Lyon County, Minnesota - Chapter 7: The Age of Imi< >spek Ity - 1882-1912, 1912

Chapter 7: The Age of Imi< >spek Ity - 1882-1912

FACTS supplying the context of preceding chapters lead to the conclusion that the people of Lyon county had passed through many years of hardships and bitter disappointments before a permanent condition of prosperity was readied. This long period of travail was punctuated by an occasional year that promised better times. In the earliest days the settlers contended with obstacles incident to the settlement of any newcountry, being far from railroads, markets, schools, churches, and the many institutions that in our present day civilization are considered necessary to the enjoyment of life.

The community had hardly emerged from its frontier state when the grasshopper scourge came with its terrifying inflictions, and the county received a setback which took years to overcome. Following the departure of the plague came several years devoted to the payment of debts contracted during the dark days and making a new start. During this reconstruction period were several years of partial crop failures because of weather conditions, and the age of prosperity did not begin until the year 1882.

several years that was secured and marketed without some discouraging feature. The result was a rise in the value of Lyon county farming lands and an influx of new settlers, who came to share in the prosperous times. During the fall months every train from the east brought landseekers, most of whom invested in railroad lands and remained as permanent settlers. "With no effort to force a boom," said the Marshall News in August, "one has fairly started. The railroad land office is daily disposing of land in the county and much deeded property is changing hands."

The following winter was another severe one. For thirty-four days prior to March 4 the railroad was blockaded so completely that not a train ran in the county. Another of the death-dealing winter storms occurred February 15 and 16, 1883, in which two more lives were added to the list of those sacrificed to the Storm King.

During the afternoon of the fifteenth the weather was calm and foggy. At a quarter after nine in the evening was heard the roaring, rumbling sound that gives warning of the approach of all storms entitled to the name blizzard. At half past nine it struck, moving with a velocity of thirty-five miles an hour. The blizzard raged until half past seven

Luther C. Hildreth, thirty-five years of age, an early settler of Lyon county, lost his life in the terrible storm. He had been chopping wood at D. S. Burt 's place, on the northwest quarter of section 24, Coon Creek township, a mile and a half from his own home, which was on the southeast quarter of section 22, of the same precinct. At eleven o'clock on the night of the storm Mr. Hildreth started for home and within a short time was lost. As subsequently learned by tracing his tracks, he passed quite near his own house and continued west to Lone Tree lake. Then he turned east, came to the Redwood river, and followed up its channel two miles. While in the river bed Mr. Hildreth endeavored to dig a hole in the snow, but failed and lost his mittens there.

Still clinging to the ax he carried, Mr. Hildreth left the river and proceeded in a meandering course to within a short distance of Balaton. The last half mile was made on his hands and knees part of the way, the tracks showing that he staggered when walking. The body was found on the eighteenth. He was lying on his back with his legs doubled under.

The other death was that of Annie Cain, nineteen years of age, who lived with her parents near Amiret. On the day the storm began she was visiting at the home of F. A. Woodruff and early in the evening started home. She became lost in the fog before the blizzard started and when the storm came up she battled with it for some time, but

'The French colony came as a result of the reports of the county made by Messrs. Letourneau and Regnier, who came in the summer of 1882. After visiting many parts of Southwestern Minnesota, they decided to locate in the Ghent neighborhood. Their representations were responsible for the arrivals of 1883. Among the first of the French settlers were Messrs. Paradis and sons, Suprenant-Lord, Xord Paradis, Antony Paradis, Suprenant-Prairie. Metty, Carron, Lebeau, Padnaud, Duchene, Nevell and Emilien Suprenant.

finally succumbed. Mis:; Cain traveled six miles and sank down to her death about two hundred rods north of the house of Andrew Jackson. At one time in her travels she passed within thirty rods of that home. The young lady was thought to have remained at Woodruff's, and the fact that she had been lost in the storm was not known for two days. Her body was found on the eighteenth.

The year 1883 witnessed a large immigration to Lyon county. In March came a colony of fifty French settlers from Kankakee county, Illinois, who settled in the Ghent neighborhood. They came in a train of thirty-seven cars and brought farming implements and stock with them.1 There were also many arrivals from Belgium and Holland, who came as a result of a trip to the old country by Father Cornelius in January, 1883. 2

Many new farm houses were erected during the year, the villages increased in population, and the country took on an air of prosperity. Good crops were the rule and nearly a million bushels of grain were harvested. The acreage sown to the several cereals, the total yield and the average yield per acre for 1883 were as follows:

Grain

-Among these arrivals from the old country were Father Y. Devos, who became pastor at Ghent ; Messrs. J. Lambert, Princen, Schreibers, Haerts, Maertens, Depuydt, Messine, Dieken, Sandy, Clayes, Peters, Van den Bogaerde, Crombez, Bauruans. Delmeule, Hendrick, Riviere, DeReu. Van den Abeele, Van Prundel, Vrnkenlen, Engels, Dobbeldere, Blauwette, Browers and Maenhoudt.

