Mower County, Minnesota - Chapter 23: Pioneer Girlhood, 1911

Reminiscences of Mrs. Lyman A. Sherwood - Trip From Winona - Incidents on the Way - Arrival in Austin - Austin as a Pioneer Village - Fourth of July Celebration - Incidents of the Early Days - Life in "Old Headquarters" - Work on the Cemetery - Off for the Civil War - Indian Scare - Other Anecdotes.

Austin is fortunate in having as a resident one who came here as a girl, and has lived through the events wliieh have made Austin what it is today. Spriglitly as a woman half her years, it seems almost impossible that she saw Austin when but a cluster of houses existed here. There have been few movements in which she has not taken a part, and she is still in the prime of her activities, loved by the few left Avho knew her as a girl, and revered and held in the deepest affection by the younger generation. The following article by Mrs. L. A. Sherwood, formerly .Vita Belle Albro, contains a few of her experiences, the hearing of which when she consents to tell them gives so much pleasure to her friends.

"Reminiscing" I find rather difficult, especially where on;i is writing for others to read. The events of the past come crowding so thick and fast that it is hard to clioose that wliicli will be the most interesting. I find myself going back to the beginning, or rather to the time Avhen the J. L. Davidson family, consisting of father, mother and six children (the eldest brother being at Oberlin college at the time), moved from AVinona, Minnesota, to Austin. Moving in those days was not "altogether a thing of beauty and a joy forever." There were no railroads and no easy transportations. One thing we did have, and that was bad roads and plenty of them. Having had a good bit of travel, for a child of my age, before coming to Minnesota, both by rail and l)oat, I was anticipating a great deal of pleasure in having a four-day trip "overland." We were not going in a "prairie Schooner" or with oxen, as many did. We had fine horses, and with a part of our household goods well packed in two respectable looking wagons, and the two cows tied behind, we made a very good appearance. It was on AVednesday, tlie 24th day of 31ay. 1857, that we left AVinona for Austin. Fatlier couldn't talk of anything else. It was going to l)e another Cliicago right away. Getting started rather late in the afternoon, we only went as far as Stockton the first dav. 1 remember what a cosv little nest it looked, nestled in among the hills. 1 thought I wouldn't mind staying there always. The weather was beautiful - birds wortsinging, tiowers springing up all around, and the grass was liko velvet, and I can remember as we drove along the next day how I enjoyed the winding up and down, in and out, around and about of that road that led us over the bluffs "and far away."' We were to leave the bluffs Thursday, and I was enjoying every minute of the time. We had our lunch at noon in a beautiful spot between two bluffs. I had wanted several times during tlu' forenoon to get down from the load and gather flowers, but no ! there was no time for that ; we were moving. So I made a hasty meal at luncheon time and spent the rest of the time we were to stop in gathering the flowers and moss I had so much wanted. As we rode along on our "winding way" we could often touch the bluffs on one side, while on the other look way, way down, two or three hundred feet or more, and just discern a little stream, trickling along, singing its own little song. When we were on the top of one bluff we could look across and see where we would be on the next one if we ever got there. I had been cautioned when Ave started about sitting very still when I Avas on the load alone, for the seat was just laid on, and so far I think I must have remembered to "sit still," for nothing had happened. We were on the top of the last bluff. The road down was very steep. Father called and said "The wheels must be chained." So Ave stopped, brother got down from the Avagon, and I was thinking hoAv would we ever get down that hill, with the wheels chained, and I Avanted to see how they chained the Avheels. So I leaned over the side and down I Avent, and the next thing I knew I Avas going doAvn hill at quite a speed. I Avas frightened, of course, but I luid learned to roll down hill wiien quite a little girl at Susan B. Anthony's beautiful home, Avhere I used often to vist with my mother, and I thought as I found myself going doAA'n, "If I can only steer aAvay from those big rocks perhaps I Avon't get hurt." However, I think I must have been too much frightened to steer straight, for I was soon caught in a clump of bushes. I picked myself up and climbed to the top of tlie hill. iMotlier Avas so frightened Avhen she saAV me fall tluit she jumped from the wagon, forgetting all about the bird cage which she Avas carrying and had dropped. She Avas going after me. Father saw I Avould soon be in those bushes. So he held her back. After they found 1 Avas not liurt and the birds safe, they had a good laugh, very nuich at my expense, I am afraid. The Avheels Avere cliained and motlier and I Avere back in our places. Father told rae that hereafter I had better keep my face to the front and my eyes looking straiglil jilipad. The idea of giving a child, and a girl at that. sucli ail order! Regardless of the chained Avheels, we reached the bottom of the hill in safety. The horses pricked up their ears and started otf on a brisk trot. It looked like fair sailing now, and as we had left the birds behind (except our own) we began singing ourselves to while away the time. After a while we began having little patches of mud. Then there were more of them. They were larger, and deeper. The wagon would go up on one side and down on the other. I was beginning to wonder how father expected me to keep my face to the front and eyes looking straight ahead, or stay on the wagon either, but I hung on to something and did the best I could, for I hadn't had a father A-ery long, and I confess I was a little bit afraid of him. Finally these mud holes were so bad we couldn't get through them with one team, so it took the four horses to pull the load through, then they would go back and get the other load, and that is the way it was the most of the time till we reached High Forest Friday night. All this while we had had beautiful weather, but Saturday morning there was a change. Clouds began coming. It wasn't quite as warm, but we started bright and early, for it was our last day. About 10 o'clock it was raining hard and growing colder. The rain changed to snow and sleet. By noon we could hardly see the horses, and they finally stopped and refused to go any further. There we were, on that bleak prairie, not a tree or shrub of any kind in sight, and not a house. There was one ''lone tree," as it was called, somewhere, but nowhere near us. Anyone who has never crossed that prairie, in the old days, coming from Winona to High Forest, don't know what they have missed. As the horses wouldn't go another step, we concluded to stay, too, and make ourselves as comfortable as possible. The wagons were put together in shape of a "V," the cows tied close behind and the hoi'ses close to the wagon box in front. Our bedding was put in the corner and mother, Delia (sister) and T and the birds were in and covered up with more bedding, and told to keep still. We had tried to eat our lunch, but were so cold it Avas impossible. I don't know just how long avc stayed there. If seemed a very long time to me, probably an hour and a half, when one of the boys said he believed he heard an empty wagon coming. The storm was beginning to pass aAvay. and soon a man with an empty wagon stopped beside us. He said he was going our way, and the women folks could be put into his wagon. This was done, bedding under us and bedding over us. He said he had only to stop at Pierson's a minute, then he could go right on. When the wagon stopped we knew we must be at Pierson's. A man came to the wagon and said, "What you got, Col])y, a load of hogs?" and began lifting the quilts. Very suddenly the quilts Av<'re dropped and we concluded the man didn't like the looks of Colby's pork. Our stop was very sliort and we

