirit, tlie nmker of heaven and earth. They also believe in subordinate spirits, both good and bad, and in the immortality of the soul.. The great spirit, they believe, created everything except wild rice and thunder. The rice they believe to be beneath the workmanship of the great one, and attribute it to chance. Thunder they believe to be the sound of the wings of an immense bird.

"They believe that somewhere in the heavens are cities and villages where the spirits of the departed remain at war with their enemies, and where the Sioux will always find plenty of game. They believe the spirits of the dead have power to inflict injury. They therefore oflfer sacrifices to appease them.

"They adore the great spirit, although they have distorted conceptions of the attributes of the deity. Various objects, animate and inanimate, are worshipped. Sometimes they think the great spirit angry with them, as when storms do them harm. They then make sacrifices of animals and other things to pacify him, that they may prosper in life.

"They support a non-hereditary sacerdotal order, the same person being both priest and medicine-man. They have also what may be termed jugglers, who, they believe, have power to confer blessings or curses. They have little conception of rewards and punishment after death.

"In cases of sickness they perform ceremonies, which are expected to cure the sick. They also believe in dreams and omens. When they have a good dream, they suppose some friendly spirit has been near them ; but bad dreams indicate that of an enemy. The bat they regard as an evil omen, and dread the ignis

"In war and hunting ihey are directed by signs and dreams. The signs may be the running of animals, flying of birdi*, or sounds at night. They think some animals have souls and that the bear has four, but do not believe in the transmigration of souls as do some of the people of Asia.

"Their fabled monsters are Haokuk, the giant^ and Unkatahe. The giant could stand astride the tallest pine tree or the broadest river, lives on the fat of animals, and is armed with a huge bow and arrow. They believe he yet lives and can kill them with a look from his piercing eye. The Unkatahe is an animal of two kinds, one of the water and one of the land. They are supposed to possess great power and can even kill the thunder. They also believe in fairies who inhabit all strange places, in rivers, lakes, cliffs, mountains and forests.

"The manners, customs and institutions of the Dakotas have many of the patriarchal features of the ancients. They strictly observe the feast of the first fruits, and all animals offered in sacrifice must be the best. In some of the feasts they are obliged to eat all that has been cooked. After a religious feast incense is offered, the host taking a large coal from the fire, upon which the foliage of the cedar is laid, and with this the vessels are perfumed. Certain animals they regard with great veneration, among these the serpent, turtle, wolf, grizzly bear and eagle."

Illustrative of the hardships endured and the dangers encountered by the Springfield settlers during the long and severe winter of 1856-57 is the following account of a trip to the home of Isaac Slocum, who lived on the Watonwan, written by Mr. Jareb Palmer. The events

"Bright and early on the morning of the tenth of March John Dodson and I started on our long and lonely journey of more than fifty miles across the trackless prairie, covered with at least three feet of snow. We had discarded our boots and put on Indian moccasins that our feet might be the lighter for the long tramp. There had been a slight thaw a few days before, and now there was a crust on the snow that bore our weight most of the time, and we were able to make pretty fair progress notwithstanding the great depth of snow.

"Soon after we started a brisk wind arose from the northwest, but the hard crust prevented the snow from flying much. Dodson proved to be a swift walker and I was kept busy trying to keep up with him, but I managed to do it, not without great effort. About one o'clock we passed to the noiih of Cedar lake, but did not stop as we were anxious to press on, in order to reach a vacant cabin situated on the Watanwon, about twelve miles from Cedar lake. A short time before sundown we reached the cabin. It was one of the cabins built for the accommodation of the mail carrier, and if all of them were of the same character as this one it is no wonder that the carrier perished. It was built of small logs with large cracks between them, which had not been chinked, and no attempt at plastering had been made. The roof was of hay, supported by brush. There was a doorway but no door to close it. There was no chimney or other place to build a fire, except what little might be made in the middle of the cabin, and then there was danger of setting fire to the hay overhead.

driving the snow through the cracks of the cabin like water through a sieve, nearly putting out what little fire we dared to keep. There we prepared to pass the night as best we might. We prepared our fuel for the night, cooked and ate our supper, and then wrapped our blankets tightly around us and sat around our diminutive fire watching with sleepless eyes the slow hours as they sped silently into eternity; and it looked as thou^ we might be called to follow them to that silent shore. Sleep was out of the question, as we had all we could possibly do to keep from freezing - in fact, in all my experiences on the frontier and during three years in the army, I do not think I put in a more disagreeable night. But it finally wore away, as all nights will, be they ever so terrible, and morning came at last. The wind still blew at a terrible rate and the snow was blowing so badly that travel was out of the question. So we set about improving the conditions of our surroundings, expecting that we would be obliged to pass the day and another night where we were. About nine o'clock the wind subsided and we continued our journey, and about noon reached the home of Mr. Slocum.

