Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 3: Eaely Settlement, 1887

Chapter 3: Eaely Settlement

HE annals of the early settlement of any countiy, while it is the most difficult part to collate, is j^et the most interesting and entertaining to the general reader, and of absorbing interest to the pioneer himself. Here the early ^^^ settler, noble forerunner of the present civilization, sees the graphic picture of those early days when first he pitched his tent in the wilderness, when first he reared his humble cabin in the grove, or on the wind-swept prairie. As he pores over these lines, busy memory recalls the recollections of those bygone days, and he lovingly lingers over the pages, while in meditation the picture grows, and he lives once more those hours of frontier life. lie loses the present, and enjoys again the halcyon days when he iiad youtli and health and strength, and in the bright glamour that memory throws around those distant days, sees the little cabin and the homelv hearthstone, around which gathered wife and little ones when the labors of the day had been finished, and night had drawn her sable curtain around the world. Anon comes up the somber side of the ])icture, the trial, the hardship, the almost penury and want, when the gaunt wolf, starvation, lay close beside the cabin door. The life of the heroic pioneer was not all a bed of roses. In his day dreams he sees himself starting with the patient, but slow l)lodding ox team, or scarcely more active horses, for the far distant settlement seventyfive miles awaj^ or more, for the necessaries of life, through a new country unsupplied with roads. The loved ones at home managed to keep life in them by feeding upon a scanty supply of hulled corn, and percliance a little milk, if the onl}^ cow had not succumbed to the rigors of a hyperborean winter.

But times grow brigliter and better, and as memory pursues the train of thought, he sees tlie country gradually tilling up with whole-souled, hospitable people, the trading points grow nearer and nearer, until they are almost at his very door ; sees thriving towns and flourishing villages spring up around him, where he found only waving grass and unsightly weeds. Thus it is that this part of local history is doubly dear to all that remain of that little band of i)ioneers who first located upon the soil of this count}'. Manj' of them have been gathered to their reward, and others have sought distant localities, but to those who do remain, these pages may prove the solace of a weary hour.

For several years prior to the advent of any wiiite settlers, it is more than prol)able that white trappers and hunters pursued their calling upon the banks of the streams and in the Woods and groves of Waseca County; but if this is so, tradition fails to preserve the record of it, and the dead ashes of oblivion cover it from human ken.

The first white man to come herewith the intention of making a permanent settlement was Asa G. Sutlief. On a l)rightand beautiful day in August, 1S54, slowly over the southern part of this county, then an uninhabited wilderness, the bright sun beaming down upon a vast sea of green, the air perfumed with the scent of many gorgeous flowers, came a little cavalcade. Foremost a canvas-topped wagon, bearing the pioneer, tall, dark and slender, his raven hair and keen black eyes denoting his descent from Gallic ancestry. 'Xeath the flapping sides of the wagon tent, could have been seen the form of his wife, and the laughing faces of his two children, Delancy and Rhoda. "With them they had some sheep and about thirty head of cattle. Looking around him, Mr. Sutlief, one of the best judges of land that ever came to this part of the county, determined to settle here. lie was a native of the State of Ohio, and being of a naturally -adventurous disposition, he had hardly attained the age of nineteen years, when he made a trip into the wilds of Michigan. After returning to his home, he removed to McHenrj^ County, 111., where he settled down for a while.

Becoming restless, however, he left there and became one of the hardy pioneers who, about that time, had commenced to ]ilant the banner of progress in the wilds of what is now Dodge County, Wisconsin. Here he remained until June, 1854-, when he fitted out three wagons for a trip into the then wilderness of Minnesota. Besides his wife and children he was accompanied by three hired men, who took care of about sixty sheep and thirty or more head of cattle. After crossing the river at La Crosse, on the second day from that place they were overtaken by Judge Green and Messrs. Boomer, Bentley and Hollings worth, the latter the father of Mrs. Sutlief ; all were from Dodge County, also. This little company traveled across the prairie for fifteen days without meeting with a single person. Arriving at Mankato on the 3d of July, they rested there the Fourth, but soon pressed on west, and seven miles west of the Minnesota River, on the old Fort Ridgely road, Mr. Sutlief made a claim, the other parties returning home. In August, after having put up a claim shanty and breaking some land, he concluded to sell his claim and make a settlement on the rich lands on the Le Sueur

