Pipestone County, Minnesota - Chapter 32: Reservation Squatters, 1911

Chapter 32: Reservation Squatters

OF T]IK mnny stories (if ovoiit.s and lands within the reservation. Eacli erecteonditions in the early day.? of ed a building on hi.s claim, and Mr. Good- made in IS.'iS, the United States govern- Moore claim of sixty acres, erected a cabment guaranteed that tribe the exclusive in- and made his home there, right to (|uai-ry the red Indian pipestone, The first action by government authorifound at no other place in the world, for ties to remove the squatters was taken in quarries a reservation, one mile square, Taylor, of Canton, Dakota territory, apfoi- the above purpose, according to the peared in Pijiestone and served notices of this work has been told IJie al)oi'tive Moore, ordering them to remove theniatteinpt of whites to secure title to the selves and their improvements from the the rights of the aborigines to the quarries where he had secured the necessary auand the reservation. Then came a deter- thority for his action ; that he would return limes so deinoiistralive liml tliey become that he feared nn outbreak. The Indians cliarged all mailnor of bad faith upon the government for allowing white settlers to invade the sacred plot of ground. Time after time the Indian police implored the major to let them go to Pipestone and clear the reservation by means of tlie torch, and thus show the whites that the rights of the Indian could not be trampled upon. So restless did the tribe become, explained the agent, that about six weeks previous an Indian policeman was permitted to go to the reservation and look the ground over carefully and sec whether there was any provocation for this great tumult or not. A trusty savage was sent on this mission quietly. He returned to the agency and reported conditions to old Strike-the-Eee and other chiefs, and for a time the agent had all he could do to control and keep down tlie savage nature of (he red men. They thirsted for the blood of the men who had invaded their domain. The major quieted their feelings, a council was held, and it was agreed that the major should go io Washington and consult with the "(ircat Father," and tlint his decision should lie final. Dr. Taylor corroborated the agent's statements and added that the lives of the squatters had been in jeojiardy for several weeks, that only by the utmost vigilance had members of tlie Yankton tribe been prevented from stealing away and attacking the interlopers.

The squatters paid no attention to tlu' agent's orders or to his very capable talk and continued to live on the reservation. During the next few years others erected buildings on the Indians lands, namely, W. IT. Hockabout, William Whitehead and G. W. Huntley. Occasionally came rumors of hostilities and occasionally mild-mannered attninpi-: to remove the white settlers, Init the squatters continued to hold their claims until 1887, when the arrival of United States soldiers on the scene brought about the evacuation of the reservation. A short time before this drastic action, the United States supreme court handed down a decision in which the Indians' rights to dig their sacred pipestone on the reservation were upheld. On October 11, 1887, there appeared in Pipestone ten soldiers of the Fifth United States regnlar.=, under command of Captain J. W. Bean, accompanied by Judge Kinney, Indian agent at Yankton, and a surveying officer. Lieutenant W. N. Blow. The military officer had orders from the war department for the pre-emptory removal of the w'hites, peaceably if possible, forcibly if necessary. Judge Kinney was equally well armed with orders from the dejiartment of the interior. The squatters ca]iitulated. All removed themselves and ; tbcii' household goods from the reservation. They were granted time until the rollowiiig spring to move the buildings; ('. ('. (lOddnow's house, the la.st white iimirs lialiitation on the reservation, wa.? moved to town early in June. ISSS. The war was over!

The law provides that when the track of one railroad crosses that of another, the company wliii'b is Iniilding across the right-of-way of the other shall put in the crossing and maintain the same for all time. There is n^) jjrovision foi- a case «hcre two new lines of road reach a crossing i)oint at the same time, and this fact Icil to a lively vailnKiil wai- at Pipestone when the Omaha ami Burlington roads reached the city at practically the sametime in 1884 - a war which was well "played np" in the ]i;ipei's all over the United States.