Duluth, North Shore & Southwestern, of which Herman E. Long was president and Louis H. Greiser was secretary. The "proposition." which was the inevitable forerunner of railroad building in the early days, was submitted to the people of Lyon county at a mass meeting held at Marshall on January 2l>. The company desired a bonus of county bonds to the amount of $40,000, to be delivered in case the road was completed to Marshall not later than September 1, 1885.

Most of the people of Lyon county were enthusiastically in favor of bonding for the road, which was to traverse the county in a general north and south direction, and at another meeting on January 30 petitions for calling a special election to vote on the bonds were signed. The people of Marshall, particularly, were active in canvassing the county for signatures to the petition and within a short time petitions favoring the calling of the election were presented to the county authorities from every township, each signed by at least two local officers and twelve other freeholders. The requested action was taken by the Board of County Commissioners and a special election called for February 23.

Tracy was not on the line of the proposed road and. the people of that village were opposed to the granting of bonds. A lively campaign in opposition ensued, participated in largely by the Chicago cv. Northwestern interests. John Lind, later governor of Minnesota, was at the time a resident of Tracy and took a prominent part in the campaign against the bond issue, particularly to keep the matter from coming to a vote. An injunction, forbidding the county auditor to poi I and publish the notices of election, was "ranted by Judge Webber, of the district court. When the injunction papers were served, however, the notices had been posted and the call for the election had been turned over to the printers. The election was held in all precincts except Monroe, Eidsvold and Nordland, the election officers of those precincts refusing to open the polls upon advice of those opposing the bonds.

To carry the election it was necessary not only that a majority of the electors voting should favor the issue, but also that a majority (if the townships should record a favorable vote. The bonds were carried by a vote of 724 to 156, and thirteen of the seventeen townships voting gave majorities in favor. The vote by precincts was as follows:

After the election the people of Tracy again appealed to the court and secured a temporary restraining order, forbidding the county authorities to deliver the bonds and the railroad officials from applying for them. In district court on May 29 Judge Webber made the in- junction permanent.3 Before this action was taken, however, it became known that the railroad would not be built. It failed for lack of capital.

The years 1884 and 1885 were among the most prosperous in Lyon county's early history. Excellent crops were raised and there was a big immigration. Landseekers came to the county in large numbers and indications of prosperity were apparent on all sides. New farms were opened, neat frame houses replaced the sod shanties of pioneer days, and real estate values increased.4

Exclusive wheat farming was given up and much flax and hay were raised. Farmers turned their attention also to stock raising and dairying more than formerly. The farmers were at last firmly upon their feet, and the high road to wealth was open. The recovery from the grasshopper scourge was at last complete.

3The case was entitled: Gilbert H. Jessup, David H. Evans, Henry Pattridge, Nathan Beach and John Lind vs. James Lawrence as county auditor, Herman E. Long and Louis H. CJreiser. %

The year 1886 was not a particularly fruitful one. There was very little movement in real estate and times were dull. In the country some improvements were made, but in comparison with the two or three preceding years, the twelve-month was an uneventful one.

The next year a splendid record in agricultural development was made. The acreage of crops was increased, many acres of prairie land were broken, many new farms were opened, a great amount of building was done, and the number of livestock greatly increased and the breed improved.

In the history of the Northwest there have been a few winter storms of such unnatural severity that they stand out as events of historical importance. The most severe of these awful storms was undoubtedly the blizzard of January 7, 8 and 9, 1873, an account of which has been given. Ranking second was the terrible blizzard of January 12, 1888, when over two hundred people lost their lives in different sections of the Northwest. By a miraculous turn of fate, none of these was in Lyon county, although man}' were caught in the storm and some were severely frozen.

The conditions essential to such a disastrous storm as this proved to be had been filled by the weather dining the week previous. On January 5 a storm of sleet had frozen on the surface of the deep snow to an icy smoothness. The day before the storm the intense cold weather that had prevailed moderated, the wind shifted to the southwest, and there was a heavy snowfall, which continued until the blizzard started the next day.

and Tracy this year exceeds by far the amount sold any previous year, and what i> better, it is sold to men who will occupy and till it." - News-Messenger, July 17, 1885.

On Thursday morning, the twelfth, the weather was mild and by noon it was thawing. A damp snow was falling and there was scarcely any wind. At a little before four o'clock in the afternoon what little wind there was subsided and there was a dead calm. At five minutes past four o'clock came the storm, with absolutely no warning.8 It has been described as coming "as quickly as one could look to the window." In a moment a howling, shrieking blizzard was raging with blinding fury, rendering it hazardous to undertake a journey of even a few blocks in town and making it equivalent to almost certain death to be caught away from shelter on the prairie.

