Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 2, 1905

Chapter 2

FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENT - MR. A. G. SUTLIEF AND FAMILYJOURNEY FROM DODGE COUNTY, WIS. - JUDGE GREEN'S NARRATIVE - JUDGE LOST AND PREPARED FOR DEATH- SUTLIEF'S RETURN - BIG BOOT CREEK - CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI ON ICE.

So far as practicable, the historical events in this volume are recorded in the order in which they came to pass, instead of being grouped under certain headings or classifications This may require a little more space, but the author thinks it will afford an easier comprehension of the various facts presented.

Mr. And Mrs. Asa G. Sutlief

MR. AND MRS. ASA G. SUTLIEF and Mr. Sutlief's three oldest children, Delancy, Rhoda and Delaney, were the first white settlers in this county. Taking with them quite a drove of cattle and sheep, they started from the town of Herman, Dodge county, Wisconsin, in the month of June, 1854, with ox teams and covered wagons, to seek a new home in the land of "Laughing Waters." They passed over the ]\Iississippi at La Crosse, traveled across the country in a westerly direction, struck the Minnesota river at Traverse, now St. Peter, and settled on a claim some five or six miles west of that place.

To give an idea of the vicissitudes of such a journey at that time, the following from the pen of Hon. G. W. Green, well known to all the early settlers of this region, will be valuable and interesting. He wrote :

"In the summer of 1854 I left Beaver Dam, Wis., in company with Messrs. Hollingsworth, Bradley and Boomer for the purpose of seeing some portion of Southern Minnesota with an idea of settling there. Arriving at La Crosse, we purchased material for camping and ferried, across the Mississippi river. One log house, nearly finished, greeted us on the west side of the river opposite La Crosse. That was all there was then of La Crescent. The next house, twenty-four miles distant, was occupied hy a Thompsonlan physician, by name Bently, who had concluded to mix -daim-taking and rudimentary farming with his profession. Some miles further on, whei* now is St. Charles, was one more log house kfept as a tavern by one Springer. 'There was a newly made wagon track extending about ten miles further on, where a young man and his wife, by the name of Potter, had taken a claim and were building a small house. One story of it was finished and the chamber floor laid of loose boards, but without any roof. They invited us to stay with them over night. We did so. During the night it rained hard, and we got thoroughly soaked. After breakfast the next morning we started on without any track and no guide but our pocket compass.

"About noon of this day we came up with Mr. A. G. Sutllef, who was moving with his family from Dodge county, Wisconsin, to a point near Traverse des Sioux (a missionary post near where St. Peter now is), so named because it was at this place that the Sioux Indians forded the river. Mr. Sutllef was a noted pioneer of Wisconsin, but he knew little more than we did as to the most feasible route to his destination. Mr. Holllngsworth was Sutllef's father-in-law, and we very willingly accepted their kind invitation to keep them company to their new home. Mr. Sutlief had with him a large herd of cattle and sheep. We crossed the Ashland prairie near the head of the Straight and Zumbro rivers, and near the Oak Glen lakes. Within one mile of Straight river, we camped for dinner.

Lost On The Prairie

"After dinner Mr. Sutlief wanted me to go with him and look for a suitable place to cross the river. We went to the river, and, finding no desirable crossing, concluded to cross further up, near what seemed, by the appearance of the timber, to be a very considerable bend in the river, apparently some five or six miles away. It was. agreed that Sutlief should go back and guide the teams, while I should cross the river and travel up to the proposed crossing.

"Without thinking much about the company, I went slowly on until I came to the place where Dr. Kenyon afterwards lived. I could see or hear nothing of Sutlief or the company, not even a cow-bell, several of which I knew were In use on the cattle and sheep. I tried as well as I could to find their whereabouts. Although but a short distance below the proposed crossing, I could not find any trace of them before It was dark. As fate would have it, I had neither coat nor blanket, jack-knife nor matches, ax nor hatchet.

