Lyon County, Minnesota - Chapter 17: Descriptive, 1912

and the South Dakota line, while two counties lie between it and the Iowa line. It is hounded on the north by Yellow Medicine county, on the east by Redwood county, on the south by Murray county, and on the west by Lincoln county. The county lie; between the forty-fourth and forty-fifth degrees of latitude, and the ninety-sixth degree of lodgitude west from Greenwich passes through the western edge of the county.

The shape of Lyon county is rectangular. It contains twenty townships and its dimensions are thirty miles, north and south, by twenty-four miles, east and west. Its area is 720. 60 square miles - more than one-half the area of Rhode Island. Of the total area, 709.50 square miles are land, while only 11.16 square miles are covered by water. 1

A glance at the map of Minnesota and of the political division designated thereon as Lyon county will furnish the information above given. But there will be found nothing to distinguish Lyon county from the other divisions of the vicinity except that there are many lakes and watercourses and a network of railroads. The lithographed piece of paper does not convey much idea of the country; a personal inspection i; required to learn what it really is.

In general, the surface of Lyon county is a high, gently undulating plateau, though considerably diversified by rivers and lakes, some of which have bluffy shores and some natural timber. While this describes the general contour, it varies considerably in different parts of the county. The northeast portionroughly, that northeast of the Northwestern railroad - is more gently undulating than the other parts. The ascent of the land to the southwest in that district is six to ten feet per mile.

The southwestern portion is higher land, being on the western edge of the Coteau des Prairies. It can be described in general as a long plateau or massive ridge, in parts smoothly undulating or rolling in contour, but having two belts (terminal moraines, the geologists term them) which are very irregularly broken by steep hills, knolls and small ridge s, twenty-five to one hundred feet above the intervening hollows.2

"The second terminal moraine of the last ice-sheet, which is the eastern or inner belt of knolly and hilly drift upon the Coteau des Prairies, extends northwesterly in a nearly straight course from the Blue Mounds near Windom, in southern Cottonwood county, to <iary, in the edge of Dakota. In Lyon county its northeast boundary passes through the center of

The mean elevation of Lyon county above sea level is about 1320 feet. The lowest point is 1100 feet, at the place where the Redwood river leaves the county. The highest point is in the

Custer, Lyons and Island Lake townships. The most rough and hilly part of this moraine is from a half mile to one and a half miles wide at its northeast side, where it usually has many irregular knolls, short ridges and hills," which rise from twenty-five to fifty feet, and occasionally from seventy-five to one hundred feet, above the intervening depressions. Their conspicuous appearance, as seen from the northeast, idue to the ascent westward of the country upon which they lie. From the specially hilly northeast margin of this morainic belt its width reaches five to fifteen miles, southwestward, with a rolling and in some places knolly or hilly surface, including the greater part of the distance to the parallel outer range of drift hills, but leaving next to that a smooth, slightly undulating tract, three to five miles wide.

"The southeastern continuation of this third moraine may be represented by the rocky drift knolls, ten to twenty feet high, which occur about the north end and at the northeast side of Lake Marshall, in a region which mainly has a very smooth contour. Again, twelve miles farther to the east-southeast, a bell 01 typically morainic knolls, about twenty rods in width and a half mile or more in length, was noted close south of the Cottonwood river, on sections 14 and 15, 1 la.li S, in Redwood county.

"The Antelope valley. Between the third or Antelope moraine and the foot of the Coteau des Prairies on the west is the Antelope valley, BO named l>y the Sioux. This is a broad shallow depression, or rather a part of an inclined plane with a slightly undulating surface of till, being three to tin miles wide and reputed to extend 125 miles, from Minneota, in the northwest township of Lyon county, to the south bend of the Sheyenne river in Dakota. The moraine of the Antelope hills and the smooth area oi till on its east side average twenty-five to fifty feet higher than the adjoining eastern border of the Antelope valley, but have some lower portion-, allowing streams to cross both the valley and the moraine in their northeastward course from the coteau to the Minnesota river.

"Modified drift. No extensive areas of modified drift were observed in ihis district. In a few places, however, small deposits of gravel and sand, partly kame-like, form . the surface. A noteworthy cut in such beds was seen near Balaton, in southern Lyon county. A sixth of a mile southeasl from this station, close southwest of the railroad, in a rounded hillock. an excavation has been made for ballast to a distance into the hillock of 150 feet, the section exposed being twenty rods or more in length and about twenty feel high in its highest part. It consists of gravel, yellowish and in many portions ferruginous, mostly very coarse and containing abundant pebbles up to six or eight inches in diameter, nearly all of them plainly waterworn or rounded. At four to seven feet below the top, for a depth of a hundred feet or so at the highest part, the material is fine, sandy gravel, obliquely bedded in slopes of five degrees to twenty-five degrees eastward. The central mass here is sand, while the enclosing strata are gravel, mostly with pebbles less than three inches in diameter, but in some places holding pebbles up to five or eight inches in diameter. The lenticular mass of sand occurring here shows two small faults at its center, each of three or four inches, the lower side being at the east. The stratification of this deposit is conformable with the slope of its surface, showing that it remains nearly or quite in the same form as it was left by the glacial floods.