-were soon on the way again. ]\Ir. C'olhy, the gentleman who had befriended ns, lived two miles out of Brownsdale, towards Austin. AVhen wr reaehed his house we found it was tive o"eloek. Fatlier ajid the boys came a Avhile after with the teams. It was so late in the afternoon Mr. Colby thoutilit we had better stay there till Monday, which we did. and were very grateful for the kind otfer. AVe thought we never would get warm again. The Colby home consisted of one room down stairs and one above. There were three children-in the Colby family. Thinking of our stay there in after years, I wondered how they managed to stow us ail away at night, but they did, and Sunday afternoon there was a Methodist class meeting there. "We could do anything in these days.

Leaving the Colby family, whose hospitality we were so grateful for, we reached Austin Monday morning al)out ten o"eloek, the twenty-ninth day of May, 1857. We came into town by the "Old Territorial road," now known as "Lansing avenue."' AVe had a very good view of our future home. At the head of Main street, where the Fox residence is, was the home of L. N. Griffith. . To the Avest on "Water street, where the George Hormel residence is, was the home of the Rev. Stephen Cook. That completed the houses of any description west of Main street. ]\Iain street at that time was nothing but hazel brush. There were no streets. One could go where one chose. "We drove to the hotel kept by Snow & AVilbour, the only hotel in the town, located on ]\Iill street, on the site of the Williams house. To go the same way today would take us through Murphey's dry goods store and tlie meat market of John Briebach. Across from the hotel there were two or three small buildings, one occupied by Yates & Lewis as a store. Dr. Orlenzer Allen, the father of Dr. A. W. Allen, now here, luul ;i drug store in the same building. A little further east on the south side of the street, where the German hotel now stands, was a log building, the home and store of Fathei- Brown. Water street had a few buildings. J. C. Ackley lived where the express ofifice now is, or a lot below. Then there were perhaps half a dozen more going toward the river. A Mr. "Walters lived in one. A Mr. Brown lived in another. Esquire Sylvester Smith and Dr. and Lawyer Allen lived in others. Possibly tliere were a few (itliers. "i'liei'e were three houses on Chatham street, where tlie Elk hotel now stands. K. L. Kimble and his brother had a liardwai'e store in the first. The postoffice was also there, and llie family lived in the second floor. The next store was that of Sprague & ITanchett. The last was the home of Chauncey Levericli. I lliiiik these were all the buildings with the exception. jiossilily, of one or two others right in the same vicinity. 1 liad lal<en llieiii all in while wailing for father and mother to decide