"I must admit I was pretty badly used up and did not care to go any farther. The sun reflected from the snow had affected my eyes so that I could scarcely see at all. Here was where we were to have found the traps, there being a blacksmith here who was to have made them, but they were not ready. The next morning Mr. Dodson went on to Mankato, while I remained at Slocum's.

^TVe had reached Slocum^s on Tuesday, and on Thursday evening William Wood and Nathaniel Frost came along with Mr. Wood's two yoke of oxen, another team and a span of horses and a sleigh. Two teamsters accompanied the Springfield men. Mr. Wood intended to attempt to get his goods home, for he knew that the people were ahnost on the verge of starvation for the want of them. Mr. Wood had attempted this i^ome time before, but had only succeeded in getting them a mile or two this side of Slocum's, where he had left them for several weeks in a covered sleigh, without any other protection. Mr. Wood desired me to return with him, which I concluded to do.

"So, on Friday morning we all started to make the attempt. Mr. Frost had recovered from his frozen feet, so that he was able to accompany us. On reaching Wood^s sleigh we divided the load, placing it on three sleighs or sleds, and commenced our journey. By dint of shoveling snow, beating roads, and other devices, we succeeded in moving the load about two miles before nightfall. The hired men became disgusted with the undertaking, and, taking their teams, made their way back to Slocum's. Wood, Frost and my- .self replaced the load on Wood's sleigh. Then we made our camp by the side of the sleigh and passed a very comfortable night, for Wood had quite a stock of blankets for the Indian trade, upon which we drew for bedding. In the morning we also returned to Slocum's, and during the remainder of the day busied ourselves making handsleds and getting ready to renew the journey on foot.

camped on a small creek, a branch of the Watonwan. The next morning we continued our journey, intending to reach Cedar lake ; but a blinding snow storm set in and for a time it looked as though we would not be able to keep" our course at all. At one time, I, being somewhat fatigued, lagged a little behind the others and they were soon oul of sight, and the wind blew so hard it covered their tracks almost as soon as made. Still, although I could neither see tliem nor their tracks, I supposed I WHS following after them till Mr. Frost came to me and told me that I was going in the wrong direction. He, looking with the storm, had been able to see farther than I, looking against it, and had looked back and discovered me traveling quite out of my course. Mr. Wood then remained stationary and Mr. Frost came after me ; then, by Mr. Wood's hallooing occasionally, we were able to find him again. When once more together we proceeded on our way, Wood piloting us, as it seemed to me, by instinct as I could see nothing by which to keep our course. But then, he had been over the route several times and was probably able to recognize an occasional landmark.

"We finally reached Cedar lake, where we made our camp in the south side of a grove. We got there some time before nightfall and had ample time to prepare for the night. We cut down quite a large tree and then shoveled the snow away on one side for some fifteen feet bdck from the log and made a good fire against the log. With plenty to eat and plenty of blankets to keep us warm, we were for once quite comfortable.

"The next dav we started for the Des Moines, but had not gone over a mile when we found that we could not keep on on accounti)f the snow flying so thick. As we could still see the timber we had left, we retraced our steps and soon reoccupied the camp we had so recently left. We remained until the next morning, when, the weather being fair, we resumed our journey. As the crust was hard during the early part of the day, we made good progress for some time, but before noon it got soft, and we were unable to proceed with our heavily laden sleds, so we left them and made* our way toward the timber. We left the sleds about four miles from the settlement and must have been two hours in making the four miles, the snow being so soft and deep that it was ahnost impossible to make any progress in wading through it. Before reaching the timber Mr. Wood left Frost and myself and went by the way of Church's house, as he had some mail for them. Frost and I went north of the grove and crossed the river opposite Woods' store, where we arrived about two o'clock p. m. on the 19th of March."