River. Therefore we see him returning in this direction. He selected some land on section 35, on the south bend of that river in the southern jiart of what is now Wilton Township. On this spot he erected a cabin, going to Mankato for boards to coVer it. He then broke up the sod over a few acres, and cut enough grass to make hav with which to feed his stock through the coming winter. In the latter part of November, of the same year, he employed Luther Barrett, formerly of Horicon, Wis., but then of Mankato, to live in his shanty and tend his stock, and putting his wife and children into one of his wagons drawn by an ox team, started for his home in the Badger State, where he still owned a farm. They camped in the wagon at night until they reached La Crescent. There they had to wait for the freezing of the river so that they might cross, and on the fourth day after their arrival there, although the ice was barely thick enough to bear up a man, in his rash, impetuous way he started to cross. After a thorough examination of the way, obtaining help he cast the oxen, and tieing their feet together, drew them across on the slippery ice. The wagon was pulled over the same way, and then the family escorted over.

In January, 1855, returning to Waseca County, Mr. Sutlief was accompanied by James E. Child, then a young man ; his brother, Simeon P. Child, a stripling of nineteen, and a man by the name of Flummer, who had joined them at or near La Crescent. A history of their journey is given by J E. Child in a personal reminiscence in this work, and it is not necessary to repeat it here. Arriving here on the second day of January, 1855, they found the shanty of Mr. Sutlief in the charge of Barrett, and were glad of shelter from winter's cold and freezing breath. They settled down in the Sutlief cabin, but in a few weeks Mr. Sutlief returned to Wisconsin to settle up his affairs. He returned once in June, 1855, but it was November when he came here to stay, at which time his family came with him. In the fall of 1S67 Mr. Sutlief left here, going to Wisconsin, and from there to Texas, returning in about four years later with a drove of Texas cattle. He died here October 13, 1871, one of the wealthiest men in the county. Few men were better calculated by nature and experience to overcome the obstacles and hardships incident to pioneer life than he. Fertile in resources, although his actions might have seemed rashness to a less dauntless man, he was, nevertheless, a cautious and safe guide on the frontier.

Luther Barrett, whom he left in charge of his stock, was a cooper by ti-ade, and unmarried. He was a great hand for hunting, and followed that more than anything else. He lived at Mankato, where he built what is now" called the Minneopa Hotel, but later Avent to the mineral regions of the Rocky Mountains.

Plummer took up a claim and lived on it the next sumnrer, but when the leaves beg-an to fall, he left here and returned to Wisconsin, whence he had come.

James E. Child is still in Waseka County, the oldest resident settler, and is noticed at length in the chapter devoted to the Press, he having been connected with that engine of civilization for over twent3' vears.

Simeon P. Child is a native of Ohio, born in 1835, and remained in his native State until 1838, when his parents removed to New York, where they had formerly lived. Six years later the family returned to Ohio, but in a year emigrated to Wisconsin, then a new country. In 1855 he came to this county. On the breaking out of the Indian massacre, he enlisted in Company B, First Minnesota Mounted Bangers, and was made seventh corporal. After taking part in the Sibley expedition, he was discharged with the regiment, and was connected with the supplying of provisions, trains, etc., for that part of the army, continuing until the close of the war. Coming back here he stayed only one year, and then moved to

Blue Earth City, where he started a bank in company with H. D. Baldwin. Becoming involved at the time of the failure of the Baldwin & Kittredge bank at Waseca, this was closed. Shortly after he started a brickyard at that place. He was one of the leaders of the Bepublican party in Faribault County, and was a member of the lower house in the Legislature during the sessions of 1872-3. In the session of 187-1, he was in the State Senate, and in 1877 again in the House. He was appointed assistant postmaster of the United States Senate the next year, and while there, was made United States postoffice inspector, which position he held until the year 1886, when he was suspended from active service. He is still a resident of Faribault County, engaged in farming.