And I am reminded right liere how the first Dr. Allen happened to make his home in Austin. In the fall of 1856 he started from his home in Wisconsin with his wife and son George for Faribault to locate. Coming by way of McGregor, they i-cachcd Austin In- night. So they were obliged to stay here until tlic next day. The hotel was so full they could not be accommodated there. Mr. Snow took them over to a Mr. Brown's, son of the merchant, living on Water street, where the large double house now stands. Tliey found they could have a room for the night. Tliey had been there but a few minutes when a man came for the doctor to pull a tooth. This he did for fifty cents. The next morning, while at breakfast, a man drove up to the door in great haste. He said he had heard that there was a physican there. He wanted him to go and see his wife, who was very ill. The doctor being a very kind-hearted man, could not refuse. So he went and did not go on his way to Faribault, as he had intended, tlie next day. The result of this hurry call was that Mower county had one more voter, and Dr. Allen decided to remain in Austin, where it was apparent he was very much needed. Thus he became our first physician and remained here for many years, finally going back to AVisconsin, where lie felt that his duty called him. When he left here he retained his property, thinking to return. The time, however, never came, as he was called to his eternal home. His son came a few years later, bringing the dear mother with him. Mrs. Allen was one of our first callers, and the friendship begun in those early days continued until the day of her death, which was only four or five years ago, when she was in her eighty-second year.

"But to resume," as "Samanthy"' says. We found after going into the house that the people were glad to see us and glad that we had come to town. But it was Monday morning, the house was full and there was not much to eat, and to have seven more come to dinner looked like a mountain to Mrs. Snow, as she confided to us after we became better acquainted. We decided to go over to the house. Father had bought a piece of salt pork and potatoes from Mr. Colby, we had brought some provisions with us, and thus could get om- own dinner. So we started crosslots again through hazel brush and I am afraid right through "The First National Bank." But that did not matter in those days. On reaching the building, mother did not know whether to laugh or to cry. H looked like a great barn. The front below was not inclosed. The stairs were on the outside. On going ui)stairs we found one large room. Not a word was said, but 1 tliink father must have Iciiowii liow wi' felt, for lie said: "Well.

this is the only place. We'll have to stay here till the house is ready for us." Sis said: "Every back is fitted for its burden," so w.e went to work. The stove was immediately set up ; by noou the table was set, and a good dinner ready to be eaten, and what is more, seven hungry people ready to eat. By night we had a very comfortable looking home. Carpets and sheets were used for partitions, and if we didn't have all the comforts of life, we had a place to stay.

We had brought with us quite a supply of provisions, half barrel of butter, sacks of codfish, coflt'ee and everything in that line, for father said it would be hard to get things to eat. What we wanted most was fresh meats. Once in a while a farmer would sell a pig, but unless one had ordered it or happened to get to the man first when he came to town, one was not so sure of getting a piece. The farmers hadn't many pigs to kill, and beef was out of the question. Callers began coming the very next day after our arrival. AVe thought it very kind in them to come and not to be formal about calling, and then they had a curiosity to see how we looked. They had been here all winter long and not a new arrival. We found there was another reason in several cases. Mrs. Kimbal was the first to come. How well I remember her - her black eyes snapping, with the fun that was in her. She stayed quite a while. Finally she said I like the looks of those cows about as much as anything; don't you think you could let me have milk right along? There was no reason why we could not, so mother said yes, she could have it by the quart, brother didn't know how much it would be as yet. ]Mrs. Kimbal said she had been paying ten cents a quart all the time ; that Avas what everybody paid. Mother thought if that was the case, that's what we would charge, but it was terrible. The callers didn't always want something to eat, but when they did they knew they could have it. The boys were going to Winona every week for lumber for the house, and they could always bring out supplies of some kind, and in this we all did quite a bit of trading, which finally led to our having a store of our own. No man would go to the "river"' for goods of any kind unless others were going. It wasn't safi>. Tlie roads were in such a terrible condition the ino.st of the time that they might find themselves going lo China, and no one to help. So if there wasn't two teams to go no one went, or it was very seldom one would start out alone. And it was so easy to get out of things. One little incident T must mention. Father came in one day and said : "Wife, have you any darning needles?" Mother answered : '"* Yes, two or three. Why, did you want them?" "No, T was just down to Brown's store; a man from tlic country caiiic in for supplies, among tlicni darning needles. Mr. Brown had but two; llie man wanted both. .Air.