The Prairie Fires

Those who lived in Jackson county during the years of its early settlement, and up into the eighties, will never forget the alarm caused by the approach of a prairie fire. Many of the present generation are skeptical of the dangers to life and property from this source. Others can but marvel at the conditions that made a prairie fire dangerous or even possible. But conditions in the early days differed greatly from those of the present day. Then there were vast stretches of sparsely settled and unbroken prairie, covered with a dense growth of rank grass, which in the low places often grew to a great height. In the fall the grass died and formed a thick covering of highly inflammable material, which ^^urned like a prairie fire" when it became ignited.

prairie with the speed of the wind, leaping, bounding, rushing on their fiery way. By day the air would be filled with smoke and cinders and the atmosphere would become hazy; at night the heavens would be illumined by the blaze, and the bright lines of tiie raging fires could be seen, often miles in length. After the passing, the prairie would be left a blackened waste.

The few scattered settlers were in the greatest danger when one of these fires approached. Many settlers lost their whole belongings, and but few escaped without loss from this source. "Firebreaks," made by plowing furrows around the buildings or hay stacks, sometimes served as a check to the flames, but with a strong head wind the flames often jumped hundreds of feet, and in such cases the breaks were no protection. The favorite method of fighting fire was by "back-firing." When one of the terrors of the prairie was seen approaching with the wind, a fire would be set near the property to be saved. This, small at first, could be controlled and whipped out on the leeward side, leaving the flames to slowly eat their way windward to meet the oncoming lurid destroyer. Sometimes a space of sufficient width would thus be burned over in time to prevent the destruction. In case of a big conflagration fire fighting companies would be organized to go out and contend with the flames, using dampened sacks, quilts or whatever was handy, to whip out the blaze.

Prairie fires continued a menace to the people of Jackson county many years, or until the county had become quite thickly settled and subdued. Seldom did an autumn pass in the early days without one or more disastrous conflagration in some part of the county. Several times the villages were threatened with destruction, and companies had to be formed to go out and fight the approaching fires. One such occasion was on October 4, 1872, when a fierce prairie fire approached Jackson from the north. Fire fighters overcame the flames before any serious damage was done, however.

Early in October, 1873, was a mammoth prairie fire which raged four days. There had been an immense growth of grass during the summer and the fires burned fiercely. The air was full of falling cinders and smoke for days. Although the fire was the largest that had been known for years and the wind was high, there was, fortunately, little loss to crops and buildings. The editor of the Jackson Bepublic, October 11, 1873, described the magnificence of the scene :

*Tbe fire was continually coming nearer, until on Wednesday evening it rushed over the hill a mile or so south of town and ended its forward course in the ravine and skirting roads leading into town. On going out a mile or two from the. village at a late hour we were favored, upon reaching the brow of the bluffs overlooking the prairie, with one of the most magnificent sights ever beheld. There before us lay the prairie as far as the eye could scan, a perfect sea of fire, with only here and there a dark spot where the flames were checked by the protected premises of some settler, around which might be seen moving, like some wierd specters before the blaze, the settler and his family as they watched and fought the fire/'

A bad fire raged in LaCrosse township on January 16, 187G, that came near wiping out the village of Heron Lake. It was started two or three miles west of the village, and, driven on by a terrific wind, v»read rapidly and in a few minutes as- »imed alarming proportions. The greatvi excitement prevailed and many narrow .^acapes were reported. In the village anxious groups watched the progress of the

October, 1879, will be remembered as the date of the most disastrous prairie fires that ever visited the county, so far as property loss is concerned. Fires raged in all parts of the county for two weeks and baffled the efforts of the settlers to overcome them. They swooped down upon what was supposed to be well protected property, which, under ordinary circumstances, would have kept back the flames, but a high and continued south wind proved too powerful a fan and large losses resulted.

In Petersburg township, on the 5th and 7 th, the settlers were out in full force, and by almost superhuman efforts only were thev able to save their homes. As it was, E. T. Mather lost 17 tons of hay and Mr. Russell a grove of young timber. In Wisconsin Herman Miller and John Gerlach lost 26 tons of hay. In Enterprise James Taylor lost 25 tons of hay and Darius Benjamin 30 tons. The grove of young trees belonging to Dr. Brownell was also burned. The fires raged fiercely in Kimball. They burned a stable belonging to Charles Erickson and a number of hogs belonging to the same farmer. Charles Kendall lost several small pigs in the same fire. A stable and hay belonging to John Peterson were burned, as well as 15 tons of hay belonging to Mr. Schoewe and 'several tons belonging to R, H. Wade.