The terrors of the storm were augmented by a rapidly falling mercury, which soon reached the region of the thirties and rendered infinitely small the chance that any unfortunate being could survive who might be exposed to its perils. The storm rapidly increased in fury and continued unabated until eight o'clock Friday morning; then it lost much of its violence but continued until

6The coming of the storm was heralded in advance by telegraph in some places, but most of the people of Lyon county had no warning. It struck Gary, South Dakota, at 3:55, Canby at 4:00, and Marshall at 4:05. It has been estimated that the storm traveled at the rate of over one hundred miles an hour.

7The most thrilling experiences of the storm came to the fifty or more passengers on the east-bound Northwestern train, which for nearly six days was stalled in a cut one mile west of the siding then known as Kent, now the village of Garvin. The train was making its regular run from Huron to Tracy, due at the latter place about seven o'clock on Wednesday evening, the eleventh. There was a southwest wind and a light fall of snow during the day, with increasing wind toward evening. A snow-plow was runningahead, and the train following as the plow reached the station ahead. At Lake Benton the wind had so increased that a freight train was abandoned, its engine added to the passenger train, with its caboose in the rear, and the train ran on double-headed. At Balaton the passenger started east, on arrival of the plow at Tracy. When between four and five miles from Balaton, near Kent, the train became stalled in a long cut. This was at ten o'clock in the evening.

The engines, being unable to pull the train out, loosened from it and from each other and for two hours the trainmen made desperate efforts to break out of the cut. This was finally accomplished, but at about the same time a south blizzard of great force struck, whirled and piled the snow up in every direction, and filled the track between the engines and the cars faster than the trainmen could remove it. Finding all efforts to connect with the cars hopeless, and water and fuel fast being reduced, with the storm increasing,

The storm came at a time when many were exposed to it. The mildness of the temperature that characterized the early part of the day resulted in farmers, who had long been weather-bound, going to the towns to trade, and a number of them were returning home; it came at an hour when schools all over the county were being dismissed, and children were obliged to make their way home in the storm; it came also at the time of day when many farmers were in the habit of driving their stock to water, and they and their herds became lost in its blinding fury. A great many head of stock were frozen to death.

A number of Lyon county people had narrow escapes from death. A few were obliged to spend the night in snowdrifts and haystacks, and there were several severe cases of freezing. In the vicinity of Garvin a whole train load of people was imperiled.7

Then commenced in earnest the long siege of the passengers. Fortunately, there was a good supply of coal in the ears, enough for nearly two days' use. The besieged train comprised the mail and express cars, smoking and passenger coaches and caboose. There were between fifty and sixty passengers, enough to make crowded coaches when sleeping accommodations were provided. But little sleep was had that night. The storm increased in fury and no passenger ventured outside, even while the trainmen were making efforts to release the train. Thursday morning broke upon a doleful appearing set of snow-bound passengers. With two or three cranky exceptions, the passengers were' cheerful. The storm showed no abatement until ten o'clock, when it gradually lessened in force until noon.

The telegraph from Tracy made known at Balaton the fact that the train was stalled. The section men at the last named place loaded handsleds with provisions, hauled them out to the train, and a cold meal was eaten. During the afternoon a telegram was received at Balaton announcing the approaching blizzard. Realizing the dangers to which the people on the train would be subjected in one of the dreaded winter storms, the people of Balaton sent out seven teams hauling sleds to bring in the passengers.

Twenty-three persons were hastily loaded into the sleds and at three o'clock the start for Balaton was made. The rest of the passengers remained on the train. When the party in the sleds had proceeded about half way to Balaton and were still about two - and one-half miles from the village, the memorable blizzard struck. At the time they were about twenty rods from the railroad track. The ladies were turned

Great Northern, was built in 1888. Its construction gave the county excellent railroad facilities, all except three of its twenty townships being then traversed. The preliminary steps toward the building of the road were taken in the spring of 1886. The Will mar & Sioux Falls Railroad Company was organized March 3, 1886, by residents of Southwith their backs to the storm and covered with wraps and robes. In a moment the road was obscured from view. The men dismounted and bending to the ground sought for the road, knowing that to get out of it was most dangerous. It was found and a council of drivers and male passengers was held.

1 1 was decided to keep the teams close together and make a break from the road to the railroad and keep close to it for the remaining two miles to town. Although only twenty rods away, it required a full twenty minutes to reach the railroad, which was struck at a point recognized as Ham's crossing. Some of the drivers gave the lines to the passengers and walked, encouraging their restless and confused horses, leading them and breaking drifts in front. In this manner slow and tedious progress was made toward the village by the little caravan.