"Tired out and hungry, I laid myself under a tree to rest, and was very soon asleep. With no breakfast, I renewed my search for the company, going on up the. river to a point where a Mr. Bennett afterwards settled, but found no signs. I then concluded to follow down the river as long as my strength should last, unless I found something more desirable. Before proceeding, however, I pulled off a hoot and, with a pin, wrote upon a smooth part of the boot-leg my name, thus: 'G. W. Green, Beaver Dam, Wis.,' not knowing but that some one would find my bones and hoots, and thereby my friends might hear from me. I had a little matter of $700 in my pockets, which, in case I should be lost, this act might be the means of my family getting. I had no other way of writing." After this preparation for the worst that might befall me, I started down the river, traveling slowly until nearly sun-down, when I found the trail where the company had crossed the river, not over half a mile above where I had left Sutlief. With new courage and zeal I started on this trail. I followed it a short distance without any trouble, but, darkness coming on, the trail became invisible and I lost It. In hunting for it I stumbled and fell, and my weariness and exhaustion were such that I did not feel disposed to rise. I unconsciously fell asleep.

"When I awoke the sun was high up and shining brightly. Reinvigorated by my sound and restful sleep, I soon found the trail, and, following it slowly a short time, I observed two men approaching me. They were of our company. Looking up towards the timber, about three miles from where they had crossed the river, I saw the wagons and the remainder of the company. They had camped there early in the afternoon of the day I was lost, expecting I would see and come to them. When night came and I did not appear, they built a large fire and kept it going all night, hoping thereby to attract my attention. The next day they spent on horseback looking for me without avail.

"When I arrived in camp, they represented to me that my eyes were staring, and my lips and tongue swollen. Mrs. Sutlief prepared me something to eat, but I had no appetite and could eat nothing of it, instead thereof calling for a cup of sour milk which I drank with relish. I took but very little nourishment except sour milk the rest of that day. My appetite slowly returning, the next day I ate sparingly, but it was some three or four days before I could partake of an ordinary meal.

"From that place we proceeded to Beaver lake, just east of New Richland, crossing its outlet where the road now runs. Here we saw an Indian and tried to get some idea from him what course to take to reach the Minnesota river, but failed to secure any correct information. Crossing some of the rivulets that unite to form the Le Sueur river and following along down that stream, we forded it near where the village of St. Mary was afterwards built. We wandered on, we knew not whither, until we struck Minnesota lake. Here we stayed two days and looked for signs. At last, about three miles west of the lake, we found a freshly-made Indian trail going southwest. We concluded that the Indians had gone on a hunting expedition and that they had congregated at the Minnesota river, starting en masse from there. JSTot knowing anything better to do, we took this trail back ^nd struck Mankato July 4th, 1854.

and one man, who presided over a saloon made of small poles. No other evidence of civilization (?) met our gaze. From this point we proceeded to Sutlief's claim which he made about six miles west of St. Peter, remaining with him one day. We then followed the trail down the Minnesota river to St. Paul, which was at that time little more than an Indian trading post, not as large as St. Anthony then was, and Minneapolis had not yet been spoken of. Here we boarded a steamer for La Crosse, from which point we took our way homeward by our own conveyance.

"At the time Of this trip, the prairies were covered with luxuriant grasses from three and a half to four feet high. Deer and elk roved at will, several large herds coming within our view. After leaving Potter's house, before mentioned, we saw no other house until our arrival in Mankato.

"I made no definite location on this trip, but concluded to return to the vicinity of Straight or Le Sueur river, with my family, and then make my location. G. W. GREEN."