i!ig was t(i lie made before the arrival of the traek-laying crews, for the express purpose of escaping the necessity of putting in the crossing. It was a clever move, hut the Omaha workers were also strategists. \Mien their track was laid to the point (if crossing, without ceremony they I'ullcd u|i the Burlington track and laid their own. This was done on Sunday, wli(>:i the Burlington officials conld take 11(1 action at law to restrain their rivals. AI'Ut laying the track the Omaha autlmrilics staliiincd a loaded freight ti'ain al the point of crossing, and for over a week an engine remained there tn prevent the linrlington woi'knien from tearing up I heir track. The same evening, a Burlington engine was run up to the point (if ciossing and, likewise, held its posili(in until matters were settled. The Omaha (ifficials secured a temporary injunction, restraining the Burlington people fiom interfering witli the track. The hlockade did Udt materially delay the woik of building either road, for the tracklayers continued their work beyond the dis|)uted point.

1'he trouble was amicably adjusted. At a between S. J. Tracy, solicit(ir fur the Burlingtmi. and Superintendent W'hitinau. (if the Omaha, an arrangement was nuidc whereby the Burlington was to construct a ]icrmancnt crossing over the Omaha tracks and pay for the )ii'ivilegc. The Omaha, having possession, and sup])orted by a temporary injunction, was in a ]iositiou to dictitc terms, which it did. The crossing was ]iut in the latter part of eTuly.

The Long Winter

A book could be filled with the adventures and unpleasant features of the long winter (if deep snows. 1880-81. For weeks the peojile of Pipestone county were isolated, without mail and scantily supplied

In the remarkable blizzard of October 15, 1880, James Hislop, who resided in the north part of the county, set out on foot with his wife and child for a neighbor's house, hoping to get better shelter than his house afforded. During the trip they became exhausted, stopped to rest, and were soon covered with a snow drift. ^Ir. nisld)) worked his way out of the drift and went ahead to seek the house 'they were looking for. He had gone (inly a short distance when he returned for his family, but lie could not find the place where he had left them. After searching in the blinding storm for some time, he went for assistance. A searching , party was at once organized, but it was not until the following afternoon that the unfortunate woman and her child were found. Mrs. Hislop made a cavern in the drift and thus kept from smothering to death. She succeeded in keeping the child warm, but she was badly frozen.

Illustrative of the scarcity of fuel even early in tluj blockade is the following incident. Mr. McKenzie, of Pipestone, early in relmiary went to the little town of Verdi, where he purchased .5.50 pounds of hard coal, loaded it upon his sled, and then started for home. When he was five miles from Verdi a blizzard overtook him and he was obliged to take refuge in a nearby house. The storm made the roads impassable and ^Ir. McKenzie was obliged to return home and leave his load. On F(^bruary 21 he went out after it, but the coal had disappeared, a man with a sick fami]\ and iKi fuel having taken it. While in Verdi Mr. McKenzie learned of one man who hid split u]i his harvester for the wood it contained, wliile several otlier parties had liurncd everything in the shape of wood thev could find and were then

A family residing in a claim chanty south of Pipestone had a unique cxpei'ience. The blizzard of March 11 entirely covered the shack, leaving absolutely no trace of it. For two days the family were obliged to nse candle light, but did not suffer any inconveniences. The house was shoveled out by a party of railroad shovelers.

We have been asked for our experience in burning railroad ties. Well, we have had some during the past month. They are not very expensive fuel, oh no! Forty of them make an ordinary cord of wood - soft wood at that - and have been sold at thirty-five cents apiece, just $14 for the cord at the depot. On getting them home we find that they cost five cents each for hauling - an additional .$2.00. For sawing and splitting the cost was $2.50, total for a cord of very soft wood, $1S. We have tried the wood in one stove and greenbacks in another, and so far as the heat is concerned, we believe it is in favor of the stove that burns the greenbacks.

Our butchers, being out of wrapping paper, have conceived the novel idea of using sharpened sticks, and it is nothing uncommon to see people going through the streets with i)arasols made of a hunk of roast beet or a round steak. Necessity is the mother of invention.