"Only two fragments of rock that exceeded a foot in diameter were seen in this excavation. These were one and a half and three feet long. About one-third of the pebbles here, both large and small, are limestone; nearly all of the rest are granite and crystalline schists; only a few pebbles, as of shale, which could certainly be referred to the Cretaceous, were seen, and no quartzite or conglomerate. Many {>f the limestone fragments are obscurely fossiliferous. The top of this cut is about thirty feet above Lake Yankton and perhaps five feet below the top of the mound in which it is made. Similar gravel forms the subsoil and southwestern corner, about 1750 feet above the sea. The estimated mean elevations of the several townships are as follows : Lucas, 1 1 25 ; Stanley. 1130; Clifton. 1160; Amiret. 1225; Monroe, extends to a depth of thirty feet in wells at Balaton station, and reaches thence a half mile to the northwe-t, beside the lake, and two or three miles easterly along the railroad.

"Cretaceous beds. Sandstone, clay and shale, of Cretaceous age, are believed to underlie the glacial drift throughout the greater part of this district [Lyon, Yellow Medicine and Lincoln counties]; but their only natural exposures found during this survey are a few low outcrops of sandstone in northwestern Lyon county and northeastern Lincoln county.

"The most eastern outcrop of the Cretaceous sandstone is near the center of section 7, Westerheim, in the west or left bank of the south branch of the Yellow Medicine river, about a half mile from its junction with the north branch. A hard, gray, somewhat calcareous sandstone is here exposed at several points along a distance of eight or ten rods, rising three to seven feet above this creek. So far as can be seen in these somewhat broken ledges the layers of this rock appear to be two or three feet or more in thickness and nearly level. In some parts their weathered surface shows concretionary structure, being dotted with roundish masses from an eighth to a quarter of an inch in diameter, which have resisted the disintegrating effects of frost and rain, so that they stand out slightly from the nst of the stone.

"About a mile northwest from this place numerous blocks of the same sandstone, up to six or eight feel in length, were seen in the channel of the north branch <.t Yellow Medicine river, on the southeast quarter of section 1. Eidsvold, but no ledge of it in place was observed here. One of these blocks, about five feet Ioii<_r. showing the concretionary character mentioned, contains numerous -mill Bakes and particles of lignite ami soft peaty mat ter.

"Another has been sculptured by natural agencies, perhaps influenced by some massive concretionary structure, -o that in form it resembles the trunk of a tree. Mr. Simon llovlaml, who owns and lives on this quarter section, believing it to be a fossilized tree. removed it to a location near his house. The length of this stone is six and one-half feet, and its diameter at one end is three and one-half feet and at the other two and one-half feet. Its stratification is plainly seen at the smaller end. being in layers from one to four and five inches thick. Iron-rusted lamina1, a twentieth of an inch thick, sometimes mark the planes of bedding. The weathered surface is in part perforated with holes from a quarter of an inch to one inch long and about a twentieth of an inch in diameter, similar to those of worm-eaten wood. Other portions exhibit a concretionary structure in small roundish masses and inosculated ridges, a fourth of an inch in diameter or width. Sulphuret of iron is seen in two or three places, in somewhat cylindrical masses, about one and a half inches long, consisting of straight fibers and surrounded by stains of ironrust.

"At another point near the foregoing, soft white matter fills a straight tube in this stone, one and one-half inches long and a quarter of an inch in diameter. These are believed to be in the places originally occupied by fragments of wood but are the only trace of organic remains seen in this block. Its surface is soft and easily cut with a knife to a depth of about a quarter of an inch, but farther within it is very hard.

"This rock is exposed about five miles to the southwest, on the northeast quarter of section 20, Eidsvold. on land of Henry Jacob-, being visible along an extent of about four rods in the bed of a small creek and rising one or two feet. It is a compact, hard sandstone, blue inside, but brownish gray on the surface. The characteristic concretionary structure was seen here only in a detached block, which, however, was doubtless derived from the underlying ledge. Again, near the west line of this township and county, the same formation outcrops along an extent of about twenty feet, with a height of one to two feet, in the north bank of the north branch of Yellow Medicine river, on the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 7, Eidsvold.