Scarce a week had elapsed from the date of the arrival of the first settlers, when Christopher Scott with his family made his appearance. Having no cabin built they, rather than camp in the snow and cold, took up their quarters in the shanty of Mr. Sutlief, which, although but 14x16 feet in size, at that time was fully occupied b}'^ twelve people. Scott took up a claim about a mile north of Mr. Sutlief's, where he put up a cabin. This house, so called, was covered witli "troughs," the crevices between the logs of the side walls and the "troughs " of the roof being chinked in with dried praii'ie grass, cut in February, and daubed with mud. The floor was the frozen ground, and for warmth it was banked up with snow, of which there was an abundance. Christopher Scott remained here a few years and then removed to Kansas, where he has since died. He was a Pennsylvanian and came here from what was then called the " Straight River settlement," now Owatonna, where he had located the previous fall. Andrew Scott came the same spring and lived on his claim on section 13, for a while and then removed to Wilton, where he died. His son Charles is still a resident of the township.

In the month of April two brothers, George and William Bobbins, came to this county and located on the east side of the Le Sueur River, in what is now Otisco Township. In the summer of 1856, they sold their claim and moved west to what was then called the Blue Earth country.

The next to settle in the county were Abraham and Joseph Bird, John White, Gottlieb, Martin and J. Fred. Krassin, Gottlieb and Frederick Prechel, Frederick Wubschall and Bernard Gregory.

Abraham Bird and his brother were English by birth. On coming to this county, in June, 1855, they located in what is now St. Mary Township. Joseph remained here until about the year 1870, when he removed west to Oregon. Abraham Bird died in this county about the year 1867. John White, a native of the Emerald Isle, was a brother-in-law of the Birds, and settled with them in St. Mary, locating near what was afterward the site of the village of that name. He is still a resident of the count}', dwelling in Iosco Township.

Gottlieb Krassin Sr. was an old man, born in Prussia, Germany, and lived with his son Martin, but took up a claim as most of the early settlers did in those days. Ilis land also lay in what is now St. Mary. About the year 1860 he died in this county.

Martin Krassin, his son, was also a native of Prussia. On coming here he settled on what Avas then Indian lands inside the limits of the reservation, but in a few weeks found out his mistake, and removed to St. Mary Township, and made a claim upon which he resided until May 15, 1877, when he was called away by the angel of death. His family are still residents of the county. He had a family of six children, one of whom is the present sheriff of the county.

John Fred. Krassin was a bachelor, and settled in St. Mary, and is still living in single blessedness at Wilton. He is of German birth, and a son of Gottlieb Sr. also.

Fred. Prechel located also in St. Mary. He was a member of one of the cavalry regiments sent from this State to aid in suppressing the I'ebellion. He is now a resident of Wilton Township.

Bernard Gregory, an American by birth, made his claim in the town of St. Mary, and settled there with his family. He had a wife and four children at that time ; one son is now in Dakota, and one is a resident of this county. Both daughters are dead. Mr. Gregory died here in 1877, his wife in 1883. A daughter of his, Louisa by name, was one of the parties in the first marriage celebrated in the county. She died August 15, 1878, at Decoria, Blue Earth County, this State.

David and John Jenkins came to the count}' in the same summer, locating in Wilton Township. They wei'e natives of the State of New York. David settled near the site of the village of Wilton, and is now a resident of Blue Earth County. John was the first justice of the peace, appointed by the Governor, for this part of what was then Steele County. In 1862 he enlisted in the Fifth Minnesota Infantry, and died at luka. Miss., August 21, 1862.

In the spring of 1855 four young men came to this county, and building a log cabin on section 1, in what is now Blooming- Grove Township, commenced life as gay young bachelors. Their names were: Michael Johnson, Jonathan Howell, A. J. Bell and S. F. Wyman. These were the first settlers in that part of the county. They kept "bach" in their cabin, living after a fashion, cooking part of the time without a stove, for about two years, when Wyman and Bel] left the company, setting up for themselves. The remaining portion of the outfit kept up bachelors' hall for about seven years longer, when Johnson was married and is

J. M. Blivens came here early in 1855, and taking up a farm on the west half of section 32, in Blooming Grove, gave his name to the settlement that soon grew up around him. He lived here for many years, finall}^, in 1866, removing to Missouri, where he is now living.