The Prairie Fires

During the entire early Instory of Pipestone county prairie fires brought great losses to the settler.?, and many thousands of dollars worth of property were destroyed through that agency. Ju the fall of 1879, particularly, there was groat damage. For niglits in succession the heavens were illumined by the glare from the raging prairie fires. On October 5, while a hard south wind was Idowing, a fire was started in the northeastern part of the county, and in a moment, almost, the raging flames liad sjiread over miles of territory. Houses and barns, hay and grain stacks, melted before it like so much paper, and thousands of dollars damage was done in a few hours. In attempting to save his team, Mike Gamble was severely burned.

On the same day a fire was started two miles northwest of Pipestone, which spread with fearful rajiidity and lircuight great damage in Troy township. The flames jumped firebreaks, and tumlde weeds carried the fire miles ahead of the main conflagration. A desperate fight was put up before the flames were finally under control. The sontheastern part of the countv also suffered severely from (ires that sea.son, and many of the new scttlcis were burned out as nn initiation to ri|iestoiie county. The local paper said on October 9 : "To try to estimate these losses at thi« writing would be useless. Tliev are simply enormous for the new beginners in this new county and are indeed discouraging to the snfferers." C. IT. Bennett and wife fought one of these llres all night to keep it from burning their home and invading the town from the north.

Even the towns were threatened. The p(>oi)le of Pipestone bestirred themselves and burned breaks on all sides of tlie village. In later years, also, danger threatened. So Inte as the fall of 1SS3. the Stai' .-(unided this warning:

Do the citizens of this village intend to take any steps to protect the town from burning up? The prairie grass all around us is dry and crisp, ready to burn at a moment's notice. Hay and grain stacks are. in manv places near town, in close proximity to stables and houses. The prairie once on fire, with the wind blowing as it generally does here, these stacks, stables and houses would go up in smoke in short order. We should have a fire break all around town, and that right off.

Fires in the fall of 1884 brought losses ill the eastern jiart of the county amounting to $50,000, according to an estimate by the PijDestone EeiJublican. So late as 1889 the Jasper Journal chicled tlie people of that town for not taking precautionary measures. On September 37 of that year it said : ''As yet nothing has been done toward protecting tlie village from the prairie lire liend. This is a matter that we can hardly afford to neglect. Action is what is wanted."

An Historic Organ

A small item in the history of a county, it would seem, the purchase of an organ I And yet, tlie securing of the Urst instrument of the kind in Pipestone was attended with niucli ceremony, and its story here will recall fond memories, no doubt. It was in the }ear 1880 that the socially inclined decided ti) raise money to seciiic an organ fni' church, social and public use. It was to lie owned jointly liy the Presbyteiian and Methodist societies, with the understanding that when the societies ceased holding services in union the instrument was to become the jiroperty of that organization offering the other tlic greater price.

To raise the necessary funds, purchase the organ, and take care of it, a committee was a|)pointed, composed of Simon Clark, ^[rs. Riley French, Maria Xichols, Ralpli Wiger, C. IT. Bennett. Bert Lewis and .1. W. Coi-l, The first $30 or $40 were raised by a home talent entertainment entitled "Among the Breakers" and given in Bennett's hall. The orga:i. a seven-stop Petoubet & Pelton, was purchased in St. Paul for $()."). For several years it was the oidy instrument of the kind in the village and was used at church services, l)rayer meetings, dances, political meetings, social entertainments and lyceums. Sometimes it would lie used earlv in the

The Bachelor Homesteader

At the second meeting of the Pipestone County Old Settlers' society, held in Pipestone March 15, 1881, Mrs. C. H. Bennett read the following original poem on the bachelor homesteader of Pipestone count.y :

Game In Early Days

Owing to the fact that all the neighboring counties were settled before Pipe- ^l(lne (-(uiiity, thei'e was very little big game left in the county after white settlers came, although occasionally some of tbc forniei' habitues of the prairie were encountered. A drove of about a dozen deer was seen in Burke township in December, 1879. 1'hey were chased by M. D. ^\oriarfy, mounted on a fleet horse, but, of course, he was unable to run them down. During the winter of 1880-81 the deep snow drove deer from their accustomed liauuts, and tliey wtne seen at several jjlaces in the eOLiut^'. In January, 1881, Andy Jackson and 11. W. (leorge shot one southeast of Pipes Luue.