The roaring blizzard, the dense atmosphere, the cutting, freezing, damp snow, the fast falling temperature, the anxiety of the drivers and the uneasiness of the horses all combined to create anxiety in the minds of the party. To add to the evils, one of the loads was overturned, two or three of the party lost their heads, and one man became partially deranged, crying and howling, and in his wildness pulling the robes and wraps from ladies in front of him, saying 1 hat he had but a few minutes to live and that he must get warm before he died. The people from the overturned sled attempted to walk, but with one exception soon found places in other vehicles. The exception, in fur coat and silk hat, stumbled through the snow, and, becoming exhausted, sank upon the roadside to die. He was seen by occupants of the last sled, who stopped and pulled him into their sleigh. His ears and face were frozen terribly.

At half past six, after a ride of three and one-half hours - two and a half hours in the blizzard - the last load reached the village and put up at its one hotel. Citizens were at their doors discharging guns and the school bell was incessantly clanging its alarm to guide the storm-bound procession into the village, but these sounds could not be heard beyond the village in the direction of the travelers. Everything possible was done for the relief of the passengers, nearly all of whom had frozen faces and chilled limbs.

Some of the trainmen started to walk to Tracy from the stalled train Thursday afternoon and were caught in the storm. They sought shelter in a grove and later found their way to a farm house. The next day they succeeded in reaching Tracy.

Those who remained on the train also had their troubles. A few of the passengers did a lot of grumbling, made no effort to take care of themselves, and made life miserable for everybody. Three nights were spent on the stalled train. Saturday the railroad officials at Tracy secured teams and sent a relief party, which brought off the imprisoned passengers. It took all day to drive from Tracy to the train and most of the next day to make the return trip. The baggageman, L. S. Tyler, remained on the train until it was released on Tuesday. That day Dr. H. M. Workman headed a party which brought to Tracy in sleds those of the passengers who had made the trip to Balaton. Other adventures were reported in different parts of the county, among others the following:

Arthur Heath left Marshall a few minutes before the storm struck with a load of manure to haul a short distance beyond the village. He heard the approach of the storm and, turning, saw it coming. He jumped off the load, unhitched the team, and turned them toward the barn, but the horses would not face the storm. He then went with them with the storm and fortunately brought up at the building at the fair grounds. He got his team inside, and his dog, which western Minnesota, acting as agents for the Manitoba road, of which James .1. Hill was the presiding genius.8 The officers and directors chosen at the time of organization were J. M. Spicer, of Willmar, president; D. E. Sweet, of Pipestone, vice president: C. C. Goodnow, of Pipestone, secretary; C. B. Tyler, of Marshall, treasurer; .1. G.

had followed, also came within. Hatch had little clothing on, and. getting cold, he commenced to tramp around the building. His feet became cold and he took the blankets from his horses, wrapped his dog in them, and lay down with his feet next to the do'g. Alternately walking and warming his feet in that way, he passed the long night. In the morning it was still cold and blizzarding and he did not dare to try to gel home in his condition. The man was missed Thursday evening, but it was out of the question to attempt to find him in such a storm. The next morning a rescuing party found him. His hands and feet were badly frozen, but with care he came out all right.

Josiah Clark's two sons were a mile and a half from home with four horses and were given up as lost by their father, but they pulled through, found the house, and the horses follovt « - < 1 them in.

Hans Peterson, of Coon Creek township, anil his fourteen-year-old son, Jay P. Peterson, now a resident of Russell, came near losing their lives. They had just finished watering their herd of horses in the Redwood river when the howling blizzard struck them The horses were blinded by the whirling avalanche of snow and all except one blind mare thai with the storm to the southeast. The Peterson home was to the east and the man and boy finally succeeded in reaching the barn, bringing with them the blind marc. In order that they might not become lost in going from the barn to the house, one stayed at the barn and hallooed until the other made his way to tinhouse; then the one at the house by his voice directed the other.

They had hardly entered the building when a rushing, pounding noise was heard outside, as if a hurricane threatened the destruction of the premises. Upon rushing out they discovered, to their amazement , the whole herd of horses within the open space about the house, they having plunged headlong into it from the summits of the encircling drifts. The animals were totally blind, the entire front of their heads beintr blocked with solid ice. They were rounded up and with great difficulty got into the barn. It is the opinion of Mr. Peterson that the horses heard the shouts of the men at the house and blindly made their way against the storm to where instinct told them lay safety.

M. S. Fawcett and his son, who lived near Balaton, lost a herd of cattle and only through good fortune succeeded in getting to safety themselves. The blizzard came upon them while they were driving the stock to water, only a short distance from the house. In an unsuccessful attempt to get the cattle back to the barn, they became lost. They finally came upon a hedge fence that led them to the barn.