In June, Simeon Smith and his son Alfred C. with their families came to this county. Simeon took up a claim on sections 31 and 32, in Blooming Grove. Alfred located his land on section 5, of Woodville Township, but on account of the fear of the Indians that prevailed at that time, he resided with his father until the following year, when he removed to a cabin which he built on his own land. Simeon lived on his place until his death, in November, 1872. Alfred is now living on his father's place.

In June, this same year, Ole Knutson, now a resident of Kenville County, came to the Blooming Grove settlement, and taking up a claim, commenced to open up a farm, and remained a resident of this county for many years.

During the same summer a settlement was commenced in what is now Iosco Township. Early in July of that year, Luke B. Osgood came here with his family and erected the first shanty witliin tlie bounds of the town of Iosco. All that summer the family lived in this make-sliift house, built of rough logs, a hole cut in it for a doorway, but no door swung ; no windows, and a dirt floor. In the fall, however, he got up a more comfortable place. Some years' residence in this place was terminated bv his sellinjjout and movinoto Michigan, where he died about the year 1883.

Daniel McDaniels and John H. "Wheeler came to Iosco with Mr. Osgood. McDaniels finally removed to Missouri. John H. Wheeler resided here until 1886, when he

Michael Anderson made a settlement in what is now Otisco Township, in July, 1855. He is now a resident of Lyons County, this State. He was a Norwegian by birth.

John Davis and Alfred Holstein, John Rowley, Patrick Moonan, John, James and Patrick McCue, George Merrill and John Cunningham made settlements in Janesville Township, and J. W. Hosmer and N. E. Strong in what is now Iosco. John Davis went back to his Carolina home ; Holstein went to the penitentiary for horse-stealing ; Patrick Moonan is still a resident of the county; James McCue died here in 1885, and John and Patriclc removed from the county some years ago ; George Merrill is still livmg in the county ; J. W. Hosmer lives at Janesville Village, and N. E. Strong is in California.

William M. Gray, a native of New York State, came to Blooming Grove in the summer of 1855, and took up a claim. He was a resident of the county at the time of his decease, in 1872.

Burgeff Oleson, Knute Hanson and Ilalvor Thoi'son, three Norwegians, settled in Otisco in this same jenr. All are now residents of the old homesteads established at that time.

Aaron Hanes and Joseph Madrew settled in Iosco during the year 1855. Hanes died here in 1859, and Madrew sold out his claim shortly after locating it, and returned to Wisconsin.

Eobert and Hugh McDougal, two Scotchmen, came to Waseca County from Canada, where they had lived, in the fall of 1855, and took up claims on section 6, Otisco Township. In a few years Hugh returned to Canada, where he lives. Eobert, after a trip to the mountains and a stay of a few years in Canada, whei-e he was married, returned

John G. Greening came in 1855, and, settling in Otisco Township, made it his home for many years. From here he removed to Minneapolis, where he died.

Ferdinand Turnacliff and his sons, Jackson and Delevan, made settlements in this same township during the same year, and are still numbered among the pioneer citizens of the county.

John Wind, R. Dreever and John Bradish all settled in Janesville Township in this same year. Wind died here long since ; John Bradish is still a resident of the township; Dreever removed to Iosco Township, where he died in 1885. George Dreever also settled here at the same time, and is now a resident of Iosco.

The Reraund brothers came to Blooming Grove in 1855, and made settlements, where they are still living. Their claims were located on sections 8 and 9.

David and A. H. Coddington were among the settlers of Iosco in 1855. David was called by the angel of death in 1878; A. H. removed to Kansas.