So late as the sjjring of 1885 a family of beaver operated in Eock river just below the mouth of the Chanaraudiie. They had a dam on the farm of J. C. and W. A. Fay, on the east half of section 33, Osborne township, where they caused to form a pond a quarter of a mile in lenjith and from two to ten feet dcej). The little animals wore fiequently seen at work on the dam and in the rapid current.

During the long, cold winteis prairie wolves were frequently encounteied. Sometimes hunger made these usually timid animals desperate, and they approached near houses and passing teams.

Waterfowl and prairie chickens there were by the millions. The following local item from the columns of the Pipestone County Star of October '27, 1881, leads to the belief that wild geese were once more numerous than they are now : "A farmer north of town made an offer to sportsmen the other day, tluit if they would come out to his place and luint wild geese for a week to keep them froiii destroying liis cornfield, he would bnaid the hunters for the time free of charge. Wild geese must be too nunicrous for ciuufort out tliat way."'

Incident Of Bonus-Voting Days

The following incident connected witli the voting of bonds to aid in the construction of the Willmar & Sioux Falls i-nilroad was printed in the Sioux City .buirnal in January, lOOfi :

D. M. Stewart, a wealthy lumberman of Astoria, Oregon, was in town Sunday on his way to Pipestone, Minnesota, where he formerly resided. T. A. Black, of Sioux City, and Mr. Stewart were young men together in Pipestone, and Sunday they were recalling a memorable ride which they took together twenty years ago. It was when the

Great Northern was first talking of building its line through Pipestone, and it had asked the county for a bonus as a pledge of good faith. The citizens of Pipestone were anxious to secure the railroad at any cost, but the little town of Edgerton, which was not on the proposed line, was opposed to granting its demand. A prominent firm of lawyers were the leaders of the opposition, and Jones, one of their best friends, was detailed to plead with them. In his anxiety, he overstepped the limit and tried to bribe them into consenting. This so enraged the worthy gentlemen that they waived their friendship for the man who had insulted them and got out a warrant for his arrest for bribery.

Mr. Black and Mr. Stewart heard of this, and knowing that the man had merely been a little too eager, and wishing to save him from prison, they secured a team at Pipestone and began the twenty mile drive to Edgerton, with the enraged lawyers follow-" ing close behind with the warrant for their friend's arrest. It was a stormy night and the road was heavy, but the horses were not spared. Their pursuers stopped to change horses and Messrs. Black and Stewart reached the house of the would-be briber thirty minutes before them. Jones was called from his bed and came out with a white face. He was one of the most respected men in the county and the prospect of a penitentiary sentence was a decided shock to him. He was finally persuaded to dress, and in a few minutes the party was off, this time in Jones' rig. They made straight for the South Dakota line, and just before daylight deposited Jones safe in Dakota territory.

In a few weeks the affair was forgotten and the charge against Jones was withdrawn, but Jones failed to return until persuaded it would be safe.

The Town Pump

In tlic early days of PipcstoueV histoi'v the town's entire water supidy came ri-oiu one well, owned by all the residents. The following items from the Star of IS'!) were at the time pertinent to a most inipiirtant subject:

A subscription paper is being circulated to raise the necessary means to sink another town well. Everybody should give a little towards this much needed increase of our v.-ater facilities, (.\ugust 28).

Taking water from the town well by the barrel should be prohibited in some way. It is the only good well in the town, and should it give out we would have to suffer for water. (September 2.51.

Some one is making a practice of removing parts of the pump in the east part of town every night, so that they can get the first cliance at the water in the morning. The pump is a public institution, and parties taking this mean advantage had better look a "leedle out" or they will be prosecuted. (November 20).