James Harris and his son in Grandview had a close call while watering their stock. The stock turned and went with the storm. The boy was on a horse, without saddle, bridle or halter, and it was with the greatest difficulty that the father overtook and got the boy off the horse and then found his way home.

In Lvnd township Messrs. Oilman and Gooder were out with their stock. Gooder became lost and sought shelter in a straw stack. By the merest accident Mr. Oilman ran across him and rescued him in a freezing condition. Each lost their stock.

Hans Solberg was with his team after hay. When the storm struck he unhitched the team, fastened the horses to the wagon, and after a great struggle reached home. His'ears and hands were frozen.

8The formal transfer of the Willmar & Sioux Falls to the Manitoba Company was made in September, 1887, before the line was constructed, and after January, 1890, the road was designated Great Northern.

The information was given out that Mr. Hill was the promoter of the new road and that a proposition for the issua ce of bonds as a bonus would soon be submitted. A preliminary survey of the road, which was to run from Willmar to Sioux Falls, was begun in April, 1886, and the next month surveyors, working from the south, began working on the line in Lyon county. Then activities for the year ceased.

Early in the spring of 1887 surveyors again operated in the county, and it became evident that the road would be built. The promoters asked for township bonds of all townships except Westerheim, Eidsvold, Nordland, Rock Lake, Custer, Monroe and Ainiret. to the value of $35,200, in consideration of which they would have the line completed by January 1. 1888. The election notices were posted by committees from Marshall, which was the seat of the greatest interest in the campaign, and the first election was held in Stanley and bonds carried. Before the other elections were held the railroad authorities stopped proceedings for the purpose of presenting a new proposition.

This was to the effect that as it would be impossible to have the road in operation when promised, an extension of time was asked to October 1, 1888, in consideration of which a slight reduction in the amount of bonds asked would be made. Considerable feeling was aroused because of the delay, but

9The Willmar & Sioux Falls Railroad Company was incorporated with a capital stock of $2, 000, 000 by J. M. Spicer and G. H. Perkins, of Willmar; Gorham Powers, of Granite Falls; C. B. Tyler and J. G. Schutz, of Marshall; C. C. Goodnow and D. E. Sweet, of Pipestone; E. A. Sherman and H. T. Carson, of Sioux Falls.

uAs a matter of fact only a part of the bonds voted ever passed into the hands of the railroad company. The Marshall News-Messenger of October 23, 1903, said; thought probable that at least one township would vote against the bonds, and the railroad officers let it be known thai they would be satisfied with $30,000.

The failure to vote bonds in Grandview, Vallers and Shelburne resulted in raising only $27,300, or $2700 short of the sum demanded. To make up the deficiency the village of Marshall, on April 17, 1888, voted $3000 additional bonds, nominally to furnish depot grounds ami right of way in Marshall. The bonds were carried by a vote of 128 to 10. X1 ever issued and turned over to the railroad company. The towns of Lynd and Lyons issued their bonds but forbade their delivery to the railroad company until a like amount of stock value of the road was delivered to said towns in exchange for the bonds, meanwhile placing the bonds in trust with C. B. Tyler, who has retained their custody during the past fifteen years. None of the other towns issued the bonds they hadtso freely voted, and presumably for the same reason that the Lynd and Lyons bonds were held in escrow. . . . It is a singular fact that neither the old Willmar & Sioux Falls Company, the Great Northern Company, nor any party having a claim to the bonds have ever demanded the same during the fifteen yeurs that they have been held in escrow."

Falls railroad was graded dining the summer and fall of 1887, not being completed until early in December. The track was laid in August, 1SSS, Marshall being reached on the twenty-first of that month. Trains were operated north from Marshall on September 11, and between that village and Pipestone early in October. The work of construction was somewhat delayed in the vicinity of Camden because of the large number of bridges necessary to build there.

The construction of the railroad had a wholesome effect on Lyon county. The villages of Cottonwood, Green Valley, Lynd. Russell and Florence were founded as a result. The northeastern and southwestern portions of the county, which before had not been thickly settled, were rapidly filled with settlers. Adding to the prevailing active times, one of the best crops of years was harvested in 1888.

Another railroad that was projected in 1888 was the Minnesota & Northern, which proposed to build a line from the south through Tracy and thence to the north. In July Tracy and Monroe township voted bonds to aid in its construction, but the company failed to build because of lack of capital.