In Minneota Mr. Gilfillan lost several stacks of hay. In Hunter Fred Bedient lost all his property except the house. A. D. Palmer and H. K. Rue each had hay destroyed. The village of I^akefield, then just founded, was threatened with destruction, but the citizens turned out and set back-fires and saved the town. Charles Malchow, of Heron Lake towTiship, lost 700 bashels of oats, 120 bushels of wheat, some com and a hen house. In West Her-

Pred Schuldt, of Kost, lost 300 bushels of oats, 75 bushels of wheat, 100 bushels of barley and his granary and his reaper. In Sioux Valley the loss was large and came with crushing eflfeet on several parties. A flock of 94 sheep owned by Frank Benoit and others was burned to death while penned in a yard. The flames came with such fury that they could not be checked. The hay, grain and stable of Mr. Benoit were also burned. Jareb Palmer lost all his hay and a young grove. Charles H. Greer lost everything except his house. In Ewington Sorem Ivereon lost his stable and all his hay.

Four human lives were lost in one of the ever-dreaded prairie fires which visited Sioux Valley township on November 2, 1888. Mrs. Mollie O'Connor and her baby and her sister, Mrs. Katie Porter, were three of the victims. They were visiting at the home of F. E. Murphy when they saw the fire and decided to hurrv home. When about a half mile on their way the wind suddenly changed and drove the fire down upon them. They were unable to escape and were burned to death on the prairie.

Miss Julia OX^onnor, who was teaching school in the Sawver district, saw the fire approaching, and, realizing the danger, took her pupils out onto a nearby piece of plowed ground, where she kept them until the danger was past. Henry Ray was fighting fire near the school house. Noticing the flames approaching some unprotected stacks, he mounted a horse and set out to back-fire. The next that was seen of him was when he was coming toward the party of school children with every particle of clothing except his boots burned off. He was horribly burned and died the next dav.

from the dreaded prairie fire by the pioneers of the county. With the later settlement came the breaking up of the prairie, and the dangers were a thing of the past.

The Editor Arrives

I remained at Blue Earth City a week or two and then set out for my new home, Jackson, about the last of August, 1866. At that time the only public conveyance into this country was the Blue Earth City and Spirit Lake weekly or semi-weekly stage, by way of East Chain, Center Chain, Tenhassen and Emmet, to Spirit Lake. I was switched off at Emmet, where a weekly line commenced for Jackson. The next day was Thursday, the day for the Jackson stage. It not only rained, but it poured - ^it was before it had forgotten how to rain in this country. I looked anxiously for that stage, when - imagine my disappointment - Frank Bailey, then a mere boy, rode up with the mail on horseback. That settled it for me for another week unless I could procure private conveyance, and horse teams were then out of the question.

The postmaster, a Mr. Mattson, owned a pair of steers and some wagon wheels and I negotiated with him to take me to Jackson, sixteen miles distant. The next morning he took two boards and put on those wheels, placed my trunk thereon, and I mounted that for my seat. Mr. Mattson sat on the boards in front with a gad eight or ten feet long extended over his shoulder. He must have cut that gad in Emmet timber, and if it had remained until the present time I will warrant there would have been two cords of wood in that tree. As poor as I am today, I would give ten doljars for a picture of that rig as we set out on our trip through the tall prairie grass. Had any of you, twentythree years ago last Saturday [September 1, 1866], been out here on some high point in this beautiful town of Petersburg you would have seen that little procession moving majestically along through the tall grass, your humble servant perched upon that trunk, fighting flying ants with both hands and emitting them by the mouthful.

We passed Mr. Barber's, just across the Iowa line, and that was the last house until we reached Mr. Belknap's, a mile or two this side [southeast] of Mr. Thoma8\ . Through the entire town of Petersburg, where now are fine farms with large wheat and corn fields on every hand, elegant residences and magnificent groves, there was not a single settler on the east side of the river. On the west side resided Be v. Peter Baker, Mr. Price, Mr. Cornish and perhaps one or two others. Farther up lived Mr. Samuel Hall, then the Camfields, and then Mr. [Jared] Palmer. This included at that time about all the settlers between the state line and Jackson.