The soil is what is termed drift deposit by the geologists. It has the same uniform fertility that characterizes all southern and western Minnesota. There is no outcrop of the bed-rock, but in the two hilly belts arc some boulders and increas ed portions of gravel and sand.

Vegetable decay has enriched the soil and colored it black to a depth that averages about two feet, but varied from one to four feet, being greatest in depressions and Least upon swells or knolls. Beneath the black soil boulderclay extends to a depth of fifty to two hundred feet. It is yellowish and soft to a depth of ten to twenty feet and below that is dark bluish and harder. This soil is made up of materials gathered during the Ice Age in regions to the north and spread over the country. It is principally clay, but also includes some sand and gravel and occasional boulders.

The great depth of soil contributes to its durability, and its fertile properties appear almost inexhaustible. One of its peculiarities . is its remarkable ability to resist drought. In time of exceedingly dry weather, a thin crust forms on the surface and retards evaporation below without being firm enough to interfere seriously with the growth of

"On section 11, Custer, on land of James Morgan, much lignite in small fragments is found along the large southern branch of the Cottonwood river, which there and thence northeast to Amiret has cut a valley seventy-five to one hundred feet deep. A tunnel has been dug into the lower part of the bluff by Mr. Morgan, where springs occur at the top of a light bluish clay that is supposed to be of Cretaceous age, and in this tunnel pieces of lignite and of wood were found.

"Clay or shale, containing fossils characteristic of the Fort Pierre and Fox Hills groups, the upper divisions of the Cretaceous series, has been encountered is absorbed by the soil and is gradually given up to growing crops. The surplus water of heavy rains and melting snow i- soon drained away down the undulating slopes and through the watercourses. Nearly the whole count y is prairie and was originally covered with wild grass.

Several scientific analyses of the soil have been made, and by all authorities it has been pronounced as containing elements of extraordinary fertility. But the magnificent crops which the soil of Lyon county produces speak more eloquently than the scientist can. The testimony of farmers who have accumulated wealth and independence affords unquestionable proof of the richness of the soil.

Natural timber occurs only in narrow belts along the rivers and in groves of small area bordering the lakes. The largest tract of timber is in the deeply excavated valley of the upper Redwood river in Lynd and Lyons townships. There the wooded area is about 2000 acres. Along the Cottomvood is a tract of about 1000 acres, and on the Yellow Medicine a tract of about 600 acres. These timber tracts were quite heavy originally, but have been considerably cleared.

in numerous instances by wells in Yellow Medicine and Lyon counties near the foot of the slope which forms the eastern boundary of the Coteau des Prairies. Doubtless some of these wells have reached Cretaceous strata in place; but others evidently have been wholly in the glacial drift, containing disrupted and transported masses of Cretaceous shale with fossils. The frequency of these fossils in the drift indicates that the upper Cretaceous formations originally covered much of this district and supplied a large part of the drift, and that they probably underlie the drift here and in the Coteau des Prairies." _^.^J area actually taken up by the waters of lakes and creeks, all is tillable, even to the tops of the hills and knolls and in the bottom lands. Lyon county has not the rocky, untillable land of many of the eastern states; it has not the marshy, untillable land of other parts of the country.

The climate is healthful. Owing to the more perfect drainage afforded by the many streams, Lyon county surpasses neighboring, entirely prairie counties in point of healthfulness as a result of the dryness of the atmosphere. The natural drainage not only prevents an accumulation of stagnant water, which breeds disease germs, but it purifies the air as only rapid streams can.

Lyon county has one of the most perfect and complete systems of drainage of any section of Southwestern Minnesota. With the exception of about fifteen or twenty square miles of territory in Rock Lake and Custer townships, which is drained to Lake Shetek and the Des Moines river, all the area of Lyon county is drained by streams emptying into the Minnesota river. The principal streams are Yellow Medicine river, which drains the northern part.; Redwood river and Three-Mile creek, which drain the central portions; and Cottonwood river, which drains the southern part. These and their numerous tributaries furnish excellent drainage.

The basin of the Yellow Medicine3 includes about 600 square miles, of which 140 lie in Lyon county. The farthest source of the river is Lake Shaokatan, fifty miles southwest from the mouth. There are several small tributaries in Lyon county.

3Yellow Medicine is a translation of the Sioux word Pejut zizi, by which the stream was called by the Indians. Pejut zizi is the long, slender, bitter, yellow county's area is drained by the Redwood river. The stream rises in Lake Benton and flows a northeasterly course sixty miles to the Minnesota. Its largest tributary is Three-Mile creek, which rises near the west line of Lyon county, flows northeast twenty miles, nearly parallel with the Redwood and from three to five miles northwest of it, and enters the latter stream in Stanley township. Valleys thirty to forty feet deep have been eroded by the Redwood in the vicinity of Marshall and thence to the east line of the county, and the same is true of Three-Mile creek from Ghent to the point where it enters the Redwood.