Jeremiah Hogan came to Waseca County from his native State, Kentucky, in this same year, and located on section 21, Janesville. A few years since, after a long residence, he was found dead in his house, the summons having come upon him suddenly. With him came James Thomas and John Hogan, all of whom are yet living in the county.

Austin Abell, in September, 1855, came to Otisco Township and made a claim, where he resided for some years. He was a native of New York State, and resided here until during the war when he enlisted in the Eleventh Minnesota Infantry, and is now a resident of Winona.

Curtis Hatch, a blind man, settled with his family in Blooming Grove, in the fall of 1855. He died in Moody County, D. T., in 1884. M. P. Ide settled here the same time.

Daniel C. Davis located upon section 33, Byron Township, this year. He is still a resident of that portion of the county. He came here with his father, Jeremy Davis, who was the first to build a house in the town named above. The elder Davis died here, September 13, 1863. He was a native of New Jersey, as is his son Daniel.

In 1856 quite a tide of emigration swept across the country, and many came to what is now Waseca CountJ^ Among those now called to memory, were: B. F. Weed, E. A. Rice, Isaac Hamlin, A. Kellogg, William Wells, Jesse I. Stewart, Jacob and George E. Brubaker, Tarrant Putnam, H. P. Norton, Nathaniel Garland, John C. Ide, Thomas L. Paige, Michael O'Brien, N. Duane Baker, Alexander Henderson and others, who located in Wilton ; E. R. Conner, George Dean, John and James Walker, William Donaldson, Patrick Healy, Lewis McKune, John L. Saufferer, Cornelius Hand, J. N. Power, Philo Woodruff, John Gibson, Daniel Riegle, Patrick Murphy, Andrew Nelson, Joshua, Josiah, Henry and Samuel Smith, Jacob Oory, W. H. Young, B. Sharp and Joseph Churchill, who located in the northeastern part of the County, in Blooming Grove Township ; W. H. Chamberlain, John Bailey, Christian and Gottlieb Krassin Jr., John Worden, H. S. Loveland, Buel Welsh of St. Mary ; H. A. Mosher, J. A. Canfiekl, H. G. Mosher, Silas Grover, William Smith, W. S. Baker, H. Williams, P. Young, E. B. Stearns and others, who located in Otisco ; Obediah Powell, Nathaniel Wood, Eri G. and Loren Clark Wood, Henry Watkins, C. B. Lyman and Jacob M^^ers, who all chose locations in what is now Woodville ; H. P. Chamberlain, John F. Allen, John Minske, Gottfried

Kanne, William Martzahn, Dano Hutchinson, John J. Fell, H. W. Peck, G. L. Leonard, Daniel Tripp, Ilial I). P.aldwin, B. W. Gil'- furd, A. A. Cotton, S. \V^ and Geoi-ge W. Long, M. S. Green, S. J. Willis and others, who settled in Iosco Township; Joim Put, William Caliill, John, James and Patrick McC'ue, Cajsar DeEegan, W. H. Crawford, Charles (Jolestock, E. Brown, Alexander Johnston, W. N. Buckhout and many others, in Jancsville precinct ; Anthony Sampson, II. H. Sunde, K. O. liofegard, H. T. Ilandgrud, O. K. Hagen, W. Anderson, K. Knudson, E. O. Strenge, Erick Christianson, J. S. Eice and others, who found homes in what is is now New llichland.

These old settlers are mentioned merely as an index of what will be furnished in detail in the histories of the various townships, where the settkjment of these and many more is related at full length. The list is ])nt a partial one of all those who came after the first year, but all are mentioned elsewhere, none being forgotten or overlooked that are remembered by the pioneers of the county.