Adventure Ix A Blizzard

A volume could be filled with the stories of adventures in the terrible prairie winter storms in Jackson countv alone. Many experiences are on record and hundreds more are retained in the memory of those who participated in them. Many people have lost their lives in blizzards in Jackson county, and many others escaped only because of pluck, endurance and luck. Of the many stories told I shall here reproduce only one or two, illustrative of the many.

The following account of an adventure in one of the storms of the early seventies is told by a lady who was at the time a child and lived with the family six miles south of Jackson. The head of the family and the older children were away from home working, and before the blizzard struck, the mother went to one of the neighbors, a mile away. The story continues:

"Soon after four o'clock we began to do our evening chores. We had only begun when the wind suddenly turned into the northwest and began to blow a perfect gale. Allie and I were told to 'hasten and bring up the cattle that were feeding in the cornstalks a short distance away. Before we had reached the field they seemed to have become conscious of danger, too, and, raising their heads and sniffing the air a moment, they stampeded for the stable, bellowing and snorting, running past us, each one trying to be the first under shelter. Before we reached the house again the wind was blowing furiously and the cold increasing. The horses and cattle were now driven to their places and tied as quickly as possible; then we began to cany hay from the hay stack to fill the hay pen in the stable, for now wc knew that a blizzard was upon us and we would need hay enough to feed the cattle for two or three davs. Father usft/ ually kept the hay pen filled with hay in case of a storm, but for some reason he had neglected to fill it since the last storm, and it was with great difficulty and considerable suffering that we got it again filled.

"When the chores were all done and everything made as comfortable as possible out doors, we went to the house and gathered around the warm fire, while Dell, the oldest, began to prepare the evening meal. This she left every few minutes to go to the window to peer out into the storm for father and mother, whom she hoped a merciful Providence would guide home through the dreadful storm. Supper was at last ready and we gathered about the table, every eye to the vacant places, and each heart filled with additional fear. The meal was scarcely tasted, except by AUie and I, and we were not as. yet old enough to fully realize the fearful circumstances. After supper was over the lamp was set in the window, so that father or mother or some of our neighbors, whom we knew to be away from home, might see it and thus find their way to the house; then we sat down by the fire to listen.

^Twice the wind forced open the door, and we were compelled to prop it with heavy sticks of cordwood to keep it shut. Twice we thought some one was trying to force an entrance through the door, and with white and terrified faces my brother and Dell unbarred it, to find nothing but the storm and the night - and, oh, what a ^i^itl Tlie air wms so completely filled with snow, and it was so fearfully coW.

"One who has never been in a blizzard can have but the slightest conception of how dreadful they are. Before midnight we had burned all the wood that was cut and we were compelled to cut up the dry cordwood that had been saved for this purpose. This, together with the saw and ^horse,^ had been brought in when we did the chores. The work of converting this into stove-wood fell to my brother. It is manv vears since then and he died many years ago, but how plainly I can see him as he looked that night, his dark blue eyes filled with anxiety and his delicate face filled with fatigue and excitement.

"It is only natural that our imaginations should become peopled with fearful fancies on such a night; these chased away all thought of sleep until after midnight, and then, too tired and sleepy to sit in my chair, I was soon fast asleep on the floor. Dell discovered me, and I was awakened and told to go upstairs with AUie, whereupon I set up a wail of remonstrance, pleading to be allowed to sleep in mother^s bed down stairs. As she was no longer expected home that night, I was finally allowed to do as I wished, and Allie and I were soon nestling in mother's feather bed, while brother and Dell kept the fire burning and the light in the window all night.