Brown woiildu't let him have both; it woukl break his assortment, and besides someone else might want one. I lliought if you didn't have any, I'd go and get that one."

The second Sunday we were here there was a terrific storm came up in the afternoon. It came so quickly there was no time to think what to do. We were all outdoors, mother, Delia and I. We hurried upstairs as fast as possible, but could hardly get up, the wind was so bad. We were in just in time to see the west windows blown in. We couldn't keep the door shut, so I found a stick and braced it against the door, then sat on it to keep it in place. Milk pans were blown otf, shelves and everything went lielter skelter. We expected the house would go over. The men couldn't get upstairs, and they expected every minute to see the building go over. Galloway 's new building blew down ; also Mr. Ackley's new house, which was being built where the "Hub" building now stands, was blown down, but we were spared any serious accident. Every one in town was ready to come to our assistance and vras watching our building till the storm had

We had a Fourth of July, too, that first summer. The exercises were held somewhere near Kenwood avenue, west, under the beautiful oaks, which at that time might have been taken for a good sized orchard. We had a "fife and drum" to head the procession. Esquire Smith was president of the day. Judge Allen read the Declaration of Independence, Rev. Mr. Gurney gave the address, Rev. Cook offered the prayers, and the singing was what might have been expected from a much larger town. The singers were Wm. Cook, John F. Cook, Rufus Kimble, John Hallot, Quincy Andrews, Mrs. Dr. Wheat, Mrs. R. Kimble, Mrs. J. L. Davidson and Hattie Adams. I was too small to be in the chorus, but my hoop skirt was there, borroAved for the occasion and worn by one of the ladies.

Flowers decked the speakers' stand, ciilled from nature's green house. Everything had passed oft' finely. They had come to the end of the program when the president arose to make his last remarks, closing by saying, "We have been hearing about all kinds of institutions this morning, now we will adjourn to the bread-and-butter institution," when doAvn went the platform and everybody on it. It had been built rather high, and not very secure, and was so surprised with the amount of talent Au.stin had displayed that it just collapsed. No damage was done. Everyone felt so happy on that beautiful day that they were not going 1o let a little thing like that mar their pleasure. Ample justice was done to the good things that had been prepared to make men liappy. P('Oi)l(' came from far niid iicai-. witli ox teams, horse icaiiis and on foot. 1o tliat first --Fourth nf .Inlv " celebration.

Austin was always an adventurous town, it seems, adding a good deal of spice to every undertaking. Austin had been chosen the county seat, but we had to steal the records in order to get them. These were hid under a bed for safe keeping until the excitement had died out. The county treasurer did not know what he could do for excitement, but finally decided to burn the books. J. E. Willard, deciding to return east (or rather his Avife deciding), determined to let his friend, Ed. Ford, have his office as clerk of the court. Another man, however, went to Judge Donaldson and got his official appointment, feeling quite gay that he had for once outwitted someone. But when he wanted the belongings to the clerk's office, those holding them would not give them up. Thus some time passed. Finally a plan was made by which to get the desk and records, the desk being nothing but a table about three feet long with a box containing a few pigeon holes. The clerk's office at the time was in Galloway's store by the front window, behind the counter. A customer was found that would go some night after dark and purchase some goods that was kept in the cellar. As one small lamp was the only light kept in the store in the evening that light had to be taken to the cellar. AVhile the parties were in the cellar with the light, Allen Mollison jumped over the counter, which was quite near the door, and the "clerk's office" was easily lifted over the counter and went to its new home. Everything seemed to be all right, but the "seal." That could not be found, and it was some time before it was found. Then in some mysterious way it came to light again and was hid in a pile of calicoes in ^Irs. Davidson's store, till it was thought safe to produce it.