'Mr. .Sutlief had been staying only a few days on his claim, near St. Peter, when he accepted an offer of $100 for his "right of possession." He then returned to ]Mankato, where he left his family and stock, and sought a new location "far from the haunts of busy men." After much traveling and a thorough inspection of a large extent of country, he selected a portion of sectii^i 32, town of Wilton, as his future home. The most of his family still reside there. He arrived at this claim with his family and st.ick early in August, and at once broke about two acres of in'airie. He then set about building a "shanty" for himself and family, and providing shelter for his cattle and sheep. It was a work of some magnitude to prepare for winter, but his energy and industry with the efficient aid of his worthy wife, ovei-came all obstacU's. and, in a few weeks, he was ready to return to Wisconsin with his wife and children to remain during the winter. But before starting for Wisconsin with his family, he planned to go to La Crosse to get a supply of provisions inv Luther Barrett, a hmitcr and trapper, who was to stay on the claim and feed and care foi- the sheep and cattle until Siitliefs return the following January.

On his trip to La Crosse, he met .ludge (Ireen, on Ashland prairie, who, with his family, eleven men, seven ox teams and wagons. and eighty head of cattle, mostly cows and youuu' stock, left Beaver Dam, Wis., August 12th. Judge Green, havmo' more supplies than he could easily haul, Mr. Sutlief concluded to return him. Arriving at Straight river, where Owatonna is now located, they found that stream so swollen with recent copious rains that they could not cross it with their heavy loads. Here they found A. B. Cornell and family, the lirst settlers of Steele county, and here they pitched their tents and took counsel with each other. Judge Green in his reminiscences writes :

"As we all desired to locate near together, it was decided to leave the women and children with a couple of men as guards and to watch the stock, while the rest of the company should go on to the Le Sueur river country. The next day we crossed Straight river with three wagons, four yoke of oxen and one cow. The men camped on the west side of the river that night, and I went back to the tent and stayed with my family. It rained a large portion of the night. In the morning we started, bearing southwest. It rained by spells and there was a well defined stream in every ravine. We went on to Beaver lake and struck our old trail made on the first trip. In crossing one of the head rivulets of Le Sueur river, then a roaring torrent, one of the men, with boots on as high as his knees, stood upon the back end-board of a wagon box, holding to the top of the wagon cover, and yet got wet; so this was called

Big Boot Creek

BIG BOOT CREEK. "We looked over the prairie and woodlands between Sutlief's claim and what was afterward Wilton. We liked the country and concluded to make claims there, which we did; but still it rained, rained! The men got wet and cold and finally homesick or sick of the country. They said the country would all overflow in a wet spell, and, should they settle there, no one else would venture so far from civilization for the next 100 years, and for the rest of their natural lives and those of their families they would be there without bridges or other improvements, except such as they should improvise am,ong themselves. So we went back to Straight river, reluctantly leaving Mr. S. and family alone on the Le Sueur. On the 20th of September I staked out my claim, at Owatonna, and my men went to work cutting hay. In two weeks our hay was cut and stacked, our log house laid up and covered with a "shake-roof," with no chinking, no floors, no doors, no windows. I could not persuade the men to stay another day. They said there would be no other person settling in there for the next fifty years, and that if I managed to live through the winter I would return to Wisconsin in the spring. So they started on their return trip, and there I was, left with an invalid wife and three small children, no stables for stock, no house suitable for cold weather, and apparently no help attainable. It seemed more than I could do to make things endurable through the winter, but the next day a wagon load of ten men arrived, and I got what help I needed form then on."

Mr. Sutlief, having obtained from Judge Green a supply of flour for winter and having made other necessary arrangements, vi^as ready by the latter part of November to convey his wife and children to Wisconsin. They made their return trip in a covered ox-wagon. When they reached the Mississippi, opposite La Crosse, the first week in December, 1854, that stream was not yet frozen over, and they were compelled to wait until the ice King formed a bridge. On the fourth day after their arrival, although the ice was barely strong enough to bear up a man, ]\Ir. Sutlief, in his rash, dare-devil way, crossed the stream by casting the oxen, tying their feet together, and sliding them across on the slippery ice by hand. The wagon also was taken over by hand, and Mrs. Sutlief and the children passed over on foot The remainder of their journey was made without any incident worthy of note.