The Medicine Sioux

Hast been where Winnewissa's fall Goes plunging o'er the gray old wall. AVhere mist-wreaths rise above the tlow Of foaming waters, white as snow. And roll and float up toward the skies. All glorious with the radiant dyes?

Marked you that face, sublime and grand, Wrought on that rocli b.v nature's hand, A human face that looks as though It sympathized with human woe?

As old Dakota legends tell. There was a day when tliere befell. Here by the brookside in tlie vale. The happenings of a wondrous tale. Wa-kon-i-ya-pa-man-i ("He- That-Walks-with-God") did sing it me. With many a nod and dubious wink. As if to say, "I scarcely tliink, If you were I. and I were you. I sliould accept this tale as true."

He is a San-tee Indian, who Renounced all habits of the Sioux: Who, with an eye to "Number One," Declined to chase the setting sun When L'ncle Sam reached forth bis hand. Appropriating all their land; Who took a homestead, settled down - TTnlike his brethren pale, of town. Who merely filed and after swore They'd occupied five years and more! He stayed, as by the law decreed. And then proved up and took his deed. His "claim" had never grown so slim That land shark tried "contesting" him! A patriot citizen is he. Who's ta'en tlie oath of fealty.

He casts his vote like Kngiisli lord. Or "Freeman of the Sixteenth Ward!" .\nd sings "My Country 'tis of Thee" On natal days of liberty. An orthodox, straight citizen. Who at the church resijonds, "Amen," And rubs his hands with fcrv()r, too, Exactl.v as wliite Christians do. But, lured to falsify and cheat. Or gain an object through deceit. Says by his action firm, "I won't," rrecisel.v as so;ne Christians don't! "Joe Barker" is the name he chose ,When he laid by his Indian clothes.

And tliis is the tale in song he told. When the sun sank down to a bed of gold. And the iiills withdrew for a night of rest, .A.S a breeze came out of the purple west.

He'd pierce it through with a glance of his eye. Hi-yi-hi. Hi-yi-hi - And out would run your blood, blood, blood. All over the ground, and you would die. Hi-yi-hi. Hi-yi-hi.

And in her sight he was fair and young. This bold Man-dan Was a Medicine Man - A man of mysteries never told. And more than forty thousand years old! Now he is where had Indians go.

His chief commanded him to come .^nd bear that maid to his far oft home; For mid a mighty smoke and smell This medicine dog had wrought a spell. Then told his people if they'd eat. Each one. of the flesh of a maiden sweet. The fell disease that racked them sore Would tlv away, and come no more, .^nd not one other Man-dan die.' Hi-yi-hi. Hi-yi-hi.

lance. And the Man-dan fell, on gray paws four! Was a wolf! Ran away and was seen no more! Kut, ah-ah-ah. and oh-oh-oh! - The maiden fell down, and her blood did flow All over the stones in a crimson tide! And thus in a moment's time she died!

Letter From Longfellow

Evervbodv knows tliat in "'Vhr Peace Pipe," which forms the opeiiin" chapter of Henry W. Longfellow's great poem. ".Hiawatha/" the scene is laid at the famous Pipestone quarries. Evervhinly may not know, however, that Mr. T^nmiVllow never visited the spot, but that he derived his data for the poem from the writings of Henry T^ Schook-raft. George Catlin and other explorers. In 1S79 C. H. Bennett sent to the i)oet a photograph of the ])lan of the village of Pipestone, a copy of flic first issue of the Star, and an invitatiiin to attend the Fourth of July eeleliration. Ill reply he received the following autograph letter from ^fr. Longfcllnw :

I wish it were in my power to accept your kind invitation to visit you, but that is impossible for many reasons. I am afraid I shall never look with mortal eyes on the great Red Pipestone Quarry.