"Morning came at last, and our first thoughts were of father and mother, who might be lying stiff and cold beneath the drifts of snow like the one piled up against our window. The wind had abated somewhat during the night, and we could catch glimpses of the trees thai stood in front of the house a few feet awav. As soon as we had breakfast my brother and Dell said they would try to find their way to the stable and feed the stock. So the door, which was drifted partly to the top, wm£ openad aad ibej climbed out over the drift into the storm. I was filled with a feeling of dread when I saw them go, for I feared they would never find their way back to the house ; but my fears were needless, for they soon returned and said that the snow was drifted over the stable so they could not get in, as the shovel was inside. One of us soon thought of the fire shovel. It seemed an endless undertaking to shovel through a huge drift with a fire shovel, but the drift was found to be only a couple of feet through at the top of the door, and they decided to gain an entrance there instead of at the bottom. This was done by pushing the boards, which were stood up on end to form a door, to either side, after the snow had been shoveled awav. The snow, piled over and above the straw stable, made it doubly warm, and the cattle were lying down, chewing their cuds, seemingly perfectly unconscious of the storm that raged without. Their mangers wc filled with hay. Then we left them until three o'clock, when the fire

"It was ten o'clock the next day when we heard some one at tlie door, and father walked in. His clothing was blown full of snow, his beard, eyebrows and eyelashes filled with snow, and his face and some of his fingers frozen. When he entered he asked for mother, and when told where she was he wanted to go at once to see if she were still there or had started for home and been lost in the storm. But we persuaded him to first sit down and warm himself and tell us where he had been during the night. He then told us how the storm had overtaken him when but one-half a mile from the timber and how he had kept on, hoping to reach home, until the storm became so dense he could not see his oxen nor tell where he was. Baiowing he was lost, he unhitched his team, and, taking hold of the near one's bow, let them go where they would, trusting to the animals' instinct to lead him to shelter. On and on they went, blinded with snow, plunging through drifts that were growing larger each minute - yet father clung to the bow with his frozen fingers, for he knew it would be death to let go even for a moment. They had traveled thus for an hour or so when the oxen suddenly stopi>ed, and, feeling about him, father found that they had stopped on the sheltered side of a straw stack. Rubbing some of the ice and snow out of his eyes, father looked around for buildings; but it was impossible to see more than a few feet away, except when there was a lull in the storm. It was during one of these that he thought he could discern the outline of a building a short distance away. During a longer lull he saw it more plainly, and, running toward it, he reached it in safety before the storm again shut it from sight. The storm gradually grew worse, and when night came on you could see nothing for the whirlpool of snow that filled the air. The building proved to be a straw stable, partly drifted under. Knowing that a house must be near, father rubbed the snow from his eyes again and waited for a momentary abatement of the wind, to see if he could discover the outline of a building. He soon saw it standing a short distance awa>'. Here he found a woman with three small children and scarcely anything to eat or burn. The husband had gone to town in the morning for provisions and fuel and had failed to return. Father stayed with them and cared for the dumb animals until the second day of the storm, when he left his team and started home, a JKstance of three miles, on foot.

"As soon as father had warmed himself he went to see if he could find mother, and with what an agony of suspense we awaited his return! Our hearts stood still when we heard him at the door, but as soon as we saw his face our fears were all removed, vet no one could find words to ask him if he had found mother all right. Not waiting long for us to ask, he told us she was safe and well, and that Mr. G. would bring her home the next dav if the storm were then over.

"By the next morning the wind had entirelv abated, and now that the storm was over everybody was astir. Those that had been kept away during the storm were going home, while others were leaving home to search for friends that had not returned. Not one in our neighborhood perished, though nearly all the men and some of the women were away. But throughout the whole frontier many lives were lost, for the storm was one of the worst we ever know. Nearly every week brought to us the accounts of some newly found bodies, though most of them that perished were not found until the snow

"Mother's home-coming was awaited with mucli impatience by myself. I ran to the window every time I heard a sleigh, but in spite of my vigilance Mr. G.'s sleigh was at the door before I saw it. Mother came in with face radiant with gladness, and I know our faces reflected back that gladness if they were faithful mirrors of our hcari«."

A Night In A Snow Bank

Thirty years ago this March [ 1869] I was in Jackson with oxen after a load of wood. I started home just at night, when suddenly one of those storms which the country is noted for came up, and by the time I got out of Lee's place you could not see ten feet ahead. T had faith in the team and believed that they would keep the road, but the storm grew^ worse, and ?ioon it became impossible not only to see Imt even to feel. I unhitched the oxen and we started to find the road, but 1 had to give that up, so I fell in behind the oxen and trusted to luck to bring up somewhere.