Claim Jumping

During the winter of 1855-6, ill-feeling having arisen between the proprietors of the town site of Wilton, and the surrounding settlers, the former employed some parties to jump the chums of the McDougal brothers and tlie Eobbins brothers, just east of the Le Sueur Eiver. These last named parties, all foui-, v,'eni (Canadians, who had come hei'e and had honestly taken up claims in good faith, but who had neglected to declare their intentions, legally, of becoming citizens of the United States, thinking that it could be done at the time of proving up their claims. This reason, and that of claiming more land than they were entitled to were the excuses given by the " jumpers." The scheme would not work, however. As soon as it was understood throughout the little settlement, an impromptu meeting was held and a decision quickly reached It was, that, they go in a body and interview the "claim jumpers" and give them to understand that such ]n'oceedings could and would not be allowed in the settlement. Accordingly tiiey proceeded to where the cul]5rits were, who under the direction of the town owners were putting up a cabin on one of the " jumped " claims. In very few words their wishes were communicated by the settlers assembled, but tiie "claim jumpers," being under legal advice, conducted themselves accordingly. Says a local writer : " There was none of that blunt, outspoken honesty common to oui' western pioneers, but a studied purjiose to overreach the boys in a legal point, and preserve themselves from physical harm." More worils were exchanged, when the exas])ei"ated settlers invited the interlopers to step one side, while the owners of the land tore down the building then in course of construction. This they did, not wishing to bring down upon themselves the signal vengeance of the determined men who surrounded them. After witnessing the tearing-down operation they retired from the Held.

But the end was not yet. A short time after this, the discomfited "claim jumpers" swore out warrants before the authorities at Owatonna, as this was then a part of Steele County, for the apprehension of live of the settlers who had been foremost in the work, and that, and a peremptory subpa^na for nearly all the other settlers on the Le Sueur Eiver, was brought over by the proper officers, the arrests made and summons served. Forthwith appearing at the bar of the court in Owatonna, the accused were placed on trial and three of the five found guilty. The other two were discharged on the motion of the prosecuting attorney. Those whom the verdict proclaimed guilty entered an appeal to the district court, and were discharged on account of some error in the proceedings. A lawsuit about the same time was commenced in Winona, before the United States land officers, in order to settle the rights of the parties in interest. During the next year, both parties and many witnesses made several trips to Winona, but about the end of that time the matter was settled by a compromise, and all were again happy.

Haed Times

The following, quoted from an article from the pen of James E. Child, one of the participants in the scenes he so graphically describes, recalls the hardshij^s of pioneer days:

"The summer of 1S58 will long be remembered by the early settlers of the county, as tlie most disastrous of any up to the j^resent time. Nearly or quite one-half of the people of the county had settled along the Le Sueur Kiver. Many of the farmers had no crops except on the bottom lands, while nearly all had more or less, on these lands adjoining the river. During the early part of the season the crops looked well ; but in the latter part of July heavy and oft repeated storms swept over the whole country. During the first week in August storm succeeded storm, until the whole country was inundated. The waters of the rivers and streams were increased to such an extent that their banks were overflown. The bottom lands looked like great inland seas. Fences were torn down and carried away ; hay and grain stacks were torn to pieces and carried down stream ; trees were washed out by the roots, and wheat, corn and potato crops were destroyed in a day.

" Whole families stood by in astonishment, witli despair depicted in every feature, and witnessed the destruction of their only means of subsistence for the coming year. Most of the settlers had spent their limited means in purchasing their lands and improving them, and were entirely dependent upon their growing crops for a supply of food. The crops on the bottom lands, nearly or quite one-half of the whole, were almost a total loss, while those on the highlands were badly injured.

country. A general depression rested upon the whole country, and the succeeding year . was a season of ' hard times.' A whole chapter of incidents might be written of the hardships endured by the settlers during the winter of 1858-9 and the following spring. Manj"^ farmers lived for months on cornbread, milk and butter ; some lived for weeks, in the spring, on milk and wild roots ; some lived on fish, and all suffered more or less deprivation.