On .Inly 22. 1890. a cyclone visited Lyon county and left a trail of death, ruined crops and wrecked homes in a narrow strip of country in Eidsvold, Westerheim and Grandview townships. The cyclone formed at about twenty minutes before six o'clock at a point about seven miles north of Minneota. The cloud formation is said to have been one of the most singular spectacles ever witnessed. The clouds concentrated in such a manner as to form the distinct Midlines of a human head, of mammoth proportions, with the wind , apparently issuing from the open mouth.

The twisting formation started upon, its travels in an easterly direction and continued in that direction about onehalf mile. Its width varied from two to ten rods. It suddenly took a turn to the south and ran a furious race to within three-quarters of a mile of Minneota; then, after seeming to rest for a second, it took a southeasterly course with more fury than ever.

Throughout its course in Eidsvold township the cyclone scattered grass. grain and dirt in the air, but struck no buildings. On the northwest quarter of section 20, Westerheim, the large barn of B. L. Leland was struck. The roof and two sides were torn out, but the house, in which was the family, eight rods distant, was not damaged.

The next place attacked was the home of Felix DeReu, on the southwest quarter of section 28, Westerheim, and here the storm commenced its deadly work. In the house were Mrs. DeReu and four children - Cyriel, Bertha, Julius and a baby. The house was struck with such terrific force that it was smashed into fragments, and beneath the ruins were buried the DeReu family. The mother had gathered the children and with the baby in her arms had started for the cellar when the storm broke.

Cyriel, the eldest child, was so badly injured that he died the following morning; Mrs. DeReu's limb was broken just above the ankle; Julius sustained a broken leg; and Bertha was so badly injured that for a time her life was despaired of. The other child, although carried a distance of over two hundred yards, was uninjured. Mr. DeReu was buried in the ruins of the granary and badly bruised but not seriously hurt. All the buildings on the place were leveled to the ground in almost an instant and scattered over the prairie; not a single thing that goes to make up

The cyclone continued its southeasterly course and struck with awful violence at the home of Andrew Opdahl, on the southwest quarter of section 34, Westerheim. The house, barn and granary were whirled through the air and scattered over the prairie, not a board or timber being left in its original size. Mrs. Opdahl and her child were taken up by the storm and dashed back to earth. Both were badly bruised and cut but not seriously injured. Mr. Opdahl was returning from Ghent and saw the -wrecking of his home. Two horses were lifted bodily, carried several rods, and deposited in a neighbor's field.

A little farther on its course the cyclone passed within a few rods of Thomas Carron's house, and then seemed to lift. A parting puff removed the chimney from a blacksmith shop in Ghent and then the twister vanished.

The census of 1890 showed a population of 9501 in Lyon county, an increase of 1523 in five years.12 Great progress was made in material advancement during 1890 and the following year. The News-Messenger of November 20, 1891, described conditions: "A season of healthf ulness, a crop of remarkable bounteousness, "a year of unparalleled growth for Marshall and Lyon county, enormous trade at all stores, unprecedented payments of mortgages and old debts, and most promising prospects for the future."

the removal of the county seat to Marshall early in hX74, in accordance with their promise, the townsite owners, Messrs. Stewart, .Jenkins, Ward and Blake, donated the block of ground upon which the building now stands. At the same time the free use of the office of .). W. Blake was given for the transaction of county business ami for a time that was the Lyon county court house. Apparently it was not in use long, for on October 15, 1875, we find this complaint in the Marshall Messenger: "Just now, it seems, we are out of court house room, and our offices can be found lying around in cheap corners most anywhere."

The first official action toward the construction of a court house was taken by the Board of County Commissioners in July, 1874, when the following resolution was passed:

"Resolved that there be a special tax of one mill on the dollar, payable in money only, levied on the taxable property of Lyon county for the year 1874, and for eight succeeding years, for the purpose of building a court house in said county."

It was also provided that the money so raised should be loaned on Lyon county real estate, all loans to be made payable March 1, 1883. The times were such, however, that sentiment was against the levying of this tax, and on October, 1875, the action was rescinded and $68.83 in the court house fund was transferred to another fund.

The first county building, erected on the court house square, was put up in June, 1876. Its dimensions were 18x24 feet and it was twelve feet high. Joshua Goodwin was the contractor. This little building was occupied until the new

Early in 1881 an effort was made to build a court house and jail. A bill ed the Legislature and was approved March 7. which authorized the issuance of bonds, not to exceed $15,000. for the purposes, but it was not to become operative until it had been ratified by a vote <>f the electors. Sentiment was still against the expenditure and the question was not submitted to the voters.

In December of the same year the commissioners purchased of George Nichols for $1500 a building on Main Street, which for the next nine years was used for court purposes.13 It was sold in July, 1891, for $2500.