After we had traveled until I began to give out, I stopped and tried to fasten the oxen with the chain to a snow crust. Then I dug a hole in the bank and turned in. Soon I heard a movement, and, crawling out, discovered the oxen were gone, but as I could not tell which way they had gone, I again sought my downy couch. I lay on mv back and worked both legs, striving to keep my feet from freezing, until I was nearly used up. When I got outside again the storm was still doing business, but I could see the moon was just up, so it must have been three o'clock, and back I went under the snow. At daylight I started on again and soon ran into a stake; then I knew where I was, and, starting straight west, I struck the little log house in just a mile. That day, after rest and a good breakfast, I struck out and found the team coming home. They were about two miles southea^st of where we camped.

That same night my brother, who had a claim adjoining mine, came over in the evening to see how the family fared and in going home missed the house and wandered all night in the slough just east of where Pearson now lives. When we found him in the morning his mouth and beard were solid ice, and he had hardly room to breathe.

Having made up my mind to go to St. Paul, the next thing was to get there. The nearest railway station was Mankato, seventy-five miles from here, and there was not a bridge across any of the rivers or streams l)etween here and Mankato, and no regular traveleil road, only a trail across the prairie. I sometimes think when I hear some of the people finding fault with the roads we have at the pres- 'ent time that if thev had been here in those days they might have had good reason to complain. At that time B. W. Ashley was mail carrier between here and Madelia, and a Mr. Vogt, of Madelia, carried the mail from Madelia to Mankato. Having made arrangements with Mr. Ashley to leave here at six o'clock in the morning of September 16, 1869, and having some very important business to attend to that morning before leaving (viz: getting married), I got out of bed very early. When my wife and I got down to the river we found a boat ready to take us across, as, on account of the heavy rains, the river was high and teams were unable to cross at the ford. On crossing the river we found two teams awaiting lis - B. W. Ashley, who took the five passengers, with one team; Menzo Ashley, who carried the baggage, mail and a boat, with the other.

We got along fairly well until we reached Elm creek. Then we had to launch our boat, and Menzo took one passenger across at a time. When all were across Ben and he tied their wagon boxes down to the axles of the wagons and swam their teams across. It was a dangerous undertaking, as the water was running at the rate of at least ten miles an hour, but they got everything across safely. After we got to Long lake they thought they would have no more use for the boat, as there was a horse boat on the Watonwan, just this side of Madelia. When we reached the river we learned that the water had carried the boat house away, so we drove to a farm house to see if we could stay there over night, as it was after sundown by this time. They informed us that they could find a place for the teams but not for the passengers. We were in a pretty flx. We could see the lights in Madelia, about a mile away, but no way to get there. In the meantime, Menzo had gone down the river, and, seeing a boat tied up at the sawmill on the opposite side, he swam across and brought the boat up to where we were waiting. He then took us across, and we walked to Madelia. The ground between the river and town was rather low and there was considerable water on the ground; every little while you would hear some one say ^^oh V' when they stepped into a hole up to the knees in water. We all had wet feet before we got to town, about ten o'clock at night. So much for the first day of our wedding trip.

with water, but from Lake Crystal to Mankato it was mud up to the axles nearly all the way. Every few rods we would get stuck in a mud hole, and I would have to get out and help pry the wheels out with a fence rail. We carried two rails with us, and I walked nearly all the way from Lake Crystal to the river. When we reached the river we* found that the horse boat was unsafe, so we left the team on this side and walked across the river on some plank that were laid on a bridge that was being built The mail carrier told me it was only a short distance to town and that we could walk up, or if we would wait he would return with a team and take us to town. Seeing I had paid him to take us to Mankato, I told him we would wait until he returned with a team. He tried, as the saying is, to freeze us out, but I got a good seat on the lee side of a brewery, and in that situation my staying qualities were good in those days. In some two hours he returned with a team, and we arrived in Mankato all safe and in good time for .supper. Next daiy we got on board the cars and arrived in St. Paul without any further difficulties.

Wild And Woolly Days

Pluck was the chief capital of the people of that locality in the early times, and fur was the medium of exchange. Prime muskrats passed current at an undisputed value of twenty-five cents, and it required eight of those pelts, deposited in advance, for 6ne year's enrollment on the subscription list of the paper whose majority we celebrate today. The pelt of an adult skunk was worth forty cents, but would not be accepted at the Republic counting rooms unless thoroughly disin-

'Wrltten In 1891 and published In the Jackson Republic of February 20, of that year, the number celebratiniT the 21st birthday of the pioneer paper.