Henry W. Longfellow An Election Wager

I hiring the exciting presidential campaign of 1888 a unique wager was made between E. C. Hean, who was the county attorney, and K. W. Davies, of the Pipestone Coiintv P.ank. The wager was drawn up in the furm of an agreement and was as follows :

In event of the election of Grover Cleveland to the presidency, E. C. Dean agrees to attend the Catholic church once every Sunday on which services are held there. On Sundays on which no services are held in the Catholic church of this village, he is to attend the Methodist church once each Sunday. '

In the event of the election of Benjamin Harrison to the presidency, E. W. Davies agrees to oil the windmill of the village waterworks, free of charge to the village, at such times and in such manner as required by the village council. If the village council will not grant him the permission to oil the windmill, then E. W. Davies agrees to climb the windmill tower to the top as often and at such times as the village authorities require the oiling to be done.

E. C. Dean

It iiiav be remembered that P.enjaniin llairisuM was elected. To accustom liimscir i)f his duties as windmill <iiler, Ml'. Davies shortly after the election started up the ladder to the tower, got about half wav up. and came down to negotiate a c ouipniiiiise. This was effected liv ^Ir. Davies marching in the procession ill c<delnatinn of the republican victory and cariying a Harrison banner.

and treasurer's offices were overhauled, a number of old documents were found, among- which was the county's first bank book, headed "Pipestone County Bank, in account with Eeuben Clark, County Treasurer." The account was opened in the fall of 1879, and on the first of the fol^ lowino- vear the county's balance was -$100. During the months of January and February, 1880, $71.14 were deposited, and at the time of the June settlement the county had a Ijalance of $130.88 to appoi'tio-i amonii: the different funds.

Shooting For Rain

During' the hot, dry season of 189-t, wlien the crops of Pipestone county were destroyed, many of the residents professed belief in the ability to liring rain by cannonading. Accordingly money was raised l)v subscription, several kegs of powder were purcha.sed, and on June 15 tlie heavens were bombarded. The concussions did not bring the desired rain, but that night there was an e.\traordinai'il\- heavy fall of dew, which some attributed to the use of the powder. Upon the approach of a cloud on the evening of June 20 the experiment was tried again, and for more than an hour was lieard the continual boom of Pipestone's heavy artillery. The cloud advanced slowly, and late in the evening the whole sky was overcast. During the niglit. liowever, the clouds all disappeared and in the uioiiiing the sun's rays again beat down upon a parclied land. In Pipestone there was a dilterence i>f opinion in regard to the cannonading and the actions of the clouds. Some mtiintained that the firing was kept up so long tlurt it dissolved the clouds, others that if the firing had l)een continued rain would surely have followed. Perhaps some other communitv was in the game with

Early Day School

District No. 5, In pursuance to call, has just elected its first officers, as follows: Director, Cliarles Smitli; clerk, P. A. Converse; treasurer, Robert Campbell. It was voted to have two months school, to commence the first Sunday after the fourth of July, also that each pupil should furnish his own seat. Mr. Wheeler generously offers to furnish the building for school purposes, and Mr. Smith, the blackboard, so there will be but a small expense to the district. We hope that those having children will avail themselves of this favorable opportunity in this new country.

Times H.Ave Changed

The following items from the columns of the Pijiestone Countv Star illustrate vividly the changes that have taken place in Pipestone county within a few years:

Turn Square Corners. - Farmers should be careful in going out and in town not to drive across the sidewalks, as there is a severe penalty for so doing. The day of short cuts in this village has passed and teams are now compelled to turn square corners, as thev will all through the county before long. (April 27, 1SS2).

Hay Burners. - A good many people had supposed that the day of hay burners had passed entirely. But it is not so. Our hardware men are busy making stoves all the time for this purpose, and there are many farmers in this county still burning hay, who claim that it not only double discounts fuel in cost but is much warmer. Those using it ought to know and when farmers can raise their own fuel the expense of winter cannot be very great. (.lanuary 12, 1886).

The First Automobile. - Tlie first automobile to be owned in this city reached here iast evening on the Omaha. It is the property of T. F. Robinson, the telephone magnate. Naturally the vehicle created a commotion wherever it appeared, and many persons stopped to take a long look at the selfmoving carriage, the first of its kind seen on our streets. (September 1.3, 1901).