The Cottonwood river, by many tributaries, drains about 240 square miles in southern and southeastern Lyon county. The northern and main branch of this stream flows eastward nearly through the center of Lake Marshall township, only two or three miles south of the Redwood. That branch flows through an eroded valley. Another important branch rises in Murray county, flows a northeasterly course between Rock and Yankton lakes, passes a little south of the village of Aniiret, and joins the other branch close to the county line.

The seven thousand acres of Lyon county that are water surface are taken up by numerous small lakes. Many of these are beautiful bodies of water, clear and sparkling, abounding with fish.

One of the most beautiful lakes in the county is Cottonwood lake, on whose shores the village of Cottonwood is situated. It is a small body of water and has some timber on its shores. Another little body of water in Lucas township is Lone Tree lake, two miles northwest of Cottonwood. In the same township arc several other lake beds which contain water some seasons and are dry others. They are Sham lake on section .'!, Lady Shoe lake on 20 and 21, Lady Slipper lake and School Grove lake in the southeastern part.

Swan and (loose lakes are on the line dividing Redwood and Lyon counties in Stanley township. Clifton and Aniiret townships have no lakes. Two miles south of Tracy is pretty little hake Sigel, about three-fourths of a mile in diameter. In western Monroe and eastern Custer townships are three little bodies of water which should have been called Triplet lakes, but which are called Twin lakes; one is now dry. Long lake is on the south line of Custer township, and the bed of Lake of the Hills is a little north of it. There are no lakes in Sodus township and only one in Lake Marshall. The lake after which that township was named is one and one-half miles long; it lies in the southeast corner of the township at Heckman station.

The north central part of Lyon county is destitute of lakes, there being none in Fairview, Vallers, Westerheim, Grandview and Lynd. Formerly there was Rush lake, near the center of Lyons township, but it is now dry. In Rock Lake township are two lakes of some size - Lake Yrankton at L^alaton, and Rock lake in the northwest corner of the township. In southwestern Shelburne township are a cluster of little lakes, which are dry some seasons. A beautiful little body of water, about a mile in diameter and fringed with timber, lies in northern Coon Creek township. It is Wood lake, or Lake Marguerite. In Island Lake township are two lakes- Goose lake, with an area of about 160 acres, and Island lake, with an area of over 200 acres. In the latter is an island containing about three acres of land and covered with trees. Both these lakes are dry some seasons. Nordland and Eidsvold townships have no lakes.

Lyon is an agricultural county. The principal products are corn, barley, oats, wheat, rye, flax, livestock, dairy products, poultry, fruit and vegetables. In the early days the settlers confined their energies almost exclusively to wheat raising. Now diversified farming is the rule. Every farmer raises stock and many engage in dairying on a large scale. While agriculture is the principal pursuit, manufacturing occupies an important place among the county's industries. The manufactories include gristmills, brick and tile factories, creameries, etc.

Lyon county has developed beyond the point reached by many counties of Southwestern Minnesota. With transportation facilities it is well supplied. Excepting Stanley, Nordland, Island Lake and Sodus, every township in the county is touched by one or more railroa'dSj and railroads are within two miles of each of the exceptions. The Chicago & Northwestern traverses the county from southeast to northwest, crosses the southern part of the county and has a branch line to Marshall from the east, while the Great Northern traverses the county from northeast to southwest. There are many villages, which furnish good markets for grain and produce and are convenient trading points.

The county has excellent wagon roads. Local and long distance telephone lines form a complete network and every community is reached. Twenty-three rural free delivery mail routes are operated from Lyon county postoffices. and there are few farms to which mail is not delivered daily.

Lyon county land can be purchased that must not be lost sight of is its at from $40 to $100 per acre, according proximity to the great markets. It is to improvements and proximity to within easy reach of the Minneapolis, markets, and, considering the richness St. Paul, Sioux City, Omaha and of the soil, the excellent markets and Chicago markets. Their nearness and the educational and social advantages the low freight rates in effect insure offered, it is not easy to understand why high prices for farm products sold there any homeseekers pass through this and low prices for commodities purcountry to the bleak prairies of the chased there.

Dakotas or Canada. Lyon county land, Lyon county holds most alluring prosat the price at which it can now be pects for farmers who are in search of than the difference in price to bring few tracts yet to be put under cultivathose countries up to the condition of tion, and there are large farms that may making the change he will lose none of farmers it now has. The local creamthe advantages and conveniences en- eries want more cream, the merchants