Not until 1889 did the court house question again become a live issue. Then Representative A. C. Forbes introduced a bill which provided for the repeal of the 1881 measure (authorizing a bond issue of $15,000) and for authority to issue bonds to the amount of $51 ).()()(). There were several restrictive provisions: the bonds were not to be is; wed unless the act was ratified by majority vote at a special election, and the election was not to be called unless a petition (naming the amount of bonds to be voted for), signed by at least five resident freeholders who were legal voters in each voting precinct in the count\- was filed. If the bond issue were defeated at one election, another might be called to vote on the same question.

The bill was passed and approved by Governor Merriam, but not without Opposition. An indignation meeting was held in Tracy and a committee of fhree

Those who advocate the building of a court house think this purchase .-in unwise one, bu1 those m favor of delaying the court house building until we know what we want think the purchase of » the Nichols Building an economical and safe investment. . . . The lower (Ktrt of the building makes a good court was sent to St. Paul to protest against the signing of the bill. Remonstrances were liberally signed in parts of the county and forwarded to St. Paul. It soon became known that the people of the county generally were opposed to the expenditure of so great a sum. and as in former cases the matter was not voted on.

The final struggle for the court house came in 1891. Prosperous times were then enjoyed and there was a surplus of $18,000 in the county treasury. The matter was taken up early in the year by the farmers alliance organizations, which at the time were powerful in the county. They passed resolutions in favor of the erection of a building to cost in the neighborhood of $25,000, but were opposed to the expenditure of $50,000, as the former bill provided.

A bill was introduced in the Legislature by Representative C. H. White providing for the erection of a court house at a cost of not more than $25,000. The County Board was authorized to use the funds on hand and to issue bonds for the balance. Again the question was to be submitted to the people and the county auditor was directed to call a special election.

Again the people of Tracy and those parts of the county opposed to the measure raised a protest and threatened to bring on a county scat contest. An offer was made to build and donate to the county a court house at Tracy, providing the county seat should be moved to that village. The bill passed the Lower House under suspension of the fules, and a delegation from Tracy made an effort to have it reconsidered. but was unsuccessful. A fight was then room, and above there are two good jury rooms. This building will furnish ample accommodation for court business tin so mi years to come and can be let for other purposes between terms if desired." - Marshall Messenger, December 15, 1881.

and for two weeks the bill was one of the principal topics of discussion at the capitol. The court house adherents were successful; the bill passed the. Senate in March and was approved by t he governor.

The election to decide the question was held on Saturday. May 9, 1891, and was the fiercest fought battle of ballots ever witnessed in Lyon county. It was in a measure a sectional fight, with Marshall and adjoining territory on one. side and Tracy and adjoining territory on the other. The result was 939 votes in favor of building the court house and 862 against. The several precincts voted as follows:

There was a big celebration by the people of Marshall on election night, and Monday there was a bigger celebration in honor of the victory, in which people from many parts of the county participated. The committee under whose direction the campaign for the court

There was no delay in the construction of the building. On May 19 Frank Thayer, of Mankato, was employed as architect and superintendent of construction. The contract was let June 11, 1891, to D. D. Smith, of Minneapolis, on a bid of $22,290, increased later by $700 by reason of changes in plans. Other contracts were let for vaults, etc., in the sum of $1058. Work of excavation for the court house was begun early in July, the corner stone was laid under the auspices of the Masonic order September 3, and the structure was completed and was to have been dedicated January 15, 1892.

Early in the morning of January 8 the new building was discovered to be on fire and within a few hours only the walls of the building were standing. The sum of $14,622 was secured in insurance. A contract for rebuilding the court house was let in March, 1892, to J. D. Carroll, of St. Paul, on a bid of $13,893, and the building was accepted by the Board of County Commissioners on November 14.

There were prospects for an enormous crop in 1892 and a continuation of prosperous times, but the march of progress was interrupted by a series of storms which brought destruction to a big part of the crop.

Early in the morning of August 5, 1892, a tornado did some damage in Marshall, demolishing a residence, bringing a $1500 damage to the court house in course of construction, and twisting barns and overturning several small buildings. The loss was about $2500. The next disaster of the season came August 8, when a wind and hail storm, within the space of ten minutes, brought damage in Lyon county to the amount of nearly a half million dollars. The amounf of hail and the size of the stones were without precedent. In Marshall the storm took the same course as the one of three days before. Several buildings were wrecked, including the Icelandic church, one or two residences, and several barns. The damage in the village was only $3000 or $4000.

The storm was from five to eight miles wide and extended across the central part of the county from west to east. The townships of Island Lake, Lynd and Lake Marshall were completely covered, although in rare instances here and there a quarter section escaped with little damage through a freak in the elements' course. The loss in those townships was nearly total. About three-fourths of Nordland township was covered, as were also the two southern tiers of sections in Grandview and Fairview, the eastern and central parts of Clifton, and the north tiers of sections of Sodus and Lyons. It was estimated that one-sixth of the county's grain crop was lost. The acreage of grain destroyed was placed at 39,280 and the money loss $471,360.