Yes, tliose were woolly days, and Judge Sandon - we called liim Cliarlie then - will vouch for the fact that when Doc p]dwards and Tommy George failed to connect, either as the result of foul weather or from what sometimes affect statesmen as well as stage drivers, the supply of tobacco would become exhausted. It was then the bovs were wont to raid Old Man Monson's sheep pen and pluck the fibre from his flock, which, rumor said, had been saturated with the narcotic to destroy insects peculiar to the sheep. . In connection with those hard times and early struggles, J. J. Smith will inform inquiring tenderfeet why so many slippery elm trees yielded their bark to the needs of the first settlers, and why the wild onion became an almost extinct plant along the head of Dunbar creek. M. Miller, veterinary surgeon, will testify to the fact that a more healthy and more rigorous class of people never fell under the fostering care of a medical practitioner than the yeomanry who read the first number of the Republic.

M. B. Dunn could prove by the records of Petersburg that originality is not a recent importation, but existed with the township board which laid out a road "from John Hoovel's house to the place whore George Stone kicked Chauncey Cornish, and thence in a due line to the place where Tom Russell's mare died, and continuing in a northwest course to the spot where Jim Palmer camped when he stole Fred Lindsley's traps.'' He could tell you of the personal encounter between Thomson and Al. King; of the closing of the polls while the judges of election proceeded to "put a head" on each other before resuming the statutory duties of their office. .

We cite Attorney Dunn as an intdligent witness to prove that an absolute similarity of sex is not conducive of the best result* in stock raising, as shown by the signal failure of Jack Greer and his ten head of masculine cattle.

But all is changed since the cars have come and scared away the game. The blizzard-cap has given way to the less comfortable derby. The fur coat has been retired in favor of some dudish garment worn in the interests of doctors. Dan's old fiddle has gone to join the musical instrument of the historic Ned. Judge Sandon has always got "tobacco in his old tobacco box;" the heartless stranger has plowed up our best hunting grounds; democrats have moved in and settled in the county; so-called social parties are held at neighboring villages and the people of Jackson are not present at the feast; the Jackson Protective society has long since abandoned its vigilant care of Eph's old brewery; wisdom no longer sits on the bench where Judge Mason held the scales of justice; the old thousand dollar bill has been retired from local politics ; all tidings from the outside world no longer filter in as in the days of stage and pony lines; ox teams have disappeared from the streets of Jackson; the prairie schooner is less known to the present population than its namesake in a "dry" town.

The present manager of the Republic would not know a prime pelt from a September kit. But the subject is becoming painful; let the curtain drop.

The Jackson county settlers of the early sixties lived in an isolated community, so far as the world at large was concerned. For years their nearest trading point was Mankato, nearly one hundred miles away, and trips to that frontier town were events to be remembered. The children were brought up without much general knowledge of the world or its customs. They were given plentiful religious and meager eilucational instruction; the boys could ride, hunt, trap, drive oxen, fight Indians and do a man's work, but their knowledge of the minor things of life was not picked up until years later.

So it came about that Ex-Sheriff Ole Anderson, of Jackson, then a boy entering his teens and residing with his widowed mother on the Belmont township homestead, learned many things that in more settled communities are known without being learned. Among the delicacies that did not come to the homes of the frontier Norwegian families was fruit, and Ole was quite a lad when he saw his first orange.

It was on a trip to Winnebago City, whither he had gone with his ox team, that he first became initiated to the delicacies of the southern-grown fruit. There he saw a man eating an orange with the greatest enjoyment. Ole was interested find watched the performance closely. He Wondered if they were as good as the Plan's enjoyment would seem to indicate. He decided to find out from a personal trial and sought a store where he saw some of the fruit displayed. Not knowing if he would like the fruit, he purchased only one. Then he ate it. He Was disappointed with the flavor and Wondered how the man whom he had seen eating could have developed such an abnormal taste.

Locusts and wild honey may do for a diet in case of emergency, but no man hereabouts will of his own choice take locusts in his'n hereafter. We have no doubt he is a blessing in disguise, but there is no disguising the fact that our people privately prefer a different disguise.