" During the spring many cattle died of starvation, and the people who lived here at that time are seldom heard to call the present ' hard times.' "

Says Hon. William Brisbane, in speaking of hard times in early days : " Speaking of graham bread, I can assure you that twentyeight years ago a loaf of graham bread or a corn dodger, with a very thin sprinkling of molasses, would have been thankfully received and no questions asked. Those were the days that tried men's stomachs as well as their souls, but we lived and hoped for better days, for we had faith in the resources of Waseca County. Thanks to the industrious energy of the people, our expectations have been fully realized ; as the good Book says : ' The rain is over and gone, and the time of the singing of birds has come ;' yet I never knew or saw a tragedy acted but there was always some comical or ludicrous scenes interlarded with it. . . . The following is a fact, although it smacks of the improbable : A family out in the Big Woods, be3'ond Janesville, were sorely pressed, for gaunt Famine was wagging his bony finger in their faces. Almost in despair they went into the woods and tried to find some roots, whereby they miglit satisfy the cravings of hunger. They were successful in unearthing the sought-for roots, but were afraid that they might be poisonous. Something must be done ; they would try an experiment. As luck would have it, there was a crazy sort of fellow in the family ; so they thought they would try it on him. If he died it woidd be no great loss, and if he lived, why couldn't they. You see that they were excellent logicians. "Well, the crazy fellow lived, but you can bet that he never fared so well again as he did on the day the life or death experiment was tried."

Historical Items

The first marriage was that which united the destinies of a Mr. Ballard, of Mankato, and Louisa A. Gregory, of this county, which took place at the house of the bride's parents, on the 2d of January, 1856. It is recorded of this interesting event, that great preparations had been made, and invitations issued to friends, both far and near, John Jenkins, the only justice of the peace, being duly secured to tie the hymeneal knot. On the evening in question the 'Squire, hiring a man to take him to the house of Mr. Gregoiy in a sleigh, started. The weather was intensely cold, the snow deep and badly drifted. They got along very well until the darkness overtook them, when they lost their way, and wandered around over the cold, bleak prairie the whole night, trying to reach the appointed place. About four o'clock in the morning they managed to return to the place from which they had started, where they soon warmed themselves up with hot coffee, hot cakes and fried pork, which restored their exhausted frames. Breakfast eaten, they again started for the scene of the wedding. In the meantime the folks at the house of Mr. Gregory had been waiting expectantlj^ for the arrival of the 'Squire ; the bride was ready, the groom on hand, each with his or her best friend to help them pass through the ordeal, but still no 'Squire appeared. Expectation grew into anxiety as the night wore on, and the question as to what was the matter, was bandied about among the waiting guests. All night the assembled company kept watch, but he came not. With the morninir came the 'Squire, but on his arrival he found that a party had sallied forth to look after him, so the ceremon^^ had to be deferred until they had returned. About dark the searchers returned, but it was so late that it was thought necessary to have supper before proceeding to the business of the day. Many were the jokes and laughs about the first marriage ceremony to be performed by the bachelor justice. The supper over, the table was cleared away, the 'Squire called up the wedding party. Says our informant, '' the ceremony was short and to the ]ioint." After joining the hands of the young couple Squire Jenkins turning to the groom, asked " Mr. Ballard, do you take Miss Gregory to be your wife ? " The answer came promptly, "Yes, sir." Then to the blushing bride, " Miss Gregory, do you take Mr. Ballard as your lawful husband ? " In a low tone came the expected answer, "Yes, sir." "All right," said the 'Squire, " then you're man and wife." This finished the ceremony, and the relieved company began to enter ujion the festivities usual at that time.

The second marriage took place upon the 19th day of April, 1856. At that time James E. Child and Justina Krassin pledged themselves "to cleave unto one another until death do them part," before John Jenkins, justice of the peace.

The first school was opened in what is now Blooming Grove Township, in 1857, and was taught by IVIrs. Lina Hughes. This was in what is now district No. 7, then No. 1.

The fii-st religious services were held at the house of Christian Kemund, in Blooming Grove, by Rev. Mr. Groeciitenme^yer, in 1856. This was by the German Methodists and an organization was then effected that exists to this day.

The first postoffice was established at Swaversey, in Blooming Grove Township, in 1857, with Mrs. William Gibbs as postmistress, on section 5 of that town.

Township, which they called Waseca, which is a Sioux word denoting rich, especialty in provisions. Lobbying in the Legislature to have a new county set off and their town made the county-seat, they failed to carry their point, but the euphony of the name seemed to strike those interested, and the county was thus christened.