On August 13 a heavy wind storm, general over the county, brought another loss. The grain still standing was pounded down, so that much of it was absolutely worthless.

The memorable panic of 1893 and a lew years of stringent times followed; the decade of development was rudely interrupted. There was a period of partial crop failures and low prices and the count} passed through a time of depression. Several firms failed and business was paralyzed. The preceding years of plenty had induced many to enlarge their holdings. Farmers had purchased more lands, increased their

On July 5, 1893, came a most destructive hail storm, which, however, brought loss to only a small part of the county, in the extreme southwestern corner. The damage in Lincoln and Murray counties was great, and in the southern half of Shelburne township all exposed plant life was destroyed. The fields were left blackened and only the roots of the crops were left.

Another hail storm visited parts of the county on August 19, 1893, and brought some loss. The principal damage was done in the southern and western portions. Most of the small grain was in shock or stack and escaped injury, but late flax and corn were badly damaged.

The first whisperings of destitution in our midst are being heard, and the low murmuring* will soon increase to emphatic demands upon the charitably inclined. The conditions point to a winter of suffering among the poor. . . .

There are today in our midst a half dozen families, large in numbers, who are in want of food, fuel and clothing, and in the tributary territory there are scores of such families; their numbers here and around us will increase as cold weather continues. Many may easily be found and others will not make their wants known until after much suffering and the danger line is reached. In the country are men, at the head of large families, strong in physique and proud in spirit, who have never known poverty or needed aid, who today are penniless, without supplies for their families, feed for their stock, or even seed for the next crop. In most cases the fault is not theirs, but their condition follows storm-swept fields, an unremunerative market, and collections pressed by the necessity of creditors, demanding the last bushel of grain and last head of stock. In other cases unwise methods have proven quite disastrous that under ordinary circumstances might have proved fairly profitable. Others are destitute owing to their own improvidence and shiftlessness, and in some cases to dissipation.

calamity was caused by drought. Hani times in the midst of plenty summarized the record for 1895. No previous year was more richly blessed by t he generosity of Nature, and yet the cry of hard times was more frequently heard than in either of the two preceding years. The harvest was of unusual bounty and under normal conditions would have placed the people of Lyon county in comfortable circumstances, but the prices for grain were hardly sufficient to pay for threshing and hauling to market. The assessed valuation of the county in 1895 had increased to over four million dollars.11 The population that year was 12.42."), an increase of 2024 in five years.15

The lean years of the hard times period following the panic of 1893 continued until 1897. Then abundant crops, aided by better conditions in the country at large, brought a change in the status. During the years 1897 to 1902, inclusive, excellent crops were the rule and hundreds of new settlers came to share in the bounteous times. Land values jumped several hundred per cent. It was a time of unprecedented prosperity.

The Lyon county jail and sheriff's residence was built in 1899 and 1900. The contract was let June 19, 1899, to Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company, on a bid of $10,575. The building was completed and accepted by the County Board March 6, 1900. The total cost was $11,797.88.

Lyon county's last railroad, the branch of the Northwestern from Evan to Marshall, was built during 1901 and 1902. For the purpose of building this road, the Minnesota Western Railroad Company was formed in July, 1901. grading for the new line was commenced in August, and late in the fall the grade was completed. Tracklaying was begun the next spring and was completed to the junction near Marshall on July 11, 1902. Train service was begun August 13.

The year 1903 brought an interruption to the series of big crop productions. This was caused by excessive rainfall and the most destructive hail storm in the county's history, excepting the one of 1892. The hail storm came on the morning of July 1. Its width was two to four miles and it extended southeasterly from the northwest corner of Island Lake township. The principal damage Avas in the townships of Island Lake, Lynd, Lake Marshall, Sodus, Clifton and Amiret. In the path of the storm the loss was almost complete. The storm proved to be only a temporary check to the forward movement.

A county fair association was organized in 1904. Grounds were purchased near Marshall for $6000, buildings were erected, and since that date fairs have regularly been held.

1580 over the enumeration of 1900.17 The last few years of Lyon county's history have, indeed, been prosperous ones. It has developed into one of the richest agricultural counties in the state of Minnesota. Bountiful crops and good prices have been the rule.18 Land values at the present writing (1912) are the highest they have ever been, several transfers having been made at $100 pe# acre.

1SA severe wind, rain and hail storm brought loss to crops in a small portion of the county June 20, 1908. The damage was confined to small tracts north of Minneota and east of Marshall. In parts of the county some damage to small grain was brought by hot winds in the summer of 1911, but the loss was not great.