The first concert given in Austin was by the Sherwood brothers, assisted by John Hallot, a yoiuig gentleman living in Austin at the time. It was given in Headquarters the latter part of July, 1857. A little later a- family by the name of Baker came and gave us a treat in the musical line. So from the first Austin has always been called a musical town.

The women of Austin have always been foremost in work for the betterment of our town. How Avell I remember the time when a meeting had been called at our house for forming a society, by which, in some way, we could earn money to purchase grounds for a cemetery. There had been several deaths here and no place to bury our dead. The society was formed and called the "Ladies' Mite Society of Austin." The men, hearing of what we had done, thought it time for them to go to work. This they did, and they purchased the ground that is knoAvn as the old part of the cemetery. A very small portion up in front was surveyed and laid out in lots. The ladies took the work of fencing the ground. The men did nothing more towards finishing the survey or laylllSTOlfY OF :\rOWEI{ COUNTY :50T ing out the vest of the blocks. Several years passed. When the ladies thought it was time again for them to do something, we decided on a day (I think it was a day in September, 1864) for work on the cemetery grounds and invited the men to help us. We were to give them their dinner and supper. Early in the morning of the day appointed one could see men and women carrying implements of all kinds, wending their way to the cemetery, and all day one could see men and women working, the women driving stakes, holding chains, picking brush and burning it. The dinner and supper were served across the street in the yard belonging to AVilliam Crane. Austin certainly looked like a deserted village that day, and the work which the ladies begun has been kept up till now we have one of the most beautiful resting places for one's loved ones "gone before" in Minnesota.

Shall I ever forget the day the little company of men, headed by Captain Mooers, marched into town ? It was known they were coming. A "war meeting" was to be held in the afternoon, and I had thought to have my little school dismissed before they arrived. But when the sound of that "fife and drum" broke upon our ears we all rushed to the door, pupils and teacher, and we were there ready to receive them. So they came to a halt before the door, and it is needless to say they were received with cheers and the waving of handkerchiefs from the little band of scholars that were there to receive them.

Before that company of soldiers left town that night their numbers had been increased by several of our own townsmen, and many will remember that that brave captain was one of the first to fall for "his country" in a very few months after going to the front. The ladies of Austin purchased a silk flag for the company with the names of the donors printed upon its silken folds. It has been through many a battle, but never was trailed in the dust. It was brought home by the captain, George Baird. after the close of the war and is now in Mrs. Baird 's possession.

The people who lived in Austin in October. 1862. will never forget the night we expected the Indians and they didn't come. We made great preparations for them and posted our sentinels on the outskirts of town. The blacksmiths were running bullets all night. A company had just been raised in Austin and the towns and country around and had gone to reinforce General Sibley, who was then fighting the Indians, so our force of men was not as large as it would otherwise have been. We had brave ones left, however, and they worked with a will. Nearly all thought it not possible for the Indians to got here, but the people were coming in so thick and fast, hotel and private houses filling and manv would not leave tlieir wagons for fear they would not reach them in time to get away. When the Indians did come, such a frightened lot you never did see - children were brought in half dressed, women with no shoes on, or perhaps one shoe. It was enough to frighten anyone, knowing what had just been done around New Ulm. Father and mother were away and would not return till next day, so sister and I were all alone. We had friends that came to stay with us and finally two or three families that came to the hotel and couldn't get in wanted to come to our house and we were glad to have them.

Mr. Ackley told me if I could get father's papers and our small silver in any shape that wouldn't take up any room I had better get them ready; we would want some quilts, he would have his horses ready and could take all that was at our house if the Indians should come. I put three dresses on my sister and three on myself, put the silver and papers into two towels, sewed them securely, then put one on Delia (my sister) and I wore one, bustle .shape, and in that condition we waited and waited. Three shots in quick succession was to be the signal. Sometime after midnight the first one came. We were at the door in an instant, each with a bundle of silverware. But the other shots were never heard and about daylight, after much pleading and many tears, I allowed Delia to take off some of her extra adornments.

In looking over the past fifty-four years and thinking what Austin was and what she is today we feel we can well be proud of our little city. We have never had a boom and for many years had no railroad. We had a great many things to contend Avith, but we have come out of the fray with our banners flying and we are a "city of homes."

Of the J. L. Davidson family that reached Austin on the twenty-ninth day of ]\Iay, 1857, only two remain. The rest are lying in our beautiful Oak Wood cemetery, waiting. The two are : Adella Davidson Mandeville and Alta Belle Albro Sherwood.